Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

S5E51 - How Will You Measure Your Life?

In today’s episode of Open Your Eyes, McKay guides listeners through a thought-provoking exploration of the criteria by which we measure our lives. Combining an analysis of lives spectacularly well-lived with his own learnings and sage observations, our host demonstrates the critical importance of ensuring these criteria are firmly founded upon those aspects in life that truly matter.The episode traverses various inspiring narratives, from Dr. Sanduk Ruit’s revolutionary work in making cataract surgery affordable for millions in Nepal to Dashrath Manjhi's 22-year mission to carve a safer path through the mountains for his village. McKay also reflects on his battle with cancer, his children’s perseverance and relentless determination, and the poignant story of a colleague and his son who was born with severe physical challenges. The episode concludes by drawing on the biblical story of Peter walking on water, underscoring the importance of maintaining faith amidst adversity. Collectively, these stories challenge listeners to consider the legacies they wish to create, ultimately posing the essential question: "How will you measure your life?"Episode Highlights:Global listener reachDr. Sanduk Ruit’s journeyDashrath Manjhi's dedicationClayton Christensen on life’s measuresPersonal growth through serviceStories highlighting the power of love and perseveranceFaith and overcoming doubtsMeasuring your life by what really matters mostQuotes:"I committed myself to a mission of making eye surgery affordable and accessible to every person in Nepal.""One can measure the surgeries provided to the impoverished in Nepal and the miles of travel saved by Dashrath’s new mountain path.""Consider if, ultimately, we are measured against the things that truly matter.""I realized my life would be measured by how I aided people in similar circumstances to mine.""Each day presents a choice on where to place your focus.""Love empowers you to focus, care, and exert more effort.""Keep going until you achieve your goals.""Faith means to believe without seeing, and the reward of faith is to see what you have believed."Links:https://www.mckaychristensen.org/

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S5E50 - Do It Anyway

2w ago00:31:01Tap to summarize

This week, McKay takes a look at that all too familiar feeling of not really wanting to do something, and then proceeds to highlight the potential benefits of actually going ahead and doing that thing anyway. Filled with his trademark stories, reflections, and insights, our host’s investigation here today offers enlightening lessons on motivation, discipline, and purpose that promise to transform listeners' perspective on life.During this thought-provoking episode, McKay explores the concept of taking action even when motivation seems elusive. Drawing inspiration from diverse sources, he uncovers the secrets to happiness and success while discussing how discipline plays a pivotal role in achieving these life goals. Throughout the episode, our host navigates various themes, including the significance of commitment, the legendary tale of Jonah, and the impact of creating a culture of excellence. Challenging the myth that motivation is the sole driver of action, McKay takes the opportunity today to pave the way for a more profound understanding of how dedication, discipline, and a “do it anyway” mindset can lead to fulfillment in our lives.Episode Highlights:An awe-inspiring encounter with humpback whalesThe significance of facing fears and taking action even when unwillingDrawing inspiration from the legendary tale of JonahThe power of discipline in achieving lasting success and happinessThe misconception about motivation and the importance of commitmentHow creating a culture of excellence can lead to remarkable resultsExploring the concept of the "abundant approach" How helping others adds motivationEmbracing discipline, finding integrity, and seeking happiness in lifeQuotes:"We can't be what we can't see. At the core of our behavior is how we see the world and our place in it.""For some time now, I've been nudged and inspired and given opportunities to go in a direction that God wants me to go. And for whatever reason, I've been a bit slow to respond.""Don't give in to the immediate gratification of the thing. Give in instead to your true motive.""Motivation is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work.""The winners didn't need motivation. They put a system in place in their life or business and established small habits of discipline.""Life takes the shape of an iceberg…90% of the time, the things that drive results are the work without motivation below the surface.""The definition of integrity is doing something you've decided to do long after the emotion of making the decision to do it has passed.""Happiness and success often come from doing things even when you don't feel like it.""Embrace your potential and fulfill your purpose, even if it means doing things you don't want to do.""Creating a culture of excellence and discipline can lead to outstanding results, even when the task is repetitive and not initially exciting."Links:https://www.mckaychristensen.org/

