Shows
Open Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS5E33 - Compelling ConversationsHighlighting the fact that humans spend 30% of their waking hours in conversation, McKay Christensen explores the often overlooked reality that talking is a skill rather than a mere natural instinct. He argues that like running or computer coding, conversation can be practiced, improved, and mastered to produce deeper influence and success.McKay uses Alison Brooks’ "TALK" (Topics, Asking, Levity, Kindness) to show how conversation shapes our world. He also explores Brené Brown’s focus on connection, Dr. Wendy Levinson’s link between talk and malpractice claims, and John Gottman’s marriage "bids." From NASA’s planning to Terry Gross...
2026-01-1226 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS5E32 - Nothing Changes Until Something ChangesExploring the transformative potential of minor adjustments, McKay introduces the "Lever Principle" - the idea that a single, structural change can produce exponential results. He argues that massive life overhauls are often unnecessary; instead, true progress begins with the realization that "nothing will change in your life until you change something about your life." Beginning with architect Bjarke Ingels, whose Saturday creative sessions sparked a global firm, McKay explores case studies - like Chris Gardner’s late-night studying and Chef Clare Smyth’s questioning techniques - showing how habits rewire futures. Our host goes on to share stra...
2026-01-0527 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS5E26 - How Do You Know?Confronting the paralyzing question that plagues every leader, parent, and dreamer -"How do you know if you are on the right path?" - McKay challenges the common misconception that clarity must precede action. He argues that confidence is not a prerequisite for starting, but a result of "walking the path" and leaning on proven principles rather than fleeting fads.McKay opens with Kiva co-founder Jessica Jackley, who discovered her purpose through a single connection in Uganda rather than overwhelming data. He then spotlights Bill Courtney, a coach who rebuilt a team by valuing character over the...
2025-11-2424 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS5E15 - What Lies Do You Believe?McKay explores the pervasive lies that shape our lives, from media misinformation to self-deception in this latest instalment of the Open Your Eyes podcast. Throughout the episode, he argues that, in an age of rampant falsehoods, developing critical thinking is essential for personal growth and success.To illustrate this, our host dissects such viral hoaxes as a fake Disney World policy change and a deceptive TikTok diet scam, showing how easily falsehoods spread. McKay also examines the profound gap between public perception and the reality of declining crime rates, revealing how political narratives can create powerful, albeit...
2025-09-0826 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS5E7 - A One-Month Test to be HappyThis week, McKay introduces a practical and powerful challenge: the one-month happiness test. Drawing inspiration from Laurie Santos's famous Yale course, "Psychology and the Good Life," this episode moves beyond big, life-altering events to focus on the small, consistent actions that are scientifically proven to boost happiness. McKay breaks down simple yet profound practices like savoring positive moments, actively choosing your focus through selective attention, expressing gratitude, performing acts of kindness, and strengthening social connections. Through relatable stories and real-world examples, he illustrates how these "micro-adjustments" can retrain our brains, counteracting our natural negativity bias and leading t...
2025-07-1427 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS5E6 - From Strength to StrengthMcKay shares a collection of powerful, real-world stories here today as he explores the transformative power of viewing life as a journey from one form of strength to another. From a collegiate runner's recovery after a devastating accident to the historic leadership of Abraham Lincoln and the creative genius of Beethoven, our host illustrates how our greatest weaknesses can become the catalysts for our most profound strengths.Listeners will learn to reframe challenges, setbacks, and even failures not as endpoints but as essential experiences that build resilience, empathy, and new capabilities. McKay offers practical advice on the...
2025-07-0725 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS5E5 - Making Hard ChoicesThe challenging yet crucial skill of making hard choices is in the spotlight this week as McKay draws inspiration from Ruth Chang's TED Talk and real-world examples ranging from President Truman's wartime decisions to personal dilemmas faced by his own family and himself. The episode explores the nature of hard choices - those where options seem equally compelling or unclear - and offers practical strategies for navigating these pivotal moments. McKay emphasizes the importance of understanding your values, gathering information (but not getting paralyzed by it), taking small steps to test options, and ultimately, committing to a p...
2025-06-3027 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS5E4 - Jump the S-CurveThis week, McKay unpacks the "S-Curve", a powerful concept from the business world, and reveals how its principles are a blueprint for navigating change and achieving lasting growth in our careers, families, and personal lives. By examining the rise and fall of corporate giants like Kodak, Walmart, and Netflix, he illustrates that the path to success isn't a straight line but a series of curves, each requiring a strategic "jump" to avoid stagnation and reach the next level.The episode breaks down the predictable stages of any new venture - a slow start, a period of rapid...
2025-06-2325 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS5E2 - Everything is a ChoiceMcKay 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...
2025-06-0927 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS5E1 - Build Your Personal BrandIn 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 "Bl...
2025-06-0225 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E58 - The Culture EffectThis 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...
2025-05-2630 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E57 - What Makes You Happy?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...
2025-05-1930 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E55 - The Best Speech of Your LifeWhat 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...
2025-05-0533 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E54 - How to Treat a TickOn 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...
2025-04-2833 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E53 - The Rest of Your StoryOn 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 Emm...
2025-04-2130 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E52 - Keep Your FaithOn today’s episode, McKay talks to the audience about the importance of faith, and begins by introducing the story of Desmond Doss and his unwavering faith and peaceful determination at Hacksaw Ridge. McKay frames faith as a commitment to a choice, and the more we act on that choice, the more we reinforce our faith - reminiscent of Isaac Newton’s laws of motion. Moving forward and taking steps, no matter how small, keeps our momentum in the right direction.He next advises listeners to eliminate distractions since they only serve to slow us down and divert...
