Shows / From Chad
From Chad
Your thinking is bad. I can help. These quick daily messages aim to upgrade your mental game by helping you tell a better story. The most powerful story in the world is the story you tell yourself. You can download my book at fromchad.gumroad.com. Email me at fromchadsmith@gmail.com or visit www.fromchad.com for episode transcripts.
Episodes
- From Chad
Trusting #1168
Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves shared the harsh reality of hurricane Katrina‘s impact with his team, trusting them with the truth, this transparency…
- From Chad
Supporting #1167
It cost Steve Jobs $54 million to learn the power of a team. It paid off when that team made Toy Story and Pixar IPO’d. It was is experience with Pixar and…
- From Chad
Ordering #1166
Instead of focusing on discipline, focus on ordering your priorities. Decide once, while Strong, to prioritize your “carrot” (important tasks) before your…
- From Chad
Designing #1165
Relying on willpower alone is ineffective; instead, design systems that make desired behaviors easy and undesired behaviors difficult. John Patterson’s success…
- From Chad
Following #1164
Incentive-caused bias often feels like conviction, making it difficult to detect. To avoid being mislead, follow the money in question the motivations behind…
- From Chad
Finishing #1163
Paul Van Dorn, founder of vans, shoes, discovered that pain workers by the outcome rather than the hour improved both speed and quality. There’s principal…
- From Chad
Incentivizing #1162
If you want to change your behavior, identify the rewards you’re giving yourself and adjust them to align with your goals. You get more of whatever you reward…
- From Chad
Telling #1161
The most important story you hear is the one you tell yourself. Self talk is powerful and can be used to achieve success, as demonstrated by Andre Agassi‘s…
- From Chad
Testing #1160
A story about a science fair project where a 14 year-old convinced students to ban dihydrogen monoxide, which is actually water. This highlights help people…
- From Chad
Donating #1159
Michael Waters, 10 year-old organ donor, saved the life of a baby girl named Brooklyn with his liver. Brooklyn, now 24, is marrying Michael’s brother, Noah…
- From Chad
Hitchhiking #1158
The story of Chuck Feeney, a young hitchhiker in 1957, illustrates the power of shifting focus from personal desires to offering value to others by changing…
- From Chad
Timing #1157
Bob Sheppard received a postcard from his deceased parents, sent 26 years ago from Denmark. The postcard, a treasure from his parents travels, arrived just…
- From Chad
Motivating #1156
Dr. Rob Gilbert found motivation to start strength training after visiting an assisted-living community and realizing the importance of maintaining leg…
- From Chad
Energizing #1155
NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft is running out of power, but they extended its mission by shutting down non-essential systems. This story illustrates the…
- From Chad
Redirecting #1154
A master boat builder teaches his young helper to focus on the whole, not the gaps in the boat they’re building. The builder trust the wood to swell and close…
- From Chad
Helping #1153
A Detroit metal band, the Autumn Kings, broke down 500 miles from their biggest show. A stranger named Ernie lent them his SUV, allowing them to make the show…
- From Chad
Working #1152
John D. Rockefeller celebrated September 26th, the day he got his first job as “Job Day” because it marked the beginning of his success.
- From Chad
Whistling #1151
Dave Bohn did not invent a new job or chase some dramatic platform. He took the most ordinary route imaginable – walking the same streets with the same bag for…
- From Chad
Moving #1150
Thalles DeSouza’s story illustrates that effort, not potential attracts opportunities. His hard work at Wendy’s, while attending community college, led to a…
- From Chad
Steering #1149
Expectations act as a steering wheel, shaping our experiences and perceptions. By focusing on effort rather than outcomes, we can align our expectations with…
- From Chad
Tuning #1148
A piano tuner, Bill Magnusson, heard the musical talent of an autistic boy, Jude Kofie, and invested in his gift by gifting him a grand piano and lessons. This…
- From Chad
Piling #1147
Mike Winklemann, a graphic designer, created a $69 million masterpiece by consistently creating digital art every day for over 13 years. His project…
- From Chad
Thanking #1146
Gratitude is the healthiest emotion, as it acknowledges a transcendent reference point and Robinson entitlement. Ending each day by naming five things you’re…
- From Chad
Startling #1145
The real wonders of the world are not physical places, but the people who inhabit them. Maya Angelou’s poem “A Brave and Startling Truth“ highlights this…
- From Chad
Stretching #1144
George Dawson, born in 1898, never learned to read until he was 98 years old. He decided to stretch and learn, eventually writing a book about his life. The…
- From Chad
Streaking #1143
Streaking, or doing something daily, is a powerful tool for improving mental well-being. It requires less willpower than occasional actions and becomes a…
- From Chad
Emptying #1142
The richest place on earth is the cemetery, filled with untapped potential and unfulfilled dreams. The goal should be to “die empty,” sharing all your gifts…
- From Chad
Aiming #1141
Aiming for small, specific targets, sharpens focus, and improves performance. Instead of a vague goal like “get in shape”, identify precise actions like “do 10…
- From Chad
Dressing #1140
John Wooden, a legendary basketball coach, taught his players to put on their socks correctly, emphasizing the importance of attention to detail and consistent…
- From Chad
Reading #1139
The dramatic, single-fire destruction of the Library at Alexandria (especially the Julius Caesar version) is widely regarded as overstated or mostly myth…
- From Chad
Flying #1138
The Wright Brothers, despite lacking resources and facing skepticism, achieved of the first powered flight by focusing on control rather than power. Their…
- From Chad
Launching #1137
Chip Phillips, a retired English teacher, spent 30 years teaching about the Mississippi river through Mark Twain‘s Huckleberry Finn. Upon retirement, he built…
- From Chad
Innovating #1136
Benjamin Franklin was an iconoclast—one of one. He practiced a daily routine that his contemporaries thought was odd—and seems weird today. Innovating takes…
- From Chad
Building #1135
What does a neighborhood in Turkey, Walt Disney, and a Bavarian castle have in common. This is a story about the difference between a fortress and a façade.
- From Chad
Rewriting #1134
Ryan Fox, a 39-year-old New Zealand, won the 154th championship at Royal Birkdale, despite being in 52nd Pl. after two rounds. He focused on playing the next…
- From Chad
Extending #1133
Today is a sample of your future, and each day is a vote for the year you’ll have. By repeating positive actions daily, like Charlie Munger’s one hour of…
- From Chad
Breaking #1132
Josh Kerr broke the world record for the mile with four lessons you can apply to whatever you’re trying to get better at. His example shows the importance of…
- From Chad
Circling #1131
Russell Mumper, VP for Research at Indiana University, walked the equivalent of the Earth circumference (24,901 miles) over 14 years, finishing quietly in his…
- From Chad
Chasing #1130
Chasing is natural, but it’s important to evaluate the worth of what you’re pursuing. Happiness and meaning come from living a purposeful life, not from…
- From Chad
Responding #1129
A homeowner in Hillsborough, New Jersey, experienced a meteor crash through his roof. Instead of viewing it as a disaster, he preserved with fragments, leading…
- From Chad
Protecting #1128
Building strength isn’t just for you, it’s for those who need you. Share your strength with someone today. A six-year-old boys courageous act of protecting his…
- From Chad
Climbing #1127
Dave Montesanti, an eye doctor, ran the Boston Marathon and one week later climbed Mount Everest. He faced the greatest danger on the descent, where…
- From Chad
Ending #1126
Dr. Terrie Wurbacher, a 77-year-old former military ER doctor, stopped at mile 160 of the Vol State 500 race due to back spasms. Ending something, like a race…
- From Chad
Enduring #1125
Alistair Urquhart’s story of survival, detailed in “The Forgotten Highlander,“ serves as a powerful reminder of human resilience. Despite enduring unimaginable…
- From Chad
Working #1124
Focus on today’s work, not yesterday or tomorrow. Breakdown, overwhelming tasks into manageable, daily actions, like laying one Brich at a time. This approach…
- From Chad
Acting #1123
Waiting for perfect conditions is procrastination; the only conditions that exist are present conditions. Use the conditions you have, like Christopher Nolan…
- From Chad
Panicking #1122
The most important story in the world is the one you tell yourself. Hetty Green, the richest woman in America during her time, built her fortune by remaining…
- From Chad
Changing #1121
Change is easier when you change your environment, not just rely on willpower. Performance psychologist Geo Valente explains that your mind adapt to your…
- From Chad
Believing #1120
Belief is more powerful than ability in driving behavior and success. Phil Knight, James Dyson, and William Rosenberg, all found success by believing in the…
- From Chad
Looking #1119
Ingvar Kamprad, founder of IKEA, faced numerous challenges, including a supplier, boycott, which ultimately led to innovative solutions, like designing their…
- From Chad
Trouble #1118
Thomas Edison‘s laboratory burned down in 1914, destroying years of work. Despite the loss, Edison remained optimistic, believing he could start over. His…
- From Chad
Doing #1117
Skill is developed through doing, not just learning. Take action, even if it’s imperfect, and learn from the experience.
- From Chad
Rowing #1116
Kelsey Pfendler broke the women’s solo rowing record from California to Hawaii, completing the 2400 mile journey in 43 days, 17 hours, and 55 minutes. Her…
- From Chad
Independence #1115
True independence comes from winning the internal battle against oneself, not external victories. Platoemphasize this, and history shows that even Alexander…
- From Chad
Liberty #1114
Freedom is fragile and has always been, but this fragility is an opportunity for each generation to begin again and make a better world. The story of America’s…
- From Chad
Prophecy #1113
Belief in oneself, or self-efficacy, is the strongest predictor of success, even stronger than Tallent or circumstances. Michael Dell exemplifies this…
- From Chad
Longing #1112
Great leaders create longing by giving people a reason to urine for something, rather than relying on motivation. Sidney Harman exemplified this by creating…
- From Chad
Different #1111
James Dyson, who won a cross-country race by training differently from his competitors, exemplifies the idea that being different leads to different results…
- From Chad
Awkward #1110
The worst addiction is comfort, as it hinders Groth. Embrace the awkward feeling of stepping outside your comfort zone, as it signals progress and prevents…
- From Chad
Hustle #1109
Michael Jordan’s story illustrates that Tallent alone is not enough. Hard work is essential to achieve greatness. Despite his natural abilities, Jourdan’s…