The Mindset Game® Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Awkward moments are often treated as something to avoid. But what if they are actually a doorway to growth, connection, and influence?

In Episode 251 of The Mindset Game podcast, Vered Kogan sits down with Henna Pryor, workplace performance expert, keynote speaker, and author of Good Awkward, to explore why awkwardness is not a weakness to eliminate, but a skill leaders can develop. Drawing on her research and real-world experience, Henna shares practical insights including:

• Why awkward moments are often signals of growth rather than failure
• How the stories we tell ourselves after awkward interactions shape future behavior
• How to improve your "comeback rate" and recover more quickly from social discomfort

To connect with Henna or learn more about her work, visit hennapryor.com or find her on LinkedIn.

To subscribe to The Mindset Game podcast or leave a review, visit TheMindsetGame.com or click HERE.

Every major decision in an organization sits inside a web of competing demands. Leaders are often pulled between stability and change, structure and flexibility, and clarity and complexity. When leaders learn to work with these tensions instead of treating them as problems, they open up more creative, resilient, and human ways of leading.

In Episode 250 of The Mindset Game podcast, Wendy Smith, thought leader at Harvard Business Publishing and co-author of Both And Thinking, explores how leaders can navigate paradox and make better decisions in complex environments. Drawing on her research and experience studying how organizations handle competing priorities, she shares practical insights including:

• How to move beyond either-or thinking toward more expansive both-and solutions
• Why opposing demands are not problems to eliminate but realities to manage
• How leaders can build the emotional and relational capacity to hold tension well

To connect with Wendy or learn more about her work, visit wendykmsmith.com or find her on LinkedIn.

To subscribe to The Mindset Game podcast or leave a review, visit TheMindsetGame.com or click HERE.

As the world shifts rapidly with the rise of AI, many wonder what it truly means to thrive in the future of work. According to futurist, best-selling author, and global speaker John Sanei, the answer lies not in competing with machines but in cultivating the qualities that make us uniquely human: adaptability, curiosity, and conscious influence.

John is recognized as the World's Top 5 Futurist, a 6x best-selling author, and keynote speaker on human-AI dynamics and the Adaptable Intelligence™️ Framework . He's also the co-host of the 2x award-winning podcast The Expansive and serves on the faculty at Singularity University and Duke Corporate Education. 

As our guest in Episode 241 of The Mindset Game® podcast, John shares:

• How history has moved from physicality (agriculture) to IQ (industrial age), and why AI is now surpassing human IQ — making AQ (adaptability quotient) the most critical human skill for the future
• Why influence in the attention economy requires authenticity, presence, and strong personal power dynamics
• How to shift awareness at pace in order to stay relevant, spot new opportunities, and consciously shape the future

To learn more about John and his work, visit johnsanei.com.

To subscribe to The Mindset Game® podcast or leave a review, please visit Apple Podcasts.  

When faced with a challenge or decision, are you more likely to take time to think it over thoroughly, consider how you feel about the situation, or take action as soon as possible based on your gut instincts? According to Enneagram philosophy, these options represent our three centers of intelligence: thinking, feeling, and action. While we each have a dominant center, the three are complementary – and understanding how each center operates in your life can help you achieve a greater sense of balance and clarity. 

As a highly sought-after facilitator, speaker, management development coach, and Enneagram specialist, Michelle Bennetts has trained over 1,500 professionals globally in the Enneagram. With 20 years of experience in training and facilitation, Michelle coaches teams, leaders, and executives on how to lead themselves, others, and ultimately, the business to success. As our guest in Episode 149 of The MINDSet Game® podcast, Michelle discusses the following:

• Techniques for identifying your dominant center of intelligence and understanding when it may or may not be serving you
• Why it's also important to identify the center you use the least, and to strengthen it in order to bring the three centers into balance
• How tapping into your intuition can help when your three centers are sending you conflicting messages
• Pitfalls that both individuals and organizations may encounter when they rely too heavily on one center – and how they can achieve better results by balancing out the three centers

To learn more about Michelle and her work, visit https://www.skillsetcoach.com, find her on LinkedIn, or email her at michelle@skillset.co.za. 

To subscribe to The MINDset Game, visit www.TheMINDsetGame.com.  

Have you ever found yourself pursuing a career path or business that seemed "comfortable," but you began to feel like it wasn't the best fit for you? If so, you've probably realized that the process of finding and fulfilling your true calling involves several key steps – many of which are related to your own belief system.

After enrolling in pharmacy school at his parents' urging, Harvey Goldberg soon felt that it wasn't the path he was supposed to be on in life. Although he persevered and graduated, a transformative week spent with his uncle inspired him to think more critically about what kind of lifestyle he wanted to lead. His uncle's guidance – in conjunction with books Harvey read, such as "The Hero's Journey" by Joseph Campbell and "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill – set him on the path to the successful career he has enjoyed since. 

With more than 30 years of experience in company ownership and management and over 5,000 hours of direct coaching of CEOs and business owners, Harvey's life work and passion is helping business owners grow and maximize both their business and personal potential. In Episode 148 of The MINDSet Game® podcast, Harvey discusses the following:

• How the people around you can either serve as engines or anchors, and why sometimes — although difficult — it may be necessary to avoid the anchors who may interfere with your own inner guidance system
• The importance of staying open to new ideas, beliefs, and the possibilities that may be available to you 
• How examining your beliefs (some of which may be based in fear) can help you overcome self-interference as you pursue your higher calling
• Why it's crucial to approach all feedback – including failure – in a non-judgmental way

To learn more about Harvey, visit his website at https://masteringtriggers.com.

To subscribe to The MINDset Game, visit www.TheMINDsetGame.com.  

By definition, innovation requires a departure from the way things have traditionally been done. However, due to factors such as fear of the unknown and social pressures, many leaders and organizations tend to rely on known solutions without even considering other options. This can lead to stagnation, which may be devastating for companies in a rapidly changing world. 

Kaihan Krippendorff, our guest in Episode 147 of The MINDSet Game® podcast, urges leaders to explore the "fourth option." He defines this concept by explaining that our brains have a tendency to sort things into groups of three – for instance, we may consider three different solutions and then stop looking, because three seems like a complete number. The fourth option represents the innovative ideas (which may seem bold or even crazy at first) that lie beyond the point at which most people have stopped thinking. 

As an internationally renowned thought leader, consultant, and sought-after keynote speaker on the topics of strategy, growth, and transformation, Kaihan has been recognized by Thinkers50 and ranked by global gurus as among the top 20 management professionals of 2023. With a unique ability to transform difficult concepts into easy-to-understand ideas and practical tools, Kaihan is also the best-selling author of five books and a two-time TEDx speaker whose work has generated over $2.5 billion in annual revenue for many of the world's most recognizable companies. In this week's episode, Kaihan shares the following:

• A helpful acronym that represents the 5 different conversations you need to have in order to find the fourth option: IDEAS, which stands for imagine, dissect, expand, analyze, and sell
• Simple shifts of mindset and language that leaders and their teams may find helpful when trying to explore new ideas and open the door for innovation
• An alternative framework using the elements of metal, water, wood, fire, and earth that can help explain the cycle of innovation and change 

To learn more about Kaihan, visit his speaker website at https://kaihan.net or his company site at https://outthinker.com, or connect with him on LinkedIn. 

To subscribe to The MINDset Game, visit www.TheMINDsetGame.com.  

Throughout life, we all face challenges and setbacks – some of which may seem devastating. However, one of the most important factors determining whether these challenges will "make or break" you is your attitude. While it can be difficult to stay positive at all times, there are several steps you can take on a daily basis to rebuild your attitude and approach life's challenges with clarity and strength. 

Boaz Rauchwerger, our guest in Episode 146 of The MINDSet Game® podcast, first learned about the importance of attitude from his mother. Despite tragically losing her parents and four of her siblings in the Holocaust, Boaz's mom managed to maintain a positive attitude throughout her life. Drawing inspiration from her lessons and from his own experiences, Boaz has had a successful career as a consultant, author, and keynote speaker, including 20 years as a speaker with Vistage Worldwide. In this week's episode, Boaz shares several insights about how to achieve happiness and success through building a positive attitude, including:

• The value of reading, and two classic books Boaz recommends that everyone read at least three times: "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, and "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill
• Several specific affirmations to repeat at the beginning and end of each day, such as "everything I touch prospers and succeeds" and "I make amazing things happen daily."
• The concept of "goal cards" as a way to change habits and achieve your goals
  Techniques for handling negative emotions that may compromise your attitude and take you further from your goals

To connect with Boaz, he invites listeners to call or text him at (619) 723-3007. He also offers a complimentary session for his consulting services, through which he helps organizations change employees' attitudes and thereby raise the culture of the whole company.

To subscribe to The MINDset Game, visit www.TheMINDsetGame.com.  

Have you ever set a goal that would require you to adopt new behaviors or patterns, and despite knowing the steps you would need to take in order to achieve your goal, you found it difficult to implement the necessary changes? Whether in our personal or professional lives, most of us have struggled with change at some point. This is because change can feel threatening, even when it's something we truly want. Therefore, to successfully adapt to change and achieve our desired results, it's important to address both the physiological and emotional components that may cause us to resist change. 

As the founder and president of the Academies for Coaching, Inc. – an organization with a mission of "Changing Minds, for Good" – Susan Britton is passionate about how brain-body biology can bring insight to the invisible forces that thwart change. In training thousands of leadership and career coaches on six continents over the past 20 years, Susan and her team show how a brain-friendly approach can drive engagement, creativity, and productivity in leaders and their teams. As our guest in Episode 145 of The MINDSet Game® podcast, Susan discusses the following:

• Why successfully implementing change involves both our neural chemistry (including dopamine, cortisol, etc.) and our circuitry, which refers to the neural networks that began forming in early childhood and may continue to influence our beliefs and behavior
• How finding ways to make change fun or even playful can help us – and by extension, those around us – become more comfortable with the process
• How embracing the "3 C's" – compassion, curiosity, and creation – can be helpful in overcoming resistance to change 

To learn more about Susan and her neuroscience-based coaching programs, visit https://www.theacademies.com. 

To subscribe to The MINDset Game, visit www.TheMINDsetGame.com.  

From the time we are infants, we begin learning techniques to control others. For instance, a baby may realize that crying is an effective way to get attention and have his or her needs met. As adults, many people still seek ways to gain control, which is often driven by our inherent need to feel safe. However, when it comes to motivating others and bringing out the best in them, influence tends to be a far more effective mechanism than control – particularly in the context of teams and organizations navigating change. 

As a professional Certified Therapeutic Coach and the creator of the Clear Beliefs Method for deleting limiting beliefs, healing childhood wounds, and resolving traumas, Lion Goodman has over 40 years of experience as an executive teacher, healer, and subconscious pattern detective. He is also the author of five books, including "Clear Your Clients' Limiting Beliefs" and "Creating on Purpose," has taught workshops on four continents, and has been a featured speaker at summits and on radio programs, podcasts, and television shows. In Episode 144 of The MINDSet Game® podcast, Lion discusses the following:

• Why hierarchies – in which leaders tell their teams what to do and think, and expect them to comply – are no longer the most effective structures in today's world, and why organizations that prioritize collaboration are more likely to thrive
• Why it's important for everyone (particularly leaders) to become more aware of their own beliefs, and strategies for how to do so
• How getting curious about others' beliefs can foster a more collaborative, productive environment 
• The value of encouraging people to shift their beliefs from the inside out, rather than simply telling them what they should change 

Lion offers a few websites if you'd like to learn more about him and his work:

www.LuminaryLeadership.net for leaders and organizations
www.ClearBeliefs.com if you are interested in his methodologies and trainings
www.LionGoodman.com for Lion's personal website, where you'll find his articles on control vs. influence and more 

To subscribe to The MINDset Game, visit www.TheMINDsetGame.com.  

Beginning in early childhood, we all form beliefs – which are simply ideas that seem true and real to us – based on a variety of sources, such as our parents, schooling, friends, and firsthand experiences. Unfortunately, however, some of these beliefs may be harmful, allowing self-doubt to creep in and holding us back from reaching our full potential. Therefore, it's crucial to shift these limiting beliefs — but how can we go about doing so?

Tony Burgess, our guest in Episode 143 of The MINDset Game® podcast, has outlined several practical steps for changing beliefs that may be keeping you from reaching your goals. As the co-founder of the Academy of High Achievers (along with his partner, Julie French), Tony has trained and coached business leaders, entrepreneurs, and teams on powerful mental and emotional fitness techniques to help them tap into their full potential. He is also recognized for his expertise in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), DiSC and Havening techniques, and is the co-author of "Pink Bucket Thinking" and "Beliefs and How to Change Them…for Good!" 

In this week's episode, Tony discusses the concept of beliefs (including those that are self-limiting) and walks us through several steps in the belief modification process, including:

• Getting clear on what exactly you want to achieve when changing your beliefs
• Conducting a "beliefs audit" to distinguish those that are helpful from those that are no longer serving you 
• Asking "what if?" questions, and most importantly, using them as a way to expand rather than limit possibilities 
• Supporting this empowering thought process with cognitive evidence and experiential tactics  

To learn more about Tony's techniques by downloading free PDF versions of his books, visit https://www.aha-success.co.uk/beliefs-book/ and https://www.pinkbucketthinking.co.uk/the-book/. 

To subscribe to The MINDset Game, visit www.TheMINDsetGame.com.