Many of us believe that we perform at our best when the conditions and circumstances are "just right". We’re in our comfort zone, we’re on our second or third (or fourth) cup of coffee, and the wi-fi is flowing like fine wine. (Or something like that.)

But that's not true. It’s an illusion. We think that is what we need to be our best – and we make excuses about those factors not being present all the time. But the fact is, humans perform much better when the squeeze is on and the pressure is high. 

Don't believe me? Watch a sporting event, particularly championship games.

Athletes play their very best when their competition is the toughest. Players always seem to find that higher gear, that next level, when they need it most. And that doesn't happen during practice or when facing less adequate opponents. 

It happens when facing the most formidable foes. It happens when the circumstances are more demanding, the risks are more consequential, and the threat of defeat is brutal and final.

On the surface it doesn’t make sense, because we believe that we’d be able to put our best effort out when the conditions are “perfect”, not when someone is breathing down our neck. 

But you’ve probably also heard people say, “I perform better under pressure.” 

And you know what? They’re right. We all do.

But why is that?

Well, there are probably countless reasons, but today we focus on three that will make a huge difference in the way we approach work and life.

Are you ready? Let’s get started!
 

Full transcript can be found here: https://jimmyglenos.com/2025/08/28/youre-at-your-best-when-your-circumstances-are-the-worst/

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Alright, let’s be real. We’ve all been to one of those so-called ‘networking events’ where you slap on a name tag, shake a bunch of hands, and collect a small stack of business cards that you will—100%—never look at again.

And if you’re thinking, ‘Nah, I totally follow up,’ let me ask you this: Do you remember the last three people you met at one of those things?

Exactly.

Today, we’re going to fix that. Because networking isn’t about collecting contacts—it’s about being remembered. And let’s be honest, most people are pretty forgettable.

So, if you’re sick of forgettable conversations, let’s talk about how to ditch the small talk, spark real connections, and become the kind of person people WANT to follow up with. 

Full transcript can be found here: https://jimmyglenos.com/2025/03/14/the-power-of-networking-why-nice-to-meet-you-is-not-enough/

Learn more about Executive and Leadership Coaching at https://jimmyglenos.com/

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Ever been on a team where it feels like your team is disengaged, dysfunctional, uncooperative, or uninspired? Yeah, it sucks. It feels like no matter how hard you try, how much effort you put in, how much quality you strive for in your output, it’s just not enough. It feels like you just can’t win. 

I’ve been there too, and the pain is real. But let’s not sulk in this sad swamp of sullenness. Instead, let’s seek out the sweet sound of success.

Today we are introducing a new word into our workplace vocabulary. That word? Teamship.
 
Full transcript can be found here: https://jimmyglenos.com/2025/01/30/team-not-teaming-i-got-your-back-2/

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November rolls around, and suddenly, gratitude is trending harder than pumpkin spice lattes. Here in the U.S., Thanksgiving sets the stage for feasting, gathering, and (hopefully) counting our blessings. For a few fleeting moments, we pause to reflect on the people and things we cherish most.

But let’s face it: once the turkey’s gone and the holiday decor makes its way back into storage, (because you know, there’s Christmas) how often do we revisit that feeling of gratitude? And wouldn’t life feel richer if we kept that thankful vibe alive year-round?

Here’s the deal: gratitude isn’t just a seasonal sentiment. It’s a secret weapon for happiness, resilience, and even productivity if you let it. So, let’s dig into what gratitude is, why it matters, and—most importantly—how to put it into action without requiring you to dust off that half-empty journal you bought ten years ago. (I know, that stung…I’ve got one too.)

Full transcript can be found here: https://jimmyglenos.com/2024/11/27/gratitude-works/

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Stop expecting so much from your employees, your family, and yourself. It’s a waste of time and a perpetual fountain of disappointment. 

Sounds ridiculous, right? But, hear me out. 

I’m not suggesting you lower the bar of what you’d like to see happen in those around you. And I’m certainly not asking you to stop pushing yourself to higher and higher levels. What I am suggesting is that you consider the success rate of your past expectations and the effect they have on you and the people in your life.

Expectations are those silent setups that fill you with anticipation and hope, but ultimately result in disappointment, or at best, nothing at all. That’s a rollercoaster ride no one asked for.

As an example, if someone meets our expectations, we’re likely not to have an emotional response (because the other person did exactly what we thought they would do). And if they miss our expectations, we will be disappointed and possibly even angry, disrespected, or devalued.

That sounds like a recipe for repeated disaster and growing feelings of imposter syndrome.

So, like I said before, stop expecting so much from others. It’s a waste of time.

Full transcript can be found here: https://jimmyglenos.com/2024/11/11/great-expectations-the-ultimate-disappointment-machine/

Learn more about Executive and Leadership Coaching at https://jimmyglenos.com/

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You’ve probably struggled at some point with the age-old enigma of time management. You’ve wrestled with the hours, but the hours always win. 

You know why? You’re fighting the wrong fight.

Time management is not finding a way to manage time. It is finding a way to manage discomfort – the discomfort of maintaining focus. Not tasks, not time, but focus!

Yeah, that’s right. I said it. You are not going to squeeze more out of your day by getting every little thing blocked out on your calendar with some fancy task scheduling software or manual time-blocking calendar. 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, Mr. Shortcut Man! Just two episodes ago you told me that time-blocking was the shortcut to improve my self-care routine and get more satisfaction out of my work and my life. And now you’re saying that won’t help. Are you kidding me?!”

Look, I’m not saying not to do your time-blocking routine each day. Please do. It’s important. What I am saying is that it is not the total solution to your time management woes. Time-blocking is just the start.

Full transcript can be found here: https://jimmyglenos.com/2024/11/04/time-management-is-pain-management/

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Hello, I'm Jimmy Glenos, the Life & Leadership Locksmith and welcome to Unlock the Shortcut.

Today we take a departure from my typical format because I want to share a great conversation I had with a new friend of mine, Max Palomeque. Max is an Air Force Veteran, FBI Veteran, author, public speaker, certified leadership coach. His new book, the Infourge Compendium of Models and Theories for Coaches, Facilitators, and Consultants is an amazing repository of frameworks, models, theories, tools, and techniques that spans industry relevant knowledge of Bias, Change Management, Culture, Decision-Making, Leadership Development, Problem-Solving, and Stress Management just to name a few. Seriously, it's all in here.

In our conversation, we discuss what it's like working for the FBI, the importance of situational leadership, and effective techniques when working with hostile or resistant clients.

A big dose of gratitude goes out to my good friend, Maureen Rudell, who introduced me to Max. Maureen is also an Air Force Veteran and leadership coach, and she is the Director of Coaching at Kaveo Leadership. Thank you, Maureen for this wonderful connection. I appreciate both of you. And now my conversation with Max Palomeque.

Learn more about Max Palomeque:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernando-palomeque-mba-03823848/
http://www.infourge.co/
[email protected]

Learn more about Maureen Rudell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenrudell/
https://www.kaveoleadership.com/

Learn more about Jimmy Glenos Executive and Leadership Coaching at https://jimmyglenos.com/

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When we think of self-care, most of us imagine spa days, yoga, meditation, or maybe a well-deserved vacation—anything to break away from the grind. But here’s the question you didn’t know you needed to ask: Could time-blocking actually be the most powerful form of self-care?

Even though we’ve all done it at some point, we don’t really enjoy time-blocking. And that’s probably because we don’t yet understand the full power of our greatest productivity tool -- the calendar.

Ah the calendar; that little grid we love (or more likely, hate) to fill with back-to-back meetings and never-ending deadlines.

It feels like the calendar is the ball and chain that keeps us tied to our desks. And to some extent it is, but here’s the surprising reality: using your calendar in the right way is the exact thing that gives you more freedom.

Seriously! It’s like a magic trick. You think it’s taking away your time, but instead, it gives you more of it. And when you have more time, you have more freedom.

If this all sounds confusing, let me explain.

Full transcript can be found here: https://jimmyglenos.com/2024/09/30/could-time-blocking-be-the-self-care-you-never-knew-you-needed/

Learn more about Executive and Leadership Coaching at https://jimmyglenos.com/

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Are you looking forward to going to work today? Or do you feel a sense of dread or stress just wishing you could do anything else but go to work?

It happens. Some days you’re ready to embrace the day, and other days you’re ready to race for the nearest exit. 

But what if you could find a way to embrace the day every day? Bring a little more fun into your life. What would that feel like? What could you achieve with that kind of mindset?

Probably anything you put your mind to, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet. Let’s go step by step through the shortcuts you’re going to need to bring a little more fun and enjoyment into your day.

Are you ready? Let’s get started.

Full transcript can be found here: https://jimmyglenos.com/2024/08/05/the-other-f-word/

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[Inhale ------ Exhale]

Go ahead. You do it too. Take a nice deep breath. Come on…you know you want to.

[Inhale ------ Exhale]

That’s it. Feels good, right?

Of course it does. You’re doing what comes naturally and easily with virtually no effort at all. Your body does this for you all day and all night automatically. Your brain keeps you alive and primed for peak performance via your breath. 

Don’t believe me? Consider this.

When you’re sleeping, your brain provides a nice smooth deep rhythm coaxing you to sleep and keeping you there in sweet slumber.

When you’re physically active and exerting a lot of effort, your brain kicks things up a notch or two and gets you breathing faster and deeper because your body needs the extra oxygen to help repair your muscles and fuel your vascular system with super rich blood.

When you’re frightened, scared, or surprised your brain triggers a quick, abrupt inhale quite unlike your normal or fatigued breathing. This quick inhale is critical to raising your alertness and awareness so your eyes get bigger and your senses become more acute.

And when you find yourself relieved from your fright, you let out a long, slow exhale. And that is because your brain now knows that all is well, and you will soon find yourself back in your normal, natural breathing rhythm.

The fascinating thing is you never have to tell your brain how to breathe. It just does it for you. It puts you in the best possible position to handle the task at hand. And it does it with the breath.

Now what if you could do that yourself? Put yourself in the best possible position for the task at hand? That would be pretty amazing, right?

Full transcript can be found here:https://jimmyglenos.com/2024/06/29/3-ways-to-use-breath-to-get-you-out-of-trouble/

Learn more about Executive and Leadership Coaching at https://jimmyglenos.com/

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