469. Hyperefficient: Optimize Your Brain to Transform the Way You Work

It’s time for the host to sit in the hot seat. For over 70 episodes, Nikki Miller asked guests insightful questions, connecting their theories to practical implementation for The ONE Thing podcast listeners. Today, she’s the one being interviewed. Jay Papasan takes on his new role as host. Nikki reflects on what it’s meant to be a public ambassador of The ONE Thing, all the preparation that has gone into each show, and how she has prioritized showing up authentically. She also shares what it’s been like to navigate selling her business and merging her team during this time. Join us in thanking Nikki for all the incredible episodes and wishing her well on her maternity leave! Email us at [email protected] or send an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com. To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: The work that goes on behind the scenes to create an episode of The ONE Thing Nikki’s favorite episodes The power of The ONE Thing community Links & Tools from This Episode: Listen to Episode 434. Become a Supercommunicator with Charles Duhigg Listen to Episode 440. Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life Listen to Episode 451. Mind Magic with Dr. James Doty Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing. Produced by NOVA Media

Can you imagine freeing up 30% of executives’ time, while also increasing joy and resilience in the workplace? Keith Ferrazzi joins the show today to discuss his new book, “Never Lead Alone,” which promises to do exactly that. Keith walks us through some of the diagnostic questions and high return practices (HRPs) outlined in “Never Lead Alone” that can create a new social contract and culture in teams. We talk about moving from conflict avoidance to candor; from feedback as a directive to feedback as data; and from energy-sucking meetings to modern-day collaboration tactics. Keith has coached the best of the best in the business world. Now, he has reached a point in his journey where he wants to share what he has learned as widely as possible. Don’t miss this episode! If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com. To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: Teamship vs. leadership How practices change culture What holds teams back from high performance Links & Tools from This Episode: Receive exclusive content when you pre-order your copy of Never Lead Alone  For all of Keith Ferrazzi’s other books, go to KeithFerrazzi.com/books Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] Produced by NOVA Media

Learning, innovation, and growth all rely on failure. The discomfort of failure bakes important lessons into our brains. The uncertainty that precedes the point of failure expands our minds. Dr. Manu Kapur joins the show today to explain why we should deliberately design for failure in our businesses and personal lives. Dr. Manu Kapur heads the Future Learning Initiative at ETH University Zurich and recently wrote a book called, “Productive Failure: Unlocking Deeper Learning through the Science of Failing.” He marries scientific research and practical insights to help leaders find the optimal “failure signal.” We get into details around “motivational hacking,” failure stories, performance appraisals, and how to build a psychologically safe work culture.  Don’t worry, this episode isn’t a celebration of failure itself. It’s a clear-eyed discussion about the value of accepting struggle and growing from it. Take a listen. If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com. To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: Why exploration should come before expert knowledge in a learning sequence How to maintain motivation in the midst of failure  What it looks like to design for productive failure Links & Tools from This Episode: Read “Productive Failure” Learn more at ProductiveFailure.com Learn more at ManuKapur.com Connect with Dr. Manu Kapur on LinkedIn Follow Dr. Manu Kapur on Instagram Email Dr. Manu Kapur at [email protected] Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] Produced by NOVA Media

Fifteen years ago, when Jenn Lewis was first asked questions from The Goal Setting Retreat, she cried. To be fair, her partner JP hadn’t told her what they were for and he brought them up in the middle of a busy restaurant. Today, Jenn joins the show to share what couples can expect from The Goal Setting Retreat and how they may get emotional… in a good way. Jay Papasan serves as the host for this episode. He and Jenn swap stories of attending The Goal Setting Retreat with their respective partners. They discuss how the retreat helps couples be vulnerable with each other and communicate well. They describe the components of the retreat and what attendees will come away with. If you and your partner need some structured time to deeply communicate and concretely plan out how to reach your goals, check out The Goal Setting Retreat. To learn more, go to the1thing.com/goal-setting-retreat. If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: How the Goal Setting Retreat helps couples be vulnerable with each other and communicate better Stories from Jenn’s first experience with the Goal Setting Retreat The components of the Goal Setting Retreat Links & Tools from This Episode: Learn more and buy in-person or virtual tickets at the1thing.com/goal-setting-retreat  Read “The Psychology of Money” Read “The Road Less Stupid” Read “The Gap and the Gain” Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] Produced by NOVA Media

Is your business actually stalling out or are you just bored? How can you tell the difference? And if you are just bored, how can you overcome that? Nikki Miller and Chris Dixon do a deep dive into the topic, giving clear tactics to address the issue. Nikki and Chris discuss iterative reflection, “gap and gain,” autonomy, and authorship. They also dig into habit formation, mindsets, and accountability.  If you are feeling restless or burnt out, or you can sense that your team is, this is the episode for you. In fact, consider sharing this episode with your team to jumpstart a conversation. If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: Why the path to success can feel monotonous  Tactics to prevent boredom or burnout How to keep your team engaged on the path to success Links & Tools from This Episode: Download a free copy of the 411 tool Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] Produced by NOVA Media

Jay Papasan, Nikki Miller, and one hour of pure The ONE Thing fundamentals: It doesn’t get any better than this. Recorded at the Keller Williams Family Reunion, Nikki and Jay give a one-hour masterclass on how Jay and Gary Keller developed The ONE Thing and how you can apply it to your life today. This is a must-listen and the perfect episode to share with loved ones and colleagues. Jay and Nikki go through The ONE Thing model start-to-finish: Defining success, saying no, working backward, using the 80/20 principle, and tapping into your “why.” Plus they explain the free tools that will help you implement the model: The 411 and the GPS. Full of great Gary Keller anecdotes, this episode is as entertaining as it is informative. Enjoy! If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: Why defining success must come before creating goals The difference between productivity and activity How The ONE Thing tools (411 and GPS) keep you focused and accountable Links & Tools from This Episode: Free Resources, including the 411 and GPS Get your Core Values Deck today Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] Produced by NOVA Media

We often hear the term “naive optimism,” but the fact is, most of us are living in “naive cynicism.” Dr. Jamil Zaki joins the show today to explain why cynicism harms our well-being and businesses. He also gives us ways to combat it. Dr. Jamil Zaki is the Director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab. He has gathered his latest research in a new book, “Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness.” He walks us through the difference between healthy skepticism and cynicism, why businesses function better when cynicism is directly addressed, and the power of hope. If you’ve noticed cynicism in your organization, loved ones, or yourself, this episode will give you tools to overcome it. If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: The problems that cynicism causes Why hopeful skepticism is the antidote to cynicism  How to reverse organizational and interpersonal cynicism Links & Tools from This Episode: Learn more at Jamil-Zaki.com Learn more at SSNL.Stanford.edu Read “Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness” Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] Produced by NOVA Media

Investing in a generous relationship not only exponentially grows your relationship with a person, but it exponentially grows your network. If you aren’t just interested in making a successful deal, but in creating a successful career, this is The ONE Thing episode you need to listen to. Jay Papasan steps in as the podcast host and interviews his friend and fellow author, Mo Bunnell. They dissect Mo’s latest book “Give to Grow: Invest in Relationships to Build Your Business and Your Career.” Mo talks about business relationships in a way you probably won’t hear anywhere else. He breaks down tactics around escalating agreements, prioritizing the right fit, and investing in genuine relationships. Even Jay furiously scribbles down notes when Mo speaks, trying to keep up with the flow of wisdom and insight. Enjoy the show and don’t forget to pick up your copy of “Give to Grow.”  Jay has already read it twice. If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the1thing.com. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: Why a free sampling of services is more effective than a proposal How to make “right fit” the priority over sales numbers What makes for a mutually beneficial business relationship Links & Tools from This Episode: Read “Give to Grow, Invest in Relationships to Build Your Business and Your Career”  Download the free Give to Grow Supplement Materials Read “The Snowball System” Read “The ONE Thing” Listen to the ”How to Unlock Extraordinary Results by Sending Newsletters with Jay Papasan” episode of the “Real Relationships Real Revenue” podcast by Mo Bunnell Read “The Go-Giver” Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] Produced by NOVA Media

Mental fatigue is real. We live in a world where we have to make a thousand good decisions each day, and we’re expected to be highly creative at our jobs. That’s why it’s critical to learn how to optimize our brains to function well in this reality. Our guest today, Dr. Mithu Storoni, is here to give us some science-back tactics. Dr. Mithu Storoni is an University of Cambridge trained physician, neuroscience researcher, and ophthalmic surgeon. She advises multinational corporations on mental performance and stress management. She has accumulated her knowledge in her latest book, “Hyperefficient, How to Optimize Your Brain to Transform the Way You Work.” If you think being chained to your desk from 9am-5pm or even 5am-9pm makes you an allstar worker, think again. Dr. Mithu explains that we need to tap into the natural rhythms of the brain, and take advantage of what we now know about biochemistry: walking and naps are important for creativity and productivity. Take a listen as she explains complex topics in a clear and compelling way. If you're a bold risk taker who wants to dream big and achieve a higher level of success in your life or business, visit the one thing.com. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: Why creative work needs to be approached differently than assembly line work The three “gears” of the brain and how to find focus The importance of matching your intensity of work with you intensity of rest Links & Tools from This Episode: Preorder “Hyperefficient, How to Optimize Your Brain to Transform the Way You Work” by Dr. Mithu Storoni Learn more at MithuStoroni.com Connect with Dr. Storoni on LinkedIn Follow Dr. Storoni on X Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] Produced by NOVA Media

Brian Gottlieb enjoys his motorcycle rides and his cigars, but most of all he’s passionate about empowering his employees to find purpose in their work. Brian is our guest on the show today and he’s here to tell us about his new book, “Beyond the Hammer.” In just over 10 years, Brian grew from a business of 0 employees to 600 employees and over $1 billion in lifetime sales. How? By having an empowerment-based workplace instead of one ruled by policies. Not only did his employees get excellent, ongoing training, but they understood why their work mattered. If Brian’s motto of “doing well and doing good” resonates with you, you’re really going to enjoy this episode. He infuses our conversation with warmth and no-frills humor. You can see how he created a company that made everyone feel seen and valued. Discover your ONE Thing through world-class coaching, training, and resources. Connect with a ONE Thing coach today at the1thing.com. *** To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods. We talk about: The difference between a workplace that is policy-driven versus one that is empowered Why people leave their jobs How training is the foundation to a successful business, no matter what kind of business it is Links & Tools from This Episode: Read “Behind the Hammer” by Brian Gottlieb Learn more at BrianGottlieb.com Free Resources Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected] Produced by NOVA Media