MINDSET ZONE

  “If you don’t spend enough time having experiences with people in the context of their lives, you don’t get an opportunity to go deeper and understand their true desires, motivations, and values.” Sue Bevan Baggott   Sue joins me today to explore why understanding the lives of consumers and customers is key to successful innovation. She describes her experience at Pampers and how they innovated diaper products after deeply understanding their customers’ desires. She outlines the three core dimensions of innovation, and the three levels of human experience organizations must learn to effectively innovate and design. Sue also highlights the power of empathetic connection and underscores how diversity drives innovation.   This week on The Mindset Zone: * Why organizations need to start with empathy when innovating * Innovating Pampers’ diaper design and the power of understanding customers at the human level * The three core dimensions of successful innovation * The story behind Apple’s miraculous innovation * Three levels of human experience organizations need to understand when innovating * How productivity tools can make us procrastinate * The messiness of innovation and how companies can avoid disruption * How leaders can nurture innovation in their companies * How empathetic connection and diversity can drive innovative breakthroughs   The Guest: Sue Bevan Baggott is a speaker, strategy and innovation leader, angel impact investor, and board member with a proven track record of uncovering deep human insights that lead to impactful innovations and breakthrough business results. She is the founder of Power Within Consulting, a firm that empowers clients to accelerate business success by delivering human-centered, insight-driven business and innovation strategies. Sue graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and Biology from Lehigh University.     Connect with Sue Bevan Baggott: * Power Within Consulting * Sue Bevan Baggott on LinkedIn   Expand What’s Possible  

“There is a fundamental way in which the world is connected, even if we don’t understand it intuitively.”Neil Redding Neil joins us today to discuss the deep connectedness of the world and why being aware of that connection matters. He explains the power of words to create an emotional experience and how inclusive language can help us see the connection of everything in the world. He discusses holistic integrated ecosystems and the value of seeing your business in the context in which it operates. He also describes examples of connectedness in nature and outlines the steps we can take towards creating a deeper understanding of our connection with each other and the world. This week on The Mindset Zone: * Why it’s important to see that everything in the world is connected* How the events of 2020 led Neil to his philosophy that the world is connected* How thinking about issues in a systemic, global way can help us solve them* Seeing connectedness in nature* The deep connectedness between particles and the universe* The human desire to make a dent in the universe* Developing the power of words and language* Building the frameworks through which we can see the world as connected The Guest: Neil Redding is a speaker, author, and the Founder and CEO of Redding Futures, a boutique consultancy that enables brands and businesses to powerfully engage with the Near Future. A Near Futurist and Innovation Architect, Neil has spoken at several conferences including Creative Technology Week, Design+AI, and VRevolution. Before founding Redding Futures, Neil served in leadership roles at Mediacom, Proximity/BBDO, and ThoughtWorks, among others. He is also the editor of Near Future of Retail and the author of the forthcoming book, The Ecosystem Paradigm. Resources mentioned: * Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System by Donella Meadows Connect with Neil Redding: * Redding Futures* Neil Redding on LinkedIn* Neil Redding on Medium Expand What’s Possible

“You’ve got to be able to do the work, get the perspective you need, understand where your position, perspective, and purpose is.” Deborah Johnson Deborah joins me today to discuss the roundabouts of life and how to get yourself unstuck when you find yourself in one. She shares her personal experience with getting trapped in a roundabout and explains why perspective and position matter when getting yourself unstuck. She also discusses how purpose drives your life, how it tramples over procrastination, and underscores how we can all emerge victorious from the peaks and valleys of life. This week on The Mindset Zone: * Deborah’s career in music and writing musicals * How Deborah began her work in public speaking * The three key elements of life’s roundabout * The power of purpose over procrastination * A roundabout in Deborah’s life and how she got out of it * Journeying through our ‘Hero Mountain’ and getting to the second half of our lives The Guest: Deborah Johnson, M.A., is an international award-winning musician, author, and keynote speaker. Deborah’s career in the entertainment industry spans over 20 years, during which she has written several albums, hundreds of songs, and three full-length musicals. She is the author of multiple books, including The Summit, and the producer of the podcast, Women at Halftime. Devoted to the creative process, Deborah is committed to helping mid-career professionals constantly reinvent themselves and maximize their skills, experiences, talents, and resources. Resources Mentioned: * Sign-up for Deborah’s free newsletter * Learn about Deborah's keynote * Deborah Johnson's music * Connect on LinkedIn * Podcast: Women at Halftime Podcast * Check her books: * The Summit: Journey to Hero Mountain * Stuck Is Not a Four-Letter Word: Seven Steps to Getting Un-Stuck Other ways to connect with Deborah Johnson: * Deborah Johnson on Instagram * Deborah Johnson on Facebook * Deborah Johnson on Twitter * Debo...

  “There’s this definition of success that we feel like we have to live up to, and we forget that we need to live according to what we want and what makes us happy and fulfilled.” Sue Guiher   Sue joins us today to discuss how we can redefine what success means to us. She explains what ‘success bullying’ is and describes society’s role in how we relate to success. She discusses how your values can help you expand beyond your comfort zone. She also explains why many people don’t know what their purpose is and underscores why knowing who you are is essential to defining success.   This week on The Mindset Zone: * The ‘success bully’ and how society imposes its definition of success on us * The experience that led to Sue’s realization of the success bully * How success bullying impacts us personally and our workplaces * Community dynamics and the difference between getting success bullied and going out of your comfort zone * Creating an environment where people can align with their values * The oxygen, the lens, the anchor, and why we need to align them   The Guest: Sue Guiher is a coach and consultant on a mission to change how society defines success so that we can create more happiness and fulfillment in our work and businesses. Over the course of her career, Sue has worked with organizations of different sizes, from small business owners to executives and teams in Fortune 500 companies. She helps her clients improve communication, executive presence, and workplace relationships. In addition to her work as an executive coach, Sue also serves as an instructor at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.     Resources Mentioned: * Book: Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek   Connect with Sue Guiher: * Thrive for Success * Thrive for Success, LLC on LinkedIn * Sue Guiher on LinkedIn   Expand What’s Possible  

“In the real world, every day we start over; every breath, we start over.”Marshall Goldsmith Marshall joins us today to discuss what it means to live an earned life. He outlines his ‘Triple A’ model and what we need to live a happy, fulfilled life. He explains the Buddhist ideas and principles that inspire The Earned Life and discusses why we need to unlearn the achieve mindset in order to be happy. He also highlights the dangers of a ‘vicarious life’ and underscores the importance of aligning with our purpose. This week on The Mindset Zone: * What inspired Marshall to write The Earned Life* Aligning risk and effort with the overarching purpose in our lives* Why we should avoid overvaluing results and outcomes* How happiness and achievement are independent of each other* The ‘When-Then’ fallacy and how the pursuit of happiness can trap us* The Buddha’s life and enlightenment* Aspirations and why we need to have some answer to the great ‘why’* Considering our ambitions and daily actions* How the advertising industry worsens the West’s addiction to achievement* Viktor Frankl and his philosophy* The marshmallow test and why we’re not enjoying life more* Buddhist impermanence and the “Every Breath Paradigm”* The role of gratitude in being happy and being in alignment with purpose* The role of long-term friendships in an ‘earned life’ The Guest: Dr. Marshall Goldsmith is a world-renowned business educator and coach who has drawn over 150 CEOs and their teams   to address workplace change. Since 2011, Marshall has been regarded as one of the Top Ten Business Thinkers in the World and the top-rated executive coach at the Thinkers50 ceremony in London. He is the New York Times Bestselling Author of the books Triggers and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There. In his newest book, The Earned Life, Marshall shows us how we can live our own lives—and not someone else’s version of them. Resources Mentioned: * Book: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl* Marshall Goldsmith’s Books:* The Earned Life: Lose Regret, Choose Fulfillment* Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts–Becoming the Person You Want to Be* What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful Connect with Marshall Goldsmith: * Marshall Goldsmith Website* Marshall Goldsmith on LinkedIn* Marshall Goldsmith on Instagram* Marshall Goldsmith on Facebook* Marshall Goldsmith on Twitter* Email: Marshall@MarshallGoldsmith.com Expand What’s Possible

