Makes Sense with Dr. JC Doornick – Episode 145

Why Most People Fail at Change (and How Jason Feifer Fixes It)
Guest: Jason Feifer (Editor-in-Chief, Entrepreneur Magazine, podcaster, author)
Date: February 17, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on understanding why most people struggle to create lasting change, and how Jason Feifer, through his experiences and observations, offers practical solutions for adapting and thriving amidst rapid transformation. Hosted by Dr. JC Doornick, the conversation delves into societal perceptions of change, transferable personal value, fear, optimism, and the habits of successful entrepreneurs. The tone is direct, curious, and motivating, with an undercurrent of “wake up and take charge” energy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Transferable Value: Anchoring Identity Beyond the Job

• Jason’s Core Principle: Your value shouldn’t be tied to a specific role or job, but to something more permanent—your transferable value.
  • “If we do not understand our transferable value, the thing that we always have, that other people always need, no matter what changes, if we do not identify that, then we will feel anchored to the things we can't control.” – Jason Feifer [00:00]
  • Example: Rather than “I am a magazine editor,” Jason uses “I tell stories in my own voice.” This framing creates resilience regardless of external shifts. [17:41]

2. The Vertical vs. Horizontal Thinking Paradigm in Career and Life

• Vertical Thinking (Entrepreneurs): Every project is a foundation for the next; always building upwards.
• Horizontal Thinking (Traditional Mindset): Do one thing, move to the next, start over.
  • Jason’s “aha” came when entrepreneurs asked: “Oh, that's interesting. What are you going to do with it?” – about his book. [05:36]
  • “[Entrepreneurs] think that the only reason to do something is because it is the foundation upon which the next thing will be built. That is not how the rest of the world thinks.” – Jason Feifer [07:44]

3. Change as a Constant: Historical Perspective

• Society tends to believe major transformations are unique to our time, but every era has its disruptive technology (e.g., telegraph, telephone, AI).
  • “We live in the same time. It’s just our version of that change.” – Jason Feifer [11:32]
  • The process of adapting and assimilating to new tech (e.g., how the microwave found its place in the kitchen after experiments and failures) mirrors what is happening now with AI. [11:32–16:16]

4. Adaptability Traits in Successful Leaders

• Core trait: The ability to separate identity from role/task and recognize “transferable value.”
• Practical Exercises: Define yourself with "I" statements that aren’t easily threatened by change. E.g., "I help people become the best versions of themselves." [17:41]
  • Memorable Quote: “If my identity is ‘I’m a magazine editor,’ I’m one phone call away from losing my identity.” – Jason Feifer [17:41]
  • Cognitive flexibility and a willingness to rethink default assumptions are highlighted as predictors for entrepreneurial success. [21:46]

5. Calibrating Your Mindset: The Role of Environment & Network

• Change isn’t just about personal realization—your network matters.
  • Surround yourself with people who “calibrate your way of thinking”—who reinforce adaptive, risk-tolerant behaviors and challenge conventional thinking. [23:52]
• Live events and in-person connections are crucial: “You do not think this way unless you are surrounded by those people.” – Jason Feifer [27:36]
  • Jason’s unique speaking style (out in the audience, not on stage) is a metaphor for this approach. [29:21]

6. Facing Panic and Fear During Disruption

• Why do we panic? Because we equate change with loss—explained through “loss aversion theory.”
  • “Our human brains are programmed to protect against loss more than to seek gain.” – Jason Feifer [36:32]
• Two types of fear:
  1. Fear of losing what we had (holds you back)
  2. Fear of not finding the next thing fast enough (motivates you forward)
  • “You cannot not fear. So instead, how do you utilize the fear?” [39:20]
• Tip: Leaders who thrive focus on fear that propels them forward, not the kind that binds them to the past.

7. Worst-Case Scenario Thinking

• Strategy for managing uncertainty: Instead of avoiding the worst-case, look at it directly.
  • Often, the reality of the worst case isn’t as devastating as feared.
  • Fascinating pizza study: when people start with “everything,” they can’t remove for fear of loss; when starting from nothing, adding feels easier. [41:41]
  • “Don’t try to avoid that worst-case scenario. Stare it directly in the face until it seems less scary.” – Jason Feifer [45:01]

8. The Power of “Fuck It”

• Jason’s practical tool for action: When faced with hesitation, say “fuck it” and send the email, make the call, ship the product.
  • “I just say, fuck it. Say fuck it. And I hit send. That's what I do. Fuck it. ... Let's find out.” – Jason Feifer [45:32]

9. Present Focus and Contentment

• Most high-achievers are future-driven, struggle with being present.
• Jason tells a story of realizing he already had the autonomy he was striving for—it just needed recognition.
  • “We don’t step back and appreciate enough what we actually already have.” – Jason Feifer [48:46]

10. Optimism as a Strategic Advantage

• Distinction: Optimism isn’t “this will definitely work”; it’s “I bet I can figure it out.”
  • “Both are optimistic statements, but one is blindly optimistic... the other leaves open the reality that the thing you're working on probably won't work in the way in which it was originally crafted.” – Jason Feifer [55:11]
  • Optimism is an active, chosen internal narrative that enables resourcefulness and resilience.
  • “I think that you have to choose optimism every single day.” – Jason Feifer [55:51]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Transferable Value:
  “If we do not understand our transferable value ... then we will feel anchored to the things we can't control.”
  – Jason Feifer [00:00]
• On Entrepreneurial Mindset:
  “The greatest opportunities are almost certainly not going to be the ones that were on your original roadmap.”
  – Jason Feifer [05:36]
• On the Nature of Progress:
  “We live in the same time. It’s just our version of that change.”
  – Jason Feifer [11:32]
• On Leadership and Identity:
  “If my identity is ‘I’m a magazine editor,’ I’m one phone call away from losing my identity. Terrible place to be.”
  – Jason Feifer [17:41]
• On Networks:
  “You do not think this way unless you are surrounded by those people.”
  – Jason Feifer [27:36]
• On Disrupting Patterns:
  “Oftentimes the greatest competitive advantages in business don't seem like the things people compete on. Trust can be a competitive advantage. Conversation can be a competitive advantage.”
  – Jason Feifer [30:00]
• On Fear and Loss Aversion:
  “The reason why we panic during moments of change is because we equate change with loss.”
  – Jason Feifer [36:32]
• On Embracing Action:
  “I just say, fuck it. ... I am standing at the moment in which I'm going to learn whether this works or not.”
  – Jason Feifer [45:32]
• On Present-Mindedness:
  “We don’t step back and appreciate enough what we actually already have.”
  – Jason Feifer [48:46]
• On Optimism:
  “It's the difference between saying this will work and I'll be able to figure it out. ... I think that you have to choose optimism every single day.”
  – Jason Feifer [55:11, 55:51]

Important Timestamps

• [00:00] Transferable value, anchoring identity to the unchangeable.
• [05:36] Jason’s journey: from traditional media to entrepreneurial mindset.
• [11:32] History of change: why society always feels “now is different.”
• [17:41] Creating a mission statement unanchored to your job.
• [23:52] Calibrating mindset through community.
• [29:21] Jason describes why he prefers to be off-stage and connecting directly.
• [36:32] The “panic phase” and types of fear during disruption.
• [41:41] Using loss aversion studies to rethink decision-making.
• [45:32] The power of saying “fuck it” and taking action.
• [48:46] The challenge of satisfaction, being present, and recognizing what you already have.
• [55:11] Optimism as a strategic success factor.
• [59:09] Rapid-fire: What to do when overwhelmed by change.
• [60:06] The myth that success always “looks like one thing.”

Actionable Takeaways

• Reframe Your Professional Identity: Define yourself by what is transferable, not what is changeable.
• Build Your Community: Seek networks and environments where adaptive thinking is normalized.
• Disrupt the Narrative: Do what others don’t expect or aren’t willing to risk; it will make you more memorable and influential.
• Shift Your Relationship with Fear: Use fear as motivation to move forward, not an anchor to keep you in place.
• Embrace Experimentation: Take imperfect action—“fuck it”—and view each new venture as a learning step, not the final word.
• Be Present, Acknowledge Achievement: Regularly assess what you already have and practice gratitude for it.
• Choose Optimism Responsibly: Bet on your ability to adapt and figure things out, not on outcomes you can’t control.

Resources & How to Connect

• Jason Feifer’s Newsletter: onethingbetter.email
  “Each week, one way to be more successful and satisfied and build a company or career you love.” [60:37]
• Find Jason: LinkedIn, Instagram (@heyfeifer)

Episode in One Line

Change is less about external circumstances and more about how you define, anchor, and act on your own value—choose adaptability, surround yourself with the right people, use fear as fuel, and say ‘fuck it’ more often.