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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
Cactus #748
“Hugging the cactus” is a metaphor for confronting and accepting pain or discomfort, popularized by Robert Downey Jr. in his 2011 acceptance speech. Downey…
- From Chad
Margaritaville #747
Jimmy Buffett, despite having only one top 10 hit, “Margaritaville,“ built $1 billion empire. The song, written after a margarita,-fueled afternoon and a…
- From Chad
Gamble #746
In 1973, facing eminent bankruptcy, FedEx founder Fred Smith gambled a few hundred dollars in Las Vegas and one enough to keep the company afloat for another…
- From Chad
Valeria #745
Michael Ferrero, the founder of the Ferreiro chocolate empire, created a fictional ideal customer named Mrs. Valeria. He designed all his products to please…
- From Chad
Agony #744
Dark Councilman, a legendary, swimming coach, used a banner with the words “hurt – pain – agony“ to motivate his swimmers. He believed that achieving…
- From Chad
Workplace #743
A workplace adaptation of Psalm 23 is shared, emphasizing the importance of perspective and finding peace amidst workplace challenges. The message encourages…
- From Chad
Unlock #741
Dr. William James’ authored a concept of a “second wind“ describing a moment of renewed focus and energy after pushing past fatigue. This phenomenon suggests…
- From Chad
Workout #740
A young runner, inspired by Jim Ryun, received Ryun’s training plan, but never used it. This highlights, the “know-do gap“ – the difference between knowing…
- From Chad
Pounds #739
A ceramics teacher divided a class into two groups, one graded on quantity and the other on quality. The group graded on quantity ultimately created the…
- From Chad
Rummage #737
The devil, at a rummage sale, reveals his most valuable tool: discouragement. It can make people lose hope and abandon their dreams. Robert Biswas-Diener’s…
- From Chad
Problems #736
Life is full of problems, but they are opportunities for growth and purpose. Victor Frankel, a holocaust survivor, encourage individuals to view challenges…
- From Chad
Emerge #735
Melia, a Pakistani girl, faced adversity under Taliban rule, but channeled it into advocacy for girls’ education. Her story serves as a reminder that…
- From Chad
Circles #734
The most important story you hear is the one you tell yourself. Simon scenic Golden Circle model emphasizes the importance of purpose, but I believe the place…
- From Chad
Ghosts #733
Denzel Washington used a metaphor of ghosts representing unfulfilled potential to illustrate that humans, unlike nature, can choose to underperform. The better…
- From Chad
Magic #732
We live in the most amazing time in human history, with conveniences and opportunities that our ancestors could only dream of. Despite this, many people are…
- From Chad
Garbage #731
Jerry Seinfeld believes that every day is special and that there is no such thing as “quality time.“ He prefers “garbage time,” the ordinary moments like…
- From Chad
Opportunities #730
Steve Jobs’ return to Apple in 1997 and subsequent streamlining of the product line from 40 to 4 exemplifies the power of saying no. Every commitment carries…
- From Chad
Ripples #729
Les Schwab, founder of Les Schwab, tires, instilled, an owner’s mindset and his employees by sharing 50% of the profits. This incentivized employees to work…
- From Chad
Imperceptibly #728
Change, positive or negative, often occurs gradually before reaching a sudden tipping point. Daily habits, whether positive or negative, compound overtime and…
- From Chad
Solitude #727
Joe McCormack, founder of The Brief Lab, emphasizes the importance of silence and quiet for clear thinking and effective communication. He highlights the need…
- From Chad
Momentum #726
Charlie Munger‘s “granny‘s rule” in Brian Tracy‘s “eat that frog” our productivity concepts that emphasize tackling the most challenging or important tasks…
- From Chad
Incentives #725
Incentives, as highlighted by Charlie Munger, are a powerful driver of behavior in both business and personal life. FedEx’s night shift, for example, improved…
- From Chad
Torture #724
Holding onto offenses is torture. John Bevere emphasizes forgiveness as a necessity to avoid Satan‘s trap of bitterness and division. The fable of “the two…
- From Chad
Levels #723
New levels, bring new devils. But you’re built for both. If it’s getting harder that means you’re going higher.
- From Chad
Sacrifices #722
James Lee Harrington, who died on D-Day, will be buried today in Iowa after his remains where identified through DNA analysis. His burial, alongside his mother…
- From Chad
Pause #721
One of Stephen Covey’s seven disciplines of highly effective people self-renewal. He calls it sharpening the saw. Rest and renewal is not apart from our work…
- From Chad
Scorecards #720
Warren Buffett’s concept of the “inner and outer scorecard” highlights the importance of living authentically versus seeking external validation. It involves…
- From Chad
Spreadsheets #719
Companies often lose sight of customer value by becoming obsessed with optimizing internal processes. This “process trap” leads to pour outcomes and a lack of…
- From Chad
Blueprint #716
Success is not based on luck, but on a proven plan and consistent execution. Instead of relying on chance, create a blueprint for your journey by following a…
- From Chad
Today #715
A reflection on life’s fleeting nature, emphasizing the importance of living fully in the present.
- From Chad
Non-conformists #713
Is your tendency to “go along to get along” a survival instinct? Maybe your frustration with the status quo as a show of creativity and leadership. Turning…
- From Chad
Audience #712
The “Audience Effect” shows that who watches us influences our performance, whether positively or negatively. Being prepared is crucial, as jumping into…
- From Chad
Bargain #711
Embrace the magic of books. Tell yourself a better story today by reading better stories. When you hold a book in your hand, you are holding magic.
- From Chad
Passion #710
The whole nation thought he was a crazy old man to undertake an almost impossible feat. Most feared that he would die trying. But this humble old man proved…
- From Chad
Become #709
Identity isn’t claimed. It’s done. Actions shape identity. Want to be that person? Do the things that type of person does.
- From Chad
Pennies #708
The power of incremental, patient growth is illustrated through the story of a penny doubling daily for 31 days, ultimately resulting in over $10 million. This…
- From Chad
Compounding #707
Changes don’t have to be colossal, just consistent. The better story you can tell yourself is small, smart choices, consistently applied overtime, leads to…
- From Chad
Flight #706
Clara the caterpillar was captivated by the butterflies she saw floating through the forest, not knowing the fight ahead of her that would lead to a…
- From Chad
Reverse #705
Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari, embrace technological constraints to create innovative, video games. By challenging his team to make the worst ideas work, he…
- From Chad
Impediments #704
“The impediment to the way is the way,” wrote Marcus Aurelius. Perhaps the problem you’re facing isn’t working against you, but has been provided for you.
- From Chad
Capacity #702
Don’t believe the old saying “old dogs can’t learn new tricks.” It’s not true! It’s not true for canines and it’s not true for you. You are made to grow and…
- From Chad
Encouragers #701
The right word at the right time from the right person can make all the difference.
- From Chad
Wednesday #699
Herb Kelleher, founder of Southwest Airlines, exemplified a bias for rapid action in a memorable story about a marketing campaign.
- From Chad
Influential #698
The clock is the most influential component of an NFL football game, shaping strategy and outcome. Just as the clock determines urgency and efficiency in…
- From Chad
Buffalo #697
Adopt a “buffalo mindset” by facing challenges head-on. Buffalo run toward storms, not away from them. Buffalo run into harsh weather, not avoid it.
- From Chad
Miracle #696
In a miraculous tale of unexpected reunion, an un Weed mother and her son were brought together by a divine “Godwink”. The story is from SquireRushnell and…
- From Chad
Grades #695
Experts are often wrong, as evidence by the success stories of Fred Smith (FedEx), Todd Graves (Raising Cane‘s), and Phil night (Nike), whose innovative ideas…
- From Chad
First #693
“Paying yourself first“ is a financial principle that extends to all aspects of life. Prioritizing self-care, such as time, health, and relationships is…
- From Chad
4,300 #692
Chad shares his gratitude practice, writing down five things he is thankful for every day. Chad suggest three patterns for gratitude: Meta, thanks for…
- From Chad
Carpenter #691
A master carpenter, renowned for his exceptional craftsmanship, built custom homes for a real estate tycoon. Reluctantly, he agreed to build one last mansion…
- From Chad
Experiences #690
John Goddard sparked the modern-day Bucket List movement creating a list of 127 ambitious life goals at 15. Through relentless pursuit and dedication, he…
- From Chad
Excustitis #689
What is the most crippling disease in the world? Paul Alexander holds the Guinness Book of World Records for living the longest in an iron lung. He did not use…