“Inclusion in decision-making and goal-setting is one of the main things that engage people, making them feel like they’re part of something bigger—and that eliminates F.E.A.R.”Allison Aker Davis Allison joins me today to define F.E.A.R. and how it impacts teams and organizations. She describes who a culturally responsive leader is and how they help shape communities within organizations. She shares three ideas on helping people break negative patterns of behavior and building new habits. She also underscores how leaders can simplify the process of transition and highlights how a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion brings out the best of an organization’s people. This week on The Mindset Zone: * Understanding F.E.A.R. and how they happen in teams or organizations* What it means to be a culturally responsive leader* How a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion brings out the best in a company’s people* Positive psychology and the value of building communities with and within an organization* Why leaders need to focus on breaking the habit of focusing on the negative* How stress brought by change can reinforce negative patterns of behavior* How to help people break negative cycles and build new habits* Creating communities within an organization* The role of a common purpose in shaping an organization’s culture* Simplifying transitions and transformation and why change doesn’t have to be painful The Guest: Allison Aker Davis is a Coaching Culture Strategist, organization consultant, and executive coach. She is the Principal of Aker Davis LLC, an evidence-based coaching and organization effectiveness consulting firm. Allison has over 28 years of experience serving in corporate and consulting roles, including VP for Organization Development at Lahey Health and VP & Coaching Marketing Leader for Right Management. As a consultant, Allison brings her experience and expertise in working with corporate and healthcare executives as well as business leaders from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. In addition to her work as a consultant and coach, Allison serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of New Haven. Resources Mentioned: * Book: Own Your Own Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life by Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin Connect with Allison Aker Davis: * AkersDavis LLC* Allison Aker Davis on LinkedIn Expand What’s Possible

“Authenticity is the degree to which a person’s actions are consistent with their identified values and their desired outcomes.”Gina London Gina joins me today to demystify authenticity and discuss how adopting a growth mindset can help you become more authentic in your personal and professional life. We discuss the value of filtering your thoughts and actions toward others while staying true to your authentic self and the outcomes you want to achieve. Gina shares strategies you can use to retrain your mindset, become more true to your authentic self, and have more purposeful interactions with others. We also explain how we are constantly communicating with others, even when we’re not speaking, and the importance of being mindful of our body language when engaging with others. This week on The Mindset Zone: * How Gina defines authenticity* Common misconceptions on what authenticity truly means* Adopting a growth mindset to lead a more authentic life* Filtering your thoughts and actions while staying true to your authentic self* Understanding that we are the ‘author’ of our authenticity* The difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset* Why adopting and establishing a growth mindset is a life-long endeavor* How to retrain your mindset to be more true to your authentic self* Unpacking the simultaneously interconnected pieces of how we communicate with others* Being mindful of your body language* How long it typically takes to transform your communication patterns The Guest: Gina London is an Emmy award-winning former CNN correspondent and anchor turned motivational trainer, executive advisor, and keynote speaker. She is the CEO of Language of Leadership LTD., where she uses her passion for people and storytelling to support leaders and help them better connect, lead, and inspire others. Gina has worked with multiple Fortune 500 organizations, including Facebook, Merck, Salesforce, JP Morgan, and the United States Department of State. In addition to her interactive and motivational trainings and keynote speeches on the power of communicating with purpose and impact, Gina is also a published author and regular media analyst. She has appeared on the BBC, FOX, and CNN and has been interviewed on radio and TV worldwide. Gina also currently writes a weekly business leadership column, “The Communicator,” in Ireland’s largest circulated newspaper, The Sunday Independent, and has presented a TEDx talk on The Myth of Authenticity. Connect with Gina London: * Gina London’s Website* Language of Leadership* The Myth of Authenticity TEDx Talk* Gina London on LinkedIn* Gina London on Instagram* Gina London on Facebook* Gina London on Twitter...

