Podcast Summary: OptimalWork Applications at the K-12 Level
Podcast: Hillsdale College K-12 Classical Education Podcast
Host: Scott Bertram
Guest: Colin Mullaney, Director of Operations, Hillsdale College’s K-12 Education Office
Date: October 13, 2025
Duration: ~15 minutes (main content)
Episode Overview
This episode explores the concept and practical applications of OptimalWork, an online platform rooted in classical and modern approaches to human flourishing, particularly within K-12 education. Host Scott Bertram interviews Colin Mullaney about the program’s origins, core principles, and how its tools can empower both students and educators to develop self-mastery, resilience, and deeper engagement with their work.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. What is OptimalWork?
- Origin: Developed by Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Majors and Sharif Yunus, OptimalWork goes beyond standard productivity tools by focusing on personal growth and flourishing.
- Core Idea: Work is more than a task to complete—it's an opportunity for growth, self-mastery, and serving others.
- Quote (Colin Mullaney, 02:10):
“Our work is really is always an opportunity to practice living our ideals... when we can tap into those things... it opens up just tremendous possibilities as well as energy and excitement about what we're doing.”
2. What Makes OptimalWork Unique?
- Multi-Faceted Approach: Blends Aristotelian virtue ethics, modern psychology (cognitive behavioral therapy), and neuroscience.
- Quote (Colin Mullaney, 04:08):
“It's a unique synthesis of ancient Aristotelian virtue ethics combined with modern psychology and especially cognitive behavioral therapy and then cutting-edge neuroscience... all mutually supportive.”
3. Core Principles of OptimalWork
- Definition of Flourishing:
- Flourishing is a continual process of growing in one’s ideals and relationships.
- The journey itself counts as flourishing; there is no final endpoint.
- Three Aspects of Self-Mastery:
- Attitude
- Attention
- Next Action
- Quote (Colin Mullaney, 05:09):
"Self mastery is broken down into three areas: mastery of one's attitude, mastery of one's attention, and... mastery of one's next action."
4. Practical Tools for Mastery
- Reframer:
- Helps individuals see opportunities within challenges by intentionally shifting perspective.
- Reframing is not about minimizing real challenges, but about finding potential for growth.
- Quote (Colin Mullaney, 06:24):
“The idea of reframing is simply about seeing the opportunity that is hidden within each challenge.”
- Mindfulness and Attention:
- Techniques to build focus and engagement; can result in the psychological state of “flow” (total focus, associated with happiness and fulfillment).
- Golden Hour:
- An integrative tool for applying attitude, attention, and action in one structured, deliberate process (setting intention, reframing, outlining steps, engaging deeply).
- Quote (Colin Mullaney, 14:23):
“The Golden Hour’s simplicity is powerful... those small activities... really expand one's imagination of what you’re doing.”
5. Understanding Challenge
- Opportunity vs. Threat:
- Challenges can be perceived either way; making the conscious choice to see them as opportunities enables growth.
- Neuroscientific Element:
- The amygdala’s alarm response can be “retrained” by how a person reacts to perceived threats, reducing future stress or avoidance.
- Quote (Colin Mullaney, 08:51):
“Your own brain is watching how you respond... if you avoid that thing, your amygdala says, ‘Oh, that is a threat...’ [but] if you lean into it... you’re teaching your amygdala to reduce that alarm sounding.”
6. Applications in K-12 Education
- For Younger Students:
- Teachers and parents can learn and model OptimalWork principles, using child-friendly language and everyday situations (e.g. focusing, reframing).
- For Older Students (Junior High and High School):
- Students can be taught OptimalWork frameworks and tools directly (especially the Golden Hour).
- Example: Using the Golden Hour to set intentions before homework or tests increases engagement and decreases anxiety.
- Quote (Colin Mullaney, 10:50):
“As their children are facing challenges, helping them understand this opportunity to reframe... as kids get into junior high, high school, I think they're at an age where they can be taught these directly...”
7. Bringing Ideals and Agency into Each Day
- Ownership of Growth:
- Students learn that they have agency over their virtue development; they can choose virtues to develop and act towards them daily.
- Quote (Colin Mullaney, 12:41):
“We can show students that they in fact, have agency over their own growth, over their own development of virtue... and provides the support to actually help them make that growth.”
8. Enhancing Interpersonal Skills and Classroom Culture
- Centrality of Relationships:
- OptimalWork places “bonds” or relationships as the highest ideal, encouraging work in service of others and attentive community-building.
- Implications for classroom management, positive peer interactions, and modeling respectful behavior.
9. Colin Mullaney’s Personal Experience
- Golden Hour and Reframer:
- Stopping to set attitude and attention before starting tasks yields better clarity and fulfillment.
- Reframing helps to overcome negative ruminations and find growth in setbacks.
- Quote (Colin Mullaney, 14:23):
“It’s surprising in simplicity and also really amazing in its power.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the myth of “arrival” in flourishing:
“You never check the box that now I'm flourishing... whenever we're engaged in that process, we actually are flourishing.”
(Colin Mullaney, 05:09) -
On practical impact for teachers and parents:
“There's a real opportunity for teachers and parents to learn these principles... and then to play those out in real time with their kids.”
(Colin Mullaney, 10:50) -
On reframing regular frustrations:
“You can be... in a traffic jam... and you can find an opportunity in there. The opportunity might include practicing patience... If we find that opportunity through reframing, then we can actually grow.”
(Colin Mullaney, 06:24) -
On relationships as the highest good:
“Optimal work rates bonds or relationships as the highest thing above ideals... growing as part of a relationship and a community...”
(Colin Mullaney, 13:41)
Segment Timestamps
- Introduction of Guest & Topic: 01:48–02:10
- What is OptimalWork?: 02:10–03:57
- What Makes It Unique?: 04:08–05:01
- Core Principles (Flourishing & Self-Mastery): 05:09–06:18
- Tools: Reframer, Mindfulness, Golden Hour: 06:24–08:43, 14:23–15:45
- Understanding Challenge & Neuroscience: 08:51–10:28
- Applications at K-12 Level: 10:50–12:26
- Ideals and Student Agency: 12:41–13:29
- Interpersonal Skills & Classroom Community: 13:41–14:15
- Personal Testimony: 14:23–15:45
Conclusion
This episode provides a practical and philosophical overview of OptimalWork, emphasizing its alignment with classical education values and its powerful applicability in K-12 classrooms. Whether through reframing challenges, fostering mindfulness, or cultivating student agency, OptimalWork offers actionable strategies for flourishing—benefiting both teachers and students in the classical tradition.