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S5E49 - Nothing Great is Easy

3w ago00:30:47Tap to summarize

In this captivating episode of Open Your Eyes, McKay takes listeners on a profound journey into the heart of success, anchored by the fundamental principle that "nothing great is easy." As he navigates through history's remarkable achievements, from conquering the English Channel to surviving the tumultuous descent over Niagara Falls, he spotlights the unyielding spirit of individuals who embraced challenges as stepping stones to greatness. The episode masterfully underscores the value of consistent, incremental improvements and the pivotal role of effective systems in turning aspirations into reality. Whether in the realms of sport, fitness, spirituality, entrepreneurship, or any other facet of life, our host illuminates the transformative potential of choosing the sunnier side, committing wholeheartedly, and prioritizing self-care as the key to unlocking one's path to success. Offering actionable insights to approach life's challenges with resilience and intention, McKay makes it crystal clear here today that greatness is not an unattainable summit but a series of milestones which, while difficult, are, indeed, ultimately achievable.Episode Highlights:Wholehearted commitmentHow centering can enhance focus and overall successAttention as a precious resourceSelf-care and self-investmentSmall improvements, big impactPrioritizing the development of effective systemsEmbracing challengesPersistence and dedicationQuotes:"Nothing great is ever easy. It's the hard that makes it great.""Sometimes it's the 101st blow that does the trick, not the last blow.""Goals are about the results you want to achieve; systems are about the processes that lead to those results.""Success often lies in embracing challenges and viewing them as opportunities for growth.""The hard work and dedication are what make greatness worth it.""Centering enables us to avoid distraction. It will change your life.""You must treat yourself with great care.""Focus on the systems you employ rather than the goals you have. Give all you have to whatever is at hand."Links:https://www.mckaychristensen.org/

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S5E48 - What Lies Within You?

4w ago00:31:38Tap to summarize

McKay’s focus today is on the power of discovering what lies within ourselves, and he begins by introducing the story of Aaron Sorkin. Armed with a passion for drama and theater from an early age, it wasn't until Aaron dared to fail that he found success. His story serves as a testament to the power of daring to fail and discovering what lies within us.McKay also shares the stories of Eric and Laura, individuals who both faced adversity and overcame it to find success. Their stories, along with Sorkin’s, inspire us all to embrace our own journeys and discover our potential. They also teach us that, to find what lies within us, we must be resilient, determined, and willing to let go of what we cannot do, while remembering who we are and where we came from. Mckay’s words of wisdom here today, combined with these powerful narratives, empower us all to discover the very best that lies within us.Episode Highlights:Open Your Eyes’ two-year anniversary Aaron Sorkin's storyHow the best that lies within us can lead to remarkable successEric and Laura’s stories of overcoming adversity and finding success Embracing our journeys and discovering our potentialThe power of resilience and determinationLetting go of what we cannot doRemembering who we are and where we came fromDiscovering the best that lies within youQuotes:"The best that lies within you is waiting to be discovered.”"Success is not the absence of failure; it's the persistence through failure.""Daring to fail is not about wanting to fail. It's about recognizing that failure is a possibility, and deciding to take the risk anyway.""Believe in yourself, and the rest will fall into place.""The most important thing to do is to get started, even if it's a small step.""The things I cannot do, I will let go. But the things I can do, I will learn to do well.""She continued to write, and she became a successful author, living out her passion for writing about horses and racing.""To find what lies within you, you may need to remember who you are and where you came from."Links:https://www.mckaychristensen.org/