“We are in more control than we think.”Darcy Eikenberg Darcy joins me today to discuss how we can change our lives at work without changing our careers or jobs. We discuss how society encourages people to try new things and change jobs when pursuing happiness in our work life and the positive and negative impact of constantly changing jobs in your search for happiness. We discuss the value of empathy in the workplace and the importance of communicating your needs before looking for a new career or job. We also break down Darcy’s ‘Think, Say, Do’ strategy to learn how we can take control of our lives at work without leaving our jobs and how our Lizard Brain often gets in the way of our personal and professional growth. This week on The Mindset Zone: * The Great Resignation and why Darcy believes it’s time for employees and organization leaders to change their perspective on work* The positive and negative impacts of constantly changing jobs when searching for career happiness* The value of empathy in the workplace* Leveraging Darcy’s ‘Think, Say, Do’ strategy* Strategies to put your Lizard Brain thoughts into perspective* Understanding the Illusion of Transparency* How Darcy works with organizational teams The Guest: Darcy Eikenberg is an Executive and Leadership Career Coach, Keynote speaker, workshop facilitator for organizations and professional associations, and the author of Red Cape Rescue: Save Your Career Without Leaving Your Job. She is the founder of Red Cape Revolution, where she helps organization leaders and high-achieving professionals generate more clarity, confidence, and control of their life without changing their careers or finding new jobs. Darcy has coached leaders and professionals from well-known companies, including Aon, The Coca-Cola Company, State Farm, and Deloitte, and has been quoted in dozens of publications, including Forbes, Thrive Global, Mashable, and CNN. Before launching Red Cape Revolution, she worked as a principal at the human resources consulting firm, Alight Solutions (formerly Hewitt Associates), where she served on both the Southeast and North American Communications Consulting Leadership teams. She earned her bachelor's degree in Communications Studies at Northwestern University and received her Professional Certified Coach certification from the International Coaching Federation. Resources Mentioned: * Book: Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential AND HOW YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOURS by Shirzad Chamine Connect with Darcy Eikenberg: * Red Cape Revolution* Book: Bring Your Superpowers to Work: Your Guide to More Clarity, Confidence & Control* Book: Red Cape Rescue: Save Your Career Without Leaving Your Job* Join for Free –

