Mike Rucker, PhD Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He has been academically published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active...
Oct 10, 2023•36 min•Ep. 157
Dr. 'Deji Ayoade shares his story from extreme poverty in Nigeria to becoming the first African immigrant to become a nuclear missile operator in the United States Air Force and serve in three U.S. military branches. He’ll walk you through his mindset in the face of extreme obstacles and how he found gratitude along the way.
Aug 22, 2023•37 min•Ep. 155
How do you build a foundation for a happy and joy filled life, regardless of your circumstances? Kristi Nelson, author of Wake Up Grateful will help you understand why living gratefully is so difficult in our world, and how gratitude as a habit - not an occasional trick - will change your life. As always, we’ll leave you with simple, proven tools to get you in the right direction. Thanks for letting me be a part of your journey! What We Discuss in this Episode: Kristi’s battle with Stage IV canc...
Feb 21, 2023•40 min•Ep. 154
Dr. Daniel Z. Lieberman, co-author of the international bestseller of The Molecule of More joins CJ to understand exactly why we believe a Yeti cooler keeps our drink that much colder. Join them to learn the impact of dopamine on your decisions and the tangible ways you can take control from unconscious to conscious. What We Discuss in this Episode: What is dopamine and why don’t we talk more about it? Why is it that the people who are most able to afford a beach house are the least able to enjo...
Oct 25, 2022•40 min•Ep. 153
Rebecca Ward is a licensed therapist, executive coach, speaker, and author. Today, CJ and Rebecca will unpack the connection between fear and stress, the impact our thoughts have on our physical well-being, and ways we can start to feel better today.
Sep 20, 2022•44 min•Ep. 152
In the hybrid world, there are more ways to communicate than ever before, but finding true connection and engagement still eludes many of us. Without the ability to effectively engage an audience and inspire action, new ideas struggle to be implemented, adding frustration and failure to the workplace. Richard shares how to develop your skill to speak and communicate with others to get the results you’ve planned no matter what room – virtual or otherwise – you’re in.
Aug 26, 2022•37 min•Ep. 151
Kute Blackson has been called the mindfulness guru that billionaires go to for advice. He’s been featured on Larry King Now, Dr. Drew, NPR, Fox and Friends, Mind Body Green, and many more. Listen in as Kute uncovers the possibility that surrender, instead of being passive, is the most courageous act you can do to achieve more joy in your life What We Discuss in this Episode: “None of us has control in life. Our demand that life go the way we want is what causes so much suffering. Know that the d...
Jul 13, 2022•38 min•Ep. 150
Steve White’s path from the housing projects to president of Comcast was punctuated by defining, and often heart-wrenching, moments. Moments that lead him to associating uncompromising with never giving up, always looking to learn and improve, investing in yourself, and maintaining a positive attitude through it all.
May 12, 2022•36 min•Ep. 149
Peter Block is an author, consultant and citizen of Cincinnati, Ohio. His work is about chosen accountability, and the reconciliation of community. Peter challenges us to get back to the basics of community that will transform how you see your life and purpose.
Apr 27, 2022•48 min•Ep. 148
Jan Broders went from fast-tracked success in the hospitality industry, to extreme burnout at the age of 27, requiring months of clinical rehabilitation. He then took a journey in exploration of the central question, "How can I live a successful, ambitious and prosperous life without compromising my health and happiness?" Let’s dive in.
Mar 01, 2022•29 min•Ep. 147
Fear and uncertainty have been undermining performance and well-being in the workplace for as long as we have had workplaces. Gaurav Bhatnagar and Mark Minukas show you how to reframe your ― and your employees’ ― relationship with fear and anxiety to create a learning culture of engaged workers at the top of their game.
Feb 14, 2022•26 min•Ep. 146
What We Discuss in this Episode: Fun in the workplace - how can it be cultivated to retain valuable employees? Fun vs Work: Why the meaning of these two terms are commonly blurred How is ‘fun’ defined from the employee perspective, how is it defined from the employer perspective, and how can workplaces achieve a harmonic balance? Mentioned in the Podcast: Take The Achiever’s Compass Bob Nelson Best-selling Author, Keynote Speaker, Consultant “Dr. Bob” Nelson is the world’s leading authority on e...
Nov 03, 2021•45 min•Ep. 145
What We Discuss in this Episode: The BIG THREE life changing habits that ensure business success. Leading a life by design vs. Living a life by default: What’s the difference and how does it affect business success? Why are personal visions crucial to entrepreneurship and how to develop a personal vision you can stick to? What does having both the right mindset and skill set have to do with achieving success and doing what matters most? When the fear of failure hinders success, how to circumvent...
Oct 20, 2021•33 min•Ep. 144
What We Discuss in this Episode: Why is emotional intelligence important for professional development and team building? How emotions play a pivotal role in our everyday decisions, daily communications, relationship building, and the essence of basic human drive for success. Can we develop emotional intelligence or is it an intrinsic trait that only a select few understand? How can we determine if we have emotional intelligence or not? What constitutes emotional intelligence and how can we use e...
Aug 30, 2021•33 min•Ep. 143
What We Discuss in this Episode: One of our society’s biggest challenges is our lack of emotional intimacy. We learn to replace emotional intimacy with achievement, and we stay there until we realize it’s empty. We live with four emotions: excitement, boredom, fear, and anger. Getting yourself off the achievement treadmill can seem impossible. Try this simple exercise: Rate your calendar on a scale of “I’m really looking forward to this” and “I’m really dreading this.” Then ask yourself, what do...
Jul 14, 2021•45 min•Ep. 142
What We Discuss in this Episode: The only limits we have are the limits we have set in our minds. The Sedona Method helps you unlock the unlimited nature of your life and let go of the obstacles and baggage that hold us back. Letting go and living simply is natural. Children do it all the time. Holding on is hard. Adults do it all the time. That’s why we’re so tired at the end of the day. Experiences and stuff aren’t going to complete you. You are already whole and complete as you are. We often ...
Jun 17, 2021•36 min•Ep. 141
Contrary to conventional wisdom, a legacy isn’t what’s written in your obituary. It’s what you create every day. And with a dark pandemic driving 51% of us to think more about our mortality, it’s high time we started today. Join CJ McClanahan on Success 2.0 as Alan Weiss, PhD, identifies how to create your legacy – today. What We Discuss in this Episode: Life is not about a search for meaning, it’s creating meaning. It’s not a search that has a destination, it’s happening organically every day. ...
Apr 01, 2021•30 min•Ep. 140
We all struggle with the big question - are you living out your life’s purpose? Dr. Kenneth Haman is Managing Director of the Alliance Bernstein Advisor Institute and has been a practicing psychotherapist for over two decades. Join us as Dr. Haman unpacks your purpose and provide you with simple tactics to live your purpose every day. What We Discuss in this Episode: High performing professionals can get trapped into thinking that if I can achieve (insert goal), then all my problems will disappe...
Feb 22, 2021•44 min•Ep. 139
Get 20% off Dr. Jud Brewer's Unwinding Anxiety app Sign up for Unwinding Anxiety online . Fill out your Account Information (Step 1), and enter coupon code SUCCESS2021 under Step 2. Once your account is set up, download the mobile app from Google Play or the App Store . What We Discuss in this Episode: Anxiety can be perpetuated as a habit. To break this habit, we have to identify the cycle of anxiety. The “first gear” is to map out triggers, behaviors, and results. If we are not even aware of t...
Jan 05, 2021•44 min•Ep. 138
What We Discuss in this Episode: Achieving is an elusive goal. Overachievers thrive on lists, and getting things done. The problem is, we are achieving for an external outcome to validate ourselves, not to fulfill ourselves internally. How much we love ourselves, how secure we are, and how much self-esteem we have is directly correlated to how much we have to augment externally. Most high achievers choose to pursue for one of three reasons: power/authority, desire to win, and drive to be known. ...
Nov 19, 2020•33 min•Ep. 137
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 c...
Oct 29, 2020•12 min•Ep. 136
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. Identi...
Oct 20, 2020•13 min•Ep. 135
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 iss...
Oct 13, 2020•13 min•Ep. 134
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 o...
Oct 06, 2020•17 min•Ep. 133
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 societ...
Oct 01, 2020•43 min•Ep. 132
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 tu...
Sep 23, 2020•32 min•Ep. 131
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...
Sep 16, 2020•30 min•Ep. 130
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 an...
Aug 25, 2020•30 min•Ep. 129
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 rela...
Jul 01, 2020•35 min•Ep. 128
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...
Jun 01, 2020•35 min•Ep. 127
