by CJ McClanahan | May 11, 2023 | Blog
Though uncomfortable, “no” could be one of your best tools for a peaceful life. Many years ago, I scheduled a meeting with one of my mentors to ask an important favor. After a few pleasantries, I laid out the case for my appeal telling him that I didn’t...
by CJ McClanahan | May 4, 2023 | Blog
“To know and not to do is really not to know.” – Stephen Covey I’ve reminded audiences of this truth hundreds of times in my career. Unfortunately, I haven’t always embraced and learned from its message. Too often, I put down a book and think, “Wow, I can’t wait to...
by CJ McClanahan | Apr 27, 2023 | Blog
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network just released the 2023 World Happiness Report. The report identifies eight key areas that directly impact happiness and well-being: physical and mental health human relationships (in the family, at work and in the...
by CJ McClanahan | Apr 20, 2023 | Blog
We’ve been told many times by professional growth “gurus” (guilty as charged), that we should live a life with no limits. I’m fully on board with one interpretation of this message – You shouldn’t place limits on your future abilities just because you’ve never...
by CJ McClanahan | Apr 13, 2023 | Blog
We live in a society obsessed with accomplishment. Our heroes are professional athletes, celebrities, and social media influencers. We’ve convinced ourselves that individual achievement is the surest path to success and that this alone will make us...
by CJ McClanahan | Apr 6, 2023 | Blog
We are all rational human beings. However, I’ve been through enough therapy in my life to know that we are also a product of our environments. Our belief system is initially influenced by our family and close friends. Next, it’s heavily influenced by social (and...
by CJ McClanahan | Mar 30, 2023 | Blog
I want to live a life characterized by sharing abundantly (time and money) with those who are less fortunate. Some days I live that out, but many times I put off helping those who really need it. I rationalize that by promising that I’ll give “as soon as”...
by CJ McClanahan | Mar 23, 2023 | Blog
Microstress is an accumulation of small events that build over time. They are seemingly insignificant obstacles that we easily overcome. On their own, they’re not so bad. Our bodies are extremely good at navigating stress – big events that trigger a...
by CJ McClanahan | Mar 16, 2023 | Blog
In The Road to Character, David Brooks asks two important questions: What does life want from me? What are my circumstances calling me to do? You’ll notice a slight difference between this inquiry and everything else you read, watch, and listen to from the...
by CJ McClanahan | Mar 9, 2023 | Blog
Most overachievers believe that out-doing everyone else is the best path to being successful. This belief leads to a long list of goals designed to maximize our capabilities (and eventually impress our social media followers). We can’t imagine a weekend without a...
by CJ McClanahan | Mar 2, 2023 | Blog
Intellectually, we get it. We understand that some people are born with a full head of overflowing hair while others are almost completely bald by the age of 30. (20 years later, this one still stings a little.) But even though our rational, thinking brain appreciates...
by CJ McClanahan | Feb 23, 2023 | Blog
In 2014, Timothy Wilson conducted a study in which participants stated that they would pay money to avoid an electric shock. No surprises there. However, once they were left alone in the lab room, the inactivity became too much to bear, and people sought to fill the...
by CJ McClanahan | Feb 21, 2023 | Podcast
How do you build a foundation for a happy and joy filled life, regardless of your circumstances? Kristi Nelson, author of Wake Up Grateful will help you understand why living gratefully is so difficult in our world, and how gratitude as a habit – not an...
by CJ McClanahan | Feb 16, 2023 | Blog
It’s not unusual for one of my executive coaching clients to begin a meeting with, “I apologize in advance but, today I need some couch time.” Whether you recognize it or not, every conversation we have involves some “therapy”. Smart, driven, overachieving...
by CJ McClanahan | Feb 9, 2023 | Blog
Recently, I did something that would have been nearly impossible 10 years ago… I stopped reading a book before it was completed. I understand how ridiculous that sounds, but the truth is that for much of my adult life I never put a book down until it was completed...
by CJ McClanahan | Feb 2, 2023 | Blog
If you were to look at the lives of executives in the United States, here’s what you’d find: Their household income is greater than 95% of families in the U.S., which easily places them in the top 1% globally. They live in large homes, drive nice cars, and take great...