  “Here and now, you can be more intentional with your attention. Think of it as a muscle that you can strengthen.” Ana Melikian   Do you live an intentional life? In today’s fast-paced, attention-hungry society, many people go through the day on autopilot – completing all the same tasks, day in and day out, with little to no intention. From getting up each morning to go to work, juggling all of our work or business-related tasks, or even household chores and shuttling kids to sporting events, most of the time, we do these things on autopilot. Yes, they require our attention. Yes, we get a lot done each day. But are we truly doing these things with intentionality? In today’s episode, I discuss why intention is more scarce than attention. I discuss how having a reactive mindset leaves very little room for intentionality. I explain the difference between completing a task with intention versus running on autopilot and how the latter often leads to feeling hazy at the end of the day. I discuss why I believe the scarcity of intentionality in today’s society is a major issue and how it prevents us from tapping into our fullest potential. I also explain how learning to be more intentional in our daily lives can help us be more effective in achieving our goals, aspirations, and ambitions and what you can do to purposely create more intention in your everyday life.   This week on The Mindset Zone: * The difference between doing something with intentionality versus running on autopilot * How TV, social media, YouTube, and Netflix command our attention * Why the scarcity of intentionality in today’s society is problematic * How the scarcity of intentionality in our daily lives prevents us from tapping into our full potential * What ‘intent,’ ‘intentional,’ and ‘intentionality’ truly mean * How being more intentional in our daily lives helps us regain the power to achieve our goals, ambitions, and aspirations * How to purposely create more intentionality in your day-to-day life   Your Host: Ana Melikian, Ph.D., is an optimist who had to overcome two bouts with cancer to learn that pursuing happiness is a fallacy. To choose happiness is a much more powerful strategy to tap into our highest human potential.Either by working with leaders and their teams, or other coaches and consultants, Ana supports her clients to break through their mindset limitations and upgrade their psychological operating systems so that they achieve better results than ever in work and life while enjoying the process.For over a decade, Dr. Melikian has been a successful online business owner, working with hundreds of other coaches and consultants, helping a diverse group of companies and organizations.Ana is the Director of Education for Book Yourself Solid®, a Board Certified Coach (BCC), and a proud member of the ICF – International Coach Federation, and the ACEC – Association of Corporate Executive Coaches.She is also the host of the MINDSET ZONE podcast, selected for The Huffington Post's “15 Podcasts That Will Leave You Pondering Life's Big Questions,” listed alongside the Peabody Award-winning “On Being” and “TED Radio Hour” by NPR.Follow her podcast, Mindset Zone via your favorite app or by visiting www.Mindset.Zone, and please follow her here on LinkedIn too.     Resources Mentioned:

The better we understand each other, the better we all are in moving forward in our lives Tamer Elnoury Tamer joins me today to discuss how his experience as an undercover FBI agent, followed by years of leadership positions, has positioned him as one of the best educators on the human connection to companies and organizations. We discuss how he helps organizations connect with their consumers and how he adapted the skills he acquired as an undercover FBI agent when transitioning into executive leadership roles. We discuss the traits of great leaders and why being a great leader is about helping your subordinates succeed. We discuss the importance of self-care and regulating emotions as leaders, especially under stressful situations, and how it impacts the quality of the work you produce. We also discuss the adverse effects of technology and social media on the younger generation of leaders. This week on The Mindset Zone: * Why it’s critical for undercover FBI agents to have a deep understanding of the human connection * How Tamer helps organizations connect with their consumers * How Tamer adapted the skills he learned as an undercover FBI agent to his work in executive leadership roles * Tamer’s definition of a great leader * How he learned to work efficiently and effectively as an undercover agent despite sleep deprivation * The importance of self-care and how Tamer learned to regulate his emotions under highly stressful situations * How technology and social media have impacted the way young leaders interact and connect with others The Guest: Tamer Elnoury is the New York Times Bestselling Author of American Radical: Inside the World of an Undercover Muslim FBI Agent. Born in Egypt, Tamer immigrated to the United States with his family as a young boy. As an adult, he briefly worked with a fugitive task force which led to a career working as an undercover narcotics agent. During his career in undercover narcotics, Tamer worked on over 2,500 investigations, including narcotics, political corruption, gun trafficking, and child abuse cases. In 2008, he worked with an elite National Security Covert Operations Unit with the United States government, which focused on international terrorism cases. After serving in the FBI, Tamer began an executive management position in law enforcement, where he has served for over 26 years. Resources Mentioned: * 60 Minutes with Scott Pelley – Inside al Qaeda: Living and working with terrorists * Book: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful – by Marshall Goldsmith Connect with Tamer Elnoury: * Tamer's Website * Book:

“Business can be done profitably – for ourselves and for our clients – and it can also benefit the community, humanity, and the planet.”Carolyn Pistone Carolyn joins me today to discuss how organizations can benefit from using commercial green buildings. We discuss how people today have disassociated themselves from nature and the environment and how commerce has become more important to us than the future of our planet. We discuss the vast opportunities available for creating a positive impact on the world within the commercial real estate industry. We discuss Carolyn’s mission to educate business owners on ways they can continue to build a profitable business while benefiting the planet and how using commercial green buildings can create a ripple effect on communities, people, and the Earth. We also share a few simple ways homeowners can positively impact the environment and how individuals can create the most impact by making more eco-conscious buying decisions. This week on The Mindset Zone: * How society has placed a higher priority on commerce than the health and sustainability of our planet* How Carolyn is using her business as a force for good* Opportunities to create a positive impact on the world within the commercial real estate industry* Understanding green buildings* The ripple effect of commercial green buildings* The challenges Carolyn faces when discussing green energy buildings with businesses and organizations* How homeowners can apply green energy and green building principles to create a positive impact on the environment* Voting with our dollars by making eco-conscious buying decisions The Guest: Carolyn Pistone is the President and Managing Director of Clear Blue Commercial, a full-service company dedicated to providing holistic and sustainable approaches to all aspects of the life of a property. Her company has the B Corp Certification by B Lab. Carolyn is also a proud REALTOR®, EcoBroker®, and Certified Green Building Professional®. As a committed Earthling, she is dedicated to saving the planet through her business and real estate license. Her experience as a realtor and green building professional has led her to work toward building a thriving, supportive, innovative, and collaborative environment for clients, vendors, and team members as well as the planet. Resources Mentioned: CBC Solar 1 Mulchstock 2015 – The Largest Peaceful Lawn Transformation on Record! Connect with Carolyn Pistone: * Clear Blue Commercial* Clear Blue Commercial on LinkedIn* Clear Blue Commercial on YouTube* Clear Blue Co...

“Everything is a learning experience. There’s always a gift or an opportunity in any kind of outreach that we do.”Connie Kadansky Connie joins me today to discuss what Sales Call Reluctance is and how sales professionals can use curiosity as an antidote to overcome the fear of prospecting and promoting themselves, their services, and their organizations. Connie describes the connection between social self-consciousness, telephobia, and sales call reluctance and how there are 16 different types of sales call reluctance affecting sales professionals. We discuss Connie’s Sensory Injection Technique and how she uses aromatherapy practices to help sales professionals overcome telephobia. We also spoke about why it’s essential for salespeople to be curious about their prospects and why they’re interested in what your company offers. We explore the connection between emotional intelligence and sales call reluctance and how to cultivate emotional intelligence as a meta-skill to improve your sales performance. We also discuss ways to cultivate more curiosity in your life and career and how Connie ‘puts her ask in gear’ to continue developing her curiosity. This week on The Mindset Zone: * Understanding Sales Call Reluctance* What inspired Connie to research sales call reluctance and pursue a career as a Sales Empowerment Coach* The connection between social self-consciousness, telephobia, and sales call reluctance* Using aromatherapy techniques to overcome phobias and fears* Getting curious about your prospect and why they’re interested in your offer* Understanding the ‘meta-skills’ of a sales call strategy* How to cultivate more curiosity in your life and career* How Connie cultivates curiosity in her own life* The polarity between optimism and pessimism The Guest: Connie Kadansky is the Founder of Exceptional Sales Performance, LLC., an organization that helps salespeople reframe their relationship with selling and convert their prospects into clients. She is a Sales Empowerment Coach with sales expertise and a globally recognized for helping salespeople from diverse industries develop meta-skills to confidently prospect, promote their products and services, upsell, cross-sell, and leverage key relationships. Connie has been interviewed by multiple media outlets, including Bloomberg Business, Inc. Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, CEO Magazine, and Forbes. For nearly 30 years, she has helped sales professionals ethically, consistently, and comfortably reach their ideal prospects, set appointments, and close sales. Connie has worked with countless mid-size and large organizations, including Merrill Lynch, Allstate, Wells Fargo, Saks Fifth Avenue, and AT&T. Resources Mentioned: * Book: A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life by Brian Grazer & Charles Fishman Connect with Connie Kadansky: * Exceptional Sales Performance* Invincible Optimism Website* Exceptional Sales Performance on...