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S5E47 - The Road Ahead

Apr 2000:29:35Tap to summarize

In this week’s episode, McKay explores the road that lays ahead of you in your life. He begins this exploration by sharing two stories from Tom Watson's experiences at the Masters Tournament which highlight the importance of embracing both the highs and lows in life. These stories serve as powerful reminders for us to reflect on our own journey, to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead with grace and resilience, and to stay committed and focused on our goals, regardless of the obstacles that may come our way.The podcast episode also discusses the topic of failure and how to handle it. By focusing on the road ahead and fixing our vision on our end goal, we can learn to see failure as an opportunity for growth and learning. It's important to have a clear understanding of where we're headed, as this helps us navigate our journey with purpose and intention. Difficult roads may lead to beautiful destinations, and by persevering through the challenges, we become the person we are destined to be. Join McKay here today and you will be inspired to approach life with a growth mindset and to embrace the journey, no matter what it brings.Episode Highlights:Tom Watson's stories and their significanceEmbracing both the highs and lows of life with grace and resilienceThe importance of commitments and promises in our livesThe power of love and supportFailure as an opportunity to learn and growFocusing on the road aheadHaving a clear end goal in mindDifficult roads and beautiful destinationsThe importance of not giving upLearning how to react to future mistakesDefining yourself and your mistakesQuotes:"Life is full of highs and lows, and we need to learn to navigate both with grace and resilience.""Tom Watson's stories remind us that life is full of surprises and opportunities, and we need to be ready to seize the moment.""Commitments and promises are powerful drivers of our actions and choices, even in the face of adversity.""Love and support from our family and friends can help us overcome the toughest challenges in life.""The road ahead in life may be uncertain, but we can choose to embrace it with courage and determination.""Failure can be good. It's fertilizer.""Looking ahead is a huge help in life.""We each have the ability to make meaning from our actions and the actions of our children.""It is a simple fact that difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.""Your difficult road will help you rise and you will find the strength to travel the road and make a better you along the way."Links:https://www.mckaychristensen.org/

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S5E46 - The Door You're Meant to Open

Apr 1300:27:42Tap to summarize

Join McKay this week as he encourages listeners to recognize opportunities, overcome hesitations, and boldly open life's doors. Reviewing significant doors that have been opened in the past, such as the creation of the Panama Canal, McKay explores the significance of taking well-calculated risks and embracing change as a means to opening doors in our life.Drawing inspiration from these and other events, McKay underscores the importance of identifying open doors and advancing despite intricate circumstances. He goes on to note that these stories serve as reminders that significant personal growth often originates from navigating difficulties and welcoming novel perspectives. Above all, our host reminds listeners here today that doors are waiting for them, even if they seem impossible or improbable, and that God may be knocking - asking them to exercise their faith, step through that door, and witness the good things waiting for them on the other side.Episode Highlights:Seizing opportunitiesGrowth through changeUnseen opportunitiesAdaptation and global impactTransformative momentsPersonal journeysIntuition and self-fulfillmentStepping through doorsQuotes:"Life is subtle, sometimes you barely notice yourself walking through the doors you once prayed would open.""Often we walk through doors so we can find the next door waiting for us on the other side.""Change doesn't always come in dramatic events. Sometimes it's the small, imperceptible impressions that lead us to greater discoveries.""Stepping through doors of opportunity requires embracing uncertainty and recognizing that growth often comes from navigating challenges.""Lucky people have a strong sense of intuition, which makes them lucky, and more importantly, they follow that intuition much more frequently than other people.""Some doors need to be closed, and the reason that closing those doors frees us up is because now we can see what's before us to seek the open doors available to us.""God will force no man to heaven. He'll call, persuade, direct, or write and bless with wisdom, love, and light in nameless ways, be good and kind, but never force the human mind.""Don't let fear hold you back, because here's the truth, you are extraordinary. You are meant to step forward, open the door, and do what you've been afraid to do and take action.""Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from making bad decisions."Links:https://www.mckaychristensen.org/

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S5E45 - Without a Doubt

Apr 600:31:58Tap to summarize

This week, McKay focuses on the theme of doubt and the profound impact it can have upon our self-view and decision-making. Drawing upon a variety of anecdotes and impeccable resources, he emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in recognizing and challenging doubt in order to prevent it from hindering progress, draining our energy, and creating a sense of unease in our lives .Throughout the episode, our host explores the influence of our social circles on our levels of faith or doubt, and guides listeners towards removing doubt and nurturing faith in all aspects of life. He also highlights the power of being present, showing up, and living beyond ourselves to eliminate doubt, and goes on to shed light on the transformative role of leaders in building faith within their teams. Moreover, he reveals the impact of environment, language, and action on our faith, empowering listeners to triumph over doubt and embrace a life of purpose and confidence. Join McKay here today and learn how to transcend doubt and step into a world of unlimited potential where faith becomes your guiding light.Episode Highlights:The role of doubt in shaping our self-view and decision-makingDoubt’s influence on our expression, judgment, motivation, and risk-takingStrategies to recognize and challenge doubt in our livesThe impact of our social circles on our faith or doubt.Embracing occasional doubt as natural while avoiding a permanent state of doubtExploring the story of ‘Doubting’ Thomas and the concept of belief without seeingContemplating contrasting beliefs and doubts surrounding the afterlifeThe power of presence and showing up to eliminate doubtQuotes:"Doubt is a state of uncertainty or lack of conviction about something in which you question, hesitate, or are skeptical about what you hear or about what you or others are doing.""Doubt often comes about when we've tried before without success or we are reentering new territory without a familiar path to walk.""How can you blame Thomas for doubting? It is an incredible thing to suppose that a person could rise from the dead, even if his friends said they saw Christ.""Many of us doubt what others do not doubt. Some people believe that they will live after death, just like Jesus did. But others doubt if this is real.""Being willing to go and do removes doubt in our life. We get to see and feel with our own eyes the more we show up.""Affirmations widen our span of attention. They deepen our strength or resolve.""Before you doubt anything, doubt your doubts.""Sometimes we have to place faith in, and not doubt, the words that parents, leaders, and God speak to us.""Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will."Links:https://www.mckaychristensen.org/

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S5E44 - The Rising Tide

Mar 3000:28:36Tap to summarize

Welcome to another enlightening episode of Open Your Eyes this week as McKay takes us all on an inspiring exploration of the rising tide in our lives and the transformative power of faith. With vivid storytelling and profound insights, he presents examples and perspectives that empower us all to harness these rising tides in our own lives and break free from the currents that hold us back.Illustrating the unstoppable nature of tides as a metaphor for the forces that ensure our upward trajectory, McKay encourages listeners to view them as a source of inspiration and empowerment. Additionally, he emphasizes the power of love and belief in overcoming even the most daunting obstacles. Ultimately, McKay invites all listeners here today to embrace the rising tides in their own lives, find strength in faith, and navigate the currents with unwavering determination, knowing that they have the capacity to transform their journeys and reach their goals.Episode Highlights:The stories of Natalia Molchanova and Audrey MestreDylan's gripping tale of survival, swept away by powerful currents and saved by unwavering faith and loveThe significance of ocean currents and tides in shaping the underwater landscapeThe inspiring journey of Heather Brown and Tyler SmithMiraculous encounter between Heather, Tyler, and Eric Wagner in a moment of prayerFaith prevailing in adversity, providing strength through life's stormsThe impact of faith in navigating challenges, as exemplified by McKay's father and Dorothy Fletcher's experiencesQuotes:"Faith is the power to continue even when you can't see the end outcome.""There is a tide in life that can lift us despite the storms or the winds.""We glory in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience worketh hope.""Faith is a rising tide that lifts you in life.""Don't ever doubt that things have been ordered and prepared for you.""When there's hope in the future, there is power in the present."Links:https://www.mckaychristensen.org/

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S5E43 - You Can Begin Again

Mar 2300:30:23Tap to summarize

McKay explores the opportunity to begin again in life and business. Citing a number of examples, including Coca Cola’s infamous launch of "New Coke" in the 1980s, he illustrates how failure is not the end, but rather an opportunity to learn and regroup. As McKay notes, beginning again each and every day is an essential component in life - a true gift from God, allowing us to continually wash away the past and start anew. Throughout the episode, McKay explores this idea of beginning again from various angles, and argues that failure is not something to be avoided but rather a natural and necessary part of growth. He also highlights the importance of resilience and not giving up in the face of setbacks, sharing the inspiring story of Lauren, who lost her hand in a plane propeller accident, to demonstrate how starting over can be a difficult but necessary step towards growth and finding a greater purpose. Mistakes are not failures, but rather lessons to be learned, so follow our host’s sage advice here today and begin to trust in the possibility of a new beginning so you can pursue a better version of yourself.Episode Highlights:Famous artists’ struggles with self-doubt and discouragementSuccess as a series of nonfatal mistakesPractical tips for beginning againThe role of sleep in regenerating our bodies and minds for a fresh startDefining mistakes as opportunities to learnThe story of “New Coke”The importance of resilience and not giving up in the face of setbacksQuotes:"Success is a series of nonfatal mistakes, and masterpieces are created in days of showing up discouraged.""Whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you've been through, it's never too late to begin again.""You can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep rereading the last one.""In pursuit of your life's purpose, it's expected that you begin again over and over.""Don't worry, it's not too late. You can begin again.""Sometimes a failure is exactly what you need to confirm your direction and begin again.""There are no failures, only lessons to be learned.""As the great author said, ‘The essence of man is imperfection.’ And I would say the essence of learning and becoming who you're supposed to become is learning from and embracing imperfection.""Don't listen to the lies that tell you it's too impossible or too hard to start again. You can."Links:https://www.mckaychristensen.org/

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S5E42 - Be an Influencer

Mar 1600:31:42Tap to summarize

This week, McKay brings to life the topics of leadership and influence. He begins with the story of Oscar Hammerstein, illustrating the power of genuine influence. Real influence is gained through understanding others’ perspectives and being patient in their attempts to improve. It also grows with the proper use of inspiration, humor, and creativity in our relationships.McKay also shares principles of influence from researchers like Chaldini. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity, empathy, and understanding. By mastering these, individuals can gain more influence with others in their lives and become more effective leaders. He argues that being an excellent listener, providing great follow-up, being helpful and service-oriented, and having knowledge about one's product also increases influence. Filled with ample leadership and influence skills himself, McKay provides practical insights and tools here today that can help us all become more effective leaders and parents.Episode Highlights:Influence as a critical trait for effective leadershipGenuine collaboration and understanding others' perspectives Inspiration, humor, and creativityGenuine empathy and understandingExcellence and knowledge about one's productSimple explanations and the contrast principleReciprocation and social influenceThe role of feedback, repetition, and consistency in establishing positive habits and beliefsQuotes:"Influence is the key talent of a true leader.""The best influencers of our day are the most genuine.""The most important thing is to be genuine, to be empathetic, to understand others' perspectives.""Excellence is attractive.""Remember, a confused mind says ‘No’, so make things as simple as possible.""When you feel in debt to a person, you're more apt to be influenced by them.""There's something about seeing others using the product... that ignites interest and curiosity and creates influence.""The pursuit of competence or improvement had a dopaminergic effect. Feedback was essential to their motivation."Links:https://www.mckaychristensen.org/

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Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

All episodes

S5E51 - How Will You Measure Your Life?

S5E50 - Do It Anyway

S5E49 - Nothing Great is Easy

S5E48 - What Lies Within You?

S5E47 - The Road Ahead

S5E46 - The Door You're Meant to Open

S5E45 - Without a Doubt

S5E44 - The Rising Tide

S5E43 - You Can Begin Again

S5E42 - Be an Influencer