by CJ McClanahan | Aug 24, 2023 | Blog
The research is clear (and compelling): we’ve become addicted to constant interruptions. When was the last time you let your mind drift aimlessly and simply noticed your surroundings? The craving we feel for the next “hit” of stimulation isn’t all that different from...
by CJ McClanahan | Aug 22, 2023 | Podcast
Dr. ‘Deji Ayoade shares his story from extreme poverty in Nigeria to becoming the first African immigrant to become a nuclear missile operator in the United States Air Force and serve in three U.S. military branches. He’ll walk you through his mindset in the...
by CJ McClanahan | Aug 17, 2023 | Blog
How you view control will drastically alter how you experience the only life you get. Planning to improve the odds of success is a wise move.Planning to eliminate uncertainty is a fool’s errand.Recognizing the difference between the two allows you to reduce anxiety...
by CJ McClanahan | Aug 10, 2023 | Blog
Once I achieve this goal, I’ll feel better about myself. Sound familiar? Yeah. I can relate. At best, this “feeling better about myself” lasts less than 24 hours. No matter how big the achievement, I always find myself back to obsessing over my...
by CJ McClanahan | Aug 3, 2023 | Blog
Whichever you choose, remember this: the choice is yours. People use all sorts of ways to escape: Scrolling social Binging Netflix Overeating Spending too much money on another gadget you don’t need It’s no surprise that burnout is an increasing problem. Escapes...
by CJ McClanahan | Jul 27, 2023 | Blog
We all overlook what’s going right. It’s easy to feel that we “have to” go to the grocery, meet with the finance team, plan our vacation, etc. How you think about something shapes how you think about it. If you’re finding a task or person continually triggering your...
by CJ McClanahan | Jul 20, 2023 | Blog
As I type this message with one hand, I’m reminded of a powerful quote often attributed to John Lennon: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” One week ago, as I was riding through a cross walk, a car sped out in front of me trying...
by CJ McClanahan | Jul 13, 2023 | Blog
“When we return, why it’s not safe to go in the water anymore on vacation…” I made the mistake of flipping through the channels the other day and caught CNN going to commercial with the above teaser. Really? It’s not safe to go in the water anywhere on your...
by CJ McClanahan | Jul 6, 2023 | Blog
If you fell behind, who would notice? No, really. Answer that. It turns out that 97.5% (made-up statistic) of the professionals I’ve met over the years don’t regularly take the time to slow down and appreciate their accomplishments. They’re just like...
by CJ McClanahan | Jun 22, 2023 | Blog
Is stress out of control? The latest Workplace Report from Gallup shows a very clear rise in stress levels starting in 2009. (Interesting how that trend started a mere 2 years after the iPhone was introduced to the world.) “Forty-four percent of employees said...
by CJ McClanahan | Jun 15, 2023 | Blog
We’ve been wired from an early age to believe that the only way to feel “successful” is through constant achievement and recognition. This approach leads to the belief that stopping to be grateful is a waste of time when there’s so much left to...
by CJ McClanahan | Jun 8, 2023 | Blog
There are times when it’s OK to respond out of fear. For example, if you’re being chased by a grizzly bear, it’s completely appropriate to run fearing for your life. However, today, most of our fears involve worries about the future that are unlikely to...
by CJ McClanahan | Jun 1, 2023 | Blog
At some point this week, you’ll run into a problem. (Or, if you’re having a week like mine, it might be lots of problems.) When the issue bubbles up, the overachiever in you screams – “Get to work! We’ve got to fix this immediately.” Our knee jerk reaction to a...
by CJ McClanahan | May 18, 2023 | Blog
Could it be that we’re not a society of crazies, after all? People hold the door for me all the time. For a while, I thought that it was because I looked like a celebrity. However, the more I watch others, it’s clear that we are a society of “door-holders”. And...
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...