“Happiness is not just a state of mind. It’s a state of body.”JoAnna Brandi JoAnna joins me today to discuss how the positive spillover effect helps organizations build company cultures that employees and customers love being part of and how it’s built on strengths, values, and fun working environments. We discuss how stimulating and enriching company cultures help expand positivity beyond the office. We discuss the impact of positive company cultures on an organization’s revenue and how organizations can address adverse circumstances, like the COVID-19 pandemic, while maintaining a strong positive culture. We discuss how a company’s culture can impact creativity and innovation and how the COVID-19 pandemic has made organization leaders more aware of the need for empathy, compassion, and understanding in the workplace. We also discuss the importance of taking breaks, even when you’re ‘in the flow,’ and how organizations can cultivate positivity and high performance in the workplace. This week on The Mindset Zone: * Understanding the positive spillover effect* How stimulating, enriching company cultures elevate employees and invite them to be the best they can be* How a positive work environment can impact a company’s bottom line* How organizations can deal with ‘life’s curve balls’ while maintaining a positive company culture* The difference between a positive company culture and toxic positivity* How younger organization leaders are infusing more positivity and happiness into the workplace* Effective ways to deal with negative or nervous energy to create space for positivity* How the pandemic made leaders become more aware that they needed to be more empathetic, compassionate, and understanding* The difference between reaction and response and the importance of ‘pressing the pause button’* Understanding the importance of taking breaks, even when you’re ‘in the flow’* How to cultivate positivity and high performance in your company’s culture* The value of conducting an ‘Appreciation Audit” with your team The Guest: JoAnna Brandi is the President of Return on Happiness and the creator of the Practice of Positive Leadership course. She is a Certified Chief Happiness Officer through the Florida International University, a keynote speaker, a workshop facilitator, and a consultant serving a diverse group of clients in small and large organizations and in many different capacities, including as the Chief Inspiration Officer for CEOs, their executives, and staff nationwide. She is the author of several books, including Winning at Customer Retention, Building Customer Loyalty, and 54 Ways to Stay Positive. She is a highly rated speaker at conferences across North America, with workshops and keynote presentations that motivate entire organizations to get passionate about their customers and raise their “Positivity Ratios.” Resources Mentioned: * Book: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl Connect with JoAnna Brandi: * Return on Happiness* Special Report: 12 Ways to Make Your Workplace a Happy Place*

“Sometimes we fall into the trap of becoming the things that we criticize. The things that we didn’t like we are doing to ourselves. That is when we become our own worst bosses.”Ana Melikian In this episode, Jordan Goldrich, the host of the Workplace Warrior Podcast, interviewed me about why entrepreneurs and corporate executives are often their own worst bosses. We discuss why I believe the pursuit of happiness often causes us to develop a ‘blind spot’ in our personal and professional lives, why happiness is a choice, and how you can confront your self-doubt and ‘inner gremlins’ so you can put it into perspective and allow your wiser inner self to step in. We discuss the 7 blind spots that make up the Happiness Fallacy, why happiness should be viewed as a spontaneous event instead of something you can force or will into action, and how we can create conditions in our lives to cultivate positive emotions. We discuss what it means to be a successful leader and the importance of embracing things that – at the surface – seem to be contradictory. We also discuss why I believe leaders often become their own worst boss and how we can still accomplish our goals without becoming our own worst critic. This episode was rebroadcast here at the Mindset Zone with explicit consent from Jordan Goldrich, the host of the Workplace Warrior Podcast. This week on The Mindset Zone: * Choosing happiness instead of pursuing it* Confronting your self-doubt, impostor syndrome, and ‘inner gremlins’* Being aware of your inner critical voice so you can put it into perspective and press the pause button* Understanding what Toxic Positivity is* The 7 blind spots of the Happiness Fallacy* Creating conditions to cultivate and allow happiness and positive emotions to thrive* The limitations of the mindset concept* Why changing your mindset and way of thinking is not enough to achieve happiness* The core reason behind the Great Resignation* Identifying your purpose and what you stand for as a human being* Making a positive impact and leaving a positive legacy* What it really means to be a successful leader* Being willing to embrace things that, at the surface, seem to be contradictory* The connection between the Navy Seals Ethos and powerful leadership* When I believe leaders become their own worst bosses – and how to correct it* Why your ‘inner bully’ does not always have your best interests at heart* How to put your ‘inner bully’ in its place Bios: About Jordan Goldrich: Jordan is a Master Corporate Executive Coach, MCEC, who specializes in working with senior executives to be completely authentic, fulfill their mission, and drive results without damaging relationships. He is also the author of the Amazon best-seller, “Workplace Warrior: People Skills For the No-BullShit Executive” and host of the podcast Workplace Warrior: Drive Results Without Damaging Relationships® About Ana Melikian: Ana is an optimist who had to overcome two bouts with cancer to learn that pursuing happiness is a fallacy and that choosing happiness is a much more powerful strategy to tap into your highest potential. Either by working with leaders and their teams or other coaches and consultants, Ana supports her clients to break through their mindset limitations and upgrade their psychological operating system so that they achieve better results than ever in work, in life, enjoying the process all throughout. She’s the host of the Mindset Zone Podcast which has been selected for Huffington Post’s “15 Podcasts That Will Leave You Pondering Life’s Big Questions.”

“We all have moments during the course of the day that we can address that very important topic of personal health.”Stacy Fritz Stacy joins me today to discuss how organizations can cultivate a culture of well-being in order to save lives and money. She shares her philosophy on how busy individuals can find the time to focus on their health and why a one-hour daily workout is not enough to reverse the effects of occupational or chronic sitting. We discuss the value of infusing fitness-focused micro-work breaks into your daily routine and ways you can incorporate them into your daily schedule. We also explain why organizations need to re-evaluate their idea of a corporate wellness strategy and reframe it to meet the needs of today’s post-pandemic workforce. This week on The Mindset Zone: * How Stacey helps busy individuals improve their health and wellbeing* Stacey’s philosophy on managing your time to focus on your health* Infusing fitness-focused micro-work breaks into your daily routine* Shifting your mindset to address your personal health* The effects of chronic sitting and why an hour of daily exercise is not enough to reverse the effects* How to infuse micro-work breaks into your daily routine* Developing a culture of well-being in the workplace* Why organizations need to reframe the concept of corporate wellness* Obtaining employee buy-in for your corporate wellness strategy* Challenges that organizations face when trying to develop a culture of corporate wellness* How COVID-19 has impacted the conversation around mental, physical, social, and emotional health The Guest: Stacy Fritz is the President and Founder of Fit2Order, LLC., a woman-owned corporate wellness company based in Towson, MD that specializes in offering at-work wellness solutions for the sedentary workforce. Her company serves clients at the local, regional, and national levels helping business owners, HR managers, and employees elevate their culture of well-being and support healthy, happy, and productive work lifestyles. Stacey is an E-RYT 500, ACE certified Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer, and an ACE Health Coach. She also serves on the Board of Advisors for the non-profit organization, Believe Big. As a 10-time marathon runner, triathlete, perpetual student, and a purveyor of all things that challenge potential and inspire healthy work cultures, Stacy is passionate about inspiring individuals, families, teams, and organizations to invest in their health through nutrition, movement, and stress management tools. Resources Mentioned: * Apple: Stand Up! The Work Break Timer* Android: Work Break- Break Reminder, Timer and SchedulerBelieve Big Connect with Stacy Fritz: * Fit2Order* Fit2Order Signature Exercise Bands* Fit2Order on LinkedIn* Fit2Order on Instagram*