CC360 Blog

Yes – I made up that word. It’s a nod to an intriguing concept initially identified by Dr. Conrad Waddington (1905-1975): Epigenetics. The word brings together “epigenesis” (the formation of a complex organism from a single unit) and “genetics” (study of inherited characteristics) to represent the influence of the genetic

What if we asked ourselves better questions? The life we live – and the courage available for traversing life’s journey – is directly correlated with the quality of the questions we ask ourselves (and thus the answers upon which we land). When we realize life is a multiple-choice test AND

“I just don’t have enough discipline.” Nope. Sorry. That’s not the problem. This default statement is a bit like the popular “humblebrag” (feigning humility to highlight an accomplishment). We appear to take responsibility but – knowingly or otherwise – we instead blameshift to this mystical D force we call discipline.

“We may come from different places, yet the journey’s much the same. For all us restless souls who live to chase a dying flame. And we share the same old struggles and rejections along the path. But we hit that road running and dare that road to hit us back”

On July 4th, 1776, the Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, setting in motion these United States of America. Intriguingly, the founders were wise enough to – prior to the declaration – set in motion the Articles of the Confederation, the rules they would agree to follow and

“Freedom is only part of the story and half the truth… That is why I recommend the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast be supplanted by a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast” (Victor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning) Good to Great (by Jim Collins) took center stage

How did I get here? The path on which I started has become flooded with unexpecteds, eventually pulling me beneath the surface. I pop back up, desperate for air… Unable to see the shore, my hope soon fades to darkness. I’m drowning, helpless to move forward, awaiting the inevitable as

“The value of dreams is not that they give a specific answer, but that they open up new areas of reality, shake us out of our customary ruts, and throw light on a new segment of our lives” (Rollo May, The Courage to Create) How do dreams – whether visiting

A good book goes untouched by hyperbole. We hold in our hands a veritable treasure trove of insights composed by the world’s greatest minds, a work of art often involving years – or decades! – of their lives. Descartes reminds us reading a good book is the equivalent of a

“We struggle with Non-being to force it to yield Being. We knock upon silence for an answering music.” (Archibald MacLeish, Poetry and Experience) Did you know what I was going to write in today’s column before reading it? A 2019 study demonstrated over 50% of word selection in our social

“Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between stimulus & response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we wish to throw our weight” (Rollo May, The Courage to Create) What if – within that very pause, we were to develop a plan – an objective

“Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they are finished” (Daniel Gilbert) Have you been caught up in the net of the longevity craze yet? Perhaps “craze” isn’t the best choice of words, realizing Greek historian Herodotus wrote about the Fountain of Youth a few years back (5th

What is holding me back? It’s a question we all face at some point – maybe now is that point for you. As we look in the proverbial – or literal – mirror and consider our personal, professional, or athletic potential, we know we’re better than our outcomes represent. But

On the afternoon of August 28, 1963, with a quarter million people in attendance, Dr. Martin Luther King was working his way through the speech he’d composed with advisor Clarence Jones when everything changed. African-American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, sitting just a few yards to his left, shouted “Tell them

I can get a bit stuck in my ways at times, but I made a discovery in the past year that has been literally life-changing. It’s turned stressful activities into enjoyable ones… improved my daily nutrition… reduced my alcohol intake… expanded my retention of books I’m reading… enhanced the time

Anchoring is a form of cognitive bias inherent in each of us where we “anchor” our perspective based heavily on some form of initial information. This then influences future judgments due to placing too much value in the initial anchor. In our daily lives, anchoring locks us into the past

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” No surprise that statement is attributed to the person many identify as the greatest philosopher the world has ever known: Aristotle. What you may be surprised to learn is that Aristotle, despite all he brought

Motivation sells. Posters, action-hero films, heart-pumping playlists, YouTube speeches, books, podcasts and more, motivation is the caffeine of positive movement forward. It’s the lightning before the thunder… the (positive) shock to our system… the lift, boost, and jumpstart to make things happen!! Back in college, my role as an athletic

Simplicity is at the heart of an effective wellness strategy – both for individuals and organizations. Over the 18 years since Catalyst was launched, the successful pattern has been crystal clear: Simplicity wins the day. As individuals, we love to chase the headlines and fads, but it (almost) ALWAYS comes

Listen intently to the words your friend, partner, child or others select when willing to go beyond surface level conversation. In doing so, you’re likely to garner access to a treasure-trove of insights, oftentimes those of which even they are not aware. The way in which we describe ourselves (“I’m

“It’s like there’s a clock ticking non-stop inside my head.” Time can be an immensely valuable asset… and simultaneously a veritable prison of constraints. Awareness allows us to optimize our days… while trapping us into the never-ending task of pursuing such optimization. It provides foundational structure on which we can

Living below our means and investing the difference is a proven strategy for financial success. Witnessing the transformative power of compounding interest, as demonstrated by Forbes, where saving $100/month turns into over half a million dollars in 40 years, makes it easier to reconsider our spending habits. But what if

We’re all familiar with the drawbacks of procrastination – the rushed work, the impact on teamwork and family dynamics, and the toll on health from last-minute, caffeine-fueled efforts. But what about its seemingly virtuous counterpart, PREcrastination? The individual who sets artificially early, sometimes excessively early, deadlines to ensure tasks are

Ah yes – the well-known benefits of olive oil. Various studies indicate benefits ranging from heart health and reduced stroke risk to anti-inflammatory properties and a boost in antioxidants. Sounds almost magical, right? As someone who’s automated the “big salad with a protein source” lunchtime meal, ever since a buddy

1%. During a recent interview on the Catalyst 360 podcast, we were reminded that’s the approximate loss of muscle mass most of the population loses each year after the age of 40. Except it’s rarely phrased as such. Typically we are told we “lose 10% a decade” or that by

What’s triggering me? When I get upset, discouraged, stressed OR excited, energized, joy-filled, what is the precursor to those emotions? Simply pausing to ask the question can be of great value, perhaps not in changing that particular moment but certainly to provide many enhanced future moments. Last year, we introduced

What a whirlwind of a year it’s been on the global stage! From the advent of AI to political turmoil, stock market rollercoasters, and conflicts spanning the globe, external events have kept us on our toes. While these external factors undeniably affect us all, it’s essential not to be oblivious

In the world of weekdays, Mondays often (always!) find themselves at the bottom of the popularity charts. Memes humorously highlight the Monday blues, and surveys consistently rank it as the least favored day. We’ve even suggested a Sunday night self-check to assess our feelings about the impending workweek. It’s almost

Welcome to the dawn of a new year, a canvas painted with the promise of fresh beginnings and untapped opportunities. However, as we embark on this journey, it’s crucial to recognize the subtle algorithms we create within ourselves—distinct from the ones that govern our social media feeds. These personal algorithms,

This is “that” week. The week when many of us are either off work or at least working a modified schedule. The week heading into the fresh start of the new year. The week when our schedules provide more flexibility (and perhaps more sleep), our minds are free to dream,

Week after week after week we focus on the 4 Cornerstones: Move – Fuel – Rest – Connect. Enhance any of these 4 and you’ll not only improve your wellbeing (and life!) but you’ll also automate improvements across the other three. The first 3 and the steps forward tend to

In the world of health, wellness & performance, everyone’s got an angle – a schtick – they claim is the magic solution to the life you’ve been dreaming about. Maybe it’s a specific diet, a new cream, fitness equipment, training plan, spa escape, motivational video, 7 step strategy, treatment approach…

I’ve long believed that the true value in refraining from certain colorful expressions is not so much about condemning these words but rather more about the verbal laziness they demonstrate on the part of the user, as we noted in this 60 second clip. However, our word choices go much

It’s the week leading up to the most anticipated holiday of the year! Yes, indeed, Thanksgiving has now taken the top spot in popularity here in the United States. For many people (as recent surveys suggest, around 79% of Americans), this holiday offers precious moments to spend with family and

The attention on New Year’s Resolutions may not kick in for another 7 weeks, but did you know THIS WEEK is (at least as far as we’re concerned) National Resolutions Launch Week?? Indeed! Coop – what in the world are you talking about? It’s the first week of November. My

As I sit here at my keyboard, my gaze lands upon a cherished gift from our daughter, Danielle, and a smile graces my lips. It’s a framed collection of precious family memories, and what strikes me is that six out of the ten featured moments revolve around sporting and athletic

Autopilot, the silent conductor of our lives, wields both incredible power and perilous influence over our health, wellness, and performance. Paradoxically, it holds the key to both our ascent and our downfall. These two seemingly contradictory statements are a testament to the dual nature of autopilot, often overlooked by many.

A recent guest on the Catalyst 360 podcast left me pleasantly surprised when he used a unique choice of words to describe a significant transition in his life: graduation. Our conversation had nothing to do with school; rather, we were discussing what most people would commonly refer to as “retirement”

We continue our BE-coming journey by tuning into our default modes and identifying potential guardrails, both critical keys to the process. In doing so, we’re going to tap into another famous journey: the Odyssey. Written by Homer in the 7th or 8th century BC, it remains one of the oldest