On today’s episode of Open Your Eyes, McKay talks about getting over obstacles or mistakes in your life.  More often than not, we find ourselves looking to the past and focusing on what we could have done differently or better.  McKay argues this is harmful behavior.  The only true way to overcome the past is to accept where you are, see your current circumstance as a blessing, and look towards the future. McKay illustrates the power of leaving the past behind in his story of a skydiver’s accident that rendered her less capable of walking.  He notes that Emma could go on to live her life with an immense sense of regret or she could forgive herself, acknowledge the past, and put her energy towards writing the rest of her story.  

Where you put your focus in life is where you will go.  So if you’re constantly looking back, you will stay there, but if you look forward, you will move onward and upward.  It’s why McKay talks so much about the importance of healthy thought patterns.  He draws this episode to a close on an uplifting note:  when we look ahead and develop a positive mindset, we take control over our own destinies, so make peace with who you are and what you’ve done, and move on. 

The Finer Details of This Episode: 

• The only way out is through
• Getting over past mistakes
• Noel’s free falling accident
• Skeleton sledding
• Looking forward instead of backward
• The importance of healthy thought patterns
• How Emily Blunt overcame her stutter

Quotes: 

“Yes, she was falling. Yes, she was about to die, but she was so grateful for her life. It turned her panic to peace.”

“She now views her body so much differently. It's no longer something that defines her image, but rather a tool for her to live and enjoy the world.”

“You must learn to break with and from these thinking patterns, and close that chapter in your life.”

“In sledding, and in life, where you look is where you'll go. You see, our lives are shaped by where we look. And if you're looking back, that's where your thought patterns go. And if you're looking forward that too is where your thoughts and your life will go.”

“Aristotle famously said, ‘We are what we repeatedly do.’ Excellence then is not an act but a habit. I think the same is true of what we repeatedly think.”

“So stand at the door of your mind, and only let in what is positive and helpful.”

“Sometimes you have to follow a script.  You have to act a bit before the change you're trying to accomplish feels entirely natural to you.”

“Close that chapter in your life, and come to know the rest of your story. If you've fallen, be grateful for what you've learned, accept where you are, and move forward.”

Links:

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

On today’s episode, McKay talks to the audience about the importance of faith, and begins by introducing the story of Desmond Doss and his unwavering faith and peaceful determination at Hacksaw Ridge.  McKay frames faith as a commitment to a choice, and the more we act on that choice, the more we reinforce our faith - reminiscent of Isaac Newton’s laws of motion.  Moving forward and taking steps, no matter how small, keeps our momentum in the right direction.

He next advises listeners to eliminate distractions since they only serve to slow us down and divert us from our faith and purpose. Fear can also skew faith; it can lead to feelings of helplessness and certainly loneliness, and that’s why McKay talks so much about action and moving forward.  He draws this episode to a close by urging everyone to feed their faith for at least 15 minutes everyday, noting that human potential is limitless, and to let that go to waste would be a shame. 

The Finer Details of This Episode:

• Desmond’s faith at Hacksaw Ridge
• Commitment to choices
• The importance of moving forward
• Scottie Scheffler’s Masters win
• Eliminating distractions
• 5 truths about fears
• Why human potential is limitless
• Feeding your faith

Quotes: 

“The more you act, the more faith you create. My faith is strong and grows when I am in an active state. When I am in a passive state, I lose my faith.”

“In an active state, you learn, grow and feel like you are doing something within your control.”

“Distraction is the great thief in life. It will divert your attention, capture your interest, and rarely return any value to your life. When you decide to do something remarkable in your life and place your faith in yourself and your decision, the first thing to do is to clear the path; remove any potential distractions.”

“What we need to realize is that faith is a sales job.  Each day we are selling to ourselves the thing in which we are placing our faith.  That means the longer we go without acting on that thing, the less likely we are to act.”

“Remember, action is the great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is the result of fear.  Any action is better than no action at all.  To prevent the law of diminishing intent, act now.”

“Each day, set aside 15 minutes to feed your faith.  It’s a daily feeding time that will keep you focused and give you the wherewithal to keep your mind in the direction you should go.”

