by CJ McClanahan | Nov 25, 2025 | Blog
It’s an uncomfortable moment when success becomes a blind spot. How do you respond? <> I’ve officially reached that age where I think I’ve got a few things figured out. Then it happens. I run into a new piece of information that upends a long-standing belief....
by CJ McClanahan | Nov 20, 2025 | Blog
Overachievers can sometimes get so caught up in the “to-do” list that we can lose sight of what matters around us. <> Many years ago, one of my mentors pointed out that “How you see is what you see.” I was reminded of these wise words a few weeks...
by CJ McClanahan | Nov 13, 2025 | Blog
Overachievers have taught themselves the wrong formula for what we actually crave… <> I have a theory. There is a direct correlation between the joy you experience and the amount of effort you commit to developing a grateful outlook. If you work hard to...
by CJ McClanahan | Nov 6, 2025 | Blog
Overachievers can wire themselves to say “yes” to everything with no thought to its cost. The problem is, there is a very real cost. <> “No.” For many people, this seems like a bad word. We’ve allowed our self-worth to become directly...
by CJ McClanahan | Oct 30, 2025 | Blog
Are you overly optimistic about how much you can accomplish in a certain amount of time, or simply neglectful when it comes to your planner? Regardless, here’s what you’re telling the other person when you show up late. <> I used to be chronically...
by CJ McClanahan | Oct 23, 2025 | Blog
Ever feel like you’re the only one who got where you are… and don’t deserve it? It’s more common than you think. <> Over the years, I’ve observed that most people – regardless of how much they’ve achieved – are full of...
by CJ McClanahan | Oct 16, 2025 | Blog
Overachievers teach themselves that if they try hard enough, they can do anything they set their mind to. That pattern of thinking couldn’t be further from the truth. <> It’s easy to scroll through any of our social accounts and wonder, Why am I not...
by CJ McClanahan | Oct 9, 2025 | Blog
Shame can cripple an overachiever’s ability to move forward. Here’s one tactic to move from embarrassment to curiosity. <> A few weeks ago, I was called to the carpet after delivering a poor effort on a small project. I felt a small knot forming in...
by CJ McClanahan | Oct 2, 2025 | Blog
Here’s one, simple tactic to dramatically change your dread of meetings. <> A few years ago, I was sitting in a 1-hour board meeting filled with other volunteers. As our session was getting underway, I noticed many of the participants took out their...
by CJ McClanahan | Sep 25, 2025 | Blog
Here’s a hard truth for all those overachievers working late nights and early mornings to “get caught up.” <> Have you ever worked late into the night, over your lunch break, or on the weekend, hoping to get “caught up”? We’ve all done it,...
by CJ McClanahan | Sep 18, 2025 | Blog
If the thought of networking is painful, try this one tactic to foster a deeper one-on-one conversation. <> Networking events have never been easy for me. I’m a 6’5” introvert with ADD who struggles to stay in conversations. As I engage with others, I’m...
by CJ McClanahan | Sep 11, 2025 | Blog
Overachievers teach themselves that, as long as they have the right mindset, they can achieve anything. There’s just one small problem with that…. <> Many years ago, my mentor asked me what was more important: attitude or behavior. I immediately...
by CJ McClanahan | Sep 4, 2025 | Blog
Values always drive decisions. Are you aware of which ones are driving yours? <> Recently, I was asked to speak on the topic of “values”. This opportunity challenged me to review my core values (commitment, kindness, generosity, justice) and ask a simple...
by CJ McClanahan | Aug 21, 2025 | Blog
The simplest tactic to ensure your peace, happiness, and fulfillment might be one of the most difficult to embrace. <> Since 2003, I’ve reinforced a handful of simple concepts over and over again. One of these has been to plan the week/day in advance. This...
by CJ McClanahan | Aug 14, 2025 | Blog
Have you ever experienced envy of another person’s circumstances or choices? Join the club. <> It’s not unusual for me to meet a successful professional and leave the conversation wondering, “Why didn’t I do that for a living?” I know I’m not the only...
by CJ McClanahan | Aug 7, 2025 | Blog
What I learned about kindness on a trip to Chicago. <> A few weeks ago, my wife, Nicole, and I visited my son in Chicago. While walking on Navy Pier, Nicole looked at a group of people obviously celebrating a birthday and said, “I love your shirts!” The...
