This month on Plan Goal Plan, we’re talking about focus and today, I’ve got something a little different for you.

Ryan’s back on the podcast, and we’re playing a game: agree, disagree, or complicate. Together, we’re digging into some of the biggest assumptions we make about focus, productivity, distraction, and deep work… and let’s just say we complicated almost all of them.

We get into:

We also talk a lot about the tension between the kind of work we say we value and the kind of work we actually make space for.

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is how much it highlights that focus isn’t just about hacks or routines—it’s about understanding yourself, your rhythms, your environment, and the systems you’re operating inside of.

And yes… we also share some of our favorite focus tools and rituals right now (including the Brick, which we may or may not be obsessed with).

So if you’ve been feeling distracted, scattered, or frustrated with your ability to focus lately, this episode is for you. You do not need to become a productivity robot—you might just need a more honest framework.

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You’ve tried the systems. You’ve tried the routines. And somehow… you’re still drifting.

In this episode, I’m naming exactly why—so you can stop blaming yourself and start doing something that actually works. Because if you can’t focus right now, it might not be a discipline problem. It might be a meaning problem.

We’re kicking off our May focus theme by digging into what’s really underneath distraction, burnout, and that feeling of constantly starting and stopping.

I walk through:

If you’ve ever felt like you keep circling the same idea but never act on it, there’s probably more going on beneath the surface than indecision.

The biggest shift? You don’t need to force more focus—you need to reconnect to what actually matters.

So if you’ve been feeling scattered, unfocused, or like you’ve lost the thread of what you want, this episode is for you. You’re not broken, and you’re definitely not behind—you might just be disconnected.

And that’s something we can work with. 

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There’s a moment I see over and over again in my clients, students, and honestly, in myself too.

It’s that feeling of standing in the middle of something that’s already shifting and not knowing if you’re supposed to hold steady or move forward. And here’s the thing most of us don’t realize:

Those are two completely different skills.

In this episode, I’m wrapping up our month on change by sharing a few things I know to be true and giving you simple ways to apply them in your life right now. Because change is always happening, but not all change asks the same thing from you.

We explore:

One of the biggest takeaways?

You don’t always need to push harder.

Sometimes you need to ground. Sometimes you need to move. And sometimes… you need to learn how to tell the difference.

If you’ve been feeling in-between, uncertain, or like something is shifting but you can’t quite name it—this episode is for you.

You’re not behind. You’re in it.

And that’s exactly where change begins.

Sign up for the 10 Day Finally Certain Challenge!

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Okay… let’s talk about that quiet feeling that something needs to change.

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Michelle Schafer, and we’re diving into what it actually looks like to navigate change, especially when it’s unexpected.

And maybe it’s just the season we’re in… but spring has a way of making us pause and ask: is this still right for me?

Because whether you’re feeling stuck, burnt out, or just unsure about what’s next, it’s so easy to jump straight into action mode. To panic. To try to fix it as fast as possible.

But what if the most powerful thing you could do… is pause and create a plan?

In this conversation, we talk about:

One of the biggest takeaways for me? Planning isn’t just about productivity—it’s personal development.

It’s how you reconnect with yourself. It’s how you realign your goals. It’s how you move forward without spiraling.

So if you’ve been feeling that pull toward something new—or wondering if it’s time for a reset—this episode is here to ground you.

Take a breath. You don’t have to rush this.

You can plan your next move with clarity. 

Connect with Michelle:

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Okay… this conversation is one of those that just stays with you.

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Dr. Daniel Zinnel, and we’re diving into something I know so many of us wrestle with—why change can feel so hard… even when we really want it.

Because here’s the thing… we’ve been taught that change comes from trying harder, being more disciplined, or just getting more motivated.

But what if that’s not actually how it works?

We get into the deeper layers—identity, belonging, fear, and the internal work that actually leads to meaningful growth. And wow… it’s powerful.

Daniel shares his story growing up in small-town Iowa, navigating adversity, and how those experiences shaped the way he leads, sets goals, and creates impact in the world today.

We talk about:

One of my favorite parts? This idea that you don’t have to hustle your way into becoming someone new… you can root yourself in who you already are and grow from there.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, frustrated with your goals, or like you’re doing all the “right” things but not seeing change, this episode is going to hit.

Trust me… you’re going to walk away thinking about your goals in a completely different way.

Connect with Dr. Daniel Zinnel:

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Y’all… if you’ve ever set a goal and thought, “Why isn’t this actually changing anything?” This episode is going to hit a little different.

Today, I’m joined by my husband (and favorite conversation partner), and we’re diving into something I don’t think we talk about enough in the goal-setting space: What if the way we think about change is incomplete?

We’re bringing in insights from communication studies, rhetoric, and performance research—fields that don’t usually show up in personal development, but honestly should.

Because when you’re setting bold goals, what you’re really trying to do is create change and change is not as simple as setting the goal and following the plan.

In this episode, we talk about:

We also share real examples—from global social movements to everyday life—that show how change actually happens when something finally sticks.

