Transitioning from Static Roles to Adaptive Project Portfolios and Cognitive Flexibility In this episode of CoolTimeLife, we explore why traditional résumés and job titles are rapidly losing value in an AI‑accelerated workplace — and what you can do today to future‑proof your career. Instead of defining yourself by a static role, it’s time to build an adaptive project portfolio and a capability stack that highlights problem‑solving, learning velocity, and cognitive flexibilit

Forget trust. Dismiss instinct. Gap it instead. This is a crucial message for anyone navigating today’s high-risk digital world - not just yourself and co-workers, but your family too: Don’t trust. Gap It instead. With phishing attacks, social engineering scams, and emotional manipulation on the rise, your best defense isn’t a new antivirus software, it’s your brain. Or more precisely, your ability to teach your brain to overrule instinct and pause and think before reacting.

Why Smart People Still Fall for Fake Messages - and How to Protect Yourself Thinking up passwords is a chore. Two factor authentication is complicated. And hacking and data breaches? They'll never happen to us. That's for the biggest of the big companies. Wrong on all counts. The practice of securing passwords, accounts and devices, is straightforward and easy. It's also vital. Not just at work, but at home, too. We are all connected - like a global game of six degrees of sep

How the 55-Minute Rule Can Revolutionize Your Workday Meetings – whether in person or online – are notorious time wasters, often plagued by late starts, irrelevant discussions, and a lack of clear outcomes. There’s a better way, which I call the 55-Minute Meeting. This approach offers practical solutions to reclaim productivity, minimize stress, and maximize the effectiveness of meetings, by connecting with people’s motivations and physiology rather than the agenda. I use th

People just don’t have the time for meetings of an hour or more, but there are better ways. Listen to the podcast at our podcast host, Blubrry.com, or find it on your platform of choice, including iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, iHeart, and YouTube. Transcript One of the most valuable parts of a person’s career comes through the opportunity of meeting others through events. Many events will teach you something about your business, but they will also give you an extremely v

The Challenges and Bright Future for Those Wired for the Night Night owls have always had a tough time working in an environment designed by and made for “morning people.” Why are some people aligned to a later body clock and what does the new normal hold for them? It’s good news. Listen to the podcast at our podcast host, Blubrry.com, or find it on your platform of choice, including iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, iHeart, and YouTube. Transcript One of the first jobs I got

AI is evolving faster than any technology in history, and many people feel overwhelmed by the pressure to keep up. In this episode of CoolTimeLife, we look at why AI fatigue is so common — and why you don’t need to master every new tool to stay relevant. You’ll learn eight simple habits that will keep you in the game to create a sustainable path forward. This is the transcript to the podcast. You can also listen to it on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | Audible | iHeart |

How Human Reflex Stands In The Way Of Digital Transformation Hidden behind the term "digital transformation" is the word “change,” but this doesn't sit well with most people, because change represents a threat that strikes at the heart of our greatest fear – losing our job. This is even more prescient in this era of AI. Listen to the podcast at our podcast host, Blubrry.com, or find it on your platform of choice, including iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, iHeart, and YouTube

In today’s fast-paced business environment, delivering comfort is one of the most overlooked yet transformative aspects of customer service and relationship-building. In this episode of CoolTimeLife, I explore the profound impact that comfort can have on both personal and professional interactions, making it an essential tool for success. This episode explores how comfort differs from satisfaction, why it must precede satisfaction, and how it serves as a currency for building

For decades, companies have been spending money on culture and training and have very little to show for it. Why? Because they have been going about it all wrong. They have been ignoring the concept that Drew Jones and others call “the collective brain” which is more organic, a lot easier, and tends to stick a whole lot more easily. Listen to the podcast on your platform of choice, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, iHeart, and YouTube. Transcript Steve Let's

Have you ever thought of the word office as a verb? When you do, it changes everything, shining a light on the work we do rather than the place we do it. This is just one of many great ideas presented by futurist Bob Johansen in his new book, Office Shock. In this conversation, he shares his views on the future of work, the impact of AI on careers, the way we handle change, and much more, all through the lens of his special brand of future-back thinking. Listen to the podcast

Much has been written about great leaders, but what happens when a leader starts to poison the well? Some leaders simply do not have the right people skills, some are only in it for themselves and others actually see a merit in appearing as a saint while ruling through fear and oppression behind closed doors. It only takes one person with one drop of poison to cause enormous and lasting damage to an organization. My guest, Sean Lemson, is an expert in spotting and fixing the

Barbie Brewer has been instrumental in establishing successful hybrid work environments. Here's what she recommends for leaders who are struggling with the concept of hybrid work at their own locations. Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon | Audible | iHeart | YouTube Transcript Steve The ideological battle between the hybrid work movement and the return to the office movement continues. There's a social media

How Human Reflex Stands In The Way Of Digital Transformation Hidden behind the term "digital transformation" is the word “change,” but this doesn't sit well with most people, because change represents a threat that strikes at the heart of our greatest fear – losing our job. This is even more prescient in this era of AI. This is the transcript to the podcast. You can also listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, iHeart, and YouTube. Transcript I will confess t

In June 2023, FORTUNE magazine published a piece entitled "Bosses are fed up with remote work for four main reasons. Some of them are undeniable." Well, I'm going to deny them. This is the transcript to the podcast. You can also listen to it on g Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, iHeart, and YouTube. The FORTUNE piece is just one of hundreds that come out every week on the topic of hybrid work, and they tend to flip back and forth, pro or con on the subject, often wit

There’s a big difference between “remote work” teams and “distributed teams,” and this has as much to do with workplace innovation as with how the team members interact from their separate locations. Author Alberto Silveira chats with me about his book and his career to date, and he provides timely advice on how to build successful companies by employing people who work somewhere other than the office. This is the transcript to the podcast. You can also listen to it on iAppl

A career never should be a clear, straight highway laid out by someone else for you to follow. This is increasingly true in this age where career mobility and self determination are more valuable and more appreciated than ever. But it does help to listen to trusted mentors and friends, people who have traveled this road themselves. There are so many additional items your passions, the people you meet, chance encounters and a commitment to your own self worth that are vital an

A look at how Generative AI is becoming a powerful tool for boosting human motivation, unleashing creativity, and reducing the fear of failure. This thought-provoking narrative that looks at the emotional side of creativity. Steve makes the case that the real value of generative AI lies not in replacing human effort, but in enhancing confidence, reducing creative blocks, and providing a safe, judgment-free space for people to try new ideas. Whether writing a song, designing a

In my latest episode of the CoolTimeLife podcast, I look at the often-overlooked productivity paradox of generative AI. Can AI really deliver on its promise of increased efficiency, or are we just creating more work for ourselves? Hint: have you ever heard of the term “induced demand?” This is the transcript to the podcast. You can also listen to it on iApple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, iHeart, and YouTube. Transcript I’m going to talk about Generative AI here, but no

Saying “no” is one of the most powerful productivity skills we never get taught. In this episode of CoolTimeLife, I break down why the word feels so uncomfortable and why learning to use it strategically can protect your time, energy, and long‑term success. You’ll discover the hidden costs of always saying “yes,” how to set healthy boundaries without damaging relationships, and why “no” is actually a negotiation tool, not a rejection. I deliver some practical techniques for m