Category: Uncategorized

When we talk about money, our brain lights up. Money means more than math when our sense of value is tied to the outcome. This episode offers two prompts to help assess how we invest our time and energy when it comes to financial elements. There are many situations where money won’t be in our control, but our value always should be. A little discomfort on your own behalf might be one of the best investments you ever make.

Borrowing an example from aerospace, this episode looks at the distance between where we are and some place higher. The Karman Line is known as the 62 miles (100 kilometers) between Earth and the start of outer space. Even with the best team and plans, it requires many miles to get beyond what was once thought possible. What are you willing to do 62 times in pursuit of a skill, path, relationship, etc.? Not everything worth doing has to be hard, but most things worth doing are worth repeating.

As a good person in the world, you do a lot for others. It’s part of who you are and part of how the world works. Reciprocity is one of the basic principles of social psychology. This episode explores the opportunities for us to redeem the “store credit” that might be tucked away or that we are hesitant to claim. Whether it’s accepting a compliment, a favor, or an actual gift, we deserve to receive as much as we give.

As a good person in the world, you do a lot for others. It’s part of who you are and part of how the world works. Reciprocity is one of the basic principles of social psychology. This episode explores the opportunities for us to redeem the “store credit” that might be tucked away or that we are hesitant to claim. Whether it’s accepting a compliment, a favor, or an actual gift, we deserve to receive as much as we give.

The average adult spends around 16 to 18 hours awake each day. There are two important areas of your day that have the potential to boost both your energy and your focus. This episode explores the importance of the ‘brain bookends’ of your day: the first and last hour of when you’re awake. A few intentional efforts during each bookend can have direct, lasting impact on the day – and days – ahead.

This episode looks at ‘micro’ productivity and how the best predictor of your personal productivity is the pace and energy of those who are around you the most. In bicycle racing, the word “peloton” describes when cyclists intentionally ride close to or behind one another to save and extend their energy. This conversation offers two ideas on how to borrow and benefit from peloton energy in your everyday life.

Our brain has a powerful processing center to keep information and memories only as long as needed. The lasting effect of the emotional, physical, and cognitive benefits from the act of making memories has important benefits over what can be purchased, stored, or consumed. This episode examines the positive power of time spent making memories and how to make space for making memories that matter.

Time multiplies whatever you feed it. And while it’s fun to have fun, it can be a slippery slope on the way to a mental slump. Mental and physical effort, no matter how small, send important signals that can kickstart energy. This episode offers three ways to give your brain battery a boost.

It’s great to have a plan, but sometimes trying to have a plan stops us from actually taking action. This episode is about leaving room for the unscripted – the times when thinking slows down the doing. There are certainly times when extra care is needed but check what’s behind the desire to hit pause. Sometimes the best way to stop the spinning is to find one small piece to start.

There are many tips on how to be a better communicator (including lots of our episodes!), but one of the most overlooked elements of a powerful conversation is active listening. In our busy days, our exchanges can feel more like conversational ping pong. This episode offers simple tips on how to focus your listening and, hopefully, deepen your everyday connections.