Success 2.0

What We Discuss in this Episode: We are more connected than ever. Even outside of the pandemic, this leads to more stress and anxiety than ever before. We give ourselves the worst pain because the worry and anxiety about the future is worse than the pain of the moment. It starts with acknowledging the problem. We have to admit that we are obsessed with controlling the future. The work-life balance is a myth. The minute you can take work home, you are able to work from home. Don’t respond to or check emails after a certain time. Plan your time off. Whether it’s spending time with family, or reading a book, or watching a movie, but don’t leave it unstructured because you will quickly fall back into glancing at your email or opening your laptop. Instead of using your cell phone as an alarm, spend the $10 and buy a small alarm clock. If your phone is next to your bed, you will check it. Mentioned in the Podcast: Take The Achiever’s Compass Assessment

What We Discuss in this Episode: Today’s promise: Tonight, I will get caught up. Guess what happens? You don’t. So, then, it becomes Tomorrow’s Promise: Tomorrow, I will get caught up. You can overcome this anxiety and stress. However, these tactics, while simple, take discipline. Embrace the fact that you will never be caught up. This paradigm shift is critical before moving on to the next tactic. Once you recognize that you cannot get everything done, you begin to prioritize your tasks. Identify a small number of particularly important personal and professional goals. Before the week has started, set aside 10 minutes to plan how you will spend your time. Critical questions to answer: How much of your calendar is open? How much of that open time do you control? Resist the urge to plan a 70-hour week. Mentioned in the Podcast: Take The Achiever’s Compass Assessment Patrick Lencioni, “If everything is important, then nothing is important.”

What We Discuss in this Episode: Take The Achiever’s Compass for a personalized report of how you can start finding joy in the journey. As achievers, we are wired to ‘win.’ There is an upside – more money, more vacations, more opportunities. However, if we don’t stop comparing our success to others, we will never be able to find joy. Comparison forces you to constantly raise to goal. No matter how much you have, there will always be someone else who has more. Social media has aggravated this issue, inundating us with constant reminders of other people who have outachieved you. But you don’t have to let this take control of your life. Consider redefining success this way: Your ability to utilize your unique talents, build meaningful relationships with people you care about, and live in the moment. Embrace your uniqueness. Recognize the fact that there are paths you do want to take, and do not want to take, in light of that uniqueness. Stop and recognize when you do it. Don’t try to stop doing it altogether, b

What We Discuss in this Mini Episode: In 1992, CJ discovered that he had chronic anxiety after he couldn’t bring himself to get out of bed, or leave his house. That started a lifetime of helping professionals manage stress and anxiety. During this pandemic, stress and anxiety is on the rise. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In Buddhism, stressed and anxious minds are referred to as a “monkey mind.” The thoughts just swing from tree to tree, back and forth, and sometimes it can be absolutely overwhelming. No goal is more important than enjoying the present moment (unless you’re in a survival situation). Fighting anxiety makes it worse. When you are mindful, you are an observer of your thoughts. This practice lessens the pain that your thoughts cause create. It reduces stress, increases happiness and self-esteem, and improves your relationships and immune system. Here’s the secret – stop trying to be mindful. It’s not an award you can win or an item you can check off your list. It’s simply a state of being.

Since founding her consulting firm in 1980, Eileen McDargh has helped organizations and individuals transform the life of their business and the business of their life through conversations that matter and connections that count. She believes that resiliency is a critical life skill and one that requires the energy of connections.  What We Discuss in this Episode: Burnout is “to exhaust one’s resources by attempting to live up to some unrealistic expectation imposed upon you by yourself or society.” – Herbert Freudenberger There are several causes of burnout. One is our own inner voice demanding that we do more, be more, accomplish more. Another is loss of focus we have through constant interruption and distraction with digital devices. Further, the sense of disconnection and loneliness only exacerbates burnout. Amidst the global pandemic, people are working longer and harder at home. We no longer have the space to detox (commute to and from work, for example), and we are worried about proving how hard we ar

What We Discuss in this Episode: In 1970, the person who works the hardest wins. But it’s 2020. Effort and “being busy” no longer equals achievement. Production toward what matters most equals achievement. You must prioritize and plan your week in advance. Can you put your phone away, or does it control your life? Addiction to anything negatively impacts your quality of life. Take your social media apps off your home screen. Don’t take your phone with you everywhere – or, take a small step by turning on airplane mode every once and a while. Get intentional about practicing gratitude. “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” – Melody Beattie “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn “Life is only about relationships.” – Dr. Greg Sipes However, not every relationship in your lif

What We Discuss in this Episode: Resist the urge to judge yourself – no one is perfect. Perfection is your enemy. Make it your goal to make small improvements every day. Money is the easiest way to measure success. Because of that, watch your environment – if you’re with people who live lavishly to ‘keep score,’ you will be guilted into spending lavishly. “Comparison is the thief of all joy.” President Theodore Roosevelt Amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, we are asking if what we are doing matters. Ask yourself, “Where do I want my career to go?” and “If everything in my life is going perfectly three years from now, what are you making, what are you doing?” The food you put into your body fuels the energy you have in the day. Eat small meals throughout the day of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains. Exercise reduces your stress, increases your endorphins, and changes how you feel. Block one hour in your day for exercise. Keep yourself accountable by signing up for a race, or working out with a fri

What We Discuss in this Episode: We want to go back to the 2019 economy and keep our business exactly what it was. We crave consistency. But the world has changed. How do we approach the future and capitalize on the upside of updating your business model? Your clients and customers want you to bring the most uncertainty as possible. But, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Becoming an expert in your client’s industry will take some time, research, and getting out in front. It will take energy and intentionality on your part - but, be sure - your competition is already doing it. Pivoting is not easy. You will not be able to do it immediately after reading a 250-word article, or, dare I say it, listening to this podcast. But CJ will give you the two critical questions that you need to start playing with to change your anxiety to excitement. Embrace the realization that you are better at change than you think you are. Focus on what you can control in the next 8 hours. That’s all you have to do. Mentioned in th

What We Discuss in this Episode: In any crisis, we ask, “What am I doing with my life?” and start the process to find meaning and purpose in our lives. The fear that if we stop achieving – for even a moment – that it will hinder our growth. Decreasing stress and anxiety is tied to the chase for perfection. If you don’t stop chasing perfection, you will not discover your true purpose. Why relationships are critical for your success – and happiness. As Dr. Greg Sipes says, "Life is only about relationships."  Unfortunately, we don’t live forever. Mental health and physical health are cornerstones to your sense of well-being. The one tactic that will help you increase your awareness of others and increase your sense of purpose. Mentioned in this Episode: The Second Mountain, by David Brooks Why Good Things Happen to Good People, by Dr. Stephen Post Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

What We Discuss in this Episode: Who were we before we experienced COVID-19 We want our society and our businesses to get back to winning. How do you win in the second half of COVID-19? How to shift your professional mindset from offense to defense, safely Tactics for shifting your mindset to grow your business and your career The power of your words and how that impacts your professional trajectory Clarifying your value, product, service, so that you can answer questions from customers Shifting your paradigm from big goals to smaller, daily goals

Get real and get vulnerable with CJ McClanahan as we talk about living in the post-COVID-19 era.

In this episode of Success 2.0, CJ McClanahan (@cjmccoach) explores the simple tactics you can practice to thrive and decrease stress, even during times of uncertainty.  Mentioned in this episode:  In a time of stress, the brain screams to ‘go faster.’ Most of us are working from home right now and are pressed to move faster and do more. That constant activity and stress leads to bad decisions which actually increases our stress level. Keeping your routine does not mean keeping it perfectly. Keeping your routine means keeping it as closely as you can. We can behave irrationally and in a reactive fashion during a crisis like COVID-19. Instead, we need to act in a rational and intentional fashion. However, in a crisis it’s hard to be completely rational. Everything seems to be changing right now. Our responsibility is to lay out as many predictable events as possible. In a time of crisis, you might wonder ‘what if my clients don’t value my service anymore and they think they’re going to get value somewhe

In this episode of Success 2.0, CJ (@cjmccoach) explores the concept of “saying no” and how embracing it is a must if you want to grow your business, transform your career, or get greater satisfaction out of life.   Mentioned in this episode: How Apple struggled to find its footing after letting go of Steve Jobs, and how bringing him back on as CEO set the stage for Apple to become one of the most valuable companies of all time. Why having too many options has had a negative impact on how we spend our time and the joy we get from our decisions. What a social media detox can do for your mental health and how to do it effectively. How to shift your paradigm so that your default answer is no, rather than yes, and why people will be grateful for it. How to understand what is most important in your life (a.k.a. “show me your calendar, and I’ll show you what’s most important to you.”) What it means to “create a trap” for yourself that will ensure you succeed.   CJ’s tactics for mastering the art of no Make a par

​A former consulting actuary to Fortune 100 companies – such as Sony Music, Proctor & Gamble, and Exxon – David Wood (​@SolutionBox) left his cushy Park Avenue job 20+ years ago to explore both the outer world, and his own inner world. What We Discuss with David Wood: How childhood trauma impacts individuals differently. Why David left the actuarial arts to become a lounge entertainer, then life coach. What he did to become the top-ranked coach on Google (back in the day). Where you can learn to become a coach. And so much more.... Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider leaving your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally! (Download Episode Here) ​(Subscribe to the Podcast Here) (Connect with CJ) (Are you secretly coaching, but not getting paid fo​​r it? from David Wood via YouTube) Please Scroll Down for Full Show Notes and Featured Resources! The Two Rule Foundation helps inspire professionals to live gratefully and commit more of their res

Art Barter (@Art_Barter) is the CEO of Datron World Communications, Inc., Founder of the Servant Leadership Institute, and author of the books Farmer Able, The Servant Leadership Journal, and The Art of Servant Leadership II What We Discuss with Art Barter: How Art grew Datron from $10MM to over $200MM in six years. Servant leadership as a business growth strategy that speaks to the heart of an individual and a company. Driving employee giving to the tune of $16MM.  How to implement servant leadership inside an organization. And much more... Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider leaving your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!  (Download Episode Here) ​(Subscribe to the Podcast Here) (Connect with CJ)   (Art Barter Full Keynote / 2016 Servant Leadership Conference from Servant Leadership Institute via YouTube) Please Scroll Down for Full Show Notes and Featured Resources! The Two Rule Foundation helps inspire professionals to live grate

​Paul Churchill (@PaulChurchill) is the Founder/Host of Recovery Elevator, an alcohol recovery and sobriety podcast and online community. Since launching the podcast in 2015, ​Recovery Elevator has amassed over 3-million downloads and is in the 95-percentile of all podcasts on iTunes. What We Discuss with Paul Churchill: How Paul’s entrepreneurial spirit put him in a position to develop alcohol dependence. Using a podcast to create accountability and grow a community that values real human connection in sobriety. Why relapses can actually a good thing when someone is dealing with alcohol problems. Thinking about addiction as a byproduct of an increasingly disconnected society. And much more... Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider leaving your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally! (Download Episode Here) ​(Subscribe to the Podcast Here) (Connect with CJ) From the omni-channel marketing and multi-million dollar sponsorships to major sporting eve

Lee Caraher (@LeeCaraher) has been in PR and Communications her entire career. She is the founder, President and CEO of San Francisco-based integrated communications company Double Forte and is the author of The Boomerang Principle and Millennials & Management. What We Discuss with Lee Caraher: ​Lee’s rise from graduate to senior executive at North America’s largest PR firm. How Lee launched her own PR firm Why Lee enjoys working with Millennials so much Implementing clear communication strategies within multi-generational workforces Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider leaving your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally! (Download Episode Here) ​(Subscribe in iTunes Here) (Connect with CJ)   Please Scroll Down for Full Show Notes and Featured Resources! The Two Rule Foundation helps inspire professionals to live gratefully and commit more of their resources to help those in need. The foundation can help you determine who you should give

Bob Dusin (BobDusin) is Partner at HPWP Group, a Georgia-based leadership development and training company, and the co-author of the book Creating the High Performance Workplace: It's Not Complicated to Develop a Culture of Commitment. Bob spent much of his career in engineering, but it wasn’t until he got cherry-picked for a role in Human Resources that he really found his passion. “I was a pretty good engineer, [but] I was probably more miscast as an engineer to begin with, and then I got into what’s more of my true calling” – Bob Dusin What We Discuss with Bob Dusin: How an engineer becomes leadership consultant Identifying the five-percent of employees that cause 95-percent of the headaches Building trust and respect as a leader Creating a work environment that employees enjoy and want to be apart of Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider leaving your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally! ​(Subscribe in iTunes Here) (Connect wi

Michael O'Brien (@RoadieOB) is former pharmaceuticals executive turned leadership consultant and the author of SHIFT: Creating Better Tomorrows. After recovering from a horrific cycling accident involving a speeding SUV and coming within minutes of death, Michael shares with us the process he's gone through to give his life true meaning. "One big thing that came out of it is a greater sense of purpose – why do I want to pursue the things I want to pursue?" – Michael O'Brien. What We Discuss with Michael O'Brien: Michael's career path before his horrific accident. His 'Last Bad Day'. The road he traveled to recover from his injuries. Why he practices meditation to focus on living in the present and being grateful. How he uses his experiences to inspire company leaders. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider leaving your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally! (Download Episode Here) ​(Subscribe in iTunes Here) (Connect with CJ)   (We Go Where O

Dave Neff (@DNeff84) is the Founder and CEO of EDGE Mentoring, a faith-based intergenerational mentoring organization focusing on bridging the professional engagement gap. EDGE spans 40+ states and multiple countries and gathers thousands of professionals annually for its ​EDGE|X leadership conference. “We’ve created a third space that’s outside the home. It’s not where you go to work or church. It’s a third place, like Starbucks, for millennials to engage in whole-life, intergenerational mentor relationships." – Dave Neff What We Discuss with Dave Neff: Dave’s first experience with mentorship and how it developed organically. What is the professional engagement gap and why it impacts most millennials. The philosophy surrounding EDGE Mentoring and how it formed. The balance of work, life, and faith. Can it be managed? The misunderstanding of millennials contributing to their bad rap. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider leaving your Twitter handle so we