2025-04-1430 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E51 - Looking for a MiracleThis week, McKay talks about miracles, opening up the episode with the story of pilot and pioneer, Amelia Earhart, and the unbelievable tale that is the rescue of McKenzie Morgan. He argues that both stories are miracles in their own right, and these miracles can happen to us so long as we open our minds and hearts to them. McKay says it’s all about realizing your worth. Too many people believe themselves unworthy of serendipitous positivity when that couldn’t be further from the truth. We all deserve miracles - sometimes we just need to open our eyes to them...
2025-04-0730 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E50 - Discover Real WealthToday on the Open Your Eyes podcast, McKay talks about creating lasting wealth, and opens up the episode with two stories about Charles Ponzi and Bernie Madoff - both of whom schemed investors out of billions of dollars. He points out that, unlike Ponzi, Madoff, and their corrupt practices, in order to create genuine wealth, one has to define what wealth truly means. The next step according to McKay to generate wealth is to save and invest, and goes on to urge the audience to diversify these investments in order to best mitigate risk.Last but not le...
2025-03-3131 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E49 - It’s No Fun Being PoorThis week on Open Your Eyes, McKay talks about why it’s no fun being poor. He opens up the episode by recounting the plot of the Oscar Award winning film, CODA, in which the protagonist's family rises above the poverty line and comes to live a much more fulfilled life as a result. Next McKay talks about his friend’s work building wells in the Republic of Congo and educating the community about maintenance and education. McKay remarks that this education and access gave Congan people the opportunity to rise above their water scarcity and focus on growing other a...
2025-03-2430 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E48 - Your Money MindsetToday, McKay discusses how to change your money mindset. He opens up the podcast by discussing the tragic day when Sergeant Jay Rosenberry saw his children and friend flailing in a riptide. While he successfully saved his children, his friend Mark didn’t make it. McKay likens this tragic unpreparedness for the riptide to the lack of understanding we have about our money habits, and he goes on to discuss how we can better improve our financial decisions. First, McKay discusses the importance of developing small habits - by spending small amounts in the right places, one saves...
2025-03-1730 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E47 - Are You Entitled?Today, McKay explored the sense of entitlement on the Open Your Eyes podcast. He starts off by introducing various examples of moments when individuals were and weren’t entitled, beginning with the story of a man who was tired of waiting for his flight. He then contrasts that example with George Washington and his heroism fighting against the British army. McKay notes that, like George Washington, we are entitled to nothing in life. If we start to adopt this mindset that nothing is guaranteed to us, we would be all the more happy. McKay goes on to recall...
2025-03-1033 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E46 - It’s Time to MoveToday, McKay talks all about action on the podcast, starting off the episode by recounting Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 expedition to Antarctica. After two years of combatting ice, cold temperatures, and the ocean, Shackleton finally managed to save his team and bring them home. McKay attributes his unlikely success to his willingness to move and set his plans into action, and points out that many of us overthink far too much and are paralyzed by our thoughts. To overcome our overthinking, action is the best remedy - making moves, changing our thought processes, and cultivating what McKay calls our emotional homes...
2025-03-0327 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E45 - Stay In Your LaneOn McKay’s 50th podcast episode, he talks about the importance of staying in your lane, and opens this week by introducing the story of Sarah Blakely, the creator of SPANX. He talks about her unhappiness as a fax machine saleswoman and her perseverance in the industry. Only after dedicating herself to her position did she serendipitously find success in the hosiery business. McKay notes that, although dedicating yourself to your craft in the face of unhappiness is no easy feat, giving yourself fully or staying in your lane is the most surefire method to achieve success. He goe...
2025-02-2433 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E44 - A Worthy GoalMcKay talks about the importance of goals in today’s episode, and he opens up the episode by recognizing the success of Mike Krzyzewski as Duke basketball head coach. Only after seeing his book in an airport, did McKay read it and learn about having worthy goals. He ties Coach K’s story into that of Chris Norton, a football player who suffered a paralyzing injury in a football game, highlighting his determination and how he defied all odds to walk again. McKay finds it important to add that you are the only person who has control over your destiny...
2025-02-1729 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E43 - How's Your Energy?Today’s episode finds McKay guiding the audience on a path to sustain one’s personal energy. He opens the episode by discussing Bitcoin’s mining scarcity and how it negatively impacted the personal will power of those like James Halls, who misplaced his Bitcoin retrieve code worth millions of dollars. This story prefaces his statement that personal energy drives will power and emotional sustenance. McKay goes on to use the neutrino discovery and the radish v.s. cookie experiment to articulate how emotional energy continues or stops. He urges us to subscribe to habits like clearing clutter, fo...
2025-02-1033 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E41 - Your Time Will ComeThere are moments in our lives when feelings of doubt or fears of failure discourage us from following our dreams or striving toward goals. In fact, many of the world’s greatest success stories failed countless times before finally achieving success and notoriety. McKay Christensen opens today’s podcast with Garth Brooks’ origin story, so to speak. He details the failure and discouragement that inevitably forced Brooks to abandon music in Nashville for the comforts of his home in Oklahoma. After returning to Stillwater, OK, however, he realized that he no longer belonged in the town he used to find sola...
2025-01-2729 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E40 - Finish Your RaceWe all have important races we are trying to finish in life. For some, that race may be to finish college, or get their business to the place they know it can be, or to raise honest and capable kids. For others, it might be to lose the weight, beat cancer, or survive and thrive after divorce. Whatever our race is, McKay reminds us all today that we are endowed with great talents, and that if we stay in the race, we can prevail and reach our full potential.He uses the story of Dale Earnhardt and...
2025-01-2029 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS04E37 - You’ve Been PreparedA powerful way of opening your eyes to your potential is to step back to see how you’ve been prepared. Today, McKay helps us understand that when we change our belief window to “I am prepared, I am ready for just a moment as this,” we can seize the opportunity and act with confidence. It’s time to have faith and engage in a reappraisal of your life and your preparation, and that is precisely what our host helps you do in this week’s inspiring episode.McKay discusses the preparedness of the scientists whose research proved effic...
2024-12-3032 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS04E36 - Live Above The LineThis week, McKay shares some more sage advice for all listeners: no matter what life throws at you, when you choose to 'live above the line', nothing can keep you from becoming who you were meant to be. On so many occasions we are faced with tough times where we have to refuse to be mediocre and take charge – we need to cross above the line with faith and strength – and today McKay provides examples and guidance that demonstrate how to achieve just that.He starts this important discussion with the story of Debbie who rescued her frie...
2024-12-2332 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS04E35 - Focus on the Big Rocks FirstThis week, as we journey together through this exciting time of year, filled with the positivity that goals and aspirations can provide, McKay proclaims his optimism for 2022. He also delves into the concept of the big rocks in your life – how to find them and what to do once they are found. It’s so important to put these big rocks first in our lives, and today, our host tells us all exactly how to do that. McKay starts the episode by sharing an interesting story about asteroids, and then linking the concept of big rocks...
2024-12-1632 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS04E34 - Your Strategy for Life (Part II)As we find ourselves facing a new year in 2025, we are once again given the gift of a new day where we can leave the past behind and reimagine ourselves and our lives for the better. We are so blessed with all the possibilities that this new year holds for us, and sometimes it can help at these times to zoom out and gain a broader or different view of our place in the world. Today, McKay shares some proven strategies for life and enlightens us on how to create some that can propel us into becoming the best...
2024-12-0932 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS04E33 - Your Strategy for Life (Part I)What do successful presidential candidates, businesspeople, and military generals all have in common? The answer is that none of them go into a campaign without a strategy, without understanding their ultimate goals and the internal and external factors that influence their chances of success. In this week’s episode, McKay discusses how having a fully developed and articulated strategy is key in finding success in all areas of your life, and offers sage advice on how to design your own strategy. First up is a discussion of political strategy and how Biden and Trump utilized it in the...
2024-12-0230 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS04E30 - The Propensity to HopeThe force of hope is a potent one that has the power to brighten our lives and bring happiness. No matter how isolated or stuck in your business or life you may feel, it is so very important to hold on to hope and allow it to influence the decisions you make. It is a key ingredient in helping you to live the life you want to live, and in this week’s episode, McKay explores the propensity to hope, demonstrating just how powerful it can be even in the bleakest of situations. Trapped in a s...
2024-11-1130 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS04E28 - A Noble ResponsibilityHow do you find your true worth? Our self worth is determined not by how much we get, but how much we give. When you see your noble responsibility to use your gifts for good, you find your worth. In this week’s episode, McKay delves into the subject of noblesse oblige, explaining the noble responsibility we have of helping others by giving, and getting inspired to live happy lives along the way. He starts off with the story of Chhiring Dorje who, in spite of being in danger himself, carried out the most daring resc...
2024-10-2833 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS04E27 - Do What Is Great While It Is SmallWhat goal are you pursuing in your life? Perhaps it’s to be healthier, or to save a relationship, or maybe it’s to break long standing bad habits. It might be to succeed in business, academics, or your spiritual life. Whatever it is, in this week’s episode, McKay gives insight into the most effective way to achieve your goal, and that’s by doing small, consistent actions over time.He kicks off by narrating the story of a 544 BC Chinese Grandmaster credited with being the author of the famous book The Art of War, which has been...
2024-10-2132 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS04E26 - Reset Your ThermostatIn this week’s episode, McKay explores the concept of the life thermostat, showing how people set internal limits and how they can reset those limits to achieve personal and professional growth. Through the stories of individuals who faced significant challenges on their journey to achieving greatness, our host highlights themes of resilience, breaking through barriers, and resetting your thermostat. David Goggins’ journey, from surviving childhood abuse and battling a learning disability to transforming his life through Navy SEAL training and ultra-marathon running, showcases the power of resetting one's mental thermostat. McKay also shares Simu Liu’s story o...
2024-10-1427 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS04E25 - Confidence Wears Red LipstickMcKay undertakes an exploration into the transformative power of confidence this week, illustrating how it can lead to extraordinary achievements in both personal and professional realms. Using the massive success of the Barbie movie as a central example, he examines how confidence can change perceptions, drive success, and inspire others, even when faced with doubt or setbacks.McKay expands on this theme by sharing stories of such influential figures as Margot Robbie, whose belief in the Barbie movie’s potential turned it into a billion-dollar phenomenon, and Ruth Handler, whose confidence in her vision created the iconic Ba...
2024-10-0728 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS4E24 - What Matters MostThere are two primary sources of unhappiness: living focused on the wrong things, and living in a way not in harmony with what matters most to you. Today, McKay opens our eyes to see why we need to discover what matters most to us and how to live in harmony with our values to live a happy and purposeful life. In this episode, McKay tells the story of the integrity possessed by Tony Finau, a man who valued honesty and decided to live with his values. He goes on to discuss the reasons why many a...
2024-09-3030 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS04E23 - A Leader with InfluenceIn this latest episode of Open Your Eyes, McKay delves into how lessons from football, business, and life can shape leadership and influence. Building upon a foundation featuring the legendary strategies of NFL coach Bill Walsh, our host unpacks the ways in which teamwork, preparation, and foresight are essential to becoming a leader of influence in any field.McKay highlights Walsh's remarkable transformation of the San Francisco 49ers, emphasizing key leadership principles such as talent recruitment, organizational excellence, and seizing opportunities. Through this and other compelling stories, listeners learn how successful leaders anticipate challenges, foster a culture...
2024-09-2326 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS04E22 - Start Your ImpossibleToday, McKay brings to us an important topic - starting your impossible. Recognizing that we all have to face what appears to be the absolutely unachievable from time to time, McKay shares with listeners, using real world examples, how to start and keep doing the impossible. He begins the episode describing the accomplishments of the Wright brothers, who, through the challenges associated with air travel, were able to do the impossible. McKay also speaks about finding inspiration as the path to success just like the Wright brothers did, the impact of walking with giants, and w...
2024-09-1629 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS04E20 - Reframe Your ViewDo you ever wonder why some people know exactly where they’re headed and are willing to take calculated risks? Why, no matter what they face, they are determined and have clear-headed goals? They have the power of positive reframing.In this episode, McKay gives insights to what positive reframing is about, beginning with the story of the scientist, Galileo, and how he was able to reframe his mindset despite criticism. McKay also shares his personal story of reframing, goes on to discuss the benefits of reframing your mindset, and finishes by sharing some reframing tools that yo...
2024-09-0231 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS04E17 - What’s Next?What do you do when something does not go as planned? What’s the way forward? McKay provides the simple answer to this - pivot to what’s next. So many people get frustrated when things go wrong and forget that, as McKay demonstrates today, asking and doing what’s next is the path of happiness.He starts the episode with the story of Karen McWatters who lost her leg and a close friend in the Boston Marathon bombings. Despite the adversities Karen encountered, she asked herself ‘What next?’, and went on to find opportunities even in the face o...
2024-08-1228 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E29 - Remember Who You AreSometimes, in life, we can forget who we are. The way of the world, comparisons, circumstances can rob us of our view of our true value and potential. Often, the world attempts to define who we are or tell us we are something other than who we know we can be. But when we remember who we are, we become empowered. And the same goes for teams, organizations and families.On today’s episode, McKay dives into how we can remember who we are. McKay opens with a moving story about Humboldt Canada and the tragic events of the...
2022-11-0730 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E28 - As You WishDo wishes come true? In many ways our wishes dictate the direction we travel in life. In this week’s episode, McKay discusses the principle that dreams we grant to others and seek for ourselves have the power to change lives. It often takes a leader and first class noticer to make someone’s wish come true in the first place. From Jason McElwain to Cary Elwes, McKay goes on to recount stories about wish makers, what they wish for, and how they turn wishes into reality.Above all else, McKay finds it important to note that we can r...
2022-10-3129 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E27 - What's Your Future Worth?Have you ever thought about the person you will be in the future or what your future will look like? Your future is worth your attention. Because the future you picture or imagine influences your actions today.In this week’s episode, McKay has an important question for you: What is your future worth? To help you envision your future self, he shares an incredibly touching story about a group of mountain climbers and the hard-learned lessons that turned their lives upside down. And we can all learn so much about climbs and attempts in life from the...
2022-10-2428 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E25 - Fall Seven, Rise EightYou probably know one of the greatest Japanese proverbs of all time that teaches us about the power of resilience - ‘Fall down seven times, rise eight.’ In this week’s episode, McKay talks about the importance of dusting yourself off after a crisis and getting back up. He kicks off the episode by telling us a powerful story about Florence Rogers and how a seemingly normal day turned out to be an enormous test of her resilience. Just like Rocky Balboa, she decided to keep moving forward after life hit her hard. Next, McKay shares a few oth...
2022-10-1031 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E24 - It’s Worth The RiskRisk-taking is one of the most critical skills that every strong leader should have. It involves envisioning the future, enhancing your odds of success, and then translating your vision into reality. Risk-taking leaders are self-aware, nimble, and fearless. So, it’s no surprise that employees respond well to risk takers and perceive them as leaders worth following. Taking calculated risks will not only empower you as a leader, but it will also empower and inspire everyone around you.In this week’s episode, McKay talks about the most important skills that a risk-taking leader should have, and dive...
2022-10-0330 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E23 - Chief Inspiration OfficerWhat’s the most important role in an organization? Despite what you may think, it’s not a CEO, CFO, or CMO. It’s actually CIO - Chief Inspiration Officer. A CIO has a job to inspire others and lead by example. So, how can you become your team’s CIO? You’re about to find out! In this week’s episode, McKay talks about the key characteristics that an inspiring leader must have: credibility and integrity. He dives deep into the power of inspiration - the driving force that moves a team forward and helps them achieve higher levels of pe...
2022-09-2630 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E22 - Be ConstructiveA constructive leader is someone who builds others, not just themselves. It’s someone who creates ownership in a team to move the organization in the right direction. But a constructive leader is also a mother who lifts her child up, supports them in any way she can, and builds on their creativity. If you think about it, examples of great leaders are everywhere around us; we just need to know what to look for.In this week’s episode, McKay talks about the main principles of constructive leadership. He starts the episode by telling us an insp...
2022-09-1931 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E21 - The Dichotomy of GreatnessWe all have greatness within us. And we all navigate through life searching for it, trying to embrace our greatest strengths, and striving to become the best version of ourselves. But life is filled with irony, paradox, and dichotomy. And when we can embrace the dichotomy of greatness, that’s when we’ll be able to live our life to the fullest. The dichotomy of greatness is what leads us to greatness; we see it all around us – the most talented athletes, the world’s greatest leaders, and even in our closest friends. It shows us that we can’t be great...
2022-09-1229 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E20 - Your Amazing GraceToday, McKay delves into the concept of becoming a person of grace and a leader who leads with grace. He shares an inspiring example of grace from the most recent Little League World Series playoffs. Like the little leaguers, when we extend grace to others, we become more inspiring. And that’s needed in our world today.While grace is incredibly motivational and encouraging, not many people actually engage in demonstrating or offering it, but we can all start. McKay spends much of the episode characterizing someone leading with grace as someone who cares more about making thi...
2022-09-0530 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E19 - How You Start is Not How You’ll FinishOn this week’s episode of the Open Your Eyes podcast, McKay talks about perseverance, how to adapt and overcome mistakes/failure, and why you should start doing ordinary things with excellence. He opens up the episode with brief remarks about Walmart and the company's evolution. In 2010, when Walmart slowly started to fall to a new competitor on the scene, Amazon, they shifted their online marketing strategies to catch up, and they did. So in a world that’s constantly changing, McKay urges us to, like Walmart, adapt and overcome. It’s okay to take inspiration from others, but we must do...
2022-08-2932 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E18 - Can You Decide?Decision making remains a core life skill that benefits you and those who learn from you for years to come. In this week’s episode, McKay breaks down the importance of decision making and teaches listeners how to become better decision makers themselves.McKay begins by citing 9/11 as an incident that highlights the critical importance of decision making. He explains how rapid decisions had to be made on that day and how this impacted the USA. McKay also delves into the science behind decision making and explains how the 37% rule can help people make decisions. He advises li...
2022-08-2230 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E17 - Build Your BrandIn this week's episode, McKay discusses the importance of building and investing in your brand. We all have a brand which we create and build daily, and today, McKay shares the secrets on how to create that brand, how to keep the brand alive, and how to fulfill the purpose of whatever brand we create.He begins looking at the importance of brand building by sharing a story of the Superbowl and why many brands advertise during the Superbowl. McKay goes on to explain how Amazon became the biggest brand and why branding is essential in our...
2022-08-1532 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E16 - Life’s Inevitable FlopsMcKay kicks off today’s Open Your Eyes episode by sharing his wisdom about failures and flops, specifically how some of the world’s greatest success stories followed in the footsteps of rather embarrassing failures. Take Dick Fosbury, Brian Epstein, or Tiger Woods for example. Even J.K Rowling was a homeless, single mother by the time she began to write the world’s most beloved children series. Suffering at the hands of an abuser and reckoning with her mother’s death, Rowling felt like the biggest failure she knew. But she decided to work hard and make use of that wild...
2022-08-0830 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E14 - The Jaws of LifeIn the episode of Open Your Eyes, McKay discusses a grip that often takes hold in our life and directs our actions. This grip, which McKay describes at the jaws of life, often lurks just outside our view and, little by little, changes the way we think, act, and live. What are these jaws? Habits. These habits can change our view of reality and over time pull us in a direction we otherwise would not go. McKay discusses how we can avoid the jaws of life and build productive habits that help us live a healthy life.This...
2022-07-2530 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E13 - Just Show UpOn this episode of the Open Your Eyes podcast, McKay introduces the audience to the practice of showing up. He opens up the conversation by sharing the resilient story of Jane Marczewski, America’s Got Talent competitor, 2-time cancer survivor, and beautiful singer. Despite all of the unfair challenges that seemed to hold her back, namely a long battle with cancer and an unexpected divorce, Jane continued to show up each and every day. McKay believes that’s the secret to success: the more we show up for ourselves and others, the more we develop healthy habits and increase our c...
2022-07-1830 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E12 - Light Your LifeIn this episode of the Open Your Eyes podcast, McKay talks about being a light not only in your own life, but in the lives of others as well. He opens up the episode with a story which exemplifies finding a light in someone else involving a midwife named Joanna and the message she received from her dead grandmother in a hospital room. McKay then goes on to alert us to the fact that we can all be lights, but it requires a special attention to positivity and the thoughts we allow ourselves to verbalize. As a P...
2022-07-1132 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E11 - The Culture EffectThis 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...
2022-07-0430 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E10 - What Makes You Happy?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...
2022-06-2730 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E8 - The Best Speech of Your LifeWhat 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...
2022-06-1333 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E7 - How to Treat a TickOn 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...
2022-06-0633 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E6 - The Rest of Your StoryOn 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 Emm...
2022-05-3030 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E5 - Keep Your FaithOn today’s episode, McKay talks to the audience about the importance of faith, and begins by introducing the story of Desmond Doss and his unwavering faith and peaceful determination at Hacksaw Ridge. McKay frames faith as a commitment to a choice, and the more we act on that choice, the more we reinforce our faith - reminiscent of Isaac Newton’s laws of motion. Moving forward and taking steps, no matter how small, keeps our momentum in the right direction.He next advises listeners to eliminate distractions since they only serve to slow us down and divert...
2022-05-2330 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E4 - Looking for a MiracleThis week, McKay talks about miracles, opening up the episode with the story of pilot and pioneer, Amelia Earhart, and the unbelievable tale that is the rescue of McKenzie Morgan. He argues that both stories are miracles in their own right, and these miracles can happen to us so long as we open our minds and hearts to them. McKay says it’s all about realizing your worth. Too many people believe themselves unworthy of serendipitous positivity when that couldn’t be further from the truth. We all deserve miracles - sometimes we just need to open our eyes to them...
2022-05-1630 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E3 - Discover Real WealthToday on the Open Your Eyes podcast, McKay talks about creating lasting wealth, and opens up the episode with two stories about Charles Ponzi and Bernie Madoff - both of whom schemed investors out of billions of dollars. He points out that, unlike Ponzi, Madoff, and their corrupt practices, in order to create genuine wealth, one has to define what wealth truly means. The next step according to McKay to generate wealth is to save and invest, and goes on to urge the audience to diversify these investments in order to best mitigate risk.Last but not le...
2022-05-0931 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E2 - It’s No Fun Being PoorThis week on Open Your Eyes, McKay talks about why it’s no fun being poor. He opens up the episode by recounting the plot of the Oscar Award winning film, CODA, in which the protagonist's family rises above the poverty line and comes to live a much more fulfilled life as a result. Next McKay talks about his friend’s work building wells in the Republic of Congo and educating the community about maintenance and education. McKay remarks that this education and access gave Congan people the opportunity to rise above their water scarcity and focus on growing other a...
2022-05-0230 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS2E1 - Your Money MindsetToday, McKay discusses how to change your money mindset. He opens up the podcast by discussing the tragic day when Sergeant Jay Rosenberry saw his children and friend flailing in a riptide. While he successfully saved his children, his friend Mark didn’t make it. McKay likens this tragic unpreparedness for the riptide to the lack of understanding we have about our money habits, and he goes on to discuss how we can better improve our financial decisions. First, McKay discusses the importance of developing small habits - by spending small amounts in the right places, one saves...
2022-04-2530 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E52 - Are You Entitled?Today, McKay explored the sense of entitlement on the Open Your Eyes podcast. He starts off by introducing various examples of moments when individuals were and weren’t entitled, beginning with the story of a man who was tired of waiting for his flight. He then contrasts that example with George Washington and his heroism fighting against the British army. McKay notes that, like George Washington, we are entitled to nothing in life. If we start to adopt this mindset that nothing is guaranteed to us, we would be all the more happy. McKay goes on to recall...
2022-04-1833 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E51 - It’s Time to MoveToday, McKay talks all about action on the podcast, starting off the episode by recounting Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 expedition to Antarctica. After two years of combatting ice, cold temperatures, and the ocean, Shackleton finally managed to save his team and bring them home. McKay attributes his unlikely success to his willingness to move and set his plans into action, and points out that many of us overthink far too much and are paralyzed by our thoughts. To overcome our overthinking, action is the best remedy - making moves, changing our thought processes, and cultivating what McKay calls our emotional homes...
2022-04-1127 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E50 - Stay In Your LaneOn McKay’s 50th podcast episode, he talks about the importance of staying in your lane, and opens this week by introducing the story of Sarah Blakely, the creator of SPANX. He talks about her unhappiness as a fax machine saleswoman and her perseverance in the industry. Only after dedicating herself to her position did she serendipitously find success in the hosiery business. McKay notes that, although dedicating yourself to your craft in the face of unhappiness is no easy feat, giving yourself fully or staying in your lane is the most surefire method to achieve success. He goe...
2022-04-0433 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E49 - A Worthy GoalMcKay talks about the importance of goals in today’s episode, and he opens up the episode by recognizing the success of Mike Krzyzewski as Duke basketball head coach. Only after seeing his book in an airport, did McKay read it and learn about having worthy goals. He ties Coach K’s story into that of Chris Norton, a football player who suffered a paralyzing injury in a football game, highlighting his determination and how he defied all odds to walk again. McKay finds it important to add that you are the only person who has control over your destiny...
2022-03-2829 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E48 - How's Your Energy?Today’s episode finds McKay guiding the audience on a path to sustain one’s personal energy. He opens the episode by discussing Bitcoin’s mining scarcity and how it negatively impacted the personal will power of those like James Halls, who misplaced his Bitcoin retrieve code worth millions of dollars. This story prefaces his statement that personal energy drives will power and emotional sustenance. McKay goes on to use the neutrino discovery and the radish v.s. cookie experiment to articulate how emotional energy continues or stops. He urges us to subscribe to habits like clearing clutter, fo...
2022-03-2133 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E46 - Your Time Will ComeThere are moments in our lives when feelings of doubt or fears of failure discourage us from following our dreams or striving toward goals. In fact, many of the world’s greatest success stories failed countless times before finally achieving success and notoriety. McKay Christensen opens today’s podcast with Garth Brooks’ origin story, so to speak. He details the failure and discouragement that inevitably forced Brooks to abandon music in Nashville for the comforts of his home in Oklahoma. After returning to Stillwater, OK, however, he realized that he no longer belonged in the town he used to find sola...
2022-03-0729 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E45 - Finish Your RaceWe all have important races we are trying to finish in life. For some, that race may be to finish college, or get their business to the place they know it can be, or to raise honest and capable kids. For others, it might be to lose the weight, beat cancer, or survive and thrive after divorce. Whatever our race is, McKay reminds us all today that we are endowed with great talents, and that if we stay in the race, we can prevail and reach our full potential.He uses the story of Dale Earnhardt and...
2022-02-2829 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E40 - You’ve Been PreparedA powerful way of opening your eyes to your potential is to step back to see how you’ve been prepared. Today, McKay helps us understand that when we change our belief window to “I am prepared, I am ready for just a moment as this,” we can seize the opportunity and act with confidence. It’s time to have faith and engage in a reappraisal of your life and your preparation, and that is precisely what our host helps you do in this week’s inspiring episode.McKay discusses the preparedness of the scientists whose research proved effic...
2022-01-2432 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E39 - Live Above The LineLive Above The LineThis week, McKay shares some more sage advice for all listeners: no matter what life throws at you, when you choose to 'live above the line', nothing can keep you from becoming who you were meant to be. On so many occasions we are faced with tough times where we have to refuse to be mediocre and take charge – we need to cross above the line with faith and strength – and today McKay provides examples and guidance that demonstrate how to achieve just that.He starts this important discussion with the stor...
2022-01-1732 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E38 - Focus on the Big Rocks FirstThis week, as we journey together through this exciting time of year, filled with the positivity that goals and aspirations can provide, McKay proclaims his optimism for 2022. He also delves into the concept of the big rocks in your life – how to find them and what to do once they are found. It’s so important to put these big rocks first in our lives, and today, our host tells us all exactly how to do that. McKay starts the episode by sharing an interesting story about asteroids, and then linking the concept of big rocks...
2022-01-1032 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E37 - Your Strategy for Life (Part II)As we find ourselves facing a new year in 2022, we are once again given the gift of a new day where we can leave the past behind and reimagine ourselves and our lives for the better. We are so blessed with all the possibilities that this new year holds for us, and sometimes it can help at these times to zoom out and gain a broader or different view of our place in the world. Today, McKay shares some proven strategies for life and enlightens us on how to create some that can propel us into becoming the best...
2022-01-0332 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E36 - Your Strategy for Life (Part I)What do successful presidential candidates, businesspeople, and military generals all have in common? The answer is that none of them go into a campaign without a strategy, without understanding their ultimate goals and the internal and external factors that influence their chances of success. In this week’s episode, McKay discusses how having a fully developed and articulated strategy is key in finding success in all areas of your life, and offers sage advice on how to design your own strategy. First up is a discussion of political strategy and how Biden and Trump utilized it in the...
2021-12-2730 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E33 - The Propensity to Hope The force of hope is a potent one that has the power to brighten our lives and bring happiness. No matter how isolated or stuck in your business or life you may feel, it is so very important to hold on to hope and allow it to influence the decisions you make. It is a key ingredient in helping you to live the life you want to live, and in this week’s episode, McKay explores the propensity to hope, demonstrating just how powerful it can be even in the bleakest of situations. Trapped in a si...
2021-12-0630 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E31 - A Noble ResponsibilityHow do you find your true worth? Our self worth is determined not by how much we get, but how much we give. When you see your noble responsibility to use your gifts for good, you find your worth. In this week’s episode, McKay delves into the subject of noblesse oblige, explaining the noble responsibility we have of helping others by giving, and getting inspired to live happy lives along the way. He starts off with the story of Chhiring Dorje who, in spite of being in danger himself, carried out the most daring resc...
2021-11-2233 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E30 - Do What Is Great While It Is SmallWhat goal are you pursuing in your life? Perhaps it’s to be healthier, or to save a relationship, or maybe it’s to break long standing bad habits. It might be to succeed in business, academics, or your spiritual life. Whatever it is, in this week’s episode, McKay gives insight into the most effective way to achieve your goal, and that’s by doing small, consistent actions over time.He kicks off by narrating the story of a 544 BC Chinese Grandmaster credited with being the author of the famous book The Art of War, which has been...
2021-11-1532 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E29 - A Perfectly Imperfect LifeYour Perfectly Imperfect Life“We all have perfect moments in life, and it's exceptionally healthy to seek to be our best in these moments.” In this week’s episode, McKay brings the truth of this quote to vivid life by opening our eyes to the illusion of perfection and spurring us on to seek optimalism and excellence instead.He begins by sharing the story of Yogi Berra, and then highlights the attractiveness about the world’s imperfection and points out that if the world were perfect, it would be less attractive. McKay assures us that it’s oka...
2021-11-0831 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E28 - The Start of Something GoodLoss of a loved one, sickness, financial hardship - all these and more have crushed and still crush people in the course of their lives. In this week’s episode, McKay employs his trademark combination of information, experience, stories, and inspiration to encourage us to rise against the tide and decide to start something good this day regardless of the circumstances. McKay breaks the ice by narrating how three-year-old Liz from a broken home changed her narrative. He goes on and stresses the importance of focusing on the positive possibilities and not the feelings of worry and anx...
2021-11-0132 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E27 - You Gotta Have HeartWhat does it mean to be compassionate? In this week’s episode, McKay employs his trademark combination of information, experience, stories, and inspiration to explore the topic of compassion and open our eyes to the success we can enjoy as we give our heart and build this all important practice into our lives. The episode begins with McKay’s illustrative stories of compassion and how compassion has brought families together under tragic circumstances. He discusses the effect of self-centeredness and the rewards that come with showing compassion, goes on to encourage us all to lose the t...
2021-10-2530 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E26 - Clarity for LifeThere is power to be found in clarity - knowing who you are, where you are, and the order of your life. On today’s episode, McKay teaches listeners all about the power of clarity as well as the benefits it can bring to help you live a purposeful life. The story of Molly Seidel and how she found clarity and pursued her goal with a clear vision despite facing different struggles opens up this episode. McKay then goes on to explain what disorder really is and why clarity in such areas as exercising and eve...
2021-10-1831 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E25 - On The Other Side of FearHow do some people face their fears with clarity while others struggle with theirs day to day? Fear is real and normal but we all have to face our fears and overcome them. McKay shares with us today how to overcome our fears and become who we are meant to be. McKay opens the episode with the story of how Jay Jonas and Heather Penney faced their fears during the 9/11 attacks. He explains what fear is and how understanding your fear can help you overcome it, and discusses lessons from Alex Honnold who despite his r...
2021-10-1127 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E24 - What Matters MostThere are two primary sources of unhappiness: living focused on the wrong things, and living in a way not in harmony with what matters most to you. Today, McKay opens our eyes to see why we need to discover what matters most to us and how to live in harmony with our values to live a happy and purposeful life. In this episode, McKay tells the story of the integrity possessed by Tony Finau, a man who valued honesty and decided to live with his values. He goes on to discuss the reasons why many a...
2021-10-0430 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E23 - Make a Mental ShiftWhen life deals you a tough hand and tosses you about, how do you respond? Many times we get into a cycle of rinse and repeat that stops us from thinking productively. Today, McKay opens our eyes to see the dangers of thinking in patterns and how to cause ourselves to experience major mental shifts.McKay opens the episode with the tragedy that occured in 2004, the Sumatra Earthquake which left thousands dead, two of which were Edie Fassnidge’s mother and sister. He encourages us to strengthen our mental muscles by controlling thought patterns and developing a ha...
2021-09-2734 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E21 - The Positive AffectThis week, McKay explores the power of positive affect with listeners. In recent times, unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of negativity and criticism, and seeing this, McKay today brings to us ways to create a positive affect in our lives and demonstrates why this is of utmost importance. The movie Field of Dreams was born out of the positive affect of Kevin Costner - it was his influence that got the movie produced. McKay advises us all to, like Costner, create a positive affect, and he then delves into how you can go a...
2021-09-1327 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E20 - Start Your Impossible.Today, McKay brings to us an important topic - starting your impossible. Recognizing that we all have to face what appears to be the absolutely unachievable from time to time, McKay shares with listeners, using real world examples, how to start and keep doing the impossible. He begins the episode describing the accomplishments of the Wright brothers, who, through the challenges associated with air travel, were able to do the impossible. McKay also speaks about finding inspiration as the path to success just like the Wright brothers did, the impact of walking with giants, and w...
2021-09-0629 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E17 - Successful Leaders are Twice-BornWhat does it mean to be twice-born? Today, McKay talks about the key characteristic that successful parents and leaders possess - they are twice-born, and when they try a second time, they’re more successful because the second time around is an empowering one. The episode opens with McKay narrating the story of New Orleans when the city was overwhelmed by Hurricane Katrina which ravaged the city, leaving it damaged and killing thousands in the process. The people soon lost faith in the city, until a rebirth occurred. McKay encourages listeners to imagine they are at...
2021-08-1632 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenFollowing The Right ImpressionsThis week, McKay delves into the concept of following the right impressions and the impact that can have on our lives. How do you tell right impressions from wrong ones? How do you get into the habit of following the right impressions? McKay answers these questions and more in today’s episode. He begins by narrating the near-death accident that his family was involved in a few years ago in Northern Cincinnati, recounting the anger he felt towards the drunk driver who caused the accident and how he was going to do whatever it took to...
2021-08-0231 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenGet InspiredWhat does it mean to be inspired? Why does it matter to be inspired? If you’re looking for answers to these questions, you’ve definitely come to the right place. In today’s episode, McKay not only offers his responses to them, but, along the way, he also teaches us the characteristics of an inspired person, and how to grow into someone who lives an inspired life, in order to achieve your purpose.
McKay uses his illustrative storytelling to bring to life the story behind the famous Iwo Jima photo and Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” spee...
2021-07-2630 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenJust TryFrom time to time, we all get to the point of utter discouragement, and the idea of giving up may arise. In response to that, today’s episode is all about the power of trying despite being faced with challenges, of persevering, and of having patience to maintain your pursuit of your goals. Listen in today as McKay teaches us all that we should always continue to try - no matter what.
This episode starts off with the story of George Washington’s army that decided to reenlist despite having little success with the war against the British army. McKay...
2021-07-1931 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenBe a Person of ActionThis week, McKay discusses the power of action as a reinforcer of our goals. Recognizing that we all, at some point, give in to pressure and refuse to act, he takes us on a journey on the dangers of inaction and the benefits that come with starting - and starting immediately.
This episode drives this message home as McKay starts off with the tragic story of the 1986 NASA launch crash that occurred as a result of inaction. He then delves into the rewards that come with being a person of action and goes on to discuss how you can...
2021-07-1232 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenThe Power of Positive ReframingDo you ever wonder why some people know exactly where they’re headed and are willing to take calculated risks? Why, no matter what they face, they are determined and have clear-headed goals? They have the power of positive reframing.In this episode, McKay gives insights to what positive reframing is about, beginning with the story of the scientist, Galileo, and how he was able to reframe his mindset despite criticism. McKay also shares his personal story of reframing, goes on to discuss the benefits of reframing your mindset, and finishes by sharing some reframing tools that yo...
2021-07-0531 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenThe Power of PrimingThis week, McKay explains the science behind priming and shielding. Priming and shielding affect our behavior which, in turn, influences our goals. McKay discusses how to use priming and shielding to our advantage and to achieve our purpose.
McKay opens the episode with the story of George Danzig and how he was primed into facing challenges. He explains what priming is and how we subconsciously prime everyday. Throughout this episode, he gives studies of priming including John Bar’s experiment, and goes on to explain how priming can be used to shape up our lives using the power of re...
2021-06-2823 minOpen Your Eyes with McKay ChristensenS1E1 - Open Your EyesWhat you can’t see, you can’t be. That’s why we all need a clear vision of who we are and what we can become. On ‘Open Your Eyes’, you are invited to join author and business leader McKay Christensen, PhD, to discover the steps to lasting change on your path to personal and business growth. From personal improvement to team leadership, get the insights and tools you need to open your eyes to a happier life. Highlighting the fact that our reality is a reflection of our strongest beliefs, Mckay explores the concept of...
2021-05-1028 min