It's an Inside Job

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In this Bite Size Fridays episode of It's an Inside Job, host Jason Liem introduces the contrarian mindset and its first skill: focusing on what we can control. The contrarian mindset is about challenging the status quo in our minds, questioning our typical reactions, and discovering unconventional yet effective ways to enhance resilience and navigate life’s unpredictability. Jason explores how the practice of focusing on controllable aspects can alleviate stress, streamline decision-making, and foster a proactive approach to achieving personal and professional goals.

Three Key Takeaways from This Episode:

1. Understanding Control vs. Influence:
   Jason explains the importance of distinguishing between what lies within our control and what does not. By focusing on controllable elements in our lives, we can direct our energies more effectively and feel more empowered. This approach minimizes stress and allows us to allocate resources toward meaningful actions.
2. Shifting from Reactive to Proactive Thinking:
   Moving from a reactive stance to a proactive one is essential for building resilience. Jason encourages listeners to adopt a proactive approach by setting clear goals, anticipating challenges, and making informed decisions aligned with their core values. This shift ensures that we respond to life's uncertainties with flexibility and resilience.
3. Mastering the Art of Letting Go:
   The art of letting go is integral to the contrarian mindset. Jason discusses the benefits of releasing our need for control over external outcomes and instead focusing on internal strengths and adaptability. This approach not only reduces stress but also enhances mental clarity and emotional well-being.

Episode Highlights:

• Contrarian Mindset Overview:
  Jason defines the contrarian mindset and explains how it can simplify life by cutting through fears, dysfunctional thinking, and unhelpful mental patterns.
• Skill 1: Focusing on What We Can Control:
  The episode dives into the first skill in the contrarian mindset, focusing on controllable aspects and letting go of external uncertainties. Jason shares tips for implementing this approach to reduce stress, improve focus, and feel more empowered in daily life.
• Combatting Information Overload:
  Jason touches on information overload in the digital era and how focusing on what's within our control can help counter this modern-day challenge.

Additional Resources:
Interested in building a contrarian mindset for resilience, fortitude, and psychological strength? Check out the other episodes in this series linked in the show notes, and subscribe to It’s an Inside Job for more insights on resilience, well-being, and personal growth.

Part 1 – Discover the Power of The Contrarian Mindset: A New Approach to Rewiring Your Brain for Resilience and Growth

Part 2 – Discover the Power of The Contrarian Mindset: A New Approach to Rewiring Your Brain for Resilience and Growth

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Curious about what it takes to become a successful negotiator? What if you could learn from a negotiation expert with extensive international experience? If you're ready to enhance your negotiation skills and navigate complex discussions with confidence, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Remi Smolinski, a negotiation professor at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management. With a focus on negotiation theory and practice in international settings and innovation management, Dr. Smolinski brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our discussion.

Imagine mastering the art of negotiation, overcoming common pitfalls, and effectively navigating complex discussions. 

By listening to this episode, you can:

1. Understand Successful Negotiation: Learn what it means to negotiate well and strategies for effectively overcoming common challenges.
2. Measure Negotiation Performance: Discover key indicators and metrics used to assess the effectiveness of negotiation outcomes.
3. Apply Innovative Approaches: Gain insights into innovative negotiation strategies and their impact on the negotiation landscape.

Three Benefits You'll Gain:

1. Comprehensive Negotiation Strategies: Learn practical strategies for navigating negotiations across cultures and diverse backgrounds.
2. Skill Development: Understand the role of negotiation competitions in developing negotiation skills and how they differ from real-world scenarios.
3. Future Trends: Stay ahead of emerging trends and developments that will shape the field of negotiation theory and practice.

Are you ready to uncover the secrets of successful negotiation and enhance your negotiation skills? Scroll up and click play to join our enlightening conversation with Dr. Remi Smolinski. 

Learn practical strategies, innovative approaches, and key skills to become an effective negotiator in an ever-evolving world.

Dr. Remi Smolinski's  contact information: 
LinkedIn:      @DrRemiSmolinski
Website:       The Negotiation Challenge
Book:              The Negotiation Challenge: How to Win Negotiation Competitions

REFERENCES:
S2 E21: Learn how you can build resilience & confidence in demanding conversations with one of Singapore's top mediators. Interview with Aloysius Goh.
S1 E23:Learning How to Negotiate by Keeping The Brain in Mind. Interview with Roar Wægger.

