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Most nonprofit executive directors lose their strategic thinking time every week for a reason that has nothing to do with discipline: it is the only block on the calendar with no one waiting on the other end of it. In this micro-episode, Brooke Richie-Babbage explains why strategy loses to everything else on a CEO's week — every competing commitment carries a consequence for missing it, and unstructured thinking time carries none — and lays out three moves that make the strategic function structural instead of willpower-dependent. She also reframes executive fatigue as data rather than a character flaw: when a design cannot absorb organizational pressure, the leader absorbs it instead.Episode DescriptionThe finance committee meets on the fourteenth. Multiple active grants have reporting windows that don't line up. A program officer already has a call on the books. Every one of those has a person on the other end, and that — not its importance — is what makes it happen. Then there's the two hours blocked to think about the next three years. Nobody is waiting for that. So when something else needs the slot, it takes the slot.In this micro-episode, Brooke Richie-Babbage makes the case that this is a scoring problem, not a time management problem, and not a discipline problem either. Strategy is the only function in most growing nonprofits with no structure holding it up. Payroll has a calendar. Grants have portals and deadlines. Governance has bylaws. Strategy has the CEO — and that's the entire infrastructure. Listeners walk away understanding why guarding the block harder has already failed, and what to build instead.Key Questions AnsweredWhy does my strategic thinking time always get canceled?Is it a discipline problem if I can't protect time to think?Why do nonprofit executive directors struggle to do long-range planning?How do I make strategic time stick without relying on willpower?What is a Design Deficit in a nonprofit organization?Why does executive director burnout keep getting treated as a personal failing?What should a nonprofit CEO focus on during a week when they're already depleted?Is it key-person dependency if the whole strategy function runs through me?What You'll LearnWhy strategic time loses on the calendar every week — and why the mechanism is a missing consequence, not weak prioritization or poor time management.The three moves that make the strategic function structural — attaching thinking to a deadline that already exists, requiring one small written output per block, and clarifying decision rights so escalations stop eating the hours.A subtraction protocol for depleted weeks — how to identify the two or three decisions that actually change the shape of the next quarter, and what to do with everything else.Key TakeawaysStrategic time doesn't need more protection. It needs a consequence. Every strategic question a CEO is carrying sits upstream of a decision someone will eventually be waiting on. The work isn't to manufacture urgency — it's to find the deadline that already exists on the governance calendar and attach the thinking to it.Strategy is the only function in a growing nonprofit with no scaffolding. Payroll has a calendar, grants have portals, governance has bylaws, programs have staff and workplans. Clarity — the direction-setting, the deciding — runs on one person's unprotected calendar. That's a Design Deficit, and at $1M–$5M it's the most expensive one.Depletion is a reading on the gauge, not a verdict on the leader. Systems absorb pressure or people do. When a CEO is the absorber, exhaustion is telling them what the organization isn't carrying yet — which makes it diagnostic information, not evidence of inadequacy.The hours come back through decision rights, not willpower. Thinking time gets eaten by escalation: a director who copies the CEO to be safe, a small reallocation waiting on approval, a board chair calling about something the ops manager owns. As long as everything has a legitimate claim on those two hours, protecting them won't hold.Grinding through is how a structural problem stays a personal one. Pushing harder works, briefly. It also spends the one asset the organization can't replace — the CEO's judgment — and buys the design flaw another quarter of invisibility.FAQsWhat is a Design Deficit in a nonprofit organization?A Design Deficit is the gap between how an organization is structured and what its current size actually requires. Brooke uses the term for nonprofits whose systems were built for a smaller version of themselves and were never rebuilt as the budget, staff, and funder base grew.Why do nonprofit executive directors keep canceling their strategic thinking time?Because strategic time is the only block on the calendar with no one waiting on the other end. Brooke argues this is a scoring problem, not a discipline problem: every competing commitment carries a consequence for missing it, and unstructured thinking time carries none.How can a nonprofit CEO protect strategic time without relying on willpower?Attach the thinking to a deadline that already exists on the governance calendar, require each session to produce one small written output, and give that output a named recipient. Brooke adds that the hours only hold once decision rights are clarified so escalations stop claiming them.What is key-person dependency in a nonprofit, and how does it apply to strategy?Key-person dependency exists when a critical organizational function runs entirely through one individual. Brooke points out that boards flag this immediately when it applies to revenue, but rarely notice when the entire strategic function of a $2M organization depends on the CEO having one uninterrupted Thursday.What should a nonprofit leader do during a week when they are already depleted?Subtract rather than add. Brooke recommends identifying the two or three decisions that would change the shape of the next quarter if made badly or not at all, keeping only those, and assigning everything else a decision rule, a delegate, or a stated delay.Is executive director burnout a personal problem or a structural one?Brooke treats depletion as data rather than a character report. When a design cannot absorb organizational pressure, the leader absorbs it instead. The useful question is not how to push harder but what the depletion reveals the organization is not yet carrying on its own.Step-by-Step: Three Moves That Make the Strategic Function Strutural1. Attach it to a deadline that already exists. Strategic time needs a consequence, and the governance calendar is already full of them — the finance committee in six weeks, the renewal decision in October, the director-level hire that has to happen before the fiscal year turns. The block stops being "Thursday, nine to eleven, think" and becomes "Thursday, nine to eleven, the two funding scenarios for the finance committee on the fourteenth." It's the same hours, but now canceling costs something.2. Require one small output. Open-ended thinking time is easy to cancel because when it's skipped, nothing is visibly missing. Give every block one deliverable and keep it small: three options and what each one costs, or one decision written down with the reasoning underneath it. Not a forty-page plan — a page. This also does a second job. Institutional memory that currently lives entirely in the CEO's head starts moving into the organization, one written decision at a time.3. Give it an owner and an audience — then fix decision rights. Put a person on the other end: a deputy expecting the memo Friday, a board chair who knows the scenario is coming, a peer expecting the question that's been circling for months. Then address what actually eats the block, which is escalation. What can a director decide without the CEO, up to what threshold, and who do they go to instead? The hours come back through decision rights, not through discipline.For weeks when the tank is already empty: don't add anything — subtract by what's meaningful. Ask which two or three decisions this week, if made wrong or not at all, change the shape of the next quarter. Those get the CEO. Everything else gets a decision rule, a delegation, or an honest delay, stated out loud so it stops sitting as an open loop. Then name what the depletion is revealing in one sentence — I'm still the only person who can close a six-figure gift; my directors bring me problems, not recommendations — and treat that sentence as the redesign brief.Want to work together? Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale. Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board! Connect with me!LinkedInInstagramYouTube
Daily Boost Podcast One Question Reinvention August 13, 2026 | Episode 5519 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description There's nothing I talk about more than Operation Reinvention. Every client I work with is reinventing something — a job, a relationship, money, motivation. And almost every one of them tells me the same thing: I want to change my life, but I don't want to give up what I've got. Good news — you don't have to. Reinvention isn't about piling on more tips, tricks, and hacks. It's about subtracting. Simplifying. Today I'm handing you the one question I ask myself every time I want to change something. Write it down. It works. Featured Story I've spent a lot of years trying to keep people married, and I'm pretty good at it. But sometimes they come to me after the divorce is final, and there's not much I can do about that. So eventually I'll sit down with a divorced woman and ask what she wants in her new man. You know what she says every single time? I'll tell you what I don't want. And strangely, if she doesn't pay attention, she marries the same thing again. When I push a little, she'll finally answer. And basically every woman on the planet says the same thing: I want him to make me smile. That's it. Important Points Reinvention doesn't mean starting over. Protect the foundation you've already built and change everything around it. Stop collecting tips, tricks, and hacks. Subtract instead — ignore some of the old stuff and do something different. You don't need a plan until you have a strategy. Get clear on what you're working with, then take one simple step. Memorable Quotes "My goal is not to be additive; it's to be subtractive. Ignore some of the old stuff and do something different." "Goals are cool. You should use them. But sometimes you've got to follow your gut and figure things out along the way." "Very few people know what they want. All I need to do is get them down the road one step and reframe them just a bit." Scott's Three-Step Approach Write down the question — the single change that would automatically and positively disrupt everything in your life. Then take the pressure off. Agree you don't know what the answer will be yet — you only know it won't be what you have. Now trust the clue already sitting in your mind. Name the one change you've been holding down and make it today. Chapters 0:01 - Reinventing without giving up what you've got 1:07 - Why another tip or hack won't change your life 2:31 - The three weeks before you ever need a plan 4:08 - The one question I keep written down at my desk 5:43 - What every divorced woman tells me first 7:46 - The one change already sitting in your mind 9:15 - A challenge waiting for you at motivationtomove.com Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: https://instagram.com/heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How do you say "plus" and "minus" in Spanish? Today we'll finish learning how to count to ten, plus we'll learn how to do math in Spanish so that we can say things like "two plus seven equals nine". Practice all of today's Spanish for free at LCSPodcast.com/133
Part two of Own the Racecourse is called Subtract to Grow: what James cut, how he knew, and why addition is the easy part.
This class explores the Torah prohibition against adding to or subtracting from Hashem's mitzvahs, examining examples from Chava in Gan Eden and the views of Rashi and Ramban. The Rebbe explains how even well-intentioned changes can undermine the integrity of mitzvah observance. https://www.torahrecordings.com/classes/by_parsha/005_devarim/004_reay/012
With Boomer out today, Gio & Jerry kick off the show breaking down the Yankees trading for Luis Garcia Jr., followed by Gio poking fun at the Mets shipping Peralta to a contending Rays team. They dive right into Tarik Skubal's cheap trade to the Dodgers and the wild conspiracy that owners engineered it to help trigger a lockout. C-Lo takes over for updates with the Yankees beating the Cubs, Gerrit Cole blaming the wind, and Aaron Boone declaring Garcia Jr. "rakes." To wrap up the hour, the guys rank how the visiting '86 Mets are looking, hear from Skubal on leaving Detroit, and react to Boomer texting the group that he was in a "four day viral coma."
This class explores the Torah prohibition against adding to or subtracting from Hashem's mitzvahs, examining examples from Chava in Gan Eden and the views of Rashi and Ramban. The Rebbe explains how even well-intentioned changes can undermine the integrity of mitzvah observance. https://www.torahrecordings.com/classes/by_parsha/005_devarim/004_reay/012
Daily Bitachon: The Power of Unanswered Prayer Welcome to Daily Bitachon . We are continuing our series on the topic of Nechama (comfort), as we enter the Seven Weeks of Nechama . We didn't have much time to cover Parashat Va'etchanan in detail, but it contains a critical message: Moshe Rabbeinu offered 515 prayers —the numerical value ( gematria ) of the word Va'etchanan ( ואתחנן ). After these 515 prayers, Hashem tells Moshe: "Rav lach" — "That is enough, do not speak to Me anymore on this matter." Our Sages tell us that had Moshe prayed just one more time , his prayer would have been answered. At first glance, this sounds like a depressing note on which to begin the season of comfort: Moshe Rabbeinu prays incessantly, yet he isn't answered! The Mystery of 515 What is the significance of the number 515? 1. The Connection to Every Tefilla The Megalleh Amukot points out that the standard gematria of the word tefilla ( תפלה ) is 515 . This means that every single prayer we recite connects back to this concept of Moshe Rabbeinu praying and not receiving the answer he sought. Furthermore, the Megalleh Amukot explains that this is why we recite Psalm 90 ( Tefilla L'Moshe ) on Shabbat, ending with: יראה אל עבדיך פעלך "Let Your work be shown to Your servants..." Moshe is pleading to see Hashem's handiwork by being granted entry into Eretz Yisrael . 2. The Mathematical Breakdown ( Pnei Yehoshua ) The Pnei Yehoshua ( Berachot 32a) offers a fascinating calculation: If you count the days from Tu B'Av until the 7th of Adar (the day Moshe Rabbeinu passed away), using the standard calendar alternating between full and short months: Av: 16 days Elul: 29 days Tishrei: 30 days Cheshvan: 29 days Kislev: 30 days Tevet: 29 days Shevat: 30 days Adar: 7 days Total: 200 days 200 days 3 daily prayers = 600 prayers. Subtract the 28 Shabbatot during this period (where personal petitions are not made): . On his final day, after 515 prayers, Hashem told Moshe to stop before he could recite the 516th prayer. Moshe began praying on Tu B'Av—the day of turnaround and joy—and prayed continuously until his final hours, only to be stopped just one prayer short of his goal. Why Did Hashem Stop Him? The Sefer Chasidim (ch. 612), quoting Rabbeinu Saadia Gaon, notes that one reason a prayer might not be answered is due to a final decree ( gzar din ). But why would Hashem issue a decree that prevents such sincere prayer from being accepted? The Or HaChaim HaKadosh explains that entering the Land was ultimately not for Moshe's (or the Jewish people's) true benefit : Anything Moshe Rabbeinu built was eternal because his spiritual attribute was Netzach (eternity). Had Moshe entered Eretz Yisrael and built the Beit HaMikdash , it could never have been destroyed. Consequently, when Israel sinned in the future, Hashem would not have been able to vent His wrath on wood and stone; the destruction would have fallen entirely upon the Jewish people themselves. By not entering the Land, Moshe effectively took a hit for the Jewish nation. As Moshe later reflects: וגם בי התאנף ה' בגללכם "Hashem was also angry with me on your account." Moshe realized that his prayer was held back for the ultimate protection and salvation of Am Yisrael . This realization is itself a profound level of nechama (comfort). Sometimes we pray relentlessly for something, but Hashem withholds it because He knows it is not ultimately good for us. A Second Calculation: High Holidays to Shemini Atzeret The Sefer HaToda'ah offers an alternate tradition: Moshe offered these prayers from Rosh Hashanah through the morning of Shemini Atzeret —the window of cosmic judgment. 21 days 24 hours = 504 hours. Add the 12 hours of the eve of Shemini Atzeret = 516 total units/prayers. Hashem stopped Moshe in that final 516th hour—the exact moment the decree was being sealed and handed down—to prevent the decree from being annulled, because the outcome was necessary for the greater good. The Lesson of Nechama: No Prayer is Wasted Why do we read Parashat Va'etchanan every year during these seven weeks of comfort? The Pri Tzadik explains that reading this portion gives us strength during this period. We often ask ourselves week after week: "Where is the comfort? Why aren't our prayers bringing the immediate redemption we long for?" The Torah reassures us: Do not feel defeated if your personal prayers seem unanswered. No prayer is ever wasted. כל המתאבל על ירושלים זוכה ורואה בנחמתה "Whoever mourns for Jerusalem merits to see her joy." The Steipler Gaon writes in Chayei Olam (ch. 28) that even if years or decades pass and you feel your prayers haven't worked, never give up . Every single prayer accomplishes something vital. He quotes a Midrash illustrating that some prayers are answered after 3 days, some after 30 years, and some even after 100 years. We cannot see the divine timetable, but every word of tefilla builds something lasting. If Moshe Rabbeinu—the greatest leader who ever lived—had prayers that were withheld for a higher, hidden good, we shouldn't lose heart when our own prayers seem to go unanswered. Trust that Hashem hears every word, and every prayer accomplishes its purpose in its proper time. We will continue more on this topic tomorrow, B'ezrat Hashem.
Daily Boost Podcast What Would You Give Up to Get More? July 17, 2026 | Episode 5500 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Happy Friday. I sat down this week and did the show differently — just notes from the gym, a microphone, and the things I've been thinking about. Today it comes down to one line, maybe the truest one I've ever coined: more is on the other side of less. I'm sharing the inventory I took of my own life at the end of June, what I decided to cut, and a lesson from my days mixing audio for a live band that shows exactly how subtraction creates clarity. Whatever more means to you, it's waiting. Featured Story For two and a half years, I served as an audio tech at my church, mixing a live band for the worship service. One day nothing sounded right. Given it was a cafeteria, it never sounded amazing, but that day it was bad. The lead tech walked over and said, you need to get some stuff out of there. Subtract some of the audio. He started pulling away parts of the frequencies coming off the stage, and something clicked. Every voice and instrument was fighting for the same space. Removing what they shared cut the mud and added clarity. The mix didn't need more. It needed less. Important Points More is on the other side of less. Whatever you want — satisfaction, happiness, money — it comes after the cutting. Take an inventory of your life and pay attention to it. Keep what doesn't suck and start cutting the stuff that does. You don't have to turn anything up. Get rid of what's dragging you and let the rest play. Clarity shows up on its own. Memorable Quotes More is on the other side of less. Whatever more means to you — satisfaction, happiness, money — it comes after less. A lot of the stuff in your life you don't really love. You just got it, and you've been doing it for a while now. You remove the mud, and you add clarity to the mix. Trim the frequencies of your life, and suddenly you can hear yourself. Scott's Three-Step Approach Start by taking a full inventory of your life, the same one I take myself. Mark what sucks and mark what doesn't suck. Then cut or turn down whatever drags you down, even good things that share space with better ones. Remove all the mud. Finally, resist adding anything new. Let what's left play clean and enjoy a freedom you haven't felt in a long time. Chapters 0:01 - Doing the show a little differently today 1:12 - Why I'm really big on taking things away 1:55 - Take inventory and do the thing that doesn't suck 2:25 - More is always on the other side of less 3:27 - Two and a half years mixing a church band 6:40 - Cutting the devil's frequency at 2,600 Hertz 8:33 - Start trimming the frequencies of your life Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: https://instagram.com/heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Motivation runs out by Tuesday. Discipline built on who you are does not. That is the whole conversation.Pauly Domenech is a mindset and performance coach with Glover U who sold 100+ homes a year for seven years. In this episode we get into the real estate agent mindset behind that number: why motivation is fleeting, how discipline actually comes from identity and character, the morning routine that runs his day, and the listing audit that moved his team from $400K to $4.3M in GCI in one month. Then he tells the story of going through a minivan windshield training for his first Ironman, and finishing the race 28 days later.IN THIS EPISODE- Why motivation is fleeting and discipline comes from character- The sneaky sheets and the night-before routine that runs his day- The listing audit that went from $400K to $4.3M in one month- Leading the man in the mirror first- The bike crash, the Ironman 28 days later, and "because you can, you must"KEY TAKEAWAYS- Discipline is not a long grind. It is one decision made in the moment, over and over.- Reverse-engineer your bedtime from your morning. Subtract what wastes your evening instead of adding willpower.- Audit your listings. Have the price-reduction conversation or let the listing go. Get the no to no.- You have no right to lead anyone until you can lead the person in the mirror.- If you can do the hard thing, you must.ABOUT PAULYPaul "Pauly" Domenech is a mindset and performance coach with Glover U, based in Destin, Florida. Seven years as a top-producing agent averaging 100+ transactions a year and over $1M in GCI. Brazilian jujitsu world and Pan American champion, 5-0 professional fighter, and Ironman.Documentary: https://youtu.be/hwTALIHr-w0Website: https://itpauly.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/pauldomenechGlover U: https://gloveru.com=================================================Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review and share it with an agent who needs to hear this.RESOURCES & LINKS:50% OFF DESCRIPT: Edit your video and audio like a pro (2 months at 50% off): https://descript.cello.so/iDcb8kT8jf2If you are thinking of Buying or Selling, book a 15 minute call: https://calendly.com/cameronmanning/15min
Most people think wealth grows by adding more hustle, more assets, and more ambition. Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, known to many as Nell 3D, built her career on the opposite bet. A subtraction mindset for building wealth is the idea behind her Substack, Subtract to Succeed, and in this conversation with Syama Bunten, she explains why the approach works. Nell's money story began with a single childhood memory that held two worlds at once. One moment, she was having lunch at her great-grandfather's Fifth Avenue apartment. Later that same day, she was driving north to a Vermont campfire and tofu hot dogs with her mother's off-grid best friend. The split stayed with her through a decade of frontline humanitarian work in places like the West Bank, an executive MBA, and a marriage where she and her husband kept his wealth and her own distinct. The two chose access over ownership at almost every turn. She calls the trap catching so many people chrematistics, money chased for its own sake, and names the pursuit a kind of disease worth subtracting from a life. What emerges from that critique is her own redefinition of wealth and success, where legacy is measured in intellectual and social capital rather than a number in an account. A subtraction mindset for building wealth means asking what to release before asking what to add. The same clarity is what Wealth Catalyst is built on. Find a Freedom Tour salon near you at wealthcatalyst.com/salons or join the Wealth Catalyst Summit on October 16 at wealthcatalyst.com Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Getting Rich Through Subtraction, Not Addition 02:27 Growing Up Between Two Very Different Worlds 07:38 Family Values, Moving Schools, and Economic Shifts 12:36 Starting a Party Planning Business at Eleven 17:00 First Splurges and Working Abroad in Tokyo 19:42 Harvard, Education Advocacy, and Refugee Camp Work 26:58 Financial Faith and Building Her Own Company 36:09 Marriage, Wealth, and Access Versus Ownership 39:49 Chrematistics and the Trouble With Venture Capital 47:13 Stewardship, Legacy, and Intellectual Capital Connect with Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey: Follow Subtract to Succeed on Substack Connect with Nell on LinkedIn Find more from Syama Bunten: Attend a Salon near you: wealthcatalyst.com/salons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syama.co/ Join Syama's Substack: https://thewealthcatalystwithsyama.substack.com/ Website: https://wealthcatalyst.com Download Syama's Free Resources: https://wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: https://syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
Imagine you're a chef. You are shown the recipe for a soup. It has five ingredients. You're told to improve the recipe. What do you do? 96% of people reveal a bias when answering this question. And that bias makes marketing less effective, communication less engaging and products less appealing. Find out why in today's episode of Nudge with the award-winning professor Leidy Klotz. Warning: this episode contains explicit language. --- Become an FSB member: https://get.fsb.org.uk/nudge/ Leidy's book, Subtract: https://amzn.to/4df4duk Leidy's latest book, In a Good Place: https://amzn.to/4tzjCvE Join 11,934 readers of the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Unlock the Nudge Vaults: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew/ --- Today's sources: Adams, G. S., Converse, B. A., Hales, A. H., & Klotz, L. E. (2021). "People systematically overlook subtractive changes." Nature, 592(7853), 258–261. Rogers, T., & Lasky-Fink, J. (2023). Writing for busy readers: Communicate more effectively in the real world. Dutton. Zhang, Y., Fishbach, A., & Kruglanski, A. W. (2007). The dilution model: How additional goals undermine the perceived instrumentality of a shared path. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(3), 389–401
It's about creating white space in our brain, on our desk, in our inbox, on the desktop of our screens to reduce clutter..While most leadership advice suggests adding more habits or tools, My discussion with Nell proposes that the most strategic action a leader can take is to subtract. We discuss a life's “forced stops,” which occur despite us feeling aligned and successful. Having a forced stop can be a pivotal moment, even in a fully aligned life; doing too much is dangerous to self and others.This contrasts with the common belief that one must feel “empty” to realize a problem. Nell introduces her “Lead in 3D Framework” and “Subtract to Succeed” philosophy, which challenges the traditional view of adding more to achieve more. This draws on two decades of global development and humanitarian leadership experience. It helps high-performing leaders address a quiet crisis: they are achieving success on paper but are running on empty.We explore the transformative power of subtraction, offering practical insights for leaders navigating an increasingly demanding world. The conversation delves into the impact of AI on work habits, the often-overlooked gender asymmetry in work-life balance, and the potential of regenerative leadership to combat exhaustion as a badge of seriousness. We explore practical methods for leaders to reconnect with their bodies, prioritize intentional space, and leverage their natural energy for sustainable impact.The modern leader faces unprecedented pressures, often pushing them towards unsustainable levels of activity. The call to “subtract to succeed” offers a vital counter-narrative, proposing that true growth and lasting impact come from strategic removal, not endless addition. Leaders can listen to the subtle signals of their bodies and environments, intentionally create space, and reallocate their energy towards what truly matters.This holistic approach, rooted in the interconnectedness of “me, we, and world,” fosters regenerative leadership that benefits not only the individual but also their teams, organizations, and the broader community. The journey begins with a simple act: choosing to believe in the reality that less, when done intentionally, ultimately brings more.What one non-essential task or thought pattern could you subtract today to create more impactful space?The main insights you'll get from this episode are :Having a forced stop can be a pivotal moment, even in a fully aligned life; doing too much is dangerous to self and others.The AI world enables overwhelm – we must recognise that the infrastructure is designed to enthrall us and breaking away from it is difficult.A framework for recognising the reality of our bodily systems within systems of systems is helpful to connect me, we, and the world, opening up opportunities.Less is more but the human instinct is to add; the ‘subtract to succeed' methodology uses the ‘stop, drop, and roll' approach from fire safety:stopping in situ, gathering data, paying attention, taking stockdropping experimentally, getting curious, creating spacerolling with the additional time and space, intentionally filling the vacuumThere is a gender difference re subtraction – feminine energy understands the need to stop, masculine energy less so.Feminine energy is interconnected and more systematic, whereas masculine energy is linear, partly shaped by the current system and societal stereotypes.There is resistance to the shift from a linear, industrial approach to a more interconnected approach in workplace cultures (due to the illusion of control).Regenerative leadership understands that neither energy inputs and outputs nor rest are created equal, which speaks for the benefits of diversity.Extractive capitalism detracts from rest and undermines the neurology of and need for rest; it is imperative to select activities that bring us joy and energise us.Learning what individuals' natural energy is enhances collaboration and delegation; subtraction is regenerative rather than extractive.The cognitive reframe for subtraction happens quickly because it is simple, has immediate tangible benefits and brings peace.Unhelpful thinking is very detrimental and leads to rumination as opposed to constructive thoughts – it is time to reclaim our brain power!A daily practice is transformative; we must believe that reality can be different and we choose our reality.Find out more about Nell and her work here :https://nell3d.substack.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nell3d/, https://www.nell3d.com/Guest pass : https://nell3d.substack.com/guestpassFor more information on this episode please visit www.transformforvalue.com/podcastTo carry on developing your leadership and building a relevant & high performing team, connect with me here : https://calendly.com/transformforvalue/connect
The cost of being smart or visionary can land on everyone else:"Not every idea needs an audience.""You may dilute yourself.""Subtract first, then decide what deserves effort."This answer may cost you your best ideas...See BoldEncounters.TVOpening SummarySuccess can make a leader louder than they realize. David Fung spent 23 years in tech, much of it inside Salesforce, where speed, scale, sales engineering, and AI pressure turned leadership into a daily test of filtration. His warning is uncomfortable: the ideas that got you promoted may be the same ideas exhausting your team, family, and future.Core ValueDavid's mechanism is subtraction with honesty: filter ideas before they hit the team, name the real tension, and stop confusing activity with value. From President's Club achievement to family wake-up calls, trusted feedback, and the pressure to force outcomes, he shows why less effort can sometimes create better work.Inside This Episode• Why AI makes idea filtering more valuable than idea generation.• The child's line that exposed the cost of achievement at home.• How “I'm busy” can dilute value instead of proving it.• Why one subordinate's feedback became the sentence to remember.• How stopping control is different from quitting responsibility.Go Deeper — Premium Action PlanPremium turns David's subtraction principle into one concrete step this week. Audit your calendar, rate each activity by energy and competence, then choose one item to delegate, automate, kill, or stop feeding with attention it has not earned.Listen + ConnectDavid Fung and Coachful Coaching: https://www.coachfulcoaching.comCoachful Coaching Leadership Podcast: https://bio.site/leaderpodcastMoments To Revisit• David's parents arriving in Toronto with little money and a safe dream.• Salesforce becoming a fast-track leadership education.• The bag packed by the door, and the family cost behind achievement.• “Not every idea needs an audience” landing from someone he trusted.• The Premium energy audit that asks what should disappear first.Final ThoughtDavid reveals that the hardest leadership problem may not be weak communication. It may be the unfiltered strength of a smart person who keeps adding weight to everyone else. Becoming more valuable may start with the humility to subtract before others have to carry what you would not release.What Now?Watch or listen now. Then take the one subtraction step inside Premium at https://www.BoldEncounters.TVThank YouCalvin Cook—Caljo, original music, @Caljo MusicSacha Arias, Post Production, aliyahmpena@gmail.comRosalie McGinn, Social Media, rosalie.mcginn1@gmail.com
Dr. Adam Dorsay hosts University of Virginia behavioral scientist and engineering/architecture professor Dr. Lediy Klotz to discuss Klotz's book In a Good Place on how spaces affect psychology and how people can thrive by making small, actionable changes. They explore habituation and the idea that subtracting (removing obstacles, noise, or clutter) can improve environments, including using available outdoor space differently (like eating outside). Klotz emphasizes agency as a core psychological need, citing a nursing home study where residents allowed to customize their rooms were 50% more likely to be alive 18 months later, and discusses regaining agency when it's constrained (e.g., sealed hotel windows). They examine space and dominance in negotiation and sports (goalkeepers, Emiliano Martínez), intentional design to foster interaction (Pixar), “space before screen,” and Klotz shares the loss of his daughter Josie and creating “Josie's Way” as a memorial space.00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched00:28 Why Spaces Feel Good00:47 Meet Dr Lediy Klotz02:09 Arrive Early Hack03:16 The Research Behind It04:38 Five Years to Write05:56 Spaces Shape Psychology07:06 Small Tweaks Big Control09:04 Subtract to Improve Space10:04 Eat Outside Reframe12:08 Designing Outdoor Space12:56 Office Choices and Agency15:33 Defining Agency in Space16:55 Soccer and Agency Lessons18:31 Goalie Mindset and Space20:18 Owning the Penalty Area22:22 Agency Life or Death Study24:18 Mandela Garden Agency25:40 Churchill Shapes Commons26:49 Designing Serendipity30:01 Digital vs Real Space31:17 Space Before Screen32:41 Grief and Boundaries35:18 Josies Way Memorial38:50 Spirit Lives in Stories40:22 Josie Joke Punchline43:49 Miracle Skill Reaction46:25 Closing Thanks FarewellHelpful Links:Lediy Klotz, PhDLediy Klotz, PhD LinkedInIn a Good Place Book
Most of us swear we have no free time. But the week is 168 hours long. Subtract a 40-hour job and eight hours of sleep a night, and you're left with 72 hours. So where do they go? Today, Laura Vanderkam, author of the new book Big Time, shares her system for reclaiming her free time, including her method for knocking out "someday" projects in small daily bites.
The broken windows theory suggests that one broken window can cause a neighbourhood to descend into disrepair. But is it true? Today, with the award-winning professor Leidy Klotz, we investigate the broken windows theory and explain how environments shape our behaviour. --- Become an FSB member: https://get.fsb.org.uk/nudge/ Leidy's book Subtract: https://amzn.to/4df4duk Leidy's latest book In a Good Place: https://amzn.to/4tzjCvE Join 11,934 readers of the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Unlock the Nudge Vaults: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew/ --- Today's sources: Brown, G., & Baer, M. (2011). Location in negotiation: Is there a home field advantage? Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 114(2), 190–200. Cialdini, R. B. (2016). Pre-suasion: A revolutionary way to influence and persuade. Simon & Schuster. Langer, E. J., & Rodin, J. (1976). The effects of choice and enhanced personal responsibility for the aged: A field experiment in an institutional setting. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34(2), 191–198. Pinsker, H., Kupfermann, I., Castellucci, V., & Kandel, E. R. (1970). Habituation and dishabituation of the gill-withdrawal reflex in Aplysia. Science, 167(3926), 1740–1742. Rajecki, D. W. (1974). Effects of prenatal exposure to auditory or visual stimulation on postnatal distress vocalizations in chicks. Behavioral Biology, 11(4), 525–536. Rodin, J., & Langer, E. J. (1977). Long-term effects of a control-relevant intervention with the institutionalized aged. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 35(12), 897–902. Wells, M. M. (2000). Office clutter or meaningful personal displays: The role of office personalization in employee and organizational well-being. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 20(3), 239–255.
You've spent years building your business. But what if you've already crossed the finish line — and nobody told you?Most business owners spend their entire careers trying to reach financial freedom. But there's a specific, calculable threshold — called The Freedom Point — where the net proceeds from selling your business would fund the rest of your life without financial worry. And the uncomfortable truth is: a lot of owners have already crossed it. They're still grinding, still taking on risk, still saying "five more years" — without realizing they've technically already won.In this episode, CFP® David Chudyk breaks down The Freedom Point framework, walks through the exact math to calculate yours, and explains why so many smart, successful business owners stay past it without a plan — and what that costs them.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhat The Freedom Point is — and the precise formula to calculate itWhy your business growing could actually be increasing your financial risk (not reducing it)The "4 D's" that can destroy business value overnight — and why none of them care about your timelineHow to figure out if you've already crossed your Freedom Point using a 7-step frameworkWhat your options are once you've crossed it (hint: selling isn't the only one)The three psychological traps that keep smart owners grinding past the point of financial freedomWhy "one more year" syndrome might be the most expensive story you're telling yourselfEpisode Timestamps[0:00] — Cold Open: What if you've already won?[2:00] — What is The Freedom Point?[6:00] — Meet Tim: The business owner with 80% concentration risk[11:00] — The 4 D's: Death, Disability, Divorce, Departure[15:00] — How to calculate your own Freedom Point (7-step framework)[20:00] — What to do when you've crossed the line: 4 options[24:00] — Why smart owners stay too long: Identity, One More Year Syndrome, Fear of Irrelevance[28:00] — The free tool to calculate your Freedom Point todayThe Freedom Point FormulaThe Freedom Point is reached when:(Value of Outside Investments) + (Net Proceeds from Business Sale) > (Desired Annual Income × 33)Here's how to run it yourself:Step 1: Estimate the annual income that would make you feel completely financially freeStep 2: Multiply by 33 (based on a conservative 3% withdrawal rate)Step 3: Calculate your wealth outside your business — investments, rental properties, brokerage accounts (not your primary residence)Step 4: Get a realistic business valuation estimateStep 5: Subtract the frictional cost of selling — taxes, broker commissions (~10–12%), legal fees (~2%)Step 6: Add back any long-term business debt you'd need to pay off at closingStep 7: If Steps 3 + 5 exceed Step 2, you've reached The Freedom PointExample: If you want $150,000/year of income, you need $4.95M in total investable assets. If your business would net $4M after selling costs and you have $1M outside the business — you've crossed it.The 4 D's Every Business Owner Needs to KnowThese four events can destroy business value overnight — and none of them are in your control:Divorce — Especially devastating when both spouses work in the business or when business value becomes contested in settlementDeparture — A key partner, co-founder, or critical employee leaves, triggering buy-sell agreements and operational disruptionDisability — You become unable to work; most disability policies protect income, not business valueDeath — Your beneficiaries inherit a business they don't know how to run, often resulting in forced sales at the worst possible timeWhy Smart Owners Stay Past The Freedom PointThe math alone doesn't explain why successful business owners keep grinding after they've technically won. David breaks down three psychological forces:Identity: When the business is who you are, the idea of stepping back feels like erasing yourself — not a financial decision at allOne More Year Syndrome: The goal line keeps moving. $2M becomes $3M becomes $5M. Every milestone reveals the next one. The exit that was "five years away" has been five years away for fifteen years.Fear of Irrelevance: The quiet one. Not afraid of selling — afraid of what comes after. Who are you without the title, the team, and the 8am calendar?"The biggest threat to your financial freedom isn't market risk. It's the story you're telling yourself about who you are without the business."Your Options Once You've Crossed The Freedom PointSell a Minority Stake — Take chips off the table while keeping control; often done with private equity in a minority recapitalizationSell a Majority Stake — Significant liquidity event now, keep some equity, continue running the business under new ownershipEarn-Out Exit — Full sale with a 1–3 year transition; ideal if you're ready to step back in the next three to five yearsStay and Build Around the Risk — Keep building, but do it intentionally: key person insurance, a funded buy-sell, disability coverage, and a real succession planCalculate Your Freedom Point — Free ToolDon't guess where you stand. Take the free Personal Readiness to Exit assessment — it walks you through the exact Freedom Point calculation in about 10 minutes and shows you a real number.→ Take the Free Assessment at weeklywealthpodcast.com/prescoreRather talk it through with someone? Book a free 20-minute strategy call:→ Book a Vision Call at weeklywealthpodcast.com/visionQuotable Moments"What if you've already won — and you're still playing like you haven't?""Before The Freedom Point, risk is how you build. After it, risk is how you lose what you've already built.""Tim diversifies his 401(k) like a pro. But 80% of his net worth is a single, illiquid, non-publicly-traded asset. That's not diversification. That's concentration in a tuxedo.""One more year syndrome feels responsible. But what it often is — if we're honest — is a way of avoiding a decision you're not emotionally ready to make.""The Freedom Point isn't a feeling. It's a formula. And once you run the math, you can't unsee what it shows you."Who This Episode Is ForThis episode is essential listening if you are:A business owner with a company worth $1M or more wondering if you're "there yet" financiallyAn entrepreneur approaching your 50s who hasn't run a real exit planning calculationA high earner whose business represents more than 50% of your total net worthAnyone who has said "I'll sell when the business hits $X" — and then moved the goalpostA spouse or partner of a business owner trying to understand the financial risk your household is carryingResources & Related EpisodesPersonal Readiness to Exit (Prescore) — Free AssessmentVision Call — Free 20-Minute Strategy SessionSellability Score — Free Business Valuation AssessmentRelated: Ep. 264 — Is Your CPA Only Looking in the Rearview Mirror? (tax planning before a sale matters enormously)Related: Ep. 265 — This Is Exactly Who You've Been Looking For (David's background and advisory approach)About David Chudyk, CFP®David Chudyk is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, CLTC, and Certified ValueBuilder Advisor with nearly two decades of experience working with business owners and high-net-worth individuals. He is the founder and host of the Weekly Wealth Podcast and a fiduciary advisor with Parallel Financial, LLC. David specializes in helping business owners align their personal financial plans with their business exit strategies — so they can make the biggest financial decision of their lives with clarity and confidence.weeklywealthpodcast.comThe Weekly Wealth Podcast is produced by Parallel Financial, LLC, a registered investment advisor. All content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized financial, tax, or legal advice. All examples, including "Tim," are hypothetical illustrations only. Consult a qualified financial advisor before making any financial decisions. Investment advisory services offered through Parallel Financial, LLC.
A masked Fen faces the trials of family. Elsewhere, Carmen, Cedar, and Atlas plan to approach Protocol's sponsors. Check out the pay-what-you-want version of Umdaar: Rebel Broadcast Edition from our Sponsors over at Evil Hat Productions! For Transcripts, our Tip Jar, merch, and the official Discord Server: https://bloomandblight.com/ Theme Songs: "PRESS/LEAD" and "PRESS/LEAD (Jazz Lounge Vers.)" by Harper S.K. Songs featured courtesy Epidemic Sound: "Fresh Pastrie" by Lofive, "Night Shuttle" by Max Anson, "Chromatic People" by Max Anson, "Cruising with You" by Lope, "Subtract" by Lofive, "All Emotions (Instrumental Version)" by ELFL, "Temple of Runha" by ELFL, "Darker Shades" by ELFL, "Rose's Nerve" by True Messenger, "Suburbia" by True Messenger, "Lucidity" by True Messenger, "7 Magnets" by Luhawks, "Modules" by Of Water, "Pick Up Your Phone" by baegel.
Psychologists Off The Clock: A Psychology Podcast About The Science And Practice Of Living Well
It's easy to live life on autopilot, with your eyes glued to a screen, completely disconnected from your physical surroundings. But as we learn in this episode with Leidy Klotz, the spaces you inhabit aren't just backdrops; they are actively shaping your mind, moods, and memories. Talking about Leidy's latest book, In a Good Place, you'll hear about Leidy's framework of agency, growth, and belonging; why attention to physical environments matters in an age of screens and automation; how workplaces and homes can support different needs through thoughtful choice and design; and how spaces anchor powerful memories.Listen and Learn: Modern automation and screen time are subtly changing the way you interact with your physical surroundings and how you can intentionally reclaim your agency in the environments you navigate every day Why some modern architectural choices and environmental distractions might actually be making it harder for you to form genuine connections with the people right in front of you Breaking through modern habits, tune out your digital devices, and actively re-engage with the world around you How different personality types navigate physical environmentsHow having personal agency and direct control over one's space profoundly increases comfort levels Allowing spaces to serve as powerful physical conduits for processing grief, honoring lost loved ones, and preserving their spirit through physical landmarks Resources: Subtract The Untapped Science of Less https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781250249876In a Good Place: How the Spaces Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780316567367Jill's newsletter post about the sweet spot: https://jillstoddard.substack.com/p/the-one-question-that-can-unlock?utm_source=publication-search Leidy's website: https://leidyklotz.com/ About Leidy Klotz: Leidy Klotz is a professor at the University of Virginia whose research sits at the intersection of physical design and behavioral science. Before academia, he designed schools in New Jersey — and before that, he played professional soccer. A man who has never met a lane he wasn't willing to cross.His first book, Subtract, uncovered our systematic bias toward adding rather than removing, and what we lose in the process. His latest, In a Good Place: How the Spaces Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive, explores how the spaces we inhabit quietly shape how we think, feel, and connect — usually without our awareness. It's also a deeply personal book whose emotional resonance defies easy summary.Related Episodes:182. Stretch with Scott Sonenshein 211. Subtract with Leidy KlotzSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
“You spend less than you earn every month . . . This is the basis of all personal finance.” –Lori AtwoodFeeling behind with money? Money stuff = anxiety for too many of us. There's shame and guilt involved, and a sense we don't know what we should know.At 50, I have a gazillion questions and it's time to stop fretting and start learning. Lori Atwood, founder of Fearless Finance, is here to answer questions, no judgement. First step, stop comparing yourself to others. Start here: spend less than you earn every month. This is the cornerstone to personal finance and Lori talks about how to make sure you are there. Lori tells us about the other four basic building blocks of personal finance.We talk about:How to deal with income fluctuations we often see as entrepreneursDealing with flux moments, like being between jobsSeparating personal and business moneyPaying off credit card debt starting with the lowest amountWhy to merge finances in a family Getting past guilt and shameABOUT LORILori Atwood is the founder and CEO of Fearless Finance and a CFP® professional. Lori created Fearless Finance to make expert, fiduciary, hourly financial planning accessible to everyone with no sales, no minimums, and no judgement. Lori's been in finance for over 25 years starting in investment banking, asset management and private equity before starting Fearless Finance in 2016.LINKSfearlessfinance.comhttps://www.instagram.com/fearlessfinance/https://www.linkedin.com/company/fearless-finance/https://www.facebook.com/fearlessfinancehttps://www.tiktok.com/@fearlessfinanceDOABLE CHANGESAt the end of every episode, we share three doable changes, so you can take what you've heard and put it into action. Action is where change happens.Even though we want big change, it's really little things done over and over that make the difference. So pick a doable thing. Put it in your calendar. Weave it through your days for a week and then move on to the next one. It will have a snowball effect.Here are three Doable Changes from this conversation:SPEND LESS THAN YOU EARN. Add up all your household income. Add up all expenses. Check your checkbook and credit card statements for things you might have missed. Subtract expenses from income. If you get a negative number, you're spending too much. Look at where you could cut back to bring spending under earnings.CHECK YOUR 5 PILLARS. Spending less than you earn is the most important piece, but there are 4 other pillars to check. Do you pay yourself consistently? Do you have an emergency fund — and is there enough in it? Do you have a rainy day fund? Do you know the difference between the two? Are you saving (enough) for retirement? Do you have debt? If so, do you have a plan to pay it down?PAY OFF A DEBT. It's hard to get in front of debt. Stop using a card with a rotating balance. Try paying off the credit card that has the lowest balance. This gives you a little win that can help you keep going to get debt down. Can't pay it all off now? Decide how much you will start paying monthly until it is paid off.
Most workplaces obsess over paint colours, open-plan vs closed offices, and how many days people should be back at their desks. They skip the only question that actually matters.This week Cathal sits down with Leidy Klotz, engineering professor and behavioural scientist at the University of Virginia. Leidy is the author of SUBTRACT (translated into eight languages) and his new book IN A GOOD PLACE breaks down the three psychological needs your physical surroundings either feed or starve: agency, growth, and connection.They cover:- The nursing home study where control over your space changed survival rates- Why refugees in "half-finished houses" recover faster than those given fully built homes- The boss who accidentally locked his team out of the only good conference room- What the negotiation research says about arriving 20 minutes early- The single most damaging mistake organisations make when designing workplaces- Why space is one of the only things in your life you can actually changeLeidy Klotz, PhD is a behavioural scientist and engineering professor at the University of Virginia. His research has been published in Nature and Science. Before academia he played professional soccer and designed schools in New Jersey. His new book IN A GOOD PLACE: How the Spaces Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive is out now.Find Leidy: leidyklotz.comNew episodes of Better at Work every Thursday, 7am GMT. Real talk on work, careers, and how to make work actually better. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Alan Cox Show
The Alan Cox ShowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Q&A episode: Annette synthesises Wendy Smith's both/and thinking, Cathal reflects on Bob Geldof's recent speech on empathy in leadership, and we answer Lou's question on preparing for her first competency-based interview.Following last week's conversation with Wendy Smith (Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems), Annette walks through the takeaways that stuck with her. The Fab Four: assumptions, boundaries, comfort, dynamics. The two metaphors at the heart of Wendy's framework: the tightrope walker who splits attention and chops between competing priorities, and the mule, the integrated both/and solution that's stronger than a horse and smarter than a donkey.Cathal and Annette get into why so many of us end up tightrope walking at work without meaning to. The "stop starting, start finishing" trap. The way leaders accumulate priorities until everything is urgent and nothing is finished. And why complexity, the thing most of us instinctively dread, can actually be a source of energy if you have the right framework to meet it with.Then a swerve into Bob Geldof's recent awards speech on empathy and what's gone missing in global leadership. Cathal pulls the thread: the both/and case for caring about people and running a business well. They're not in tension.The listener question this week comes from Lou, who's preparing for her first ever competency-based interview and has no idea where to start. Annette lays out the framework:→ Prepare 5 examples from your career, things you're genuinely proud of→ Cover real range: a difficult stakeholder, a deadline crunch, an unsolvable problem→ Structure each one with situation, action, outcome→ Connect each example back to your core skills and values→ Practise out loud, to camera or to a mirror, so the interview isn't the first time you've heard these words in your own voicePlus a look at what's coming next week: Leidy Klotz, author of Subtract, on his new book In a Good Place: How the Spaces Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive.Got a career dilemma you'd like us to tackle in a future Q&A? Head to betteratwork.net. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Armunn Righ and SaYo discuss the three points Armunn posed recently that are important when investigating/analyzing world stage events.Repentant Magdalene:(ebook + audiobook bundle): https://ko-fi.com/s/0e6a926e5b(paperback) - https://www.lulu.com/shop/armunn-righ/repentant-magadalene/paperback/product-q6n4p9z.htmlMan's Psyche - the two worlds:(ebook + audiobook bundle): https://ko-fi.com/s/6f1bfcdfba
If you keep waiting to "feel motivated," you will keep losing to friction, bad habits, and the identity you keep reinforcing. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Craig Ballantyne, widely known for being "the world's most disciplined man." He didn't get there through sheer intensity or some superhuman routine, but instead by turning discipline into a repeatable system. Together, they break down why "discipline" means something different for everyone, why subtracting friction beats adding effort, and how identity and self-talk determine your consistency. This conversation is a practical blueprint for building standards that hold up even when life gets busy. Here's what you'll learn: Why discipline starts with a clear definition of success, not generic "work harder" goals How to subtract obstacles (environments, people, distance, temptations) so consistency becomes the default What it takes to shift your identity and self-talk so your habits become almost automatic Stop trying to win with willpower. Actually achieve your goals with systems. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:36) Being the "World's Most Disciplined Man" (00:03:56) Define discipline for yourself (00:05:39) Subtract friction to win (00:08:02) Identity and self-talk (00:11:50) Public accountability hack (00:13:51) Anxiety and turning it around (00:19:18) The Perfect Day Formula (00:23:53) Dark side of Discipline (00:28:27) Get back on track fast (00:32:40) Why Craig coaches others (00:36:40) Who changes vs who doesn't (00:39:01) Win in business, lose in life (00:44:06) Values-first planning filter (00:49:01) What being a "game changer" means (00:50:03) Closing Links & Resources: Craig Ballantyne The Perfect Day Formula by Craig Ballantyne The Dark Side of Discipline by Craig Ballantyne David Goggins Charlie Munger Falling Down (1993) Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin The Da Vinci Code (2006) What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 427. Your 2026 Reset: The One Change That Will Transform Your Firm with Jay Papasan 418. Why Discipline Without Toxicity Wins Every Time with Dominique Dawes 229. David Goggins - Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within
In this Diving Deep episode, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr dissect two issues that are often discussed separately but are deeply intertwined: how Americans can live longer, healthier lives and how the nation can make healthcare more affordable. The conversation begins with longevity. As interest in lifespan and “healthspan” grows, Dr. Pearl challenges three widely held beliefs that, in his view, are holding Americans back. First, the idea that physical and cognitive decline is inevitable with age. New research suggests that nearly half of older adults improve over time, particularly when they maintain a positive outlook and stay physically and mentally active. Second, the belief that longevity can be “hacked” through supplements, peptides and other quick fixes. Despite a $50 billion market and widespread adoption, Pearl explains that most of these interventions lack strong clinical evidence in humans. And third, the assumption that prevention can wait until middle age. Updated cardiovascular guidelines show that earlier screening and intervention, particularly around LDL cholesterol, can dramatically reduce long-term risk. From there, the discussion shifts to the financial side of healthcare. Pearl argues that improving population health is the most effective way to reduce costs, but that meaningful change will also require a fundamental redesign of how care is delivered. Drawing on behavioral research, he introduces a central concept: healthcare leaders tend to solve problems by adding more resources (staff, beds, technology) when better outcomes often require subtraction first. The second half of the episode applies this “subtraction before addition” framework across the healthcare system. In outpatient care, Pearl describes how the traditional small physician office has become increasingly inefficient in an era dominated by chronic disease and administrative complexity. He proposes larger, integrated models that share staff, leverage generative AI and shift from calendar-based visits to continuous, need-based care. In emergency departments, he outlines how segmenting patients by clinical severity could reduce wait times, improve outcomes and lower costs by treating low-risk cases through primary care pathways. And in inpatient settings, he points to hospital-at-home programs as a way to safely care for a significant share of patients at lower cost and with better outcomes. Taken together, this episode teaches that Americans can extend both lifespan and healthspan by rejecting outdated assumptions and focusing on proven behaviors. At the same time, healthcare affordability will not improve by continuing to add more of the same. It will require eliminating inefficiencies, redesigning care delivery and replacing outdated models with ones better suited to modern medicine. For more, tune into this month's episode and check out the links below. Helpful links New Studies Show Americans Are Thinking About Longevity All Wrong (Forbes) The More We Add To U.S. Healthcare, The Worse It Gets (Forbes) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com) * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn. The post FHC #213: Longevity myths, healthcare costs & why medicine must subtract to improve appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.
How did we know it was a stupid question? Our family was in Alaska some years ago and we asked some of the folks there what seemed like a reasonable question, "Where can we go to see a moose?" Turns out seeing a moose is really no big deal in Alaska. In fact, some people we talked to had hit one recently! So, they're everywhere. Sure. While I was busy speaking, my wife and kids drove all over the countryside looking for some moose. Nada. Maybe people hit them all! They even went to the Moose Sanctuary and they saw no moose there; frustrated, tired of looking, and pretty sure those moose were only in pictures in the tourist brochures. One morning we walked out of the house where we were staying, piled in the car, and started driving down the driveway. Suddenly, one of the kids shouted, "Moose!" And sure enough, there were three members of the antler gang right there at the bottom of our driveway! What we'd been looking for all that time was right in front of us! I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Looking for What's Right There." You know this is a time when spirituality is important to more and more people, there's a word you hear a lot and folks use it to describe themselves spiritually - I'm a "seeker" or I'm "searching spiritually." And that's a good thing to be doing. We're created with this eternity dimension by a God who is eternal, and we'll only find life's real meaning by shopping in the store called "spiritual answers." That part is right. Today, as never before, there's a spiritual cafeteria to choose from. Our search for the truth can carry us to many different religions or a blend of several religions; into New Age spirituality, into ourselves to find the power within us. But like our family hunting for moose, we're looking, but often not finding what we're looking for. Much searching - still no lasting peace, no security about eternity. It was a number of years ago where 39 members of the "Heaven's Gate" cult committed suicide. It was really unsettling because these were bright people, competent people; sincere spiritual seekers hoping to graduate from earth to, believe it or not, a waiting spaceship. That was their unusual belief. But listen, this is what I wanted to share with you - what one national news magazine observed about them and about us. It said, "Subtract the spaceship and the mass suicide, and you have a yearning and a search familiar to millions of Americans." That's true. That magazine pointed out what they called universal needs that many people are trying to meet: "the craving to belong, the wish to connect to something larger than oneself, the secret hope of finding an all-caring parent who offers protection and comfort." I'll tell you what, those needs were built into us by our Creator. Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Colossians 1:16. "All things were created by Him and for Him." That simple statement from God could be the beginning of the end of your spiritual search. He says you were created by Jesus; you were created for Jesus. The Savior who's been pretty much in front of you all the time, but maybe you've passed him by because you get Jesus confused with all the religious baggage attached to His name because you thought it was some new spirituality you needed. But only Jesus died to remedy our central spiritual problem: we're away from God because of our sin. And only the One who paid for that sin with His life can put you and God together. Without that, all spiritual searching must, sooner or later, turn up empty. The day you find is the day you say, "Jesus, You died and it was for me, for my sin. And today, I am Yours." He's been here all the time, but you've missed Him. Why don't you make today the day you find Him? Make a trip to our website and find out there how to be sure you belong to Him. It's ANewStory.com. Searching is good. Finding is better. Your long search will end in the loving arms of the One who's been patiently waiting for you all this time. Jesus - the end of your search.
Eye-opening conversation with Nell 3D (Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey) — leadership advisor, Forbes Senior Contributor, keynote speaker, and self-described Subtraction Activist.With degrees from Harvard, Cambridge, Columbia Business School, and London Business School, and 25+ years advising Fortune 500 executives at Google, Bank of America, American Express, Coca-Cola, and more, Nell has helped high-achieving, impact-driven leaders across the globe break through invisible success ceilings.After her own near-fatal wake-up call from chronic overdoing, she created the Systematic Subtraction™ and Lead in 3D™ frameworks (ME / WE / WORLD) that teach ambitious women how to stop adding more effort and start subtracting what no longer serves them — creating structural change, conserving energy, and generating compounding results in life, teams, and organizations.In this episode, Nell shares why “doing more” stops working for high performers, how to identify and release the hidden drains on your time and energy, and practical ways to align your purpose so success finally feels as good as it looks. Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, or mission-driven professional feeling stretched thin, this conversation will give you the permission and tools to do less while mattering more.https://www.nell3d.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/i-am-refocused-radio--2671113/support.Subscribe now at YouTube.com/@RefocusedNetworkThank you for your time.
Summer is coming — and the small businesses that are scrambling in June are the ones that did nothing in April. If you haven't started hiring yet, this episode is your alarm clock. Bella breaks down exactly why the hiring window closes faster than you think, what to do today, and how to use AI to get ahead of the rush before it's too late. TIMESTAMPS: [0:00] — The summer scramble is real — and it's already starting [2:00] — Why April is your actual hiring deadline (not June) [5:00] — The true cost of being understaffed in peak season [8:30] — Step 1: Know your summer numbers BEFORE you post [12:00] — Step 2: Write a job post that attracts, not repels [16:00] — Step 3: Use AI to screen and save 5+ hours a week [20:00] — Step 4: Build your pipeline NOW, not when you're desperate [23:30] — The Jump Hiring Method in 60 seconds [25:00] — Your this-week action plan In This Episode You'll Discover: Why most small business owners wait too long to hire — and what it actually costs them in revenue, stress, and client trust The math behind your summer headcount: how to calculate exactly how many people you need before you ever post a job What a great job post says versus what a mediocre one says — and the single line that filters out bad applicants before they apply How to use AI (ChatGPT or Claude) to screen applications in minutes instead of hours — without losing the human touch Bella's 'pipeline before desperation' principle and the 3 things you can do THIS WEEK to make sure summer doesn't catch you flat-footed About This Episode: Bella Vasta is the founder of Jump Consulting and has been coaching small business owners since 2007. She created the Jump Hiring Method — a proven 10-step framework that helps service-based businesses hire smarter, reduce turnover, and build teams that actually show up. In this episode, she brings the urgency of a coach who has watched too many small businesses lose their best summer ever because they waited too long to hire. Resources and Links Mentioned: Breezy HR — The ATS Bella recommends for small businesses — post once, track everywhere, screen with AI. Affiliate link with special pricing. The Jumpers Mastermind — Where Bella works with small business owners on hiring, AI, marketing, and systems — month to month. Free 20-Minute Call with Bella — One problem, 20 minutes, totally free. Walk away with a clear next step. The Jump Hiring Method Blog Post — The full 10-step framework in writing — bookmark this. Connect with Bella: Website Sessions with Bella The Jumpers Mastermind Subscribe to Bella in Your Business Bella's Website Find Bella on Instagram and Facebook — search Bella Vasta [LINK ? bellavasta.com] FAQ: When should a small business start hiring for summer? April is your real deadline — not June, not May. By the time summer demand hits, you need people who are already trained, onboarded, and have handled real work independently. That process takes 4–6 weeks minimum. If you post a job in late May, your new hire won't be ready until July — and you'll have lost clients in the gap. Start now, even if summer feels far away. The businesses that thrive in summer are the ones that hired in spring. How do I figure out how many people I need to hire for summer? Start with your numbers from last summer. How much work were you turning down? How many days were you at or over capacity? Take your peak weekly workload, divide by the realistic output of one part-time employee, and that tells you how many people you need at full coverage. Subtract who you have now. That gap is your hiring goal. Add at least 20% buffer for no-shows, schedule conflicts, and turnover — because summer always has some of each. What should a small business include in a job posting to attract better applicants? The biggest mistake small business owners make is writing a job post that sounds like a generic HR form. Your post needs to do two things: filter out bad-fit applicants before they apply, and make your ideal applicant excited to work for you specifically. Lead with what makes your business worth working for — your values, your culture, what a great day actually looks like. Be honest about the schedule expectations and physical realities. End with a specific, slightly unusual application question — this filters out mass-applicants and immediately shows you who actually read the post. Can I use AI to help screen job applicants for my small business? Yes — and you should. Once applications come in, paste each one into Claude or ChatGPT along with your hiring criteria and ask it to flag green flags, red flags, and questions to ask in the interview. AI won't make the final call for you, and it shouldn't — that's still a human decision. But it can cut your screening time from hours to minutes and catches inconsistencies that tired eyes miss after reviewing the fifth application in a row. Pair this with Breezy HR for full pipeline management. What is the Jump Hiring Method? The Jump Hiring Method is a 10-step hiring framework Bella Vasta developed for small, service-based businesses. It covers everything from calculating your headcount needs and writing a compelling job post, to screening, interviewing, onboarding, and retaining great people. The method is designed for business owners who are not HR professionals — it gives you a repeatable system so hiring doesn't feel like starting from scratch every time. You can read the full framework on Bella's blog at Jump Consulting. Full Episode Transcript Okay, I need you to listen to me right now. Not before you finish your coffee, not save this for later, like right now. And obviously you're tuning in, so you're ready to go. But I've been watching something happen every single year for like the 18 years that I've been doing this, and I don't want it to happen to you. So today we're gonna talk about it. Here's the scene. It's June. Like your phone is blowing up or your email. Clients want more. hours, they want rush jobs, they want the same week bookings, like they want it now. And because some are hit and everyone needs something done at once, it's your best shot at your biggest revenue season. OK, and you don't have enough people. You're texting your one reliable employee asking if she could please, please, please, please take on like six more jobs or clients. And she can't. You're doing them yourself. You're exhausted. You're turning away clients. You haven't had them for years and they're coming back. You have nowhere to put them. And somewhere in the back of your mind, little voice is saying, I should have hired earlier. Yeah, you should have. But here's the thing, you can still fix it today, this week. It is April. And April is actually your hiring deadline. I cannot stress this enough. So many of you guys are going through this right now. Now, April, not May, not June, okay? And if you're listening to this right now, Like you're not too late, but you're not early either. Like this is really important to figure out. I did an episode a couple of episodes ago, all about the 10 step jump hiring method. And that would be a really good one to go back and listen to, to just refresh your memory about a proven method that actually works. But today we're definitely gonna go in and talk about what you need to do now. Hi, I'm Bella from Bella in Your Business. And I've been coaching small businesses since 2007. I've seen a lot of summers. And the ones that went sideways or almost went sideways for the exact same reason. They waited too long to hire. And I don't care if you're in the pet business or you're in the roofing company or you're a house cleaner or whatever it is. Today, we're gonna fix that. Like I am bringing this directly to you to make sure that you understand this is something we need to do now. Bella (02:27.316) And unless you have a button that you know you can push and just make it rain your ideal kind of higher, then you need to listen to this episode today. Okay. We're going to figure out what you need to do to close that window faster, how to calculate what you actually need, what to do with your job post and how AI can save you hours in screening and what to do this week. Like this week, not someday. Not next month, today, okay? Because it's really important. All right, let's get into it. Before we go further, I do want to make a note that our last episode where I talked about the difference between SEO and AIO or AEO and why it's important to have both of them, you guys really, really, really appreciated that one and I love that. I wanna just tie that up really quickly. If you haven't listened, you definitely wanna go back and hear that one. Today I posted something that really went along with that and it's that a cat's life was saved using Grok. Go check out Bella Vasta on Facebook. It's my personal profile, but it's public. And what I talked about there is there was a cat in distress and it was a diabetic cat. and the owner went to Grok and Grok was like, get it to the vet now. It's going into shock and this is what you need to do and ultimately save the cat's life. Now, why is this important to last week's episode? Well, last week's episode, I was literally driving home the point that what we're doing now is not Googling. We are literally asking our AI people, agents, LLMs, hey. this is my problem, what do I do about it? We're starting, our human behavior collectively is starting to trust that. And so if you're not showing, if your business isn't showing up as the suggested resource for multiple questions, then you're missing out on really great opportunities because the people that are asking the LLMs right now are the ones that are like, their intent to buy is really high. So if you're just joining me or you, Bella (04:41.998) missed last week's episode, I really encourage you to go back to episode 465 and listen to it. Okay,
You've heard the rules. Subtract your age from 100. Go 60/40. Play it safer as you get older. But what if those long-held guidelines have been steering you wrong and costing you? Yale finance professor James Choi returns to HerMoney to share groundbreaking research that could change the way you think about your investments forever. His new asset allocation formula goes far beyond the traditional rules of thumb, factoring in your income, your savings, your risk tolerance, and something most investment guidelines completely ignore: the future paychecks you haven't earned yet. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the "100 minus your age" rule and the classic 60/40 portfolio have a critical blind spot The concept of "human capital" and why your future paychecks function like a bond in your overall wealth portfolio How the formula shifts dramatically for mid-career investors, and why the size of your nest egg matters more than you think What near-retirees and women already in retirement should really know about how much risk to take on Resources mentioned in this episode: James Choi's allocation spreadsheet calculator The Wall Street Journal piece on James's research Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck (coming Sept 2026) Subscribe to the free twice-weekly HerMoney newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fool's gold always looks real from a distance. But real leadership is tested up close. In pressure. In decisions. In how you treat people. Don't chase what looks like leadership. Build what actually lasts. CONNECT WITH US: • Mark Q | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markquattrochi/ • JUST LEAD | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justleadme/ LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE If you haven't yet, make sure to tap subscribe on your favorite podcast platform — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Youtube!
Getting to seven figures isn't about doing more. It's about removing what's not working and doubling down on what is. You have the ingredients for seven figures. You don't have the recipe.I'm breaking down the framework every seven figure business I've worked with has in common: one target market, one offer, one sales process, one primary channel, one year of relentless focus. The biggest mistakes keeping you stuck are adding instead of optimizing, confusing busyness with leverage, and chasing dopamine instead of letting simple things compound. Scaling is about subtraction, not addition. If you can't handle boredom, you can't build a million dollar business.Timestamps: 00:44 Why More Is Not More02:39 Five 1's Framework Origin06:23 Stop Adding Start Optimizing09:51 Busy Versus Leverage19:10 Boredom Kills Scale23:14 The Five Ones Blueprint25:08 Reflection Questions PDF26:43 Nail Your Target Market31:15 Pick One Core Offer36:21 Build One Sales Process39:52 Choose a Primary Channel44:57 Commit to Relentless Focus47:46 Subtract to ScaleTo join the Ambitious Network for free, click HERE. To connect with Kate on Instagram, click HERE. To apply for ITI, click HERE.To submit a question to be answered on the podcast, click HERE.
Psychologists Off The Clock: A Psychology Podcast About The Science And Practice Of Living Well
Overwhelm can push us to a point where the tools we normally rely on suddenly feel out of reach. In this episode, clinical psychologist and burnout expert Kerry Makin-Byrd discusses her book Start Here: A Practical Guide for the Overwhelmed, created as a simple, step-by-step guide for moments when thinking clearly feels difficult. She explains overwhelm as being outside the “window of tolerance,” when the nervous system moves into overarousal or shutdown, and everyday functioning, like sleep, mood, and decision-making, can be disrupted.Kerry introduces a three-part approach called Soothe, Transcend, Move. The idea is to regulate the body first, then shift perspective with self-compassion, and finally focus on one small action that aligns with your values. Listen and Learn: Kerry's simple illustrated guide for turning overwhelming stress into clear, actionable steps you can actually use in the momentHow overwhelm shows up in your body and mind can look completely different from others and might be quietly sabotaging your focus and energyPracticing small daily skills to train your mind to handle stress more quickly and effortlessly under pressureHow you can instantly calm your body and unlock clearer thinking using a surprising science-based “chill out” practice from the first step of a three-part emotional regulation systemHow Kerr's three-step approach can help you calm your body, shift perspective, and navigate stress more effectivelyReflective support to overcome burnout and compassion fatigue in helping professionsResources:Start Here: A Practical Guide for the Overwhelmed: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781408783221Kerry's Website: https://www.drkerrymakinbyrd.com/ Subscribe for twice-a-month field notes on overwhelm, burnout, and compassion to help you care for yourself and others: https://www.drkerrymakinbyrd.com/contact/#/portal/ Kerr's Podcast, Start Here for Helpers — with Dr Kerry Makin-Byrd: https://starthereforhelpers.substack.com/?ref=drkerrymakinbyrd.com Connect with Kerry on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/drkerrymbhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-makin-byrd-phdhttps://www.facebook.com/DrKerryMakinByrd/https://www.youtube.com/@drkerrymb About Kerry Makin-ByrdDr. Kerry Makin-Byrd is a clinical psychologist and noted burnout and well-being expert who translates science into practical non-fiction. An alum of Penn State, UC San Francisco, and the Palo Alto VA Health Care System/Stanford School of Medicine (affiliated), she was honoured with the Veterans Health Administration's Special Contribution Award for nationally impactful policy work and clinical teaching. A burnout survivor herself, Dr. Kerry is the author of the memoir The Ballad of Burnout. Based in Wellington, New Zealand, she divides her time between writing, providing trauma therapy, and mentoring doctors and therapists. Her favorite types of rest are cold swims with her family and cackling with friends.Related Episodes: 153. Healthcare Professional Wellbeing Abbie Beacham, Kerry Makin-Byrd, and Bernard Chang (Part 1) 154. Healthcare Professional Wellbeing with Abbie Beacham, Kerry Makin-Byrd, and Bernard Chang (Part 2) 338. ACT for Burnout with Debbie 177. Mind-Body Practices for Stress and Overwhelm with Rebekkah LaDyne 75. Mindful Self-Compassion with Christopher Germer 199. Belonging From the Inside Out with Meg McKelvie 211. Subtract with Leidy Klotz73. Essentialism with Greg McKeown See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
If the first thing you think about when trying to lose weight is everything you can't have, this episode is for you. Dr. Lisa Oldson introduces one of her favorite mindset shifts for sustainable weight loss: Add Before You Subtract. Instead of leading with restriction, deprivation, and a list of forbidden foods, Dr. Lisa explains why focusing first on adding more protein, fiber-rich fruits & vegetables, and whole foods is not only more effective, it's backed by science. You'll learn how the "crowding out" effect works, why restriction-first thinking triggers your brain's scarcity response, and how a simple abundance mindset can transform your relationship with food. If you're tired of white knuckling your way through diets that don't last and leave you feeling deprived, this episode will show you a SMARTER and more sustainable path forward for weight loss and better health.Thanks for listening! If you'd like more support during your SMART weight loss & health focused journey, sign up for our FREE newsletter, or check out our program at: www.SmartWeightLossCoaching.com. We would love to help you reach your happy weight, and transform the way you talk to yourself about your body and the number on the scale. Negative thoughts about yourself don't have to take up so much brain space, and we'd be honored to help you reframe those thoughts. Also…We'd be grateful if you'd follow us and share our podcast with your friends & family. We're here to help you improve your health, live longer, healthier, and lose weight the SMART way! This episode was produced by The Podcast Teacher: www.ThePodcastTeacher.com.
What if growth isn't about adding more, but about letting something go? In this episode, Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey shares what happens when a heart-based, aligned career (literally) drifts out of its lane, and why “getting back to normal” isn't always the goal. We dig into gold-star chasing, inherited “shoulds,” and small experiments in self-knowledge that help you notice what's draining your energy. And we talk about the ripple effects of intentional subtraction, how letting go can change the way you show up at work, in leadership, and at home. This conversation is a permission slip to stop adding by default and start asking a more compassionate question: What can I release so I can live and lead more intentionally?
Send a textAre you working harder than ever yet feeling less visible, less fulfilled, and more burned out in your career?In this episode, I sit down with leadership strategist and Forbes senior contributor Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Nell 3D, to challenge one of the biggest myths mid-career professionals face today: that doing more is the only way forward. We explore how strategic subtraction can actually help you become more effective, more influential, and more fulfilled in your work.If you are navigating a tough job market, feeling stuck under ineffective leadership, or wondering how to sustain performance without burning out, this conversation will help you rethink how you show up at work. Nell introduces her practical Stop, Drop, Roll method, a framework that helps high performers pause, remove draining habits, and redesign their workdays so their energy creates bigger results.We discuss real stories of leaders who cut unnecessary meetings, redesigned team rituals, and reclaimed personal time while still improving team outcomes. We also tackle real mid-career challenges, including dealing with a difficult boss, maintaining confidence in a slow job market, and learning how to stop carrying expectations and criticisms that drain momentum.If you are holding onto a role for stability while trying to protect your long-term career prospects, you will also learn why strategically cruising at seven instead of ten can actually extend your runway and help you perform where it matters most.This episode offers permission and practical tools to step back, gather honest data about how you spend your time and energy, and make smarter decisions about what deserves your attention.If you are a mid-career professional looking for career clarity, stronger leadership presence, or a smarter job search strategy, this conversation will help you see how doing less of the wrong things can help you achieve more of what matters.Mid-career success is not about grinding endlessly. It is about choosing where your effort creates the most impact. Often, the smartest career move is not adding more. It is subtracting what no longer serves you.Connect With Nell 3DLinkedIn | Website | SubstackSupport the showVisit https://johnneral.com/resources to: Grab my free 15-minute audio briefing about why doing good work at mid-career is no longer "good enough." Subscribe to my free leadership and career newsletter Get The Mid-Career Clarity Code to help you figure out whatever is next for you and your career Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here. Connect with John on LinkedIn here.Get John's New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here. Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching. Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.
In this episode, we dive deep into the real value of creative work—what we truly get paid for, beyond our time and output. We bring together two insightful thinkers, Rebecca Hinds and Jen Fisher, whose perspectives on meetings and hope transform how we structure our work days and support our teams.We explore why most meetings sabotage productivity and how “visibility bias” tricks us into equating a full calendar with actual progress. Rebecca Hinds (author of Your Best Meeting Ever) challenges us to rethink meetings as products: expensive, important, yet often poorly optimized. She shares actionable strategies like "meeting doomsday" and the "rule of halves" to declutter calendars and refocus collaboration.Shifting gears, we unpack the often-overlooked topic of hope in organizational culture. Jen Fisher (author of Hope Is The Strategy) reframes hope as a strategic, action-oriented process, not just a feel-good slogan. We discuss Gallup's finding that hope ranks higher than trust as what people want most from leaders, and how misaligned incentives erode both hope and well-being, leading to disengagement and burnout.Throughout, we challenge creative pros to rethink their real value—insight, intuition, and emotional logic—and encourage leaders to create environments where these qualities flourish.Five Key Learnings:Insight is Indispensable: Our unique perspectives, intuition, and courage—not just our time or output—are what make us valuable in creative roles.Meetings Need a Reset: Meetings often serve as a status symbol rather than a tool for progress. Treating meetings as products and regularly auditing their purpose and effectiveness can dramatically improve collaboration.Subtract to Add Value: Applying the “rule of halves”—cutting meeting length, attendees, agenda items, or frequency—forces us to focus on what's truly essential and breaks the cycle of addition sickness.Hope Is Strategic, Not Sentimental: Hope is a cognitive, actionable process that drives teams forward. Organizations must foster strategic hope to encourage risk-taking and innovation.Alignment Drives Well-being: Stated values must match incentives and systems. Misalignment between what leaders say and reward creates dissonance, burnout, and disengagement.Get full interviews and bonus content for free! Just join the list at DailyCreativePlus.com.Mentioned in this episode:The Brave Habit is available nowMy new book will help you make bravery a habit in your life, your leadership, and your work. Discover how to develop the two qualities that lead to brave action: Optimistic Vision and Agency. Buy The Brave Habit wherever books are sold, or learn more at TheBraveHabit.com.
We are often told that if we work harder, speak louder, and lean in further, the doors of opportunity will eventually swing open. But for many women, the reality is more complex. It isn't just about the effort—it's about the environment. Today, Cindy Watson sits down with a powerhouse leader who isn't just looking for a seat—she's redesigning the entire room. Joining us is Kae Kronthaler-Williams, a global software marketing executive who has navigated the highest levels of tech while maintaining a fierce commitment to equity. As a passionate advocate for women's advancement, Kae doesn't just talk about the "broken rung"; she provides the tools to fix it. From confronting unconscious bias to dismantling toxic work cultures, her work through public speaking, coaching, and nonprofit initiatives is centered on one radical mission: ensuring every woman is seen, supported, and empowered to lead. In this episode, Cindy and Kae dive deep into: How to thrive in a system not designed for you. How to claim your space if gender imbalance is present. Setting boundaries to protect your credibility without apologizing. Finding the right allies in your workplace. Negotiating mentorship and allyship in a male dominated workplace. What are the biggest negotiation traps that women in particular fall into? What are some of the feminine approaches that maybe secret weapons? Practical step to take to negotiate your best life. And many more! Learn more about Kae Kronthaler-Williams: Website: https://www.kaewilliams.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaekwilliams/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaekronthalerwilliams/ Subtract: https://substack.com/@kaekronthalerwilliams Get a copy of her book: Not Made for You: How Women in Tech Can Challenge Bias, Claim Their Space, and Thrive in a System Built for Men If you're looking to up-level your negotiation skills, I have everything from online to group to my signature one-on-one mastermind & VIP experiences available to help you better leverage your innate power to get more of what you want and deserve in life. Check out our website at www.artofFeminineNegotiation.com if that sounds interesting to you. Get Cindy's book here: Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Art-Feminine-Negotiation-Boardroom-Bedroom-ebook/dp/B0B8KPCYZP?inf_contact_key=94d07c699eea186d2adfbddfef6fb9e2&inf_contact_key=013613337189d4d12be8d2bca3c26821680f8914173f9191b1c0223e68310bb1 EBook https://www.amazon.com/Art-Feminine-Negotiation-Boardroom-Bedroom-ebook/dp/B0B8KPCYZP?inf_contact_key=94d07c699eea186d2adfbddfef6fb9e2&inf_contact_key=013613337189d4d12be8d2bca3c26821680f8914173f9191b1c0223e68310bb1 Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-art-of-feminine-negotiation-cindy-watson/1141499614?ean=9781631959776 CONNECT WITH CINDY: Website: www.womenonpurpose.ca Website: www.practicingwithpurpose.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womenonpurposecommunity/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenonpurposecoaching/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thecindywatson Show: https://www.womenonpurpose.ca/media/podcast-2/ X(Twitter): https://twitter.com/womenonpurpose1 YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@hersuasion Email: cindy@womenonpurpose.ca
In this episode of The Floral CEO Podcast, Jen walks you through a simple, real-world way to forecast your floral business revenue—using the bookings you already have (or want) to estimate your average wedding value, close rate, expenses, flower costs, labor, taxes, and ultimately how much you can pay yourself.Whether you're a newer florist or you've been in business for years but still feel unclear about money, this episode gives you a practical framework to stop guessing and start planning like a CEO.What You'll Learn (Key Takeaways)How to calculate your average wedding order value (AOV) so you can forecast incomeHow to use your close rate to estimate how many leads you need to hit your booking goalA simple “CEO math” approach to estimate:Flower/COGS percentagefixed monthly expenses (your “turn the lights on” costs)freelance laborsales tax/tax set-asidesprofit cushionowner payWhy guessing creates scarcity—and why forecasting creates confidenceHow to put this into a spreadsheet so you can make smarter decisions all yearThe Framework Jen Uses (Step-by-Step)1) Start with your funnel numbers (your real booking pipeline)Track these numbers:How many inquiries/leads you receiveHow many you respond to / have real conversations withHow many consults you bookHow many proposals you sendHow many you close (booked + contract signed)Close rate formula:Booked weddings ÷ proposals sent = close rateJen's note:If your close rate is very high, you may be underpriced (you're “too easy to book”).2) Calculate your average wedding value (AOV)Average wedding value formula:Total booked wedding revenue ÷ number of booked weddings = AOVThis gives you a usable “planning number” even if you have a few outliers.3) Forecast income based on your goal number of weddingsIf you want to go from 8 weddings to 20, you need 12 more weddings.Projected revenue formula:(Goal weddings × AOV) = projected gross revenue4) Estimate your cost of goods (flowers + supplies)If you're still learning sourcing/recipes, Jen recommends being conservative:30–35% as a planning range for flower costs (COGS)COGS formula:Projected revenue × COGS % = flower/supply costs5) Subtract fixed “lights-on” business expensesThese are costs like:websiteCanvaQuickBooks/bookkeeping softwareemail platformadmin tools/subscriptionsbusiness renewals/feesvehicle costs (if the business covers them)Fixed costs formula:Monthly fixed expenses × 12 = annual fixed expenses6) Add labor estimates (freelancers)Example logic from the episode:how many weddings need helphow many hours per weddinghourly ratenumber of staff-daysLabor formula:(Hours × rate × number of days/weddings) = labor cost7) Set aside taxes (don't get surprised later)Jen specifically mentions sales tax and recommends setting aside a percentage (often close to 10% in MN depending on location/rate, but use your local rate).Tax set-aside formula:Projected revenue × tax % = tax bucket8) Build profit into the business (a cushion)Profit is not “whatever is left.” It's intentional.Even starting with 5–7% gives you a cushion for growth:cooler purchaseeducationequipmentupgradesemergency bufferProfit formula:Net-after-costs × profit % = profit bucket9) What's left can become owner's compensation (pay yourself)After subtracting:COGSfixed costslabortaxesprofit…the remainder is what you can use to pay yourself (owner's comp), then plan for income taxes/self-employment taxes depending on your setup.Practical Action Steps (Do This This Week)Make a simple spreadsheet with columns for:inquiriesconsultsproposalsbookingsclose rateList your booked weddings and total revenue → calculate your AOVChoose your booking goal (ex: 20 weddings)Forecast gross revenue (goal × AOV)Pick conservative COGS % (30–35% if you're still dialing in recipes)Estimate annual “lights-on” expensesEstimate freelancer laborCreate 3 buckets in your business:tax set-asideprofit cushionowner payReview the final number and ask:“Is this enough for the life I want?”“What needs to change: price, volume, efficiency, or offers?”Mentioned in This EpisodeBook RecommendationProfit First by Mike Michalowicz (Jen's foundational framework for building profit and paying yourself consistently) https://a.co/d/1s9O2mm
Psychologists Off The Clock: A Psychology Podcast About The Science And Practice Of Living Well
If you've been dragging some of last year around with you, or you've been feeling that strange mix of excitement and pressure that shows up every January, this episode is calling your name. Closing out the year, the POTC cohosts are bringing you a conversation about how creativity can be a lifeline, a mindset shift, and a really enjoyable way to start 2026 feeling more like yourself.Walking you through simple ways to reflect on the past year, we share some creative exercises that spark real insight and explore how tuning into your creative side can help you make meaning, connect with people, and better handle the tough stuff life throws at you. If you're craving more joy, connection, or just a new angle on the year ahead, you're bound to find something that resonates.So settle in, and join us in starting the year with intention, curiosity, and a little touch of creativity.Listen and Learn: Reflection Exercises, including: Finding Meaning: Reflecting on the past year, where were you last New Year's, and what were your biggest highs and lows since thenMeaningful Moments: Reflecting on two or three meaningful moments from the past year and vividly recalling the sights, sounds, and feelings of each experienceLessons, Wins and Moving Forward: Reflecting on your past year to uncover lessons from mistakes, celebrate achievements, and clarify what truly matters to you as you move into 2026Vision for the Year Ahead: Reflecting on what you truly want, the areas you've neglected, and the values you want to prioritize in the year aheadHow incorporating creative, life-affirming activities can boost your well-being and help you navigate life's challengesPractical exercises and tips to spark more creativity in your life in the new yearResources: Access the New Year's Reflection Questions from this episode (.pdf or editable MS Word versions available) Debbie's Guided Journaling Substack with writing prompts and a 30-day journaling challengeYear Compass worksheets: https://yearcompass.com/Word of the Year and Unravel Your Year worksheets by Susannah Conway: https://www.susannahconway.com/unravel Creative Mornings: https://creativemornings.com/ Jill | Betrayal Weekly: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jill-betrayal-weekly/id1615637724?i=1000726003078 If you have a story connected to trauma, crime, or someone who's caused harm—and you feel ready to share it—Jill would love to hear from you. You can book a free 30-minute consult at:https://jillstoddard.com/contact-us About the POTC CoHosts: Debbie Sorensen, PhD, Co-hostDebbie (she/her) is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Denver, Colorado with a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Anthropology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Harvard University. She is author of the book ACT for Burnout: Recharge, Reconnect, and Transform Burnout with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and co-author of ACT Daily Journal: Get Unstuck and Live Fully with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She loves living in Colorado, her home state, with her husband, two daughters, and dog. When she's not busy working or podcasting, she enjoys reading fiction, cooking, traveling, and getting outdoors in the beautiful Rocky Mountains! You can learn more about Debbie, read her blog, and find out about upcoming presentations and training events at her webpage, drdebbiesorensen.com.Jill Stoddard, PhD, Co-hostJill Stoddard is passionate about sharing science-backed ideas from psychology to help people thrive. She is a psychologist, writer, TEDx speaker, award-winning teacher, peer-reviewed ACT trainer, bariatric coach, and co-host of the popular Psychologists Off the Clock podcast. Dr. Stoddard is the founder and director of The Center for Stress and Anxiety Management, an outpatient practice specializing in evidence-based therapies for anxiety and related issues. She is the author of three books: The Big Book of ACT Metaphors: A Practitioner's Guide to Experiential Exercises and Metaphors in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Be Mighty: A Woman's Guide to Liberation from Anxiety, Worry, and Stress Using Mindfulness and Acceptance; and Imposter No More: Overcome Self-doubt and Imposterism to Cultivate a Successful Career. Her writing has also appeared in The Washington Post, Psychology Today, Scary Mommy, Thrive Global, The Good Men Project, and Mindful Return. She regularly appears on podcasts and as an expert source for various media outlets. She lives in Newburyport, MA with her husband, two kids, and disobedient French Bulldog. Michael Herold, Co-HostMichael (he/him) is a confidence trainer and social skills coach, based in Vienna, Austria. He's helping his clients overcome their social anxiety through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and fun exposure exercises. (Though the jury is still out on whether they're mostly fun for him). He is also a certified therapeutic game master, utilizing the Dungeons&Dragons tabletop roleplaying game to train communication, assertiveness, and teamwork with young adults. Or actually, anyone ready to roll some dice and battle goblins in a supportive group where players want to level up (pun!) their social skills. Michael is the head coach of the L.A. based company The Art of Charm, running their confidence-building program “Unstoppable” as well as workshops on small talk, storytelling, vulnerability, and more. He is the scientific advisor and co-producer of their large podcast with more than 250 million downloads. As a member of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS), Michael is the current President of the ACT Coaching Special Interest Group with nearly 1,000 coaches worldwide, and the co-founder of the ACT in Austria Affiliate of ACBS, a nationwide meetup for ACT practitioners in Austria. He's a public speaker who has spoken at TEDx, in front of members of parliament, universities, and once in a cinema full of 500 kids high on sugary popcorn. In a previous life, he was a character animator working on award-winning movies and TV shows such as “The Penguins of Madagascar” and “Kung Fu Panda”. That was before he realized that helping people live a meaningful life is much more rewarding than working in the film business – even though the long nights in the studio allowed him to brew his own beer in the office closet, an activity he highly recommends. Michael grew up with five foster kids who were all taken out of abusive families. His foster sisters showed him how much positive change is possible in a person if they have the love and support they need.Emily Edlynn, PhD, Co-HostEmily (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in pediatric health psychology who works in private practice with children, teens, and adults. She has a BA in English from Smith College, a PhD in clinical psychology from Loyola University Chicago, and completed postgraduate training at Stanford and Children's Hospital Orange County. Emily spent almost ten years working in children's hospitals before pivoting to private practice, which allowed her to start a writing career. Emily has written her blog, The Art and Science of Mom, since 2017 and a parenting advice column for Parents.com since 2019. Emily's writing has also appeared in the Washington Post, Scary Mommy, Good Housekeeping, Motherly, and more. She recently added author to her bio with her book, Autonomy-Supportive Parenting: Reduce Parental Burnout and Raise Competent Confident Children and has a Substack newsletter. Emily lives with her husband, three children, and two rescue dogs in Oak Park, IL where she can see Chicago's skyline from her attic window. Yael Schonbrun, PhD, Co-hostYael (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist who wears a number of professional hats: She has a small private practice specializing in evidence-based relationship therapy, she's an assistant professor at Brown University, and she writes for nonacademic audiences about working parenthood. She has a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and completed her postgraduate training at Brown University. In all areas of her work, Yael draws on scientific research, her clinical experience, ancient wisdom (with an emphasis on Taoism), and real life experiences with her three little boys. You can find out more about Yael's writing, including her book, Work, Parent, Thrive, and about her research by clicking the links. You can follow Yael on Linkedin and Instagram where she posts about relationship science or subscribe to her newsletter, Relational, to get the science of relationships in your email inbox!Related Episodes: 410. Creativity and Making Things with Kelly Corrigan and Claire Corrigan Lichty345. Writing for Personal Growth with Maureen Murdock211. Subtract with Leidy Klotz73. Essentialism with Greg McKeown257. The Gift of Being Ordinary with Ron Siegel 37. Post-Traumatic Growth with Diana and Debbie375. Midlife: From Crisis to Curiosity with Meg McKelvie and Debbie Sorensen 285. What Do You Want Out of Life? Values Fulfillment Theory with Valerie Tiberius 351. You Only Die Once with Jodi Wellman 138. Exploring Existence and Purpose: Existentialism with Robyn Walser 329. The Power of Curiosity with Scott ShigeokaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On the latest episode of The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo head into New Year's looking at a very new Mets team for 2026. The guys break down the bullpen after the addition of Luke Weaver, react to the trade of Jeff McNeil to the A's for a young pitching prospect, discuss the many former Yankees who have become current Mets, and wonder whether or not Cody Bellinger could join that group. Connor and Joe also go Down on the Farm to talk about international prospect Wandy Asigen, and answer Mailbag questions about David Stearns possibly hiring a GM, the appeal of Luis Robert Jr, and an interesting hypothetical trade scenario for Tarik Skubal. Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Today's Show:00:00 Welcome to the show01:00 Mets sign reliever Luke Weaver to a two-year deal 03:35 Where does the bullpen stand now?06:30 Many ex-Yankees are now Mets09:05 Jeff McNeil traded to A's for pitching prospect Yordan Rodriguez17:55 Mets payroll questions21:20 Is Cody Bellinger a Mets possibility?29:50 Down on the Farm: Mets to sign international prospect Wandy Asigen35:50 Mailbag: Emotions and grace for the moves of David Stearns?41:05 Mailbag: Why won't David Stearns hire a GM?43:55 Mailbag: A tripleheader of questions about Luis Robert Jr48:10 Mailbag: How about this Tarik Skubal trade idea? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this episode, Rachel Hollis discusses the complexities of breaking free from a monotonous, autopilot existence to rediscover and rebuild one's true self. She shares personal insights, listener interactions, and offers nine practical steps to reclaim and re-energize your life. By embracing intentional routines, incorporating new experiences, and establishing meaningful rituals, Rachel encourages listeners to find and nurture their authentic selves.Get your copy of Rachel's New Book Here: Audible, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Millon, Bookshop.org, or wherever books are sold!01:15 Welcome and Community Connection03:21 The Struggle of Losing Yourself07:05 Rebuilding Yourself: Nine Steps07:15 Stop Running on Autopilot11:04 Shake Up Your Routine15:23 Reconnect with Your Old Self18:39 Subtract, Don't Add23:52 Embrace Being the Villain28:10 The Importance of Boredom30:47 Rituals Over Routines34:24 Collect Evidence of Growth36:28 Don't Rush the Rebuild38:30 Conclusion and EncouragementSign up for Rachel's weekly email: https://msrachelhollis.com/insider/Call the podcast hotline and leave a voicemail! Call (737) 400-4626Watch the podcast on YouTube: http://youtube.com/@MsRachelHollisFollow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MsRachelHollisTo learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.