Links:

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

This week, McKay talks about miracles, opening up the episode with the story of pilot and pioneer, Amelia Earhart, and the unbelievable tale that is the rescue of McKenzie Morgan.  He argues that both stories are miracles in their own right, and these miracles can happen to us so long as we open our minds and hearts to them. McKay says it’s all about realizing  your worth.  Too many people believe themselves unworthy of serendipitous positivity when that couldn’t be further from the truth.  We all deserve miracles - sometimes we just need to open our eyes to them.

McKay goes on to discuss the importance of self forgiveness and overcoming past mistakes.  It’s easy to feel that your past has seemingly predetermined your future.  If you open your eyes, however, you might find that miracles are all around us, especially in the people we meet everyday.  McKay draws this episode to a close by celebrating the life of Indy Ju who, before tragically passing away from leukemia at a young age, inspired millions to believe in miracles again. 

The Finer Details of This Episode: 

• The story of Amelia Earhart
• McKenzie Morgan’s rescue
• Opening our minds to miracles
• Being in the right place at the right time
• The importance of knowing your worth
• Overcoming past mistakes
• Indy Ju’s courageous battle with leukemia 

Quotes: 

“We must have been in the mountains that day for a reason.”

“​​When you are looking for a miracle, maybe you are more open to the advice of others, maybe you take more chances, maybe your heart is inclined to have faith in someone or something.”

“I believe that these small miracles happen in our lives all the time. Moments of clarity that we don’t always arrive at on our own. The point is, sometimes you need to be looking for a miracle.  Maybe take a chance or two.”

“You deserve love, forgiveness, strength and happiness.  You may not feel like you deserve it, but you do.  You are of immense worth and here on this earth to find peace and rise from the ashes.”

“The millions of people who were inspired by and connected to this little girl with down syndrome has been nothing short of miraculous.  Miraculous to those who needed to look beyond their own circumstances, to grandfathers who need redemption, to neighbors who need to care about each other, to people who lack faith who need to look.  Miracles happened because of Indy Lu, and miracles can happen because of you.”

“This world is filled with so much good.  There is so much to be grateful for.  So, as we end today, remember McKenzie.  Be willing to be in the right place at the right time.”

Links:

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

Today on the Open Your Eyes podcast, McKay talks about creating lasting wealth, and opens up the episode with two stories about Charles Ponzi and Bernie Madoff - both of whom schemed investors out of billions of dollars.  He points out that, unlike Ponzi, Madoff, and their corrupt practices, in order to create genuine wealth, one has to define what wealth truly means.  The next step according to McKay to generate wealth is to save and invest, and goes on to urge the audience to diversify these investments in order to best mitigate risk.

Last but not least, McKay argues that investors simply think differently, and if people want to be wealthy they should do so as well. Investors think like owners, whereas the ‘average Joe’ might be more likely to think that their income is sufficient enough to live on without investments.  This is why McKay believes so strongly in the power of financial education - after all, if we don’t take the time to learn the game, how are we ever supposed to play it?

The Finer Details of This Episode:

• The story of Charles Ponzi
• Deciding what real wealth means to you
• The importance of saving and investing
• Diversification and averaging
• How to minimize taxes 
• Why investors think differently

Quotes:

“When something is too good to be true, it most likely is.  I can’t tell you the number of times people have come to me telling me about the latest sure thing, and that sure thing doesn’t turn out.”

“These schemes often promise high returns with little risk. Educated investors understand there is always risk.”

“Riches are not an end in life, but an instrument in life.”

“The goal of good investing is to get your money working for you. This seems obvious, but getting the right mindset about investing is really important.”

“When you get educated, you’ll learn that the older you get and the closer you come to needing your money to live on, the more you need to reduce the chances of volatility.”

“An investor thinks differently. They don’t think about how much they can earn as an employee, they think about how much they can earn as an owner.”

“Determine what real wealth means to you.  Get your plan established.  Start investing today. Build a diversified portfolio, and average into the market. Take advantage of tax advantaged investments.  Get educated, and give 10% of what you earn.”

Links:

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

This week on Open Your Eyes, McKay talks about why it’s no fun being poor.  He opens up the episode by recounting the plot of the Oscar Award winning film, CODA, in which the protagonist's family rises above the poverty line and comes to live a much more fulfilled life as a result.  Next McKay talks about his friend’s work building wells in the Republic of Congo and educating the community about maintenance and education.  McKay remarks that this education and access gave Congan people the opportunity to rise above their water scarcity and focus on growing other areas of wealth. 

These two stories lead to McKay listing his three markers for wealth: a complete lack of debt, having savings to provide for an emergency, and having 10% of your wealth to give away.  He urges the audience to do so by cutting monthly spending in half, increasing monthly income, paying off your lowest debt balances, and eventually paying off your mortgage. A lack of debt fuels confidence and contentment in life, and  McKay concludes the episode by reminding us all that it isn’t fun to be poor, but it’s extremely fun being debt free. 

The Finer Details of This Episode:

• The synopsis of Apple’s CODA
• 
  
• Building wells in the Republic of Congo 
• 
  
• The three components of wealth
• 
  
• The importance of cutting monthly spending
• 
  
• Increasing your  monthly income
• 
  
• Paying off debt
• 
  
• How a lack of debt fuels confidence

Quotes: 

“The truth is, it's no fun to be poor. And another truth is: no one has to be.”

“Bringing people from poverty has as much to do with their learning and understanding as it does about them actually having materials for wealth.”

“You're wealthy if you're completely debt free, you have adequate savings to provide for you and your family if you stopped working, and you're able to give away 10% of what you earn.”

“Don’t buy it unless you can pay cash for it.”

“By cutting monthly spending and adding monthly income, paying off the lowest debt balances first, and then applying that to your mortgage, you're soon out of debt. “

“I've seen people with a lot of things who are emotionally and spiritually poor, because they believe what they have defines who they are.”

“The peace and security of being out of debt is worth so much. As I mentioned, it teaches you to be content, to stop using debt to satisfy your wants; it sets the course for a life of frugality and humility.”

Links:

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

Today, McKay discusses how to change your money mindset. He opens up the podcast by discussing the tragic day when Sergeant Jay Rosenberry saw his children and friend flailing in a riptide.  While he successfully saved his children, his friend Mark didn’t make it. McKay likens this tragic unpreparedness for the riptide to the lack of understanding we have about our money habits, and he goes on to discuss how we can better improve our financial decisions.  

First, McKay discusses the importance of developing small habits - by spending small amounts in the right places, one saves money to invest in the future.  Like McKay says, it’s all about the value of the opportunity cost.  His next tip pertains to procrastination - the longer a person waits to become financially literate, the more money they lose.  He relates this message to the current inflation in the U.S. and urges the audience to get out of debt now.  Afterall, now is the perfect time to start changing our money mindsets.  McKay brings this episode to an end by talking about the value of learning from past mistakes.  

The Finer Details of this Episode:

• Sergeant Jay’s horrific moment saving his family from a riptide
• The importance of smaller habits
• The value of opportunity cost
• Why there’s a cost to waiting
• Getting out of debt
• Learning from your past mistakes

Quotes: 

“Mark J said, ‘My instinct was to go after the eight-year-old now that he was alone, because I knew he couldn't swim. As he stumbled back toward the ocean, he heard Christie's shrieking voice pleading, ‘Please save my boy’.”

“This is very much like other things in life, we often get ourselves into trouble because we don't understand the circumstances around us.”

“Small habits lead to big results.”

“Investing money is often filled with mistakes. And sometimes we have to be hit upside the head, so to speak, to get the point.”

“There's no value in looking back. Accepting responsibility for our decisions means learning from it, setting it aside, and moving on.”

“So many people have tried to invest and learn lessons the hard way. I've spent money poorly and made bad choices–we all have. The question is, will we learn from our mistakes?”

Links:

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

Today, McKay explored the sense of entitlement on the Open Your Eyes podcast.  He starts off by introducing various examples of moments when individuals were and weren’t entitled, beginning with the story of a man who was tired of waiting for his flight.  He then contrasts that example with George Washington and his heroism fighting against the British army.  McKay notes that, like George Washington, we are entitled to nothing in life.  If we start to adopt this mindset that nothing is guaranteed to us, we would be all the more happy. 

McKay goes on to recall a story about a man who can sleep when the wind blows - a tale of preparation and diligence teaching us that things won’t fall into line unless we do.  Similarly, he argues that adversity is important because it forces us to be resilient and to take responsibility for ourselves - when we teach our children that life owes us happiness and success, they’ll hardly be prepared to face real challenges. McKay also talks about his work at a nonprofit where he helps children get involved in science at a young age to stimulate this type of growth mindset.  He draws this episode to a close by detailing the journey of Elon Musk’s Tesla company and its humble beginnings demonstrating that success isn’t just entitled to us, it’s made.

The Finer Details of This Episode:

• The difference between working hard and feeling you’re entitled to something
• Washington’s heroic efforts in the fight against the British
• Why we are entitled to nothing in life
• Preparation and the “I can sleep when the wind blows” parable
• The importance of adversity
• Why growth mindsets encourage confidence and persistence 
• The journey of Elon Musk’s Tesla

Quotes:

“Things like the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution came about because of character, determination, hard work and even some chance. It was the individual choices and actions of the people at the time that gave birth to the country where some of us live. They were far from entitled.”

“The truth is that no one owes you or me a living, and no one is going to hand you or me a great life.”

“​​I believe he had the mindset to persevere especially when things got tough. He knew they were not entitled to freedom. They had to earn it.”

“Here's the thing: I worry that my children and you and me tend to think that the freedoms we enjoy, to speak freely, to worship in the manner we choose, to have free and fair elections, and many other things, were somehow bestowed upon us because we are entitled.”

“Sometimes we think we are entitled; entitled to freedom, entitled to a happy life, to a job, to benefits, and all of the other things that we enjoy. But the truth is, we are entitled to very little.”

“We must remember to prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child.”

“Kids who develop this ability to struggle through answers have less anxiety and stress, increased attention capacity, fewer symptoms of attention deficit disorders, more confidence, ability to make independent decisions, improved physical and emotional health, and they perform and have a better attitude in school.”

“Remember, we are not just entitled to freedom of any kind, whether it be political, financial or emotional - it must be earned.”

“Now is the time to work so you can sleep when the wind blows, whatever winds may come.”

Links:

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

Today, McKay talks all about action on the podcast, starting off the episode by recounting Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 expedition to Antarctica.  After two years of combatting ice, cold temperatures, and the ocean, Shackleton finally managed to save his team and bring them home.  McKay attributes his unlikely success to his willingness to move and set his plans into action, and points out that many of us overthink far too much and are paralyzed by our thoughts.  To overcome our overthinking, action is the best remedy - making moves, changing our thought processes, and cultivating what McKay calls our emotional homes are key to success.

During the latter half of this episode, McKay introduces Larry Lemieux, an Olympic sailor who made the heroic decision to forfeit his pursuit of the gold medal to save his competitors drowning in the water.  It was his quick action skills that made this move possible - he didn’t overthink.  Likewise, McKay draws this episode to conclusion by detailing Sarah Lift’s decision to leave her abusive household at the age of 15.  He says that her fast acting, like that of Lemieux, changed her life and led her down a path to emotional freedom and financial success. Listen in today as McKay demonstrates that, truly, “there is power in moving and keeping your focus on the next necessary part of your life's journey.”

The Finer Details of This Episode:

• Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 mission to Antarctica 
• Why overthinking is a bad habit 
• Why action assuages overthinking
• The importance of a healthy emotional home
• Larry Lemieux’s heroic move at the Olympics
• Sara Lift’s decision to leave her abusive household

Quotes:

“We let habitual thinking freeze us from time to time, and the way out of our situation, or to safety or success, just might be to move. Action is a powerful force, not only in our life, but in our minds.”

“The problem with overthinking is it can become a habit, and soon we get hung up on relatively simple decisions.  We worry excessively, our mind tends to go into overdrive, and we even begin to think about our thinking.”

“Overthinking can prevent us from taking action by keeping us trapped in circular thoughts.  When we overthink, we may be unable to separate facts and what we know for sure from the worries we keep telling ourselves.”

“You can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep rereading your last one.”

“Overthinking plagues many of us, and we can change the rumination going on in our life and our thinking by focusing on what's next.”

“Stand guard at the door of your mind. Only build rooms for the people and technology that helps you direct your thinking.”

Links:

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

On McKay’s 50th podcast episode, he talks about the importance of staying in your lane, and opens this week by introducing the story of Sarah Blakely, the creator of SPANX.  He talks about her unhappiness as a fax machine saleswoman and her perseverance in the industry.  Only after dedicating herself to her position did she serendipitously find success in the hosiery business.  McKay notes that, although dedicating yourself to your craft in the face of unhappiness is no easy feat, giving yourself fully or staying in your lane is the most surefire method to achieve success. 

He goes on to recall the story of Dirk Nowitzki, the starting center for the Dallas Mavericks.  McKay remembers the moment when Dirk turned down high offers at other teams and chose to stay with Dallas - a prime example of staying in your lane.  He didn’t forego his path for the sake of money, but stayed true to his goal.  McKay concludes this episode by reminding us all that there is huge value in being loyal to others, to your calling, to your values, and that you will find you can travel faster, make more progress and feel better about who you are when you stay in your lane with confidence.

The Finer Details of This Episode: 

• Sarah Blakely’s journey to create SPANX
• Finding serendipitous success
• The importance of giving yourself fully
• Dirk Nowitzki’s loyalty to the Dallas Mavericks
• Why imitation never works
• Why one should avoid worrying about others
• Focusing on yourself 

Quotes: 

“You see too often in life, we don't stay in our lane. We think things are better doing what someone else is doing or want to shift strategy, because things are temporarily hard or something else seems a little more inviting.”

“You develop skills and meet people that can likely change the course of your life. And on it goes.”

“Give your full commitment to your relationship even though things aren't perfect.”

“There is depth in anything you give yourself to fully.”

“Staying in your lane is more than being focused, committed, or loyal. It also means you give yourself to what you were called to do.”

“Stick to your lane until the time is right to add a boat or camper, and until then, smile.”

“Now I've known people who are very good at staying in their lane in life. They just have this way about them. They're not worried about other people. They're not obsessed with what other people do wrong. They're just confident and observant and patient and comfortable with who they are.”

“Next time you're tempted to be nosy or out of your lane, or critical of someone else or wanting to direct their life, say to yourself, ‘I've resigned from that job.’”

“Every second you spend driving someone else's car is not spent driving yours.”

Links: 

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

McKay talks about the importance of goals in today’s episode, and he opens up the episode by recognizing the success of Mike Krzyzewski as Duke basketball head coach.  Only after seeing his book in an airport, did McKay read it and learn about having worthy goals.  He ties Coach K’s story into that of Chris Norton, a football player who suffered a paralyzing injury in a football game, highlighting his determination and how he defied all odds to walk again.  McKay finds it important to add that you are the only person who has control over your destiny, and at the end of the day, your goals and capacity for growth are up to you.  

The next lesson he learned from Coach K was that losses can be wins, as seen in the example of Dave Ramsey, a failed real estate man turned publishing phenom and radio host.  McKay says that he would hardly have success in his career had he not failed miserably at first.  To make drastic changes in your life and succeed, he says that the big moments are far less important than the little ones in between, and that creating daily habits and small changes makes all the difference.  McKay also urges the audience to keep a positive mindset, pointing out that, when you worry about losing, you deem your goals unworthy of your commitment.  To close out the episode, McKay encourages listeners to let go of the past, because it only serves to drag you down.  

The Finer Details of This Episode:

• Mike Krzyzewski and having worthy goals
• Chris Norton’s paralyzing injury
• You determine your future
• Losses can be wins
• Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover
• The importance of changing your daily habits
• Positive mindsets 
• Why you need to let go of the past

Quotes: 

“I saw a book called Leading With The Heart by coach Kay, I bought it. And by the time I landed in Salt Lake City three hours later, I had devoured the book. And from it, I learned several principles that changed how I lead.”

“He decided he was going to stand and walk again. Well, the first thing that happened was a few days later. He moved his left arm, and that tiny movement gave him hope. And with this little bit of encouragement, his dad said to Chris, ‘Chris, there's no challenge too big that you can’t conquer.’”

“Perhaps you want to get that degree or get out of debt or whatever you're striving to do. Remember the only person who can tell you that you can't win is you, and you don't have to listen.”

“I had two choices.  Was I going to spend the rest of my life feeling sorry for myself? Was I going to make a stand? And I know one thing, when they tell you, you have a 3% chance of moving anything below your neck again, forget the 97; focus on the three. Yes, my life changed forever, but through my experience, I realized–it was up to me, and I had the power to stand.”

“A worthy goal does more than Inspire. It causes you to see yourself differently.”

“It doesn't matter if you win every game, but play each game with all your heart. And most of all, remember, family is everything.”

“Dave's loss in the game of real estate enabled his win in the game of publishing and helping others improve.”

“To change your life, you must change your day.”

“When I focus on what can go wrong. I changed my tactics. I lose my strength and it works differently on my psyche.”

Show Links: 

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen