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15 weekends of summer. How are you spending them?Laurie counted them. There are 15 summer weekends this year — and the moment she did that, something shifted. Not because it changed anything. Because finite time does something very particular to high-achieving women: it turns enjoyment into management.This episode started as a thought on a walk and became something much bigger: an honest look at busyness as a drug, the habit of earning rest before allowing it, and why the discomfort of doing nothing might be the most useful information you get all summer.Laurie shares what she's been working through in real time: the Sunday she spent doing absolutely nothing while Mike was out of town, the guilt that followed, and the moment a quote from a keynote at Craft + Commerce hit her in the chest and put language to something she'd been feeling her whole life.Practical, honest, and a little uncomfortable in the best way. This one is for any woman who has ever felt like she needed to earn the weekend before she was allowed to enjoy it.What we coverWhy counting the summer weekends changes the way you experience them...and not always for the betterParkinson's Law: why finite time makes us cram instead of savor, and what that costs usThe two problems with finite time: cramming it full, or feeling guilty for not cramming it fullThe pattern Laurie has been running her whole life — Saturdays off, Sundays working — and why she never questioned it until nowThe Sunday she did absolutely nothing, felt guilty about it, and what that revealedJay Papasan's keynote at Craft + Commerce and the quote that stopped her cold: "If busyness is your drug, rest will feel like stress." — Ian SimpkinsWhy busyness works like a drug, and what the cost of that addiction actually isBusyness as a hiding place: why staying in motion postpones the questions, the decisions, and the version of yourself that has things to deal withThe empty calendar question: if every obligation disappeared tomorrow, what would bubble up for you in the quiet?Three things Laurie has been doing this summer — imperfectly — to practice actual restWhy rest is a skill, not a rewardThe question underneath all of it: who am I when I'm not busy?The three practices1. Name it when the pattern shows up. Not out loud, not dramatically. Just notice: I'm reaching for my laptop because I feel like I should have something to show for this afternoon. That's it. See it.2. Give the guilt somewhere to land. The guilt isn't about the rest. It's about the belief underneath: I'm only as valuable as what I produce. When the guilt arrives, get curious. Ask it: what are you trying to protect me from? What do you think will happen if I just sit here?3. Start smaller than you think you need to. Not the whole weekend. Twenty minutes. No phone, no task, no optimization. Just twenty minutes with no agenda. Then notice: how long after those twenty minutes does it take before you reach for something to do?Quotable moments"The moment something becomes finite, you stop enjoying it and start managing it.""At some point the weekend becomes a production — and the question becomes, is this still a weekend, or is it just a different kind of work?""If busyness is your drug, rest will feel like stress." — Ian Simpkins, shared by Jay Papasan at Craft + Commerce"The rest was always conditional. The play was always something I had to earn first.""The discomfort of being unproductive feels worse to me than the exhaustion of being overworked.""Busyness isn't just a habit. It can be a hiding place.""The busyness feels productive. But what it's actually producing is distance...from the questions, from the stillness, from the version of yourself that knows things you're not ready to deal with.""The rest isn't indulgent. It's information.""Rest is a skill. The first few times you try it, it's probably going to feel awful.""Who am I when I'm not busy? That's one of the most important questions a woman in midlife can ask herself."Resources + links mentionedLast week's episode: Shoot Your Shot — Even When You'd Rather Look AwayApply for the BEST LIFE MastermindBook a 15-minute call with LaurieIf this episode resonated, share it with the woman in your life who needs to hear it. And if you haven't already — subscribe, leave a five-star review, and know that Laurie reads every single one.
As an extension of JP's Friday Q&A, he answers live audience questions from Beso Live! Topics include prioritizing the big rocks of life, why your phone is the biggest threat to intimacy with God, learning to say no, and what it actually takes to live a life leveraged for the kingdom.
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4059: Marc Chernoff explores how constant busyness, overcommitment, and the pressure to do everything can quietly drain your energy and pull you away from what matters most. By embracing simplicity, sustainable habits, and clearer priorities, you'll discover how doing less can lead to greater fulfillment, focus, and peace of mind. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.marcandangel.com/2019/11/12/5-signs-youve-been-doing-too-much-for-too-long/ Quotes to ponder: "Busyness is an illness." "You're either going to do a few things well, or do everything poorly." "Our excessive possessions (and obligations) are not making us happy. Even worse, they are taking us away from the things that do. Once we let go of the things that don't matter, we are free to pursue all the things that really do matter." Episode references: 1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently: https://www.amazon.com/1000-Little-Things-Happy-Successful/dp/059332773X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After a long walk on a hot afternoon, nothing else will do — your body simply craves water. You might try to push through or distract yourself for a while, but eventually that thirst demands to be answered. Whitney Hopler draws from that universal experience to illuminate something even more profound: the spiritual thirst every human soul carries for God. Psalm 42 gives it a beautiful and urgent image — a deer panting desperately for streams of water — and reminds us that this longing is not a weakness. It is a sign that we know where true life is found. The psalmist wrote from a place of spiritual dryness, far from the temple, separated from the worship he once knew. Rather than ignoring that ache or filling it with lesser things, he turned it into a prayer. Whitney invites us to do the same. The world offers endless substitutes — achievement, entertainment, the approval of others — but sooner or later the soul senses something is still missing. That restlessness is not an inconvenience. It is God drawing us toward Himself. When we let spiritual thirst motivate us to seek Him the way a deer urgently searches for a stream, we discover that He never ignores those who come looking — and that the refreshment He offers satisfies in ways nothing else ever could. Bible Verse "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God."— Psalm 42:1, NIV Ponder Today Your deepest need is a relationship with God — not just the things He provides. Work, achievement, entertainment, and human approval can satisfy for a season, but only God can fulfill the longing at the very core of who you are. Spiritual thirst is not a sign of failure — it is an invitation. When you sense that something is missing even in a full and busy life, that restlessness is God drawing you closer. Don't ignore it or try to fill it with something else. Busyness is one of the greatest barriers to hearing God. Constant activity keeps us distracted from the quiet messages He is sending. Creating space for stillness and reflection is not optional for a soul that wants to thrive. Let spiritual dryness motivate you toward God, not away from Him. The psalmist did not let his dry season produce despair — he let it produce a prayer. A season of spiritual drought can become the very thing that drives us to seek the living water more urgently. Prayer is an opportunity for relationship, not only a list of requests. When we come to God simply because we want to know Him more, our faith deepens, our prayer life transforms, and we begin to experience the fulfillment our souls have been searching for all along. A Prayer for You Today Dear God, I am feeling spiritually dry and thirsty for You. Even though my life is filled with activity, something important is still missing. Only a relationship with You will truly fulfill me. Please meet me where I am and help me develop the longing described in Psalm 42, where my soul thirsts for You the way a deer thirsts for water. Draw me closer and motivate me to seek You each day. When I feel spiritually dry, remind me that You are the living water who refreshes my soul. Teach me to come to You not only when I need help, but because I want to know You more. Thank You, God. Amen. Don't Miss an Episode If today's prayer stirred a deeper longing for God's presence in your life, we'd love to stay connected. Subscribe to the LifeAudio newsletter at LifeAudio.com for daily prayers, devotionals, and more content to draw you closer to the living water every day. If you like this podcast, be sure to check out our sister podcast, Your Nightly Prayer - an evening Christian prayer podcast to help you end your day in conversation with God. https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
"When we are busy, we are numbed out to this sense of inadequacy that we all know is real. Deep, deep, deep down." ~ Kenna MilleaWhat does it actually look like to be addicted to the hustle and not even realize it?How does staying perpetually busy become a coping strategy for the deeper questions we are afraid to sit with?What if the solution to your busyness is not better time management, but a ruthless commitment to doing less?In episode 103 of This Whole Life, Pat and Kenna Millea get honest about their own addiction to hustle. Drawing on John Mark Comer's The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, they explore why so many of us, including two licensed therapists who know better, cannot seem to slow down, and what our busyness is really covering up.They dig into the spiritual roots of hurry, why John Mark Comer calls it the greatest threat to the interior life, and how the Catholic social tradition has been telling us for over a century that work was made for man, not the other way around. Kenna shares a moment from her own therapy that reframed everything: the possibility that her anxiety has been masking depression all along, and that staying busy is the most productive-looking way to avoid sitting with the hard questions of the human experience. Pat gets equally honest about the cost of hurry in his own fatherhood, admitting that far too often he is yelling at his kids not because of what they are doing, but because he is in a hurry and their seven-year-old slowness is incompatible with his schedule.They close with four practical S's from Comer's book: silence and solitude, Sabbath, simplicity, and slowing. The challenge is to pick just one and try it for a week.This episode is for anyone who has answered "how are you doing?" with "so busy" and quietly wondered why that answer feels both true and empty at the same time.Chapters: (00:00) - Cold Open (00:37) - Welcome and Episode Intro (01:47) - Lightning Round: 90 Seconds with Kenna (09:39) - Highs and Hards (16:07) - Why We Might Be the Worst People to Host This Episode (17:46) - The Spiritual Roots of Busyness (21:41) - The Mental and Emotional Cost of Hurry (34:12) - Busyness as a Coping Strategy (42:47) - The Louis C.K. Conan Clip and Joy Antibodies (47:29) - Four Ways to Fight Back: The Four S's (54:00) - Challenge by Choice (54:55) - Closing PrayerEpisode 103 Show NotesReflection QuestionsLinks and Resources:The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark ComerLouis C.K. on Conan: Everything's Amazing and Nobody's Happy (language warning, do not watch with kids)Support the showThank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters!Join our email list and never miss an episode or an eventVisit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.Follow us on Instagram & FacebookInterested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for IntegrationMusic: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4059: Marc Chernoff explores how constant busyness, overcommitment, and the pressure to do everything can quietly drain your energy and pull you away from what matters most. By embracing simplicity, sustainable habits, and clearer priorities, you'll discover how doing less can lead to greater fulfillment, focus, and peace of mind. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.marcandangel.com/2019/11/12/5-signs-youve-been-doing-too-much-for-too-long/ Quotes to ponder: "Busyness is an illness." "You're either going to do a few things well, or do everything poorly." "Our excessive possessions (and obligations) are not making us happy. Even worse, they are taking us away from the things that do. Once we let go of the things that don't matter, we are free to pursue all the things that really do matter." Episode references: 1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently: https://www.amazon.com/1000-Little-Things-Happy-Successful/dp/059332773X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4059: Marc Chernoff explores how constant busyness, overcommitment, and the pressure to do everything can quietly drain your energy and pull you away from what matters most. By embracing simplicity, sustainable habits, and clearer priorities, you'll discover how doing less can lead to greater fulfillment, focus, and peace of mind. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.marcandangel.com/2019/11/12/5-signs-youve-been-doing-too-much-for-too-long/ Quotes to ponder: "Busyness is an illness." "You're either going to do a few things well, or do everything poorly." "Our excessive possessions (and obligations) are not making us happy. Even worse, they are taking us away from the things that do. Once we let go of the things that don't matter, we are free to pursue all the things that really do matter." Episode references: 1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently: https://www.amazon.com/1000-Little-Things-Happy-Successful/dp/059332773X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As an extension of JP's Friday Q&A, he answers live audience questions from Beso Live! Topics include prioritizing the big rocks of life, why your phone is the biggest threat to intimacy with God, learning to say no, and what it actually takes to live a life leveraged for the kingdom.
Nazareth and the Hidden Life Retreat Reflection I Nazareth and the Sanctification of the Ordinary Epigraph “And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.” — St. Luke 2:51 “The Lord loves the humble soul that has surrendered herself to the will of God.” — Saint Silouan the Athonite ⸻ There is something deeply unsettling about Nazareth. Not because it is dramatic, but because it is not. The Gospels pass over nearly thirty years of Christ's earthly life in almost complete silence. We are told of His birth, the flight into Egypt, the finding in the Temple, and then suddenly He is standing in the Jordan before John. Between those moments lies an immense hiddenness. Decades vanish into silence. And yet the Church has always understood that nothing in the life of Christ is accidental. The hidden years are revelation. This is difficult for us because we are formed by a world that equates meaning with visibility. We instinctively imagine that what matters must be seen, accomplished, recognized, effective, influential, or extraordinary. Even our spiritual life often becomes infected with this mentality. We want transformation to be dramatic. We want clarity quickly. We want our lives to feel significant. But Christ spends the overwhelming majority of His earthly existence in obscurity. Not preaching. Not healing publicly. 1 Not raising the dead. Not confronting empires. Working. Praying. Eating meals. Walking dusty roads. Living within the repetition and hiddenness of ordinary life. The Son of God sanctified not only suffering and death. He sanctified ordinary existence itself. This is one of the great forgotten truths of Christianity. Many people secretly endure their lives as though the “real” spiritual life were elsewhere. They imagine holiness occurring in monasteries, missions, dramatic sacrifices, or extraordinary mystical experiences, while their own existence feels painfully repetitive: the dishes, the caregiving, the exhaustion, the office, the commute, the sleepless nights, the aging body, the hidden grief, the years that seem to pass without visible transformation. But Nazareth stands before the world as a contradiction to all such thinking. God chose hiddenness. Not as punishment. Not as delay. But as revelation. The hidden years reveal something about the very manner in which God acts. Divine life does not move according to the logic of spectacle. God works silently, patiently, gradually, often beneath visibility itself. Seeds germinate underground. The child grows in the womb unseen. Bread rises quietly. Prayer deepens imperceptibly. The kingdom of God arrives almost secretly. 2 And so much of the spiritual life unfolds precisely where the ego feels most deprived: in repetition, in obscurity, in waiting, in relinquishment, in the slow erosion of self-importance. This is why Nazareth becomes painful for us. Not because it lacks God. But because it threatens the fantasies through which we preserve ourselves psychologically. Most human beings carry within themselves an imagined life. We construct inward narratives about who we will become, what our lives will look like, how others will perceive us, what spiritual maturity will feel like, how our vocation will unfold. Often we do this unconsciously. The ego survives partly through anticipation and self-construction. But ordinary life slowly dismantles these fantasies. The years pass. Weaknesses remain. Relationships become difficult. Bodies age. Opportunities disappear. Recognition fades. The extraordinary fails to arrive. And many people quietly become resentful at precisely this point. Not necessarily resentful toward God explicitly. More often there emerges a subtle disappointment with reality itself. The ordinary begins to feel like failure. Hiddenness feels like abandonment. Repetition feels meaningless. The soul becomes restless, searching continually for intensity, novelty, affirmation, or escape. But the hidden years of Christ reveal something radically different: salvation unfolds within ordinary time. This is profoundly important because modern culture has become nearly incapable of remaining within ordinary life. We seek constant stimulation 3 because silence exposes our inner poverty. We seek visibility because hiddenness feels like nonexistence. We seek intensity because ordinary faithfulness feels insufficient to the ego. And yet the saints repeatedly tell us that God is found precisely in this hidden endurance. Saint Isaac the Syrian says that the man who has learned to endure himself has already approached the borders of humility. That phrase is extraordinarily deep because one of the great difficulties of ordinary life is that we cannot escape ourselves within it. The repetitions of daily existence expose our impatience, vanity, fantasies, irritability, loneliness, and hidden hunger for recognition. The monastery reveals this. Marriage reveals this. Caregiving reveals this. Aging reveals this. Silence reveals this. And modern people often flee immediately from such revelation. This is one reason our culture is saturated with distraction. Endless stimulation protects us temporarily from encountering the deeper movements of the heart. Noise allows us to avoid self-knowledge. Busyness protects us from stillness. Constant comparison protects us from accepting our actual lives. Nazareth dismantles all of this. The Son of God accepts limitation. He accepts hiddenness. He accepts gradualness. He accepts ordinary labor. He accepts being unknown. And perhaps most astonishingly, He remains. This may be one of the hardest spiritual acts for modern people. To remain. To remain in prayer when prayer feels dry. To remain in marriage when emotional intensity fades. To remain in caregiving when exhaustion deepens. 4 To remain faithful within obscurity. To remain present within ordinary life without fleeing continually toward fantasy or self-construction. The hidden years reveal that salvation often unfolds precisely through such remaining. Not glamorous remaining. Not emotionally triumphant remaining. Simply the quiet fidelity of continuing to offer oneself to God within the actual conditions of one's life. This does not mean passivity or fatalism. Nazareth is not an excuse for fear or avoidance. Christ eventually leaves Nazareth and enters public ministry. But He does so only after decades hidden within ordinary existence. The hidden life was not wasted time before the “real mission.” It was itself part of the revelation. And perhaps this is what many souls most need to hear today: your hidden life is not invisible to God. The years that seem uneventful. The labor no one notices. The prayers said distractedly but faithfully. The meals prepared. The tears shed privately. The humiliations endured quietly. The long stretches where nothing seems to happen spiritually. None of this is outside salvation. Christ has entered all of it. Indeed, He chose to spend most of His earthly life there. The fathers understood this more deeply than we often realize. The desert was never merely geographical. It was existential. The monk enters hiddenness not to become extraordinary, but to become truthful. Gradually the false self built upon recognition, performance, fantasy, and comparison begins to weaken. A different kind of life slowly emerges: simpler, poorer, more real, 5 less dependent upon being seen. This is why hiddenness feels simultaneously painful and liberating. Painful because the ego experiences obscurity as diminishment. Liberating because the soul gradually discovers it no longer needs to construct itself continually before others. Nazareth teaches us this freedom. The hidden Christ reveals the holiness of ordinary existence lived in communion with the Father. And perhaps holiness itself is far quieter than we imagine. Perhaps sanctity often looks less like dramatic accomplishment and more like: patience, presence, forgiveness, hidden prayer, remaining, and consenting slowly to the life actually given to us. Nazareth teaches us that salvation enters the world silently. And it teaches us that the ordinary moments we are most tempted to overlook may become precisely the places where Christ is forming His life within us. 6
This is a reflection of todays mantra - I Choose Presence Over Constant Busyness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With just 24 hours in a day, it would seem that there is never enough time to accomplish everything. However, it is essential to learn how to disconnect for a time so that you can be more effective in doing what needs to be done in life.
Being busy has become a badge of honour for many of us. But is busyness actually helping us live well? Today's meditation invites you to slow down, be present and remember that your value isn't determined by how much you do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Living in Step with the Holy Spirit, Bruce Downes reflects on Luke 10:41–42 and the story of Mary and Martha.Martha welcomes Jesus into her home. She wants to serve Him well. Her intentions are good, and her love for Jesus is real. But somewhere in the middle of serving Jesus, she stops being present to Jesus.Bruce reminds us that this can easily happen in our own lives. We may not deliberately turn away from God. We may not consciously decide to neglect prayer or ignore the Holy Spirit. But responsibilities increase, demands multiply, schedules become full, and the pace of life accelerates.Before long, we can remain busy without remaining attentive to God.Jesus does not shame Martha. He speaks her name with tenderness and invites her back to the one thing necessary.The Christian life does involve activity, service, work, sacrifice, and care for others. But the question is whether our activity is flowing from relationship with God or slowly replacing it.Today's invitation is to pause, return to Jesus, and allow the Holy Spirit to reorder the heart.
Most practice owners think team struggles come from staffing shortages, difficult personalities, or lack of motivation, but Dr. Pete and Dr. Stephen challenge that assumption head-on. Dr. Pete frames the conversation around identifying the primary constraint limiting growth, while Dr. Stephen focuses on accountability as the force that turns busyness into productivity. Together, they unpack the “four rights” of building a high-performing team: right people, right positions, right work, and right way. Getting these “4 Rights” right starts with your hiring process. Set Expectations and Agreements early in the relationship - and make sure that they understand that your business is a “High Accountability" environment. Along the way, they reveal why A-Players thrive in accountable cultures, how unclear expectations quietly sabotage scalability, and why stronger leadership systems create greater focus, healthier culture, and sustainable growth. In This Episode You Will Learn: Why many teams stay busy all day while producing surprisingly little movement The hidden reason accountability systems fail even when leaders think they're “clear” A sharper framework for identifying whether the issue is the person, the seat, or the work itself What happens when A players are surrounded by unclear expectations and weak ownership The surprising connection between focus, productivity, profitability, and team alignment Episode Highlights 01:35 - A powerful vision emerges around identifying the single team constraint quietly limiting growth and scalability 02:43 - Counterintuitive insight reveals why most practice owners have a focus problem instead of an effort problem 04:21 - Accountability gets reframed as the force that transforms motion into measurable movement 05:44 - A deeper look at A players exposes why great team members actually demand accountability 07:07 - Positioning takes center stage as leaders confront the costly mistake of placing people outside their zone of genius 08:37 - Practical strategy separates roles, responsibilities, and outcomes into a framework teams can actually execute 10:56 - A sharp hiring distinction reveals why CEOs should stop selling candidates into the job 14:45 - A compelling leadership challenge emerges around creating measurable ownership instead of vague expectations 16:49 - Early hiring mistakes expose how fast-moving CEOs unintentionally sabotage team quality 21:00 - Vision for a world-class team comes alive through the metaphor of a band where every player owns their role 22:35 - The real financial cost of weak accountability surfaces through productivity, profitability, and team optimization metrics 27:58 - Stephanie Dove Blake from Success Partner Social Sparrow joins Dr. Pete to share her personal journey from witnessing the impact of chronic pain to helping chiropractors reach more patients through digital marketing. They discuss lead generation, patient conversion, AI, and the systems Social Sparrow uses to help practices attract, book, and serve more people. Resources Mentioned To learn more about the REM CEO Program, please visit: http://www.theremarkablepractice.com/rem-ceo For more information about Social Sparrow please visit: https://socialsparrow.com Book a Strategy Session with Dr. Pete - https://go.oncehub.com/PodcastPC Prefer to watch? Catch the podcast on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRemarkablePractice1 To listen to more episodes, visit https://theremarkablepractice.com/podcast or follow on your favorite podcast app.
Your calendar reveals your priorities more than your intentions ever will. In this episode, Costi Hinn walks through five practical, biblical ways to take back your time and stop living reactively.
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Strategy Isn't a Plan - and That Difference Could Change EverythingMost of the people I speak with on this show are smart, capable, and deeply experienced. And yet a surprising number of them are working without a clear strategy - not because they don't care about direction, but because no one ever explained what strategy actually is, and how it's different from the planning they do every single day.That's exactly what this conversation with Charlie Curzon is about.Charlie is a coach, strategist, and advisor with more than two decades of experience helping leaders, teams, and organisations think more effectively. His book, Be More Strategic: 12 Essential Practises to Build the Life and Career You Want, turns one of the most overused words in business into something genuinely teachable, practical, and personal.Three things we got into:✳️ Strategy is about choices in uncertainty - not a five-year plan. Charlie draws on Roger Martin's strategy cascade to show how winning aspiration, where to play, and how to win work together as a thinking triangle that sharpens decisions before you ever get to planning.✳️ The Strategy Mastery Framework is a four-level circular model built from years of working with real leaders in business, sport, and the military. It begins with self-awareness - because state precedes strategy - and builds through open-mindedness, strategic skills, and the ability to bring others on board.✳️ Being strategic isn't just for work. Charlie makes the case that surfacing assumptions, asking "what if," and tracking how those assumptions shift over time are daily practises that apply just as well to life as to any boardroom decision.Charlie's amplifiers:✳️ Read The Go-Giver by Bob Burg - a short, parable-style book about generosity of spirit that Charlie credits with reinforcing the relational approach behind much of his work.✳️ Track your energy, not just your time. Based on Jim Loehr's book On Form, Charlie recommends keeping a three-day energy diary - logging what gives you energy and what drains it - to uncover patterns and improve your capacity for clear thinking.✳️ Journal daily, ideally with pen and paper. Even a couple of minutes. Charlie does it twice a day and notes the growing evidence that handwriting engages the mind differently to typing. If you're ready to go deeper, try journalling through a values lens.If this conversation got you thinking about how you're making decisions - at work or in life - then I'd love it if you took a moment to follow or subscribe. That way you'll never miss an episode, and it helps me keep bringing guests like Charlie to the show.Timestamps:00:00 - Preview: the winning aspiration00:38 - Welcome and guest introduction01:49 - Charlie's world: a typical week03:12 - Strategy vs planning - what's the real difference?05:06 - Why strategy raises anxiety and planning feels safe06:54 - Roger Martin's strategy cascade: aspiration, where to play, how to win10:56 - Strategy as subtraction - ruling things out11:29 - The Game Changer Index and natural vs learned strategic thinking15:18 - The power of asking "what if?" and surfacing assumptions16:52 - The Strategy Mastery Framework explained19:33 - Level 1: self-awareness - state precedes strategy20:41 - Level 2: open-mindedness and critical thinking20:41 - Levels 3 and 4: future focus, influence, and collaboration21:51 - The testimonial story: senior leaders surprised by Level 124:03 - What separates those who thrive from those who bump along25:04 - Strategic capability under pressure27:16 - The CEO who had a strategy but didn't know it29:13 - The 12-month trap and what a longer horizon changes33:27 - Building a personal practise of strategic mastery34:45 - Living strategically - what that actually looks like36:44 - The Lego castle story: articulating a hidden aspiration38:00 - Tracking assumptions as a daily life practise40:08 - Journaling as a strategic tool41:12 - How Charlie builds his business - relationships first43:49 - Why content is for staying present, not finding strangers45:21 - Amplifier 1: The Go-Giver47:34 - Amplifier 2: On Form and managing energy not time48:08 - Amplifier 3: Journaling, values, and pen and paper49:24 - Where to find Charlie and upcoming masterclasses51:40 - Close and Bob's final CTAVisit Charlie's website. https://www.teammandarin.com/----Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business BlueprintIt's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.www.amplifyme.agency/roadmap----Subscribe to my Youtube!! Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentleJoin the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insidersPlease take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.
As God's children who are serving in ministry, sometimes the first thing to go in our walk is learning how to rest in Christ. Busyness can be one of the greatest enemies to sustainability and longevity in ministry. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, sits down with West Regional Director Jeff Redmond to discuss what it looks like practically to rest in Christ and some things that he's learned in his walk as a believer and recovery.
Series Title: Free IndeedSermon Title: The Bondage of BusynessLearn more about us at livingstonescma.org.
Watch our service from June 14th, 2026 featuring a message by Pastor Peter Hong on slowing down the busyness!Follow us on all platforms!Website https://www.lansdale.church/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lansdale.churchYouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuUsGDGeFmzHJIxZsEiBTWwInstagram https://www.instagram.com/lansdale.church/Immanuel Sermons https://anchor.fm/lansdalechurchImmanuel Podcasts https://anchor.fm/immanuelpodcasts
This week, Angela discusses the concept of 'life dehydration' versus living life on purpose. She draws parallels between physical dehydration and spiritual or emotional depletion caused by busyness, obligations, and overconsumption of news and social media. The episode encourages listeners to de-obligate their lives to rehydrate and focus on what truly matters: family, faith, friends, and community. Key Takeaways
I know we've talked about boundaries on this show before. But this conversation? It went somewhere I really wasn't expecting.My guest today is Alex Lianne Carter, a master certified neurocoach, educator, and children's author who burned out, rebuilt her life one small decision at a time, and eventually packed up her family and moved to Panama. When Alex reached out to me about coming on to talk about boundaries, I sat with it for a minute because the angle she brought was one I hadn't heard before, and I think you're going to feel it too.Because this episode is really about three things that are all connected: the busyness we can't shake, the boundaries we can't hold, and what our kids are quietly picking up from watching us do both. Alex walks us through the brain science behind why slowing down genuinely feels wrong, where these patterns actually come from, and what we can do about it before we hand the whole cycle to our kids.What You'll Learn:Why you can't hold a boundary no matter how many times you set it What your kids are absorbing right now just by watching how you move through your dayThe real reason slowing down feels dangerous to your nervous system even when you desperately want itThe very first step out of autopilot when you're so deep in it you don't even realize it's runningConnect With Alex:Free to Be Me (children's book): www.freetobemekid.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/alex.lianne.carterLinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/alexliannecarter ________________________________
Listen to this week's sermon, Summer in the Psalms preached by Rev. Benjamin Kandt from Psalm 90.
Send Sherry a Text MessageWhen life hurts, where do you turn?Food. Busyness. Social media. Serial dating. Avoiding the hard things. We all have our "fix"- something that helps numb the pain, distract us from reality, or make us feel better for a moment.But what happens when the fix isn't fixing anything?In this heartfelt and honest episode of It's a Single Mom Thing, Sherry explores the difference between temporary relief and lasting healing. Building on last week's episode, Healing Is an Assignment, she dives into the coping mechanisms we often reach for when life feels overwhelming and asks a powerful question:Can I trust God with the places I've been trying to manage myself?Through personal reflections, practical insights, and biblical encouragement, you'll discover why some fixes quietly become substitutes for God, why healing requires surrender, and how true freedom begins when we stop managing our pain and allow God to transform it.If you've ever found yourself running back to old patterns, struggling to let go, or wondering why healing feels so hard, this episode is for you.Because painkillers have a purpose.Band-aids have a purpose.But eventually the wound has to be cleaned if it's going to heal.You want God's best? Forget the rest. Let Him fix your fix.Resources Mentioned:
Busy has become a badge of honor for many of us.In fact, the Urban Dictionary defines “busy” as what people say when they're too overwhelmed to explain what's actually going on. Hmmm, yeah…that feels about right.If there were scout patches for multitasking, overcommitting, and answering texts while standing in line for coffee, a lot of us would have completely run out of room on our sash.We move from task to task, appointment to appointment, often without taking a single breath.This guided meditation is an invitation to pause. To slow down. To reconnect with your breath, your body, and yourself.For the moments when life feels too full and you're moving through your days on autopilot, press play.Send us Fan MailFor those who have reached out asking how to support Adrienne and her family during this time, click here to donate. There is absolutely no expectation—just sincere gratitude.We Didn't Plan For This Special SeriesThis series exists because so many of you reached out and said, “I didn't plan for this either.”If you've gone through a diagnosis, a loss, a life change, a career shift, a divorce, becoming a caregiver, moving, starting over — we want to hear your story.You don't have to have it figured out. You just have to be willing to share honestly.How Yoga Changed My Life a PodcastSend Us Your Stories!If you have a story about how yoga, meditation, breath work, journaling, or movement changed your life, we want to hear from you! These podcasts are really about the same thing — how people move through the seasons of life they didn't plan for, and what helps them along the way.If you'd like to be on the show or share your story: Fill out our guest form or email us at yogachanged@gmail.com Follow us on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@yogachanged...
Come Away and Rest When was the last time you truly rested? In Episode 156 of 2 Minute Disciple, we reflect on Mark 6:30–34, where the disciples return from ministry exhausted and full of stories. Before discussing their accomplishments or planning the next mission, Jesus offers a simple invitation: “Come away by yourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” It's a powerful reminder that Jesus is not only concerned with what we do for Him—He is deeply concerned with our souls. He knows when we've been giving, serving, working, and striving. He knows when we're running on empty. Yet the story takes an unexpected turn. The crowds follow. The quiet retreat is interrupted. And instead of responding with frustration, Jesus responds with compassion. Seeing the people as sheep without a shepherd, He begins to teach them. This passage holds two essential truths in tension: rest is necessary, and compassion is necessary. Jesus models both. He invites His followers to receive rest and teaches them how to respond graciously when life doesn't go according to plan. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why Jesus prioritizes rest for His disciples • The spiritual danger of constantly running on empty • How rest becomes an act of trust and obedience • What Jesus teaches us about interruptions and compassion • A simple practice for embracing genuine rest today Scripture Mark 6:30–34 (NLT) Reflection Question Am I regularly accepting Jesus' invitation to come away and rest—or have I been running on empty, giving what I no longer have to give? Today's Spiritual Practice Protect one genuine period of rest today. Not scrolling. Not multitasking. Not productive resting. Simply rest with Jesus. Before you begin, pray: “Jesus, I accept Your invitation. I come away with You now. Restore what the busyness has taken. Fill what has been emptied. I receive this rest as a gift from You—and I trust You with everything I'm setting down to take it.” If this episode encourages you, share it with one person today and help more people discover the peace, presence, and rest that Jesus offers.
SummaryIn this episode, Jones Laughlin shares insights on the power of choice, work-life balance, self-trust, and how entrepreneurs can make better decisions to thrive personally and professionally.TakeawaysThe importance of conscious choice in daily lifeMetaphor of the three-ring circus for life balanceReframing work-life balance as work-life integrationStrategies for making effective decisions with limited informationThe role of self-trust and confidence in entrepreneurshipChapters00:00 Introduction to Choice and Empowerment04:22 The Three Ring Circus Metaphor07:37 Work-Life Balance vs. Work-Life Integration10:27 The Importance of Self-Care13:21 Navigating the Unknown: Making Choices16:36 The Role of Trust in Decision Making19:40 Embracing Failure and Learning22:20 The Evolving Landscape of Entrepreneurship34:09 The Evolution of Professional Speaking35:18 Finding Your Unique Selling Proposition36:09 The Importance of Clarity in Goals41:17 Aligning Actions with Desired Outcomes43:32 The Dangers of Busyness vs. Productivity49:52 Building Competence and Confidence54:25 Celebrating Wins to Boost ConfidenceCredits:Hosted by Ryan Roghaar and Mike SmithProduced by Ryan RoghaarTheme music: "Perfect Day" by OPM The Eggs Podcast Spotify playlist:bit.ly/eggstunesThe Plugs:The Show: eggsthepodcast.com@eggsthepodcast on X and InstagramMike "DJ Ontic": Shows and info: djontic.com@djontic on twitterRyan Roghaar:rogha.ar
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get your Hosea Scripture Journal now. What happens when spiritual leaders stop looking different? Listen to our text today, Hosea 4:9-11: And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. They shall eat, but not be satisfied; they shall play the whore, but not multiply, because they have forsaken the Lord to cherish whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding. — Hosea 4:9-11 The priests were meant to be set apart. They were called to teach truth, guard God's Word, and lead people back to him. Instead, they blended into the culture around them. They began to look, sound, and live like everyone else—and the people followed. Because when spiritual leaders stop leading, the culture consumes them. We see this same thing happening right now. Pastors who look more like executives than shepherds. Churches shaped more by strategy than Scripture. Messages that reflect cultural crazes more than biblical truth. Over time, the edge softens, conviction fades, and truth grows silent. And eventually, there is no meaningful difference between the church and the world around it. Thus God says: "Like people, like priest." God will not ignore this. He says he will punish and repay the spiritual leaders for their negligence. Leadership matters in God's church, but so does followership. Both are accountable for what they become. Then God describes the outcome of poor leadership and followership. Busyness without fulfillment — "They shall eat, but not be satisfied…" Indulgences without fruit — "They shall play the whore, but not multiply…" And why? "Because they have forsaken the LORD…" When God is replaced—even subtly—everything begins to hollow out. What takes his place promises satisfaction but never delivers. Instead, it slowly erodes spiritual clarity. It.. "…takes away the understanding." That is the cost. Poor spiritual leadership leads to the blurring of truth and the fading of discernment, and thus, people are lost. But this is not just for pastors. It is about you. Are you following leaders anchored in God—or leaders who merely reflect the culture around them? DO THIS: Evaluate one voice you regularly follow and ask whether it is shaping you toward God or toward culture. ASK THIS: Where do you see spiritual leaders blending into culture today? How has leadership shaped your beliefs and decisions? Are you pursuing truth or simply what feels comfortable? PRAY THIS: Father, give me discernment to recognize truth and courage to follow it. Keep me from drifting with the culture. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Christ Is Enough"
We live in the most connected era in human history — and yet loneliness has never been more widespread. In this thoughtful and beautifully grounded episode, Lia Girard makes an important distinction between two very different kinds of being alone. There is the loneliness we dread — that gnawing disconnection felt even in a crowded room full of people staring at their screens. And then there is erēmos — the Greek word used in Luke 5:16 — a purposeful, chosen withdrawal to a quiet place to be with God. Jesus didn't just permit this kind of solitude. He modeled it, prioritized it, and returned to it again and again. Throughout the richly packed chapter of Luke 5, Jesus pours Himself out completely — healing, teaching, feeding, loving. And then He withdraws. Forty days alone in the wilderness. A mountainside after feeding five thousand. The Garden of Gethsemane, stepping away even from His closest friends to pray. If the Son of God — fully divine, fully human — needed the sanctuary of solitude to reorient His heart to the Father's will, how much more do we? Lia invites us to stop treating silence as something to fill and start treating it as the gift it truly is — a place where we can hear our own hearts, and the voice of God that is meant singularly for us. Today's Bible Verse "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." — Luke 5:16, NIV Ponder Today Solitude is not loneliness — it is sanctuary. The Greek word erēmos in Luke 5:16 describes a purposeful retreat to a quiet place. Chosen solitude with God is not isolation; it is intimacy. Jesus modeled solitude as a necessity, not a luxury. From forty days in the wilderness to a mountainside after feeding thousands, Jesus consistently withdrew to be with the Father. His example is both permission and invitation for us to do the same. Busyness and pouring ourselves out for others make solitude more necessary, not less. Jesus lived demanding, sacrificial days — and that is precisely why He withdrew. The fuller your life feels, the more urgently your soul needs quiet. Solitude protects the authenticity of your prayer life. Jesus warned against prayer performed for others to see. Time alone with God removes the audience and creates the conditions for an honest, unguarded outpouring of your heart. A Prayer for You Today Dear God, I'm not always comfortable with solitude — I tend to fill quiet moments with productivity or distraction rather than time with You. The world is loud, and my life feels full and demanding. Please help me reprioritize sitting in silence with You. Help me not to feel anxious when I'm alone, but to see stillness as a gift. Help me reestablish the practice of withdrawing to be refilled with Your guidance and presence. Thank You for Jesus, who shows us that solitude is a necessity, not a luxury — and that being alone is not lonely at all. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen. Don't Miss an Episode If today's prayer made you want to find a quiet place and simply be with God, we'd love to stay connected. Subscribe to the LifeAudio newsletter at LifeAudio.com for daily prayers, devotionals, and more content to help you cultivate a deeper, more intimate walk with Him every day. If you like this podcast, be sure to check out our sister podcast, Your Nightly Prayer - an evening Christian prayer podcast to help you end your day in conversation with God. https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
A decade into the Better Leaders Better Schools Ruckuscast, Danny Bauer has coached and interviewed hundreds of school leaders — and the patterns are clear. Dan Watt, elementary principal in British Columbia and Ruckus Maker, flips the microphone and puts Danny in the guest chair. What follows isn't nostalgia. It's the unfiltered architecture of a school leadership development ecosystem that actually works — and what it means for how you lead your campus. The Ruckuscast turns 10 this year. That's 10 years of watching which principals grow and which ones stall, which leadership beliefs hold up and which ones collapse under pressure. This episode is the debrief.
In this episode of our Daughters Series, we unpack the powerful story of Mary and Martha and discover why this familiar Bible story still has so much to teach us. We talk about the tension between doing things for Jesus and simply being with Him, the danger of burnout and performance-based faith, and the beautiful invitation Jesus gives every daughter to sit at His feet. We also explore one of the most moving moments in Scripture—Jesus weeping with Mary after the death of Lazarus—and what it reveals about His heart toward our pain, disappointment, and grief. Finally, we look at Mary's extravagant act of worship and uncover a powerful pattern throughout her life: every time we see Mary, she's found at the feet of Jesus. Whether you're feeling busy, burned out, heartbroken, or simply longing for more of God's presence, we hope this conversation reminds you that the posture of a daughter is always found at the feet of Jesus. In This Episode [03:00] Three Defining Moments in Their Story [05:50] Are You a Martha? [08:00] Burnout, Busyness & Christian Performance [12:30] Jesus Wept [16:00] Letting God Into Your Heartbreak [19:00] Mary's Extravagant Worship [20:00] Every Time We See Mary [21:00] The Posture of a Daughter [24:00] Practical Ways to Sit at the Feet of Jesus [27:00] Looking Ahead to Priscilla ORDER OUR NEW STUDY! This seven-week, verse-by-verse study through the book of Acts invites you to embrace the unpredictable, sometimes challenging adventure of Spirit-led living that characterized the early church. Delight Ministries Looking for a Delight Chapter near you? Check out Delightministries.com to find one. If there's not one near you, and you want to help start one, let us know! We would love to talk. Get on the list for updates on Kenz's new venture Plenty Nutrition! Thanks to Our Sponsors Winshape: Learn more or submit your application today! The Wonder Project: Subscriber support makes more great content like I Gotta Ask with Annie F. Downs possible. The Wonder Project subscription on Prime Video is available in the U.S. for $8.99/month or $89.99/year after a 7-day free trial. Visit IGottaAsk.com to learn more! If you'd like to partner with For The Girl as a sponsor, fill out our Advertise With Us form! Follow us!
