Time to Reset

Penny Zenker
  • 5.0 (129)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

In a world full of challenges, complexity, and distractions, Time to Reset is your guide to tackling any obstacle with clarity, focus, and a fresh perspective. Join your host, 2 times #1 best-selling author and international keynote speaker, Penny Zenker. Each episode offers actionable strategies, inspiring stories, and practical insights for time management tips, innovation strategies, leadership lessons, problem-solving, business growth, and more. Take this Time to Reset.

  1. 3d ago

    Are You Addicted to Distraction? How to Take Back Your Focus

    Are you addicted to distraction? Do you constantly check your phone, struggle to stay focused, or feel like your attention is no longer under your control? In this solo episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker explores why we're becoming addicted to distraction, how our phones are shaping our habits, and what it takes to regain control of our attention. Penny shares a personal story about reaching for her phone during a funeral, an experience that made her question just how deeply connected we've become to our devices. From phantom phone vibrations to the constant urge to check notifications, distraction has become more than an occasional interruption. It's a habit that can affect our productivity, creativity, relationships, and well-being. But here's the reset: We have more control over our distractions than we think. In this episode, discover why distraction can become a self-reinforcing habit, how to recognize when your phone is controlling your attention, and why taking ownership of your focus is the first step toward meaningful change. Penny challenges you to stop simply reacting to distractions and start intentionally directing your energy toward the people, priorities, and goals that matter most. Ready to find out what's stealing your focus? Take Penny's free Distraction Profile Assessment to discover your distraction habits and identify practical skills to strengthen your focus in just 5–10 minutes a day. https://pennyzperspective.com/distraction It's time to stop letting distractions run your day. Take back your focus, take back your time, and reset what matters most. About Penny Zenker: Penny Zenker is the host of Time to Reset, where she explores the Reset Mindset, helping leaders and professionals step back, gain perspective, and realign their focus to achieve more meaningful results. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    Are You Addicted to Distraction? How to Take Back Your Focus

  2. Oct 9

    Staying Calm Under Pressure: Leadership Tools With Sara Wegwitz

    What happens to your leadership when the pressure rises? When emotions run high, personalities collide, or uncertainty takes over, people look to the leader for cues about how to respond. And as resilience educator and leadership facilitator Sara Wegwitz explains, calm is contagious. In this episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker and Sara explore how leaders can stay calm under pressure, regulate their emotional state, and create the steadiness their teams need to think clearly and respond effectively. You'll discover why your emotional state can influence a room before you say a word, how to become the "thermostat instead of the thermometer," and simple techniques for staying grounded when tension starts to rise. You'll learn: Why calm leadership matters in high-pressure and uncertain environmentsHow a leader's emotional state affects team communication, trust, and decision-makingWhat it means to "observe, don't absorb"How to create space between stimulus and responseSimple techniques to regulate your nervous system in stressful momentsWhy calm is a skill you can practice, not a personality trait you're born with You don't need the perfect words or all the answers to lead effectively through a difficult moment. Sometimes the most powerful reset is simply learning how to steady yourself first. Because when you change the energy you bring into the room, you can change what happens next. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    Staying Calm Under Pressure: Leadership Tools With Sara Wegwitz

  3. Oct 2

    Burnout Isn’t Just About Workload: 3 Warning Signs You Need a Reset

    What if burnout isn’t simply a workload problem? We often blame burnout on too much work, constant change, AI, limited resources, or the pressure to do more with less. But in this solo episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker challenges that assumption and explores why some people can move through periods of intense demand while others become overwhelmed, exhausted, and disengaged. Penny shares three warning signs that can show up before burnout begins affecting your performance: everything starts to feel urgent, simple tasks begin requiring more effort, and your focus becomes so narrow that you lose sight of the bigger picture. The problem may not always be how much you’re doing. It may be how long you’re going without the reset and recovery your brain and body need. You'll learn how chronic urgency can flatten priorities, why overwhelm makes even simple work feel harder, how stress can narrow your thinking, and why noticing these patterns sooner gives you more opportunity to adapt before exhaustion takes over. Penny also shares practical ways to interrupt the cycle, including small reset moments that can help release accumulated stress, restore clarity, and allow you to approach problems with fresh eyes. If you're experiencing burnout, cognitive overload, change fatigue, or constant overwhelm, this episode offers a different question to consider: Do you need less work, or do you need to reset and recover differently? It’s time to notice sooner, reset sooner, and create the clarity you need to focus on what matters most. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    Burnout Isn’t Just About Workload: 3 Warning Signs You Need a Reset

  4. Sep 25

    Why Redefining Success Is The Key To Burnout Prevention With Meghan French Dunbar

    What if the definition of success you’ve been chasing isn’t actually yours? For many high achievers, success becomes a never-ending pursuit of the next promotion, bigger goal, higher income, or greater recognition. But when achievement starts costing you your health, relationships, time, and joy, it may be time to question the rules you’ve been following. In this episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker sits down with bestselling author, business anthropologist, and leadership and culture strategist Meghan French Dunbar, author of This Isn’t Working, to explore how to redefine success, prevent burnout, set healthier boundaries, and build a life and career aligned with your values. Meghan challenges the traditional “bigger is better” definition of success and explains why high achievers can find themselves trapped on a hamster wheel of KPIs, promotions, revenue goals, and external validation. The problem isn’t ambition itself. It’s when your identity and self-worth become so connected to achievement that you stop asking whether the life you’re building is actually the life you want. Penny and Meghan explore what it means to reset your definition of success by optimizing for quality of life instead of quantity of achievement. In this conversation, you’ll discover: How to redefine success on your own termsWhy high achievers are especially vulnerable to burnout and overwhelmHow values alignment affects your work, wellbeing, and decision-makingWhy your career should not determine your entire sense of self-worthHow to create an “ideal life statement” that guides your choicesWhen saying no can protect what matters mostHow to set healthier boundaries at work and in your personal lifeWhy it may be time to “unsubscribe” from obligations, relationships, and beliefs that drain your energyHow to reconnect with joy without feeling guilty about it Meghan shares the powerful practice of creating an ideal life statement: deciding what you want your life to look and feel like first, then making career and financial decisions that support it. Rather than waiting until retirement to finally live the life you want, what could you change now? Penny also shares a personal example of accepting a career opportunity just before her son’s graduation, then realizing the decision conflicted with the person and parent she wanted to be. It became a real-life reminder that success isn’t only about what you achieve. It’s also about whether your choices reflect what you say matters most. If you’re feeling burned out, overwhelmed, stuck in the achievement cycle, or questioning your relationship with work, this episode is an invitation to reset. Ask yourself: What does success actually mean to me now? Because sometimes the most important reset isn’t doing more to reach the next level. It’s deciding whether that’s where you want to go in the first place. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    Why Redefining Success Is The Key To Burnout Prevention With Meghan French Dunbar

  5. Sep 18

    Are We Really Connected?

    We’re more connected than ever. We have followers, downloads, views, emails, messages, and endless ways to reach one another. But are those connections actually meaningful? In this solo episode of Take Back Time: Time to Reset, Penny Zenker reflects on a question she’s been asking herself about the podcast: Is it still creating the kind of connection and value she wants it to create? It’s a question that goes far beyond podcasting. Sometimes we get so focused on doing the work, producing the content, checking the boxes, and watching the numbers that we lose sight of the people on the other side. We forget to ask: Who am I doing this for? Is it creating value? And does it still feel meaningful? Penny explores why connection matters, how easily we can lose sight of the bigger picture, and why sometimes the reset isn’t about stopping what we’re doing. It’s about stepping back and reconsidering how we’re doing it. And this episode comes with an invitation: reach out. If Time to Reset has sparked an aha, helped you see something differently, or given you a reset when you needed one, Penny wants to hear from you. What do you value? What do you want more of? What keeps you listening? Because meaningful connection isn’t measured by a download. It happens when we actually engage with one another. Maybe it’s time for all of us to ask: Where could I reach out, reconnect, and make the work I’m doing more meaningful? Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    Are We Really Connected?

  6. Sep 11

    Aligning Executive Leadership For Operational Excellence With John J. Murphy

    Your team can be productive, efficient, and incredibly busy—and still be focused on the wrong things. In this episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker sits down with John J. Murphy, global authority on change mastery, operational excellence, and leadership, to explore why leadership alignment is essential for sustainable business performance. John explains why many organizations mistake symptoms for root causes, how individual departments can become highly efficient while the overall business remains inefficient, and why leaders need to stop measuring activity and start examining the entire value stream. As John puts it, a leadership team is like an orchestra: everyone may know how to play their own instrument, but that doesn’t mean they know how to play together. Penny and John unpack lean leadership principles, operational excellence, root cause analysis, customer value, organizational alignment, and the hidden “white space” where time and resources are often wasted. They also explore why standardization can actually create greater flexibility and how the same principle of controlling your inputs applies to today’s use of AI. You’ll discover: Why executive alignment has to come before organizational changeHow to distinguish symptoms from the real root cause of a problemWhy being busy doesn’t necessarily mean you’re creating valueHow departmental efficiency can actually hurt overall performanceWhy leaders need humility to recognize what isn’t workingHow lean thinking helps organizations eliminate waste and improve flowWhy controlling inputs can produce better outputs in business and AIHow to refocus your organization on what creates real value for the customer John also shares a striking real-world example of executives discovering that a process taking 184 days contained surprisingly little actual value-added activity—revealing just how much opportunity can exist in the space between the work. If your organization is working harder but not necessarily moving faster, this conversation will challenge you to rethink focus, efficiency, alignment, and what “productive” really means. It may be time to stop asking, “How can we do this faster?” and start asking, “Should we be doing this at all?” Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    Aligning Executive Leadership For Operational Excellence With John J. Murphy

  7. Sep 4

    Stop Deflecting Compliments: Learn to Receive

    Why is it so hard to simply accept a compliment? Someone tells you that you did a great job, that you look great, or that they appreciate you, and suddenly you're explaining it away, minimizing it, or deflecting the attention. In this short episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker explores why learning to receive can be just as important as learning to give. A compliment is a gift. When we immediately deflect it, we may be missing an opportunity to receive appreciation, recognition, support, and connection. And as leaders, parents, colleagues, and partners, the way we receive also sets an example for the people around us. Penny shares a simple story about accepting compliments that recently came full circle with her own mother, along with a powerful reminder: sometimes the best response really is just “thank you.” In this episode, you'll discover: Why we instinctively deflect or minimize complimentsHow receiving appreciation can strengthen connectionWhy the way leaders receive mattersHow accepting support, recognition, and even difficult emotions can shift your mindsetA simple reset to help you become a better receiverThe next time someone offers you a compliment, recognition, gratitude, or support, notice what happens. Instead of explaining it away, practice receiving the gift. Just say thank you. It might be a much bigger reset than you think. #TimeToReset #PennyZenker #ResetMindset #LeadershipMindset #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    Stop Deflecting Compliments: Learn to Receive

  8. Aug 28

    The Psychology Of Leadership: Why Top Leaders Choose Mastery Over Results With Sébastien Page

    What separates exceptional leaders from everyone else? It's not talent. It's not intelligence. And it's not working harder. In this episode of Time to Reset, Penny Zenker sits down with Sébastien Page, Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price and author of The Psychology of Leadership, to explore the mental habits that help leaders thrive under pressure. Together they unpack why the most successful leaders focus on mastery over ego, why resilience is built through setbacks—not avoiding them—and how a psychology-first approach creates stronger teams, better decisions, and long-term success. You'll also discover why leaders need more than measurable goals, how AI changes what leaders should prioritize, and why meaning—not metrics alone—is the key to engagement. In this episode: The difference between mastery goals and performance goalsWhy resilience starts with your mindset—not your circumstancesHow positive psychology differs from toxic positivityThe leadership psychology behind high-performing teamsWhy focusing on process leads to better resultsHow AI is changing effective leadershipThe hidden danger of goal-induced blindnessWhy meaning drives motivation more than metrics Whether you're leading a business, managing a team, or simply trying to become a better decision-maker, this conversation will help you build the mindset needed to succeed in today's rapidly changing world. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Time to Reset for more conversations on leadership, focus, productivity, communication, and navigating change with clarity. Connect with Sébastien Page 📘 The Psychology of Leadership Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://pennyzenker360.com/positive-productivity-podcast/

    The Psychology Of Leadership: Why Top Leaders Choose Mastery Over Results With Sébastien Page
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5
out of 5
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About

In a world full of challenges, complexity, and distractions, Time to Reset is your guide to tackling any obstacle with clarity, focus, and a fresh perspective. Join your host, 2 times #1 best-selling author and international keynote speaker, Penny Zenker. Each episode offers actionable strategies, inspiring stories, and practical insights for time management tips, innovation strategies, leadership lessons, problem-solving, business growth, and more. Take this Time to Reset.

Information

  • Creator
    Penny Zenker
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    389
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2018-2026 – Penny Zenker | Tug of War with Time Podcast | Smart Moves Coaching, LLC – All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Time to Reset

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