The quality of your life often comes down to the quality of your relationships. Whether it's at work or at home, how you interact with those around you plays a huge role in how you rate your well being.

Are you running around putting out fires, reacting to whatever pops up in the moment, while never finding time for the important things?

Or are you calmly observing the situation and circumstances around you and responding in a thoughtful, constructive way and prioritizing your top values?

If you find yourself in the former camp - reacting rather than responding - then today's guest is going to help you flip that script and improve the way you work and live.

Jason Barger is a globally celebrated Author/Speaker/Consultant and thought leader. He was a tremendous asset to me while I was directing and producing my documentary GO FAR: The Christopher Rush Story, and he is committed to strengthening leadership, culture, vision, and values using his 6 step framework he calls “The 6 A's.” In our conversation we talk all about how to develop collaborative teams and positive work cultures, as well as fostering deeper professional and personal relationships using his “Thermostat Culture” approach.

If you’re tired of working for a company or a team that values “busy work” above being productive and actually getting things done, this episode is a must-listen.

If you’re exhausted by constant disagreements either with your co-workers (or your spouse or partner) and you want a simple framework to find common ground and move forwards with purpose, this episode is a must-listen.

Though this conversation is taken from the Fitness in Post archives, the information is still valuable and relevant to the challenges we face today in our post-pandemic working reality.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

• How airports are a metaphor for how we move in the world and respond to adversity.
• The difference between thermometers and thermostats and how it applies to our lives.
• Whether we react or respond often has to do with the clarity (or lack of) around what we are trying to achieve.
• KEY TAKEAWAY: "Busy-ness" does not equal effectiveness.
• BETTER QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF: Am I doing the right things? (instead of: Am I doing enough?)
• Teams that take the time to clarify and align their goals are more effective at accomplishing their highest priorities.
• COMMON MISTAKE: Not getting a baseline assessment of where you or your team is starting from.
• How to set expectations by debriefing the schedule at the start of projects.
• KEY TAKEAWAY: Knowing the mission and understanding the deeper whys are the most important questions to answer. This applies to work and life.
• My personal story of how my family had to create our deeper whys.
• How the word attention can change the quality of your work, your relationships and your life.
• The difference between rules and standards and why standards are more important.
• The importance of finding language around your aspirations.
• What the checklist manifesto is and how it can automate your to do list to free up your mind for creative thinking.

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Motivational Keynote Speaker: Jason Barger

Jason Barger (@JasonvBarger) / Twitter

Jason Barger (@jasonvbarger) • Instagram photos and videos

Jason Barger | Facebook

Jason Barger | LinkedIn

Continue to Listen & Learn

Ep132: How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar

Ep128: How to Have a Successful Career Without Sacrificing Family | with Farrel Levy

Ep55: How Tiny Changes Can Create Remarkable Results | with James Clear

Ep03: The Science Behind Success and Creative Burnout (And Why You’re Approaching Both Mostly Wrong) | with Eric Barker

How Total Burnout Led to the Most Productive Year of My Life

How to Overcome Post-Production Burnout

A Classic Case of Post-Production Burnout

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Guest Bio:

Jason Barger is committed to engaging the minds and hearts of people in order to strengthen leadership, culture, and clarity of mission, vision and values.

He is a globally celebrated Author/Speaker/Consultant and creator of the “Step Back from the Baggage Claim” Movement – featured in the New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, Kiplinger, Book TV, and many other spots worldwide. His most recent books “Remember” and “Thermostat Cultures” have been widely-celebrated around the globe and he’s the host of “The Thermostat” podcast.

Prior to sleeping in airports and observing human behavior, Barger led over 1700 people to construct 125 houses internationally for families living in poverty as well as implemented the Streets Mission Project to serve the homeless on the streets of Columbus, Ohio. As the former Director of First Community Church’s Camp Akita, he designed programming focused on living with joy, love, compassion, faith, and service for over 1900 campers a summer.

Jason is a graduate of Denison University, where he served as Captain of the men’s basketball team, and also received certification from Georgetown University in Nonprofit Executive Management. In 2004, he was one of five people in Columbus, Ohio to receive a Jefferson Award, a national award given to “Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things”. In 2014, he was selected as a 40 Under 40 award winner by Business First.

Jason is a sought-after Keynote Speaker, visionary, and consultant. As founder of Step Back Leadership Consulting LLC, he works with organizations that are passionate about Culture Change, Leadership Development, Innovation, Service, and bringing their Mission to life everyday.

Jason is passionate about his family and travels from Columbus, Ohio all around the world to engage the minds and hearts of people. Follow on social media @JasonVBarger and dive into his podcast “The Thermostat” where podcasts are found.

Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content