There has been lots of discussion recently about AI eliminating jobs. But what if the real fear is that AI will instead make existing jobs miserable? In this episode, Cal argues that LLM–based tools are poised to accelerate the worst aspects of pseudo-productivity to an absurd degree. He then shares five ideas for avoiding this fate in your own professional life. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here's the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today's episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) How Do I Escape the “Busyness Singularity”? (29:03) Reaction to Cal's newsletter about LLMs (33:35) Slow productivity for managers (37:26) Efforts to improve cognitive fitness (40:28) What Cal is reading (42:21) What Cal is up to Books: In Defense of Food (Michael Pollan) Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow Get a signed copy of Cal's “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ Cal's monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/05/14/prepare-for-an-ai-jobs-apocalypse https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/technology/newsom-ai-executive-order-california.html https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/breaking-down-infinite-workday https://www.axios.com/2023/02/15/burnout-2022-2023-slack-remote-work-future-forum https://calnewport.com/on-god-and-llms/ Thanks to our Sponsors: https://www.shopify.com/deep https://www.larridin.com https://www.masterclass.com/deep https://www.expressvpn.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Communicate & Connect Podcast for Military Relationships
Have you ever sat right next to your partner on the couch, completely silent, and realized you felt entirely alone? It is a heartbreaking sensation, but I want you to take a deep breath: you are not alone in this experience, and it doesn't mean your relationship is broken. This is really common, especially in military families where the pressure to keep everything looking fine is so high. In this episode, I sit down with the wonderful Dr. Sylvia Kalicinski, a licensed marriage and family therapist and author of Lonely AF: A Therapist's No BS Guide to Feeling Less Alone. Together, we explore how our fast-paced lives, childhood emotional survival strategies, and systemic pressures keep us trapped in an artificial "busyness" just to avoid the painful ache of loneliness. >>>Make sure to like, review, and subscribe to get all the future episodes and help the podcast be found by others who would benefit the most. Take the 3-minute Relationship Clarity Quiz Read the show notes for this episode here.
In a culture that rewards productivity and constant striving, what does it actually mean to rest in God? Whitney and Scott sit down with Micaela Sanders to talk about weariness, Sabbath, abiding in Christ, and learning to trust God in the middle of difficult circumstances. They unpack the difference between being productive and being fruitful, how Sabbath reshapes our relationship with time, and how God meets us not by removing us from hardship, but by being present with us in it.If you have questions or want access to additional resources, be sure to check out the podcast page at: https://grace.sc/resources/podcasts/podcast/
Are modern Christians too distracted to hear the voice of God?In this episode, the team begins a new series exploring how constant stimulation, endless notifications, social media, entertainment, and the pressure of modern life may be affecting our spiritual health. From smartphones and dopamine-driven habits to packed schedules and mental exhaustion, we examine whether busyness has quietly become one of the greatest obstacles to prayer, reflection, and intimacy with God.Together, we discuss the challenge of silence, the example of Jesus withdrawing to pray, and why many believers struggle to spend even a few uninterrupted minutes with God. We also explore how technology can be a helpful tool without becoming a spiritual shortcut or distraction from genuine relationship with Christ.Clarity in chaos. Bringing hope to a chaotic world.If you've ever felt spiritually dry, overwhelmed, constantly distracted, or unable to slow down long enough to pray, this conversation is for you.patreon.com/TheTruthResponsehttps://linktr.ee/thetruthresponsehttps://www.instagram.com/thetruthresponse/https://www.facebook.com/thetruthresponsehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-response/id1504362531https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kpkgsy7I7zVuv5UyiRACu?si=BqwQH988RW2DpLbYg5BnSA
A busy life opposes the worshiping life.
Send us Fan MailYou can grind from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., stack your calendar with meetings, and still end the day with zero dollars to show for it. That's why I'm drawing a sharp line between being busy and actually building, because this difference quietly destroys businesses that look “productive” on the surface. Busyness is motion. Building is momentum.I talk through the mindset trap that makes busyness feel safe and rewarding, even when it doesn't move the needle. Then I give you a practical filter you can use immediately: ask better questions about every commitment. Is this activity creating leverage, freeing time, or producing an asset that compounds? Or is it just keeping you occupied? This is also where your zone of genius matters. When you spend your best hours on low-value tasks and unnecessary meetings, you give away the very work only you can do.To make it stick, I share a visual I love from my trip to the Amazon rainforest in Peru. When you're under the trees, you can't see far, so you keep pushing forward and hope you're headed somewhere good. The real advantage is lifting your head up, looking around, and evaluating direction so you can make a small adjustment before you waste weeks. Your takeaway is simple: identify one building task you'll implement this week, then track the change it creates.If this hits home, subscribe for more short, practical business advice, share this with a friend who's drowning in meetings, and leave a review so more builders can find the show. What's the one building task you're choosing this week? To Reach Jordan:Email: Jordan@Edwards.Consulting Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ejFXH1_BjdnxG4J8u93ZwFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jordan.edwards.7503Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanfedwards/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanedwards5/Hope you find value in this. If so please provide a 5-star and drop a review.Complimentary Edwards Consulting Session: https://calendly.com/jordan-edwardsconsulting/30min
In this episode, hosts Dave Prior and Stuart Young sit down with Carl Smith, a "philosophical futurist" and leader of The Bureau (https://thebureau.community/), a community of over 1,500 creative leaders. The conversation explores how to "tune up" your personal and professional systems to better serve yourself and others by embracing vulnerability, mindfulness, and the power of imperfection. Key Topics and Takeaways - The Trap of Busyness vs. Productivity: Carl shares a recent "reset" triggered by a Saturday morning spent staring at spreadsheets. He discusses the danger of moving from a "creating" mindset to a "protecting" mindset, and how his attempt to become more efficient unintentionally made his team inefficient. - Energy Management and Burnout: Carl defines burnout as a state where you send all your energy out and none comes back. He uses a slot machine analogy to describe how different interactions can either deplete or replenish your internal "jackpot". - Self-Regulation Power-Ups: -Speed Journaling -NSDR (Non-Sleep Deep Relaxation) -Nose Breathing (Yes, it's a thing) -Health Tracking Systems and why you might need more than one -Stoicism Links from the Podcast No One Is Coming to Save You: The Power Ups to Help Surf the Chaos https://tinyurl.com/5dsh2n4v The Bureau of Digital https://thebureau.community/ Breath by James Nestor https://tinyurl.com/38uemcx4 Outlive by Peter Attia https://tinyurl.com/4e5a6nc3 The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins https://tinyurl.com/2rpwe93u Project to Product by Mik Kersten https://tinyurl.com/2rksj6bw Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman https://tinyurl.com/46xeh8nn Everyday Stoicism by Gareth Southwell https://tinyurl.com/5c5n5392 Daily Stoic Podcast byRyan Holiday https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily-stoic/id1430315931 Life Saver Graphics LLC —https://tinyurl.com/yfr95r8u Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Systems of Imperfection 03:22 The Importance of Self-Care and Productivity 05:50 Navigating Work Overwhelm and Chaos 08:55 The Role of Community in Professional Growth 11:45 Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence 14:50 Mindfulness Practices for Better Living 17:47 The Power of Authenticity in Leadership 20:59 The Intersection of Technology and Humanity 23:59 Stoicism and Its Relevance Today 26:54 Embracing Imperfection and Learning from Mistakes 29:52 The Future of Work and Community Engagement 32:57 Creating Value Through Collaboration 35:54 Final Thoughts on Being Human in a Digital Age 56:09 Outro.mp4 Contacting Carl: The Bureau of Digital: https://thebureau.community/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-w-smith/ Contacting Stuart - linktr.ee/stuartliveart Contacting Dave -linktr.ee/mrsungo