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In this episode of It’s an Inside Job, we take on the often overlooked reality of domestic abuse with Deena Kordt—advocate, author, and podcaster. Drawing on her lived experience of emotional and psychological trauma, Deena explains how non-physical abuse works, why it’s hard to name, and how it can reshape a person’s sense of self and safety. She shares her path from a strict conservative upbringing to surviving an abusive marriage for more than three decades.

We talk about the patterns that keep abuse hidden: silence, “invisibility” as a coping strategy, and the slow build of control. Deena breaks down how hyper-vigilance and people-pleasing can become survival habits—and how they often persist even after someone leaves. Her reflections challenge the myth that abuse must be physical to be real, and spotlight the manipulation that makes emotional and psychological abuse so difficult to recognize and describe.

Deena also offers practical guidance for supporting someone who discloses abuse: validate what they’re telling you, protect their confidentiality, and show steady, non-judgmental concern. We also address common misconceptions and stigma, including the fact that men can be victims too—and often face additional barriers to seeking help. Deena argues for more open, informed conversations so support becomes easier to access and shame loses its grip.

The episode closes with three concrete actions for anyone experiencing—or witnessing—abuse: tell a trusted person, document what’s happening, and build a clear, practical exit plan for when it’s safe. Deena’s message is simple and hard-won: reclaiming your voice starts with recognising your worth, and none of this has to be faced alone.

Life Changes Channel Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7lvBpq6n1Otj42xcKTk5VX?si=6cbe25a55c704260

Websites:
https://DeenaKordt.com/
https://LifeChangesMag.com/

Deena Kordt LI profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deenakordt/

UGlowGRL FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/UGlowGRL19/

UGlowGRL IG acct:
https://www.instagram.com/u.glow_grl/?hl=en

Life Changes & Divorce IG:
https://instagram.com/lifechanges_divorcemagazine_ca?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Life Changes & Divorce FB Pg:
https://www.facebook.com/lifechangesdivorcemagazinecanada/

Life Changes & Divorce LI Pg:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/divorcemagazinecanada/

Life Changes & Divorce YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@U.Glow_GRL

Shift Happens Talk Show:
https://deenakordt.com/shifthappensshow

Books:
https://deenakordt.com/makeshithappen

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“The problem for the future isn’t production. It’s consumption.” - Darrell Bricker

Global population decline is accelerating faster than anyone expected—and it will reshape economies, politics, and society. In this episode of It’s an Inside Job, I speak with population expert Darrell Bricker about fertility collapse, aging societies, and what leaders must understand to prepare for an “empty planet.”

What happens to economies, innovation, and social stability when the world stops having children?

Key Takeaway Insights and Tools 

• Global population decline is driven by fertility collapse, not mortality.
  Declining birth rates—across both developed and developing nations—are the single most important factor shaping future population size.
  00:04:00–00:05:24
• Urbanization fundamentally changes family formation.
  As women gain access to education, careers, and income, partnership and childbearing are delayed—and family size shrinks permanently.
  00:06:01–00:07:34
• Below-replacement fertility is now the global norm.
  China, India, Europe, and the Nordics have all fallen below replacement rate, making long-term population decline mathematically unavoidable.
  00:10:16–00:12:16
• Economic growth is threatened more by lack of consumption than production.
  Aging populations consume less, innovate less, and hold most of the wealth—while younger generations shrink in number and purchasing power.
  00:17:02–00:22:24
• Policy incentives alone do not reverse fertility decline.
  Even generous childcare, parental leave, and financial support (e.g., Norway, Canada) have failed to meaningfully increase birth rates.
  00:36:44–00:39:17

Bio

Darrell Bricker is the Global CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, one of the world’s largest public opinion research organisations. Based in Toronto, he is the co-author of Empty Planet, a bestselling and widely debated book that challenges the long-held belief that overpopulation is humanity’s greatest threat.

Call to Action

If this conversation challenged your assumptions, share the episode with someone who should be thinking about the future of society, leadership, or economics.

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“Confidence is about how you feel. Performance is about what you do.” - Dr. Dana Sinclair

How do you perform at your best when pressure is highest? In this episode of It’s an Inside Job, performance psychologist Dr. Dana Sinclair breaks down practical, evidence-based tools for staying focused, calm, and effective when it matters most—without relying on confidence or empty positivity.

What if peak performance isn’t about feeling confident—but about knowing exactly what to do when pressure hits?

Key Takeaway Insights and Tools 

• Pressure derails performance when attention drifts from task to distraction
  Fears, self-doubt, expectations, and results-thinking pull focus away from execution. The solution isn’t elimination—but rapid redirection.
  00:10:15–00:10:58
• “Shift when you drift” is the core performance skill
  High performers anticipate mental drift and pre-plan how to bring attention back to the task—again and again.
  00:10:58–00:11:15
• Positive self-talk can hurt performance if it’s vague or unrealistic
  Platitudes and affirmations fail when they’re not grounded in facts or relevant to the task.
  00:11:47–00:12:44
• Negative self-talk can be useful—if you work with it
  Negative thoughts can signal what needs adjusting. Reframing or redirecting them is more effective than suppressing them.
  00:13:30–00:24:56
• Smart Talk = Facts + Constructive Self-Guidance
  Performance self-talk should be built on factual evidence (past successes, competence) and used actively during pressure moments.
  00:17:49–00:26:24
• Confidence is unreliable—action is what matters
  Confidence fluctuates and doesn’t predict performance. Execution depends on behaviours, not feelings.
  00:28:30–00:30:48
• Performance cues anchor attention in the moment
  One or two simple, task-relevant cues (posture, listening, mechanics) keep performers grounded and effective.
  00:33:47–00:37:11
• Breathing is the fastest way to regain control under pressure
  A single slow nasal inhale and extended exhale can calm the nervous system and reset focus in seconds.
  00:38:03–00:41:53
• Post-performance evaluation accelerates improvement
  A quick review—rating performance, noting what worked, and identifying one adjustment—builds skill and self-compassion.
  00:43:01–00:45:49
• Visualization works best in short, frequent “mental clips”
  Brief, sensory-rich mental rehearsals strengthen performance readiness without becoming burdensome.
  00:52:04–00:58:51

Bio

Dr. Dana Sinclair is a performance psychologist, clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia, and author of Dialed In: Do Your Best When It Matters Most. She works with elite performers across sport, medicine, business, and education—including athletes from the NFL, NBA, NHL, Olympians, surgeons, CEOs, and students—helping them perform under pressure with clarity and control. 

Call to Action

If this episode helped you rethink pressure and performance, subscribe to It’s an Inside Job so you don’t miss future conversations on resilience, focus, and leading yourself well.

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“What you are not changing, you are choosing.” - Chris Dyer

Chris Dyer breaks down how to build a strong company culture in remote and hybrid teams using simple, repeatable practices—especially around meetings, team norms, recognition, and psychological safety. You’ll leave with concrete tools (meeting audits, team charter, feed forward) to improve engagement and performance. 

Key Takeaway Insights and Tools 

• Run a quarterly “meeting audit.” Cut unnecessary meetings, shorten the rest, and fix attendance—meetings shouldn’t eat productivity. (00:12:52) 
• Create a team charter (“rules of engagement”). Decide where you collaborate (Slack/Teams/email), response expectations, and boundaries. (00:14:29) 
• Name meeting types to create clarity. Named formats tell people purpose, roles, optional vs mandatory, and “how to show up.” (00:19:23) 
• Use “Feed Forward” for hard conversations. Ask for a specific future behavior instead of criticizing the past—less defensiveness, more change. (00:24:15) 
• Remote culture check-in: “How are you showing up?” + “How are you leaving the meeting?” It surfaces reality, builds empathy, and confirms whether alignment is real. 
  
  

Bio

Chris Dyer is a globally recognized expert in company culture, leadership, and remote work. As a former CEO managing thousands of employees, his organizations were consistently ranked as “Best Places to Work” and earned placements on the Inc. 5000 list five times. Inc Magazine named him the #1 Leadership Speaker on Culture, and he is the bestselling author of The Power of Company Culture and Remote Work.

Chris has been honored as a Top 50 Global Thought Leader, a Top 40 Change Management Guru, and a Top 50 Voice in Leadership. His insights have influenced leaders across industries as he consults, speaks, and trains organizations on how to build high-performance cultures that thrive in hybrid and remote environments.

Known for his straightforward delivery, candor, and engaging humor, Chris inspires audiences with practical strategies for improving communication, enhancing culture, and navigating the evolving workplace. His signature 7 Pillar Strategy has helped countless companies unlock higher productivity, stronger team performance, and sustainable growth.

Website: https://chrisdyer.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdyer7

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrispdyer7

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrispdyer7

X (Twitter): https://x.com/chrispdyer

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisDyer

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisdyer.com

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