January 25, 2024 • 50 mins
The core of well-being is nurturing a strong, healthy, resilient mindset. Your brain gets easily tripped up and turned “off” by all the daily distractions and obstacles that pop up. No matter how “smart” you may be, your brain isn’t built to process all the thousands of pieces of information that come at it each day. When your brain feels overwhelmed, it stops its healthy “thinking’ mode and defaults to the more primal “emotional” mode. We are not taught how to coach our brain ON but can learn.
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Working on Purpose is broadcast live Tuesdays at 6PM ET.
Working on Purpose TV Show is viewed on Talk 4 TV (www.talk4tv.com).
Working on Purpose Radio Show is broadcast on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com).
Working on Purpose Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.
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(00:00):
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(00:21):
FOURCY Radio. What's Working on Purpose? Anyway? Each week we ponder the
answer to this question. People achefor meaning and purpose at work, to
contribute their talents passionately and know theirlives really matter. They crave being part
of an organization that inspires them andhelps them grow into realizing their highest potential.
(00:45):
Business can be such a force forgood in the world, elevating humanity.
In our program, we provide guidanceand inspiration to help usher in this
world we all want Working on Purpose. Now, here's your host, Doctor
Relise Cortes. Welcome back to theWorking and Purpose Program. Please for tuning
(01:06):
it in again this week. Greatto have you. This show has been
brought to you with passion and pricesince February of twenty fifteen, and I
enjoy hosting it each week. I'myour host, doctor Elise Cortes. If
we've not met yet before and youdon't know me, I'm an organizational psychologist
and therapist local therapist to be particular, speaker and author, and my team
and I at gusto Now help companiesto enliven and fortify their operations by articulating
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their purpose and building inspirational leaders andcultures activated by meaning and purpose to turn
those companies from a flatline EKG toa vibrant destination workplace. There people are
intrinsically motivated to perform at their best, can grow into their full potential,
and are committed to stay and performdynamically in the company's mission. You can
learn more about us and how wecan work together at gustodashnow dot com or
(01:49):
Alascortes dot com. Now getting intotoday's program we have with us deb Smolenski.
She's a highly sought after speaker andaward winning thought leader in the area
of human performance and health work.She serves as the Well Being an Engagement
Practice leader at NFP and as anadvisor for the insertech, fintech and digital
health startup communities. She's the authorof brain On Mental fitness Strategies for sharpening
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focus, boosting energy, and winningthe work date, which we're talking about
today. She joined today from Chicago. Deb a warm welcome to Working on
Purpose. Thank you so much,Thank you for having me. This is
so exciting. It is exciting,and I want to celebrate what you've brought
to the world, this beautiful book. Look at this thing that you did.
(02:32):
Thank you so much. That meansso much to me. You're very,
very very welcome. You know,I don't know if you're a mom,
but I'm mosteners and viewers who havebeen following the show for a while,
I've heard going to say this manymany, many times. Bringing this
book into the world is actually muchharder than bringing a human being into the
world. Yes, I should havetalked to you before going on this adventure
(02:55):
that A learned. I understand,I understand, but yet we keep doing
it. So it's wonderful and we'rehere where the winners for it, and
so I want to get into andas I mentioned to the show being curated,
we want to build on all theother beautiful things we've learned on the
show, And there were so manythings that I took from your book deb
that were delightfully refreshing and different.And I want to start with just situating
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why I think your work is soimportant and taking a little bit from Jeremy
Hunter's forward that wrote in your book. He situates in that forward so beautifully.
And we've become these knowledge workers,innovation workers, and we're working in
cubicles, and this whole notion ofneeding to the fundamental shift from physical work
to mental, emotional, and socialand that entails working in these cubicles,
(03:42):
and that we're encouraged a multitask likethe computers on our desk and leading to
depleted mental reserves. We created analways on technology that never lets people rest
and recharge. And then he says, no wonder people are burnt out,
refusing to go back to the office, including their jobs, and droves who
wants to live like this? Soif we situate that's kind of where we
are right now, is kind ofa context of why your work is so
(04:02):
important and what you're teaching us atit, let's start there. Yeah,
I, first of all, asyou alluded to it's never just one person
contributing to a book, and Iwas so grateful to doctor Hunter for adding
those insightful comments. I listened tohis work as a professor at the Peter
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Drucker Institute over and over again,and it resonated so much with me in
terms of we are knowledge workers.We use our brains all day long to
create work. So eight hours aday, my brain is on, your
brain is on four hundred and eightyminutes every day. We have never learned
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how our brains work at work,and we've never been trained how to really
show up and use our computer systemthe workplace. And that is at the
fundamental crux of why I wrote thisbook, right, that is what we
are dealing with when we're overwhelmed,when we're burned out. I just keep
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seeing the signals go on and on, and it all gets back to understanding
our computer system in context of howwork in the work environment is created and
is you know, part of ourdaily what I call obstacle course. And
as I mentioned DEBI I just thinkthat what you've what you taught me,
because as you know, I readthe book cover to cover, but there's
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so much freshness in that I learnedabout how my brain did work, and
I want to course share that withour listeners. And I appreciate that you
really situate that. You know,you say the core of well being is
nurturing a strong, healthy, resilientmindset, and this is really, you
know, what you've been working onfor much of your career, and so
you're talking about what you're really puttingforth is prioritizing well being above anything else.
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And you go on to say thatthis is a radically new way of
thinking about your work date taking thesteps to ensure your mental well being is
intact for tackling any of your goalsfor the day and interacting with your colleagues
and team. I find that tobe not only just honoring yourself, but
responsible for your own life and dreams. I love that. And you know,
thank you for reading my book coverto cover. That is just such
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a generous gift and I really appreciatethat. And the insights you pull like
this question is amazing, Right,you got to the correux of what I'm
trying to communicate. And so yeah, with that, we are just we're
constantly trying to figure out how towork better. How to work smarter.
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But it's inside, it's internal,like we are at charge, we are
the CEO, we are the computer. It's just we don't know how,
we don't We believe what we're thinking, but we don't understand that it's not
accurate. I always say, ourbrains actually are program to be our bodyguard.
They're not programmed to help us learn, help us grow, help us
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connect, help us communicate, helpus to work. Like the list goes
on and on. Those are skillsets. I got so much from that,
the science and the insights that youput in your book there, and
even so much that you really helpedus understand, just even the you know
the name of your book, Brainon. But then you go on to
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distinguish how easily our brain gets trippedup and turned off, as you say,
by the daily distractions and obstacles thatpop up. And I love that
you go on. You see,it doesn't matter how smart you may be.
Your brain isn't built to process thethousands a piece of information coming out
of each day. And when itfeels overwhelmed, it stops its healthy thinking
mode and in defaults to its primalemotional mode. And that's when we get
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ourselves into trouble and we make ourpoor behavior choices and unwise decisions. They
have lasting and destructive consequences on ourselves, our team members, and others in
the organization. Which is what youput forth. I think that's really important
for our listeners and viewers to understandjust the consequences of not really you know,
monitoring this and intervening and as youwe'll talk about coaching your brain.
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Yeah, what you're hitting upon islike a crucial point, and it's this
concept of being aware. Being awareis a muscle, a brain rep and
you know that doesn't write a bookLike I kind of been done in one
sentence, as it turned out,is like you just have to be aware
of what you're thinking and processing atevery moment. But I expanded and I'm
(08:35):
glad you found it helpful. Ithink what was very intriguing and very transformative
in my own growth through this isknowing that it's normal. Our brains are
programmed and the default system is tobe in fear mode. It's that primal
brain trying to keep us safe andso giving us grace. Knowing that every
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time our phone likely drop, ourphone or an email dings or like a
doorbell rings, the initial response isjust who's there? What's going on?
Like, the fear brain is normal, and we have to realize that and
then turn our thinking brain, orour prefrontal cortex brain, our smart brain
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on to override that primal response.And we've just never been taught that.
You know, one of the thingsI say when I'm working with organizations and
leaders is, you know, asamazing as we really have evolved to be
as a species. I mean,we can send people to the moon and
back, we can create beautiful skyscrapers, we can create amazing innovative companies,
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we can run crazy huge countries,and yet at the end of the day,
we still have that reptilian brain that'sstill running us. And so learning
to engage in that thinking brain isso so interesting, And I like some
of the practices that you gave usin the book. You give us lots
of ways to try to elevate thisawareness. Just even asking yourself, we
hang on, right now, howam I feeling? Who does this?
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Very often? Right? Nobody does? That's the whole point, Like,
that's only a second reason I decidedto go on this two year journey to
write We just don't know that theseare so important yet so simple, So
thank you for pointing that out soclearly. You know, if we would
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ask ourselves and check in with ourselves, me, myself, and I,
we would not be stressed out rightnow, We would not be burned out.
I believe we wouldn't have the conflictswe have because we are aware of
how we are showing up. It'sjust we don't know. So we now
have to train our brains by askingourselves, Hey, what am I feeling
(10:48):
right now? Or this is reallyexciting. I feel excited talking to you
here. Every moment before an emailor before a meeting, now I try
to ask myself, hey, what'sgoing on? What am I feeling?
Or what where's the tension? Becauseemotions are just as powerful as the thoughts
were thinking and making sure I comewith my best self if I am not
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there, So there's so many beautifullayers there, and then that kind of
builds onto the next thing I wantedto talk about, which just really frankly
blew me away. Deb but youdo talk about you know, some days
are more energy depleting than others,and of course our job is just to
stay aware and to monitor how fastour brain power is draining. Be cognizant
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of this, you know, turnyourself on if you will, and carefully
and continuously to redirect energy towards thosegoals and tasks that lead us to more
productivity, growth and joy. Andwhat I've found really interesting was you say
dealing with these challenges and distractions cantake up to more than fifty percent of
our day. That is mind boggling. Yeah, the science really shows mind
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boggling statistics. It shows that ourmind is wandering almost fifty percent of the
day. It shows our attention spanis less than eight seconds. I think
at this point in time, accordingto a Microsoft study, the way our
brain works in this complex VUKA worldis not coinciding and it is not for
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our best interest. So I thinkwhat I realized after doing what I'll call
the cognitive or the brain on mentalfitness exercises and showing up with clarity or
focus or connection or whatever my intentionwas, is I was still exhausted some
days at two pm network or rightnow, I want to take a nap
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for some days even by eight ifmy commute was really brutal, And so
that energy. Dan Pink says itin his book When Right, Knowing when
you're the most productive, and energymanagement is the second part of the formula
to brain on to get to anenergizer state. You have to have your
thinking brain, but you also haveto manage that energy throughout the day and
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do those brain boosters too at whatI call end up better at the end
of the day than you started,which I'm not sure any of us even
know how to do at this point. You know, it's funny you say
that, dev Now that you've saidthat, the way that you do,
I can remember a few days thatreally stand out as just smashing, and
they were because I had this crescendoof energy. It just seemed to grow
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during the day. May stand outbecause they're unusual, right, They don't
happen every day. They don't happenyou know, regularly for that matter,
right, And so part of itis we can make that happen. We
can look at our obstacle course,which I called the calendar. Right.
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If you don't have any white spacein there, and you're making your brain
run through emails and meetings and conversationswithout any recovery, that energy management we
fall on the couch as the wholeworld society right by the end of the
work day. But the point is, back to your brilliant synthesis, is
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it's all about awareness. Building inthat space or managing our energy is the
key to those downstandout days, andwe can create more of them by following
that. I love that. Soone of the many things I appreciate about
your book is I like how youorganize ideas. And so you have this
brain on energy matrix that you startedto allude to with the energizer piece here.
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But if you could just kind ofspeak to that, there's two you
know, it's a four part quadrantif you will, and so you've got
to disengage. There's two kinds ofdisengage, and then you've got the engage
two kinds of engage. Can youspeak to that a little bit please?
I think that's fascinating, very helpful. Yeah, thank you so much.
And I love how you It isa matrix. You described it perfectly.
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So when I think about the workday, there's just two things to really
live your best life at work.It's managing if you're in your thinking brain
and seeing things clearly. So thebrain on brain off up against are am
I engaged. Am I doing whatI love to do? Or in your
in your context, am I alignedwith my purpose right in those things?
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Or am I disengaged? And whenyou put those across a matrix, you
get four key areas that don't tellyour you know that don't tell you just
one and done, like for therest of your career. It's a daily
exercise. So if I'm brain off, meaning I'm in my negative thinking and
I am low energy or not engaged, I'm what I call survivor mode.
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I'm just watching the clock until itclicks five a clock, right. But
then if I'm still brain off andI'm not really thinking about my thoughts but
I'm really engaged in what I door I'm really loving the day, then
you can get into kind of warriormode like go go, Go, go
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go, and you can be inthat mode until you burn out. So
it's only when you cross that thresholdof turning your brain on paying attention to
things that you have a chance toget into that energizer mode or winning your
work day. And the difference ison the left hand side. If you're
still brain on and you're aware ofwhat's going on and you're managing your motions
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and regulating them. But something's missingthat spark, as you well know,
like with those beautiful books and insightfulbooks behind you, you're in the seeker
mode. There's something missing, anduntil you align with your strengths, your
purpose, until your goals include yourwellbeing, you won't move over to that
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sweet spot which combines being brain onand energized about your day, which is
why I call it the energizer.Oh, that was beautifully explained, and
so it's to sync. Let's letour listeners and viewers think about that as
we take our first break. Herethose four different buckets seeker, survivor,
energizer, and warrior. I'm ElieCortez, your host. We've been on
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the air with Debs MULLINSI. She'sthe Well Being an Engagement Practice leader at
NFP and as an advisor for theSirtech, fintech and digital health startup communities,
serves to help lift the world.We've been talking a bit about why
it's important to be aware of ourbrain and whether or not we're a brain
on or not. After the break, we're going to learn about creating the
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emotions we actually want to experience atwork. Stay with us. We'll be
right back. Doctor Elise Cortez isa management consultant specializing in meaning and purpose.
(17:52):
An inspirational speaker and author. Shehelps companies visioneer for a greater purpose
among stakeholders and developed purpose inspired leadershipand meaning infused cultures that elevate fulfillment,
performance, and commitment within the workforce. To learn more or to invite Elise
to speak to your organization, pleasevisit her at elisecortes dot com. Let's
talk about how to get your employeesworking on purpose. This is working on
(18:22):
Purpose with doctor Elise Cortes. Toreach our program today or to open a
conversation with Elise, send an emailto a lease A LISEE at elisecortes dot
com. Now back to working onpurpose. Thanks for staying with us,
and welcome back to working on Purpose. I'm your host, doctor Elise Cortes,
(18:45):
as I too, am dedicated tohelping create a world where people realize
their potential at work and they're ledby inspirational leaders that help them find and
contribute their greatness. And we dobusiness at Betters of World. I continue
to research and write my own books, so one of my latest that came
out in March of twenty It's calledthe Great Revitalization. How activating meaning and
purpose can radically enliven your business.And I wrote it to help leaders understand
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the nature of today's workforce, whatthey want and need to be vitally inspired
and engage and give their best.And then I provide twenty two best projects
to help you create an organization tomeet those needs. You can learn more
about it at gustodeshnow dot com orgrab your copy on Amazon if you are
just now joining us. My guestis Deb Smolensky. She's the author of
Brain On Mental fitness Strategies for sharpeningfocus, boosting energy, and winning the
(19:30):
work day. So it's good tome. So this next bit here,
I think people will be really surprised. And I love how you dangle this
here for us, and I mentionedit just before the break, but we
talk about how we can actually useour brain to manage and create the emotions
we want to experience it work.I love that. Yes, thank you.
I'm still back into the intro.I love your intro. I feel
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like I'm a walk up baseball playerand it's totally turns vite and brain on.
So thank you for that, I'mglad and honesty lost the question for
just a second. You can't controlour emotions and create the emotions we want,
and that's that's a really good point. Even for this, I knew
I wanted to be excited, butI was low energy, so I wanted
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to come show up with my bestself. And the thing to know is
again, our brain on default isfear based, and so we always have
to overcome that. And if wedon't, but what happens is we're either
going towards the threat or the rewardsystem. So we always want to go
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and be aware of how to createemotions moving us forward, how to be
aware of the thoughts that will helpus move forward, because there's no neutral
in our thoughts. They either degradeour lives or they upgrade our lives.
And so to create those emotions,you actually have to figure out how to
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trick your brain. Sometimes. Forexample, you know, when a child
falls down, you know this probablybetter than I do. But when a
child falls down and you you don'tgo like you go like, oh,
it's okay, right, the mirrorneurons they go up and the baby starts
blowing it off, or or maybehopefully even laughing. Well, that's the
kind of tricks we want to useto help our brain stay in brain on
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mode or in a positive emotional state. What I love about that, among
many other things UB is the agencyin it activating the human agency in ourselves.
I just think that is wonderful andthat speaks to one of the next
things that I really admire about whatyou've given us here. You talk about
how high performing people don't leave theirmindset up to chance. They actively work
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to overcome any misguided thoughts, inpoor emotional regulation, in irrational or primal
fears. And you say that's whytraining your brain is as important as aerobic
conditioning to lead a healthy life.It's starting your day with a successful mindset.
Begins by avoiding your phone owner oranything that throws you into a work
mode very first thing that you're awake. You need to be able to get
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yourself online in in a positive,energizing way. We've had people on this
program talking about ways that we canstart every day by really getting clear about
what's my bold vision for what Iwant for my life, starting with that
versus social media or the news,and I think that is so powerful.
What you put forth that no onethat is high performing leaves their mindset to
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chance. Yeah, that really stuckwith me as I was writing the book
over and over again. If wedon't take agency, I love that words
you used, right, if wedon't take accountability an agency and understand that
our brains just aren't wired for this. And it's a skill and a practice
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if we want to be our bestselves, it's a skill and a practice
all day long to create that forming, high performing brain to be in energizer
mode. So I really studied professionalathletes in this. I watched in the
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Wimbledon in June, one of thechampions, Djokovic, in the finals match,
throw his racket after missing an easypoint. But that's normal, right,
brain off, we'd go into fearmode immediately or anger mode. But
what was interesting is he immediately didhis breathing, He walked back, pumping
(23:36):
himself up, and he visualized hisnext stroke as an ace. And what
did he do is he aced itlike in twenty seconds. Amazing athletes go
from the worst brain off to bringingtheir brains on. So I think of
us as corporate athletes. I thinkwe all need to think of it in
that way. In some regard.I like that idea a lot. And
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then I'm going to bring us tothis next point. Ladies and gentlemen,
are you ready to be maybe blownaway or you know, blown back by
this? But I was amazed thatyou shared with us that science has proven
that we only have three to fourhours of productive brain power and resources each
day. And that's it. That'sit. I know. I'm grateful to
know that, and I'm so gratefulto those that study this all day long,
(24:19):
because again, we don't know howour brain works, but that is
it. Not only is that itis some of us work at different times
better. So you might be anafternoon person, as Daniel Pink says,
or a morning person, but thathas really changed how I try to focus
(24:41):
every day, even my calendar,and how I shift priorities of what I'm
going to work on. Like Isaid, this is a little out of
my comfort zone speaking to you atthis point of my day, like I
should be asleep right now. Iknew, like I needed to save my
good brain productive for this right andso I didn't stress myself out or use
(25:03):
that much energy up until this point. It was a different type of day
for me, you know, Ialways one of the great things about hosting
the show deb is I do learnso much from my guests. You really
helped me become a better version ofmyself, and I really appreciate that.
And I want you to know thatwhat you taught me, this idea that
we only have three to four hoursof productive brain power, has radically altered
(25:25):
the way that I want to utilize, especially my weekends, because I tend
to use my weekends for writing andlonger research projects. But I can let
myself get totally distracted, and beforeI know it, I've lost those three
to four beautiful, precious hours,and then I'm mad about it when Monday
comes. And I want you toknow that you have changed me in this
way for the better. Thank youfor that gift. Oh thank you that
(25:48):
such a generous, beautiful comment.I will treasure that, and I'm so
glad. You know you've wrote suchbeautiful books and empowering books, and as
you know, you just want tohelp people, right, and so that
makes me so happy. First ofall, I'm just absorbing that with gratitude
(26:10):
because that keeps my brain on andkeeps me engaged. And then also I
too, just want to admit thatI continuously have to check in with myself
too, because we get distracted,and it's a key mental practice just to
use those three hours strategically. SoI think you're highlighting for all of us
(26:33):
a practice that we can take backimmediately and always check in. Am I
using my time? Right? Isthis my productive power? Let's go?
Yeah, exactly, And then youknow, again that builds us. Just
to this next point that I wantedto make. I was just also another
one of the beautiful, very freshpoints that you make in your book is
you know you talk about if anybodywere to if you were to ask anybody
you or me were asking any abouttheir important relationship in their life, they
(26:56):
would name such things as their partor their children, their parents, their
siblings, their friends, their boss, their coworkers. But no one would
actually say their relationship with their brainwas a top priority. But in the
end you say, it's the mostimportant relationship that we have. I found
that so compelling. Yeah, ifyou think about it, you know they
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always say you're your best cheerleader.It's just you in the end, right,
you have to be self sufficient andindependent, but it's really you and
your brain. Like if your brainis being kind to you, which takes
practice to not wander in negative neighborhoodsand those things. The relationship with your
(27:40):
brain understanding your thoughts and your emotions, I call that the fountain of youth.
Oh my gosh, that's delightful.Well, as we said before we
got on their deb you know thatparticular idea that we just have been talking
about is really cultivating the relationship withyour brain in an intentional, loving,
(28:00):
nurturing way. That idea really resonateswith me. And again, doing so
then allows us to be able todo what we want with our one precious
life in a much more effective,impactful way. And I'm behind that one
hundred and twenty eight percent type ofthat. Yes, giving ourselves grace and
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knowing this is the key, knowingthat our default system is going to be
fight flight freeze. It just is. That is how we are wired for
that one day. May it neverbe so that a car comes running down
right or some bear jumps out ofthe woods. Our brain is ready.
That's what it's designed to do,and it's always going to react. So
(28:48):
where's my keys? Oh I'm somad I missed the meeting. Why is
this like everything first starts with thenegative, and we have to bring it
to the positive, but not beatingup how we think, just knowing that
we have to strengthen our thoughts andwe can do that. Science shows with
neuroplasticity, which is mental fitness,and that is the only way up greater
(29:11):
thoughts, up greater thoughts. Wewire our brain. We wire our brain
so important every minute of the day. Well, and I also appreciated that
in order to do that, thatneuroplasticity you offered, you know, prioritizing
self care with brain boosters. AndI really get behind this because I also
put this in some of my programs. But you talk about the importance of
(29:33):
actively planning your day to include enoughrest, and I know people say,
well, I'm so busy, andpeople are, and yet you still have
the choice of when you go tobed and when you get up. We
also introduce the importance of nature andmusic and play and connection and these are
always to restore our brain's energy whenwe're feeling a drop or in the brain
drain. And so that's why someof the programs that I do, I
(29:55):
incorporate those sort of things. JawJoy, Gratitude, Wonder, awe,
because they're they're they're there's there's sowhat I want to say, well,
energizing. So I appreciated very muchthat you talked about that we have within
our means, these these immediate brainboosters. So if you could say just
a little bit more about you know, how do they work, and you
(30:15):
know what else, what other optionsmight we have? Yeah, and I
did notice, and I love howyou do incorporate them seamlessly right within the
work and the organization. And soI appreciate that call out because we can
focus on our thoughts. We canfocus on our thoughts and trying to change
(30:37):
them and being aware of how wefeel. But at some point we just
are in a funk, or we'retired and we just need just a spark
of something or or rest in recovery. So this work actually comes from doctor
Rock and doctor Daniel Siegel. It'scalled the mind Platter. And when I
heard this, I'm like, whydon't we know about this more? But
(30:59):
it's ways to feed and energize ourbrains. So in my book, I
basically have an illustration of the brainlike with a charger, right, a
plugging in. This is how wecharge our brains, just as if we
charge our phones battery and so itreally is, according to science, all
(31:19):
the things that actually elicit those dopaminehits or oxytocin and release those neurotransmitters and
chemicals that actually connect us back topeople or energize us or fill us up.
And so I love the ones younamed. I always say my name
(31:40):
backwards. Deb is bed So Ihit the twenty minute nap all the time.
I think I was bored for that, and when I was writing this
book. Or if I have ahard meeting, like I mentioned earlier,
I have a walk up song forthree minutes, I listen to something so
engaging in terms of music, evenlike your introduction to this show is amazing.
(32:02):
But I also find like even hydrating, So I have a hydration drink
here and just filling up. Ifyou're hungry, you're kind of depleting your
brain uses glucose. Those kinds ofthings are really helpful just to keep that
brain power going. Oh so,such good self care mechanisms. All right,
(32:23):
let's grab our last break here atDeb. I am doctor Releas Cortez,
who were on the air with DebSmolenski. She's the well being an
engagement practice leader at NFP, andshe also serves as an advisor for the
insertech, fintech and digital health startupcommunities. We've been talking more about specific
ways that we can monitor and helpenergize our brain. For the last segment
(32:44):
after the break, we're going toget into how we can use her work
to build what she calls regenerative cultures. Say what, We'll be right back.
(33:06):
Doctor Elise Cortes is a management consultantspecializing in meaning and purpose. An
inspirational speaker and author, she helpscompanies visioneer for greater purpose among stakeholders and
develop purpose inspired leadership and meaning infusedcultures that elevate fulfillment, performance, and
commitment within the workforce. To learnmore or to invite a lease to speak
to your organization, please visit herat elisecortes dot com. Let's talk about
(33:30):
how to get your employees working onpurpose. This is working on Purpose with
doctor Elise Cortes. To reach ourprogram today or to open a conversation with
Elise, send an email to AliseA. L Se at elisecortes dot com.
(33:50):
Now back to working on purpose.It's interesting with us and welcome back
to working on purpose. I'm yourhost doctor Earliest Cortes. I mentioned in
the last break about my latest bookcoming out, the Great Revitalization. Along
with that, what I did foryou is I created an organizational best Prejudices
Assessment and it's waiting for you onGustodashnew dot com or at least Coortes dot
(34:14):
com. What it does is letsyou really measure the extent to which your
current projectes are actually meeting today's needsand standards. If you are just joining
us today, my guess is DebSmelensky. She's the author of Brain On
Mental fitness Strategies for sharpening focus,boosting energy, and winning the work day.
So for this last bit here,Deb and I really wanted to take
us back into the workplace. Ofcourse, we can use these things anywhere
(34:36):
we go in life, but bothyou and I do a lot of work
in the workplaces, and it's excitingto think about how we can use what
you have created for us to actuallycreate beautiful, energized, connected teams.
And so once again I go backto one of your beautiful matrices, your
quadrant of four boxes here, andthis is what you call It's about becoming
(34:57):
a brain on regenerative culture. Soif you could again distinguishes you just before
you know the four pieces, theX and Y axis and what's in them.
Yeah, I think it was veryimportant for me to first train our
brains as individual employees, right,this is all about work and how we
show up. But then it's alsoextremely important, like you mentioned, to
(35:19):
talk from an organizational perspective to thosethat have any influence over others brains or
creating and transforming the collective brain.So this part gets into the organizational section
and it can be applied in thesame manner, meaning as an organization if
you are creating a brain off,brain on engage, disengaged society or collective
(35:46):
community. If your brain off andyou are not engaged as a group,
it's very, very depleted. It'svery it takes everything out. You're sucking
the life out of every employee.Right, if your policies don't nurture people,
(36:12):
if your culture is do this,do that, no autonomy, mastery
purpose, So it takes around thatscale. If you still stay kind of
brain off in the way you treatyour employees, meaning you look at them
as just more assets and not asa relationship, it can become very transactional
as well. But when you startengaging in the collective community and a lot
(36:39):
about what you write, where yourpractices take into account, maybe feedback from
employees or your team, where youare asking people what they think, You're
making sure psychological safety is there.You hit that mark of sustainable right,
(36:59):
which I think is where we seethe bar. But what I wanted to
encourage people and workplaces specifically is toreally start aligning with their strengths and purposes
like you allude to and promote.Because what that does when you recognize somebody
(37:20):
and value them and align the workwith that, it leaps them over into
that white right truck TALP quadrant,which is regenerative. You're no longer deleting
and defeating and depleting. You're nolonger just sustaining. You're growing and regenerating
and fueling both yourself in the individualas well as the organization by doing so.
(37:46):
You know, we've had many peopleon this program deb over the years
talking about, you know, therole and responsibilities leaders have because literally leaders
really think about this. Ladies andgentlemen, listening or watching your leader literally
impacts a lot of your life,not just that whatever happens during the workday,
but how you show up when youcome home with your family, and
(38:07):
how you interact with your significant other, your children, whether or not you
choose to engage with positively or negatively, with your community, it follows you.
And so your impact as a leaderis profound. And I hope in
some ways that that's a little scary. In other ways, I hope it's
really really inspiring that the difference youcan make in someone's life. So what
I got really excited about with yourwork their depth and I could envision this.
(38:29):
I don't know if it's on yourwebsite. I didn't look that deeply
there. But what I love aboutwhat you did with that simple little matrix,
I think a lot of organizations thinkwe're doing fine, we're good.
Okay, maybe you are fine andgood, but yet there is this whole
other opportunity, this whole regenerative spacethat you maybe don't understand that you could
(38:50):
actually move into. And that's whereI get really excited to. Yeah,
I just admire your work, andthose really focus on leadership. So let
me just double down on what yousaid. There is such a need an
opportunity right now to show up ashuman centered, compassionate leaders. Those are
(39:14):
all skills. Yeah, the thingthat we need is a skill, and
I call it a mental fitness skill. So I do specifically talk about this
leadership mental fitness circuit above and beyondthe individual what else you need to do.
And so that is really, inthe end part of a key part
(39:38):
of the formula. And I knowyou've said this before and probably lots of
times, but people quit bosses,not jobs. And I spent the last
week based on this New York Timesarticle and this research by doctor Wellington.
I believe his name is I shouldhave looked, but I'm coming out that
says what workplace wellness doesn't work.And really what his research says in terms
(40:05):
of resilience and mindset and all ofthis work is it's an and if we
don't help leaders and the culture wraparound and support people, this regenerative culture
will never come to fruition, andwe will continue to turn people's brains off
at every corner, every communication.And again I find that really encouraging because
(40:30):
to me, what you put forthis an opening, it's an invitation,
it's a space to walk into andthen to be able to build on the
knowledge and skills of others who've comebefore us and who are in our vicinity
and surrounded and supportive. I justI get so excited and again for me
to I find I'm out to buildworkplace destination, workplaces where people really can
(40:51):
realize their potential. I believe inthe power and the magic of work as
one of the best catalyzing forces wehave to realize our potential. And yet
for so many people it occurs asa bad for letter where that they just
want to either avoid or try todiminish, you know, their interaction with
it as much as possible. Soif your work is so powerful, so
(41:13):
important, yeah, I love that, I'm like, wow, I wish
everybody would say that, Like betweenplaying your music at the beginning and saying
those words you just said about destination, where like I'm like all for it,
and so it is. I alwaystry to view this as a positive
opportunity. So as a leader,if you are struggling, that is,
(41:39):
first check in with your brain,your thoughts, because your thoughts create your
reality, and how can you latchon to being mentally stronger and using the
resources and tools in terms of accountabilityand awareness to build the workday. You
want to build the team, youwant to build the leader in you that
(42:00):
you want. It's all within us. We just need to be aware of
our thoughts, challenge our thoughts,and then do our mental fitness to get
our thoughts going in the right direction. That's all. That's all. So,
(42:21):
yes, I know, no,no, I'm right there with you.
Okay. So where I want togo next? I'm sorry, I'm
glad I can make you laugh atthat, because I meant I meant it
to be meant it to be silly. Yeah, but I love on this
show. What I like so muchis I want it to be always educational,
one part education, one part inspirational, and I always want listeners and
viewers to be able to walk awaywith something they can immediately put into practice.
(42:43):
And So what I want to goto next here is you offer toward
the end of your book, thisbrain on audit that you can help that
people can use to help assess howtheir organization and culture are activating the principles
in the book. So if let'sspend a little bit of time talking about
each of the four buckets in thatassessment, if we could. Yeah,
So, the four buckets like whenyou are auditing for a regenerative culture.
(43:08):
There's care, there's emotional intelligence,there's communityation and growth. Those are the
foundations of a regenerative culture. Sofor care, we have moved into the
mission of HR or talent or whoeveryou are in that organization to not only
(43:30):
attract and retain. We are nowattract, retain and care for Yes,
I love that attract. Yes,employer contract has changed. And when you
bring on someone and when they joinyou, you are now united in caring
for the organization and that individual.And so that is an audit, and
(43:52):
I give several different topics within therethat you have to start to focus.
It's new, but that is essentialto build a regenerative culture. Teaching everyone
emotional intelligence, emotional literacy, whateveryou want to call it, is the
core communication blowing through the culture.So I think there's several different studies,
(44:17):
but summarizing them, we as asociety can name six different emotions usually like
how are you feeling good? Howare you feeling Oh, I'm happy,
sad, angry? Just six,But there's twenty four hundred different emotions that
when you get very clear on them, can help navigate and elevate your life,
(44:37):
and so teaching emotional literacy being understandingof how your words impact the others,
if they have emotional literacy or ifthey are learning emotional like, all
of that comes into play. SoI am a big fan of integrating that,
which then doves tails into communication.We often at an HR or organizational
(45:01):
level, are pushing out communications.And I had the chance to ask Daniel
Goldman personally, well, how doyou build emotional intelligence into communications, especially
email? And what he said wasto me profound and he said his wife
said he didn't even know. Hiswife said, if that email strengthens the
(45:28):
relationship, that is what you're goingfor versus degrading it. So before you
hit send in your communications, isit going to make people worried? Is
it unclear or uncertain that's going tocause chaos among the brains and turn them
off? Does this communication strengthen yourrelationship with employees or degrade it? Those
(45:50):
are the filters or audits you lookat from a communication perspective, and then
growth growth mindset. It's either fixedor it's growth, but they can be
both, right, But what wewant to nurture is those words that I'll
open up the growth of the organization, the willingness to try something new because
(46:14):
change is going to be constant anduncertainty triggers us brain off all the time,
and can be strong enough to sayI think I can try this,
or curious enough to say, oh, can you tell me more? Growing
versus constricting or contracting is the onlyway to move forward and create that regenerative
(46:37):
culture. I am completely in linewith that, as you can well imagine,
So okay, so dat, We'vemanaged already to come through the show.
It's crazy how fast it goes.You know that this show is listened
to by people around the world whocare about improving their own experience of work,
being part of organizations and cultures thathelp them realize their greatness. They
would love to be led by inspiracialleaders that really bring them to that task
(47:01):
or become those inspirational leaders. Andwe do business at Betters the World.
What would you like to leave ourlisteners and viewers with today? Every moment
of every day, you are constructingyour reality, building it from the ground
up, and your thoughts create yourperceptions. Your perceptions create your choices you
(47:25):
see in view, and your choicesthen create your results. If you practice
just awareness and those mental fitness exercisesaligned with that, you can really find
the fountain of youth. I believeat least you can win your work day,
(47:45):
and that is my hope for everybodyout there is to combat burn out
and start winning our work day together. Oh Dad, what a beautiful finish.
I'm so happy to know you,to have learned from you, to
have shared you with my listeners onthe world. Thank you for being a
guest on Working on Purpose. Thankyou, it was a pure pleasure.
I will treasure this. Thank youso much. I'm very happy to hear
(48:07):
that makes my heart saying thank you. Now, listeners and viewers are going
you're going to want to learn tofollow this woman here. Find a way
to do this. So if youwant to learn more about her, her
work or her book, the bestway to do to do this is probably
to start with her personal website.It's deb Smolensky dot com. Let me
spell that for you, so Debd eb and then Smolensky is s m
(48:28):
O l e n Sky Deb Smolenskydot com. Last week, you've missed
the live show, you can alwayscatch it be recorded podcast. We were
on the air with Marga Hooick talkingabout her incredibly well researched and inspiring book
Tech for Good. We talked aboutsome of the examples from the eighty five
companies she showcases in the book thatare employing advanced technologies to tackle really complex
(48:49):
problems in the world. This episodewill inspire you to look for new ways
you can utilize today's technology to advanceyour mission or causes. Next week,
we'll be on the air with TamarRyan of the Women's Being Project talking about
the incredibly intimate look she gives ofthe women who work at the Women's Beans
Project and are struggling mightily to moveout of poverty and move from incarceration back
(49:12):
into a life of productivity and happiness. Our conversation will open your eyes that
the world is not at all blackor white by poverty is such a curse,
and inspire you to help more people. See you there, and remember
work is one of the best adventuresand means of realizing our potential and making
the impact we crave. So let'swork on Purpose. We hope you've enjoyed
(49:34):
this week's program. Be sure totune into Working on Purpose featuring your host,
doctor Elise Cortes each week on Wfour C. Why Together We'll create
a world where business operates conscientiously.Leadership inspires and passion performance and employees are
fulfilled in work that provides the meaningand purpose they crave. See you there.
Let's work on purpose.
The topics and opinions express in thefollowing show are solely those of the hosts
and their guests and not those ofW FOURCY Radio. It's employees are affiliates.
We make no recommendations or endorsements radioshow, programs, services, or
products mentioned on air or on ourweb. No liability, explicit or implied
shall be extended to W FOURCY Radioor its employees are affiliates. Any questions
or comments should be directed to thoseshow hosts. Thank you for choosing W
(00:21):
FOURCY Radio. What's Working on Purpose? Anyway? Each week we ponder the
answer to this question. People achefor meaning and purpose at work, to
contribute their talents passionately and know theirlives really matter. They crave being part
of an organization that inspires them andhelps them grow into realizing their highest potential.
(00:45):
Business can be such a force forgood in the world, elevating humanity.
In our program, we provide guidanceand inspiration to help usher in this
world we all want Working on Purpose. Now, here's your host, Doctor
Relise Cortes. Welcome back to theWorking and Purpose Program. Please for tuning
(01:06):
it in again this week. Greatto have you. This show has been
brought to you with passion and pricesince February of twenty fifteen, and I
enjoy hosting it each week. I'myour host, doctor Elise Cortes. If
we've not met yet before and youdon't know me, I'm an organizational psychologist
and therapist local therapist to be particular, speaker and author, and my team
and I at gusto Now help companiesto enliven and fortify their operations by articulating
(01:29):
their purpose and building inspirational leaders andcultures activated by meaning and purpose to turn
those companies from a flatline EKG toa vibrant destination workplace. There people are
intrinsically motivated to perform at their best, can grow into their full potential,
and are committed to stay and performdynamically in the company's mission. You can
learn more about us and how wecan work together at gustodashnow dot com or
(01:49):
Alascortes dot com. Now getting intotoday's program we have with us deb Smolenski.
She's a highly sought after speaker andaward winning thought leader in the area
of human performance and health work.She serves as the Well Being an Engagement
Practice leader at NFP and as anadvisor for the insertech, fintech and digital
health startup communities. She's the authorof brain On Mental fitness Strategies for sharpening
(02:12):
focus, boosting energy, and winningthe work date, which we're talking about
today. She joined today from Chicago. Deb a warm welcome to Working on
Purpose. Thank you so much,Thank you for having me. This is
so exciting. It is exciting,and I want to celebrate what you've brought
to the world, this beautiful book. Look at this thing that you did.
(02:32):
Thank you so much. That meansso much to me. You're very,
very very welcome. You know,I don't know if you're a mom,
but I'm mosteners and viewers who havebeen following the show for a while,
I've heard going to say this manymany, many times. Bringing this
book into the world is actually muchharder than bringing a human being into the
world. Yes, I should havetalked to you before going on this adventure
(02:55):
that A learned. I understand,I understand, but yet we keep doing
it. So it's wonderful and we'rehere where the winners for it, and
so I want to get into andas I mentioned to the show being curated,
we want to build on all theother beautiful things we've learned on the
show, And there were so manythings that I took from your book deb
that were delightfully refreshing and different.And I want to start with just situating
(03:19):
why I think your work is soimportant and taking a little bit from Jeremy
Hunter's forward that wrote in your book. He situates in that forward so beautifully.
And we've become these knowledge workers,innovation workers, and we're working in
cubicles, and this whole notion ofneeding to the fundamental shift from physical work
to mental, emotional, and socialand that entails working in these cubicles,
(03:42):
and that we're encouraged a multitask likethe computers on our desk and leading to
depleted mental reserves. We created analways on technology that never lets people rest
and recharge. And then he says, no wonder people are burnt out,
refusing to go back to the office, including their jobs, and droves who
wants to live like this? Soif we situate that's kind of where we
are right now, is kind ofa context of why your work is so
(04:02):
important and what you're teaching us atit, let's start there. Yeah,
I, first of all, asyou alluded to it's never just one person
contributing to a book, and Iwas so grateful to doctor Hunter for adding
those insightful comments. I listened tohis work as a professor at the Peter
(04:24):
Drucker Institute over and over again,and it resonated so much with me in
terms of we are knowledge workers.We use our brains all day long to
create work. So eight hours aday, my brain is on, your
brain is on four hundred and eightyminutes every day. We have never learned
(04:49):
how our brains work at work,and we've never been trained how to really
show up and use our computer systemthe workplace. And that is at the
fundamental crux of why I wrote thisbook, right, that is what we
are dealing with when we're overwhelmed,when we're burned out. I just keep
(05:11):
seeing the signals go on and on, and it all gets back to understanding
our computer system in context of howwork in the work environment is created and
is you know, part of ourdaily what I call obstacle course. And
as I mentioned DEBI I just thinkthat what you've what you taught me,
because as you know, I readthe book cover to cover, but there's
(05:33):
so much freshness in that I learnedabout how my brain did work, and
I want to course share that withour listeners. And I appreciate that you
really situate that. You know,you say the core of well being is
nurturing a strong, healthy, resilientmindset, and this is really, you
know, what you've been working onfor much of your career, and so
you're talking about what you're really puttingforth is prioritizing well being above anything else.
(05:55):
And you go on to say thatthis is a radically new way of
thinking about your work date taking thesteps to ensure your mental well being is
intact for tackling any of your goalsfor the day and interacting with your colleagues
and team. I find that tobe not only just honoring yourself, but
responsible for your own life and dreams. I love that. And you know,
thank you for reading my book coverto cover. That is just such
(06:18):
a generous gift and I really appreciatethat. And the insights you pull like
this question is amazing, Right,you got to the correux of what I'm
trying to communicate. And so yeah, with that, we are just we're
constantly trying to figure out how towork better. How to work smarter.
(06:42):
But it's inside, it's internal,like we are at charge, we are
the CEO, we are the computer. It's just we don't know how,
we don't We believe what we're thinking, but we don't understand that it's not
accurate. I always say, ourbrains actually are program to be our bodyguard.
They're not programmed to help us learn, help us grow, help us
(07:06):
connect, help us communicate, helpus to work. Like the list goes
on and on. Those are skillsets. I got so much from that,
the science and the insights that youput in your book there, and
even so much that you really helpedus understand, just even the you know
the name of your book, Brainon. But then you go on to
(07:26):
distinguish how easily our brain gets trippedup and turned off, as you say,
by the daily distractions and obstacles thatpop up. And I love that
you go on. You see,it doesn't matter how smart you may be.
Your brain isn't built to process thethousands a piece of information coming out
of each day. And when itfeels overwhelmed, it stops its healthy thinking
mode and in defaults to its primalemotional mode. And that's when we get
(07:47):
ourselves into trouble and we make ourpoor behavior choices and unwise decisions. They
have lasting and destructive consequences on ourselves, our team members, and others in
the organization. Which is what youput forth. I think that's really important
for our listeners and viewers to understandjust the consequences of not really you know,
monitoring this and intervening and as youwe'll talk about coaching your brain.
(08:11):
Yeah, what you're hitting upon islike a crucial point, and it's this
concept of being aware. Being awareis a muscle, a brain rep and
you know that doesn't write a bookLike I kind of been done in one
sentence, as it turned out,is like you just have to be aware
of what you're thinking and processing atevery moment. But I expanded and I'm
(08:35):
glad you found it helpful. Ithink what was very intriguing and very transformative
in my own growth through this isknowing that it's normal. Our brains are
programmed and the default system is tobe in fear mode. It's that primal
brain trying to keep us safe andso giving us grace. Knowing that every
(08:58):
time our phone likely drop, ourphone or an email dings or like a
doorbell rings, the initial response isjust who's there? What's going on?
Like, the fear brain is normal, and we have to realize that and
then turn our thinking brain, orour prefrontal cortex brain, our smart brain
(09:18):
on to override that primal response.And we've just never been taught that.
You know, one of the thingsI say when I'm working with organizations and
leaders is, you know, asamazing as we really have evolved to be
as a species. I mean,we can send people to the moon and
back, we can create beautiful skyscrapers, we can create amazing innovative companies,
(09:43):
we can run crazy huge countries,and yet at the end of the day,
we still have that reptilian brain that'sstill running us. And so learning
to engage in that thinking brain isso so interesting, And I like some
of the practices that you gave usin the book. You give us lots
of ways to try to elevate thisawareness. Just even asking yourself, we
hang on, right now, howam I feeling? Who does this?
(10:05):
Very often? Right? Nobody does? That's the whole point, Like,
that's only a second reason I decidedto go on this two year journey to
write We just don't know that theseare so important yet so simple, So
thank you for pointing that out soclearly. You know, if we would
(10:26):
ask ourselves and check in with ourselves, me, myself, and I,
we would not be stressed out rightnow, We would not be burned out.
I believe we wouldn't have the conflictswe have because we are aware of
how we are showing up. It'sjust we don't know. So we now
have to train our brains by askingourselves, Hey, what am I feeling
(10:48):
right now? Or this is reallyexciting. I feel excited talking to you
here. Every moment before an emailor before a meeting, now I try
to ask myself, hey, what'sgoing on? What am I feeling?
Or what where's the tension? Becauseemotions are just as powerful as the thoughts
were thinking and making sure I comewith my best self if I am not
(11:11):
there, So there's so many beautifullayers there, and then that kind of
builds onto the next thing I wantedto talk about, which just really frankly
blew me away. Deb but youdo talk about you know, some days
are more energy depleting than others,and of course our job is just to
stay aware and to monitor how fastour brain power is draining. Be cognizant
(11:33):
of this, you know, turnyourself on if you will, and carefully
and continuously to redirect energy towards thosegoals and tasks that lead us to more
productivity, growth and joy. Andwhat I've found really interesting was you say
dealing with these challenges and distractions cantake up to more than fifty percent of
our day. That is mind boggling. Yeah, the science really shows mind
(11:56):
boggling statistics. It shows that ourmind is wandering almost fifty percent of the
day. It shows our attention spanis less than eight seconds. I think
at this point in time, accordingto a Microsoft study, the way our
brain works in this complex VUKA worldis not coinciding and it is not for
(12:18):
our best interest. So I thinkwhat I realized after doing what I'll call
the cognitive or the brain on mentalfitness exercises and showing up with clarity or
focus or connection or whatever my intentionwas, is I was still exhausted some
days at two pm network or rightnow, I want to take a nap
(12:39):
for some days even by eight ifmy commute was really brutal, And so
that energy. Dan Pink says itin his book When Right, Knowing when
you're the most productive, and energymanagement is the second part of the formula
to brain on to get to anenergizer state. You have to have your
thinking brain, but you also haveto manage that energy throughout the day and
(13:03):
do those brain boosters too at whatI call end up better at the end
of the day than you started,which I'm not sure any of us even
know how to do at this point. You know, it's funny you say
that, dev Now that you've saidthat, the way that you do,
I can remember a few days thatreally stand out as just smashing, and
they were because I had this crescendoof energy. It just seemed to grow
(13:26):
during the day. May stand outbecause they're unusual, right, They don't
happen every day. They don't happenyou know, regularly for that matter,
right, And so part of itis we can make that happen. We
can look at our obstacle course,which I called the calendar. Right.
(13:46):
If you don't have any white spacein there, and you're making your brain
run through emails and meetings and conversationswithout any recovery, that energy management we
fall on the couch as the wholeworld society right by the end of the
work day. But the point is, back to your brilliant synthesis, is
(14:07):
it's all about awareness. Building inthat space or managing our energy is the
key to those downstandout days, andwe can create more of them by following
that. I love that. Soone of the many things I appreciate about
your book is I like how youorganize ideas. And so you have this
brain on energy matrix that you startedto allude to with the energizer piece here.
(14:30):
But if you could just kind ofspeak to that, there's two you
know, it's a four part quadrantif you will, and so you've got
to disengage. There's two kinds ofdisengage, and then you've got the engage
two kinds of engage. Can youspeak to that a little bit please?
I think that's fascinating, very helpful. Yeah, thank you so much.
And I love how you It isa matrix. You described it perfectly.
(14:52):
So when I think about the workday, there's just two things to really
live your best life at work.It's managing if you're in your thinking brain
and seeing things clearly. So thebrain on brain off up against are am
I engaged. Am I doing whatI love to do? Or in your
in your context, am I alignedwith my purpose right in those things?
(15:16):
Or am I disengaged? And whenyou put those across a matrix, you
get four key areas that don't tellyour you know that don't tell you just
one and done, like for therest of your career. It's a daily
exercise. So if I'm brain off, meaning I'm in my negative thinking and
I am low energy or not engaged, I'm what I call survivor mode.
(15:41):
I'm just watching the clock until itclicks five a clock, right. But
then if I'm still brain off andI'm not really thinking about my thoughts but
I'm really engaged in what I door I'm really loving the day, then
you can get into kind of warriormode like go go, Go, go
(16:03):
go, and you can be inthat mode until you burn out. So
it's only when you cross that thresholdof turning your brain on paying attention to
things that you have a chance toget into that energizer mode or winning your
work day. And the difference ison the left hand side. If you're
still brain on and you're aware ofwhat's going on and you're managing your motions
(16:29):
and regulating them. But something's missingthat spark, as you well know,
like with those beautiful books and insightfulbooks behind you, you're in the seeker
mode. There's something missing, anduntil you align with your strengths, your
purpose, until your goals include yourwellbeing, you won't move over to that
(16:49):
sweet spot which combines being brain onand energized about your day, which is
why I call it the energizer.Oh, that was beautifully explained, and
so it's to sync. Let's letour listeners and viewers think about that as
we take our first break. Herethose four different buckets seeker, survivor,
energizer, and warrior. I'm ElieCortez, your host. We've been on
(17:10):
the air with Debs MULLINSI. She'sthe Well Being an Engagement Practice leader at
NFP and as an advisor for theSirtech, fintech and digital health startup communities,
serves to help lift the world.We've been talking a bit about why
it's important to be aware of ourbrain and whether or not we're a brain
on or not. After the break, we're going to learn about creating the
(17:30):
emotions we actually want to experience atwork. Stay with us. We'll be
right back. Doctor Elise Cortez isa management consultant specializing in meaning and purpose.
(17:52):
An inspirational speaker and author. Shehelps companies visioneer for a greater purpose
among stakeholders and developed purpose inspired leadershipand meaning infused cultures that elevate fulfillment,
performance, and commitment within the workforce. To learn more or to invite Elise
to speak to your organization, pleasevisit her at elisecortes dot com. Let's
talk about how to get your employeesworking on purpose. This is working on
(18:22):
Purpose with doctor Elise Cortes. Toreach our program today or to open a
conversation with Elise, send an emailto a lease A LISEE at elisecortes dot
com. Now back to working onpurpose. Thanks for staying with us,
and welcome back to working on Purpose. I'm your host, doctor Elise Cortes,
(18:45):
as I too, am dedicated tohelping create a world where people realize
their potential at work and they're ledby inspirational leaders that help them find and
contribute their greatness. And we dobusiness at Betters of World. I continue
to research and write my own books, so one of my latest that came
out in March of twenty It's calledthe Great Revitalization. How activating meaning and
purpose can radically enliven your business.And I wrote it to help leaders understand
(19:07):
the nature of today's workforce, whatthey want and need to be vitally inspired
and engage and give their best.And then I provide twenty two best projects
to help you create an organization tomeet those needs. You can learn more
about it at gustodeshnow dot com orgrab your copy on Amazon if you are
just now joining us. My guestis Deb Smolensky. She's the author of
Brain On Mental fitness Strategies for sharpeningfocus, boosting energy, and winning the
(19:30):
work day. So it's good tome. So this next bit here,
I think people will be really surprised. And I love how you dangle this
here for us, and I mentionedit just before the break, but we
talk about how we can actually useour brain to manage and create the emotions
we want to experience it work.I love that. Yes, thank you.
I'm still back into the intro.I love your intro. I feel
(19:52):
like I'm a walk up baseball playerand it's totally turns vite and brain on.
So thank you for that, I'mglad and honesty lost the question for
just a second. You can't controlour emotions and create the emotions we want,
and that's that's a really good point. Even for this, I knew
I wanted to be excited, butI was low energy, so I wanted
(20:15):
to come show up with my bestself. And the thing to know is
again, our brain on default isfear based, and so we always have
to overcome that. And if wedon't, but what happens is we're either
going towards the threat or the rewardsystem. So we always want to go
(20:37):
and be aware of how to createemotions moving us forward, how to be
aware of the thoughts that will helpus move forward, because there's no neutral
in our thoughts. They either degradeour lives or they upgrade our lives.
And so to create those emotions,you actually have to figure out how to
(20:59):
trick your brain. Sometimes. Forexample, you know, when a child
falls down, you know this probablybetter than I do. But when a
child falls down and you you don'tgo like you go like, oh,
it's okay, right, the mirrorneurons they go up and the baby starts
blowing it off, or or maybehopefully even laughing. Well, that's the
kind of tricks we want to useto help our brain stay in brain on
(21:22):
mode or in a positive emotional state. What I love about that, among
many other things UB is the agencyin it activating the human agency in ourselves.
I just think that is wonderful andthat speaks to one of the next
things that I really admire about whatyou've given us here. You talk about
how high performing people don't leave theirmindset up to chance. They actively work
(21:45):
to overcome any misguided thoughts, inpoor emotional regulation, in irrational or primal
fears. And you say that's whytraining your brain is as important as aerobic
conditioning to lead a healthy life.It's starting your day with a successful mindset.
Begins by avoiding your phone owner oranything that throws you into a work
mode very first thing that you're awake. You need to be able to get
(22:06):
yourself online in in a positive,energizing way. We've had people on this
program talking about ways that we canstart every day by really getting clear about
what's my bold vision for what Iwant for my life, starting with that
versus social media or the news,and I think that is so powerful.
What you put forth that no onethat is high performing leaves their mindset to
(22:26):
chance. Yeah, that really stuckwith me as I was writing the book
over and over again. If wedon't take agency, I love that words
you used, right, if wedon't take accountability an agency and understand that
our brains just aren't wired for this. And it's a skill and a practice
(22:49):
if we want to be our bestselves, it's a skill and a practice
all day long to create that forming, high performing brain to be in energizer
mode. So I really studied professionalathletes in this. I watched in the
(23:11):
Wimbledon in June, one of thechampions, Djokovic, in the finals match,
throw his racket after missing an easypoint. But that's normal, right,
brain off, we'd go into fearmode immediately or anger mode. But
what was interesting is he immediately didhis breathing, He walked back, pumping
(23:36):
himself up, and he visualized hisnext stroke as an ace. And what
did he do is he aced itlike in twenty seconds. Amazing athletes go
from the worst brain off to bringingtheir brains on. So I think of
us as corporate athletes. I thinkwe all need to think of it in
that way. In some regard.I like that idea a lot. And
(23:57):
then I'm going to bring us tothis next point. Ladies and gentlemen,
are you ready to be maybe blownaway or you know, blown back by
this? But I was amazed thatyou shared with us that science has proven
that we only have three to fourhours of productive brain power and resources each
day. And that's it. That'sit. I know. I'm grateful to
know that, and I'm so gratefulto those that study this all day long,
(24:19):
because again, we don't know howour brain works, but that is
it. Not only is that itis some of us work at different times
better. So you might be anafternoon person, as Daniel Pink says,
or a morning person, but thathas really changed how I try to focus
(24:41):
every day, even my calendar,and how I shift priorities of what I'm
going to work on. Like Isaid, this is a little out of
my comfort zone speaking to you atthis point of my day, like I
should be asleep right now. Iknew, like I needed to save my
good brain productive for this right andso I didn't stress myself out or use
(25:03):
that much energy up until this point. It was a different type of day
for me, you know, Ialways one of the great things about hosting
the show deb is I do learnso much from my guests. You really
helped me become a better version ofmyself, and I really appreciate that.
And I want you to know thatwhat you taught me, this idea that
we only have three to four hoursof productive brain power, has radically altered
(25:25):
the way that I want to utilize, especially my weekends, because I tend
to use my weekends for writing andlonger research projects. But I can let
myself get totally distracted, and beforeI know it, I've lost those three
to four beautiful, precious hours,and then I'm mad about it when Monday
comes. And I want you toknow that you have changed me in this
way for the better. Thank youfor that gift. Oh thank you that
(25:48):
such a generous, beautiful comment.I will treasure that, and I'm so
glad. You know you've wrote suchbeautiful books and empowering books, and as
you know, you just want tohelp people, right, and so that
makes me so happy. First ofall, I'm just absorbing that with gratitude
(26:10):
because that keeps my brain on andkeeps me engaged. And then also I
too, just want to admit thatI continuously have to check in with myself
too, because we get distracted,and it's a key mental practice just to
use those three hours strategically. SoI think you're highlighting for all of us
(26:33):
a practice that we can take backimmediately and always check in. Am I
using my time? Right? Isthis my productive power? Let's go?
Yeah, exactly, And then youknow, again that builds us. Just
to this next point that I wantedto make. I was just also another
one of the beautiful, very freshpoints that you make in your book is
you know you talk about if anybodywere to if you were to ask anybody
you or me were asking any abouttheir important relationship in their life, they
(26:56):
would name such things as their partor their children, their parents, their
siblings, their friends, their boss, their coworkers. But no one would
actually say their relationship with their brainwas a top priority. But in the
end you say, it's the mostimportant relationship that we have. I found
that so compelling. Yeah, ifyou think about it, you know they
(27:18):
always say you're your best cheerleader.It's just you in the end, right,
you have to be self sufficient andindependent, but it's really you and
your brain. Like if your brainis being kind to you, which takes
practice to not wander in negative neighborhoodsand those things. The relationship with your
(27:40):
brain understanding your thoughts and your emotions, I call that the fountain of youth.
Oh my gosh, that's delightful.Well, as we said before we
got on their deb you know thatparticular idea that we just have been talking
about is really cultivating the relationship withyour brain in an intentional, loving,
(28:00):
nurturing way. That idea really resonateswith me. And again, doing so
then allows us to be able todo what we want with our one precious
life in a much more effective,impactful way. And I'm behind that one
hundred and twenty eight percent type ofthat. Yes, giving ourselves grace and
(28:23):
knowing this is the key, knowingthat our default system is going to be
fight flight freeze. It just is. That is how we are wired for
that one day. May it neverbe so that a car comes running down
right or some bear jumps out ofthe woods. Our brain is ready.
That's what it's designed to do,and it's always going to react. So
(28:48):
where's my keys? Oh I'm somad I missed the meeting. Why is
this like everything first starts with thenegative, and we have to bring it
to the positive, but not beatingup how we think, just knowing that
we have to strengthen our thoughts andwe can do that. Science shows with
neuroplasticity, which is mental fitness,and that is the only way up greater
(29:11):
thoughts, up greater thoughts. Wewire our brain. We wire our brain
so important every minute of the day. Well, and I also appreciated that
in order to do that, thatneuroplasticity you offered, you know, prioritizing
self care with brain boosters. AndI really get behind this because I also
put this in some of my programs. But you talk about the importance of
(29:33):
actively planning your day to include enoughrest, and I know people say,
well, I'm so busy, andpeople are, and yet you still have
the choice of when you go tobed and when you get up. We
also introduce the importance of nature andmusic and play and connection and these are
always to restore our brain's energy whenwe're feeling a drop or in the brain
drain. And so that's why someof the programs that I do, I
(29:55):
incorporate those sort of things. JawJoy, Gratitude, Wonder, awe,
because they're they're they're there's there's sowhat I want to say, well,
energizing. So I appreciated very muchthat you talked about that we have within
our means, these these immediate brainboosters. So if you could say just
a little bit more about you know, how do they work, and you
(30:15):
know what else, what other optionsmight we have? Yeah, and I
did notice, and I love howyou do incorporate them seamlessly right within the
work and the organization. And soI appreciate that call out because we can
focus on our thoughts. We canfocus on our thoughts and trying to change
(30:37):
them and being aware of how wefeel. But at some point we just
are in a funk, or we'retired and we just need just a spark
of something or or rest in recovery. So this work actually comes from doctor
Rock and doctor Daniel Siegel. It'scalled the mind Platter. And when I
heard this, I'm like, whydon't we know about this more? But
(30:59):
it's ways to feed and energize ourbrains. So in my book, I
basically have an illustration of the brainlike with a charger, right, a
plugging in. This is how wecharge our brains, just as if we
charge our phones battery and so itreally is, according to science, all
(31:19):
the things that actually elicit those dopaminehits or oxytocin and release those neurotransmitters and
chemicals that actually connect us back topeople or energize us or fill us up.
And so I love the ones younamed. I always say my name
(31:40):
backwards. Deb is bed So Ihit the twenty minute nap all the time.
I think I was bored for that, and when I was writing this
book. Or if I have ahard meeting, like I mentioned earlier,
I have a walk up song forthree minutes, I listen to something so
engaging in terms of music, evenlike your introduction to this show is amazing.
(32:02):
But I also find like even hydrating, So I have a hydration drink
here and just filling up. Ifyou're hungry, you're kind of depleting your
brain uses glucose. Those kinds ofthings are really helpful just to keep that
brain power going. Oh so,such good self care mechanisms. All right,
(32:23):
let's grab our last break here atDeb. I am doctor Releas Cortez,
who were on the air with DebSmolenski. She's the well being an
engagement practice leader at NFP, andshe also serves as an advisor for the
insertech, fintech and digital health startupcommunities. We've been talking more about specific
ways that we can monitor and helpenergize our brain. For the last segment
(32:44):
after the break, we're going toget into how we can use her work
to build what she calls regenerative cultures. Say what, We'll be right back.
(33:06):
Doctor Elise Cortes is a management consultantspecializing in meaning and purpose. An
inspirational speaker and author, she helpscompanies visioneer for greater purpose among stakeholders and
develop purpose inspired leadership and meaning infusedcultures that elevate fulfillment, performance, and
commitment within the workforce. To learnmore or to invite a lease to speak
to your organization, please visit herat elisecortes dot com. Let's talk about
(33:30):
how to get your employees working onpurpose. This is working on Purpose with
doctor Elise Cortes. To reach ourprogram today or to open a conversation with
Elise, send an email to AliseA. L Se at elisecortes dot com.
(33:50):
Now back to working on purpose.It's interesting with us and welcome back
to working on purpose. I'm yourhost doctor Earliest Cortes. I mentioned in
the last break about my latest bookcoming out, the Great Revitalization. Along
with that, what I did foryou is I created an organizational best Prejudices
Assessment and it's waiting for you onGustodashnew dot com or at least Coortes dot
(34:14):
com. What it does is letsyou really measure the extent to which your
current projectes are actually meeting today's needsand standards. If you are just joining
us today, my guess is DebSmelensky. She's the author of Brain On
Mental fitness Strategies for sharpening focus,boosting energy, and winning the work day.
So for this last bit here,Deb and I really wanted to take
us back into the workplace. Ofcourse, we can use these things anywhere
(34:36):
we go in life, but bothyou and I do a lot of work
in the workplaces, and it's excitingto think about how we can use what
you have created for us to actuallycreate beautiful, energized, connected teams.
And so once again I go backto one of your beautiful matrices, your
quadrant of four boxes here, andthis is what you call It's about becoming
(34:57):
a brain on regenerative culture. Soif you could again distinguishes you just before
you know the four pieces, theX and Y axis and what's in them.
Yeah, I think it was veryimportant for me to first train our
brains as individual employees, right,this is all about work and how we
show up. But then it's alsoextremely important, like you mentioned, to
(35:19):
talk from an organizational perspective to thosethat have any influence over others brains or
creating and transforming the collective brain.So this part gets into the organizational section
and it can be applied in thesame manner, meaning as an organization if
you are creating a brain off,brain on engage, disengaged society or collective
(35:46):
community. If your brain off andyou are not engaged as a group,
it's very, very depleted. It'svery it takes everything out. You're sucking
the life out of every employee.Right, if your policies don't nurture people,
(36:12):
if your culture is do this,do that, no autonomy, mastery
purpose, So it takes around thatscale. If you still stay kind of
brain off in the way you treatyour employees, meaning you look at them
as just more assets and not asa relationship, it can become very transactional
as well. But when you startengaging in the collective community and a lot
(36:39):
about what you write, where yourpractices take into account, maybe feedback from
employees or your team, where youare asking people what they think, You're
making sure psychological safety is there.You hit that mark of sustainable right,
(36:59):
which I think is where we seethe bar. But what I wanted to
encourage people and workplaces specifically is toreally start aligning with their strengths and purposes
like you allude to and promote.Because what that does when you recognize somebody
(37:20):
and value them and align the workwith that, it leaps them over into
that white right truck TALP quadrant,which is regenerative. You're no longer deleting
and defeating and depleting. You're nolonger just sustaining. You're growing and regenerating
and fueling both yourself in the individualas well as the organization by doing so.
(37:46):
You know, we've had many peopleon this program deb over the years
talking about, you know, therole and responsibilities leaders have because literally leaders
really think about this. Ladies andgentlemen, listening or watching your leader literally
impacts a lot of your life,not just that whatever happens during the workday,
but how you show up when youcome home with your family, and
(38:07):
how you interact with your significant other, your children, whether or not you
choose to engage with positively or negatively, with your community, it follows you.
And so your impact as a leaderis profound. And I hope in
some ways that that's a little scary. In other ways, I hope it's
really really inspiring that the difference youcan make in someone's life. So what
I got really excited about with yourwork their depth and I could envision this.
(38:29):
I don't know if it's on yourwebsite. I didn't look that deeply
there. But what I love aboutwhat you did with that simple little matrix,
I think a lot of organizations thinkwe're doing fine, we're good.
Okay, maybe you are fine andgood, but yet there is this whole
other opportunity, this whole regenerative spacethat you maybe don't understand that you could
(38:50):
actually move into. And that's whereI get really excited to. Yeah,
I just admire your work, andthose really focus on leadership. So let
me just double down on what yousaid. There is such a need an
opportunity right now to show up ashuman centered, compassionate leaders. Those are
(39:14):
all skills. Yeah, the thingthat we need is a skill, and
I call it a mental fitness skill. So I do specifically talk about this
leadership mental fitness circuit above and beyondthe individual what else you need to do.
And so that is really, inthe end part of a key part
(39:38):
of the formula. And I knowyou've said this before and probably lots of
times, but people quit bosses,not jobs. And I spent the last
week based on this New York Timesarticle and this research by doctor Wellington.
I believe his name is I shouldhave looked, but I'm coming out that
says what workplace wellness doesn't work.And really what his research says in terms
(40:05):
of resilience and mindset and all ofthis work is it's an and if we
don't help leaders and the culture wraparound and support people, this regenerative culture
will never come to fruition, andwe will continue to turn people's brains off
at every corner, every communication.And again I find that really encouraging because
(40:30):
to me, what you put forthis an opening, it's an invitation,
it's a space to walk into andthen to be able to build on the
knowledge and skills of others who've comebefore us and who are in our vicinity
and surrounded and supportive. I justI get so excited and again for me
to I find I'm out to buildworkplace destination, workplaces where people really can
(40:51):
realize their potential. I believe inthe power and the magic of work as
one of the best catalyzing forces wehave to realize our potential. And yet
for so many people it occurs asa bad for letter where that they just
want to either avoid or try todiminish, you know, their interaction with
it as much as possible. Soif your work is so powerful, so
(41:13):
important, yeah, I love that, I'm like, wow, I wish
everybody would say that, Like betweenplaying your music at the beginning and saying
those words you just said about destination, where like I'm like all for it,
and so it is. I alwaystry to view this as a positive
opportunity. So as a leader,if you are struggling, that is,
(41:39):
first check in with your brain,your thoughts, because your thoughts create your
reality, and how can you latchon to being mentally stronger and using the
resources and tools in terms of accountabilityand awareness to build the workday. You
want to build the team, youwant to build the leader in you that
(42:00):
you want. It's all within us. We just need to be aware of
our thoughts, challenge our thoughts,and then do our mental fitness to get
our thoughts going in the right direction. That's all. That's all. So,
(42:21):
yes, I know, no,no, I'm right there with you.
Okay. So where I want togo next? I'm sorry, I'm
glad I can make you laugh atthat, because I meant I meant it
to be meant it to be silly. Yeah, but I love on this
show. What I like so muchis I want it to be always educational,
one part education, one part inspirational, and I always want listeners and
viewers to be able to walk awaywith something they can immediately put into practice.
(42:43):
And So what I want to goto next here is you offer toward
the end of your book, thisbrain on audit that you can help that
people can use to help assess howtheir organization and culture are activating the principles
in the book. So if let'sspend a little bit of time talking about
each of the four buckets in thatassessment, if we could. Yeah,
So, the four buckets like whenyou are auditing for a regenerative culture.
(43:08):
There's care, there's emotional intelligence,there's communityation and growth. Those are the
foundations of a regenerative culture. Sofor care, we have moved into the
mission of HR or talent or whoeveryou are in that organization to not only
(43:30):
attract and retain. We are nowattract, retain and care for Yes,
I love that attract. Yes,employer contract has changed. And when you
bring on someone and when they joinyou, you are now united in caring
for the organization and that individual.And so that is an audit, and
(43:52):
I give several different topics within therethat you have to start to focus.
It's new, but that is essentialto build a regenerative culture. Teaching everyone
emotional intelligence, emotional literacy, whateveryou want to call it, is the
core communication blowing through the culture.So I think there's several different studies,
(44:17):
but summarizing them, we as asociety can name six different emotions usually like
how are you feeling good? Howare you feeling Oh, I'm happy,
sad, angry? Just six,But there's twenty four hundred different emotions that
when you get very clear on them, can help navigate and elevate your life,
(44:37):
and so teaching emotional literacy being understandingof how your words impact the others,
if they have emotional literacy or ifthey are learning emotional like, all
of that comes into play. SoI am a big fan of integrating that,
which then doves tails into communication.We often at an HR or organizational
(45:01):
level, are pushing out communications.And I had the chance to ask Daniel
Goldman personally, well, how doyou build emotional intelligence into communications, especially
email? And what he said wasto me profound and he said his wife
said he didn't even know. Hiswife said, if that email strengthens the
(45:28):
relationship, that is what you're goingfor versus degrading it. So before you
hit send in your communications, isit going to make people worried? Is
it unclear or uncertain that's going tocause chaos among the brains and turn them
off? Does this communication strengthen yourrelationship with employees or degrade it? Those
(45:50):
are the filters or audits you lookat from a communication perspective, and then
growth growth mindset. It's either fixedor it's growth, but they can be
both, right, But what wewant to nurture is those words that I'll
open up the growth of the organization, the willingness to try something new because
(46:14):
change is going to be constant anduncertainty triggers us brain off all the time,
and can be strong enough to sayI think I can try this,
or curious enough to say, oh, can you tell me more? Growing
versus constricting or contracting is the onlyway to move forward and create that regenerative
(46:37):
culture. I am completely in linewith that, as you can well imagine,
So okay, so dat, We'vemanaged already to come through the show.
It's crazy how fast it goes.You know that this show is listened
to by people around the world whocare about improving their own experience of work,
being part of organizations and cultures thathelp them realize their greatness. They
would love to be led by inspiracialleaders that really bring them to that task
(47:01):
or become those inspirational leaders. Andwe do business at Betters the World.
What would you like to leave ourlisteners and viewers with today? Every moment
of every day, you are constructingyour reality, building it from the ground
up, and your thoughts create yourperceptions. Your perceptions create your choices you
(47:25):
see in view, and your choicesthen create your results. If you practice
just awareness and those mental fitness exercisesaligned with that, you can really find
the fountain of youth. I believeat least you can win your work day,
(47:45):
and that is my hope for everybodyout there is to combat burn out
and start winning our work day together. Oh Dad, what a beautiful finish.
I'm so happy to know you,to have learned from you, to
have shared you with my listeners onthe world. Thank you for being a
guest on Working on Purpose. Thankyou, it was a pure pleasure.
I will treasure this. Thank youso much. I'm very happy to hear
(48:07):
that makes my heart saying thank you. Now, listeners and viewers are going
you're going to want to learn tofollow this woman here. Find a way
to do this. So if youwant to learn more about her, her
work or her book, the bestway to do to do this is probably
to start with her personal website.It's deb Smolensky dot com. Let me
spell that for you, so Debd eb and then Smolensky is s m
(48:28):
O l e n Sky Deb Smolenskydot com. Last week, you've missed
the live show, you can alwayscatch it be recorded podcast. We were
on the air with Marga Hooick talkingabout her incredibly well researched and inspiring book
Tech for Good. We talked aboutsome of the examples from the eighty five
companies she showcases in the book thatare employing advanced technologies to tackle really complex
(48:49):
problems in the world. This episodewill inspire you to look for new ways
you can utilize today's technology to advanceyour mission or causes. Next week,
we'll be on the air with TamarRyan of the Women's Being Project talking about
the incredibly intimate look she gives ofthe women who work at the Women's Beans
Project and are struggling mightily to moveout of poverty and move from incarceration back
(49:12):
into a life of productivity and happiness. Our conversation will open your eyes that
the world is not at all blackor white by poverty is such a curse,
and inspire you to help more people. See you there, and remember
work is one of the best adventuresand means of realizing our potential and making
the impact we crave. So let'swork on Purpose. We hope you've enjoyed
(49:34):
this week's program. Be sure totune into Working on Purpose featuring your host,
doctor Elise Cortes each week on Wfour C. Why Together We'll create
a world where business operates conscientiously.Leadership inspires and passion performance and employees are
fulfilled in work that provides the meaningand purpose they crave. See you there.
Let's work on purpose.
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