Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

McKay explores the profound truth that our lives are shaped by our choices in this latest instalment of the Open Your Eyes podcast. From celebrity comebacks to devastating wildfires and artistic dedication, he illustrates how embracing "everything is a choice" empowers us to move beyond circumstance, take responsibility, and consciously design a life of purpose and fulfillment.Illustrating the real-world impact of decisions, our host draws upon such examples as a California wildfire, where proactive choices saved homes, and a professor's financial advice leading to debt-free living. He highlights the disciplined choices of artists like Picasso and Julie Andrews, alongside the compounding power of small daily actions. Stories of Suze Orman turning disaster into success and Ruth Pfau dedicating her life to service after a pivotal decision underscore how conscious choices redefine our paths. In essence, McKay encourages listeners to recognize their agency, define who they want to become, and use the power of choice to steer their lives intentionally.Main Themes:"Everything is a choice" as a core empowering principle.Small, consistent choices compound over time.Taking 100% responsibility for actions and outcomes.Defining who you become is crucial.Discipline can create freedom.Proactive decisions prevent disaster and build success.The "trim tab" effect: small choices steer life's direction.Pivotal choices can redefine a life's path.Top 10 Quotes:"We get to choose to live the life we have.""The world gets out of the way for people who know what they want and where they're going.""Every disciplined effort has its own multiple reward.""The choices we consistently make have a compounding effect on our life.""Little, everyday decisions will either take you to the life you desire or disaster.""The day you graduate from childhood to adulthood is the day you take full responsibility for your life.""Some people regard discipline as a chore. For me, it's a kind of order that sets me free."Show Links:Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

In today’s very special episode of Open Your Eyes, McKay explores personal branding's impact, showing how shaping your narrative fosters growth. Inspired by Mother Teresa's legacy, our host stresses that individuals are now their own powerful brands, as he discusses purpose, authenticity, and strategically building reputation for influence and fulfillment.Throughout the episode, McKay shares insights from his career and academia, noting personal brands combine attributes, actions, and value communication. He goes on to explain that others' perception is key - people connect with the individual, making a defined brand vital for success. His stories of "Blue Collar Discipline" Jordan and Coach Knight show how living a defined brand unlocks potential and inspires. Overall, McKay concludes that consciously building your brand is about becoming, not just achieving.Main Themes:Understanding personal branding as the intentional shaping of your reputation and narrative.The power of aligning your actions and life with a defined promise or purpose, as exemplified by Mother Teresa.Recognizing that individuals are the new brands, and your personal story has immense value.The importance of self-awareness in identifying your unique attributes, skills, and values for brand building.How consistent, authentic communication and action contribute to a strong personal brand.Learning that people "buy into you" before they buy into your product, service, or idea.Practical steps for defining your brand, including self-audits and creating a personal narrative.The lasting impact of a strong personal brand on personal growth, influence, and legacy.Top 10 Quotes:"When we can see things and ourselves as they really are, we can gain tremendous power to do and be more than otherwise possible.""In the world today, brands are less and less logos or slogans. They're stories, values, and experiences that people emotionally connect with. And now, more than ever, people are the brand.""We're all making a brand with our life and work, whether we're doing it on purpose or not.""You have to realize that people buy into you before they buy into your product.""Your personal brand is the perception others have of you. How you're seen, remembered, and yes, even talked about.""Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room.""Every effort you expend in trying to become someone better, someone of excellence, has a multiplier effect on your life.""Who you become is infinitely more important than what you do or what you have.""You are of more value than your past performance. You're greater than your habits.""Make a better person of yourself and the result will be a better nation and a finer world to live in."Show Links:Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

