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
Late #1048
Ken Mink, expelled from college basketball in 1956, returned to the court at age 73, becoming the oldest college player. His story, defying age and pursuing…
- From Chad
Response #1047
The most important responsibility is controlling your response to life‘s events, as demonstrated by Dr. Viktor Frankl’s story of maintaining meaning despite…
- From Chad
Helpers #1046
Upgrade your thinking by asking for help, as there are so many people who would love to assist you. The secret sauce to success is recognizing that asking for…
- From Chad
Quiz #1045
The most important story you hear is the one you tell yourself. True impact comes from caring for others, not from fame, wealth, or achievements. The people…
- From Chad
Rice #1044
The power of compounding is illustrating through the story of a wise man who requested rice on a chessboard, doubling the amount on each square. This…
- From Chad
Longevity #1043
Giuseppe Damato, a 90 year old runner, set a new world record in the men’s 90+ age group at the Milan Marathon. His story is an inspiring example of late…
- From Chad
Games #1042
There are two types of games: finite games, with set rules and focus on winning, and infinite games, which aim to perpetuate pay and growth. Viewing life as an…
- From Chad
Peanuts #1041
Charles M. Schulz, creator of Peanuts, believed creativity came from daily practice and immersion in his work. Despite personal struggles and criticism, he…
- From Chad
Audience #1040
A young football player was inspired to perform exceptionally well in a playoff game after learning, his father could finally see him play. This highlights…
- From Chad
Bounce #1039
Akshay Buddiga fainted during the national spelling bee, but recovered and spelled the word correctly. His story is a metaphor for resilience and the…
- From Chad
Inconvenient #1038
Torbjörn Svensson, a deaf and blind man with Usher’s syndrome, uses haptic sign language to experience his son’s soccer games. His story highlights, the…
- From Chad
Mirrors #1037
The most important verdict comes from within, not from others. The poem “the guy in the glass“ by Peter Dale Wimbrow Sr. emphasizes the importance of self…
- From Chad
Premortem #1036
Imagining the worst can be positive. This practice, called a premortem, involves mentally rehearsing potential failures to better prepare for them. By…
- From Chad
Road #1035
Chronophobia, the fear of the future, can be alleviated by seeking wisdom from mentors who have already navigated the path ahead. Mentorship, a time tested…
- From Chad
Delivery #1034
DoorDash faced a crisis when a surge of orders overwhelmed their delivery system, resulting in late deliveries. Instead of a generic apology, the founders, led…
- From Chad
Lumberjacks #1033
Rest is not the opposite of work, but an essential part of it. Like sharpening an ax, rest and renewal rebuild and strengthen us, allowing us to work more…
- From Chad
Samurai #1032
Keith Furman, a Guinness World Record holder, achieved success not through innate talent but by finding the right strategy and dedicating himself to training…
- From Chad
Pushups #1031
Paul Babcock completed one million push-ups by age 40 through daily commitment, doing 236 push-ups a day. This story highlights the power of daily discipline…
- From Chad
A.S.K. #1030
Esteé Lauder built her business by asking for it—asking for the business. Don’t reject yourself by not asking for what you want. Ask, seek, and knock, and you…
- From Chad
Future-self #1029
Eileen Gu, a highly accomplished athlete, exemplifies the mindset of focusing on personal growth rather than dwelling on past mistakes. Her positive attitude…
- From Chad
Preparation #1028
Bob Feller’s no-hitter on Opening Day 1940 remains unmatched in MLB history. His achievement was not due to luck, but rather years of dedicated preparation…
- From Chad
Diamonds #1027
You may know more than your competition, but you can’t compete against someone who loves more.
- From Chad
Enthusiasm #1026
Enthusiasm is a powerful tool that requires no skill and can improve any situation. The story of a plumber from Australia demonstrates how passionate and…
- From Chad
Screwtape #1025
During WWII, C.S. Lewis wrote “The Screwtape Letters,” a series of letters from a senior devil to his trainee, Wormwood, outlining his efforts to secure the…
- From Chad
Professor #1024
A law professor, retiring after 50 years, shared his final lesson with his students: “Build relationships and develop trust.” He emphasized the importance of…
- From Chad
Yes! #1023
Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychotherapist found meaning in suffering and believed motivation is a myth. After losing his family and having his…
- From Chad
Barrelful #1022
Instead of expecting perfection immediately, focus on quantity, as it often leads to improved quality over time. This concept is illustrated by the story of…
- From Chad
Struggle #1021
Fred Rogers, despite his prolific career, experienced self-doubt and struggled with the creative process. He acknowledged the difficulty of creation, yet…
- From Chad
Relationship #1019
Ted Gioia is a renowned jazz, historian and musician. He learned the importance of finding an “honest broker“ when he worked in the corporate world. This is a…
- From Chad
Sorites #1018
The Sorites Paradox, illustrated by the prolific poet Ed Guest, questions when a small change becomes significant. The paradox highlights the importance of…
- From Chad
Sculptor #1017
The sculptor’s attitude is to shape circumstances., not react to them. The attitude you take is a decision you make. Don’t give that decision away.
- From Chad
Being #1016
The be-do gap is a myth. Who you are drives what you do. When you see people who have achieved new levels of success, an identity shift aligned their desires…
- From Chad
G-Forces #1015
Fear of the unknown is common, but history shows that new technologies often surpass initial fears. From steam trains to jet aircraft, people have overcome…
- From Chad
Checkmate #1014
The story of a chess game, depicted in the painting Retzsch’s “The Chess Game”, illustrates that even when things seem hopeless, there is always one more move.
- From Chad
Limits #1013
Kayden Beasley, born with no legs, overcame perceived limitations through sled hockey, eventually winning a gold medal with team USA at the Paralympics.
- From Chad
Worry #1012
Steve Jobs’ insistence on using gorilla glass for the iPhone, despite manufacturing challenges, exemplifies the power of overcoming fear and worry. By…
- From Chad
Reps #1010
Jim Grant, aka Lee Child, is author of the Jack reacher series. He attributes his storytelling ability to 40,000 hours of experience in television. He owned…
- From Chad
Fleas #1009
Prisoners discovered the fleas infesting their barracks provided unexpected protection. This story illustrates how challenges can be gifts, part of a larger…
- From Chad
Voice #1008
In a world full of noise, your unique voice is your most valuable asset and should be used to express yourself and empower others.
- From Chad
Donuts #1007
Bill Rosenberg, founder Dunkin’ Donuts, acted on a hunch to improve the donut shop experience. He was uncertain of its success, but knew the only way to find…
- From Chad
Tests #1006
Jim Collins’ bullets-to-cannonballs strategy, where companies experiment with low-risk, low-cost, and low-distraction ventures before committing to larger…
- From Chad
Impressions #1005
The story of a woman with two boyfriends illustrates the invisible imprint people make. We leave a positive or negative impression on everyone we meet.
- From Chad
Systems #1004
Goals are limiting. Systems thinking emphasizes repeatable processes. Tom Brady‘s success as a quarterback is attributed to his focus on improving his…
- From Chad
Problems #1003
The story of Shake Shack’s founder, Danny Meyer, highlights the importance of problem-solving in business. Success comes from handling problems well, not…
- From Chad
Perspective #1002
The story of Manet’s painting “A Bar at the afolies-Bergère” illustrates how perspective shapes are understanding of situations. By changing our perspective…
- From Chad
Centenarian #1001
Sawang Japran, a 105-year-old man from Thailand, began competing in the World Masters Games 15 years ago, inspired by his daughter. He has since won over 60…
- From Chad
Daily #1000
A daily coffee ritual has shaped a relationship. Consistent commitments are easier than occasional ones and most impactful.
- From Chad
Spills #999
Life’s challenges reveal what’s inside us, not the challenges themselves. We are responsible for our reactions, and we can choose to fill ourselves with…
- From Chad
Spirit #998
Dean Clifford, diagnosed with a severe form of epidermolysis bullies as a baby, is one of the longest living survivors. Despite his condition, he became a…
- From Chad
Caterpillars #997
Embracing your struggles is a necessary, part of growth and change. It builds the strength needed to reach your full potential. Your metamorphosis is not…
- From Chad
Surgery #995
Leonid Rogosov performed his own appendectomy after a polar storm trapped his crew. You have to perform surgery on yourself too—brain surgery. You can…
- From Chad
Legacy #994
Coach Lou Holtz, who passed away at 89, is remembered for his impactful legacy. Despite challenges, he led teams to success and inspired others through his…
- From Chad
Failures #992
The common denominator of success is doing what failures won’t do. Successful people in all areas of life form the habit of doing the things that are…
- From Chad
Bamboo #991
When you feel buried, upgraded, thinking, knows you’ve just been planted, like bamboo, which develops a strong foundation, underground, unseen, before reaching…
- From Chad
Expectancy #989
The story of Wilma Rudolph, who overcame polio and became an Olympic gold medalist, illustrates the power of hope and expectancy.