MINDSET ZONE

“Authentic optimism is a deep-seated mindset and a daily practice that, over time, means that I face things looking for something good to come from it, even when it’s a setback or a trauma. And I think all of those things come from that deep well of hope.”Janice Perkins Today, Janice joins me to talk about optimism versus hope. She talks about what authentic optimism really means, noting that it needs to be founded in a deep well of hope. She notes that hope can coexist with trauma and sadness, and she shares her BRIGHT acronym. Janice explores what makes a good support system, observes the importance of stubbornness, and points out that your legacy will be the impact you leave on people. We discuss the difference between “critical” and “urgent”, and she notes the importance of figuring out how you personally define “important”. This Week on The Mindset Zone: * Optimism vs hope* Why hope can coexist with trauma* The BRIGHT acronym* What makes a good support system* Building authentic positivity and hope* The importance of stubbornness* Letting go of dead yesterdays and unborn tomorrows* Critical vs urgent The Guest: Janice Perkins, MBA is an international speaker, trainer, and leadership coach. She is known as the Leadership Warrior who liberates hope-inspired capacity for individuals, teams, and organizations. Janice is the founder of Capacity Communications where she helps people get out of their own way for larger impact and higher innovation. She also hosts the Methods of Leaders webinar series with Marshall Goldsmith and the MG 100 Coaches program. Janice is very active in her local community, being a board member of Global Connections for Women Foundation (GC4W), on the advisory board for the NXTUS organization which helps connect startups to investors and pilot partners from around the globe, a board member of the Wichita Independent Business Association (WIBA) and a member of Women of Wichita which unites the power and donations of women back into our community. Resources Mentioned: * Connect with Janice Perkins: ihavecapacity.com | LinkedIn Expand what's possible!

“It’s these magic moments that drop in and say, ‘It’s time to go left now.”Irma Jennings Today, Irma joins me to share her story. She talks about how she got involved in Wall Street in the first place and gives an insight into what it was like to be a woman on Wall Street in the 1970s. She notes the power of curiosity, talks about being a good parent while working, and discusses handling the messiness of life. Irma also shares how she pivoted from trading to identifying food as medicine and the ensuing lessons she learned. This Week on The Mindset Zone: * How Irma got involved in Wall Street* Being a woman on Wall Street in the 70s* The power of curiosity* Being a good parent while working* Identifying food as medicine* Handling the messiness of change* The power of resilience The Guest: Irma Jennings, INHC, Holistic Bone Coach, went from the boardroom on Wall Street to the cutting board in her kitchen to pursue her true passion, Food for Healthy Bones®.  She has never looked back. Irma earned her certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, continued her studies with extraordinary “Food as Medicine” teachers around the world in India, Bali, Costa Rica, and Thailand. She keeps learning more every day to help women with osteopenia and osteoporosis navigate these diagnoses, treatment options, as well as, how to eat (and live) healthier to strengthen their bones (and themselves) from the inside out. Irma sees clients privately (in person and on zoom) and has a thriving community, Bones Tribe, where members exceed their expectations about living vibrant lives. Resources Mentioned: * Connect with Irma Jennings on LinkedIn* Find great resources on her website: https://food4healthybones.com* Check her out on the PBS special, “Stronger Bones, Longer Life” with Dr. Lani Simpson where she showcased Food for Healthy Bones.* You can check out her “Food Stamp Challenge” blog where she’ll show you how to feed your bones for less than $5.00 a day. Expand what's possible!

“For me, there was no option of ‘Can I? Should I?’ I just did it.”Izabela Lundberg Today, Izabela joins me to share her story, discussing how her experience escaping the war zone of the Yugoslav Wars with her sister helped to prepare her for the work she does with organizations and leaders today. She talks about the turning point that occurred with her father’s dying words, notes the power of following your instincts when it comes to defeating fear, and emphasizes the importance of embracing change. We talk about the problem with directly comparing your struggles to others’, and Izabela discusses how to overcome the fear of being rejected. This Week on The Mindset Zone: * Izabela’s story* The power of following your instincts* Izabela’s experience coming to the US* How Izabela’s experience prepared her for her work today* Embracing change* Examining your fear The Guest: Izabela Lundberg hosts the Legacy Leaders Show, a top-rated global business and entrepreneurship podcast offering real and raw business, sport, and life lessons with practical advice for current and upcoming leaders. Izabela's superpower is working with leaders and organizations ready to disrupt the status quo, take risks, and lead like a champion while solving, transforming, and accelerating the expansion and growth of their thriving teams and organizations. She has a dynamic worldview after living in six countries, speaking six languages, and traveling to over 50 countries working with diverse organizations. Izabela is a recognized catalyst of sustainable solutions for global leaders and their most pressing challenges. Resources Mentioned: * Connect with Izabela Lundberg: Website | LinkedIn* Recommend book: The World Messenger: From Fear to Greatness: Business, Sports & Life Lessons by Izabela Lundberg Expand what's possible!

“Defining a belief is filling in the gap between knowing and not knowing.”Natasha Todorovic-Cowan Today, Natasha joins me to talk about Spiral Dynamics®. She explains what it is and why it’s important, sharing clients’ stories. She discusses relationship systems, explaining why they’re important for mutual understanding as we change, evolve, develop, and grow. Natasha shares her experience and memories of former Yugoslavia. She offers her tips on navigating the change and disruption caused by Covid-19, notes the importance of asking how other people hold their beliefs and shares her 5 Point Model of Change. This Week on The Mindset Zone: * What is Spiral Dynamics®* Human nature and how we change, evolve, develop, and grow* Why we need to see each other in systems instead of transactionally* Navigating Covid 19 disruptions* The 5 Point Model of Change The Guest: Natasha Todorovic-Cowan is the CEO and co-founder of the National Values-Center Consulting (and owner of Spiral Dynamics® brand). For over 25 years, she has been working with leaders, consultants, coaches, and organizations applying her proprietary Spiral Dynamics® cultural DNA survey, leadership assessments, and change readiness index to predict hurdles to change. Her techniques for handling corporate change are rooted in 70 years of research and application in a variety of industries and sectors. She has delivered over 200 Spiral Dynamics® certification programs in 14+ countries and on 5 continents! She has spoken at the World Future Society Conference on the future of work and running online programs since 2010, helping people connect and understand human factors through technological tools as well as in person. Resources Mentioned: * Connect with Natasha Todorovic-Cowan: spiraldynamics.org | LinkedIn* Recommend book: Levels of Human Existence Expand what's possible!

“The antidote is action.”Dr. Libba Pinchot Today, Dr. Pinchot joins me to talk about how we can help people cultivate innovation. She defines innovation, explaining why it’s not top-down. We discuss the mindset of innovation and talk about the different types of failure, noting that some failure is good and acceptable. We talk about the price of disengaged employees and share some statistics on the mindset of today’s youth. Dr. Pinchot notes the need for integrity in companies, emphasizes the importance of avoiding blaming and shaming, and posits that people are basically good. Scroll down for the transcript… This Week on the Mindset Zone: * Cultivating innovation* The definition of innovation* Why innovation isn’t top-down* Why the mindset doesn’t just reside in the individual* The different types of mistakes* How the definition of intrapreneurship has changed over the years* The definition of integrity The Guest: Dr. Libba Pinchot is a nationally recognized expert in helping leaders achieve triple bottom line success (Profit, People, Planet) through widespread innovation and intrapreneurial engagement. She specializes in creating organizational transformations designed to spread throughout the company, the supply chain, and well beyond. She loves working with extraordinary leaders and organizations dedicated to making people and the world better. She has worked with companies such as Apple, IBM, Intel, HP, Texas Instruments, DuPont, Exxon, GE, P&G, J&J, Ford, and Stanford University. Resources Mentioned: * Connect with Libba Pinchot: Intrapreneur.com | LinkedIn* Book recommendation: Intrapreneuring in Action: A Handbook for Business Innovation* Article: Young People's Voices on Climate Anxiety, Government Betrayal, and Moral Injury: A Global Phenomenon. Summary transcript of the interview: Ana Melikian: Dr. Libba Pinchot is a nationally recognized expert on helping leaders achieve triple bottom line success through widespread innovation and intrapreneurial engagement. It’s truly my pleasure to have you here in the Mindset Zone podcast to speak about how can we help people cultivate innovation and seems logical that the first question to be: how do you define innovation? Libba Pinchot: Thank you so much, Ana. The simplest definition is meeting the needs of the future starting now. The point about innovation is that there was a long tradition of innovation being very top-down in these big organizations. And it wasn't very successful because in actual fact the number of people in the organization, the number of brains in the organization, are spread throughout the employee base.

“You were inspired by somebody and you have a request? Make it! That's why you're here! Experiment with it, and I think you'll be shocked about what happens.”Mel Robbins Sometimes we humor our knee-jerk reactions of resistance too much. In this episode, I talk about Mel Robbins’ The 5 Second Rule, explaining why and how to listen more to our good impulses before doubts have a chance to creep in. I summarize Mel’s thesis that, if you don’t physically act on an impulse within five seconds, you kill it. I explain why I initially resist her message and why I’ve been converted. I note the power of counting backward, explaining why it’s effective, and I explore the different ways to use the #5SecondRule. This Week on The Mindset Zone: * Mel Robbins’ 5 Second Rule* Why your problem isn’t that you don’t have enough ideas* Why counting down to the moment of action is effective* The different ways to use the 5 Second Rule* How a triangle can help us change Resources Mentioned: * The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins* Mel Robbins: How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over Expand what's possible! Transcript of this episode: I still remember clearly, walking down the stairs in my family house where I grew up in Portugal, thinking about something I wanted to do.  Without saying anything to my mom about my desires she would somehow suggest the same thing I had been thinking. And just like that, her suggestion was the kiss of death to my desire. Maybe this is typical teenage resistance. Annoying as it must have been to my mother, perhaps my resistance was good, a sign I  wanted to create my own way and identity.  Fast forward to the present time, now in my late forties, I still sometimes get the knee-jerk reaction of resisting things that are good for me. In 2021, I had come across the work of Mel Robbins several times, by references to her book “The 5 Second Rule,” her keynotes, or interviews she did in podcasts and other media. My first impression of Mel was very positive. I like her high energy and go-getter attitude. My curiosity was further sparked by her telling the story that her 5-second rule was almost an after-thought to end her now-famous TEDx “How to stop screwing yourself over.” So, I decided to watch it. I thought she had done a great job and found the 5-second rule concept interesting. Mel explains: “If you have one of those little impulses that are pulling you, if you don't marry it with an action within five seconds, you pull the emergency brake and kill the idea. Kill it! If you have the impulse to get up and come dance while the band is playing, if you don't stand up in five seconds, you're going to pull the emergency brake. If you have an impulse about, you were inspired by somebody's speech today, and you don't do something within five seconds – write a note,

“Every business I’ve ever started, I knew nothing about…it just shows, if you’re passionate about wanting to learn something, you can learn it.”Debbie Allen Today, Debbie joins me to share her story. She talks about the importance of the learning journey, shares why she moved from entrepreneurship to coaching and mentoring and notes the importance of putting one foot in front of the other. She discusses why she decided to write her most recent book, explaining why success is easy and noting that all you need to do to succeed is be willing to learn. She emphasizes the power of coaches and mentors, and we discuss growth mindset. She notes the importance of having a backup plan, explains why failure is a lesson, defines success, and shares how to know if you’re on the wrong path. This Week on The Mindset Zone: * The need for a sharp mindset* The importance of putting one foot in front of the other* The power of coaches and mentors* Growth mindset* The importance of backup plans* Failing forward* Why it shouldn’t be hard to be successful* How to know when it’s time to switch gears The Guest: Debbie Allen was an entrepreneur at 19, and over the course of her career, she has built and sold several billion-dollar businesses. She is an accomplished speaker and the author of nine books, her latest being Success Is Easy: Shameless, No-nonsense Strategies to Win in Business. Resources from this Episode: * Connect with Debbie Allen: Website | LinkedIn* Debbie's book: Success Is Easy: Shameless, No-nonsense Strategies to Win in Business by Debbie Allen Related Mindset Zone episodes * Growth Mindset – Yes, We Can Learn It Expand what's possible!

Tommy Acierno Interviews Ana Melikian, Ph.D. “Life is two days, and the first we spend waking up.”Ana Melikian, Ph.D. In this rebroadcasted episode, Tommy and I have a conversation about how our mindsets influence our relationships, career, and success. We note that to create real, sustainable, and lasting change, it’s up to us to align our mindsets with a sound strategy and take actions to implement it. We note a line from a Portuguese song, discussing what it means to wake up, why we have multiple “wake-ups” in our life, and what to do about it. This Week on The Mindset Zone: * The influence of mindsets on relationships, careers, and successes.* Aligning mindsets with sound strategy and concrete actions.* What it means to wake up in life. About Tommy Acierno: After 12 years working and leading teams at companies like Google and Trimble, Tommy Acierno created a unique private coaching practice focused on helping successful professionals experience deep fulfillment in their careers, relationships, and spirituality. He is also a Lead Trainer for the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). Resources from this Episode: * Connect with Tommy Acierno: Website | LinkedIn Related Mindset Zone episodes: * Life is two days, and the first we spend waking up* Mindset Limitations: Pursuing Happiness* The Other Side of Mindset Limitations Expand what's possible!

“The process of networking means doing the work of connecting with people. Whether you’re introverted or extroverted, you like connecting with people.”Joe Apfelbaum Joe joins me to talk about his book and how to overcome the fear of networking. He tells the story of his first failed experience with networking and shares what it taught him about the real meaning of networking. He explains why networking doesn’t have anything to do with being introverted or extroverted, and he notes that there are many shades of mindset between fixed and growth. He issues a call to stop making excuses, and he shares the three facets that make up a mindset. He notes the power of consistency, explains why being in business for the money doesn’t work, and notes the importance of self-knowledge and doing what brings you joy. He also gives an overview of what you’ll find in his book, “High Energy Networking: get anything you want in life while building meaningful relationships that last a lifetime.” This Week on The Mindset Zone: * Fixed and growth mindsets and everything in between.* Why networking doesn’t have anything to do with being introverted or extroverted, and what these terms really mean.* Why it’s time to stop making excuses.* How our mindset differs in different areas.* Networking as a way of looking to add value to others’ lives. The Guest: Joe Apfelbaum is the author of five books and CEO of Ajax Union, a B2B digital marketing agency based in New York. He is a business strategist, a marketing expert, and a certified Google trainer. He is a divorced dad of five, a rollerblader, a runner, a stand-up comedian, and an amateur rapper. His most recent book is High Energy Networking: Get Anything You Want in Life While Building Meaningful Relationships That Last a Lifetime. Resources from this Episode: * Connect with Joe Apfelbaum: Website | LinkedIn* Joe's book: High Energy Networking: get anything you want in life while building meaningful relationships that last a lifetime* Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck Related Mindset Zone episodes * Growth Mindset – Yes, We Can Learn It* Blind Spots – We All Have Them*

Don Hutcheson interviews Ana Melikian, Ph.D. “We have to learn to be forgiving [towards ourselves]–that is part of the process. And by persisting, mainly in the beginning…that is what allows us to transform and then create a new habit.”Ana Melikian In this episode, we are rebroadcasting a conversation where Don Hutcheson interviews Ana Melikian, Ph.D., the host of the Mindset Zone podcast. We talk about how to change our mindsets, what mindset is, Carol Dweck’s work, and glasses as a mindset metaphor. We note that the capacity to change is especially important when circumstances demand more flexibility, resilience, and innovative solutions. I also share advice on what to do when you’re finding it hard to change your mindset, emphasizing that, though it is difficult, it’s worth it. This Week on The Mindset Zone: * What is mindset?* The glasses metaphor of mindset.* The work of Carol Dweck on growth and fixed mindsets.* Learning to identify our fixed mindset and how to talk back to our fixed mindset voice with a growth mindset voice.* Going beyond awareness.* The blind spot analogy. About Don Hutcheson: Don Hutcheson is an entrepreneur for the last 45 years and has created six innovative companies in the fields of career planning, publishing, and advertising. Except for the three years he served in the U.S. Army as a Russian Linguist, he has never had a “boss.” He is also a coach, author, and host of the “Discover Your Talent–Do What You Love” podcast. Resources from this Episode: * Connect with Don Hutcheson: Website | LinkedIn* Discover Your Talent Podcast* Mindset: The New Psychology of Success Related Mindset Zone episodes: * Growth Mindset – Yes, We Can Learn It* The Power of YET – A Growth Mindset Secret* Mindset Limitations: Pursuing Happiness Expand what's possible!

Vered Kogan interviews Ana Melikian, Ph.D. “Try not run to fix it. Listen. Ask questions. Be more coach like.”Ana Melikian In this episode, we are rebroadcasting a conversation where Vered Kogan interviews Ana Melikian, Ph.D., the host of the Mindset Zone podcast. Vered starts by asking Ana about her professional background and hobbies, and then they quickly dive into the mindset topic that both are passionate about. Ana starts by explaining how she defines mindsets. She goes on to explain her conceptual model that sees mindsets as one side of a triangle, that is complemented by the other two sides, strategy, and implementation. They explore how mindsets can help us to be more flexible and resilient. This Week on The Mindset Zone: * What is mindset?* Ana’s triangle model.* Importance of actions to change our mindsets.* The importance of mindset in crisis and change challenges such as the COVID19.* Viktor Frankl's role model for searching for meaning.* Practical examples of how to exercise our mindsets* Tips for unfocusing after work, and why it’s different for everybody* The importance of gratitude About Vered Kogan: Vered Kogan is an extraordinary coach and speaker who focuses on helping entrepreneurs, organizations, and individuals tap into the power of human performance and potential. Today’s conversation originally aired on her podcast, The Mindset Game. Resources from this Episode: * Connect with Vered Kogan: Website | LinkedIn | Podcast* The Mindset Game Podcast Related Mindset Zone episodes: * Focus To Succeed (with Omar Zenhom)* Focus Without Focus* Unfocus To Focus Expand what's possible!

“It's your life. Make it sing.”Lowry Olfson Lowry joins me on the podcast to talk about his definition of mindset. He talks about the importance of being aware of your mindset and we discuss what makes a good mindset. We talk about managing your energy to avoid burnout. He explains what PowerSongs are, sharing the story of how he stumbled onto them and explaining why they have the power to transform a mindset. He tells the stories of different people he’s worked with to create their own PowerSongs, and he shares how you can reach out to write one with him yourself. This Week on The Mindset Zone: * Lowry’s definition of mindset.* The importance of being aware of your mindset.* What makes a good mindset.* Managing your energy to avoid burnout.* The power of PowerSongs.* The meaning of magnificence.* What goes into creating a PowerSong. The Guest: Lowry Olafson has written songs since he was a kid. He has made it as a singer/songwriter, releasing nine albums and touring the globe. As a keynote speaker, Lowry inspires people to be more resilient. He also leverages talent and experience to produce audio branding for businesses and organizations, and he loves to co-create PowerSongs with teams, families, couples, and individuals so that they can connect more deeply with their mission, value, and vision. Resources from this Episode: * Connect with Lowry Olafson: Website | LinkedIn* Learn more about PowerSong at powersongs.ca Related Mindset Zone episodes: * Shift Your Mindset With Music Expand what's possible!

Josh Patrick interviews Ana Melikian, Ph.D. “There are times when action needs to lead mindset.” Josh Patrick In this interview previously aired on Josh’s podcast, we ask the question: which comes first, action or mindset? We define mindset and discuss the difference between worldview and mindset. We discuss the glasses analogy and talk about Carol Dweck’s distinction between growth mindset and fixed mindset. We share how to tell when to improve your strengths and when to improve your weaknesses, and we discuss the importance of a capacity to learn. Josh notes the need to be honest with yourself when assessing your strengths and weaknesses, and we talk about what it means to live your values while running your business. This Week on The Mindset Zone: * Which comes first: action or mindset?* Defining mindset* Worldview vs mindset* Growth mindset vs fixed mindset* When to focus on your strengths and when to work on improving your weaknesses* Transitioning from the beginning stages of your business to the more advanced stages* Living your values while running your business About Josh: Josh Patrick is a dear friend with deep experience as a business consultant and is passionate about helping business owners create extraordinary value with their companies and their lives. Josh is also the author of two easy-to-read and powerful books: Sustainable: A Fable About Creating a Personally and Economically Sustainable Business and The Sale Ready Company: What it Takes to Create a Business Someone Would Want to Own, Even If You Have No Intention of Selling. Resources from this Episode: * Connect with Josh Patrick: Website | LinkedIn | Podcast* Books:* Sustainable: A Fable About Creating a Personally and Economically Sustainable Business by Josh Patrick* The Sale Ready Company: What it Takes to Create a Business Someone Would Want to Own, Even If You Have No Intention of Selling by Josh Patrick Related Mindset Zone episodes: * Growth Mindset – Yes, We Can Learn It* The Power of YET – A Growth Mindset Secret* The Other Side of Mindset Limitations Expand what's possible

“Listen to the still quiet voice in our mind.”Katie Peuvrelle Katie Peuvrelle joins me to talk about what it means to leap. She discusses mindset as a belief system and explains why she believes “growth mindset” is a dichotomy. She talks about her book and shares the numerous reasons that skating is an apt analogy to taking a leap in life. She defines multi-dimensional leadership and notes the physical aspect of intuition. This Week on The Mindset Zone: * What is a mindset? How to define mindset as a belief system or philosophy.* The dichotomy between mindset and growth, and how to overcome it.* How to uplevel our mindsets in whatever were are being, doing, and performing in the world.* A space for exploration, rediscovering, and reimagining.* Different types of leaps, and jumps we can do in our own mindsets.* Multidimensional leadership in the post-COVID world.* The concentric spheres model, as an alternative to the top-down or bottom-up linear models.* How to cultivate our intuition.* Connection with the body. The guest Katie Peuvrelle is a masterful high-performance coach based in San Jose, California, who works with executives and emerging leaders in big-name companies, as well as, with many startups’ founders, and VCs who are out there leaving their dent in the world. She also loves to work with athletes, from amateurs to Olympians, and professionals who want to take their game to the next level. She is the author of “Leap.” Resources from this Episode: * Connect with Katie Peuvrelle: website | LinkedIn* Book: Leap: Own Your Excellence and Engage Your Best Self in Business, Sports, the Arts & Life Related Mindset Zone episodes: * Growth Mindset – Yes, We Can Learn It* The Power of YET – A Growth Mindset Secret* The Other Side of Mindset Limitations Expand what's possible!

“In a very bizarre way, I was lucky to experience the racism because, to me, it made me a whole person.”CB Bowman CB Bowman joins me to share her story, noting the power of a mindset of undefeatability. She discusses how this mindset brought her through everything from her experiences with extreme racism to the time she took an unplanned, seemingly unrealistic trip to Panama to visit her father unannounced. We discuss the flexibility of mindset, and she notes the difference between diversity and inclusion. We also discuss the importance of bringing distinctive perspectives to the conversation. This Week on The Mindset Zone: * Why we don’t need to be stuck in a mindset.* Overcoming odds through an unbeatable mindset.* The importance of pinpointing what needs to be fixed.* The prevalence of racism, and the different types of racism.* The importance of diversity. The guest CB Bowman is the founder of ACEC, or the Association of Corporate Executive Coaches; the CEO of Workplace Equity and Equality; and was recently selected for the Thinkers50 2021 Coaching and Mentoring Award Shortlist. Resources from this Episode: * Connect with CB Bowman: website | LinkedIn* CB Bowman LIVE! Challenges of the C-Suite* ACEC – Association of Corporate Executive Coaches Expand what's possible!