Success 2.0 CJ McClanahan, Speaker, Author, Recovering Overachiever

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.