The OptimalWork Podcast

322. How to Actually Follow Through on Your Plans

#322: A great plan can end with nothing changing. Kevin and Sharif explore the missing link between knowing what to do and actually doing it: command, the culminating act

321. Work With AI Without Sacrificing Your Growth

#321: AI can produce better work in seconds—but what happens to the person doing the work? Kevin and Sharif explore the hidden cost of outsourcing challenges that build s

320. How to Want to Do the Hard Thing

#320: What turns “I have to do this” into “I want to do this”—especially when the task is difficult? Kevin and Sharif explore how deeper judgment transforms an apparent l

319. Why Bad Decisions Can Feel Reasonable

#319: Fear can make a difficulty seem insurmountable; desire can make getting what we want seem like all that matters. Kevin and Sharif explore how both can distort under

318. Prudence, Fast and Slow

#318: How do people make good decisions without getting trapped by their first impression? Sharif and Kevin explore the first act of prudence—counsel—and why clear thinki

317. How a Good Decision Becomes an Action

#317: In this episode, Sharif and Kevin explore prudence as the virtue behind good decision-making — not simply knowing what to do, but discerning what truly serves the p

[Rebroadcast] Professional Humility IV: Stonewalling

#316: Dr. John Gottman identifies four stages in the breakdown of a relationship: defensiveness, criticism, stonewalling, and ultimately contempt. Each of these reflects

[Rebroadcast] Professional Humility III: Critical Spirit

#315: Dr. John Gottman identifies four stages in the breakdown of a relationship: defensiveness, criticism, stonewalling, and ultimately contempt. Each of these reflects

[Rebroadcast] Professional Humility II: Defensiveness

#314: Dr. John Gottman describes four stages in the breakdown of a relationship: first defensiveness, then criticism, then stonewalling, and finally contempt. Each of the

[Rebroadcast] Professional Humility I: The Core Elements

#313: In this episode of the OptimalWork Podcast, Sharif and Dr. Kevin Majeres delve into the significance of humility in leadership and team dynamics. They explore the c

[Rebroadcast] Navigating Challenges with Extreme Ownership

#312: In this episode, Sharif and Dr. Kevin Majeres discuss the concept of Extreme Ownership, as introduced and developed by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. Willink and Bab

[Rebroadcast] Developing Mastery IV: The Optimizing Stage

#311: In this installment of our series on mastery, Sharif and Dr. Kevin Majeres explore the third and final stage: the optimizing stage. The optimizing stage of mastery

[Rebroadcast] Developing Mastery III: The Implicit Stage

#310: In this episode, Sharif and Dr. Kevin Majeres explore the second of the three phases of mastery: the implicit phase of mastery. This phase is the most dangerous, be

[Rebroadcast] Developing Mastery II: The Explicit Stage

#309: In this episode, Sharif and Dr. Kevin Majeres delve into the concept of mastery, focusing on its explicit phase. Broadly, mastery has three forms: mastery over a te

[Rebroadcast] Developing Mastery I: The Three Stages

#308: In this episode, Sharif and Dr. Kevin Majeres explore the concept of mastery, its relationship to service, and the neuroscience behind it. We can distinguish betwee

[Rebroadcast] How Breath Shapes Mind and Body

#307: Sharif and Dr. Kevin Majeres delve into the significance of breath in regulation attention and managing anxiety. One of the most interesting advances in the underst

[Rebroadcast] How to Let Go of Your Worries

#306: In this episode, Sharif and Dr. Kevin Majeres discuss the importance of learning how to self-regulate your attention. We often try to address distraction and worryi

[Rebroadcast] Mastering Your Attention to Work Optimally

#305: In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss the importance of attention for working at your best. Understanding how your attention works — especially the

[Rebroadcast] How to Approach Anxiety

#304: In this episode, Dr. Kevin Majeres and Sharif discuss OptimalWork's recently launched anxiety course called Overcoming Anxiety. Having the proper attitude toward an

[Rebroadcast] The Ultimate Guide to Complaining

#303: Complaining is very tempting. When experiencing difficulty, it can seem helpful to vent our frustration. But chronic complaining can hinder the development of genui