McKay explores the profound truth that our lives are shaped by our choices in this latest instalment of the Open Your Eyes podcast. From celebrity comebacks to devastating wildfires and artistic dedication, he illustrates how embracing "everything is a choice" empowers us to move beyond circumstance, take responsibility, and consciously design a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Illustrating the real-world impact of decisions, our host draws upon such examples as a California wildfire, where proactive choices saved homes, and a professor's financial advice leading to debt-free living. He highlights the disciplined choices of artists like Picasso and Julie Andrews, alongside the compounding power of small daily actions. Stories of Suze Orman turning disaster into success and Ruth Pfau dedicating her life to service after a pivotal decision underscore how conscious choices redefine our paths. In essence, McKay encourages listeners to recognize their agency, define who they want to become, and use the power of choice to steer their lives intentionally.

Main Themes:

• "Everything is a choice" as a core empowering principle.
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• Small, consistent choices compound over time.
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• Taking 100% responsibility for actions and outcomes.
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• Defining who you become is crucial.
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• Discipline can create freedom.
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• Proactive decisions prevent disaster and build success.
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• The "trim tab" effect: small choices steer life's direction.
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• Pivotal choices can redefine a life's path.

Top 10 Quotes:

"We get to choose to live the life we have."

"The world gets out of the way for people who know what they want and where they're going."

"Every disciplined effort has its own multiple reward."

"The choices we consistently make have a compounding effect on our life."

"Little, everyday decisions will either take you to the life you desire or disaster."

"The day you graduate from childhood to adulthood is the day you take full responsibility for your life."

"Some people regard discipline as a chore. For me, it's a kind of order that sets me free."

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Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

In today’s very special episode of Open Your Eyes, McKay explores personal branding's impact, showing how shaping your narrative fosters growth. Inspired by Mother Teresa's legacy, our host stresses that individuals are now their own powerful brands, as he discusses purpose, authenticity, and strategically building reputation for influence and fulfillment.

Throughout the episode, McKay shares insights from his career and academia, noting personal brands combine attributes, actions, and value communication. He goes on to explain that others' perception is key - people connect with the individual, making a defined brand vital for success. His stories of "Blue Collar Discipline" Jordan and Coach Knight show how living a defined brand unlocks potential and inspires. Overall, McKay concludes that consciously building your brand is about becoming, not just achieving.

Main Themes:

• Understanding personal branding as the intentional shaping of your reputation and narrative.
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• The power of aligning your actions and life with a defined promise or purpose, as exemplified by Mother Teresa.
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• Recognizing that individuals are the new brands, and your personal story has immense value.
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• The importance of self-awareness in identifying your unique attributes, skills, and values for brand building.
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• How consistent, authentic communication and action contribute to a strong personal brand.
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• Learning that people "buy into you" before they buy into your product, service, or idea.
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• Practical steps for defining your brand, including self-audits and creating a personal narrative.
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• The lasting impact of a strong personal brand on personal growth, influence, and legacy.

Top 10 Quotes:

"When we can see things and ourselves as they really are, we can gain tremendous power to do and be more than otherwise possible."

"In the world today, brands are less and less logos or slogans. They're stories, values, and experiences that people emotionally connect with. And now, more than ever, people are the brand."

"We're all making a brand with our life and work, whether we're doing it on purpose or not."

"You have to realize that people buy into you before they buy into your product."

"Your personal brand is the perception others have of you. How you're seen, remembered, and yes, even talked about."

"Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room."

"Every effort you expend in trying to become someone better, someone of excellence, has a multiplier effect on your life."

"Who you become is infinitely more important than what you do or what you have."

"You are of more value than your past performance. You're greater than your habits."

"Make a better person of yourself and the result will be a better nation and a finer world to live in."

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Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

This week, McKay talks about aspects of the culture effect, including creating culture, maintaining it, and how to rescue it. He opens up with a story detailing Tonga’s devastating volcanic eruption and how the Tongan culture, which values respect and open-mindedness, helped the people weather the storm. McKay notes that, when teams or families have a strong culture, they will thrive and prosper, but, on the other hand, when culture is weak, it can destroy your team and everything you’re working for.

McKay also emphasizes that, as leaders, we have the opportunity to influence and shape the culture that drives us, and goes on to share that, to do so, we must learn to value feedback. So, make sure that you are slow to speak and quick to listen when it comes to creating a culture and values. Likewise, an influential leader will lead by example, sharing and modeling the values by which they hope their team will abide. McKay draws this episode to a close with one final piece of advice: be careful who you let join your team. All it takes is one person to totally alter your culture, so protect it and you will protect your team as well.

The Finer Details of This Episode:

• Tonga’s devastating volcanic eruption
• The fall of IBM
• Defining culture
• Influencing culture
• The importance of feedback
• Sharing and modeling values
• Why mid level managers create culture

Quotes:

"Tongans look out for each other and respect others. Many Tongans may avoid outward signs of wealth or affection. They dress in modest ways, and they're highly receptive to other people's opinion and behavior.”

“Culture can guide a team, lead a company to thrive and prosper, or culture can, like toxic ash, choke a team and cause companies to fail, or fall.”

“Most leaders don't understand culture and they don't know how to diagnose or influence it.”

“Culture can help teams be more agile, loyal and effective… Culture can also be a significant liability when it's misaligned with your strategy or values. And it doesn't matter how dysfunctional your culture may be on your team today, you can improve it with a plan and intentional effort.”

“So, like the researchers in Roseto, you may have to set up camp for a while on your team, maybe even in your family - watch, listen, and observe. See if you can uncover some of the cultural behaviors and assumptions that your team members have.”

“You see, some leaders stopped showing up for the small things. And the result? Their people do the same. What you do duplicates, so if you want to change the culture on your team, model the behavior.”

“Hire and recruit people who exemplify what culture you're trying to create. And over time, these managers will influence your entire team. So be very selective about the people you let influence your team.”

“Listen, learn, and determine where your culture is today to define the mission and values that will underpin your future culture.”

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Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

On today's episode, McKay explores the concept of happiness, including where to find it, and how to hold on to it. To intoduce this rather expansive topic, he opens up the show by reviewing Elizabeth Smart's story - her brutal experience getting kidnapped and raped, and her journey toward happiness. McKay says that, while it's true that happiness is partially dependent upon circumstance, we can also attribute a large portion of our happiness to dedication, the people who raised us, and those with whom we surround ourselves.

He goes on to introduce more conditions for happiness, noting that, when we have admirable intentions and goals in our lives, for example, we find more daily satisfaction. Even the love we share and receive plays a large role in how content we are. McKay draws this highly positive podcast episode to a close by reminding the audience to find joy in the little things, and by offering this invaluable advice: “Stay poised in tough situations—good will prevail. Exercise. Serve. Have Faith. Be humble and watch…. You will be happy.”

The Finer Details of This Episode:

• Elizabeth Smart’s journey
• Happiness dependent on circumstances
• Set happiness
• Taylor Swift’s NYU speech
• The value of intention
• Love and happiness
• Darren’s happy landing
• Focusing on the little things

Quotes:

"As the days passed, she started to realize that this may be her new way of life.”

“He has taken 9 months of your life that you will never get back, but the best punishment you could ever give him is to be happy.”

“Happiness is a choice.”

“Married people report a slightly higher happiness level than single people. In research, 25 percent of married people and 21 percent of single people say they are very happy. In short, circumstances such as wealth or marital status only impact our happiness in small ways.”

“We get more from our parents than eye color and facial features. We may get a large set of our happiness from them or from others. How we grew up or who we have interacted with throughout our life, does dictate our level of happiness.”

“People with aspirations have higher energy levels, stronger immune systems, stronger mental health and feelings of self-confidence and self-esteem.”

“I agree with the researchers. I believe happy people see the best, even in the toughest situations. They are empowered with poise and optimism.”

“Remember, that only 10 percent of happiness depends on circumstances. Fifty percent is heritable. So be a person who sees, talks about and shares the good in life. You can pass on the habit of happiness to others and be a blessing to them.”

“Focusing on the small things in life that bring you joy.”

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Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

This week, McKay talks about how to speak so people listen. He opens up the episode with the story of Ronald Reagan’s powerful speech to D-Day veterans at Pointe du Hoc. Great speakers, McKay says, ask questions to connect with the audience and help them feel like the message is for them. To remember and map their speech, good speakers break their speech down into manageable chunks, each with important points to get across. By using chunks, speakers can teach instead of memorizing their lines verbatim. Most importantly though, McKay holds that the key to speaking so that people listen is knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Then, seek to magnify your strengths. It’s your strengths that make your speaking memorable.

He goes on to note that, when we try to mimic someone else’s style by playing to their strengths instead of our own, we come off as fake. That’s why McKay says it’s so important to share personal stories; the more an audience relates to you, the more they will listen to you. McKay also shares some speech 'don’ts' - such as using too many jokes to too much focus on the speaker. He draws this episode to a close by sending a heartfelt message to his friend Austin who has recently embarked on a public speaking journey of his own and encouraging all of us to learn a bit more how to speak so people listen.

What makes a speech remarkable and memorable? McKay answers this question in today’s episode as he brings to light examples of great speeches and teaches us how to improve our speaking skills. In order to connect with your audience, McKay explains that you have to focus on your audience, prime them to think in the same mindset, use stories to carry them along, and ask questions.

The episode begins with the story of Abraham’s Lincoln speech, a short speech that inspired many and continues to do so to this day. McKay explains how Lincoln makes use of repetition and constraint in his speech and how he recognized his physical surroundings and atmosphere, giving more power to his speech. Mckay gives a step-by-step approach on how to become a better speaker by connecting more fully with your audience and making your speech less about you and more about your listener.

The Finer Details of This Episode:

• Abraham Lincoln’s speech at Gettysburg
• Using repetition and contrast in speeches
• How to become a better speaker
• You have to focus on your audience and connect with them
• The story behind “I Have A Dream”
• Starting your speech by priming the listeners
• The different examples of priming
• Priming with stories and jokes
• The power of asking your audience questions

Quotes:

“Great orators, when giving a speech, seek a cadence, a feeling, by their use of words.”

“Great speaking is a developed talent.”

“Too often, we don't consider the place or the audience. And so many speakers come at it from their own point of view, or make it about themselves. And this gets in the way, it prevents the listeners from fully engaging.”

“Pay attention to where you sit. Sit where you can easily make contact with the listeners. Eye contact makes all the difference. ”

“In the beginning of a presentation, you need to prime the listeners a bit so that they can follow you more intently. Priming brings the listener’s mind into your mindset and gets everyone on the same track.”

“Too often, I hear speakers tell personal stories, and they're focused on sharing the story like an overzealous friend who just returned from vacation and wants to show you their vacation pictures. And they share every single exhausting detail about themselves.”

“Priming is a useful skill in all of your speaking. And when you learn to prime well, you can elevate your effectiveness.”

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Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

On today’s episode, McKay talks about how to turn the skeptics and critics in your life to supporters and partners. He shares several principles that can help bring skeptics to your way of thinking. First, approach everything from their frame of reference. Often the smartest person in the room tends to be the quietest one, because they first seek to understand. He goes on to talk about the importance of speaking with authenticity.

McKay shares the experience of Nelson Mandela who used the power of helping others feel validated to prevail in one of the most significant negotiations of all time. McKay then talks of how parents and people can use trust to influence the skeptics and critics in their life. McKay then shares the tactics of Robert Cialdini to develop more influence with people in our life. These tactics include reciprocity, explaining why, contrasting, and social proof. So, put these skills to test when dealing with the skeptics or critics in your life. They will help you win them over to your way of thinking.

The Finer Details of This Episode:

• Shania Twain’s vocal cords infected by ticks
• Ticks as a metaphor for skeptics
• The importance of listening
• Using trust to win over skeptics
• The power of authenticity
• Valuing others’ opinions
• Nelson Mandela’s quest for equality and freedom
• Practicing what you preach
• The rule of reciprocity

Quotes:

“​​Turning skeptics into believers, and critics into partners can be done. And learning the skill to do that is not only useful in sales and business, but also with kids, spouses, and a host of other people in our life.”

“When I'm talking to a skeptic, I don't always know how to bring them to my side, but after listening often, that way to bring them over is revealed to me. It's in listening that you gain your inspiration of how to persuade them.”

“People who ask questions are often the smartest in the room, because they have the humility to ask about what they don't know.”

“Next, winning the skeptics, critics, or other ticks to your side is a matter of trust. And trust is a function of two characteristics: character and competence. You may have someone with extreme character on your team, but if they're not competent, you don't trust them to do what needs to be done.”

“So answer questions directly and genuinely. And remember, rapport is not enough to bring skeptics to your side.”

“You see, Mandela understood that to get the people with the guns to give up the power, he had to convince them that they would be safe after doing so.”

“​​When people know why you're building a business or your children understand why there is a rule, they're much more apt to comply.”

“Remember, shut up and listen. Use questions to guide the direction of the discussion but make sure the skeptics and critics feel understood. Then talk to them in their language and from their point of view.”

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Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

On today’s episode of Open Your Eyes, McKay talks about getting over obstacles or mistakes in your life. More often than not, we find ourselves looking to the past and focusing on what we could have done differently or better. McKay argues this is harmful behavior. The only true way to overcome the past is to accept where you are, see your current circumstance as a blessing, and look towards the future. McKay illustrates the power of leaving the past behind in his story of a skydiver’s accident that rendered her less capable of walking. He notes that Emma could go on to live her life with an immense sense of regret or she could forgive herself, acknowledge the past, and put her energy towards writing the rest of her story.

Where you put your focus in life is where you will go. So if you’re constantly looking back, you will stay there, but if you look forward, you will move onward and upward. It’s why McKay talks so much about the importance of healthy thought patterns. He draws this episode to a close on an uplifting note: when we look ahead and develop a positive mindset, we take control over our own destinies, so make peace with who you are and what you’ve done, and move on.

The Finer Details of This Episode:

• The only way out is through
• Getting over past mistakes
• Noel’s free falling accident
• Skeleton sledding
• Looking forward instead of backward
• The importance of healthy thought patterns
• How Emily Blunt overcame her stutter

Quotes:

“Yes, she was falling. Yes, she was about to die, but she was so grateful for her life. It turned her panic to peace.”

“She now views her body so much differently. It's no longer something that defines her image, but rather a tool for her to live and enjoy the world.”

“You must learn to break with and from these thinking patterns, and close that chapter in your life.”

“In sledding, and in life, where you look is where you'll go. You see, our lives are shaped by where we look. And if you're looking back, that's where your thought patterns go. And if you're looking forward that too is where your thoughts and your life will go.”

“Aristotle famously said, ‘We are what we repeatedly do.’ Excellence then is not an act but a habit. I think the same is true of what we repeatedly think.”

“So stand at the door of your mind, and only let in what is positive and helpful.”

“Sometimes you have to follow a script. You have to act a bit before the change you're trying to accomplish feels entirely natural to you.”

“Close that chapter in your life, and come to know the rest of your story. If you've fallen, be grateful for what you've learned, accept where you are, and move forward.”

Links:

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen