Shows
Kral.free.bgLH152 — Gender Equality: We All Need to do BetterIn this episode, Karel discusses the current state of gender equality, reflecting on the progress made and, importantly, the challenges that remain. He emphasizes the importance of individual actions in promoting gender equality and shares practical advice for everyone. The episode also includes a edited reprised previous episode on gender equality, reviewing skills and habits that you can adopt individually to make a difference.2024-10-2334 minKral.free.bgLH151 — Dealing with Job LossIn this episode, Karel and Google UX Director Javier Bargas discuss the challenges and strategies associated with job loss and the job search process. They emphasize the importance of self-care, understanding the current job market dynamics, and building effective job search routines. Javier shares insights on preparing application materials, networking, and navigating the interview process, while also addressing the emotional impact of job loss and the need for resilience. The discussion concludes with encouragement to leverage volunteer work for experience and to maintain a positive outlook during challenging times.2024-10-1652 minKral.free.bgLH150 — 7 Rules of Self-RelianceIn this episode, we dive into the powerful principles from Seven Rules of Self-Reliance, the brand-new book by renowned author and communications expert, Maha Abouelenein. Fresh off the book’s release, Maha shares actionable insights on how self-reliance can be the key to unlocking personal and professional success. Discover how to stay focused, build a resilient mindset, and navigate obstacles with confidence. Maha also explores the critical role of reputation and relationship-building, offering practical advice on authenticity, patience, and knowing when to ask for help. Whether you’re looking to transform your career or strengthen your personal growth, Maha’s wisdom...2024-10-0934 minKral.free.bgLH149 — Feeding Your Soul with Purpose and MeaningKarel devotes this episode to a topic that has been central to his life—feeding your soul with purpose and meaning. He makes the case for exploring a more fulfilling life going beyond simply feeding your wallet by also feeding your soul. After charactering the situation many people are in of being stressed and burned out, Karel outlines his own approach to always balancing his life with outside interests that have purpose and meaning to him. He then outlines three approaches to determining what would feed your soul and how to realize it.2024-10-0228 minKral.free.bgLH148 — The Influencers in my LifeIn this episode, Karel reflects on the two people who have had the greatest influence in his life. These aren't your typical current social media influencers. They're instead people who provided him insights, lessons, and habits for everyday life.The first is the late Stephen R. Covey and second is Gerritdina Leida Vredenburg, Karel’s late mother. He recorded a tribute episode after each of these influencers in his life passed away. Covey published a book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" in 1989. Karel read it that same year and it changed his life. In fact, that book also inspired th...2024-09-2545 minKral.free.bgLH147 — Honing Your Leadership SkillsIn this episode, Karel speaks with Joe Byerly, a recently retired 20 year senior leader in the U.S. Army, the author of My Green Notebook, and the founder of the From the Green Notebook blog and podcast. Joe described the role of the green notebook in the army and the ingredients that he considers key to his successful career as a leader. He shares his insights on honing leadership skills, drawing from his extensive experience in the military and his journey into civilian life. He emphasizes the importance of journaling for self-discovery, reading for leadership growth, and the need for...2024-09-1844 minKral.free.bgLH146 — Finding Your SuperpowerIn this episode, Karel and Judy Wilkins-Smith discuss how to uncover and maximize your superpowers. They explore the concept of superpowers as the unique skills and qualities that individuals possess and how they can be developed and amplified. They also delve into the importance of understanding and acknowledging the emotional inheritance from our ancestors and how it shapes our behaviors and beliefs. Judy shares practical steps for listeners to identify their superpowers and work towards their goals.2024-09-1137 minKral.free.bgLH145 — Life and Career LessonsIn this episode, Karel shares his career and life lessons after retiring from a successful 36-year career at IBM and co-founding the Habits for a Better World nonprofit. Before leaving IBM, Karel went on a global nine design studio tour during which he met with staff one-on-one and in groups and he also reflected on his career and shared his life and career lessons. The staff and others on LinkedIn who heard about the presentation encouraged him to share his reflection and insights on the podcast. This episode was the result. Enjoy!2024-09-0442 minKral.free.bgLH144 — The Humor HabitPaige is taking a much needed break for health reasons. We wish her a restful and restorative break. Paige did find and schedule our amazing guest for today’s episode, Paul Osincup, a speaker and positive workplace strategist, and the author of “The Humor Habit”. Karel interviews Paul about his book 'The Humor Habit.' They discuss the power of humor in the workplace and in life, and how humor can be learned and developed as a habit. They also explore the health benefits of humor, such as reducing stress and increasing happiness. Paul shares practical tips and exercises for inc...2024-08-2938 minKral.free.bgLH143 — Dealing with Divisiveness & PolarizationIn this episode, Karel tackles the pervasive problems of divisiveness and polarization. World events—like wars and elections—and particular issues have a tendency to lead to these challenges. So much so, that they generate disharmony in families and tension among friends. Some will say, “someone should do something about that”. Karel says, “why not start with ourselves”. There are two sets of habits that Karel thinks are perfect for countering divisiveness and polarization, checking your biases and becoming an authentic listener. He reprises two previous episodes that address these issues.2024-08-2138 minKral.free.bgLH142 — Personal Connections in a Digital AgeIn this episode, Amy Weinland Daughters shares her transformative journey of writing handwritten letters to all 580 of her Facebook friends, revealing the profound impact it had on her relationships and understanding of connection. She delves into the importance of being untroubled by failure and untouched by triumph, urging us to listen to our instincts, even when they defy logic. Amy also introduces her simple yet powerful framework for deeply connecting with others, which involves sitting in a quiet space, reflecting on the person, and writing from the heart. Whether through handwritten letters, digital messages, or other personal gestures, Amy encourages...2024-08-0736 minKral.free.bgLH141 — Ignite Your Secret Superpower: Adapt to ChangeIn this episode, Karel and Paige sit down with Dan Ram, an event MC, TEDx speaker, and executive coach, to discuss the topic of adaptability. Dan shares his personal journey of growing up as the son of an Indian ambassador, constantly moving around the world and having to adapt to change. He outlines three stages for improving adaptability: letting go of the past, engaging with the present, and positioning oneself for the future. Dan provides advice on how to pursue new hobbies or passions and offers insights on habits that lead to personal growth and success. He encourages listeners to...2024-07-3144 minKral.free.bgLH140 — Thought Habits to Overcome OverworkingIn this episode, Karel and Paige continue their conversation with certified Habit Finder coach, author, and CEO Amy Kemp. They dive deep into Amy’s strategies for overcoming overworking through setting boundaries and shifting thought habits to achieve success and wealth. She emphasizes the need to let go of limiting beliefs about money and to embrace the idea that money is a renewable resource. Amy also highlights the challenges women face in achieving success, particularly the burden of unpaid labor and societal pressure to do it all. She shares success stories from her coaching business, showcasing the transformative power of ch...2024-07-2437 minKral.free.bgLH139 — Power of Thought Habits & Natural GeniusIn this episode, Karel and Paige sit down with Amy Kemp, a certified habit finder coach and author of the book ‘I See You!’ They discuss the importance of guilt-free play, the power of imperfect progress, and the impact of deeply rooted thought habits on our success. Amy shares her journey of becoming a habit finder coach and CEO, and explains the concept of natural genius and how to recognize and leverage our unique talents. They also explore the challenges of determining the value of our natural genius and overcoming self-esteem issues related to money.Quotes from this episode:“A firm c...2024-07-1747 minKral.free.bgLH138 — Las Vegas to Shark Tank: Education & Success SecretsIn this episode, Karel and Paige sit down with Dr. Shaan Patel, founder of Prep Expert SAT and ACT, as he shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings in Las Vegas to achieving meteoric success as a Shark Tank winner, bestselling author, and board-certified dermatologist. Shaan discusses his commitment to education, the importance of self-control, the development of good habits, and his latest book, “Prep Expert Digital SAT Playbook,” which offers strategies for success on the new digital SAT and beyond.Quotes from this episode:“Success is a progressive realization of a worthy ideal.” — Earl Nightingale “Management is the development of people, no...2024-07-1046 minKral.free.bgLH137 — Hungry for Action: Food, Climate, & Our Future Part 2In the final episode of this series, Eve Turow-Paul discusses the impact of food choices on climate change and shares insights from her organization, Food for Climate League. She explains the importance of perception change, behavior change, and systems change in creating a sustainable food future. Eve provides examples of successful projects that have influenced food choices, such as making a cafeteria station plant-based by default and creating a program to inspire chefs to offer plant-forward menus. She emphasizes the need for individuals to explore more plant-based options, reduce food waste, and be mindful of their food choices. Eve envisions...2024-07-0333 minKral.free.bgLH136 — Hungry for Action: Food, Climate, & Our Future Part 1In this third episode of our four-part series, Karel and Paige are again joined by Eve Turow-Paul, the founder and executive director of Food for Climate League, as she discusses the relationship between food and climate change and the impactful work of her organization. The global food system is responsible for one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions, with high rates of meat consumption and food waste being the main culprits. The Food for Climate League aims to empower 100 million people to engage in climate-smart food choices by transforming hearts and minds through narrative and behavioral sciences. The organization collaborates with...2024-06-2631 minKral.free.bgLH135 — Hungry for Connection: Influencers & Avocado Toast Part 2In this episode, Karel and Paige continue their conversation with Eve Turow-Paul, author, globally recognized thought leader, and founder and executive director of Food for Climate League. In the second part of this four-part series, Eve delves into the themes of control, community, and purpose in our relationship with food and social media. She emphasizes the importance of cultivating habits that prioritize our well-being and offers solutions to counteract the negative impacts of social media. Eve shares personal changes she has made, such as gardening and prioritizing in-person experiences, to create a greater sense of control, community, and purpose. She...2024-06-1934 minKral.free.bgLH133 — Build Habits That Stick, One Stack at a TimeIn this episode, Karel and Paige explore the concept of habit stacking, a method of building new habits by linking them to existing ones. They explain how this technique can make habit formation easier and more effective. Karel and Paige share practical examples and provide 10 actionable recommendations to help you successfully implement habit stacking in your daily routine. Their recommendations include identifying existing habits, choosing new habits, linking new habits to established routines, starting small, environmental design, accountability, positive reinforcement, visual cues, tracking progress, and reflection and mindfulness.10 Recommendations for Habit Stacking:1. Identify Existing Habits Make a list of h...2024-06-0524 minKral.free.bgLH132 — Unraveling the Mysteries of the Mind-Body Connection with Todd Nyholm Part 2In this episode, Karel and Paige continue their conversation with Todd Nyholm, a somatic therapist and author of "What the Bleep Brain?". Expanding on Todd's personal journey and the development of the Natality Life Method, this episode dives deeper into its practical applications for managing physical ailments, chronic health issues, and overall wellness. Todd shares techniques for managing chronic pain, improving mental clarity, and enhancing overall health through a holistic mind-body approach. He emphasizes the importance of integrating these methods with traditional healthcare, pacing, and self-compassion in the healing journey. Gain actionable tips for implementing these methods into your daily...2024-05-2948 minKral.free.bgLH131 — Unraveling the Mysteries of the Mind-Body Connection with Todd Nyholm Part 1In this episode, Karel and Paige sit down with Todd Nyholm, a somatic therapist and the author of “What The Bleep Brain?”. Todd discusses somatic therapy, emphasizing the mind-body connection and guides listeners through a calming breathing exercise. He outlines his book's systematic approach to brain healing, stresses the importance of conscious attention, and addresses the concept of locus of control. Todd also highlights the role of experiential learning and visualization in his methods, emphasizing the interconnectedness of mind, body, and emotions in healing trauma and overall well-being.Quotes from this episode:“Fame or self: which matters more? Self or wealth...2024-05-2244 minKral.free.bgLH130 — Harnessing the Power of AIExplore the transformative potential of AI with Karel and Paige as they delve into generative AI using ChatGPT as a prime example. This episode examines AI's revolutionary impact on industries and emphasizes the importance of integrating human skills with AI capabilities. Karel and Paige demystify AI concepts, explaining how generative AI functions through large language models to generate statistically probable outputs.Discover actionable advice for effectively leveraging generative AI, whether you're new to AI or already experienced. From accessing and understanding AI tools to using them for tasks like analysis, summarization, and content creation, uncover essential strategies. Karel and Paige...2024-05-1545 minKral.free.bgLH129 — Evaluating Risk: Can you Plan for Everything?In this episode, Karel and Paige explore the question posed by a listener: 'When it comes to evaluating risk, can you plan for everything?' They delve into the art of evaluating risk in both personal and professional life, providing practical recommendations and strategies for identifying, tracking, and prioritizing risks to make informed decisions and adapt to changing circumstances. Discover the importance of understanding your comfort zone, planning proactive risk management strategies, and embracing continuous learning and adaptability to enhance decision-making and foster effective risk management.Recommendations:Identify Risks: Consider potential challenges that could arise in your life or job...2024-05-0922 minKral.free.bgLH128 — Cracking the Cortisol Code: From Stress Response to Stress Relief with Dr. Greg HammerIn this episode, Karel and Paige chat with Dr. Greg Hammer as he delves into the intricate relationship between cortisol levels and stress management. Highlighting cortisol's role as a hormone produced in response to stress by the adrenal glands. Dr. Hammer emphasizes the distinction between acute stress versus chronic stress. Acute stress can prompt a temporary rise in cortisol and be adaptive whereas chronic stress can lead to sustained elevated cortisol levels and have detrimental health effects.Dr. Hammer introduces the GAIN practice (gratitude, acceptance, intention, and non-judgment) as a multifaceted approach to mitigate stress and regulate cortisol levels. He...2024-05-0147 minKral.free.bgLH127 — Disconnect to Reconnect: A Guide to Digital DetoxIn this illuminating episode, Karel and Paige delve into the transformative practice of digital detoxing. Together, they explore the concept and offer practical recommendations for integrating it into daily and weekly routines.Through insightful quotes and eye-opening statistics on smartphone and social media usage, Karel and Paige share anecdotes about their own detox experiences. They define what a digital detox truly entails and emphasize its profound benefits for mental well-being, social connection, and overall life satisfaction.Drawing from their own experiences and research, Karel and Paige provide eight actionable recommendations for implementing a successful digital detox. From setting clear goals...2024-04-2427 minKral.free.bgLH126 — Unlocking the Power of Emotional Intelligence with Dr. Robin Hills Part 2In this engaging episode, Karel and Paige continue their discussion with Dr. Robin Hills, focusing on the application of emotional intelligence in personal contexts. Dr. Hills emphasizes the importance of empathy, active listening, and perspective-taking in fostering meaningful connections. Providing practical insights, he offers guidance on integrating emotional intelligence into daily life, advocating for mindfulness as a cornerstone practice. Dr. Hills also advocates for prioritizing work-life integration over balance, highlighting its positive impact on overall well-being. Through insightful discussions, this episode showcases how enhancing emotional intelligence can enhance relationships, communication, and overall wellness.Quotes from this episode:“There is intelligence in...2024-04-1732 minKral.free.bgLH125 — Unlocking the Power of Emotional Intelligence with Dr. Robin Hills Part 1In this episode, Karel and Paige delve into the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace with psychologist Dr. Robin Hills. He defines emotional intelligence as the ability to effectively manage emotions to make informed decisions and cultivate meaningful relationships. Dr. Hills highlights the distinction between IQ and EQ, emphasizing that emotional intelligence is a skill that can be honed over time. Additionally, he underscores the critical role emotional intelligence plays in shaping workplace culture, boosting productivity, and fostering positive relationships among colleagues. Dr. Hills shares practical tips for applying emotional intelligence in challenging situations and discusses its future relevance...2024-04-1049 minKral.free.bgLH124 — Morning Routines to Power Your DayIn this episode, Karel and Paige delve into the vital role morning routines play in shaping our days and overall success. They highlight the importance of taking control of your mornings and share practical recommendations for crafting an effective routine. Additionally, they explore the significance of circadian rhythms in maintaining a consistent wake-up time.Recommendations for Effective and Productive Mornings:Get Enough Sleep and Wake Up Early: Understanding the role of circadian rhythms as your body's natural alarm clock is crucial. Waking up early allows time for personal rituals and sets a positive tone for the day.Practice Mindfulness and...2024-04-0323 minKral.free.bgLH123 — Personal Freedom with Dr. Dravon JamesIn this enlightening episode, Karel and Paige chat with Dr. Dravon James, author of 'Freedom Is Your Birthright'. Dr. Dravon delves into the transformative power of freedom, gratitude, and introspection. Drawing from her book and personal experiences, she shares invaluable insights on navigating challenges and embracing opportunities for growth.With a focus on self-love and personal responsibility, Dr. Dravon emphasizes the importance of cultivating a mindset of abundance and harnessing the power of positive self-talk through practical advice and heartfelt anecdotes.Dr. Dravon also discusses topics such as dealing with conflict and turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones. She encourages...2024-03-2740 minKral.free.bgLH122 — Hybrid Work: Doing it RightKarel and Paige delve into the intricacies of hybrid work, sharing insights and best practices to set you up for success in this evolving work landscape. They explore the transition from mandated remote work during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to the current embrace of hybrid work schedules by many companies. Drawing from their personal experiences and inspirational quotes, they emphasize the importance of intentionality and flexibility in navigating hybrid work successfully. Karel and Paige discuss optimizing the work-from-home experience, maintaining work-life balance, and enhancing video conferencing practices. They stress the significance of being intentional when designing hybrid work...2024-03-2029 minKral.free.bgLH121 — Be Kind, Age Well Part 2Karel and Paige welcome back MJ Shaar for the second half of our conversation about aging well. We conclude this two part episode with MJ Shaar discussing the key role that kindness plays in helping us age well. She explains how simple acts of kindness can boost mood, improve relationships, and contribute to overall health and well-being. MJ provides practical ways to incorporate kindness into daily life and emphasizes the importance of making kindness a choice rather than a goal. She also highlights the impact kindness has on self-perception and the development of better habits. MJ encourages us all to...2024-03-1344 minKral.free.bgLH119 — Lifelong LearningKarel and Paige devote this episode to discussing the importance of lifelong learning. Lifelong learning is defined as on-going, voluntary, self-motivated learning in the pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons. In last week’s episode LH118 — Landing the Job, one of the recommendations was to further improve your skills. This episode expands on that recommendation and explores lifelong learning that is outside of career advancement and opportunities. Karel and Paige provide 11 recommendations for pursuing lifelong learning and highlight its benefits such as personal growth, staying relevant in a changing world, and making a positive impact.Recommendations:Identify Your...2024-02-2836 minKral.free.bgLH118 — Landing the JobMany people are out of work right now, especially in the tech sector. Paige and Karel devote this episode to providing strategies on the entire journey of finding and then Landing the Job. This episode is an expansion of LH55 — Getting the Job where Karel mostly talked about the job interview. You can listen to that episode here. Recommendations:1. Read the job post and job requirements carefully.2. Make sure you satisfy the basic requirements of the job.3. Make sure your application clearly demonstrates your suitability.4. Create multiple resumes, each for a particular job you’re applying for.5. Ask a friend of C...2024-02-2139 minKral.free.bgLH115 — Life Habits 2.0Karel is thrilled to welcome Paige Heron to the Life Habits podcast as the executive producer and co-host. We discuss the need for the change, how the idea for Version 2.0 came about, and the rationale for the changes we’re making. We also detail what those changes are. Changes include our brand new website www.lifehabitspodcast.com where you can find all of the Life Habits Podcast episodes and show notes, our updated purpose and tagline, a place to sign up for our newsletter, a brief introduction to the two of us, how to get in touch with us, and ev...2024-01-3105 minKral.free.bgLH114 — Coping with AdversityMy guest for this episode is Paige Heron. I’ve tried to get her on this podcast for a long time to discuss a number of different topics but we landed on a topic that has been and continues to be central to her life, chronic illness, and it’s something that many people don’t understand, especially what is essentially an invisible illness. I too knew very little about the experience of dealing with a chronic illness initially but accompanying Paige to various medical appointments, reading about her conditions, and most importantly listening to her provided me a deeper insigh...2024-01-2434 minKral.free.bgLH113 — Career Transitions: Part 3Karel continues on with his leveling up series focussing on career transitions. He is again joined by Renee Albert and Herman Colquhoun. In Part 1 of the interview in the LH111, Renee and Herman describe their early lives and their educational journeys together with the pivots each took and the insights they gleaned from the experience. This Part 2 gets into their actual career trajectories and also their involvement in the IBM Racial Equity in Design movement. In this Part 3 we get into what sorts of things talented and successful professionals like Renee and Herman do in addition to their days jobs.2024-01-2133 minKral.free.bgLH112 — Career Transitions: Part 2Karel continues on with his leveling up series focussing on career transitions. He is again joined by Renee Albert and Herman Colquhoun. In Part 1 of the interview in the LH111, Renee and Herman describe their early lives and their educational journeys together with the pivots each took and the insights they gleaned from the experience. This Part 2 gets into their actual career trajectories and also their involvement in the IBM Racial Equity in Design movement. We’re planning a Part 3 which will get into what sorts of things talented and successful professionals like Renee and Herman do in addition to th...2024-01-2136 minKral.free.bgLH111 — Career Transitions: Part 1Karel continues on with his leveling up series and this time focusses on career transitions. He is joined by Renee Albert and Herman Colquhoun discussing their fascinating and successful careers. We had so much to talk about so this episode, Part 1, focusses on the education journey. Part 2 will dig into the working journey and additional topics too.2024-01-2128 minKral.free.bgLH110 — Leveling Up: The Connections CureKarel is again joined by popular guest Marie-Josėe Shaar (MJ) for this the second instalment in the Leveling Up series with this episode focusing on The Connections Cure.2024-01-2127 minKral.free.bgLH109 — Leveling UpKarel’s back with more episodes! In fact, he has a whole new series called Leveling Up. The series takes the topics you’ve learned to date to a whole new level and a set of new topics too.2024-01-2106 minKral.free.bgLH108 — Checking-in to Stay the CourseThis is the third episode in the “Checking-in” series focused on coping during the pandemic. Karel devotes this episode on providing ideas to help you stay the course during this long-running pandemic.2024-01-2121 minKral.free.bgLH107 — Checking-in on Mental HealthKarel is joined by UK Psychologist Mandy Kloppers to discuss mental health during this difficult period of a pandemic and social unrest and to discuss a variety of approaches to coping given different situations and circumstances.2024-01-2136 minKral.free.bgLH106 — Check-in - Working from HomeWith the overall series tagline for all these years being “staying sane in a crazy world”, Karel was inspired to start record episodes again with a collection of Check-in episodes to help listeners deal with and cope during the Coronavirus pandemic. This, the first in the collection, provides advice on working from home.2024-01-2119 minKral.free.bgLH105 — Exploring the WorldKarel continues his occasional series of episodes on major life changes, this time focusing on exploring the world. His guest is Kate Paddison who is currently in Melbourne, Australia. She describes her decision to buy a one-way ticket and explore the world.2024-01-2121 minKral.free.bgLH104 — Innovation by DesignKarel devotes this episode to the design methods and tools now available to everyone in order to innovate on products, services, and really anything anyone wants to improve. He summarizes his seven habits of highly effective design thinkers.2024-01-2120 minKral.free.bgLH103 — Career PivotsHere’s another in the occasional series of episodes on major life changes. This episode focusses on career pivots, that is major career changes, and discusses insights, lessons learned, and advice from someone who has recently gone through this. Karel is joined by Lendy Krantz who is currently Director of Operations and Strategy at WeWork in New York City.2024-01-2131 minKral.free.bgLH99 — Diversity & InclusionKarel's back with a podcast episode dealing with the important topic of diversity and inclusion. In addition to reviewing previous episodes related to the topic and providing some inspirational quotes, Karel focuses on three habits: Recognizing and eliminating bias, understanding and empathizing, and championing and celebrating. He finishes up the episode talking about the episodes to come which will focus on insights from people who have gone through significant life changes.2024-01-2128 minKral.free.bgLH98 — Career WorkoutsKarel expands on his previous episodes dealing with career advice to make the case for approaching career health much like we know how to deal with physical health by doing workouts, journals, and checkups.2024-01-2119 minKral.free.bgLH97 — Having Personal ImpactMany parts of the world are experiencing unprecedented levels of uncertainty due to political, economic, and religious types of instability. This episode will give you ways of dealing with uncertainty, becoming an agent of change, and having personal impact.2024-01-2121 minKral.free.bgLH96 — Mindful MeditationThe results of a listener poll led to a request for an episode on Mindful Meditation and Karel delivered on that request in this episode. Karel talks about the research evidence for the benefits and then provides guidance of practicing mindfulness and meditation.2024-01-2121 minKral.free.bgLH95 — Escaping AverageKarel is joined by Cynthia Tripathi to talk about her first book "Escaping Average". Karel and Cynthia discuss ways of upping your game in the areas of mental state, health, career, finance, and social life.2024-01-2136 minKral.free.bgLH94 — Fixing Unhelpful Thinking HabitsKarel is again joined by UK Psychologist Mandy Kloppers to discuss recognizing and then fixing common errors in thinking.2024-01-2130 minKral.free.bgLH93 — Social Intelligence for SuccessIn response to listener suggestions, Karel devotes this episode to three themes for developing and applying social intelligence to entrepreneurial, intrepreneurial, and self-improvement initiatives.2024-01-2127 minKral.free.bgLH92 — Optimizing HappinessAfter conducting a poll with listeners via social media as to what topic to focus on next, Karel determined that Optimizing Happiness was far and away the most asked for. Karel builds on the foundation that was built in LH84 - Being Happier to provide additional advice in this episode to further hone particular habits to achieve even greater levels of happiness in life.2024-01-2119 minKral.free.bgLH91 — Optimizing TravelKarel hasn't recorded episodes lately because he's been traveling a lot so he thought he'd dedicate his first new episode to the topic of providing advice to optimize travel.2024-01-2133 minKral.free.bgLH90 — Gender EqualityInspired by Emma Watson's UN speech, Karel devotes this episode to providing advice for woman and men to promote gender equality.2024-01-2125 minKral.free.bgLH89 — Developing EmpathyKarel devotes this episode to the critically important habit of developing empathy.2024-01-2123 minKral.free.bgLH88 — Life as a SportKarel is back after a hiatus and devotes this episode to understanding what insights and lessons sports can provide in improving our life skills.2024-01-2125 minKral.free.bgLH87 — Thinking Errors that Hurt Your HealthKarel is joined again by Marie-Josée Shaar this time to address the errors in thinking that can hurt your health and what you can do to prevent them from doing so.2024-01-2128 minKral.free.bgLH86 — Profit from the PositiveWant to apply the power of Positive Psychology to business and to your working life? Karel is joined by Margaret Greenberg for this episode discussing the book she wrote with Senia Maymin, "Profit from the Positive: Proven Leadership Strategies to Boost Productivity and Transform Your Business".2024-01-2130 minKral.free.bgLH85 — Affirmations & MindfulnessKarel addresses listener questions and introduces affirmations and mindfulness together with guest UK Psychologist Mandy Kloppers.2024-01-2128 minKral.free.bgLH84 — Being HappierKarel devotes this episode to the topic of being happier and summarizes a list of ten items from Positive Psychology that you can start to do right away to be happier. He also recommends a new social network focused on increasing happiness in the world, called Happier.com.2024-01-2123 minKral.free.bgLH83 — Communication ChallengesKarel devotes this episode to listener questions on the topic of communication challenges.2024-01-2125 minKral.free.bgLH82 — Dealing with ChangeKarel is again joined by UK Psychologist Mandy Kloppers as they address a listener question asking for advice on dealing with change.2024-01-2127 minKral.free.bgLH81 — Becoming More ProductiveKarel devotes this episode to a listener suggestion to address becoming more productive using technology. Karel discusses four major themes 1) doing things more efficiently, doing more things at once sensibly, doing fewer things at once sensibly, and doing nothing.2024-01-2123 minKral.free.bgLH80 — Cultures of WellnessKarel is again joined by Marie-Josée Shaar this time to discuss four approaches to creating cultures of wellness. Make sure to visit Marie-Josée's website smartsandstamina.com which also includes a link to her book. For further information on this topic, make sure to visit positivepychologynews.com.2024-01-2129 minKral.free.bgLH79 — Impression ManagementIn response to a listener suggestion, Karel devotes this episode to various ways of improving your personal impression management using the techniques and approaches from product marketing.2024-01-2128 minKral.free.bgLH78 — Staying True to YourselfKarel devotes this episode to listener requests along the theme of staying true to yourself. He addresses awareness, consistency, and strength.2024-01-2116 minKral.free.bgLH77 — Workplace ChallengesKarel addresses five questions listeners submitted on the topic of workplaces challenges. The questions deal with communicating across age and experience level differences, knowing who to trust, workplace bullying, managing anger outbursts, and working effectively with a world-wide team.2024-01-2131 minKral.free.bgLH76 — Mom's Life LessonsThis episode is a tribute to Karel's mother who passed away recently and reflects on seven of the life lessons she taught, lived, and modeled, and will serve as her gift and legacy.2024-01-2123 minKral.free.bgLH74 — Covey’s 7 HabitsThis episode is a tribute to the late Stephen Covey, the author of the seminal book "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People". Karel discusses the influence Covey has had on listeners, himself, and the world. He then provides a few quotes and briefly summarizes Covey's seven habits.2024-01-2132 minKral.free.bgLH73 — Questions about RelationshipsKarel dedicates this episode to a set of questions submitted by listeners on the theme of relationships and is again joined by UK Psychologist Mandy Kloppers. The questions address how to deal with infidelity, getting over a failed relationship, and dealing with parents as they are progressing through a divorce. Mandy has also written further on these topics on her blog, specifically "infidelity" and "end of a relationship".2024-01-2132 minKral.free.bgLH72 — Growth MindsetAfter having heard Carol Dweck being interviewed on the Harvard Business Review podcast and checking with the Life Habits listeners on the Facebook page, Karel decided to read Carol's book "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" and to dedicate this episode to its major insights and recommendations. Learn how to transition your thinking from a fixed mindset to one leading to growth in all aspects of your life.2024-01-2120 minKral.free.bgLH71 — Doing the Right ThingAt the suggestion of a listener, Karel devotes this episode to the topic of "Doing the Right Thing" and provides some practical advice on what to consider in weighing options when needing to make an ethical/moral decision.2024-01-2119 minKral.free.bgLH70 — Managing MoneyWould you like a broader perspective on managing your money? At the suggestion of a listener, Karel provides both a conceptual perspective and some practical advice on managing money in this episode.2024-01-2122 minKral.free.bgLH69 — Stop WorryingIn response to a listener question, Karel provides advice on the process to use to stop worrying, including the identification of your degree of control and taking action on the basis of this.2024-01-2118 minKral.free.bgLH68 — Type I PersonallyKarel summarizes key insights from Daniel H. Pink's book "Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us", on the recommendation of a podcast listener. He summarizes the alternatives to "carrot and stick" approaches which include a focus on Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose. Find out more about Dan Pink and how to get a copy of his book.2024-01-2118 minKral.free.bgLH67 — Types of HelpKarel is again joined by guest UK Psychologist Mandy Kloppers to address a listener request about professional help. Mandy outlines when you seek help, what types of help are available, and what to expect so that you can get the most out of any professional help you seek. More information and advice on a number of topics from Mandy can be found on her YouTube channel and on her website.2024-01-2134 minKral.free.bgLH66 — 5 Lazy Ways to Get in ShapeKarel is joined again by guest Marie-Josée Shaar who describes five simple, lazy, ways to get in shape based on the content in her great new book Smarts and Stamina: The Busy Person's Guide to Optimal Health and Performance, which she authored with occasional guest on the podcast, Kathryn Britton.2024-01-2125 minKral.free.bgLH65 — Life LessonsKarel reflects on the life of Steve Jobs and discusses his life lessons as conveyed through Walter Isaacson's authorized biography "Steve Jobs" and Steve's 2005 Stanford Commencement Address. You may also want to check out Karel's blog post on Steve Jobs's contributions to design.2024-01-2119 minKral.free.bgLH64 — Visualizing ProgressAre you still getting stuck and lacking sufficient motivation? Karel devotes this episode to using visualization of the goal and progress toward the goal as additional means of increasing your motivation and being successful. These techniques are applicable to virtually all the areas of focus and topics covered in this podcast series.2024-01-2116 minKral.free.bgLH63 — Taking Time for YourselfMany people either don't take time off or do so only with others. Karel devotes this episode to advice for taking time for yourself via five Rs.2024-01-2114 minKral.free.bgLH62 — Making a DifferenceWant to make a difference in life, at home, at work, or throughout all society? Karel devotes this episode to an approach to plan and make progress on this topic.2024-01-2121 minKral.free.bgLH61 — Mastering GratitudeWant to improve your overall sense of well-being? Master gratitude. Karel is joined on this episode by guest Kathryn Britton who is the author of "Gratitude: How to Appreciate Life's Gifts". You can reach Kathryn by sending her email at kathryn@theano-coaching.com.2024-01-2141 minKral.free.bgLH60 — Complaining EffectivelyClinical Psychologist Dr. Guy Winch joins Karel on this episode to provide a set of quotes and top 10 tips for learning to complain effectively. Guy is the author of a great book on the topic called "The Squeaky Wheel: Complaining the right way to get results, improve your relationships, and enhance self-esteem". Learn more about Guy at his website, Facebook page, or on Twitter.2024-01-2131 minKral.free.bgLH59 — Listener QuestionsAt the suggestion of an Australian listener, Karel solicited questions from listeners and devotes this episode to providing answers to three listener questions.2024-01-2131 minKral.free.bgLH58 — Authentic ListeningWant to improve your interpersonal communication? Learn how to listen authentically. In this episode, Karel provides 10 ideas for developing the habit of authentic listening.2024-01-2120 minKral.free.bgLH57 — VegetarianismWhether you're interested for health, the environment, ethics, or just to eat tasty food, this episode will help you with moving toward a plant-based diet and provide you with 10 practical progressive steps to get there. Karel has long-time vegetarian advocate Dilip Barman as his guest on this episode. Dilip makes reference to two websites during the session: the first is an article on FAO and the second is an article on the Guardian website. For more information, you can visit Dilip's own website, his cooking site, his photography site, and the International Vegetarian Union site, and also the Triangle Vegetarian S...2024-01-2149 minKral.free.bgLH55 — Getting the JobNeed advice on getting that next job, a new position in your current organization, or any other situation where you'll be evaluated and assessed? Karel devotes this episode to outlining 10 practical tips for preparing for and handling the interview.2024-01-2126 minKral.free.bgLH54 — RelaxationWant to learn to achieve a deep state of relaxation? Karel provides this special episode with guided instruction to achieve deep progressive muscle relaxation. This episode can be listened to whenever you would like to achieve deep relaxation and it is recommended that you only listen to it in a private and quiet setting with no distractions. The background music used on this episode is Antonio Vivaldi's Sonata 5 Largo (I & III) performed by the Telemann Trio and is used courtesy of Musopen (musopen.org).2024-01-2118 minKral.free.bgLH53 — Confirmation BiasConfirmation bias is the cause of many of the problems in relationships, communities, and the world. Learn how to recognize and start to conquer it.2024-01-2126 minKral.free.bgLH52 — Taking Things PersonallyDo you tend to take things personally more than you should? Karel devotes this episode to a listener request to address the topic of taking things personally. After discussing some developmental and individual difference dimensions related to the topic and some relevant quotes, he provides advice for improving in this important area via a top 10 list.2024-01-2131 minKral.free.bgLH51 — SleepDo you have difficulty with sleep? Karel has guest Marie-Josee Shaar back again to do a follow-up drill-down episode on the topic of sleep. Check out Marie-Josee's website at SmartsandStamina.com.2024-01-2129 minKral.free.bgLH50 — Effective ManagementDo you want to improve your skills for managing people either in a formal management position or an informal one (as a parent, coach, etc.)? In response to a listener request, Karel devotes this episode to providing practical advice for becoming more effective in the management of people.2024-01-2123 minKral.free.bgLH49 — AssertivenessDo you tend to be too passive or too aggressive? Do you want to optimize the effectiveness of your communication? Karel devotes this episode to providing advice on becoming appropriately assertive.2024-01-2124 minKral.free.bgLH48 — Difficult PeopleAre you dealing with a difficult person in your life? In response to a listener request, Karel provides 10 suggestions for dealing with difficult people.2024-01-2126 minKral.free.bgLH47 — TeamworkDo you have to work with others in groups? Pretty well everyone does. Do you want to improve the teamwork exhibited by those teams? In response to a listener request, Karel devotes this episode to the various ways teamwork can be optimized.2024-01-2127 minKral.free.bgLH46 — Familial InsightsDo you think about the insights you've gleaned from your parents and family? Have you captured and communicated them? Karel recommends that you do and provides a top 10 list to provide you some advice on how to do it.2024-01-2126 minKral.free.bgLH44 — Advice & MentoringDo need help in getting advice and finding a mentor. That's the focus of this episode. Karel goes through the top 10 list of suggestions for approaching getting appropriate help and also giving it as well. Please refer to the show notes for episodes 32, 42, and 40 for contact details for people you can contact for professional advice as well.2024-01-2132 minKral.free.bgLH43 — Getting UnstuckAre you stuck or in a rut? Are you finding that you're not able to get going effectively on the improvements you'd like to make to your life? This episode is devoted to getting you unstuck so that you can make effective progress on whatever improvements you'd like to make in your life with a practical set of top 10 items.2024-01-2127 min