by CJ McClanahan | Apr 18, 2024 | Blog
You are flawed. CJ McClanahan In a world obsessed with achievement and recognition, the above statement feels offensive. However, the sooner we accept our imperfections, the closer we get to becoming the person we were meant to be. Unfortunately, it’s easy to look...
by CJ McClanahan | Apr 11, 2024 | Blog
This too shall pass. CJ McClanahan In the moment, the issue that has us all worked up seems so very important. In retrospect, it rarely is. In his thoughtful book, A Time to Build, author Yuval Levin says: “Short-termism is often a function of unstructured thinking,...
by CJ McClanahan | Apr 4, 2024 | Blog
In a world full of people who seem angry all the time, I’m focused on becoming the guy who’s almost never upset. Life is too short. I find myself saying this phrase a lot lately. Maybe, it’s that I’m on the final 3rd of the journey on planet earth or it’s possible...
by CJ McClanahan | Mar 28, 2024 | Blog
When I grew up, #23 was a good thing… in 2024, not so much. CJ McClanahan For the first time in recorded history, the United States dropped out of the top 20 happiest countries. “The growing unhappiness among young adults reflects in part the pressure to always...
by CJ McClanahan | Mar 21, 2024 | Blog
The secret to effective solutions in meetings is simpler than you think. CJ McClanahan Early in my career, I loved watching one of my mentors navigate a meeting. He would quietly watch everyone tossing out opinions only speaking if he had a clarifying question. As...
by CJ McClanahan | Mar 14, 2024 | Blog
How do you know you’re making the right decision? Before you tie yourself in a knot, remember this. CJ McClanahan Between now and the end of 2024, you will make thousands of decisions. Some of them will be inconsequential (medium vs. large, window up vs. down,...
by CJ McClanahan | Mar 7, 2024 | Blog
The first step in finding a joy-filled, purpose-driven life that’s right for you is to consider a shift in your current paradigm. CJ At some point, we’ve all had a gap in our hectic schedules and taken a moment to consider this question. Depending on where you were...
by CJ McClanahan | Feb 29, 2024 | Blog
Are you caught in your own Overachiever’s Trap? CJ Having influence and making money aren’t evil things. In fact, success and resources lead to opportunity for you and those around you. The issue comes when we start basing our actions in “more”...
by CJ McClanahan | Feb 22, 2024 | Blog
Regardless of my mood, the good and not-so-good days have something in common. CJ Some days, I’m full of boundless energy and optimism. I feel unstoppable and capable of changing the world. Other times, I find it hard to get excited about anything and wonder if I’m...
by CJ McClanahan | Feb 15, 2024 | Blog
There’s a disconnect between what society says about joy and what it actually is. 1479. This is the number of sales meetings I’ve had with CEO’s and entrepreneurs since starting my business 20 years ago. (Note: This is not true. I have no idea the...
by CJ McClanahan | Feb 8, 2024 | Blog
Tired of feeling like you’ll never be content? Try this quick exercise: Take out a pen/paper and spend the next 60 seconds listing everything in life you consider a blessing. Include whatever pops into your head. (Individual family members, homes, friends,...
by CJ McClanahan | Feb 1, 2024 | Blog
For the majority of my life, I followed a simple principle: Effort (lots of it) = Achievement = Happiness/Satisfaction. Initially, it works. The harder you work, the more you achieve, and every achievement delivers a sense of happiness/satisfaction.However, as most...
by CJ McClanahan | Jan 25, 2024 | Blog
For flawed humans, being completely free of defects and flaws is completely impossible to attain. Yet, we constantly strive. The Perfection Trap author Thomas Curran makes a compelling point that the root of all this effort is the fear of failure, rejection and...
by CJ McClanahan | Jan 18, 2024 | Blog
I find myself saying this more than ever to audiences, clients, and friends. Interestingly enough, instead of being offended with this insight, most people loosen up, relieved that this truth is finally out in the open. Imperfection is the characteristic we all share...
by CJ McClanahan | Jan 11, 2024 | Blog
Many years ago, a mentor of mine pointed out that every decision we make is driven by one of two forces – fear or love. As you can imagine, behavior driven by love is more likely to bring you joy. In addition, the decisions influenced by love have a better chance of...
by CJ McClanahan | Jan 4, 2024 | Blog
The first week of the new year is an interesting time for overachievers. We typically embrace the changing calendar as an opportunity to become a new person. They claim that this is the year to go to bed early, quit drinking, work out and stop eating ice cream after...
