Success 2.0

Mike Rucker, PhD 

Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He has been academically published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness.

What We Discuss in this Episode:

• Why our approach to happiness is broken (3:45 to 5:45) 

• How to tell when you’re disconnected from joy and the role of Toxic Positivity on our lives (5:45 to 10:55) 

• Emotional flexibility and changing the end goal of a successful outcome (10:55 to 16:00) 

• The connection between oxycontin and finding joy (16:02 to 18:54) 

• Why fun is such a critical component of our lives, productivity, creativity, and work (18:55 to 23:40)

• Tangible ways to focus on leisure that open you up to achieve at even higher levels (23:40 to 28:19) 

• The concept of thriving versus flourishing and how to create frameworks for your employees to flourish (28:20 to 32:04) 

• Quick tricks to move toward fun and move through agonizing activities (32:04 to 34:18) 

Mentioned in the Podcast:

• The Fun Habit by Mike Rucker (or, the first three people who email CJ get a free copy!) 

• Dr. Paul Zak and his work on happiness and community

• Take The Achiever’s Compass for your personalized assessment to start enjoying your journey today! 

Dr. 'Deji Ayoade shares his story from extreme poverty in Nigeria to becoming the first African immigrant to become a nuclear missile operator in the United States Air Force and serve in three U.S. military branches. He’ll walk you through his mindset in the face of extreme obstacles and how he found gratitude along the way.

How do you build a foundation for a happy and joy filled life, regardless of your circumstances?

Kristi Nelson, author of Wake Up Grateful will help you understand why living gratefully is so difficult in our world, and how gratitude as a habit - not an occasional trick - will change your life.

As always, we’ll leave you with simple, proven tools to get you in the right direction. Thanks for letting me be a part of your journey! 

What We Discuss in this Episode:

• Kristi’s battle with Stage IV cancer and why such a difficult time moved her to establish a foundation of gratitude (2:00 to 4:15) 

• Why gratitude is so difficult in our culture and time (4:15 to 10:35) 

• How to harness comparison to unlock joy (10:35 to 14:10)

• How to go from understanding gratitude to practicing gratitude (14:10 to 33:17) 

• The vision behind Grateful Living (33:17 to 36:26) 

Mentioned in the Podcast:

• Wake Up Grateful, by Kristi Nelson (email CJ for a free copy!) 

• Free Wake Up Grateful Discussion and Study Guide by Kristi Nelson

• Take The Achiever’s Compass

Dr. Daniel Z. Lieberman, co-author of the international bestseller of The Molecule of More joins CJ to understand exactly why we believe a Yeti cooler keeps our drink that much colder. Join them to learn the impact of dopamine on your decisions and the tangible ways you can take control from unconscious to conscious.

What We Discuss in this Episode:

• What is dopamine and why don’t we talk more about it? Why is it that the people who are most able to afford a beach house are the least able to enjoy it? (6:15 to 12:49)
• What are the forces influencing the decisions you make and how can we become more aware of them? Why is it that self-development and growth isn’t “10 easy steps”? (13:45 to 17:)
• How do you control your unconscious mind… and why should you care about it? (23:40 to 34:50)

Mentioned in the Podcast:

• Email CJ to receive a complimentary The Molecule of More or Spellbound: Spellbound: Modern Science, Ancient Magic, and the Unconscious Mind
• Take The Achiever’s Compass

Rebecca Ward is a licensed therapist, executive coach, speaker, and author. Today, CJ and Rebecca will unpack the connection between fear and stress, the impact our thoughts have on our physical well-being, and ways we can start to feel better today.

In the hybrid world, there are more ways to communicate than ever before, but finding true connection and engagement still eludes many of us. Without the ability to effectively engage an audience and inspire action, new ideas struggle to be implemented, adding frustration and failure to the workplace. Richard shares how to develop your skill to speak and communicate with others to get the results you’ve planned no matter what room – virtual or otherwise – you’re in.

Kute Blackson has been called the mindfulness guru that billionaires go to for advice. He’s been featured on Larry King Now, Dr. Drew, NPR, Fox and Friends, Mind Body Green, and many more. Listen in as Kute uncovers the possibility that surrender, instead of being passive, is the most courageous act you can do to achieve more joy in your life

What We Discuss in this Episode:

• “None of us has control in life. Our demand that life go the way we want is what causes so much suffering. Know that the degree to which you surrender determines the degree to which you are alive, the degree to which life can use you, the degree to which you can enjoy life.” -Kute Blackson’s Mother
• Understand that the ego is not who you are. It is a process not a thing. Ego is a construct of patterned conditioning. Once we can step back and observe that, we can understand that the ego means well and the mechanisms we’ve built based on fear start to melt away.
• We have to be willing to feel the feelings that we learned as children to suppress. Then, we can start to identify who we are and what we believe.
• Three questions to get to truth: What lies am I telling myself? What am I pretending to not know? What is that lie costing me?
• When we feel pain, we distract ourselves so that we don’t have to deal with it. But the pain is a signal that is showing us a part of ourselves that is out of alignment. Ask yourself, what is the message of this pain? Then, we can course correct and get back in alignment.
• When you let go, there will be many times that you lose things. But when you follow your soul, you will have the comfort and peace of knowing that you are in integrity of your own self.

Mentioned in the Podcast:

• The Magic of Surrender: Finding the Courage to Let Go by Kute Blackson
• Boundless Bliss Bali, a 12-Day Bali Event with Kute Blackson
• The Surrender Summit – Virtual 5-Day Event, July 12-16, 2022
• Take The Achiever’s Compass

Steve White’s path from the housing projects to president of Comcast was punctuated by defining, and often heart-wrenching, moments. Moments that lead him to associating uncompromising with never giving up, always looking to learn and improve, investing in yourself, and maintaining a positive attitude through it all.

Peter Block is an author, consultant and citizen of Cincinnati, Ohio. His work is about chosen accountability, and the reconciliation of community. Peter challenges us to get back to the basics of community that will transform how you see your life and purpose. 

Jan Broders went from fast-tracked success in the hospitality industry, to extreme burnout at the age of 27, requiring months of clinical rehabilitation. He then took a journey in exploration of the central question, "How can I live a successful, ambitious and prosperous life without compromising my health and happiness?" Let’s dive in.