This week, McKay talks about aspects of the culture effect, including creating culture, maintaining it, and how to rescue it. He opens up with a story detailing Tonga’s devastating volcanic eruption and how the Tongan culture, which values respect and open-mindedness, helped the people weather the storm. McKay notes that, when teams or families have a strong culture, they will thrive and prosper, but, on the other hand, when culture is weak, it can destroy your team and everything you’re working for. McKay also emphasizes that, as leaders, we have the opportunity to influence and shape the culture that drives us, and goes on to share that, to do so, we must learn to value feedback. So, make sure that you are slow to speak and quick to listen when it comes to creating a culture and values. Likewise, an influential leader will lead by example, sharing and modeling the values by which they hope their team will abide. McKay draws this episode to a close with one final piece of advice: be careful who you let join your team. All it takes is one person to totally alter your culture, so protect it and you will protect your team as well.The Finer Details of This Episode:Tonga’s devastating volcanic eruption The fall of IBM Defining culture Influencing culture The importance of feedback Sharing and modeling values Why mid level managers create cultureQuotes:"Tongans look out for each other and respect others. Many Tongans may avoid outward signs of wealth or affection. They dress in modest ways, and they're highly receptive to other people's opinion and behavior.”“Culture can guide a team, lead a company to thrive and prosper, or culture can, like toxic ash, choke a team and cause companies to fail, or fall.”“Most leaders don't understand culture and they don't know how to diagnose or influence it.”“Culture can help teams be more agile, loyal and effective… Culture can also be a significant liability when it's misaligned with your strategy or values. And it doesn't matter how dysfunctional your culture may be on your team today, you can improve it with a plan and intentional effort.”“So, like the researchers in Roseto, you may have to set up camp for a while on your team, maybe even in your family - watch, listen, and observe. See if you can uncover some of the cultural behaviors and assumptions that your team members have.”“You see, some leaders stopped showing up for the small things. And the result? Their people do the same. What you do duplicates, so if you want to change the culture on your team, model the behavior.”“Hire and recruit people who exemplify what culture you're trying to create. And over time, these managers will influence your entire team. So be very selective about the people you let influence your team.”“Listen, learn, and determine where your culture is today to define the mission and values that will underpin your future culture.”Links: Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

Delve into the journey of Elizabeth Smart, exploring resilience and the pursuit of happiness despite trauma. Discover how our choices and upbringing shape happiness, with insights into the surprising role of genetics. Learn how intentional actions, gratitude, and relationships enhance joy in daily life. The importance of serving others and maintaining humility reveals deeper connections to contentment. This uplifting discussion encourages finding joy in the little things and staying poised in tough situations.

This week, McKay talks about how to speak so people listen. He opens up the episode with the story of Ronald Reagan’s powerful speech to D-Day veterans at Pointe du Hoc.  Great speakers, McKay says, ask questions to connect with the audience and help them feel like the message is for them. To remember and map their speech, good speakers break their speech down into manageable chunks, each with important points to get across.  By using chunks, speakers can teach instead of memorizing their lines verbatim. Most importantly though, McKay holds that the key to speaking so that people listen is knowing your strengths and weaknesses.  Then, seek to magnify your strengths.  It’s your strengths that make your speaking memorable.He goes on to note that, when we try to mimic someone else’s style by playing to their strengths instead of our own, we come off as fake. That’s why McKay says it’s so important to share personal stories; the more an audience relates to you, the more they will listen to you. McKay also shares some speech 'don’ts' - such as using too many jokes to too much focus on the speaker. He draws this episode to a close by sending a heartfelt message to his friend Austin who has recently embarked on a public speaking journey of his own and encouraging all of us to learn a bit more how to speak so people listen.

What makes a speech remarkable and memorable? McKay answers this question in today’s episode as he brings to light examples of great speeches and teaches us how to improve our speaking skills. In order to connect with your audience, McKay explains that you have to focus on your audience, prime them to think in the same mindset, use stories to carry them along, and ask questions.The episode begins with the story of Abraham’s Lincoln speech, a short speech that inspired many and continues to do so to this day. McKay explains how Lincoln makes use of repetition and constraint in his speech and how he recognized his physical surroundings and atmosphere, giving more power to his speech. Mckay gives a step-by-step approach on how to become a better speaker by connecting more fully with your audience and making your speech less about you and more about your listener.The Finer Details of This Episode:Abraham Lincoln’s speech at Gettysburg Using repetition and contrast in speeches How to become a better speaker You have to focus on your audience and connect with them The story behind “I Have A Dream” Starting your speech by priming the listeners The different examples of priming Priming with stories and jokes The power of asking your audience questionsQuotes:“Great orators, when giving a speech, seek a cadence, a feeling, by their use of words.”“Great speaking is a developed talent.”“Too often, we don't consider the place or the audience. And so many speakers come at it from their own point of view, or make it about themselves. And this gets in the way, it prevents the listeners from fully engaging.”“Pay attention to where you sit. Sit where you can easily make contact with the listeners. Eye contact makes all the difference. ”“In the beginning of a presentation, you need to prime the listeners a bit so that they can follow you more intently. Priming brings the listener’s mind into your mindset and gets everyone on the same track.”“Too often, I hear speakers tell personal stories, and they're focused on sharing the story like an overzealous friend who just returned from vacation and wants to show you their vacation pictures. And they share every single exhausting detail about themselves.”“Priming is a useful skill in all of your speaking. And when you learn to prime well, you can elevate your effectiveness.”Show Links:Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

On today’s episode, McKay talks about how to turn the skeptics and critics in your life to supporters and partners.  He shares several principles that can help bring skeptics to your way of thinking.  First, approach everything from their frame of reference. Often the smartest person in the room tends to be the quietest one, because they first seek to understand.  He goes on to talk about the importance of speaking with authenticity.   McKay shares the experience of Nelson Mandela who used the power of helping others feel validated to prevail in one of the most significant negotiations of all time.  McKay then talks of how parents and people can use trust to influence the skeptics and critics in their life. McKay then shares the tactics of Robert Cialdini to develop more influence with people in our life. These tactics include reciprocity, explaining why, contrasting, and social proof. So, put these skills to test when dealing with the skeptics or critics in your life.  They will help you win them over to your way of thinking.The Finer Details of This Episode: Shania Twain’s vocal cords infected by ticksTicks as a metaphor for skeptics The importance of listening Using trust to win over skepticsThe power of authenticityValuing others’ opinionsNelson Mandela’s quest for equality and freedomPracticing what you preachThe rule of reciprocityQuotes: “​​Turning skeptics into believers, and critics into partners can be done. And learning the skill to do that is not only useful in sales and business, but also with kids, spouses, and a host of other people in our life.”“When I'm talking to a skeptic, I don't always know how to bring them to my side, but after listening often, that way to bring them over is revealed to me. It's in listening that you gain your inspiration of how to persuade them.”“People who ask questions are often the smartest in the room, because they have the humility to ask about what they don't know.”“Next, winning the skeptics, critics, or other ticks to your side is a matter of trust. And trust is a function of two characteristics: character and competence. You may have someone with extreme character on your team, but if they're not competent, you don't trust them to do what needs to be done.”“So answer questions directly and genuinely. And remember, rapport is not enough to bring skeptics to your side.”“You see, Mandela understood that to get the people with the guns to give up the power, he had to convince them that they would be safe after doing so.”“​​When people know why you're building a business or your children understand why there is a rule, they're much more apt to comply.”“Remember, shut up and listen. Use questions to guide the direction of the discussion but make sure the skeptics and critics feel understood. Then talk to them in their language and from their point of view.”Links:Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

On today’s episode of Open Your Eyes, McKay talks about getting over obstacles or mistakes in your life.  More often than not, we find ourselves looking to the past and focusing on what we could have done differently or better.  McKay argues this is harmful behavior.  The only true way to overcome the past is to accept where you are, see your current circumstance as a blessing, and look towards the future. McKay illustrates the power of leaving the past behind in his story of a skydiver’s accident that rendered her less capable of walking.  He notes that Emma could go on to live her life with an immense sense of regret or she could forgive herself, acknowledge the past, and put her energy towards writing the rest of her story.  Where you put your focus in life is where you will go.  So if you’re constantly looking back, you will stay there, but if you look forward, you will move onward and upward.  It’s why McKay talks so much about the importance of healthy thought patterns.  He draws this episode to a close on an uplifting note:  when we look ahead and develop a positive mindset, we take control over our own destinies, so make peace with who you are and what you’ve done, and move on. The Finer Details of This Episode: The only way out is throughGetting over past mistakesNoel’s free falling accidentSkeleton sleddingLooking forward instead of backwardThe importance of healthy thought patternsHow Emily Blunt overcame her stutterQuotes: “Yes, she was falling. Yes, she was about to die, but she was so grateful for her life. It turned her panic to peace.”“She now views her body so much differently. It's no longer something that defines her image, but rather a tool for her to live and enjoy the world.”“You must learn to break with and from these thinking patterns, and close that chapter in your life.”“In sledding, and in life, where you look is where you'll go. You see, our lives are shaped by where we look. And if you're looking back, that's where your thought patterns go. And if you're looking forward that too is where your thoughts and your life will go.”“Aristotle famously said, ‘We are what we repeatedly do.’ Excellence then is not an act but a habit. I think the same is true of what we repeatedly think.”“So stand at the door of your mind, and only let in what is positive and helpful.”“Sometimes you have to follow a script.  You have to act a bit before the change you're trying to accomplish feels entirely natural to you.”“Close that chapter in your life, and come to know the rest of your story. If you've fallen, be grateful for what you've learned, accept where you are, and move forward.”Links:Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

On today’s episode, McKay talks to the audience about the importance of faith, and begins by introducing the story of Desmond Doss and his unwavering faith and peaceful determination at Hacksaw Ridge.  McKay frames faith as a commitment to a choice, and the more we act on that choice, the more we reinforce our faith - reminiscent of Isaac Newton’s laws of motion.  Moving forward and taking steps, no matter how small, keeps our momentum in the right direction.He next advises listeners to eliminate distractions since they only serve to slow us down and divert us from our faith and purpose. Fear can also skew faith; it can lead to feelings of helplessness and certainly loneliness, and that’s why McKay talks so much about action and moving forward.  He draws this episode to a close by urging everyone to feed their faith for at least 15 minutes everyday, noting that human potential is limitless, and to let that go to waste would be a shame. The Finer Details of This Episode:Desmond’s faith at Hacksaw RidgeCommitment to choicesThe importance of moving forwardScottie Scheffler’s Masters winEliminating distractions5 truths about fearsWhy human potential is limitlessFeeding your faithQuotes: “The more you act, the more faith you create. My faith is strong and grows when I am in an active state. When I am in a passive state, I lose my faith.”“In an active state, you learn, grow and feel like you are doing something within your control.”“Distraction is the great thief in life. It will divert your attention, capture your interest, and rarely return any value to your life. When you decide to do something remarkable in your life and place your faith in yourself and your decision, the first thing to do is to clear the path; remove any potential distractions.”“What we need to realize is that faith is a sales job.  Each day we are selling to ourselves the thing in which we are placing our faith.  That means the longer we go without acting on that thing, the less likely we are to act.”“Remember, action is the great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is the result of fear.  Any action is better than no action at all.  To prevent the law of diminishing intent, act now.”“Each day, set aside 15 minutes to feed your faith.  It’s a daily feeding time that will keep you focused and give you the wherewithal to keep your mind in the direction you should go.”Links:Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

This week, McKay talks about miracles, opening up the episode with the story of pilot and pioneer, Amelia Earhart, and the unbelievable tale that is the rescue of McKenzie Morgan.  He argues that both stories are miracles in their own right, and these miracles can happen to us so long as we open our minds and hearts to them. McKay says it’s all about realizing  your worth.  Too many people believe themselves unworthy of serendipitous positivity when that couldn’t be further from the truth.  We all deserve miracles - sometimes we just need to open our eyes to them.McKay goes on to discuss the importance of self forgiveness and overcoming past mistakes.  It’s easy to feel that your past has seemingly predetermined your future.  If you open your eyes, however, you might find that miracles are all around us, especially in the people we meet everyday.  McKay draws this episode to a close by celebrating the life of Indy Ju who, before tragically passing away from leukemia at a young age, inspired millions to believe in miracles again. The Finer Details of This Episode: The story of Amelia EarhartMcKenzie Morgan’s rescueOpening our minds to miraclesBeing in the right place at the right timeThe importance of knowing your worthOvercoming past mistakesIndy Ju’s courageous battle with leukemia Quotes: “We must have been in the mountains that day for a reason.”“​​When you are looking for a miracle, maybe you are more open to the advice of others, maybe you take more chances, maybe your heart is inclined to have faith in someone or something.”“I believe that these small miracles happen in our lives all the time. Moments of clarity that we don’t always arrive at on our own. The point is, sometimes you need to be looking for a miracle.  Maybe take a chance or two.”“You deserve love, forgiveness, strength and happiness.  You may not feel like you deserve it, but you do.  You are of immense worth and here on this earth to find peace and rise from the ashes.”“The millions of people who were inspired by and connected to this little girl with down syndrome has been nothing short of miraculous.  Miraculous to those who needed to look beyond their own circumstances, to grandfathers who need redemption, to neighbors who need to care about each other, to people who lack faith who need to look.  Miracles happened because of Indy Lu, and miracles can happen because of you.”“This world is filled with so much good.  There is so much to be grateful for.  So, as we end today, remember McKenzie.  Be willing to be in the right place at the right time.”Links:Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen