Are you struggling to maintain strategic focus in today's unpredictable environment?

In this lo-fi, candid episode, Sara shares her insights on navigating strategic planning during persistent uncertainty. Whether you're impacted by shifting tariffs, changes in public funding, or volatile market conditions, this episode offers practical frameworks to maintain strategic momentum when forecasting feels (or is) impossible.

• The Twin Traps: Why both over-planning and strategic abandonment are dangerous reactions to chaos
• OKRs as an Antidote: How focusing on outcomes rather than activities creates strategic flexibility
• Three-Step Framework: A practical approach to maintaining strategic momentum during turbulent times
• Building in Public: The strategic advantage of quick launches during rapid change

• How do you create strategic plans when the environment is constantly changing?
• What should replace detailed action planning when circumstances shift frequently?
• How can leaders maintain team focus during periods of high uncertainty?

[00:00:00] Introduction to Thinkydoer Shorts

[00:00:36] Current Challenges in Strategic Planning

[00:01:49] Upcoming Workshop: Strategy During Chaos

[00:02:46] Adapting Strategic Plans to Uncertainty

[00:03:06] Avoiding Over-Planning and Abandonment

[00:06:49] Three Steps for Strategic Resilience

[00:08:07] Focusing on Immediate Priorities

[00:09:26] The To-Done List Approach

[00:12:03] Conclusion and Upcoming Events

• Strategy During Chaos Workshop: May 7th at 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM Pacific. Just $19 (scholarships available). Register at findrc.co
• No-BS Strategic Achievement Intensive: May 15th-16th (two half-days). Create chaos-proof strategic plans with structured exercises and supported coworking. Register at findrc.co

"You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" will be available in print (hardback and softback) on May 6th. Get the ebook now wherever you buy books. More info: youareastrategist.com

• Join Sara's newsletter at findrc.co/newsletter.
• Send questions through findrc.co/contact.
• Find Sara @saralobkovich on most social media platforms.
• For show notes and the full episode transcript, visit

In this episode of Thinkydoers, host Sara Lobkovich welcomes self-development and executive career coach Jessica Manca to discuss perfectionism, overthinking, and intrinsic motivation. Jessica shares her journey from management consultant to coach and offers practical tools for overcoming limiting beliefs. We discuss the difference between professional coaching versus advising, the impact of negative self-talk, and how to shift from an over-focus on external (or extrinsic) to internal (or intrinsic) motivation. This conversation provides valuable insights for Thinkydoers who struggle with perfectionism and overthinking, who need some professional development support to unblock their potential and get unstuck.

• Jessica's transition from management consultant to self-development coach
• The difference between professional coaching and advising
• Jessica's four inner limits that block perfectionists: stories, excuses, limiting beliefs, and fears
• How to recognize and shift negative self-talk patterns
• The importance of intrinsic motivation and "motivational buoyancy"
• How challenging career setbacks can become opportunities for growth

[00:00:00] - Introduction to Thinkydoers podcast and Jessica Manca

[00:02:00] - Jessica introduces herself and her work with perfectionists and introverts

[00:03:00] - Jessica's journey from management consultant to coach

[00:05:00] - Early signs of Jessica's coaching abilities within her consulting firm

[00:07:00] - Discussion about professional coaching vs. disciplinary coaching

[00:08:00] - The difference between ICF certified coaching and other forms of coaching

[00:12:00] - The importance of active listening in coaching

[00:13:00] - Jessica's goal setting workshop approach with three columns

[00:14:00] - The four inner limits: stories, excuses, limiting beliefs, and fears

[00:17:00] - How mindfulness helps notice your stories and patterns

[00:19:00] - How language reveals mindset and creates barriers

[00:20:00] - Example of how the word "but" can sabotage ideas

[00:22:00] - Discussion of Jessica's ebook "Self-Motivation is Your New Superpower"

[00:24:00] - How setbacks can be valuable for personal growth

[00:25:00] - Where to find Jessica's resources and upcoming workshops

[00:27:00] - Announcement about Sara's new book "You Are a Strategist: Use No BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done"

Jessica Manca is a self-development coach, executive career coach, speaker, and author of "Finding Passion" who helps perfectionists and introverts unlock their best selves without overthinking. With a background as a former management consultant on the partner track, Jessica experienced burnout firsthand and discovered coaching as a path to personal transformation. She specializes in helping people align their work with the person they want to be, addressing limiting beliefs and negative self-talk patterns. Jessica is ICF certified and works toward helping clients develop the tools...

What does it take to perform at the absolute limit, every time you show up to work?

How do you navigate your own chemisty, and both objective and perceived risk when lives are actually on the line?

Find out in this conversation with professional motorcycle road racer, firefighter, and business owner, Jayson Uribe. 

Jay and I work together in our moto lives -- he's one of the pro riders that I really enjoy working with in my capacity as a team principal for CW Moto Racing. In addition to being a very skilled, highly capable and accomplished rider in a sport where the rider is ultimately the one who goes out there and twists the throttle, Jayson's life and career have given him a unique perspective on teamwork that makes him truly fun to work with. He's also a talented development rider: his ability to give us technical information about his experience on track not only makes it possible for us to improve the bike for him; it also helps us improve our equipment for all of our riders.

Jayson agreed to join me for a peek inside his brain, to hear more about his experiences with balancing technical precision and emotional awareness in high-stakes environments. From his morning pre-race routines to his approach to failure and risk management, what he's learned about performing under pressure applies far beyond the racetrack or firehouse. Whether you're facing challenging decisions in your own work, managing teams through high-pressure situations, or simply curious about the psychology of peak performance, you'll find valuable insights in this conversation about what it really takes to execute at the highest level when it matters most.

• The learnable balance between technical expertise and emotional regulation
• Achieving and maintaining flow states in high-pressure situations
• How morning routines and preparation impact performance
• Managing failure and using setbacks as motivation
• Risk mitigation and decision-making under pressure
• Transferable skills between racing and firefighting
• The myth of natural talent vs. practiced fundamentals

• Flow state in high-performance environments
• Technical precision under emotional stress
• Risk assessment and management
• Progressive goal-setting
• Recovery and regulation techniques
• Performance preparation routines

[00:00] Introduction to Thinkydoers Podcast

[00:56] Current Events and Connecting with Listeners

[04:05] Deep Dive: Jayson Uribe's Multifaceted Career

[06:51] Balancing Emotions and Technical Precision

[11:32] Goal-Setting and Performance Mindset

[19:28] Lessons from Racing and Firefighting

Jayson Uribe is a professional motorcycle racer with both international and U.S. national career experience. He currently races in MotoAmerica, the U.S. national road racing series (and, with us -- CW Moto, during the off-season in the CVMA series in California). He is also a firefighter, and founder of Code Three Consultations, specializing in automotive forensics and investigations. 

• Code Three Consultations:

What can business leaders learn from the high-stakes world of professional motorsports?

Find out, in this conversation between Thinkydoers host Sara Lobkovich (whose "other life" is in professional motorcycle road racing) and organizational change expert Jurriaan Kamer, co-author of "Formula X: How to Reach Extreme Acceleration in Your Organization" and his new release, "Unblock: Clear the Way for Results and Develop a Thriving Organization."

We cover a lot of ground here -- from how pro racing teams approaches to goal clarity, mistake recovery, and rhythmic learning can transform your leadership practice, to creating blame-free cultures, and mastering the art of strategic alignment.

In this lively and engaging conversation, you'll discover how racing's high-performance, high-stakes principles can accelerate your business performance—whether you're a motorsports fan or not.

• Three core principles business can learn from racing teams:
• Crystal-clear goals and their role in driving focus
• Balanced autonomy and alignment in high-performing teams
• Rhythmic learning: how racing teams turn every moment into an opportunity for improvement
• Creating blame-free cultures in high-stakes environments
• The power of "even over" statements in explicit prioritization
• Decision-making frameworks: understanding "hats, haircuts, and tattoos"
• How consent and choice drive organizational ownership

Jurriaan Kamer is an organizational change expert based in the Netherlands and author of "Formula X: How to Reach Extreme Acceleration in Your Organization" and "Unblock." Drawing from his unique access to professional car-racing teams and extensive experience with self-managing organizations, he helps leaders worldwide create high-performing, adaptable organizations.

• Formula X: How to Reach Extreme Acceleration in Your Organization (Book by Rini van Solingen and Jurriaan Kamer)
• Unblock: Clear the Way for Results and Develop a Thriving Organization (Book by Jurriaan Kamer)
• Website: jurriaankamer.com
• Unblock book website: unblockbook.net

• Join this Fall's Goal Fridays free live series: 

Feeling stuck but unsure how to get help? You're not alone - and this episode is for you. In part two of my powerful conversation with Dr. Sherlonda Adkins, we explore why the journey to getting unstuck shouldn't be a solo endeavor. Learn why it takes most people 10 years to seek professional help, how to find the right therapist (and what to do if your first try isn't a fit), and practical strategies for getting the support you need. Whether you're considering therapy for the first time or looking to rebuild trust after a difficult experience, this episode offers candid insights and actionable guidance for taking that crucial first step.

• Finding the right therapist and why it's like dating
• How to have an initial conversation with potential therapists
• The importance of establishing boundaries in therapeutic relationships
• Why it's never too late to seek help
• Building a healthy support system

• How do I know if I need professional help?
• What should I look for in a therapist?
• What if my first therapy experience isn't working?
• How do I communicate with my therapist about concerns?

• Dr. Sherlonda Adkins Website: drsherlondaadkins.com
• Dr. Sherlonda Adkins on LinkedIn

• Join this Fall's Goal Fridays free live series: https://findrc.co/goalfridays
• Join Sara's Email Newsletter: https://findrc.co/newsletter
• Email Sara at hello@redcurrantco.com
• Other Free No-BS OKRs Resources: Access all free resources
• Thinkydoers (not-just-an OKR podcast) Home Page: https://saralobkovich.com/thinkydoers-pod

Find full show notes and the episode transcript via https://findrc.co/thinkydoers !

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly,

Ever felt "off" but couldn't quite name it? Did it feel like you were "stuck?"

What if that feeling of being "stuck" is actually trying to tell you something important?

In this illuminating conversation with Dr. Sherlonda Adkins, a Physician Assistant and "Unstuck Strategist," we explore how feeling stuck can masquerade as depression, anxiety, or burnout - and why recognizing the difference matters. Whether you're questioning your career path or feeling stagnant in life, this episode offers vital insights into identifying and understanding stuckness before it impacts your wellbeing. 

Then join us for part two with Dr. Adkins where we'll explore practical strategies for getting unstuck and creating positive change in your life.

• The difference between clinical depression and feeling stuck
• Physical, emotional, and mental signs of stuckness
• How "sticky thinking" patterns keep us trapped
• Why career transitions and family dynamics are common stuck points
• The relationship between substance use and feeling stuck
• Why being stuck isn't always negative - it can signal important life changes

• What are the signs of being stuck vs. depression?
• How does stuckness show up physically in our bodies?
• When should you seek professional help for feeling stuck?
• How can you tell if you're experiencing sticky thinking?

Dr. Sherlonda Adkins is a physician assistant and unstuck strategist based in Charleston, South Carolina. Through her telemedicine practice and coaching work, she helps people around the world create lives they don't need to escape from.

• Dr. Sherlonda Adkins Website: drsherlondaadkins.com
• Dr. Sherlonda Adkins on LinkedIn

• Join this Fall's Goal Fridays free live series: https://findrc.co/goalfridays
• Join Sara's Email Newsletter: https://findrc.co/newsletter
• Email Sara at hello@redcurrantco.com
• Other Free No-BS OKRs Resources: Access all free resources
• Thinkydoers (not-just-an OKR podcast) Home Page: https://saralobkovich.com/thinkydoers-pod

Find full show notes and the episode transcript via https://findrc.co/thinkydoers !

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that...

Are you an overthinker who can't seem to quiet your mind? A perfectionist struggling to find peace in a chaotic world? This episode is your lifeline. Dr. Alice Rizzi, a licensed psychologist and mindfulness coach, breaks down the myths about mindfulness and offers practical, accessible techniques that even the busiest minds can embrace. Discover how just 30 seconds a day can transform your mental landscape and why traditional meditation isn't the only path to mindfulness. Whether you've tried mindfulness before and given up, or you're completely new to the concept, this episode promises to revolutionize your approach to mental well-being.

• Dr. Rizzi's refreshing definition of mindfulness that goes beyond sitting still
• The surprising difference between mindfulness and meditation
• Game-changing mindfulness techniques tailored for overthinkers and perfectionists
• How to start a mindfulness practice when you think you have no time
• Simple grounding exercises that can calm your nervous system in seconds
• The overlooked importance of self-compassion in mindfulness practice

• What is mindfulness, really, and how is it different from meditation?
• Can overthinkers and perfectionists actually benefit from mindfulness?
• What are some quick, no-nonsense ways to incorporate mindfulness into a hectic life?
• How can mindfulness help manage the overwhelming stress and anxiety of modern life?

00:00 Introduction to Thinkydoers Podcast 

01:27 Goal Fridays: A Series for Changemakers

02:45 Meet Dr. Alice Rizzi: Mindfulness Expert

04:35 Understanding Mindfulness and Meditation

06:44 Mindfulness for High Achievers and Overthinkers

09:48 Grounding Techniques for Overthinkers

16:28 The Power of Self-Compassion and Non-Judgment

21:52 Practical Tips for Mindfulness Practice

32:11 Conclusion and Resources

• Forget long meditation sessions; brief daily practices can be more effective for busy minds.
• Learn the "five, four, three, two, one" grounding technique to instantly reconnect with the present moment.
• Discover why self-compassion might be the missing piece in your mindfulness journey.
• Explore how a simple self-hug can regulate your nervous system faster than you think.

• Dr. Alice Rizzi's Instagram: @DrAliceRizzi
• Website: togethermindful.com (free mindfulness toolkit available
• Therapy services (NY and FL): dralicerizzi.com

• Join this Fall's Goal Fridays free live series: https://findrc.co/goalfridays
• The No-BS OKRs Workbook, currently available as a PDF download from https://findrc.co/pdfworkbook (USD) or https://findrc.co/pdfwkbkAUD (AUD)
• Join the Launch Squad for Sara's...

Is October the new January? Gen Z thinks so, and they might be onto something. In this Thinkydoers Short, I dive into the viral TikTok trend of "October Theory" and explore how it intersects with established business practices like quarterly planning and OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career journey, this episode offers fresh insights on goal-setting and achievement.

Episode Highlights:

• Introduction to "October Theory" and its viral spread on TikTok
• How October Theory aligns with business quarterly planning practices
• What us Olds can learn from the youth on the importance of end-of-Q3 retrospectives and learning reviews
• Introduction to Key Results for Gen Z goal-setters
• The benefits of outcome-based goals over activity-based goals

Key Questions:

• What is October Theory?
• How does October Theory relate to business planning cycles?
• What are Key Results in the context of OKRs?
• Why are outcome-based goals more effective than activity-based goals?

Notable Quotes:

"Let's listen to the next generation on this one and prioritize the end of Q3 reset."

"Key results are a different kind of goal... We're going to think about what would be really incredible to achieve in terms of impacts or quantifiable outcomes of our effort."

"Instead of the risk of the all or nothing bad feelings that we get when we set just activity based goals, when we create key results, that's what we're pursuing... We get instantly curious, even if you're not having any progress."

Episode Chapters: 

00:00 Introduction to Thinkydoer Shorts 

01:15 Discovering October Theory

02:07 Understanding October Theory and Its Impact

03:43 The Power of Key Results for Gen Z

04:06 Implementing OKRs in Business

06:21 Creating Effective Key Results

09:02 The Benefits of Key Results Over Activity Goals

12:57 Conclusion and Join the Pre-Launch List for You Are A Strategist

Links and Resources:

• Pre-launch list for "You Are a Strategist": youareastrategist.com
• Sara's website: saralobkovich.com
• Shortcut to Sara's website: findrc.co

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to...

Want to incorporate more play into your world? You’re in the right place! Play isn’t just for kids. It’s a biological necessity that can transform your mental well-being and even help manage mental health symptoms like hypervigilance and anxiety.

And we’re lucky to have play expert TJ Matton back for this second episode in our two-part series on play. If you haven’t already, listen to last week’s episode for fundamentals about the science of play; and here we get practically applied. How can you increase play in your life? Listen (or read on) for answers.

Episode Highlights:

• Foundations of Play: Play is essential for learning and development, helping us build new neural pathways.
• Play as a Mindfulness Practice: Integrating play into daily life to enhance mindfulness and personal growth.
• Managing Hypervigilance: Practical exercises to use play as a tool for managing hypervigilance.
• Mindfulness and Emotional Reactivity: Shifting from emotional reactivity to curiosity through play.
• Types of Play: Exploring different play patterns and how to integrate them into everyday activities.

Common Questions:

• How can play help with mindfulness?
• What are some practical ways to integrate play into daily life?
• How can play be used to manage hypervigilance?

Notable Quotes:

• “Play is how we learn new ways of thinking, being, and operating. It’s necessary for growth and evolution.”
• “Focusing on our enjoyment is never wasted; it’s an embodiment practice.”
• “Hypervigilance can be a play buddy. Opt into it in safe environments to transform it from a suffering experience to an impulse for growth.”

Guest Information:

TJ Matton: Founder and Chief Play Officer of the Playful Revolution. You can find more information about TJ and her work at theplayfulrevolution.com and on Instagram at @theplayfulrevolution.

Next Episode Teaser: Join us next week for a conversation with another incredible expert about stuckness and mental health. Don’t miss it!

Special Offer: Are you feeling overwhelmed by conflicting priorities? Struggling to achieve the results you need in your organization or career? It’s time to unblock your inner strategist. Join my community membership program, designed for aspiring and practicing strategic operators who think differently. Right now, membership is $100 off for the full year, just in time to help with your Q3, Q4 transition and ramp up for 2025. Visit findrc.co/ubyis to learn more.

Stay Connected: Thank you for joining and listening. I can’t wait to hear what resonated with you in this episode. Subscribe to our newsletter at findrc.co/newsletter to stay updated. You can find me, Sara Lobkovich, pretty much everywhere online. Feel free to contact me at sara@thinkydoers.com. If you have other Thinkydoers in your work world, please pass this episode along. We appreciate your referrals, mentions, shares, and reviews.

Find full show notes and transcript at http://saralobkovich.com/thinkydoers-pod.

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct.

Are you ready to rethink everything you think you know about play? Want to learn more about the science of play as a powerful tool for personal growth and well-being?

This week’s guest, TJ Matton, founder and chief play officer of the Playful Revolution, joins me to dive deep into the science and practice of play (especially for those of us for whom "play" may not feel like it comes naturally.

TJ shares her insights as a trauma therapist and play advocate, exploring some foundational science (and neuroscience) about play, including play as a "primal drive" and essential part of learning. This episode is part one in a two part series: today, we lay the foundation of why play is important. In next week's episode, we'll continue our conversation with practical guidance for how to incorporate play into your mindfulness practices (even if you want to run the other direction when I say "play" or "mindfulness").

For complete show notes and transcript, visit http://saralobkovich.com/thinkydoers-pod.

Episode Highlights

• Introduction to TJ Matton: TJ’s background as a trauma therapist and her journey into the world of play.
• The Primal Drive of Play: Understanding play as a biological necessity, akin to hunger or thirst.
• Neurology of Play: How play helps develop new neural pathways and its importance across the lifespan.
• Types and Modes of Play: Exploring different play styles, including solo play, parallel play, and collaborative play.
• Balancing Novelty and Repetition: The delicate balance needed to keep play engaging and beneficial.
• Play and Neurodivergence: How play can be particularly beneficial for neurodivergent individuals.
• Play as a Social Activity: The importance of finding compatible play partners and creating safe play environments.
• Conflict as Play: Viewing conflict as a form of play and its role in building better relationships and systems.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Thinkydoers Podcast

00:40 Quick Promo and Upcoming Events

02:10 Exciting Episode with TJ: Play and Mindfulness

03:48 TJ's Background and Passion for Play

06:04 The Importance of Play in Our Lives

09:47 Balancing Novelty and Repetition in Play

17:44 Exploring Different Play Styles

21:19 Play as a Social and Solo Activity

29:06 Play and Vulnerability

34:37 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

Common Questions

• What is the primal drive of play?: Play is a biological necessity that helps us learn and develop new neural pathways.
• How does play benefit neurodivergent individuals?: Play can help neurodivergent individuals engage in a way that feels authentic and liberating.
• What are the different types of play?: Play can be solo, parallel, or collaborative, and can involve different styles such as intellectual, kinesthetic, or storytelling play.
• How can play be balanced between novelty and repetition?: Play needs to be novel enough to stay engaging but repetitive enough to allow learning and mastery.

Notable Quotes from TJ Matton

• “Play is a primal drive in the body, regulated the same way as sleep, hunger, and thirst.”
• “Play is how we learn everything neurologically, and that never changes.”
• “Conflict is a form of play and is essential for building better relationships and systems.”
• “Play always starts with choice and is an embodied experience of engagement and enjoyment.”

TJ’s Links and Resources

• Playful Revolution Website
• TJ Matton on...

Have you ever thought about a career in product -- whether product management, product development, or product engineering?

You'll enjoy this conversation with Sten Pittet, CEO of Tability. In our last episode, Sten interviewed Thinkydoers host Sara about her journey into OKRs; today, we flipped the script for Sara to interview Sten about his fascinating journey starting in software development after uni, into product engineering in a mid-size company (that became a large company during his tenure), and then the transition into the CEO and founder seat with his latest venture, Tability.

For complete show notes and transcript, visit http://saralobkovich.com/thinkydoers-pod.

Episode Highlights:

• Sten’s journey from software development in France to becoming a CEO in Australia.
• Role of OKRs in shaping Sten’s approach to product management and leadership.
• Some of the differences between the role of product leadership in large and smalller or start-up companies.
• Importance of stakeholder management and involving others in decision-making.
• Creation and mission of Tability, inspired by practical experience with OKRs.
• Emphasis on creativity in software development and product engineering.
• Learning to involve stakeholders and build collective alignment and collaboration.
• Sten’s advice on focusing on people and conversations over perfection.

Common Questions:

• What is the difference between working in product at a smaller company and being in product at a larger company?  In smaller companies, you have more direct user interaction and creativity, while larger companies require more stakeholder management and strategic alignment.
• What are OKRs and how did they influence Sten’s work? OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) are a goal-setting framework that helped Sten and his teams stay focused and aligned.
• What led Sten to start Tability? His practical experience with OKRs and the desire to create a product that helps teams achieve their goals more effectively.

Notable Quotes from Sten Pittet:

• “When a company is bigger, for you to change direction, it’s like it’s a big ship. And so if we decide to turn left, you’re moving a lot of people out of what they’re doing.”
• “If you try to convince a group of people, the first thing you need to do is not tell them why you think you’re right, but ask them what they think is going to go wrong.”
• “I think what’s good about the world is that you have like really different types of people.”
• “Don’t try to be perfect. One mistake that I see people doing—trying to have a perfect cascading, perfect set of forecasts, perfect everything.”
• “For me, OKRs and our platform, the way we see ourselves is we want to enable the right conversations.”

Sten’s Links and Resources:

• Tability Website
• Sten Pettit on LinkedIn

Sara's Links and Resources:

• The No-BS OKRs Workbook, currently available as a PDF download from https://findrc.co/pdfworkbook (USD) or https://findrc.co/pdfwkbkAUD (AUD)
• Join the Launch Squad for Sara's Upcoming Books: You Are A Strategist and the No-BS OKRs Workbook
• Join

This is a bit unconventional ... but today, the host of Thinkydoers is the guest!

Please welcome Sten Pittet, Co-Founder and CEO of Tability, a collaboration platform for outcome-driven teams, as this week’s Guest Host of Thinkydoers … with OKR Coach and creator of No-BS OKRs (and Thinkydoer’s host) Sara Lobkovich in the hot seat!

If you're a regular listener you might be thinking:

"WTF? A platform guest?!"

But hear me out. Sten is with a platform... and he's also a Thinkydoer. We've been in touch here and there for almost a year now, and when he asked during our last chat if he could interview me for a podcast episode ... I just couldn't pass up the chance to answer questions from another pro in my network.

Today's episode is part one of a two-part series. Here, Sten asks me the questions he's been waiting to ask me while a recording is rolling ever since our first chat. 

We touch on my own journey with OKRs, including how they've shaped my career and practice, some of the challenges organizations encounter when trying to implement them, and my unique No-BS OKRs approach, which focuses in efficiency and simplicity.

Sten also makes a great plug (unsolicited!) for my No-BS OKRs Workbook, which is currently available as a PDF download from https://findrc.co/pdfworkbook (USD) or https://findrc.co/pdfwkbkAUD (AUD) and will be available in print later this fall, along with my first full-length release: You Are A Strategist: Using No-BS Objectives and Key Results To Get Big Things Done. 

Come back next week for part two of the series, when I get to turn the tables and ask Sten about his Thinkydoer career, which took him from development into product management, and now into the CEO and founder role; and, about why and how Tability came to be. 

Episode Highlights

• Sara’s Journey with OKRs: From an individual contributor struggling with unclear expectations to an executive leader and consultant, Sara shares how setting measurable goals transformed her work satisfaction and effectiveness.
• Challenges with OKRs: Discussion of why OKRs can be challenging to implement, particularly when leaders do not model the practice.
• No-BS OKRs Approach: Sara explains her “No-BS OKRs” approach, focusing on simplicity and practicality, and the development of her No-BS OKRs Workbook.
• Upcoming Book: “You Are A Strategist” Sara talks about her upcoming book, which aims to help individuals discover their inner strategist and use OKRs as a tool for career success.

Common Questions

• What are OKRs? OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) are a goal-setting framework that helps organizations align their efforts and measure progress.
• Why are OKRs challenging to implement? OKRs can be challenging because there is no single "standard" or set of "rules" for implementing them; and also, when leaders do not model the practice or invest time in learning the framework.
• What is the No-BS OKRs approach? A pragmatic approach to OKRs that focuses on simplicity, efficiency, and usefulness to facilitate learning and improvement toward higher performance.
• How can OKRs benefit my career? OKRs help fill information gaps so you can spend less time mind-reading and more time focused on what's most important. They also help teams align work to important goals, and provide a shared definition of success for teams to aim for.

Notable Quotes:

• “My whole life as an individual contributor was trying to...

Self-promotion can feel uncomfortable—especially for introverted, thoughtful, or reserved Thinkydoers. But what if sharing your impact didn’t have to feel like cringey “bragging?”

In this episode, client experience copywriter and founder of The Content Witches, Nailah King, joins host Sara Lobkovich to explore how to craft authentic client stories that go beyond traditional case studies. Nailah shares practical strategies for telling compelling stories that showcase your work—even when your impact isn’t easily measured in revenue or metrics.

Learn how to manage rejection sensitivity and build confidence in sharing your work stories; and, how to create marketing materials that align with your values instead of squeezing your unique approach into conventional formats.

• Why traditional case studies don’t work for every business and how to tell client stories differently
• Strategies for showcasing your impact without relying on revenue-based metrics
• Managing rejection sensitivity and building confidence in sharing your work
• How introverted and low-energy Thinkydoers can approach self-promotion authentically
• Aligning your marketing materials with your values instead of forcing them into conventional formats
• Practical storytelling techniques to make your work more visible and engaging
• The emotional side of marketing—navigating vulnerability, rejection, and self-doubt
• Nailah’s personal journey and lessons learned from working with values-driven clients
• First steps to crafting client stories that feel natural, honest, and impactful

• Authentic Storytelling & Client Impact
• Why traditional case studies don’t work for every business and how to create meaningful client stories
• Strategies for showcasing impact without relying on revenue-based metrics
• The power of storytelling to make your work more visible and engaging
• Self-Promotion for Introverts & Low-Energy Thinkydoers
• How to market yourself authentically without feeling like you’re bragging
• Overcoming the fear of visibility and rejection sensitivity
• Values-Aligned Marketing & Ethical Storytelling
• Creating marketing materials that reflect your values rather than fitting into conventional formats
• The emotional side of sharing your work—navigating vulnerability, self-doubt, and rejection
• How ethical storytelling can help build stronger client relationships and trust
• Building Confidence & Overcoming Rejection Sensitivity
• Understanding rejection sensitivity and how it affects self-promotion
• Strategies for developing confidence in sharing your work and experiences
• First steps to telling client stories in a way that feels natural and impactful

[00:00:00] Welcome to Thinkydoers podcast and introduction

[00:01:00] Introduction to Nailah King and why Sara invited her on the podcast

[00:03:00]...

Are you an early- or mid-career individual contributor, curious about how to showcase your contributions and gain the recognition your work deserves? This week's guest, Sally Ivester, brings us a fresh perspective on architecting your own career successfulness -- without trying to be someone you're not. 

Sally is a chief of staff in big tech who had a career-transforming experience when she downshifted her approach to career before the birth of her daughter. She joins us this week to share her perspectives on making the shift to playing your career on "easy mode" for those of us more used to playing our careers on "hard mode." 

We talk about the subject I personally love to hate: managing up. We also discuss the importance of proactively setting and communicating boundaries, and Sally's approaches to navigating feedback and what she calls "working loudly," (including a very introvert-friendly way to do so in writing). This short episode packs a punch of career development, for listeners who are looking to upskill at playing the corporate game (without masking or playing politics in ways that don't suit you). 

Sally was also very generous in sharing resources with us -- check out the links below!

Do you have a question or topic you'd like to see me tackle either as a solo episode or with a guest? I'm all ears. Visit the Thinkydoers home page and contact me there, or, point your guest suggestions my way!

• Introduction to Sally Ivester: Sally’s background and her focus on supporting early-career professionals.
• Managing Up: Redefining the concept of managing up without masking or changing who you are.
• Communicating Boundaries: The importance of setting and communicating personal boundaries at work.
• Working Loudly: How to effectively showcase your work and contributions.
• Feedback and Growth: Embracing feedback and the concept of “B+ is the new A+.”
• Personal Operating Model: How to create and share your personal operating model to set clear expectations.

• What is managing up?: Managing up involves thinking ahead and aligning with your manager’s expectations without compromising your authenticity.
• How can I communicate my boundaries at work?: Proactively share your personal operating model, including your preferred communication methods and working hours.
• What does working loudly mean?: Working loudly means actively communicating your contributions and achievements to ensure they are recognized.
• How should I handle feedback?: Embrace feedback as an opportunity for growth and aim for continuous improvement rather than perfection.

• “Managing up isn’t about being pleasing; it’s about thinking ahead and aligning with your leader.”
• “B+ is the new A+. Embrace feedback and aim for continuous improvement.”
• “Working loudly means ensuring your contributions are recognized and valued.”

• A free copy of Sally's usually paid-only product, her Project Tracker 
• The Career Starter Pack Checklist

I know the first meeting with an Objectives and Key Results coach can be intimidating. Last week, I started building a virtual consult experience through my website and other technologies, because I know a lot of people want to learn more about working with an Objectives and Key Results coach or working with new ways of strategic planning and not everybody wants to schedule a meeting right away.

Ultimately, this expereince will allow you to do a self-guided virtual consultation. I recorded a video to support that and then thought, well, this is actually great information for a podcast episode, too. Here, you’ll find answers to the three questions I’m asked in almost every consult I do with a prospect, and get a huge head start on your confidence when seeking support from an OKR coach or other OKR professional.

So, give it a listen!

I can't wait to hear your questions, and if you'd like a personalized virtual consult, visit findrc.co/virtcon, and that'll take you to my coaching portal where you can complete an intake form that kicks off your personalized virtual consult.

As you're listening, jot down your thoughts about what questions you think I should answer in a virtual consult, and then send them my way. I'd love to address them either in my Frequently Asked Questions or in future versions of this virtual consult.

I hope you enjoy the episode, and again, I can't wait to hear your questions. This episode is packed with practical advice and answers to common questions about OKR coaching and implementation.

• What are OKRs?: Understanding the basics of Objectives and Key Results.

• Virtual Consultation Simulation: Sara simulates a consultation, explaining her methods and answering common questions.

  • Top-Level OKRs: Starting with senior leaders to establish best practices.

  • Senior Leadership Onboarding: Ensuring leaders can model OKR behaviors.

  • Organization-Wide Communication: Sharing OKRs with the entire organization.

  • Localization/Scale Phase: Adapting OKRs to different organizational levels.

  
  

• Common Questions:

  • Implementation: How to start or reboot OKRs.

  • Localization: How to cascade OKRs through the organization.

  • Integration with Personal Goals: Aligning OKRs with individual performance management and incentive systems.

  
  

• “OKRs are a goal-setting framework used to increase focus, clarity, and alignment within organizations.”

• “We start with those top-level OKRs with the senior-most leader so that we can establish what the best practice is going to look like for the rest of the organization.”

• “The localization approach that I use with clients is a little bit different. We establish those awesome best practice top-line goals at the top of the organization, and then we do a first level localization to the functional orgs that report into the top-level.”

• Download: No-BS OKRs In A Box one sheet

• Virtual Consult: Start your personalized virtual consult

In this Thinkydoers short, I'm sharing a few exciting updates from Red Currant Collective. For one, we just revealed the covers for my two upcoming books: the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" and "You Are A Strategist: Use No-BS Objectives and Key Results to Get Big Things Done." The Workbook, set to print in Q3, provides essential tools for creating effective OKRs quickly, while "You Are A Strategist" is a playbook for change-makers to connect strategy with goal-exceeding implementation and will fast-follow the Workbook's release -- all in time to help with your year-end reset!

Highlights:

• Book Reveals: Sara announces the cover reveal of her two books, emphasizing the practicality of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" and the strategic depth of "You Are A Strategist"
• Not Sure You're a Strategist? Think Again!: A few quick thoughts on the importance of strategic thinking in today's fast-paced business environment, and an invitation to reflect on your own strategic capabilities
• Live OKR Coaching: Sara shares her experience hosting a LinkedIn Live session, offering free OKR coaching, and invites listeners to participate in future sessions
• Coaching Course: Details are provided about the upcoming "Coaching No-BS OKRs" course, designed for those looking to enhance their OKR coaching skills 
• Gratitude and Acknowledgements: Sara expresses gratitude for the support received during her book-writing process and teases future interview episodes for the podcast.

Call to Action:

• Book Pre-Launch: Join the pre-launch crew for Sara's books at findrc.co/yaas
• LinkedIn Live: Follow Sara on LinkedIn for updates on live OKR coaching sessions at linkedin.com/in/SaraLobkovich
• Coaching Course Registration: Apply for the upcoming "Coaching No-BS OKRs" course at findrc.co/okrcoachtraining
• Podcast Participation: If you're interested in being a guest on Thinkydoers, use the link in the show notes to express your interest: Thinkydoers Podcast Guest Application

Closing Thoughts: Sara encourages listeners to focus on their important goals and looks forward to sharing more insights in the next episode.

For more information, or to pitch a guest appearance on this podcast, please visit: https://saralobkovich.com/thinkydoers-pod

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one....

Want to suck less as a manager? Or, do you work with a manager who sucks?

Either way, you are NOT alone. Many managers struggle to become good at the difficult job of management: whether it stems from insufficient self-awareness, ineffective communication skills, or a lack of necessary tools, Ben Arendt believes that all managers have a responsibility to improve themselves for the benefit of their careers and the teams they lead. Ben is Principal Consultant at Depth Charge Consulting and author of the recently-released book: How to Suck Less as a Manager: A Practical Guide to Making Your Team Less Miserable Today! 

In this episode, you’ll learn practical strategies that managers can take right now to better understand, communicate with, and support their teams.

Ben highlights the far-reaching impact of leadership and management, we discuss the importance of intellectual humility and the role that vulnerability plays in leadership, as well as his some tips for managing yourself when your manager sucks.

We also take a side trip into why we both believe leaders should increase their awareness around skills for working with diverse teams and disabled team members, and a few insights on leading and being led while neurodivergent.

From fostering a positive work environment to driving team performance, this conversation is full of valuable insights that can transform your leadership approach today.

Ready to take the first step towards becoming a more effective and inspiring manager? You're in the right place.

Key Points From This Episode: 

• An overview of Ben’s fascinating career journey and how it led him to write this book.
• The self-awareness and continuous self-improvement required to be a better manager.
• How listening to and learning from others can help you develop intellectual humility.
• Why difficult conversations with diverse groups of people are key to a leader’s success.
• Three types of activities managers need to do to improve their craft.
• Practical advice for those who are dealing with managers that suck.
• Why Sara coaches that “productive struggling” may be a learning step, but sufferring at work is not acceptable.
• Ben's basic toolkit for better communication skills.
• Strength in vulnerability: why leaders should embrace emotional transparency.
• Why you should probably never be the smartest person in the room as a manager or leader.
• Pro tips for leaders and aspiring leaders who are neurodivergent or "wired differently."
• Major setbacks that helped to propel Ben forward in his career.
• Three key similarities between OKRs and being a better manager.
...

How do you find balance as a Thinkydoer with a busy, curious, learning-focused brain? Today, we explore this question (and more) as I continue my insightful conversation with Jason Johnston, OKR Practice Lead at Genetec. (If you missed Part 1, pop back to Episode 17 and then come back here after.)

Tuning in, you’ll discover some of the most profound lessons from Jason’s unique and varied career.

From facing a career-altering setback J.J. considers his "greatest professional accomplishment," to finding new paths forward, his journey demonstrates the importance of adaptability and continuous learning.

Join us as we explore how personal passions outside of work--whether it's building LEGO, climbing mountains, or repairing antique typewriters -- can recharge our professional lives, and why disconnecting and taking proper breaks is essential for reconnecting with our intrinsic motivation.

Don't miss this enriching conversation as we dive deep into the human side of leadership!

Key Points From This Episode:

• How to check out the new No-BS OKR Self-Assessment tool.
• What Jason considers to be his greatest professional accomplishment.
• The biggest learnings that have propelled him forward.
• Navigating setbacks and how to have a learning-focused career.
• Lessons for making OKR work sustainable, including recharging outside of work.
• How taking meaningful breaks can help you reconnect with your intrinsic motivation.
• Sara and Jason’s mutual love for LEGO!
• How having the mentality of a four-year-old benefits Jason’s well-being.
• Jason’s top book recommendations.

Quotes:

“It is a failure, [but] I think the success comes [from] realizing that I didn't have control over it, and it's not my fault. Why should I let this get me down? You’ve got to keep going. You’ve got to keep moving.” — Jason Johnston [05:52]

“It's about cutting yourself off completely [and] giving your brain time to think and do something else.” — Jason Johnston [08:38]

“Take what it is that you love, disconnect, and go do it. Make it big, whatever it is. Make it big. Make it worth a four-year-old's mentality.” — Jason Johnston [12:14]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

• Genetec
• Jason Johnston on LinkedIn
• Red Currant No-BS OKR Self-Assessment Tool

Establishing clear objectives and key results (OKRs) isn't just about direction and accountability. It’s about driving real change within organizations. Today’s episode kicks off our two-part conversation with the delightful Jason Johnston, OKR Practice Lead for Genetec, a technology company in the security products and solutions space.

Jason is also a veteran whose 20-year military career has given him a unique perspective on leadership and problem-solving.

Join us as Jason shares his insights on fostering an environment where OKRs can thrive, the challenges of shifting from a task-oriented to an outcome-oriented mindset, and the critical role of leadership in guiding teams. We also explore how positive reinforcement and diverse perspectives on outcomes can drive success and why so many OKR practitioners exemplify servant leadership.

Tune in to discover practical tips and inspiring stories from Jason’s journey, and learn how to navigate the complexities of OKRs in your own work environment!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A quick update: How to check out the new No-BS OKR Self-Assessment tool.
• Insight into Jason’s role as the OKR Practice Lead at Genetec.
• Why he’s a self-described servant leader and why that’s often the case for OKR practitioners.
• How he first started working with OKRs and got his company to create a position for him.
• Driving change within a company by leading others rather than doing the work for them.
• Jason’s unique career background and what initially attracted him to the practice of OKRs.
• Lessons on heroism and preparation from his military career (and how it relates to OKRs).
• The adaptive nature of Jason’s work environment: how it has facilitated his career transitions.
• How the No-BS OKR class changed Jason’s approach to OKRs and made it more intuitive.
• The biggest challenges Jason has seen when it comes to implementing OKRs.
• Using leadership to help people shift from a task-oriented to an outcome-oriented mindset.
• Why existing metrics aren’t always adequate for measuring outcomes and leading indicators.
• Key aspects of OKRs that have made a difference in Jason’s life and work.
• How continuous learning and service leadership among OKR practitioners foster positivity.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

• Genetec
• Jason Johnston on LinkedIn

One of the most challenging things for people to wrap their heads around when learning to create No-BS OKRs is the power of progress key results, otherwise known as leading indicators. But leading indicators serve as critical data that may give you objective data on which to assess your progress, and, to inform decisionmaking. Today’s guest is Elena Chopyak, a self-professed "data nerd," who I met through our mutual friend Rachel. When Rachel introduced Elena to me as an expert in leading indicators, I couldn't schedule a coffee talk fast enough. That coffee talk turned into an invitation back for this podcast episode.

Aside from Elena's wiring for data and analysis, her career history also follows the Thinkydoer pattern: a winding, multidisciplinary path included interest in working outside the U.S., and curiosity in the emergency humanitarian space, which ultimately lead her to working with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Iraq for two years. She was brought on in a monitoring and evaluation role in child protection and education, where she became responsible for instrumenting, monitoring, and reporting on important indicators to assess impact; and then moved into a role in IRC's emergency response team that was focused both on monitoring and informing decisions about natural disaster and armed conflict responses (as well as deploying, herself). 

In this episode, you’ll hear about Elena's experiences and learnings working with leading indicators in high-stakes settings, tips for creating leading indicators that are useful and actionable, and, more about her self-described "squiggly" career.

Also: the No-BS OKRs Workbook is live; we're getting ready to launch our No-BS OKRs Self-Assessment Tool; and the best way to keep track of what's happening with Thinkydoers and No-BS OKRs is to join our mailing list!

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Elena ended up in the nonprofit space working on leading indicators.
• What drew her to the data and analytics side of nonprofit work.
• The purpose that leading indicators serve in resource-constrained companies.
• Challenges of creating leading indicators that provide actionable data.
• Two ways to determine whether or not an indicator is useful.
• Why there is no such thing as a perfect decision, even in high-stakes settings.
• Working back from your ‘why’ and other pro tips for creating leading indicators.
• Reasons that intentionality and testing are so important.
• Setbacks that ended up propelling Elena’s career forward.
• The value of having thought partners and focusing on tangible change.
• How continuous learning and mentorship can benefit your career.

Quotes:

“It’s important not to wait until something is a full-blown emergency and has made it to the news – One of our responsibilities is to be prepared – That’s why [leading indicators are] so important.” — Elena Chopyak [11:25]

“We don’t create leading indicators so that we have pretty numbers on a dashboard in any setting. We create leading indicators because we’re going to use them to inform a decision.” — @saralobkovich [15:50]

“It comes back to thinking about the why. Why are you going to collect this [data]? Who is going to look at it? Who is using it? – Who is actually going to make any actionable change based on the data you’re collecting?” — Elena Chopyak [20:33]

“If you have a squiggly career, just know there are people who appreciate that. There are people who themselves have linear careers and don’t understand you. That’s fine, but there are those people out there who will appreciate your varied background.” — Elena Chopyak [27:22]

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget

Are you ready to create big, bold goals for Q2 and beyond, and achieve remarkable results?

In this Thinkydoers Short, I'm sharing a slew of resources to help you get ready for Q2 -- whether you have a budget or not, and whether you are excited to get visionary and curious and plan your Q2, or are hoping to spend as little time as humanly possible, so you can get right to achieving your goals!

1. It's OKR Quarterly Reset Time: Q1 performance review and Q2 goal-setting are upon us. Tune in to our LinkedIn Live sessions for my creative and generative approach to quarterly retrospectives.

2. No-BS OKRs Workshop: Our popular workshop is now available in a hybrid format. Join anytime, learn at your own pace, and get your OKRs written in just one week. 

3. The Evolutionary OKRs Playbook:

   • No-BS OKRs Workbook: A 50-page download with essential OKR basics and valuable cheat sheets, available later this March!
   • No-BS OKRs Playbook: The "big book," covering deeper explanations and tackling OKR challenges, is scheduled for release in September.
   
   

4. Stay Connected: Shoot me an email at sara@redcurrantco.com if you have questions about anything mentioned here -- and I appreciate your shares on this episode!

• FREE LinkedIn Live Webinars: Get ready for Q2!
  • RSVP on LinkedIn
  • Follow Sara on LinkedIn for updates about additional Live opportunities!
  
  
• No-BS OKRs Workshop: Asynchronous, self-paced learning
  • Find more info at http://findrc.co/nobsokrs
  • Or, register at https://www.thinkydoers.com/nobsokrs1
  
  
• No-BS OKRs Workbook Excerpt: WTF Are OKRs?
  • Download at: http://findrc.co/wtfokrs
  
  
• Evolutionary OKRs Playbook and Workbook updates:
  • Join the pre-launch list at http://findrc.co/evokrpb
  
  

Let’s set your Q2 goals up for inspiration, progress, and success! Tune in, subscribe, share with a friend or colleague, and let’s keep the conversation going! 🚀

Reach out if you have any questions: hello@redcurrantco.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna...

The long-term stress sustained during and since the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a serious impact on our collective wellbeing. The American Psychological Association’s annual “Stress in America” report this year shared that “APA psychologists widely agreed there is mounting evidence that our society is experiencing the psychological impacts of a collective trauma.”  

In our personal and professional lives – especially for those of us who possess an “overthinky” brain -- we’re experiencing high levels of stress, overwhelm, and burnout. To help us understand these issues (and what we can do to resolve them), we’re joined by Dat Tran, an inspiring leadership coach and speaker (and fellow Thinkydoer). After more than a decade in the consulting and global strategy world, Dat discovered that the path to realizing his purpose focuses on inclusion and resilience. Today, he empowers leaders and organizations to reach their peak potential with well-being as a central focus. Since taking the stage for the first time in 2022, he has delivered over 50 keynotes and workshops, reaching thousands of people at leading companies and organizations worldwide. In this episode, Dat offers insight into the relationship between stress and resilience, provides us with a practical framework for managing stress, and shares some easy-to-understand examples to help us understand the risks of burying or processing stress without releasing it. To transform how you manage stress in your everyday life, become more resilient, and propel yourself toward higher performance and wellness, tune in today.

Key Points From This Episode:

•   Insight into Dat’s vision and the role of inclusively and resiliency in his practice.
•   His experience of stress and burnout on the path to becoming a life coach.
•   Ways that neurodivergent people may excel at simplifying complex information.
•   An understanding of the relationship between stress and resilience.
•   What Gabor Maté teaches us about trauma and healing.
•   Bury, release, process: three options for managing stress.
•   Surprisingly simple ways to release stress mentally, emotionally, and physically.
•   Why there is no “perfect” way to release; get creative!
•   Risks of processing stress without release, particularly for over-thinkers.
•   The significance of play, sleep, passion, and community.
•   How to intentionally design your life to release and process stress.
•   Dat’s advice for knowing when and how to speak and show up.

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and...

One of the first jobs to be done when implementing (or rebooting) OKRs is to identify how they fit into an organization’s existing planning “stack” and get clear about what job they’re being hired to do.

This episode is based on chapter three of Sara Lobkovich’s upcoming book, The Evolutionary OKRs Playbook, which focuses on what is possible with Evolutionary OKRs®.

You’ll be introduced to the first of three models that Sara uses every day in her work with organizations implementing OKRs: the Connected Strategic® Implementation Stack. You’ll learn about each layer of this stack, how it applies to individual projects and initiatives, why some organizations may struggle with OKRs, and why you don’t necessarily need to have every element in the stack present to be successful.

Today’s episode offers you a chance to reflect on your organization's Strategic Stack, what elements might be most important to prioritize to increase shared meaning and understanding, and what elements you might want to consider adding to increase your organization’s strategic alignment and impact.

Be sure to stay tuned for future episodes on the other two models: Connected Strategy on a Page and OKR Maturity! 

Key Points From This Episode:

•   Why it’s important to identify how OKRs fit into an organization’s existing planning stack.
•   Three models to consider, starting with the Connected Strategic Implementation Stack.
•   Unpacking each layer of the stack: strategic input, North Star Metrics, and more.
•   Some of the typical sources of aversion to OKRs that Sara sees in organizations.
•   Defining mandatory commits, health watch measures, and stretch goals.
•   How delivery fits into the Connected Strategic Implementation Stack.
•   Why you don’t need to tick every box in this stack in order to be successful.
•   Stay tuned for more on the Connected Strategy on a Page and OKR Maturity models!

Also: don't miss out -- No BS OKRs Annual Reset Edition registration closes on November 5th, so if you'd like help with your 2023 retrospective and 2024 OKR creation, join us for this practical, applied, OKR creation workshop: http://findrc.co/nobsokrs

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and...

AI is transforming the way we work—but how can Thinkydoers use generative AI responsively and productively—as a tool, not a time-suck?

In part two of our conversation with AI ethicist and strategist Dvorah Graeser, we get practical about leveraging AI tools, particularly for deep specialists and strategic thinkers. Building on our discussion of ethics and implications from Episode 38, Dvorah shares specific ways to move from anxiety to agency with AI while maintaining your ethics and humanity. Learn how to use AI tools to organize your thoughts, improve communication with different audiences, and enhance your work as a specialist, all while preserving what makes us uniquely human.

• How AI can help specialists move from anxiety to agency and practical ways to embrace AI tools with confidence
• Using AI to organize complex ideas and turn scattered thoughts into structured outlines
• The power of AI iteration and dialogue to refine thinking, decision-making, and communication
• Fact-checking and avoiding AI hallucinations with tools like Perplexity AI and multi-tool validation
• Enhancing communication for deep specialists by adapting messaging for different audiences, including neurodivergent thinkers and general business professionals
• Leveraging AI for buyer personas and using marketing strategies to improve AI-generated content and audience targeting
• AI as an assistive tool for neurodivergence and how it supports executive functioning challenges and workflow efficiency
• Emotional processing and AI as a tool for self-reflection while recognizing its limitations in mental health support
• First steps to overcoming AI anxiety and why understanding your emotional response to AI is crucial before integrating it into your workflow
• Resources and further learning, including Dvorah’s free PDF on emotions in AI and an invitation to submit questions for future discussions

AI for Organization & Creativity

• How AI helps specialists structure ideas and overcome creative overwhelm
• The role of AI in iterative thinking and refining communication
• AI’s effectiveness in summarizing, outlining, and organizing complex information

AI Accuracy & Fact-Checking

• Strategies for verifying AI-generated content and reducing hallucinations
• Using multi-tool validation with AI models like Perplexity AI and Claude
• Limitations of AI in handling data accuracy and research citations

AI for Specialists & Communication

• How AI helps deep specialists communicate with broader audiences
• Leveraging buyer personas to tailor AI-generated messaging
• Using AI to bridge communication gaps between neurodivergent and neurotypical audiences

AI for Neurodivergent Thinkers

• AI as an adaptive tool for executive function and workflow management
• The role of AI in supporting focus, organization, and stress reduction
• Ethical considerations of AI in self-reflection and emotional regulation

Overcoming AI Anxiety & Ethical Adoption

• The shift from AI anxiety to AI agency and practical steps for confident adoption
• The importance of emotional awareness in integrating AI into personal and professional workflows
• Resources for understanding the emotional impact of AI and strategies for responsible use

00:00 Introduction to Thinkydoers Podcast and Episode Overview

01:00 From AI Anxiety to AI Agency – How Specialists Can Take Control

02:00 Organizing Chaotic Thoughts with AI – Turning Sticky Notes into Structure

04:00 The Power of Iteration – Using AI for Back-and-Forth Thinking

We're excited to share Chapter Two of our work-in-progress Evolutionary OKRs Playbook with you. This chapter re-introduces Objectives and Key Results for people who may be less familiar with traditional approaches, and then shifts into the unique elements of the Evolutionary OKR model (which we've developed specifically to aid innovative and transformative organizations and teams in setting and achieving bigger, bolder goals). 

I also share a bit more about what we mean when we talk about the Evolutionary Organization. 

I share the actual definition that I use for the terms "Objective" and "Key Result," and I cut to the chase and provide the most essential question each of those terms answers in our businesses, and the building-block-formulas I use to help make sure we're creating useful, usable Objectives AND Key Results every time.

If you'd like to receive each chapter before it goes live on the podcast, join our email list: http://redcurrantco.com/newsletter

Key Points from this Episode:

• Objectives and Key Results are introduced as a method for collaborative goal setting and alignment. 

• OKRs bridge the gap between high-level strategy and tactical implementation, ensuring alignment with important outcomes. 

• OKRs were popularized by John Doerr's book "Measure What Matters" and were influenced by Peter Drucker's "Management by Objectives." 

• Over 127 different OKR management software platforms have caused some confusion in OKR methodology. 

• Sara introduces the Evolutionary OKR model,...

After years of writing alone and then sharing my work on the Evolutionary OKRs Playbook with (wonderful, patient) beta readers, with this rewrite I’m doing something different.

It’s time to write (and read) in public. 

Certain chapters of the book are being shared via our email newsletter first; then after a week or two, some will be shared via the Red Currant Collective Blog, via Medium, and here, as Thinkydoers podcast episodes.

As terrifying as this is for me personally, it’s time. The final rewrite is buzzing along, I’ve got a target date for the v1 eBook release if I keep up at this writing and editing pace, and it’s necessary to get this thing out so it can help the people who need it.

So here in this episode, I’m sharing the first full chapter, Chapter One: Objectives and Key Results: How did we get here?

And if you don't want to wait for the public release of each chapter, you can get the early peek by joining our newsletter at http://findrc.co/newsletter.

Show notes are available at thinkydoers.com and you can read the first chapter via the Evolutionary OKRs Blog on redcurrantco.com.

Key Points From This Episode:

•  My excitement to bring you chapter one of Sara’s Evolutionary OKRs Playbook.

•   The resources that we’re planning on offering for the rest of the year and in 2024.

•   How many of us stumble into OKRs 

•   Why I'm an emphatic OKR activist. 

•   A sneak peek for next week: why should you adopt a glossary of OKR terms at the very beginning of implementation. 

Quotes:

“Incoherence is my kryptonite.” — @saralobkovich [08:22]

“The transparency with which I'll share my approaches, tools, and tactics, as well as the why behind them in this book may just put my consulting business out of business.” — @saralobkovich [10:16]

“I hope that at some point you take a step back from the day-to-day labor of your work and think a bit about what changed world you'd like to see someday. What difference would you like to make? How would you like to leave your community, career, or self better than you find it now?” — @saralobkovich [10:37]

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at...

Fun fact: While I am an OKR activist, I'm not an OKR dogmatist.

If OKRs "aren't working" in your organization, I'll be the first to support your decision to change course to an approach that works better for your organization.

Frequently, though, I see organizations reach a stage where they're frustrated with their OKR implementation -- and the time of year I see the "OKRs aren't working" phase kick in is at mid-year, when we're looking at our annual company strategic plans or OKRs that may have been set six or seven months ago and questioning: "What's the value of OKRs, if they've become this off course?"

I'm having these conversations with a number of clients right now, so if you're a client and you think this episode is about you, what you're experiencing may be part of what inspired this episode, but this episode is not about you -- it's about a lot of you. 😂

Many teams reach this stage and then overfocus on what's not working in our OKR operations: with tracking, reporting, and our OKR software or systems. What's most valuable when your organization reaches this stage is to take advantage of having six months worth of data for us to assess our progress thanks to our Objectives and Key Results, AND, examine and apply our half-year of learnings during our mid-year reset, to improve our Objectives and Key Results, our OKR behaviors, AND our OKR operations instead of abandoning them.

If the job we've hired OKRs to do is to increase our clarity and objectivity about what shared progress and success mean -- which is the highest and best use of OKRs -- then when organizations reach the "OKRs aren't working" phase, we have a chance to take a good hard look at our OKRs themselves, and, our behaviors. One of the most common issues I see in this phase is that teams are not yet letting OKRs do that job they were hired to do: they may still be stuck in task & activity quicksand, and have not yet taken the step into aligning on actual objective measures of progress and success. If that's the case, it's not that your OKRs aren't working: it's that you're not yet using OKRs!

This episode is timely: many of us are navigating our mid-year resets and struggling with frustration; here, I share a few areas of focus you can consider to infuse your OKR reset with new energy and optimism, to help you refresh your Objectives and Key Results to help your organization finish the year strong!

Full show notes and links are available at http://thinkydoers.com and http://redcurrantco.com. 

Does this spark questions or thoughts? I'd love to hear from you. Contact me via http://thinkydoers.com !

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at...

What's the difference between a KPI and an OKR? And specifically, what's the difference between a KPI and a Key Result? Here's a simple answer, with examples, to help make this concept easy to understand.

You’ll find out what defines KPIs, KRs, stretch goals, and commits, what they mean, how they impact businesses, and how they overlap. We discuss the problems caused by confusing these terms, which can lead to damaged trust, safety, and a reduction in employee engagement. We even use Sara’s personal health and well-being KPIs and KRs as an example to help you understand the differences! So, to hear all about KPIs and KRs and to be reminded of the importance of using clear language, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• What a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is and what it means. 
• What Key Results (KR) are and what job we hire them to do. 
• When might a KPI become a KR?
• An example of the differences between KPIs and KRs, using health and well-being measures as an analogy.
• What’s different about when we miss our goals on commits vs. Key Results (and why – in our definition – a KPI is never “missed,” but may be headed in the wrong direction)
• Some organizational issues that can arise when language is not used clearly.
•   What “Commits” are and why there should be few of them in our aligned goal models.
• Some things you should ask yourself as we approach our mid-year reset.

For more information on any of the above, find me at http://redcurrantco.com or email hello@redcurrantco.com. 

Show notes and transcript are available at http://thinkydoers.com .

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Today, we take a step back and answer the obvious question: what are Evolutionary Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and why are they important?

OKRs are a method for setting collaborative, objectively measurable goals made popular by the book Measure What Matters, which creates enormous excitement about the potential of OKRs, but leaves many teams and leaders frustrating trying to figure out how to implement them.

This episode introduces the Red Currant Collective brand of OKRs: Evolutionary OKRs. Evolutionary OKRs are designed to create meaningful change and help organizations transform and actually do better. Tuning in, you’ll hear about how OKRs started and how they became widely used before we break down the differences between Evolutionary OKRs and other forms of planning. You’ll learn more about the characteristics of great OKRs and how they can benefit both corporate performance and individuals. We further discuss the differences between Objectives and Key Results, the qualities of strong Objectives, what we consider "Textbook Key Results," and examples of both. If you would like an introduction to OKRs to share with your colleagues, your leaders, and other stakeholders, or even just a reminder of the basics for yourself, this episode is for you!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to what OKRs are and how they became widely used. 
• The benefits of OKRs for individuals. 
• Differences between OKRs and other forms of planning.
• Characteristics of great OKRs, starting with why they should fit on a page.
• Why objectives are directional and key results are measurable. 
• An example OKR cadence for an organization.
• Defining objectives, the qualities of strong objectives, and some examples.
• What “watermelon metrics” are and how measurable key results can help us avoid them. 
• A definition of key results.
• What “textbook key results” are, why we aim for them, and a few examples.
• How you can find out more about Evolutionary OKRs. 

Tweetables:

“In addition to being a collaborative goal-setting methodology, we think of OKRs as a thinking, deciding, and learning practice that helps us achieve greater growth, transformation and innovation by aligning on our most important measures of progress and success.” — @saralobkovich [0:05:36]

“Evolutionary OKRs mean thinking deeply about what's important and what might be possible. Identifying which measures of progress and success help us make better decisions in our work and organizations.” — @saralobkovich [0:05:54]

“OKRs let us define our own success and progress measures even when external expectations aren’t clear. They help us focus on what's most important, not only what's urgent.” — @saralobkovich [0:06:27]

“Think of objectives like strategic or visionary pillars. Added together, they describe what's most important for us to make progress on so that we are moving toward achieving our strategic priorities.” — @saralobkovich [0:12:48]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

• Red Currant Collective Waitlists
• Achieve change with No-BS OKRs
• Sara Lobkovich Email
• Red Currant Collective
• Sign up for the RedCurrant Newsletter
• Red...

We talk a lot around here about Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), and in this episode, we dive into an adjacent topic: the role that goal setting can play in making a case for and achieving important change in our organizations. The audio for this episode is from a LinkedIn Live that I hosted recently (if you'd like to hear about our every-other Wednesday Live gatherings, join our email list). Those Live sessions are geared toward changemaker leaders and strategic implementors within organizations who are hungry for ways to increase change effectiveness, increase employee engagement, and spend more time focused on achievement of their most important priorities. 

In this episode, we look at:

• A few of the factors that make change hard for people and teams;
• Separating myth from fact about goal setting for change;
• The importance of shifting how we think about goals from a win-lose mindset to a win-learn mindset;
• I share some important tips for changemakers to increase their effectiveness at making the case for and achieving change in their work;
• And share a set of key questions you can use to unblock change.

I also share some updates about opportunities to work with me this month to help set your 2023 up for success:

1. Join us for the week-long No BS OKRs series focused on achieving change, which kicks off next week (asynchronously on Dec 12, first workshop on Dec 13);
2. We have two very rare individual coaching slots available in our monthly membership 1:1 coaching schedule; and
3. I'm in the early stages of planning a cohort of our deep-dive Leading the Connected Strategic Organization learning series specifically for people who are neurodivergent.

This course is for people leaders (and aspiring people leaders) who want to improve their skills with communicating expectations clearly; leading through conflict; and leading their teams for growth and high performance. This class and what we practice in it are helpful for all leaders, but we're hearing especially positive feedback from autistic participants,  leaders with ADHD, and people who have cognitive impacts from trauma. The approaches we learn and practice give leaders a toolkit they can adapt to their work (and fills in a lot of blanks for many of us who have struggled to develop effective leadership and management mechanics) to reduce the cognitive overhead of leading people and help us refocus on goal achievement and leading our teams for growth. 

For more information on any of the above, find me at http://redcurrantco.com or email hello@redcurrantco.com. 

Show notes and transcript are slightly delayed, but will follow tomorrow (Friday) at http://thinkydoers.com .

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs...

We're closing enrollment on Friday for next week's Coaching Evolutionary OKRs course, so if you're looking for OKR Coach training before the end of the year, act quickly (or drop me a note, and I'll let you know when we plan our next cohort). And if a short course is more your style, that's coming this November!

After years of focusing on deep-dive training for leaders & teams in goal-oriented organizations, I'm VERY excited to be launching a short course on efficient Objective and Key Result (OKR) creation next month! In this one week, three session (60-90 min each) cohort-based course, you'll learn our intuitive approach to creating useful, impactful OKRs quickly and efficiently, so you can get to the work of achieving them as rapidly as possible! This quick episode gives a few more details about that class (as well as some other ways to work with me to get ready for your 2023 reset). If you'd like to join the no-obligation waitlist for No BS OKRs, you can find more information here: http://findrc.co/nobsokrs

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

When the book Measure What Matters was published in 2018, it created a lot of excitement about Objectives and Key Results, or OKRs. Unfortunately, the book provided little practical information about implementing them, and many organizations have struggled to actually make OKRs work in the wild. Now we are seeing a rapidly growing OKR software market which is expected to reach $2.6 billion by 2023 but there is still a lot of confusion around the implementation and the potential benefits of OKRs. In today’s episode, we are going to look at what OKRs are and give you a few tips to keep in mind when you start to hear these words around your workplace – especially with the “goal-ification” of OKRs that we’re seeing with product releases including Microsoft Viva Goals and Asana Goals -- with OKRs being incorporated even into non-specialty software. OKR platforms and goal software have their place: but they aren’t required to start and operate a successful goal-setting and goal-achievement rhythm. We then go into detail about our specific definition and usage of “Key Results” in the term “Objectives and Key Results” to explain why that phrase should be treated as a term of art, as well as why Key Results – in the Connected Strategic® model – don’t typically describe activity. To find out how OKRs can help fill the gap between your company’s big outcome goals and the work you actually need to do to reach them, give this one a listen.

We're getting ready to announce some big new business model shifts that will make our OKR and leadership development support more accessible for customers outside of our current large consulting model: for the sneak peek, subscribe to our Red Currant Co Newsletter at http://findrc.co .

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

This time of year is called the "silly season" in motorsports because we're in the literal middle of our racing season AND we're all already operating in the 2023 season: planning partnerships, talent moves, and logistics for the year we won't start for another six months. 

Every summer I see something really similar with my corporate clients who set goals annually: sometimes between mid-July and September, even IF the organization did a mid-year reset after Q2, we find ourselves looking at our annual goals, scratching our heads, and wondering, "What were we thinking?"

For organizations that set goals annually in November or December of the previous year: when we set those goals, we did so based on the information we had at the time. Now, we have seven (or so) more months of information that may line up with or be dramatically different than the assumptions we set those goals based on. We know a lot more right now about what our goals for this year could or should have been. But, generally, now is not the time to "revisit" or "reset" our annual goals. In a lot of situations, it's better to stay the course, notice what we're learning about our goals while we work with them right now, and get ready for our next annual planning cycle (which is just around the corner) to improve, with what we learn during this "growing pains" phase.

This episode talks about a couple of specific opportunities that you can leverage for learning right now, while we're "living with" annual goals that may feel awkward:

• The creative exercise of evolving (not changing) Objective language; and
• What we can learn right now that makes us smarter about our most important organizational measures of success, which we may reflect next year as a North Star Metric and/or Topline Measures.

This awkward mid-year growing pain phase can be a source of frustration, and it can be a really valuable source of information and learning that helps us do better with our next round of annual goal-setting.

Visit http://thinkydoers.com to share your thoughts about this episode, and to learn more about creating and leading Connected Strategic™ organizations.

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps

In our last episode, our host Sara Lobkovich took the antiquated concept of "managing up" to task. This episode is part two in this two-part series, where we dive into why and how organizations can replace "managing up" with building a culture of self-management. With norms established around expectations and goal alignment, communication, and candor and truthfulness, organizations can center their most important outcomes more effectively; manage healthy conflict to achieve necessary change; and trade inefficient spin- and politically-motivated posturing for increased comfort with difficult truths so that blockers can be tackled head-on.  A culture of consistent self-management reduces cognitive overhead for workers and leaders and gives everyone in the organization a shared language and practices to help increase mutual understanding of expectations and how people can succeed, together.  We'll introduce the three foundational elements of self-management:

1. Clear expectations (and aligned goals)
2. Mindful communication, and
3. Candor & factfulness

and seven supportive factors that improve self-management effectiveness:

1. Intentional fidelity
2. Accountability & ownership
3. Collaboration and cooperation (and knowing the difference)
4. Emotional regulation
5. Conflict competence
6. Self-awareness, and
7. Intellectual humility. 

These skills can be learned and developed by leaders and "doers" alike.

You'll hear how self-management ultimately enables everyone in the organization to do their best work: from the C-suite to the summer intern.

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Are you wrestling with ethical questions about AI while also feeling curious about its potential?

In this thought-provoking episode, Sara welcomes Dvorah Graeser, an "old internet" technologist who brings a unique perspective on AI democratization. From programming for the Human Genome Project to founding RocketSmart, Dvorah shares insights on how we can approach AI with both skepticism and agency.

Discover why those who shy away from AI might be surrendering power to tech giants, and learn practical considerations for responsibly engaging with generative AI tools in your work.

• Dvorah's background programming before the GUI and her journey from the Human Genome Project to AI development
• The ethical considerations of generative AI and how to navigate them as business owners and creators
• How to evaluate AI models based on their transparency, data policies, and public commitments
• The democratization of technology and why bottom-up AI adoption benefits everyone
• Why small businesses might leapfrog large corporations with open-source AI models like DeepSeek
• How generative AI affects workplace satisfaction differently across roles and experience levels
• Practical advice for protecting your intellectual property in an AI-driven world

AI Ethics & Transparency

• Role of AI in data analytics and predictive modeling
• AI as an enabler vs. driver of outcomes
• Practical applications in OKR workshops
• Limitations and considerations

Generative AI for Work

• The role of AI in automating tasks vs. augmenting human work
• AI as an enabler vs. a driver of outcomes
• Practical applications of AI in different industries

Small Business vs. Big Tech

• Can AI level the playing field for solopreneurs and startups?
• How large corporations control AI access and development
• Opportunities for smaller businesses to leverage AI effectively

AI for Strategy & Execution

• Integrating AI into decision-making without losing human creativity
• Using AI for data analytics and predictive modeling
• Limitations and considerations for AI in strategic planning

[00:00:00] Introduction: Welcome to Thinkydoers and introduction to Dvorah Graeser

[00:03:00] Dvorah's background: From programming before GUI to AI development

[00:05:00] Ethics of generative AI: The challenge of retrofitting ethics

[00:08:00] Choosing trustworthy AI models: Evaluating data policies and transparency

[00:10:00] Democratizing technology: The historical context and importance

[00:14:00] Advice for Thinkydoer leaders: Focus on process integration

[00:17:00] IP concerns for creators and business owners: Strategies and policies

[00:20:00] AI and the future of work: Research on workplace satisfaction

[00:25:00] The potential of open-source models like DeepSeek for small businesses

[00:29:00] Individual action: How to participate in shaping ethical AI

This is the first in a two-part series about why we work with clients to uncover and unlearn the behavior of "managing up," and replace it with a culture of self-management. It IS necessary to carefully and intentionally manage our relationships at work (up, down, and across), but the way managing up is coached in many organizations centers leaders instead of the work itself. The practice is inefficient, inequitable, and often emphasizes spin over substance. And many people who rely on managing up to move up the ladder in their organizations find that "what got you here won't get you there" when they land in a role where you can't "manage up" your way to critical outcomes. Next week, we'll share the second part of this series about how we replace "managing up" and other political and power-based ways of leading and organizing organizations and teams with more equitable, efficient and outcome-driving self-management practices.    

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

By this point in the year -- 1/3 of the way through Q1 -- many of us have already abandoned any New Years Resolutions we set -- and in our work lives, we may still be digging out from year-end, having missed a month of achievement toward our 2022 goals. We're not going to start with goal-setting today -- most of you have already done that step. Instead, we're going to learn a bit more about the types of goals you've set already, and share a few simple steps to help you get your goal achievement plan on track. I'll share a few words and meanings that are helpful for shared understanding when we're working with goals, and then share a step-by-step from Michael B. Stanier's book, "The Coaching Habit," which I find helpful for scaffolding the step we often miss: actually planning the behavior change necessary to achieve the goals we set.  Show notes and a transcript, as well as contact information if you have questions, are available at thinkydoers.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Thinky-doers are those of us whose work spans the spaces between thought, through the messy middle, into doing. I'm a thinky-doer, and I'm here to help others create less friction, and more flow in our work.

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget your free No-BS OKRs Workbook

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy Day!

Before I let you go, I just wanna remind you, you can pick up your copy of "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS OKRs to Get Big Things Done" at https://youareastrategist.com, and you'll get that free PDF of the "No-BS OKRs Workbook" when you purchase direct. Don't wanna DIY it? Book a VIP executive strategy day with me. They can be used one-on-one. It can be used to facilitate an in-person or remote event with your org. It can also be used for a keynote that inspires actual results for your upcoming event. Visit https://findrc.co/vipday for all the details. And from there you can book a free executive strategy intake call, or request a no meeting virtual consult. A VIP executive strategy day helps you unlock clarity, align quickly, and drive results in just one powerful day.

What’s next for OKRs in 2025?

As goal-setting evolves, organizations are rethinking their approach to strategy, execution, and performance. In this episode, Sara sits down with OKR experts Natalie Webb and Maria Rowcliffe to unpack the latest trends—from the role of generative AI to the shifting landscape of OKR localization and performance management. Whether you’re an OKR veteran or just getting started, these insights will help you stay ahead of the curve.

• How generative AI is reshaping OKR creation and workshop efficiency
• The shift away from rigid OKR cascading toward functional team-level alignment
• Why OKRs should not be directly tied to performance evaluations or compensation
• The biggest mistakes organizations make when implementing OKRs—and how to avoid them
• The evolving role of OKRs in strategy execution and business impact
• What to expect from the future of OKRs in 2025 and beyond

Generative AI in OKR Practice

• Role of AI in data analytics and predictive modeling
• AI as an enabler vs. driver of outcomes
• Practical applications in OKR workshops
• Limitations and considerations

Modern OKR Localization

• Shift from cascading to hybrid approaches
• L1-L2 alignment strategies
• Bottom-up contribution methods
• Functional team focus

OKR Integration

• Separation of delivery work and outcomes
• Project management integration
• Performance management considerations
• Leading indicator identification

Implementation Strategy

• Starting points for organizations
• Common pitfalls to avoid
• Methodology vs. tool selection
• Change management considerations

[00:00:00] Introduction and welcome

[00:01:00] Book announcement: You Are a Strategist

[00:04:00] Guest introductions

[00:08:00] Generative AI's impact on OKRs

[00:17:00] Using AI tools in OKR workshops

[00:21:00] Evolution of OKR localization

[00:33:00] Discussion of individual KRs

[00:41:00] OKRs and performance management

[00:47:00] First steps for OKR implementation

Natalie Webb is an OKR expert with nearly eight years of experience in the field. She currently works with Aramco in Saudi Arabia, supporting their digital transformation and AI initiatives. Natalie specializes in helping organizations implement effective OKRs that drive real business impact.

Maria Rowcliffe is an organizational behavior specialist with over 30 years of experience in management and strategy execution. Passionate about how organizations and people...

What happens when two powerhouse frameworks collide?

In this episode, Sara dives into a fascinating conversation with Jessica Lee, exploring the dynamic intersection of EOS® (Entrepreneurial Operating System®) and OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) in business management. As both an EOS integrator and an OKR coach, Jessica shares her unique expertise, offering actionable insights into how these two frameworks can work in harmony to help organizations not just survive but truly thrive.

• The complementary relationship between EOS and OKRs in business management
• Understanding the crucial visionary-integrator dynamic in leadership
• How EOS provides structure for businesses ready to scale
• The importance of proper goal-setting and measurement systems
• Role definition and its impact on organizational success
• The value of coaching in implementation of both frameworks

EOS Framework Components

• Vision Traction Organizer (VTO)
• Rocks and Measurables
• People Analyzer
• Accountability Chart
• L10 Meetings

Leadership Dynamics

• Visionary (CEO) role and characteristics
• Integrator role and responsibilities
• Creating effective partnership between both roles

Goal Setting and Measurement

• Integration of EOS rocks with OKR methodology
• Importance of measurable outcomes
• Balance between vision and execution

Organizational Structure

• Role definition before performance evaluation
• Right people in right seats concept
• Simplified organizational structure approach

[00:00] Introduction to Thinkydoers Podcast

[00:58] Live from the Race Trailer

[02:16] Guest Introduction: Jessica Lee

[03:06] Understanding EOS and OKRs

[04:40] Implementing EOS in Small Businesses

[13:55] The Role of the Integrator

[20:31] Accountability and Goal Setting

[26:57] Conclusion and Farewell

Jessica Lee owns Optimized Execs, a business consulting firm helping CEOs of small and medium-sized businesses who feel overwhelmed and unsure about growth strategies. Her experience includes serving as a COO and implementing EOS in various organizations.

• Book: "Traction" by Gino Wickman
• Book: "Rocket Fuel" (focused on visionary-integrator relationship)
• Website: www.optimizedexecs.com
• LinkedIn: Jessica Lee
• Website: www.optimizedexecs.com

• Join Sara's Email Newsletter: 

Ever feel lost in the alphabet soup of goal-setting frameworks?

Whether you're a leader, a coach, or a goal-setting enthusiast, navigating between SMART goals, KPIs, OKRs, and other frameworks can feel overwhelming.

In this episode, Sara Lobkovich – strategist, OKR coach, and nationally board-certified health and wellness coach (with “another life” in professional motorcycle road racing) – gives you the inside scoop on the most popular frameworks. Through easy-to-understand examples from the worlds of health and sports, Sara breaks down when and how to use each framework to drive success.

You'll leave with a clear understanding of what each framework truly means, how they differ, and which one to use to turbocharge your personal or professional goals.

Want to watch the full-length replay of the Live this episode is drawn from? It’s on YouTube!

• Clear explanation of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and why they're indicators, not goals
• Deep dive into SMART goals and their practical applications
• How OKRs differ from other frameworks for handling uncertainty and innovation
• Understanding mandatory vs. stretch goals
• Real-world examples using health and sports metrics
• Introduction to additional frameworks like BSC (Balanced Scorecard) and ROB (Rhythm of Business)

• Activity Goals vs. Outcome Goals
• KPIs as health indicators for your business
• The limitations of SMART goals
• When and how to use mandatory goals
• The power of OKRs for uncertain territory
• Building a holistic performance dashboard
• Creating effective rhythms of business

[00:00] Introduction to Thinkydoer Shorts

[00:43] Sara's Dual Life: Business and Racing

[01:12] Goal Fridays and Live Replays

[02:59] Decoding Goal-Setting Acronyms

[07:38] Activity Goals: The Basics

[09:02] KPIs: Key Performance Indicators (and KPIs vs. OKRs)

[11:32] SMART Goals: Specific and Measurable

[15:52] Mandatory Goals vs. Stretch Goals

[18:20] OKRs and Other Goal-Setting Frameworks

• Get the No-BS OKRs Workbook ($19): https://saralobkovich.com/no-bs-okrs-workbook-pdf
• Info about the upcoming print version of the No-BS OKRs Workbook & Sara's forthcoming book: "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS...

Thinking about implementing OKRs? Your first instinct might be to shop for an OKR tool - but that could be setting yourself up for failure. In this candid Thinkydoers Short, strategy coach Sara Lobkovich explains why starting with software often backfires, and shares a proven alternative with a methodology-focused approach that will set your organization up for long-term OKR success.

• Common pitfalls of taking a tool-first approach to OKR implementation
• Why methodology must come before software
• How to track OKRs effectively without specialized tools
• A practical timeline for OKR implementation that sets you up for success
• Signs that your organization is actually ready for an OKR tool

• Tools alone don't solve the core challenges of implementing OKRs
• Start with company-level OKRs and establish strong methodology before scaling
• Simple tracking methods like spreadsheets can work well in early stages
• Let organizational demand drive tool adoption rather than forcing it
• Focus on behavior change and culture shifts before investing in software

[00:00] Introduction to Thinkydoer Shorts

[00:43] Sara's Dual Life: Business and Racing

[01:12] Goal Fridays and Live Replays

[02:59] Decoding Goal-Setting Acronyms

[07:38] Activity Goals: The Basics

[09:02] KPIs: Key Performance Indicators (and KPIs vs. OKRs)

[11:32] SMART Goals: Specific and Measurable

[15:52] Mandatory Goals vs. Stretch Goals

[18:20] OKRs and Other Goal-Setting Frameworks

• Get the No-BS OKRs Workbook ($19): https://saralobkovich.com/no-bs-okrs-workbook-pdf
• Info about the upcoming print version of the No-BS OKRs Workbook & Sara's forthcoming book: "You Are a Strategist: Use No-BS Objectives and Key Results to Get Big Things Done" is available at https://youareastrategist.com 
• Other Free No-BS OKRs Resources: Access all free resources
• Thinkydoers (not-just-an OKR podcast) Home Page: https://saralobkovich.com/thinkydoers-pod

• Newsletter: findrc.co/newsletter
• Contact: findrc.co/contact
• Email Sara at hello@redcurrantco.com
• Social Media: @saralobkovich most everywhere!

Mentioned in this episode:

Don't forget: Get your free No-BS OKRs Workbook or schedule a VIP Strategy...

Ever feel like you're speaking a different language than your colleagues when presenting your ideas? Or, like a square peg in your work? Do you feel like you're trying to read minds to understand what's expected of you, while your co-workers are just humming along doing their work? 

Or, do you lead people who that describes well?

In this powerful episode, Sara Lobkovich reveals why the very qualities that might make some people feel like an outsider at work—being "too analytical" or "too detail-oriented"—could actually be their greatest strategic strengths (and a tremendous asset to the organizations they work within).

In today's Thinkydoers short, hear a preview of the Introduction to Sara's upcoming book: 

You Are A Strategist: Use No-BS Objectives and Key Results to Get Big Things Done

"You Are A Strategist" isn't just another theoretical strategy book. It's a practical playbook for people who think differently about work and want to make real change happen. Through frameworks like the Connected Strategic One-Pager and No-BS OKRs, you'll discover how to transform your strategic insights into clear, compelling direction that others can actually follow, without getting lost in politics or burning out.

Drawing from her experience training over 2,000 OKR coaches across more than 300 organizations globally, Sara shares a human-centered approach to strategy that works for everyone—not just those with traditional business backgrounds or positions of power. Whether you're in the C-Suite, a chief of staff, a program manager, a product manager, a project lead, department director, or high-performing individual contributor (or beyond!), this episode will help you unlock your inner strategist and make your unique impact.

• Why being "strategic" isn't about being smart or having a specific job title
• The five key questions that identify strategic thinkers
• How to recognize and empower strategic thinkers in your organization
• Why ideas alone aren't enough in today's business environment
• Introduction to Connected Strategic One-sheet and No-BS OKRs
• The science behind goal-setting and motivation

[00:00] Introduction to Thinkydoer Shorts

[00:39] Introduction to You Are A Strategist

[01:28] Dedication and Audience

[01:53] Identifying Strategists

[02:25] Challenges and Misconceptions

[04:29] Defining Strategy and Strategists

[10:17] The Role of Ideas in Strategy

[12:18] Implementing Strategic Goals

[19:39] The Connected Strategic One Sheet and No BS OKRs

[26:57] Conclusion and Next Steps

Episode Highlights:

• Generative AI in OKRs: why draft quality is improving, but real strategic impact is still lagging behind
• TRV (Technology Realized Value): the Big Five’s new metric for linking OKRs to actual tech investment outcomes
• The “Two Lists” Problem: how teams are secretly working off dual strategies—and why it’s undermining OKR focus
• Cascading and Localization: evolving models for aligning across global teams, even amid geopolitical complexity
• Culture-First OKRs: tailoring implementation to readiness, from transformation-driven overhauls to scrappy gradual rollouts
• Retrospectives that matter: how deeper reflection—not just review—builds quarter-over-quarter OKR maturity

Key Concepts Explored:

• Generative AI in OKRs: Where it's accelerating strategy work, where it's falling short, and the risk of generic, uncontextualized models
• Technology Realized Value (TRV): A new metric used alongside OKRs to measure the tangible impact of tech investments
• The “Two Lists” Problem: How parallel strategic workstreams outside the OKR framework dilute focus and undermine accountability
• Localization & Alignment: Why clear, bottom-up contribution is critical in global, matrixed organizations—especially in high-stakes geopolitical climates
• Culture-Responsive Implementation: Tailoring OKR rollouts based on organizational readiness, risk appetite, and transformation goals
• Iterative Learning over Perfection: Why OKR maturity builds quarter over quarter—and how learning from retrospectives is more valuable than writing the “perfect” OKR
• Leading vs. Lagging Indicators: The power of AI to help surface potential leading indicators clients may struggle to define on their own
• Transformation & Change Management: How OKRs, when paired with transformation strategy, become powerful drivers of organizational evolution

Notable Quotes:

"Is this really driving the value you wanted to achieve? How do you know who cares? So what happens if this is done or not done? These things that don't get asked are so critically important to make sure that people are focused on the right work." — Natalie Webb [00:12:00]

"If I could only tell clients one thing about OKRs, it would be we spend all of our time focused on writing them and then way too little time focused on learning from them." — Sara Lobkovich [00:23:00]

"I think the best way to use OKRs initially is always the way that the company is willing and able to adopt it. Me talking about the gold star way of doing OKRs isn't gonna help clients that are at the crawling level and not a hundred percent convinced yet." — Maria Rowcliffe [00:21:00]

"OKRs are really hard. We're talking about change - really hard for people to stick with when it gets challenging." — Sara Lobkovich [00:28:00]

Chapters:

[00:00:00] Introduction:...

Episode Highlights:

• Carrie’s journey with social anxiety and building inclusive, "quiet" communities
• Belonging without active participation—research and real-life insights
• Using bodily awareness and boundaries to stay grounded as a community creator
• Self-leadership and support systems to prevent burnout in community work
• Practical tips for both hosts and participants to feel more confident and aligned

Key Concepts Explored:

• Self-Regulation in Online Spaces: How digital communities offer spaces for thoughtful connection for introverts and neurodivergent people.
• Quiet Communities: Community spaces that don't demand constant engagement and allow people to participate on their own terms.
• Meaningful Engagement vs. Engagement for Engagement's Sake: The importance of connecting community activities to purpose and growth rather than arbitrary metrics.
• Body Awareness as Community Evaluation: Using physical reactions and feelings as guidance for whether a community is a good fit.
• Belonging Without Participation: Research findings on how affiliation alone can create a sense of belonging without requiring active involvement.
• Self-Leadership in Community Building: Managing internal dialogues and anxieties that arise when creating and managing communities.
• Community as Healing Practice: How creating spaces for others can help heal our own relationship to connection.
• Distributed Leadership: Inviting others' contributions rather than trying to do everything yourself.
• Community Building as a Long Game: The importance of patience and persistence in both building and participating in communities.

Notable Quotes:

"If there's a place that you wish existed... why not be the person that starts that?"

— Carrie Melissa Jones [00:13:00]

"You cannot do it alone. It's not a solo activity. To really create a community, you've got to see, recognize, and invite in the gifts of others and others' contributions."

— Carrie Melissa Jones[00:42:32] - [00:42:54]

I start everything I do scared and then once you get rolling it gets fun. Nothing starts fun. Everything starts with anxiety.

— Sara Lobkovich [00:46:45]

Chapters:

[00:00:00] Introduction and Meet Carrie Melissa Jones

[00:05:51] Social Anxiety and Career: Turning Challenges into Expertise

[00:11:22] Redefining Community: "Quiet Communities" and Meaningful Engagement

[00:15:38] Challenging the "Not a Joiner" Identity and Finding Your Fit

[00:19:53] Body Awareness: Using Physical Responses as Your Community Guide

[00:25:32] Advice for Shy Community Creators: Boundaries and Sustainability

[00:29:42] Research Insights: Belonging Without Active Participation

[00:39:03] Self-Leadership and Distributed Responsibility in Community Building

[00:44:30] Practical Pre-Launch Strategies and "Doing It Scared"

[00:48:10] The Long Game: Advice for Participants, Hosts, and Closing Thoughts

Upcoming Events:

• Q3 Strategic Achievement Intensive is now waitlisting!...

In this episode, I sit down with Maggie Patterson, creator of BS-Free Business and author of "Staying Solo," to explore why so much business advice isn't designed for businesses like yours. We dive into Maggie's "real-life rule" — if it doesn't work for your real life (with all your caregiving responsibilities, mental health considerations, and actual capacity constraints), it doesn't work in your business.

Discover why being strategically wired can be a detriment as an employee but an asset as a solo business owner, learn how to build around your actual capacity instead of your maximum capacity, and find out why the best work you'll do might just be the work that feels easy.

Episode Highlights:

• Why so much small business advice recreates the same toxic patterns we tried to leave behind in corporate life
• How manipulative marketing tactics—like income claims and pain-point selling—harm solo business owners
• Why neurodivergent and introverted people often thrive as entrepreneurs after struggling in traditional workplaces
• The “real-life rule”: building your business around actual capacity, not fantasy capacity
• How being strategically wired can feel like a liability in corporate life but becomes a superpower in solo business
• Why the most sustainable businesses are often the simplest—lean, drama-free, and built to last

Key Concepts Explored:

• The "real-life rule": building business around actual capacity and constraints rather than fantasy versions of ourselves
• The neurodivergent advantage in solo business: creating accommodations for yourself that corporate environments can't provide
• Strategic brain blindness: how strategically-wired people undervalue their most marketable assets
• The employee detriment of strategic thinking: why strategic minds struggle in corporate but thrive as entrepreneurs
• The paradox of easy work: why the highest-value, most enjoyable work should feel effortless when you're truly skilled
• Income claim marketing and pain point manipulation vs. empathetic connection in business communication
• Lesser of evils decision-making: sustainable business choices for people with anxiety, ADHD, and mental health challenges
• Simplicity as competitive advantage: lean operations, minimal services, and building incrementally rather than perfectly
• Right-sizing dreams and expectations to prevent business-induced breakdown during caregiving and life challenges
• Neurodivergent entrepreneurship as affirmation: self-employment as refuge for those who don't fit traditional work culture

Common Questions Answered:

• How can I build a business that works with my ADHD/anxiety/neurodivergence?
• Why do I struggle with traditional business advice?
• Is self-employment viable for introverts and strategic thinkers?
• How do I build for my real capacity instead of my maximum capacity?
• Why does my strategic thinking feel undervalued in corporate environments?

Notable Quotes:

"So much of online business is built on this fantasy version of yourself—someone with endless time, endless energy, endless capacity. And it just doesn’t exist." – Maggie Patterson [00:05:00]

"We left corporate because it didn’t fit—but then we build businesses that are just as extractive, just as harmful, just as unsustainable." – Maggie Patterson [00:07:00]

"If it doesn’t work in your real life—with your caregiving, your...

Episode Highlights:

• The two questions that define “masterpiece leadership:” What always goes wrong in your industry, and what would you love to do instead?
• How to distinguish between dissenters (who sharpen your vision) and betrayers (who undermine it).
• Why naysayers are often a sign that you’re taking the right kinds of risks.
• The neurodivergent advantage: spotting injustices and anomalies others overlook.
• Practical strategies for pushing through despair when moral risks don’t pay off right away.
• Justice sensitivity as a leadership strength—and how it positions you to create businesses worth falling in love with.

Key Concepts Explored:

• Passion as a defining force that fuels resilience and long-term transformation
• The Two-Question Framework that separates masterpiece creators from managers
• Moral risk-taking: why changing norms will always feel “wrong” at first
• Betrayers vs. dissenters—and why dissent is essential for progress
• Truth-seeking platforms that go beyond psychological safety to real intellectual conflict
• Post-truth business culture and the limits of data without human truth
• Justice sensitivity as a leadership advantage for transformational change
• The neurodivergent edge in spotting anomalies and injustices others miss
• Moral artistry: making solutions not just right, but beautiful
• Fighting through despair and returning to core beliefs during setbacks
• Awe and wonder as signals you’re on the right path
• A systemic change strategy for moving from easy wins to bold transformations

Common Questions Answered:

• How can you take moral risks without putting your career in jeopardy?
• What separates managers from masterpiece creators?
• How should leaders handle team resistance to moral change?

Notable Quotes:

"What do people say leadership is these days? They say leadership is influence. I'm saying no. Leadership is taking moral risks to establish morally distinctive masterpieces. So I'm overturning a lot of norms. Of course there are gonna people who hate that." – Charles Spinosa [00:34:19]

"So if I'm not hearing from naysayers, I might not be taking as much risk as I think I am, or as much risk as I could in pursuing a defining passion. That hearing from critics and naysayers says you're doing something different enough for people to have naysaying to do about it." – Sara Lobkovich [00:33:18]

"Always be sensitive to what's going wrong in your organization. And don't forget to ask what you would love instead. And try to make the solutions you offer beautiful." – Charles Spinosa [00:32:57]

"So if you're a leader,...

In this episode, we're diving deep into why traditional goal-setting methods fail so many of us—especially neurodivergent folks and anyone who doesn't fit the conventional mold. Zeph introduces their revolutionary SLIC method (Sustainable, Long-term, Iterative, Consistent) and shares why self-care isn't optional—it's strategic. But the real magic happens when we land on a beautiful reframe that might just change how you think about achievement forever.

Want to see how No-BS OKRs fit into a coherent Connected Strategic Stack?

This No-BS Connected Strategy Guide shows you what “good” looks like. Download examples of finished Connected Strategic Stacks — including best practice No-BS OKRs — and get instant clarity on your next strategic step. Includes a quick self-assessment to pinpoint your organization’s biggest OKR opportunities.

GET THE GUIDE

Episode Highlights:

• Why SMART goals create a restrictive binary that crushes creativity and exploration
• The semantic problems with SMART goal terminology that create confusion and ambiguity
• How "specific" goals create tunnel vision that blocks curiosity and the learning journey
• The SLIC Method: Sustainable, Long-term, Iterative, and Consistent goal-setting
• Why self-care isn't selfish—it's a strategic foundation for sustainable success
• How to reconnect with your body through micro-practices and energy tracking
• The role of grace and compassion when breaking free from binary thinking
• What "queering" business practices means and why it's for everyone
• The beautiful reframe from "goal setting" to "becoming"—asking "What am I becoming?"
• Why consistency means showing up as your needs allow, not the same way every day
• How traditional goal-setting often leads to self-abandonment and disconnection from the body

Key Concepts Explored:

• The binary nature of SMART goals and why they create a restrictive pass/fail mentality
• The SLIC Method as an alternative: Sustainable, Long-term, Iterative, and Consistent goal-setting
• Self-care as a radical act of rebellion against systems that devalue your worth
• "Queering" business practices to move beyond traditional binary frameworks
• The shift from "goal setting" to "becoming" as a more expansive approach to growth
• Body-based awareness and reconnecting with somatic needs during goal pursuit
• Why consistency means showing up according to your capacity, not rigid daily habits

Common Questions Answered:

• Why do SMART goals feel so restrictive and overwhelming?
• What makes the SLIC method different from traditional goal-setting?
• How do you start reconnecting with your body if you feel disconnected?
• What does "queering" goal setting actually mean?
• How do you define consistency without burning out?
• Why is self-care considered strategic rather than selfish?

Notable Quotes:

"SMART goals are very binary. You either succeed or you fail. And I'm not somebody who does the binary very well." - Zeph Williams [00:03:00]

"When I hear 'specific,' it feels like a narrowing down... You don't get to enjoy the journey and enjoying the...

Together, they explore how breathwork can offer a more accessible entry point for overthinkers and busy brains. Instead of forcing stillness, breathwork gives the mind something active to focus on — what Chauna compares to “giving your brain an iPad” to occupy it — while the body does its own work.

They also talk about how breathwork differs from traditional meditation, why it’s particularly helpful for people with trauma histories, and how starting small (even just two breaths or two minutes) can be helpful.

If mindfulness has ever felt like it wasn’t made for your kind of mind, this episode is for you.

Episode Highlights:

• Why breathwork succeeds where traditional meditation fails for many people
• The difference between activating and calming breathwork techniques
• How to start a somatic practice when you're resistant to body-based work
• Trauma-informed approaches to breathwork and nervous system regulation
• The power of "titration" - starting with just 2 minutes instead of diving in
• Why consent and agency are crucial in breathwork practice
• Understanding breathwork as "nervous system pushups" for stress resilience

Key Concepts Explored:

• Conscious connected breathing and three-part breath techniques
• The origins and cultural lineages of breathwork practices
• How breathwork allows nonverbal processing of emotions and trauma
• The importance of finding trauma-informed, skilled practitioners
• Why patience becomes "your first form of body connection"

Common Questions Answered:

• What exactly is breathwork and how is it different from meditation?
• How can I start if I'm resistant to body-based practices?
• Is breathwork safe for people with trauma history?
• What should I expect from my first breathwork experience?

Notable Quotes:

“Breathwork gives the brain something to do. It’s just weird enough that it helps the body start to process what we’ve shelved or ignored.” — Chauna Bryant [00:04:00]

“Whatever you’re doing, try like a minute. Try two minutes. Give it two minutes and then get out. That’s the way to start to build that body connection.” — Chauna Bryant [00:14:00]

“For a lot of us with busy brains, patience is going to be our first form of body connection.” — Chauna Bryant [00:16:00]

“Just let the experience exist without having to slap words on it.” — Chauna Bryant [00:31:00]

“In breathwork, you get to choose as much or as little as you do—and whatever you choose, you’ll be cheered on fiercely.” — Chauna Bryant [00:34:00]

Chapters:

[00:00:00] Introduction: Welcome to Thinkydoers and Meet Chauna Bryant

[00:02:00] What is Breathwork? Active Meditation for Busy Brains

[00:05:00] Origins and Cultural Lineages of Breathwork Practices

[00:06:00] From Brain-Centered to Body-Aware: Sara and Chauna's Common Ground

[00:08:00] Chauna's Journey: From Gymnast to "Least Chill Meditation Teacher"

[00:11:00] The Meditation Failure and Discovering Breathwork

[00:12:00] Getting Started: Overcoming Resistance to Somatic Practices

[00:15:00] Perfectionism and All-or-Nothing Thinking in Body

From leaders trying to weaponize OKRs as surveillance tools to the popular (but problematic) advice to limit teams to just one strategic priority, this conversation will challenge norms you might not be able to imagine actually exist out there.

You'll discover why monthly check-ins might mean you're tracking instead of managing, how geography is shaping OKR strategy differently across continents, and why Excel is making a surprising comeback in the enterprise. Plus, Sara drops a financial metrics hot take that might make your CFO squirm.

This isn't your typical goal-setting advice. It's three veteran practitioners sharing what they're really seeing in the field, complete with the controversies, contradictions, and hard-won insights that only come from years in the trenches.

Episode Highlights:

• Quarterly vs. Trimesterly Planning: why the Q4 “drop-off” is real—and how cadence choices impact OKR adoption across teams
• Biweekly Reinforcement Loops: how one leadership team’s consistent review rhythm is accelerating organization-wide buy-in
• Tool Sprawl & Excel Resurgence: why many orgs are ditching premium OKR platforms for scrappier, process-first setups
• When Tools Hurt More Than Help: the danger of letting project management tools define your key results
• Hot Takes on OKRs: financial metrics don’t belong in key results (and one-size-fits-all “just one OKR” advice? Hard pass)
• Big Brother OKRs?: pushing back when leadership wants to use OKRs for surveillance instead of strategy
• Q3 Preview: a deep dive on execution, achievement—and how to actually decide what OKR tooling makes sense for your org

Key Concepts Explored:

• Hybrid Localization Approaches
• Leadership sets objectives, teams shape Key Results
• Themes as bridges when objectives don't translate locally
• KRs and Sub-KRs for fast-moving Scrum teams
• Moving away from rigid objective cascading
• Timing Model Evolution
• Biweekly check-ins integrated with Scrum cycles
• The discipline of at least twice-weekly KR management
• Quarterly vs. trimester cycle trade-offs
• Event-triggered OKR adjustments for volatile environments
• Tool Integration Strategies
• Process-first, tool-second implementation approach
• Excel resurgence due to cost considerations
• Avoiding dueling OKR and project management platforms
• Recognition that L1 and L2 math doesn't require specialty software
• Controversial Practices and Hot Takes
• OKRs as surveillance tools (problematic)
• Arbitrary "one OKR only" mandates (counterproductive)
• Financial metrics as KPIs vs. Key Results (contentious)
• Project deliverables masquerading as OKRs (misleading)

Notable Quotes:

"If you have a KR that you only manage monthly, you are not managing it, you're tracking it. Because you essentially have two data points, and then the quarter is over." — Maria Rowcliffe [00:06:00]

"Once we learn the words and leadership is modeling the words and meanings, then the rigidity can come out of the framework." — Sara Lobkovich [00:04:00]

"Financial metrics belong in mandatories and budgets. They're KPIs, they aren't key results." — Sara Lobkovich [00:15:00]

"Bad news only gets worse with time. So the earlier they can