Lately, I've been paying close attention to what motivates me and trying to figure out how to pursue more of that. This reminded me of a book I read early last year called Tiny Habits by B.J. Fogg. In the book, B.J. introduced the behavior model. The B = M A P behavior model is a simple yet powerful tool that can help us understand the factors that influence our behavior. B.J. Fogg, a Stanford University researcher and expert on behavior change, created this model to help explain why some behaviors are easy to perform while others are difficult.
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866 - Hack your motivation

A common trap that I fall into is feeling like my “why” needs to be this huge, selfless thing. Like it needs to be Mother Teresa levels of altruism. Something like:

 Wanting to help underprivileged communities
 Because you want to fix climate change
  To support children because they’re our future

And, maybe it would be nice if those were naturally your reason but if they’re not, you shouldn’t feel bad about it.
Let's get something straight, your "why" doesn't have to be some big, noble cause or anything like that. It can be something that's all about you and what makes you happy. Yeah…it can be selfish. And in many ways, it SHOULD be selfish. Like, if your why is to start a business because you want to be your own boss and make some serious cash, that's totally fine. The fact that it’s authentic to you is going to ultimately be way more motivating than some PR thing you came up with because it “sounds better”.
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865 - Some thoughts on finding your why

We've all been there. We know meditation is good for us, but we just can't seem to start and stick with it. Maybe we're too busy, or we're not sure how to do it. Or maybe we're just a little intimidated by the idea of sitting still and trying to quiet our minds. But the truth is, starting a meditation practice doesn't have to be complicated or difficult. In fact, getting started with building this habit can be much, much simpler than you think. So, whether you're a meditation newbie or you're looking to get back into it, we've got you covered because this is Tiny Leaps, Big Changes.
Survey: https://tlbc.co/survey

864 - Meditation 101: A Beginner's Guide

I'm going to tell you a story. It's not a true story, it's not even based on any specific person that I know, but it's the type of story that happens all the time. Maybe it's even happened to you or someone you know.
This is the story of Jane.
Jane had always dreamed of becoming a lawyer. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood, Jane had to work hard to overcome the many obstacles in her way. She was an excellent student and graduated from high school with top grades and even attended a good college and received her law degree with honors.
But...she ran into a problem. Despite her impressive credentials, Jane struggled to find a job. She applied to law firm after law firm after law firm and sat for several interviews, but was always passed over for the job. She couldn't figure out why and now that the student loan payments were due, she had a lot of external pressure influencing her decisions. Jane couldn't understand why she wasn't getting hired, especially since she had done everything right, so she decided to take a job working the front desk at a law firm. After all, she had bills to pay...and as long as she got in the door, she was confident she could get the job she wanted.
But that didn't happen either. Jane watched as lawyer after lawyer was brought in and hired...mean while she hadn't even been considered for those roles. And eventually...the frustration and sense of failure started to build.
We won't finish Jane's story because...well, it's kind of all of our stories. Factors we cant control such as gender expression, sexuality, race, and other socioeconomic have a unique ability to limit the list of potential opportunities that come our way.
And it's time that we learn about it...and not only that, but learn how to end it. So get excited, because this is Tiny Leaps, Big Changes.
My guest today is Jessica Nordell.
Jessica Nordell is a science writer, award-winning author, and speaker known for blending rigorous science with compassionate humanity. Her first book, The End of Bias: A Beginning, won the Nautilus Award and was shortlisted for the Columbia Journalism/Lukas Prize for Excellence in Nonfiction, the NYPL Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism, the Royal Society Science Book Prize, and the National Association of Science Writers Book Prize. The End of Bias was also named a Best Book of the Year by the World Economic Forum, Greater Good, AARP, and Inc. and is currently being used by organizations from newsrooms to NBA teams to healthcare organizations to solve some of their biggest cultural challenges.
This is the first of a two part conversation on bias so, if you are interested in this topic, be sure to tune in tomorrow to catch the 2nd part.
Instagram: https://instagram.com/tinyleaps
The End of Bias: Website
Who We Are To Each Other: https://jessicanordell.substack.com/

863 - The End of Bias Pt 2 (feat Jessica Nordell)

Here's a question...when was the last time you considered your unconcious biases?
Have you ever? It's okay if not..most of us haven't.
But here's something interesting to note..whether we take the time to examine them or not...they do affect us. Every single day.
Maybe in small ways, getting passed over for a promotion, being spoken down to by your peers, or...in the case of my guest today...getting your work overlooked.
Or maybe you've been the perpetrator. Choosing the cross the street at night when you see a person of color coming towards you. Or subconsciously discounting what a female colleague has to say.
No matter how it affects you...it does affect you. And it can cause huge problems in your life and in larger society.
That's why for the next 2 episodes, we're going to take about how to end it. And the answer?
Well...you already know the answer...because this is Tiny Leaps, Big Changes.
My guest today is Jessica Nordell.
Jessica Nordell is a science writer, award-winning author, and speaker known for blending rigorous science with compassionate humanity. Her first book, The End of Bias: A Beginning, won the Nautilus Award and was shortlisted for the Columbia Journalism/Lukas Prize for Excellence in Nonfiction, the NYPL Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism, the Royal Society Science Book Prize, and the National Association of Science Writers Book Prize. The End of Bias was also named a Best Book of the Year by the World Economic Forum, Greater Good, AARP, and Inc. and is currently being used by organizations from newsrooms to NBA teams to healthcare organizations to solve some of their biggest cultural challenges.
This is the first of a two part conversation on bias so, if you are interested in this topic, be sure to tune in tomorrow to catch the 2nd part.
Instagram: https://instagram.com/tinyleaps
The End of Bias: Website
Who We Are To Each Other: https://jessicanordell.substack.com/

862 - The End of Bias Pt 1 (feat Jessica Nordell)

Instagram: https://instagram.com/tinyleaps
With the start of a new year, many of us set big goals and try to focus on specific things in an effort to feel in control of our lives. While habits, routines, and life hacks can be helpful in achieving these goals, they are not enough to truly create lasting change. In this episode, we will explore the concept of the Fresh Start Effect and the importance of identifying an outcome and working towards it with direction in order to gain a sense of control in our lives. We will also discuss the challenges of maintaining motivation and offer strategies for making lasting change.
In this episode:

 The Fresh Start Effect - a phenomenon where people are more likely to try to create change in their lives around predetermined moments
 Why habits, routines, and life hacks are not enough to create lasting change and a sense of control in one's life
  The key to creating a sense of control is to identify an outcome and work towards it with direction
  How motivation, often felt at the beginning of a new year, can fade over time
  Strategies for maintaining motivation and making lasting change

861 - How to Take Control of Your Life

In this episode we get real about the question of having enough time...
Instagram: https://instagram.com/tinyleaps

860 - "I don't have the time..."

Around this time of year, when we’re all caught up with the mad rush of gift giving, holiday attending, and sitting in traffic, it becomes extremely easy to lose track of our own self care. This can lead to major issues such as a weakened immune system, increased anxiety, and decreased performance at work or school. 

That’s why it’s more important than ever to develop strong self-care habits and maintain them during the holidays. Especially if you intend to start the next year strong. So in this episode, we’ll do a beginners guide on self-care…what it is, why it matters, and how to build it into your life.
What is self care?
Self-care is the practice of taking care of one's own physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This can include activities such as exercising, eating well, getting enough sleep, practicing mindfulness, and engaging in leisure activities. The concept of self-care has been around for centuries, but it has gained popularity in recent years as more people have become aware of the importance of taking care of themselves.

 First coined by psychotherapist Thomas Adam in the early 19th century
 Dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times…the concept of hygeia was the practice of taking care of one's own health.

Today, self-care is largely viewed as an essential, but secondary practice across genders and cultures.
But it really should become a primary practice…
The benefits of incorporating self-care into your daily routine
Self-care can provide numerous benefits from a productivity and self-actualization perspective. Such as

 Improved physical and mental health
 Increased motivation and productivity
  Enhanced creativity and problem-solving abilities
  Better relationships and connections with others

Overall, self-care is essential for achieving productivity and self-actualization. By taking care of yourself, you can improve your physical and mental health, increase your motivation and productivity, enhance your creativity and problem-solving abilities, and improve your relationships and connections with others.
Incorporating Self-Care into Your Daily Routine
To ensure that self-care is a regular part of your daily routine, you can follow some simple steps:

  Create a plan - this is critical so that you know how you’ll practice
  Set aside dedicated time - this ensures you know when you’ll practice
  Change your environment to support it - this ensures that the space you are in pushes you towards practice

859 - Self-Care 101: A Beginner's Guide

Stats about racism

 In the U.S., as of 2019, 65% of those surveyed in a Pew Research study believe it's more acceptable to express racist or racially insensitive views
 59% of white republicans and republican leaning people believe that slavery has had not much or no effect on black people in society today
  And 77% of white republican and republican leaning people believe the biggest problem with racism is seeing racism where it does not exist


The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
In The Sum of Us, Heather McGhee explores the history of racism in America and offers solutions for building an inclusive society. McGhee begins by recounting how America was founded on principles of racial inequality, which have been perpetuated through policies and cultural norms. She argues that racism has always been used to divide and conquer the American people, and that it benefits no one in the long run.

Resources:

  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/effects-of-racism#adults
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4580597/
  https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=elementary_ed_pub
  https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2019/04/09/race-in-america-2019/
  The Sum of Us https://www.amazon.com/Sum-Us-Everyone-Prosper-Together/dp/0525509569

858 - How do we end racism?

Idea: In order to shift a collective culture that reinforces unconscious bias across the board, we surprisingly may need to place a larger spotlight on our individual differences within communities.
The End of Bias: A Beginning (Jessica Nordell)
These passages are from Chapter 10: Unbreaking Culture
Passages:
Transforming the minds, hearts, and habits of individuals i one way to change bias. Another, as we’ve seen, is to change processes, structures, and the culture of organizations. The two, of course, are intertwined: individuals create the processes, structures, and organizational culture, and these in turn shape individuals’ thoughts and actions. But we are also the product of our larger culture – the broader environment in which we live. Change can additionally begin from this third starting point.
In a set of experiments by Abdelatif Er-Rafiy and Markus Brauer, researchers created large posters with photographs of people of Arab origin. The posters had the person’s name, age, and a distinct personality trait such as “Optimistic” or “Stingy”. Finally, each poster had the words “What makes us the same is that we are all different” as part of the campaign.
Researcher’s then measured an individual’s unconscious bias towards people of Arab origin after seeing the posters and found that they acted in a less biased way. Jessica goes on the highlight that the findings suggest that unconscious bias towards racial, cultural, or ethnic groups require one to view those groups as one body over which one can apply their beliefs or view. The idea of “all black people are…” or “every Muslim is…”. But when the idea of individuals within these groups are highlighted, it becomes more difficult to make sweeping assumptions about the whole group.
This is Interesting Because:

 One would assume that the key to shifting cultural bias would be to help people recognize their connection to a larger collective. The idea being that if we can each understand that our actions and thoughts and feelings play a real role in the larger society we live in and can affect things in major ways, that we’d find it easier to act with others in mind.
 This study actually shows the opposite, that by showing people that this group and that group are made up for individuals each with unique characteristics, it makes it harder to cast assumptions in the first place.
  It also means that, while I still believe that capitalism as a system is one that places far too much weight on the idea of you as an individual, so much so that it disconnects you and your role from the society you live in, the idea of individualism as a whole is incredibly valuable and has it’s role to play.

857 - Unbreaking Culture

How productive were you today? Do you know? Did you track it? What method did you use? A to-do list? A pomodoro timer? I’d bet you were really really productive. I bet you got a lot of things done and checked off all those little boxes right? So here’s a different question…did any of it matter? Sure, you were productive…but for what purpose? To what end?
I think many of us forget to ask that last question in our day to day lives and work. As a society, we’ve been so focused on how to be productive that we’ve developed an endless stream of strategies and tools to make it easier. This exploded further in 2020 and the following years as the pandemic created a national and global shift towards fully remote or hybrid work. A shift that, I hate to break it to you, isn’t going to go away.
Resources
https://www.etymonline.com/word/productivity
https://www.zarvana.com/new-productivity-definition-that-wont-burn-you-out/
https://www.oecd.org/sdd/productivity-stats/40526851.pdf
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/a-brief-history-of-productivity
https://prezi.com/d7swdmdturqy/us-economy-in-1600s/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z49g-A2AQI

856 - How to Fix Productivity

When you think of a cult, you might conjure some very specific imagery. Groups of people dressed in white, huddled around a charismatic, long-haired leader. Glasses of red fruit punch, mixed with other things, in the background. And a general sense of impending doom as the leader shares their celestial or holy visions with the crowd. 
This idea of a cult may have been popular in the 70s and 80s but the modern cult is more sophisticated, often choosing to weave cult-like practices into more acceptable industries such as self-help or entrepreneurship. In fact, you may be being influenced by cult indoctrination techniques right now, without even knowing it…but in order to talk about that, we first need to look at cults more generally and the practices that cause their followers to behave the way they do.  
From Jonestown to NXIVM, cults have caused massive damage to their victims and destroyed the lives of everyone they’ve come into contact with. So much so that, through various podcasts, documentaries, and exposes, they have become a pop culture phenomenon. A kind of lens for us to view the world from a slightly darker perspective.  Inevitably, once the interest in cults hit, each of us asks the same questions…how did this happen? 
Why do these people fall for such obvious lies? Why do they follow someone who is often cruel to them? And why do they become cruel themselves? The answers to these questions can be found in the psychology of indoctrination. Indoctrination is defined as “the process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically.”   
YouTube: https://youtu.be/sIvnrvpwyuE
Resources: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_Reform_and_the_Psychology_of_Totalism 
https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-and-using-the-law-of-attraction-3144808 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKqQ1CyneWw&ab_channel=FactFile

855 - The Cult of Entrepreneurship

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What do you take for granted? | a TLBC virtual event

Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and billionaires like them are treated in society as geniuses deserving of their massive wealth. After all, they created it by their own ability to identify an opportunity, gather resources, and bend reality itself through sheer willpower and an unwillingness to give up. Their hard work earned them that fortune, and they use it to better society by creating new jobs, solving big problems, and giving back through philanthropy. To deprive those who are successful of their hard earned wealth through taxation would dis-incentivize them, and society at large, from bringing their genius to the world. This is a commonly held belief in the United States but…what if it isn’t true?
YouTube: https://youtu.be/xdJuGox034E
Resources:
https://www.titlemax.com/discovery-center/personal-finance/your-odds-of-becoming-a-millionaire/
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Personal_responsibility
https://www.gotquestions.org/personal-responsibility.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internalized_oppression

854 - Your idea of success is wrong

This episode is about how to get a better job by beating your limiting beliefs. 
You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. You've probably heard this quote before. It's supposedly from Wayne Gretzky, the Hall of Fame hockey player who scored 2,857 points in his career and it spread like wildfire in recent years.    It's easy to see why this quote speaks to something that we all experience and struggle. Especially in our job search.   
 Have you ever looked at a job listing or a potential promotion and thought to yourself, I can't do that. Maybe you've  gone as far as to not apply to a particular position because you didn't think you had the requirements or maybe right when things were working out for you, you stepped on the brakes and slowed down because you were too scared of what would happen if you kept going.   
This is something we all do in some form or another, and I call it self elimination. Self elimination is the process of removing yourself from consideration based on your own insecurities  and it's often tough to navigate because how do you know if you're self eliminating or if you just really aren't qualified for the job?   But unfortunately, the effects of getting it wrong can be massive. Self elimination leads to stagnation. 
It causes us to only reach for and accept positions that we know will be comfortable in. By definition, this keeps us locked in a cyclical pattern, limiting our earning potential, limiting our ability to serve our family and our larger community, and even in some cases affecting our overall happiness.  
So it's a real problem. Let's talk about it.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/YXSKOuhn3Ag

853 - How to Get a Better Job

Hey, Hey, Greg. Clunis here. First off, thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. I do want to let you know the episode you're about to listen to is a replay. It's one of our best performing episodes from this past January. And the reason we're doing a replay today is that I am working on a much more involved episode. That's going to release next week. So I'm scripting, I'm researching. Putting together something that's going to publish next Wednesday. So next Wednesday on the 28th of September, I'm going to have a brand new episode for you. 

And until then, please enjoy this replay. On how to avoid overwhelm.  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0UZNi0KDMMTPLBx4iI_1ew

How to Avoid Overwhelm (Jan 2022)

In this episode, we talk about how to deal with rejection.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/qyKjEdV43H4

852 - Dealing with Rejection

YouTube: https://youtu.be/P3hSXxKuMek
This is a video about quiet quitting, quiet firing, and why capitalism leads to abusive relationships.  
"Quiet quitting is an application of work-to-rule, in which employees work within defined work hours and engage solely in activities within those hours. The philosophy of quiet quitting, despite the name, is not connected to quitting a job, but rather doing exactly what the job requires."   
"Definitions of quiet firing range from employers who actively make working conditions miserable  to managers who deny time, resources or opportunities to employees, thereby encouraging them to leave without dismissing them outright."   

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-06/-quiet-quitters-make-up-half-of-the-us-workforce-gallup-finds

851 - The Abuse of Quiet Firing

Wisecrack Video: https://youtu.be/6Z49g-A2AQI
YouTube: https://youtu.be/yVJPAdQ0neU

850 - The Dark Side of Productivity

In this episode, I talk about President Biden's recent announcement of student loan forgiveness.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/NdDzV_hpdts

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