Unstuck with Jay Abbasi

In our last episode, we met Selena, a leader struggling with self-doubt and hesitancy to take bold action in her organization. Jay spoke with Kenston Henderson Sr. about how leaders can overcome these internal roadblocks and create cultures of confidence and psychological safety. In this solo episode, Jay breaks down what he calls natural programs—deeply ingrained mental patterns that hold us back from taking courageous action. Drawing from neuroscience and behavioral psychology, he identifies four primary programs: negative bias, the need for acceptance, the feeling of "never enough," and self-absorption. These patterns influence how we approach decisions, risks, and our own potential. To counteract these limiting programs, Jay shares seven actionable strategies to help you break free from self-sabotage and step into your full potential. From meditation and pattern interrupts to gratitude and acts of kindness, these tools will help you rewire your mindset and take bolder, more effective action in your career and life. If you’ve ever felt like your own worst enemy—hesitating, second-guessing, or playing small—this episode provides a clear roadmap to shift your thinking and move forward with confidence. Notable Quotes  "Our brains are wired to focus on the negative, but we don’t have to stay stuck in that pattern." — Jay Abbasi  "The need for acceptance is deeply ingrained in us, but true leadership comes from embracing your unique perspective." — Jay Abbasi "You perform at your best when you stop focusing on yourself and shift your attention to serving others." — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay AbbasiWebsite: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time In Monday’s episode, Jay introduces Laura, a professional who has lost her sense of fulfillment at work. Feeling drained and unmotivated, she’s been searching for ways to reignite her passion but isn’t sure where to start. Jay will be joined by Dean Craig, the Business Service Director at Wilmette Workforce Partnership and host of All in a Day’s Work, to explore how to rediscover purpose, shift perspectives, and build a career that feels meaningful again. If you’ve ever felt disengaged at work or struggled to find joy in your daily routine, don’t miss this insightful conversation. Stay inspired, stay resilient, and stay connected to what truly matters.

Meet Selena. As a senior leader, she’s passionate about transforming workplace culture, but self-doubt and resistance from her team keep her from fully stepping into her role. Despite her vision for change, she hesitates when it’s time to take action, questioning whether she truly has the influence to make an impact. In this episode, Jay is joined by Kenston Henderson Sr., a cultural transformation expert, TEDx speaker, and leadership coach who helps professionals develop resilience, build trust, and lead with confidence. Together, they explore how leaders like Selena can overcome imposter syndrome, create psychological safety, and foster an environment where people feel valued and empowered. Kenston shares his Game-Changer Mindset, a framework that equips leaders to reframe obstacles as opportunities, develop strong communication skills, and take decisive action. If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt or wanted to elevate your leadership presence, this episode is filled with actionable takeaways to help you unlock your full potential. Notable Quotes "Being a game-changer is about significantly impacting a situation, raising the level of skill and awareness in the people around you." — Kenston Henderson Sr. "You don’t have to have all the answers. You have to be open to growth, learning, and making mistakes along the way." — Kenston Henderson Sr. "Culture starts with leadership. If leaders are open to growth and development, they will create environments where people thrive." — Jay Abbasi About Our Guest Kenston Henderson Sr. is a keynote speaker, leadership coach, and workplace culture consultant. With a background in HR and corporate leadership, Kenston specializes in equipping leaders with the tools to create thriving, engaged workplaces where inclusion and resilience are at the core. Through his company, Live With Lyfe, he has helped organizations across industries transform their leadership approach and cultivate lasting impact. Resources and Links Kenston Henderson Sr.Website – https://livewithlyfe.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenstonlwl/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/livewithlyfe/ Facebook – https://facebook.com/LiveWithLyfe/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@LiveWithLyfe Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay will dive deeper into the hidden natural programs that drive imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and negative thought patterns. He’ll explore how to recognize these automatic scripts and share actionable strategies to override them, so you can build confidence and advocate for your ideas in high-demand environments. If you’ve ever struggled with feeling like a fraud or hesitated to speak up, this episode will give you the tools to shift your mindset and step fully into your potential. Don’t miss it! Stay inspired, stay resilient, and stay connected to what truly matters.

In our last episode, we met Noah, a collaborative leader struggling to assert himself and communicate with confidence. Jay was joined by Erdem Koch, an expert in communication, to explore how leaders can overcome self-doubt and speak with clarity and impact. They discussed the role of storytelling in effective leadership, setting the stage for today’s episode. In this solo episode, Jay introduces the SPEAR Model of Storytelling, a framework designed to help professionals craft compelling narratives that captivate and influence. Whether in public speaking, job interviews, or high-stakes meetings, storytelling is a crucial skill that can drive success. Jay breaks down the five key elements of the SPEAR model: Scene – Set the stage and immerse the audience in the experience. Problem – Introduce the challenge that creates tension and interest. Evaluate – Assess the situation and consider possible responses. Application – Take action and implement a solution. Result – Share the outcome and key learnings. Using personal experiences, Jay demonstrates how this framework helps structure stories that engage, persuade, and leave a lasting impact. He also shares essential storytelling principles, including the power of body language, tonality, and brevity. If you’ve ever struggled to articulate your ideas in a way that resonates, this episode provides actionable strategies to help you become a more confident and effective storyteller. Notable Quotes "The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller." — Steve Jobs "Great storytelling isn’t about remembering words; it’s about reliving experiences." — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time In our next episode, Jay introduces Selena, a nonprofit executive struggling with self-doubt and disengaged employees. He’s joined by Kenston Henderson Sr., a cultural transformation expert and TEDx speaker, to discuss how leaders can build confidence, cultivate trust, and create inclusive workplace cultures. Don’t miss this insightful conversation!

Meet Noah. In a high-stakes meeting, he finally speaks up with a transformative idea—only to be cut off before he can finish. The conversation moves on without him, leaving him frustrated and questioning why his voice goes unheard. This isn’t the first time he’s felt overlooked, and as he reflects later, he realizes he doesn’t know how to make others listen. In this episode, Jay is joined by Erdem Koch, a keynote speaker and communications coach who helps leaders like Noah build confidence and communicate like the top 1%. With over 20 years of experience in journalism, PR, and corporate communications, Erdem has transformed hesitant professionals into powerful communicators. Together, they explore how Noah can command attention, overcome self-doubt, and advocate for his ideas. Erdem shares practical strategies for handling interruptions, developing executive presence, and using storytelling to leave a lasting impact. If you’ve ever struggled to speak up, felt dismissed, or wanted to refine your communication skills, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to help you own the room. Notable Quotes "Top communicators don’t just share ideas—they take their audience on a journey." — Erdem Koch "Confidence isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about trusting the value you bring." — Erdem Koch "True confidence comes from shifting focus from yourself to the impact you make." — Jay Abbasi About Our Guest Erdem Koch is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and communications expert specializing in high-impact messaging. With a background in journalism and PR, he has worked with top executives worldwide to refine their storytelling, build presence, and lead with confidence. His mission is to help professionals break through self-doubt, command attention, and communicate like the top 1%. Resources and Links Erdem Koch Website: https://erdemkoch.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erdem-koch/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erdem.koch/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erdem.koch X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/erdem_koch?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@erdemkoch Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay will break down the SPEAR Model of Storytelling, a powerful framework to craft stories that captivate any audience. Whether you're in a boardroom or on stage, this episode will help you sharpen your storytelling skills. Stay inspired, stay resilient, and stay connected to what truly matters.

In our last episode, we met Lily, a senior VP at a software development company who found herself drowning in responsibilities and struggling with burnout. She felt trapped in a cycle of overwork, unable to set boundaries, and hesitant to delegate. Jay was joined by Becky Wolfe, a leadership consultant and burnout prevention expert, who shared insights on self-efficacy—the ability to recognize and communicate your needs to prevent burnout while maintaining high performance. In this solo episode, Jay explores conscious leadership and three essential principles that define truly impactful leaders. Drawing from his experiences at Tesla and coaching leaders at organizations like Amazon, Google, and TikTok, Jay shares practical strategies to help leaders build trust, foster collaboration, and navigate challenges with clarity—without falling into the traps of micromanagement or burnout. He breaks down the mindset shifts necessary to lead with confidence, make better decisions, and cultivate a team that thrives under strong yet compassionate leadership. If you’ve ever struggled with balancing authority and empathy, this episode will provide actionable takeaways to elevate your leadership. Notable Quotes "Leadership isn’t about being right—it’s about getting it right." — Jay Abbasi "A strong leader balances empathy with accountability." — Jay Abbasi "Assuming positive intent allows you to lead with clarity and fairness." — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay AbbasiWebsite: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time In our next episode, Jay introduces Noah, an HR executive who struggles to gain buy-in for his ideas and lacks confidence in presenting them to senior leadership. Jay is joined by Erdem Koch, an international keynote speaker and communications coach, who helps leaders develop executive presence and unshakable confidence. If you’ve ever felt like your voice isn’t being heard, you won’t want to miss this episode. Stay inspired, stay resilient, and stay connected, my friends.

Meet Lily. It’s nearly 9 p.m., and she’s still at her desk, drowning in reports and unread emails. The office is empty, but she keeps pushing through. Her phone buzzes—a text from her husband: Heading to bed. Miss you. Let’s catch up tomorrow? Guilt creeps in, but she brushes it aside. There’s always more to do. As a senior VP at a software company, Lily’s workload is relentless. She thrives under pressure, but lately, exhaustion has replaced excitement. Her team looks to her for answers, but she struggles to delegate. At home, she feels disconnected, too drained to be present with her family. She knows something has to change but doesn’t know where to start. In this episode, Jay is joined by Becky Wolfe, a leadership consultant and burnout prevention expert, to explore the power of self-efficacy—the ability to recognize, communicate, and act on what you need to perform at your best. Becky shares practical strategies to set boundaries, build resilience, and create a culture where leaders and teams thrive. If you’ve ever felt stretched too thin or stuck in overwork, this conversation will help you take back control and create a healthier, more sustainable way to lead. Notable Quotes "Burnout isn't just about work—it’s about a misalignment between what we value and how we live." — Becky Wolfe  "Leaders who feel responsible for everything often end up preventing their teams from growing." — Becky Wolfe  "Psychological safety allows us to stop focusing on self-preservation and start thinking about others." — Jay Abbasi About Our Guest Becky Wolfe is a leadership consultant, executive coach, and burnout prevention expert. With a background in healthcare and cardiology, she transitioned into coaching after witnessing burnout’s impact on professionals in high-pressure industries. She specializes in helping leaders build high-functioning teams, foster resilience, and maintain personal well-being, ensuring long-term success without overextending themselves. Resources and Links Becky Wolfe  Website: https://beckywolfe.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-wolfe-coach/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckywolfecoaching/ Jay Abbasi  Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay will dive into three principles of conscious leadership—a framework that helps leaders operate with clarity, integrity, and purpose. He’ll share strategies from his time at Tesla, his research on leadership, and his experience coaching leaders across industries. If you want to lead with confidence while maintaining work-life balance, you won’t want to miss this episode. Stay inspired, stay resilient, and stay connected to what truly matters.

In our last episode, we met Ravi, a father, husband, and professional who felt stretched thin between work and home. He struggled with prioritization, time management, and being heard in the workplace. Leadership coach and podcast host Ryan Hartley joined Jay to explore how Ravi could step into his full potential and lead with confidence. That conversation sparked an important realization—one of the most powerful tools any leader can develop is the ability to ask great questions. In this episode, Jay breaks down some of the most effective coaching questions he has used throughout his career, drawing from his time at Tesla and his years of studying leadership and coaching. If you want to become a better coach, mentor, or leader, this episode provides a toolkit of insightful questions that can help you unlock the brilliance within those you support. Whether you're guiding a team, coaching an individual, or even looking for clarity in your own life, these questions will elevate your leadership. Notable Quotes "Leadership isn’t about answering questions—it’s about helping others answer their own." — Jay Abbasi "People already have the answers within them. Our job is to hold up a mirror at different angles so they can see it for themselves." — Jay Abbasi "The quality of your leadership is determined by the quality of the questions you ask." — Jay Abbasi Key Takeaways Jay shares a range of coaching questions categorized for different leadership moments: ✅ Opening Up – “What’s on your mind?” ✅ Goal-Oriented – “What do you want?” “What does success look like?” ✅ Overcoming Obstacles – “What’s missing?” “What’s holding you back?” ✅ Expanding Options – “What are your options?” “How else could you look at this?” ✅ Next Steps & Accountability – “What’s the next step?” “How would you like to be held accountable?” ✅ The Most Powerful Question – “What else?” If you're looking to enhance your leadership skills, help others navigate challenges, and drive meaningful conversations, these questions will be invaluable tools. Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time In our next episode, you’ll meet Lily, a senior VP at a software company struggling with boundaries and burnout. She feels responsible for her team’s workload but is losing control of her time and personal well-being. Jay sits down with leadership consultant and burnout prevention expert Becky Wolf to explore strategies for setting boundaries, finding balance, and thriving in both work and life. Stay curious, stay intentional, and keep leading with purpose.

Meet Ravi. It's Wednesday evening, and he stands in his garage, holding a basketball as his kids laugh outside. His phone vibrates on the workbench, lighting up with unread emails. Torn between family and work, he sighs, sets the ball down, and picks up his phone. As a senior manager at a leading electric vehicle manufacturer, Ravi is highly respected for his intelligence and dependability. But inside, he struggles with self-doubt and a lack of connection with his team. His soft-spoken nature keeps him from taking the spotlight, leaving him feeling unseen. At home, the weight of unfinished tasks lingers, shadowing his moments of joy. In this episode, Jay is joined by Ryan Hartley, the UK's leading heart-centered leadership coach and host of the globally successful Always Better Than Yesterday podcast. With listeners in over 150 countries, Ryan’s insights have transformed leaders and organizations worldwide. Together, they dive into Ravi’s challenges, exploring how to cultivate authentic leadership, inspire trust, and build deeper connections. Ryan shares the importance of leading from wholeness rather than seeking validation, the power of expanding the space between stimulus and response, and how leaders can create environments where teams feel valued and empowered. This conversation is packed with powerful takeaways for leaders looking to move beyond transactional leadership and into meaningful, purpose-driven impact. If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, leadership authenticity, or balancing work and personal commitments, this episode will help you step into your full potential. Notable Quotes "Leadership is a verb—it’s love in action." — Ryan Hartley "Lead with love, not for love. When you lead for love, you're trying to fill a hole. When you lead with love, you're expressing wholeness." — Ryan Hartley "Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our power to choose." — Jay Abbasi About Our Guest Ryan Hartley is a heart-centered leadership coach, keynote speaker, and host of the Always Better Than Yesterday podcast, which has reached listeners in over 150 countries. With a mission to empower leaders to lead with love, courage, and authenticity, Ryan has built a global movement focused on heart-led leadership. His coaching helps individuals and teams unlock their full potential by integrating values-driven leadership principles. Through his work, Ryan continues to inspire leaders to build workplaces and communities where people feel seen, valued, and connected. Resources and Links Ryan Hartley Website: https://abty.co.uk Podcast: Always Better Than Yesterday (Available on all podcast platforms) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alwaysbetterthanyesterdayuk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPc-D6NKoZbM_TxmmnFGckQ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanhartleyabty/ Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay will share a list of his most powerful coaching questions—the ones that spark real breakthroughs and transformation. Whether you're a leader, coach, or someone looking to deepen your conversations, this episode will give you practical tools to help people think, reflect, and take action.

Time is the most valuable resource, yet so much of what fills the day isn’t necessary. Between distractions, unnecessary obligations, and misplaced urgency, energy is often spent on things that don’t truly matter. In the last episode, you met Sandy, who felt stuck in a career that lacked meaning. Jay sat down with David Marlow, the Ikigai Guy, to explore how purpose is uncovered by eliminating what no longer serves. Building on that conversation, this episode focuses on how to remove the clutter, eliminate unnecessary tasks, and ensure that energy is directed toward what truly moves the needle in life and work. Jay shares a simple framework to take inventory of how time is spent, along with a four-step process to reclaim control over daily priorities. For those who have ever felt overwhelmed, constantly busy but not productive, or trapped in tasks that don’t contribute to real progress, this episode provides practical strategies to break free. Notable Quotes "Most of what we say and do is unnecessary. Remove the superfluity, and you will have more time and less bother." — Marcus Aurelius "80% of our activities are not producing the result—only 20% is. So what we have to do is take inventory and start cutting the excess." — Jay Abbasi "Ask yourself daily: What can I eliminate, delegate, automate, or simplify?" — Jay Abbasi Key Takeaways Take Inventory: Identify what is necessary, what is urgent, and what is truly important. Cut the Excess: Eliminate, delegate, automate, or simplify tasks that don’t align with priorities. Daily Reflection: Spend 5–10 minutes each day reviewing how time was spent and setting intentions for the next day. Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time In the next episode, listeners will meet Ravi, a senior manager at a leading electric vehicle manufacturer in Northern California. As a leader, he struggles to balance work and family while inspiring his team. Jay sits down with Ryan Hartley, the UK’s leading heart-centered leadership coach, to discuss how Ravi can lead with authenticity and connection while staying present for the people who matter most. Until next time, stay intentional, stay focused, and take back control of your time.

Meet Sandy. She sits on the edge of her sofa, laptop perched beside her, as her daughter, Emily, looks on with eager anticipation. Emily, fresh out of college, asks, "How did you figure out what you wanted to do in your career?" Sandy hesitates. As a VP at a financial services company, she’s outwardly successful but feels disconnected from purpose. Her work feels like a series of checkboxes, leaving her unfulfilled and longing for change. In this episode, Jay is joined by David Marlow, a globally recognized keynote speaker and author of The Ikigai Way: A Simple Path for Living a Life of Purpose. David shares insights about finding and living your Ikigai—your life’s purpose—and breaking free from self-doubt and limiting beliefs. Together, they explore Sandy’s challenges and discuss actionable strategies for discovering meaning, aligning daily actions with core values, and creating a balanced, purpose-driven life. David explains how Ikigai goes beyond career aspirations to encompass every aspect of life. He shares powerful examples, including his own journey of transitioning from a corporate leader to a purpose-driven author and mentor. This conversation is packed with inspiration and tools to help anyone seeking clarity and alignment in their personal and professional life. If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your work or unsure of your purpose, this episode offers a fresh perspective on uncovering what truly drives you. Notable Quotes “Your Ikigai isn’t something you find—it’s something you uncover.” — David Marlow “Life’s purpose isn’t tied to a job or title; it’s expressed in everything you do.” — David Marlow “It’s never too late to be who you were always meant to be.” — Jay Abbasi About Our Guest David Marlow is a keynote speaker, coach, and the author of The Ikigai Way: A Simple Path for Living a Life of Purpose. With over 30 years of experience as a corporate leader and executive, David now helps individuals uncover their Ikigai and align their lives with purpose. His work blends Japanese philosophy, practical insights, and humor to inspire people worldwide to lead more meaningful lives. David’s teachings focus on authenticity, resilience, and living intentionally in all areas of life. Resources and Links David Marlow The Ikigai Way (Pre-Order): https://a.co/d/9IygIsN Website: https://ikiquest.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidemarlow/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Yp9YHYNAJ/ X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/theikigaiguy Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay dives deeper into how to remove the clutter and free yourself up to spend time doing what’s most impactful and meaningful. Discover how “removing the unnecessary” creates lasting change in your personal and professional life. Don’t miss this inspiring episode!