If you’re in a season where you’re setting big goals, trying to follow through, and wanting to grow without losing yourself in the process, this episode will give you a completely different lens.

Because it’s not just about what you do.

It’s about what you make visible, who you do it with, and whether your life actually supports the change you’re trying to create.

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Y’all… I think we’ve been taught to think about change completely backwards.

For most of my life, change has felt like a goal-setting problem. Like if we could just plan better, try harder, stay more consistent… we’d finally become the version of ourselves we’re working toward.

But here’s what I’ve learned through my research and through coaching women pursuing bold goals:

Change is not a productivity problem.

In this episode of Podcast Plan Goal Plan, I’m walking you through a completely different way to think about change that actually supports your goals instead of pulling you back into the same patterns over and over again.

We’re talking about:

And maybe most importantly…

How to stop treating your life like something to optimize—and start building a way of pursuing your goals that actually lets you stay connected to yourself in the process.

If you’re chasing something bigger right now…

This episode is going to give you a completely new framework for how change actually works.

You’re not failing your goals. You’re just trying to manage something that was never meant to be managed. Let’s change that.

Connect with me:

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If you’ve ever picked up your phone for “just a second”… and suddenly 45 minutes disappeared  — yeah, same.

In this episode of Plan Goal Plan, I’m diving into something that completely stopped me in my tracks: “sh*tty flow.” It feels like focus. It looks like productivity. But it quietly pulls you away from your life instead of building it.

I’m sharing a super real moment (hi, doom scrolling spiral 👋), plus a story about my son’s Read-a-thon that cracked open a bigger conversation about ambition, trade-offs, and what it actually means to choose your life on purpose.

We’re talking about:

And if you’re feeling that pull of “I want more… but I don’t want to lose myself again,” I’ve got something special for you too.

This episode is for you if you’re ambitious, thoughtful, maybe a little tired of the hustle, and ready to feel like yourself again.

Let’s get into it.

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Mike Csikszentmihalyi discovered flow by asking a simple question: Why do some people bounce back from adversity while others don't? Gary and Deanne Gute work directly in his legacy, and they say there's a specific anatomy to flow that almost nobody talks about. Miss that piece, and no amount of productivity hacking will get you there.

Where Flow Came From: In the late 60s and early 70s, Mike interviewed people about their most engaged moments. They all described it the same way—like being carried away by a current. That's where "flow" came from.

The Real Anatomy: Clear goals. Immediate feedback. Challenge matched to skill. But here's what people miss: freedom from self-consciousness. Social media is basically a self-consciousness machine—you're constantly alert to how you're being judged. That kills flow.

It's Not About the Goal: Deanne ended up in the hospital with COVID pneumonia. Her one job was getting her breath under control or die. One goal, immediate feedback (oxygen machine), matched challenge. Looking back, she found it oddly satisfying because it was pure flow. It wasn't about winning—it was about the experience.

Challenge and Enjoyment Are One: Our culture treats them as opposites. But flow merges them. Kobe Bryant found bliss in 4 AM practice sessions—the squeak of the floor, the whoosh of the basket. Define enjoyment for yourself, not what social media tells you.

Ritual Primes You: Their research on rock climbers shows that pre-climb rituals—breath work, imagery, mindfulness—lead to significantly more flow than just showing up. Flow comes to a prepared mind.

Flow and Resilience: They've studied trauma survivors, combat veterans with PTSD, chronic pain patients. Flow isn't about productivity. It's about flourishing in your worst moments and actually growing from adversity.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi – Flow 

Connect with Deanne and Gary

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What if the secret to follow-through isn't discipline, but direction? I'm done with the myth that flow requires a perfect, uninterrupted day. That's not real life, especially if you're managing other people's schedules, making a million decisions, or juggling kids and work. So let's talk about building flow that actually works in messy, high-pressure lives.

For years I tried to follow Cal Newport's advice: block four uninterrupted hours. Then I had toddlers. Suddenly I'm watching them climb on furniture and dive off couches, and I realized I needed a different approach. Flow doesn't require perfect conditions. It requires clarity.

Here's the three-step system:

Step One—Clear Goal: Clear goals equal fewer decisions. When you know what matters, you can ruthlessly remove what doesn't.

When I directed plays while working full-time, I made a non-negotiable to do yoga every single day. It sounds backward to add something when you're slammed, but protecting that one thing let me do the work AND show up for my family.

Step Two—Protect Your Lane: You need a container. Find 90-120 minutes this week (can be two blocks). Write your next three actions. Give yourself two buffers for when life breaks the plan. Start each session with a two-minute ramp (open a doc, set a timer, list your first lines).

Step Three—Build Feedback: One signal that proves progress (draft sent, metric moved). One person or mirror (mentor, peer, dashboard). One question: What's the smallest adjustment that keeps this moving?

Feedback isn't judgment. It's how you navigate and maintain momentum.

Your 7-Day Challenge

Write your flow goal. Schedule two flow blocks (90-120 minutes total). Do one feedback check by day seven.

The Boundary: Don't sacrifice yourself. If the only way to win is to become someone you don't like, the plan is wrong.

Mentioned

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