Sleep Calming and Relaxing ASMR Thunder Rain Podcast for Studying, Meditation and Focus
The Practice of Finding Peace in the Midst of Busyness
We'd love to hear from you. Send us fan mail!Role clarity is the most underleveraged driver of leadership performance, and most organizations aren't building it. In this episode of Shedding the Corporate Bitch, executive coach Bernadette Boas sits down with Jackson Lynch, founder of Talent Sherpa, to examine why talented people consistently underperform when the architecture around them is broken. Drawing on W. Edwards Deming's research that 94% of performance problems are systemic, not personal, Jackson makes a compelling case that organizations have been investing in the wrong place.The conversation moves from theory to practice quickly. Jackson breaks down what role architecture actually means: defining five to seven outcomes for any role so that everyone in the system, the incumbent, their manager, their peers upstream and downstream, knows exactly what winning looks like. Without that, accountability becomes blame, engagement flatlines, and even your highest-potential leaders are flying blind.For HR leaders, this episode reframes the function itself. Jackson challenges the compliance-first model that most human capital teams operate within and argues that the real job is to identify talent constraints before the strategy is executed, not after things go sideways. What You Will LearnWhy 94% of performance problems are architectural, not personal, and what that means for how you develop leadersHow to define the 5–7 outcomes that tell any role what winning looks likeWhy decision rights must be directly tied to accountability and what breaks when they aren'tThe difference between accountability (backward blame) and reliability (forward ownership) — and which one actually produces resultsHow to use a talent portfolio optimization model to put the right people in the highest-impact rolesWhy HR's shift from compliance partner to business constraint solver changes organizational performanceHow auditing your calendar reveals whether you are leading strategically or managing noiseEpisode Chapters [00:00 — Welcome & Why Leadership Architecture Matters More Than Talent02:00 — The Biggest Leadership Misconception: It's the System, Not the Person03:00 — What Role Architecture Actually Means — Outcomes, Decision Rights & Boundary Conditions05:00 — Role Clarity in Practice: Defining What Winning Looks Like07:00 — Reframing Accountability as Reliability — and Why It Changes Everything08:00 — The AI Fog Problem: Why Automating Unclear Roles Scales the Problem10:00 — The Real Cost of Not Defining Outcomes: Opportunity Loss13:00 — How to Drive Accountability Without Blame16:00 — Why Leaders Stay Stuck in Tasks: Dopamine, Busyness & the Arsonist Problem18:00 — The Talent Portfolio Optimization Model vs. Traditional Succession Planning21:00 — How to Sequence Talent Decisions for Maximum Business Impact23:00 — How HR and Business Leaders Should Partner on Talent Strategy29:00 — Moving Your Team From Busy to Impactful32:00 — Nobody Gets Overwhelmed Knowing What Winning Looks Like33:00 — Audit Your Calendar: The One Move That Changes Everything35:00 — Where to Find Jackson Lynch & Talent SherpaAbout the Guest Jackson Lynch is the founder of Talent Sherpa, where he works with CEOs and executive teams to build the role clarity, decision rights, and outcome-defined accountability structures that drive business performance. With 25 years in human capital — from the factory floor to senior leadership in public companies — Jackson brings an operator's perspective to the systemic gaps that most leadership development programs never address. He also publishes a weekly Substack followed by more than 6,000 human capital practitioners. Learn more at mytalentsherpa.com and connect with Jackson on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jxnlynch.Related EpisodesYour Calendar is Lying: HERE — how you need to become an attention manager vs. time managerYour Company is Not a Machine with Norman Wolfe PART 1 HERE — how leaders need to shift from managing tasks to leading the heart of the company; your people.How to Stop Managing the Machine with Norman Wolfe PART 2 HERE — the four concrete leadership skills that make the framework operational, and more importantly, why most leaders are missing all of themSubscribe If this conversation gave you something you can use, subscribe to Shedding the Corporate B!tch on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Access all of the full episode on Ball of Fire Coaching. Each episode is built for executives, HR leaders, and corporate professionals who want direct, no-nonsense insight on what it actually takes to lead at the highest levels. New episodes every week at ballofirecoaching.com/podcast.Support the show
Life feels full for so many of us. There are responsibilities to manage, people to care for, work to do, ministries to serve in, and homes to tend. And while those things are often good gifts from the Lord, busyness and faithfulness are not always the same thing. Sharing some encouragement from God's Word for those seasons when life begins to feel hurried and spiritually weary, when our hearts slowly become distracted in the middle of full days. My prayer is that this episode encourages you to slow down a bit, rest in Christ, and become more present in the people and moments the Lord has placed right in front of you. Head over to ThankfulHomemaker.com for full show notes on all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode. Homemaking Matters: Living for God's Glory in the Ordinary RELATED EPISODES: EP 165: Bringing Order to Your Day: The Benefits of a Brain Dump and a Daily Plan for Homemakers Keeping a Right Heart in Busy Seasons Sitting at the Feet of Jesus in a Season of Busyness RESOURCES: Join Thankful Homemaker for access to the Free Library of Resources Follow ThankfulHomemaker on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest & Instagram Join the Thankful Homemaker Facebook Group Subscribe to the Podcast on Your Favorite App Online Courses & Printables Thankful Homemaker Merchandise Buy Marci a Cup of Coffee xo
Why do we fill our lives with so much noise? Why does slowing down feel uncomfortable or even unproductive? Madi dives into the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10 and calls out something most of us don't want to admit… we're busy doing FOR Jesus, but not actually being WITH Him. This episode gets honest about distraction, performance, busyness, and the pressure to "do more," and how it can pull us away from what actually matters most. My prayer is that you would slow down, refocus your heart, and choose what matters most… being with Jesus over doing for Him. New episodes every Thursday at 7am EST
Jess and Thom have both seen it again and again: churches that are incredibly busy but not particularly effective. In this episode, we talk candidly about the hidden cost of busyness in the church. Full calendars and constant activity can feel like signs of health, but they often mask deeper issues of focus and clarity. Together, we'll explore why doing more is not the answer—and how simplifying ministry can actually lead to greater impact and renewed energy. The post The Hidden Cost of Busyness in the Church appeared first on Church Answers.
Do you ever feel like your life is too busy? Like you're on a never-ending "hamster wheel". Have you ever wondered what causes us to stay so busy? As we start a new series, The Seven Deadly Sins of Suburbia, we are going to examine the danger of busyness through the lens of Mary and Martha in Luke 10.
— IN THE TRANSITS: —May 12 (Tue) Mercury sextile Jupiter: Take Up a CourseMay 14 (Thu) Mercury conjunct Sun: CazimiMay 16 (Sat) New Moon in Taurus: Plant Many SeedsMay 17 (Sun) Mercury ingress Gemini: Mental Busyness*Sandy's Astro- Interesting Day*May 17 (Sun) Mercury conjunct Uranus: Invention(Central Time for all dates & times) Follow along with these transits personally! Download the Astrology Guide:https://intentionbeads.com/products/free-astrology-guideDownload your Natal Chart:https://intentionbeads.com/chartBook Your Reading with $20 Off (code: PODCAST):https://intentionbeads.com/book— TALISMAN TIMES: — #1916 - (May 11th) To welcome a vocation that is respected and influential.ALL PRE-SALE TALISMANS: https://intentionbeads.com/collections/pre-sale-talismans— ON THE HORIZON: —September 3 - 8, 2026 Chicago UAC: United Astrology ConferenceMarriott Downtown, Chicago IL Buy your tickets here: https://uacastrology.com/uac-2026-registration/September 13 - 26, 2026 Egypt RetreatSign Up Today: https://intention.wetravel.com/trips/egypt-2026-sandy-rueve-intention-beads-58293624Schedule your free retreat call here: https://intentionbeads.as.me/retreat— OUR HOUSE: —Alex has a Taurus meditation for the New Moon in Taurus
Have you noticed that all the modern conveniences we enjoy that were meant to make our lives easier have only made them busier and more demanding? Aside from the very young or the very senior members of society, most people find themselves nearly overwhelmed by all they have to do. Jesus modeled a very different way of living and invites us to follow His example.
Busyness can destroy you. See the importance of slowing down and focusing in on Jesus as Brett Andrews shares.Share your stories, prayer requests, or your response to this devotional in the comments below.If you would like to know more about New Life, who we are, what we believe, or when we meet, visit http://newlife.church. Or you can fill out a digital connection card at http://newlife.church/connect - we would love to get to know you better!
Tonight's Wednesday Wisdom with Karissa reflects on the importance of slowing down - and making space to simply be still. Through a personal story she reminds us that rest often requires intention, especially during life's transitions. Learning to pause, even briefly, can help settle the nervous system and make space for clarity and deeper rest. For the full meditation, search “Let's Be Still – Sleep Wave.” Join Sleep Wave Premium ✨ in just two taps! Enjoy 2 bonus episodes a month plus all episodes ad-free and show your support to Karissa. Upgrade via our show page on Apple, or via this link for all other players ➡️ https://sleepwave.supercast.com/ Love the Sleep Wave Podcast? Please hit follow & leave a review ⭐️ How are we doing with Sleep Wave? Click here to let us know
There's a moment in every life when what once worked stops working and you have to decide what to do next. Cecily Mak explores the space most people live in—but rarely talk about: the in-between. Not addiction, not crisis but the awareness that something in your life no longer feels aligned. Through her journey of stepping away from alcohol, Cecily discovered that the real work was about listening. Listening to intuition, to patterns, to the subtle negotiations we make with ourselves every day. This conversation goes far beyond habits. It's about identity, self-awareness, and the courage to create space in a world designed to keep you distracted. Show Partners: Get your MENTAL FITNESS BLUEPRINT here! A special thanks to our mental fitness + sweat partner Sip Saunas Personal Socrates: Better Question, Better Life Connect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne Timestamps: 00:00 — The question that opens every interview: “Who are you?” 02:00 — A dream, a council of elders, and messages from lineage 06:30 — Dream vs. visitation: when insight feels real 09:30 — Why writing becomes a tool for healing and clarity 12:30 — The unexpected path to writing Undimmed 15:00 — Following curiosity vs. forcing purpose 18:00 — Why most people can't hear their intuition 21:00 — The moment Cecily stepped away from alcohol 24:00 — Exploring family history and unresolved trauma 28:00 — Why your first book looks back—and your second looks inward 30:30 — The “in-between” relationship with alcohol most people live in 32:00 — The spiral of self-negotiation and quiet shame 33:30 — The concept of self-grace: “How human of me” 35:00 — Awareness as the real starting point for change 38:00 — Conscious choice vs. “fuck it” decision-making 39:30 — Busyness as a socially accepted addiction 41:30 — Weekly, seasonal, and quarterly life audits 43:00 — The power of solitude and intentional retreats 46:00 — Why most people don't prioritize recovery for the mind 49:00 — You don't need a mountain—you can create space anywhere 50:30 — Micro-pauses as a daily superpower 51:30 — What Cecily hopes readers feel after finishing the book * Special props
The Dad Edge Podcast (formerly The Good Dad Project Podcast)
In this episode, Larry and coach Marc sit down to talk about one of the most common and least-talked-about crises facing business owner dads — burnout. Not the dramatic kind. The quiet, grinding, everyday kind where you're doing 14-hour days, drinking to decompress, wearing exhaustion like a badge of honor, and slowly losing the very people you're killing yourself to provide for. Featuring recorded clips from John — a real Boardroom member who came in on the brink of burnout — this episode is one of the most emotionally honest conversations we've had on this show. John's story will hit close to home for a lot of men. Working obsessively, drinking daily to escape, knowing something was wrong but believing the only answer was more action. His wife was losing her patience. He was losing himself. And then he stopped lone-wolfing it. Larry shares his own raw moment — telling his wife that if he's not providing, he doesn't know what value he brings to the family — and what his kids said when he and his wife actually asked them what they wanted most. Marc breaks down the BRAVE Man system, the tracker, and why busyness is not the same as results. And the episode closes with John getting so emotional he can't speak — and the silence that says everything. Timeline Summary [0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities [1:02] The burnout that business owner dads don't talk about — grinding for your family while quietly losing them [2:44] Leaders usually starve — because they pour everything into everyone else but themselves [4:15] Introducing Marc Hildebrand — and what today's episode is really about [5:52] How Marc met John — on the brink of burnout, drinking daily, running 14-16 hour days [7:35] The shift Marc saw by weeks four and five — doing less, but achieving more [9:11] The GPS analogy — what life feels like without a system versus with one [10:37] Why we resist new tools even when they could save us — and the old-timer cops who threw out the Garmin [12:12] Wearing burnout as a badge of honor — and the people who love you who see it from a mile away [13:29] Your kids ask "Dad, are you okay?" and you think nobody noticed [14:45] John's first clip: what life looked like before he applied — work first, drinking to escape, lone-wolfing it [17:36] The heart behind the burnout — doing it all for your family, but missing what they actually need [19:20] What Marc saw in John — a man believing there was only one way to succeed [20:10] Larry's vulnerable moment: "If I'm not providing, what value do I bring this family?" [22:10] His kids' answer when asked what they wanted most — more time, not more money [22:29] The 13 Hours scene — a Navy SEAL on his 12th deployment finally hearing "the kids don't need more money, they need you" [24:37] Why being willing to have the vulnerable conversation is the game changer [25:10] John's second clip: getting a map, small goals, and what changed in his marriage [27:25] Breaking down the BRAVE Man system — Bond, Raise, Amplify, Vitality, Enjoy, Movement, Action, Network [28:04] Why joy is a tactical requirement — if you have no joy to give, you have nothing to give [28:50] Why motivation is a lie — and why action creates motivation, not the other way around [29:13] John's transformation from 15 points a week to 40-50 — and what the tracker actually measures [31:57] Busyness does not equal results — the most dangerous trap for burned-out business owners [32:18] John's final clip — the emotional moment that stopped everyone cold [35:28] What that moment meant — a man who saved his marriage and came back to himself [37:52] What it means to have a battle to fight, a beauty to love, and an adventure to be had — together [39:05] The call to every business owner who sees a piece of John in himself Five Key Takeaways Burnout doesn't always look dramatic. It looks like 14-hour days, drinking to unwind, and quietly drifting away from the people you're working so hard to provide for. The people who love you most can see your burnout from a mile away — even when you think you're hiding it. Your kids see it. Your wife feels it. Your family doesn't want more money. They want more of you. When Larry asked his boys, the answer was time — every single time. The answer to burnout is not more action. It's better action, in the right areas, with a system that tells you what actually moves the needle. You are not a liability because you need help. John thought he had nothing to give when he walked in — and became one of the most valuable men in the room. Links & Resources Dad Edge Alliance & Business Boardroom: https://thedadedge.com/mastermind The Men's Forge: https://themensforge.com Episode Link & Resources (Episode 1468): https://thedadedge.com/1468 Closing If there's one message from this episode that stands out, it's this: the answer to burnout is never more action — it's a better system, a map, and men around you who won't let you disappear. John came in wearing his exhaustion like a badge, drinking every day to survive it, and believing the only way through was to grind harder. Six weeks later, he was lighter. His marriage was coming back. And when Larry asked him what it felt like to make his way back — he couldn't speak. That silence said everything. If there's a piece of John in you right now, this is your move. Go out and live legendary.
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3986: Angelina Lee challenges the exhausting pursuit of societal success, encouraging a shift away from external validation toward a life rooted in personal fulfillment and authenticity. She highlights the quiet power of embracing everyday moments, showing how true happiness emerges when we give ourselves permission to live intentionally and find meaning in the present. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://exploringplanbe.com/permission-to-be/ & https://exploringplanbe.com/leaning-into-life/ Quotes to ponder: “You need no validation to do what you feel called to do. You need no validation to be who you were called to be.” “We have created badges of honour and we call them Busyness, Exhaustion and Excess.” “The mundane things that we first thought had enslaved us evolve to become the very things that we appreciate most.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices