Bob Proctor is a towering figure wherever the mention of self-help comes into discussion. For more than 40 years, Bob has focused his entire agenda around helping people create enriched lives, full of rewarding relationships and spiritual awareness.&nbsp; In 1960, he was a high-school dropout who had worked a string of dead-end jobs. Crippled by debt, he struggled to find a path forward. However, his life changed dramatically when a friend gave him a revolutionary book,&nbsp;&nbsp;by Napoleon Hill. The result was a remarkable transformation. Listen in to hear about Bob’s journey from obscurity to successful entrepreneur, teacher, author, business consultant and counselor. His latest book, , is due out this August. For a complete transcript and links from this episode, please visit:

#208: Bob Proctor – Change Your Paradigm Change Your Life

Dr. Astrid Tuminez is the first female president of Utah Valley University, and her journey is incredibly inspiring. Born in the Philippines and raised in extreme poverty, Tuminez made pivotal choices and gained important mentors which led her to the U.S. Her passion for international relations made her an influential voice of peace at the height of the Cold War. In her conversation with Whitney, Astrid explains how she got comfortable with failure, and how the kindness of teachers completely changed her life. "No person in this world is self-made. Somebody along the way did something for you," she says. She shares the three most important decisions in her life, the benefits of getting fired, and a key lesson from martial arts: "Be a limp noodle."

232 Astrid Tuminez: Nobody Is "Self-Made"

We are excited to share a bonus episode with you this week. It's our conversation with Bob Proctor, originally published in March of 2021. Bob Proctor is a towering figure wherever the mention of self-improvement comes into discussion. For more than 40 years, Bob has focused his entire agenda around helping people create enriched lives, full of rewarding relationships and spiritual awareness. Listen in to hear about Bob’s journey from obscurity to successful entrepreneur, teacher, author, business consultant and counselor. His latest book, Change Your Paradigm Change Your Life was released in August 2021.

244 Bob Proctor: Change Your Paradigm Change Your Life (Encore)

Turns out, people like&nbsp;Star Wars&nbsp;more than they like spreadsheets. That's pretty obvious, yet we constantly find ourselves in front of boring presentations. Data and facts are important, but when woven into a "hero's journey," they become undeniable. Dan Roam is on a mission to put the tools of our greatest storytellers in your hands. Next time you need to convince your boss, your team, or a customer to get on board with an idea, consider his book,&nbsp;The Pop-Up Pitch. Whitney and Dan discuss why humans are wired to love visual storytelling, the key moment of drama you need in every presentation, and the fateful day the back of a napkin changed the trajectory of Dan's career forever

249 Dan Roam: How to Craft the Perfect Pitch

Parenthood is arguably the ultimate S Curve of learning. We read the books, we get advice, and we plan the perfect Pinterest nursery. But we don't REALLY know what we're in for until we hear that first cry. Lindsey Shipley saw this gap in parental preparedness, specifically when it came to breastfeeding. After giving birth to her own kids, she observed the current hospital system wasn’t providing new moms with the confidence and knowledge they need to breastfeed. So she set out to build an online business for breastfeeding consultation called Lactation Link, an extraordinary feat in itself. But she did it while raising her own family and battling life-threatening cancer 4 times over. In the midst of recovering from surgeries and chemotherapy, Lindsey says she “couldn’t sit still.” Today her company serves 1,000 families per month and was recently acquired. Her community of 130,000 followers on Instagram is a testament to how much she’s helped families with newborns over the years. Lindsey shares her inspiring story of survival, service, and family.

274 Lindsey Shipley (Lactation Link): Natural Things Don't Always Come Naturally

On this week's show we have Annie Duke, professional poker champion turned decision strategist. She's written the best seller "Thinking in Bets" and&nbsp; her new book is titled "Quit".

293 Annie Duke: Know When to Fold Em

Mental health has never been more top-of-mind than in recent years, and Emma McAdam has built an extraordinary therapeutic resource in an unlikely place: YouTube. Emma is a licensed marriage and family therapist best known for her incredibly popular "Therapy in a Nutshell" videos that demystify things like anxiety, depression, and emotional regulation. This candid conversation will completely change your perspective on stress, happiness, and why our brains perceive stuff like email as a constant survival threat. Emma also has very practical tips on how to form new pathways in our brains and break the "anxiety loops" that can trap us.

Encore-Emma McAdam: Stop Trying to Feel Better and Get Better at Feeling

When sales are down and overhead costs are skyrocketing, what’s the instinct? Cut costs, maybe? Fire some folks? Trim down, get leaner? Zeynep Ton says that instinct is shortsighted. It’s outdated. More than just old, it’s a deadly cycle, because cutting costs continues to come at the expense of the foundational unit – the employee. Zeynep is a professor at MIT’s Sloan School of Business, and her new book – The Case for Good Jobs – is out next month. By turning almost 40 years of Jack Welch-ian thinking on its head, Zeynep builds the argument that the only way to grow in those crucible moments is to spend more – on the employee. Shortsightedness will kill us, Zeynep says. Nothing beats a good job.

326 Zeynep Ton: Figure It Out

Were we born with our instincts, or were they imprinted on us as at an early age? How do turtles know to lay their eggs in the exact spot they themselves were hatched? It's part of a field called evolutionary psychology -- evolving in ways that influence our behaviors as much as whether or not we walk on two legs. Shade Zahrai is a master of unpacking that hindbrain thinking.&nbsp;Shade is a behavioral strategist and leadership coach, and the founder of Influenceo Global Inc, where she works to strengthen the leadership of companies from Microsoft to McDonalds. With one-point-two million followers on Instagram and almost a million on Youtube, Shade’s bringing her unique take on building confidence and team compatibility to new audiences. &nbsp;

330 Shade Zahrai: Your Opinion Of Yourself

With ChatGPT now released in a usable format, the world’s been abuzz with the potentials – and pitfalls – of artificial intelligence.&nbsp; Our guest today says that the word – artificial intelligence – is misleading. Artificial anything, artificial turf, sweeteners, they all try to get as close to the real thing as possible. Chris Duffey, strategic development manager for Adobe, says that isn’t the goal. This tech revolution isn’t so much about replacing us, as amplifying the magical powers we already have. Through art school and the fast world of advertising, Chris has spent his professional life weaving that magic. So what does AI really mean for us? &nbsp;

336 Chris Duffey: Augmented Intelligence

Do you know that feeling when you’re cooking, and you’ve got all your ingredients chopped and ready to go, spices measured, oven pre-heated? All that’s left is for you to spin your magic as a cook. In the kitchen, the French call it mise en place, everything in its place. In that same vein, to disrupt yourself, your strategy and support need to be in place. You need to give yourself the room to roam, so to speak, to realize your full potential.&nbsp; Our guest today is all about creating spaces that let you realize that potential. Chip Conley is the former founder of Joie De Vivre, a boutique hotel chain. He’s worked with AirBnB as a quote unquote modern elder, and now Chip’s turning his attention to the potential of midlife – a word so laden with stigma, he’s building regenerative horse ranches to change that. His new book, "Learning To Love Midlife", is out January 16th. &nbsp;

354 Chip Conley: On Finding Your Love Of Life, Even In Midlife

After 49 days fasting under the Bodhi tree, Siddhartha Guatama was struck by an idea. We suffer because we are attached to things, to people, to desires. When we can’t have it, we feel an emptiness. But what if we never wanted it in the first place? Guatama taught his philosophy for the next few decades, and centuries after that his followers would give him a new name – the Buddha. Total, complete elimination of your yearnings was called Nirvana. In our networked world, where we broadcast on social media what we want others to see of us, Nirvana can seem far away. But our guest today says that the yearning to belong shapes our behaviors in ways we’re not often conscious of. Dr. Michael Gervais is host of the podcast Finding Mastery, where he pulls on his experience as a high-performance psychologist to draw out what makes these top athletes and board room professionals tick. He’s out with a new book – The First Rule of Mastery, Stop Worrying About What Other People Think Of You.

359 Dr. Michael Gervais: Why We Betray Ourselves For The Approval Of Others

In this episode, we wanted to bring you a redux of a conversation I had back in 2022.  As a new mom, Brooke Romney left behind her roots on Capitol Hill to move to a new community, new friend –– a new S Curve.&nbsp; &nbsp; But instead of making new connections, a normally extroverted person, Brooke found herself withdrawing from the community. Why? Well, she was surrounded by successful people, and Brooke fell into one of the most human traps there is – comparing yourself to others, and feeling she was coming up short. &nbsp; As the new spring rolls around, this is a perfect episode to remind us to stop comparing. That little voice in our head can convince us that we’re coming up short, and only that little voice – your voice– can convince you that you are worthy, unique –– one of a kind.&nbsp; &nbsp;

366 Brooke Romney: Falling Into The Comparison Trap (And How To Get Out)

So much of what we talk about on here is change – navigating change, embracing change, creating change. I think it’s fair to say that if you’re listening, change of some form is on your mind. We’re no strangers when it comes to figuring out how to get from A to B. But what happens when we have to change… how we’re changing? What happens when we plateau with our progress, and the old models of learning just aren’t sticking anymore? What does jumping to that new S Curve look like? That’s where our guest today comes in. Eduardo Briceno is the co-founder of Mindset Works, a firm dedicated to bringing Carol Dweck’s growth mindset to workplaces world-wide. He’s out now with The Performance Paradox, a book dedicated to that question of changing how you’re changing. From Caracas, Venezuela to the Stanford Business School, Eduardo has navigated all kinds of change, even a fear of public speaking. So what do we have to learn from him? &nbsp;

371 Eduardo Briceno: When You’re Not Seeing Growth, Learn To Change How You’re Changing

CLICK HERE TO VOTE IN THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE PODCAST AWARDS:  We all have an idea of what we want our future to look like. Maybe it’s very grounded, and concrete – or maybe it’s just a vague idea of how we want to feel when we get there. But what happens when we’re forced to adapt that vision? Something out of your control gets between you and your dream. How do we muster the strength to find another way through? In 2004, Melissa Stockwell had a clear vision for her future––a lieutenant in the U-S Army. But when a roadside bomb in Baghdad took her left leg, the door to that dream slammed shut.&nbsp; Jumping ahead 20 years, on September 1st, 2024, Melissa will compete in Paris in her fourth paralympic triathlon. Her motivational speeches have inspired rooms full of people. And her non-profit, Dare2Tri, is giving other disabled athletes resources so they can run toward their dreams. What can we learn from Melissa, and her journey – from that Baghdad hospital, to the Paralympic podium? &nbsp;

383 Melissa Stockwell: How Perseverance Nurtures The Human Spirit, From Baghdad To Paris

In 2022, 46 percent of American teens said they were online almost constantly. Around 80 percent of high school seniors said they use social media nearly every day, but only 30 percent say they meet up with friends every day. Since 2010 – roughly the year touch-screen smartphones and social media apps blew up – the number of girls between 12 and 17 that reported a major depressive episode more than doubled, to 28 percent. Emergency room visits and hospitalizations for girls harming themselves skyrocketed too, along with the suicide rate amongst teenage boys.&nbsp; Our guest today calls this a total rewiring of childhood, as smartphones and overprotective parenting warp those crucial formative years into a rollercoaster of anxiety and depression. Jonathan Haidt is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at the NYU Stern School of Business, and the author of several books – his latest is “The Anxious Generation – How The Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.” &nbsp;

384 Jonathan Haidt: Between TikTok And Helicopter Parents, What Happens To A Childhood Deferred (And Depressed)?

What does it mean to turn a dream into a business plan? How do you take your vision of a better future, whatever that looks like, and translate that into a company? It’s a difficult leap! This grand vision has to be broken down into steps, arranged on a timeline. Then your dream becomes tied to the bottom line profits, to your employees and your board.&nbsp; We’ve had guests before that have made that leap, whether it’s Austin Hillam’s ZipString or Jennifer Smith’s Scribe. But our guest today has a dream we haven’t seen before on this show––revolutionizing how we treat broken bones. Nina Tandon is the co-founder and CEO of EpiBone, a biomedical engineering firm that brings together stem cells and 3D technology to grow bone grafts. Yes, you heard that right – Nina is growing bones. Her method’s already been shown to work, but turning those studies into widespread adoption – now that’s a big dream. So how does Nina balance her two selves – the researcher, and the CEO? &nbsp;

385 Nina Tandon: When You’re Disrupting The World With Your Dream, Remember To Disrupt Yourself Too

Do you know that feeling, when you’ve been on a roadtrip for however many hours – or even, days – and you just can’t bring yourself to eat another bite of fast food? The food all looks the same, the landscape outside your window starts blending together, and you just crave something… different?&nbsp; There’s a part of us deep inside that searches out for the “different.” We want to leave our small town for the big city, start up that new project at work, or even something as small as freshening up a shelf on a bookcase. We want to experience life from many directions, not just one. Our guest today has made that multi-faceted mindset the focus of both her professional and personal life. Betty Lu is the CEO and founder of Confetti Snacks, everything from dried mandarin oranges to my personal favorite, shiitake mushroom chips. But it’s more than just making sure the next generation of kids grows up eating broccoli, Confetti is dedicated to putting a dent in the world’s food waste, partnering with organizations like the World Food Programme.&nbsp; So what perspectives helped Betty build her brand – and build herself, too? &nbsp;

386 Betty Lu: A Diversity Of Perspectives Means A Diversity Of Possibilities

The power of manifesting something into reality might seem… well, a bit silly at times. It’s all over social media, for better or for worse. It can seem silly because we all know it’s not as simple as saying it out loud, or creating a Pinterest board. Getting what you want, reaching mastery on a curve, it’s hard, hard work. And yet it does start with saying it loud. If we want to turn our dreams into reality, then the first step is defining what you want. If you can’t put that dream into words, then it’s hard to put that on a timeline, and you risk others swooping in and defining that dream for you. Our guest today is an expert in manifesting what she wants. Tarsha Joyner is the owner and head treatmaker of Mrs. Joy’s Absolutely Fabulous Treats, a bakery in Lynchburg, Virginia. Everything from cookies, to caramels and tailor-made cakes. And those cookies are award-winning – Tarsha has appeared on several Food Network competitions, winning the Christmas Cookie Challenge in 2015. It all started with a graphic design class, where Tarsha had to imagine a brand label for an imaginary company. She’ll admit it herself – she was a terrible baker back then. But it came down to her confidence, her perseverance, her willingness to dream big – and – keep repeating that dream to herself until it was real. &nbsp;

387 Tarsha Joyner: To Manifest Your Dreams, Put Them Into Words, Say It Out Loud, And Say It Often

There’s a reason we call it a mental rut – this deep groove in the mud.&nbsp; It’s a pattern of behavior that we’ve dug into our brains, and when we go down this road, it’s where our mental wheels get stuck. When have you been stuck in a rut? Maybe it’s coming back day after day to a job you hate. Maybe it’s something small, like knowing you should eat lunch at home but finding yourself in line at the Sweetgreen every morning. Getting stuck is human. But so is shoving the wagon out of the rut and cutting a new path. On today’s episode, we’re here to talk about what that really looks like. Our guest is Yamini Rangan, CEO of HubSpot. If you’re a small or medium sized business, you’re probably already familiar with HubSpot’s value – helping entrepreneurs track customers, make sales and follow up on those relationships. But the real focus here is Yamini’s journey to the top, from studying engineering in India, to taking her first step into the world of sales, and eventually – the C Suite. It’s been a journey of rewiring herself, learning how to build new mental roads while staying true to her authentic self.&nbsp; &nbsp;

388 Yamini Rangan: How To Gain Credibility, Wherever You Are, By Being Curious

It’s often fascinating to pinpoint when someone received the first inkling of what their eventual career would be. For many, of course—thinking of all the kids who grew up wanting to be professional athletes, movie stars, astronauts, or firemen—their idealized career path often follows a long and winding road of self-discovery, full of detours and roadblocks that transport them to an eventual destination that was not on their original radar. But what if you could date your dream? Get some firsthand experience in your supposed career of choice? Would you remain totally enamored with the opportunity and steadily move toward further engagement? Or, would you, like Seinfeld’s neurotic George Costanza, break things off with a nonchalant, “It’s not you, it’s me”? Today’s guest, Jeanette Bennett, CEO and founding editor of Utah Valley Magazine and Bennett Communications, had that revelatory experience while working as a camera operator at an Idaho TV station when she was in high school. It turned out to trigger the first of many career reframes for this talented entrepreneur and storyteller. &nbsp;

389 Jeanette Bennett: Dating Your Dream and the Art of the Reframe

Imposter syndrome is something to which most of us can relate. The idea of doubting our own skills and abilities, even in the face of myriad accomplishments. It’s a common human experience. It’s easier to have faith in others than buy into ourselves. When Tina Vatanka Murphy was called into a meeting with her company’s CEO and HR director to talk about filling the role of president for Global Healthcare Exchange’s (GHX) European enterprise, she didn’t realize they were asking her to take on that role. She had never envisioned herself in that type of leadership position. What’s interesting and surprising and delightful is that –– while it’s true that she hadn’t seen herself in that role –– once she came to grips with this unexpected proposal, there wasn’t imposter syndrome, her first thought was refreshing. Of course I can do this! “I’m going to go kill it.” &nbsp;

390 Tina Vatanka Murphy: The Shift From Understudy to Lead is Merely a Matter of Mindset

Asheesh Advani isn’t just the CEO of Junior Achievement Worldwide—he was also a participant. The program changed his life when he experienced it in middle school, and as CEO, he has guided the global NGO into more than 115 countries, involving more than 3,500 employees and 500,000 volunteers worldwide. Incredibly, JA annually serves more than 15 million young people. JA’s disruptive ripple of entrepreneurship is staggering—certainly one reason why the organization has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for three straight years. Asheesh believes that those nominations have allowed JA to bring attention to the connection between the economic empowerment of youth and the overall peace and prosperity of their communities.&nbsp; Listen in as he shares the philosophy behind JA’s fixed, flexible and freestyle framework and why embracing your naive audacity at the beginning of a new S Curve can be the way to go. &nbsp;

391 Asheesh Advani: Embracing Naive Audacity within a Fixed, Flexible, and Freestyle Framework

Confidence and curiosity make a powerful tandem. Individually, either could be a positive catalyst or, if misplaced, prove to be a distraction to meaningful progress. But as a combination, they often create a mindset where even failures become learning opportunities and stepping stones along the S Curve. Bain &amp; Company Chairman  has these two traits in spades. From her early school days through her almost five decades at Bain, Orit’s curiosity has never waned. Trained to always ask that extra question, she’s a student of the world around her, whether the subject is business-related or religiously reading books from all the countries to which she’s traveled. When Bain faced severe financial hardship in the late 1980s, it was Orit and Mitt Romney who reversed the company’s course and steadied the ship. How? Through extreme confidence, often telling curious competitors, “We’re better than you!” Today, Bain is considered one of the big three management consulting firms in the world. Orit has occupied the chairman’s seat since 1993. &nbsp;

392 Orit Gadiesh: The Amazing Longtime Chairman of Bain You May Not Know About

Michelle McKenna-Doyle is Chief Information Officer at the NFL. It’s her job to dig into data and coordinate across departments to improve how football fans experience the game. A healthy obsession with competition and a creative approach to problem solving make her one of the top disruptors in sports.

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More conversations with disruptors: disruptyourselfpodcast.com/

Whitney Johnson is a writer, speaker and the author of Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work.

Episode 01: Michelle McKenna-Doyle - Disrupting the NFL

Susan Cain disrupted how the world thinks about introverts. Her best-selling book “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” and The Quiet Revolution now help businesses and schools rethink the ways in which they serve people of all temperaments. As a writer, Susan actively seeks out questions and topics that might lead her readers to uncomfortable places.

Episode 14: Susan Cain - Unlocking The Disruptive Power of Introverts

Adda Birnir is an entrepreneur and the founder of Skillcrush, an online coding school that offers a curriculum tailored for women who don't fit a typical 'coder' profile. Students are working moms, retirees, and mid-level workers who seek new career opportunities that once seemed impossible. Entrepreneurs intuitively seek disruption in their work. But as Adda has learned, personal disruption has a way of finding them first and visiting often.

Episode 19: Adda Birnir - The Disruptive Power of Mentorship

When Kara Goldin left her job at AOL after 7 years, she decided to work on her health in her new free time. That meant weening off of Diet Coke. But plain water was too boring, and there were no other options. So Kara came up with her own solution, ultimately disrupting the soda industry. 12 years later, Hint water is her multi-million-dollar flavored water company.

Episode 20: Kara Goldin - There's a Lot To Be Learned From Unbelievers

Alden Mills is the former Navy Seal turned entrepreneur, who gave us The Perfect Push Up. Join us as we discuss his latest book, "Be Unstoppable", how his childhood nickname proved to be a source of strength, and the inspiration behind his newest innovation.

Episode 26: Alden Mills - Going Beyond Personal Limits

This week’s podcast episode is an experiment. It’s my first solo episode—no victim in the hot seat, being interviewed. Instead, I talk about my own journey up the learning curve, spend some time reminiscing with the ghost of episodes past, as well as calling out some episodes favorited by my team.

Episode 36: Lessons from the Podcast Learning Curve

Benjamin Hardy was going nowhere. After barely graduating high school, he admits that he spent 12-15 hours a day playing World of Warcraft while living at his cousin’s house with no job. He wanted to be better, but didn’t know how to take that desire and transform it into action. It wasn’t until Benjamin’s environment changed that he realized he had the capacity to be different. Years later, Benjamin is a foster parent to three children, one of the top contributors on Medium, a PhD candidate in psychology, and author of the powerful and compelling book, Willpower Doesn’t Work. In our conversation, Benjamin shares that even though he is an avid consumer of self improvement books, the popular concept that all change comes from within is at odds with what psychology studies have long shown—environment influences behavior. If an individual truly wants to change, they need to address environmental factors that encourage their existing behavior patterns. Benjamin is generous in this interview, not only in his advice to those who seek change but also to those who are looking to write and get their work published as he did. He shows how it is possible to go from “dreamer” to “do-er,” and I hope that you enjoy our conversation. Show Notes: Links from the Show:&nbsp;https://whitneyjohnson.com/benjamin-hardy/ Benjamin Hardy Website Twitter LinkedIn Willpower Doesn't Work: Discover the Hidden Keys to Success by Benjamin Hardy Worldwide Opportunities for Organic Farming Ryan Holiday The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday Benjamin Hardy on Medium.com Guest Blogging online course from John Morrow Joe Polish  Eight Things Every Person Should do Before 8:00 am by Benjamin Hardy Slipstream Time Hacking by Benjamin Hardy Richie Norton Author, Audience, Affluence Genius Network http://willpowerdoesntwork.com Dan Sullivan - Strategic Coach Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success by Adam Grant Jeff Goins UNSTUCK45 Course with Whitney Johnson and Richie Norton Build an A-Team: Play to Their Strengths and Lead Them Up the Learning Curve by Whitney Johnson Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work by Whitney Johnson &nbsp;

Benjamin Hardy: Use Your Distinctive Strengths to Grow

My guest today is Patty McCord, former Chief Human Resources Officer at Netflix, author of the unabashedly bold book, “Powerful,” and a rocket ship of a disrupter. Although Patty describes herself as a serial entrepreneur, she started her career at very large companies and worked her way backward, with each company getting progressively smaller. Now a prized speaker and consultant, Patty works with companies that want the innovative spirit and agility of a start up, and she’s not afraid to ask the tough questions to get them there. Show Notes: https://whitneyjohnson.com/patty-mccord &nbsp;

Patty McCord: Creating a Powerful Culture

Before you can be an agent of disruption, you first become its subject by disrupting yourself. Keeping this in mind, today’s podcast is a bit different. If you’ve been a long-time listener, this will probably come as no surprise (disruption is what we do, after all)! In the past I have shared episodes where I take part in some one-on-one coaching, but today I am taking it a step further: I will be coaching you. All of you. I’m going to start at the top with giving you five reasons why you might want to disrupt yourself, and then we’ll talk about what disruption is—what the term truly means. Once we’ve established that common language, we’ll get to what you really want to hear: How do I get started? I know this may be a bit scary to some of you. You may not feel ready to “get started”, or take that next step, and you’re afraid that I’m going to dare you to take it anyway. But I suspect that one of the reasons you listen to this podcast is because you&nbsp;want&nbsp;to take things to the next level, and if so, then I am committed to helping you. We have a worksheet and the complete transcript of this episode to help you get started on this path. Click here - http://whitneyjohnson.com/disrupt-your-self-today

Solo Episode: Disrupt Your Self Today

My guest today is James Clear, and he’s the go-to expert for those small changes, or Atomic Habits (as his New York Times best-selling book refers to them). &nbsp;James advocates that the way to build habits is to try and get just one percent better each day—something that sounds almost too easy to do, and yet builds a firm foundation for continual improvement. James is great at giving practical tips for improvement, and I hope you enjoy our discussion as much as I did! Thank you to James for being a great guest. I am especially grateful today for Ralph Campbell, a Disrupt Yourself podcast listener who introduced me to the work of James, leading to this interview today. I really value the feedback of my listeners, and suggestions for future guests are appreciated! Please subscribe or leave a comment. Click here for the full show notes and to get episode links at our website.

James Clear: Just One Percent Better

Dan Shapero’s team was a rocket ship. When he stepped in as leader of LinkedIn’s recruiting business, annual revenue was around $40 million. By 2014, it was a billion and a half dollars. So it came somewhat as a surprise when the CEO of LinkedIn told him that he was probably in the wrong job. Join us as we discuss the importance of teams, transformations, and the time that Dan told his boss he was the wrong guy for a promotion.&nbsp; Download a copy of the transcript, or see the full show notes and links at https://whitneyjohnson.com/dan-shapero

Dan Shapero: Stepping Back to Grow

To celebrate the 100th episode of the Disrupt Yourself Podcast, we're disrupting our format a bit. In Episode 80 we gave you a preview of an online course we're developing. It's been our most downloaded to date. So, in celebration of our hundredth episode, and as a way to say thank you for listening, we're going to pick up where we left off. Back in&nbsp;Episode 80 I provided an overview of the Seven Point Framework of Personal Disruption. In this episode we'll do a deep-dive on Accelerant Number One, taking the right kinds of risks. Not just taking risks but taking the right kinds of risk. For links and show notes, including a worksheet that accompanies this episode, visit https://whitneyjohnson.com/right-risks

Take the Right Kinds of Risks

Liz Wiseman knows a thing or two about bosses. She is the author of the best-selling book Multipliers, which explores the impact that leaders have on their teams, whether positive (multipliers) or negative (diminishers). In researching for the book, Liz and her team analyzed data from over 200 leaders and noticed a trend between the groups that seemed to maximize the potential of each individual versus those groups that experienced drains in intelligence, energy, and capability (despite having highly intelligent members). &nbsp;What her research found was that some leaders inspire employees to stretch themselves and do more, while others, despite high intelligence, “diminish” (sometimes accidentally) that ability of their team members. Our conversation today explores how leaders can avoid the pitfalls that lead to becoming an “accidental diminisher,” as well as how to start on the road to recovery. We also get a fascinating look into Liz’s early life, including how she won a lawsuit at the age of only 17 years old. Complete show notes and links mentioned at https://whitneyjohnson.com/liz-wiseman

Liz Wiseman: Accidental Diminishers - When the Good Guys are the Bad Guys

I love Brené Brown’s story. A “late bloomer,” Brené graduated from her undergrad when she was 29 years old, then proceeded straight into her master’s and Ph.D. programs. She experienced first-hand the impact of amazing professors and knew what she wanted her life’s work to be—changing the lives of students while getting to talk about what she was passionate about. And Brené is passionate about vulnerability. She shared her passion in a TedxHouston talk, “The Power of Vulnerability,” and to her great surprise it went viral. To date, it has been viewed over 35 million times online and is one of the top 5 TED talks of all time. Join us as we discuss what brings Brené joy; who inspired her to pay attention to vulnerability; and how the stories we tell ourselves can make or break us. Links and complete show notes available at https://whitneyjohnson.com/brene-brown

#111: Brené Brown - Called to Courage

Our brains control almost all of our thoughts, emotions, actions and reactions. For instance, the thought of wanting to get ahead in one’s career originates in the brain. The actions that we take (or do not take) to turn that thought into reality are governed by the brain. But while all brains may be created more or less equal at birth, some people nourish and exercise their brains to make them grow stronger while others do little to grow the brain beyond its natural progression. “To be an agent of disruption, first, we must become its subject, and that starts with understanding how our brains work.” To learn more about how we can tune our brains for peak performance, I invited  to speak with me on the . Tara is highly accomplished; she’s a neuroscientist (Ph.D.), a psychiatric doctor (MD), a senior lecturer at MIT and King’s College London, and an executive advisor to business leaders throughout the world. Now more than ever, we need principles and truths to anchor us. The wonderful news is, that no matter what is happening around us, we have a brain that can forge neural pathways that serve us if we can be deliberate about what we are thinking and doing. Tara Swart’s work will not only help you accomplish your goals and dreams, but her work is also critical in managing through times of stress.&nbsp;&nbsp;

#156: Dr. Tara Swart - Unlock Your Mind & Reach Your Potential

Few things are as terrifying as vulnerability. Yet, when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we allow ourselves to be free. Free from shame, free from fear and free from the untrue stories we tell ourselves. That is why I am excited for this episode. Our guest, Dr. Brené Brown has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy and is the author of five #1&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;bestsellers:&nbsp;The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly,&nbsp;Rising Strong,&nbsp;Braving the Wilderness,&nbsp;and her latest book,&nbsp;Dare to Lead. In this episode Brené shares what first inspired her to dig into research on vulnerability and how that decision changed her life. We discuss the stories we tell ourselves and how to deal with the negative effects of working in the public sphere. Brené shares her views on scaling up versus keeping things slower and closer, and we discover a new way to lead when someone leaves our organization. Brené is a research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington Foundation – Brené Brown Endowed Chair at The Graduate College of Social Work. She is also a visiting professor in management at The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. Brené hosts the&nbsp;Unlocking Us Podcast&nbsp;and the&nbsp;Dare to Lead Podcast. Her TED talk – The Power of Vulnerability – is one of the top five most viewed TED talks with over 50 million views. She is also the first researcher to have a filmed lecture on Netflix; The Call to Courage&nbsp;debuted in April 2019. For a complete transcript and links from this episode, please visit:

#189: Brené Brown – Called to Courage

Laughing lowers stress – so much so – that simply the anticipation of laughter, just thinking about it, decreases cortisol (stress hormone) and epinephrine (our flight hormone) by 39 and 70% respectively. Our guests this episode, Dr. Jennifer Aker and Naomi Bagdonas, understand this better than most. The two teach “Humor: Serious Business”, at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. This course is designed to help the business minded serious folk experience, through humor, more joy in their lives. Jennifer and Naomi have documented their insights and learnings in their latest book,  Jennifer and Naomi share their scientific based discoveries regarding the reverberating impact of laughter on leadership, teams, health, relationships and overall wellness. We learn the different humor styles they uncovered through their research – Standup, Sweetheart, Magnet and Sniper – and discover how drawing upon each, can help us&nbsp;show up better&nbsp;for one another.

#201: Jennifer Aker & Naomi Bagdonas – Humor, Seriously

Best-selling author Whitney Johnson (“Disrupt Yourself”) explores her passion for personal disruption through engaging conversations with disruptors. Each episode of this podcast reveals new insights about how we work, learn, and live.

Disrupt Yourself Podcast

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