Change Wired

Ever wonder why your brilliant emails go unread or your fantastic ideas seem to fall on deaf ears?  The answer lies in cognitive budgeting - the brain's ruthless allocation of its limited energy resources.  Your brain is remarkably hungry, consuming over 20% of your daily energy despite being just 5% of your body weight. As we're bombarded with more information than ever before, our brains have become increasingly selective about what deserves attention. Like picky eaters at a buffet, we carefully choose where to spend our precious cognitive resources.  This episode dives into the fascinating science behind why people ignore most messages and how to ensure yours gets through.  I share practical insights on matching your communication to your audience's current interests and needs. You'll discover why timing is everything, why being clear beats being clever, and how to tailor your detail level to different types of audiences. Whether you're trying to improve your marketing emails, design better products and services, or simply get your family to listen to your ideas, understanding cognitive budgeting will transform your approach.  By respecting people's cognitive limitations and speaking to their actual interests, you dramatically increase your chances of not just being heard but actually influencing behavior.  Ready to make people actually pay attention to what you have to say?  Listen now, and share with someone who needs these insights.    Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant

The technological landscape is transforming at breakneck speed, but what determines your success in this new world isn't your mastery of the latest AI tools - it's your AI-first mindset.  While everyone's focused on which AI applications to learn, we're neglecting something far more fundamental: the mental habits that will either propel us forward or anchor us in the past.  Your AI mindset, the questions you habitually ask, the stories you tell yourself, and the thoughts you cultivate, it shapes your preparedness for an AI-first future more than any technical skill. The key shift isn't learning to use AI faster; it's rethinking your relationship with these tools. Instead of outsourcing your thinking, the most powerful approach is using AI as a collaborator that amplifies your uniquely human capabilities.  Drawing from cutting-edge research, including MIT studies showing how passive AI use actually reduces brain activity, this episode provides a practical framework for effective AI collaboration. You'll discover how to preserve the creative, insightful aspects of your work while leveraging AI for refinement and enhancement.  Through real-world examples from writing, coaching, and content creation, you'll learn specific techniques for using AI to make your thinking sharper and your work better, not to replace your intellectual skills.  The most successful people in an AI-powered world won't be those who surrender their thinking to machines but those who become more intentional about how they think alongside their digital collaborators.  The future belongs to those who enhance their thinking with technology, not those who outsource it.    Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant

Ever wonder why it's so easy to fall into habits you know aren't good for you?   The answer lies in the Law of Least Effort, a fundamental principle governing not just human behavior but systems throughout nature.  The Law of Least Effort explains why we naturally choose "the bad thing", even when it doesn't serve our long-term goals.  This isn't a character flaw; it's hardwired into our biology.  The challenge?  We've created a world perfectly designed to exploit our lazy brain.  Food companies formulate products that override our satiety signals. Social media platforms engineer features that maximize scrolling time. Streaming services automatically play the next episode. In essence, we've built systems that keep our brain's addicted to the wrong thing.  I'll walk you through my 5-question framework for creating systems that work for you rather than against you. You'll learn practical strategies like commitment devices, accountability structures, and habit tracking that can help you overcome these challenges.  Whether you're struggling with phone addiction, mindless eating, or self-distracting productivity sabotage, these principles can help you design a life where doing the right thing becomes the path you take.    Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant

Why do we so often work incredibly hard without seeing the results we want?   The answer lies not in our effort, but in how we design that effort.  Drawing from an insightful MIT Sloan Management Review study on leadership development programs, this episode reveals 3 critical mistakes that prevent both organizations and individuals from achieving meaningful growth. These same principles explain why many of us struggle to reach personal and professional goals despite genuine commitment.  The first fatal flaw?... tune in to find out!  With this powerful framework you'll ensure your valuable time and energy create the future you truly desire, rather than simply keeping you busy with tasks that ultimately lead nowhere.  Are you just doing things, or are you designing efforts that add up to something meaningful?    Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant

Feeling lost in the noise of a hyper-connected world? Too many things to do, to learn, to try, and seems like every place is taken and everything you want to do is done?  Actually, it's the best time to be uniquely you!  The secret to standing out in a noisy world isn't shouting louder, it's communicating clearer.  Be different.  This podcast is about HOW to actually do it.  What makes you uniquely you in a sea of sameness?  When everyone shares similar titles, credentials, or designations, how do you differentiate yourself?  This question plagues professionals across industries, from coaches and consultants to leaders and entrepreneurs. The answer lies not in what you call yourself, but in how you do things - your unique approach, methodology, and perspective.  Your uniqueness is born from your experiences, that beautiful tapestry of life events, challenges overcome, and lessons learned that no one else can precisely replicate. Just as two cups may serve the same function yet carry entirely different stories, two professionals sharing the same title can operate in completely different universes. The key is identifying and clearly articulating what sets you apart.  This episode offers 5 transformative questions to help you discover your edge.  Take out your journal, pause after each question, and discover what makes you not just another "generic white cup," but a distinctive offering that the right people will seek out with confidence. Because in a world where everything seems connected and available, the winners will be those who know how to communicate their difference clearly.    Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant

We're obsessed with outcomes but rarely talk about the engine that creates them: consistent, tracked actions.  This transformative episode challenges the magical thinking around results. Every meaningful change, from fitness transformations to business growth to cultural shifts, follows the same fundamental principle.  Results aren't random; they're mathematical.  The episode explores how this principle applies across domains: business leaders tracking client conversations rather than just hoping for growth; cultural transformation requiring observable behavior changes; health improvements demanding sustainable daily practices. We examine how the "repeatable" aspect is often overlooked, causing initially successful changes to fail when they prove unsustainable. Most importantly, we discuss how to ensure your aspirations align with the level of reps you're willing to perform - Olympic medals require Olympic-level inputs.  Ready to transform wishful thinking into predictable results?  Tune in!    Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant

Ever wonder why diets fail, business strategies collapse?  The answer lies not in the approach itself, but in how we think about implementing change.  Thinking in first principles, Elon Musk's favorite mental model that helped him build seemingly impossible businesses, transforms how we approach challenges across all domains.  When we stop following rules and shortcuts we don't understand and instead dig into the foundational elements of how things actually work, we create sustainable systems that adapt as our lives evolve.  Consider the difference between "thinking in diets" versus "thinking like a nutritionist."  The former might lead you to cut carbs without understanding their crucial role in brain function, hormone regulation, and overall health. The latter empowers you to make informed decisions based on your unique biology, lifestyle, and goals.  This same principle applies whether you're building a business, improving relationships, or transforming your fitness.  That's why personalized coaching works so effectively, it combines foundational principles with your specific context, strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations. Generic advice from the internet or social media can't account for your unique circumstances. Even advanced AI tools lack the lived experience necessary to fully grasp what implementation looks like in your particular life.  Ready to transform your thinking and create lasting change diet or business?  Tune in today! Grow into a better thinker.  Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant

Imagine organizations where relationships aren't just an afterthought but the foundation of everything. Where performance, innovation, and well-being flow naturally from meaningful human connections. That's the transformative vision Bryan shares in this profound conversation.Drawing from 30 years of talent management experience across five continents, Bryan reveals why focusing on relationships is the key to thriving workplaces.He makes a compelling case backed by science: "If anything you can die from, you die earlier if you're lonely." This biological imperative for connection extends directly to our work lives, where relationship quality determines everything from stress levels to problem-solving capacity.Bryan introduces his framework of four crucial organizational relationships: employee-employee, leader-employee, leader-leader, and company-employee.Each requires specific attention and nurturing to create environments where self-serving behaviors diminish and collaborative success flourishes. He explains why culture isn't something we directly fix but rather an outcome of our actions and relationships – similar to how winning emerges from proper execution, not from talking about winning.The conversation explores practical ways leaders can strengthen workplace relationships, from structured communication approaches that confirm understanding beyond simple head nods, to implementing the "relationships matter most" mindset inspired by John Gottman's research. Bryan offers immediately actionable advice: maintain a 5:1 ratio of positive to negative interactions, and always focus on commonality before differences.Perhaps most powerfully, Bryan emphasizes service as the cornerstone of thriving organizations. When we approach work with a mindset of serving our teams, our functions, and our organizations before ourselves, we create cultures where people find meaning, purpose, and fulfillment – and where business results naturally follow.Ready to transform your workplace culture through the power of relationships? isit Brian's website at bshtalentsolutions.com to learn more about his approach or purchase his book "Relationship Driven Cultures: Foster Unity, Enrich Self-Worth, and Build Resilience."___________________Bryan Miller BIO:Bryan brings nearly 30 years of talent management experience, serving as both head of talent management and a trusted consultant to small businesses, nonprofits, and Fortune 200 companies across five continents.  Known for his innovative, relationship-focused approach, he helps organizations strengthen cultures, align strategies, and drive performance from the front line to the C-suite.He has built talent functions from the ground up, led major change and project management initiatives, and consistently empowered teams through collaboration, development, and shared purpose.Bryan holds a BS in Business Administration from Penn State and an MS in Positive Organization Development and Change from Case Western Reserve. He has completed executive programs at Harvard and MIT and is certified in numerous assessments that guide his work in improving individual and team effectiveness.Bryan lives in Westerville, Ohio, with his wife, Sherri, and daughter, Hannah.Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant

Ever feel trapped in a cycle of perpetual busyness?  Wonder why, despite your best efforts, you never seem to have enough time to create better time management systems? The answer lies in what behavioral scientists call "the scarcity tunnel", a fascinating cognitive phenomenon that explains why the busier we get, the worse we become at managing our time.  When we're short on time, our brains enter a survival mode where only immediate tasks matter. Like a jar filling with pebbles, each small task occupies precious mental space, leaving no room for strategic thinking or system-building. This creates a cruel paradox: precisely when we most need innovative solutions to our time problems, we're least equipped to develop them.  This episode dives deep into the science of scarcity and its impact on decision-making.  You'll discover why even intelligent, capable people make shortsighted choices under pressure, and how this affects everything from financial decisions to daily time management. More importantly, you'll learn the counterintuitive step required to break free from this cycle, deliberately setting aside time for strategic thinking when you feel you have none to spare.  Your calendar doesn't lie; it reflects where your life is heading. By understanding the psychology behind time scarcity and implementing the practical strategies shared in this episode, you can escape the tunneling effect and build systems that create more meaning, impact, and fulfillment.  Don't just survive each day - design a life you'll be proud to look back on.    Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant

Willpower is a lie that's been sold to us for generations.The truth?  Even Elon Musk doesn't wake up every morning relying on "discipline" to build rockets and trillion-dollar companies. Something far more powerful is at work.  Gamification expert Yu-kai Cho has identified 8 core drivers that move humans to action. This stuff make us want to do hard things consistently without the struggle of forcing ourselves through sheer willpower. When Yukai needed to write his book despite a packed schedule, he didn't set calendar reminders or try to "be more disciplined." Instead, he used used 8 core drivers to make doing irresistible.  The research is clear: willpower depletes quickly.  Even simple choices between cookies and carrots drain our mental resources. But by designing your environment, schedules, and processes to activate your unique motivational drivers, you transform difficult tasks from obligations into engaging challenges you actually want to pursue. This isn't just theory, it's the hidden mechanism behind every significant achievement and consistent behavior change.  Tune in - let's learn to push our buttons to win the game of life 🕹️    Text Me Your Thoughts and IdeasSupport the showBrought to you by Angela Shurina Behavior-First, Executive, Leadership and Optimal Performance Coach 360, Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant