Podcast Summary: The Official BNI Podcast

Episode 935: Choose the Lens You Want to See the World Through (Classic Podcast)
Host: Dr. Ivan Misner
Guest/Co-host: Priscilla Rice
Date: November 5, 2025

Episode Overview

This “classic” rebroadcast features Dr. Ivan Misner reflecting on how the mindset—or “lens”—through which we view the world can fundamentally affect our experiences, relationships, and business success. Drawing on personal stories, professional observations, and BNI wisdom, Dr. Misner emphasizes the importance of consciously choosing positivity, reframing challenges, and surrounding oneself with the right people. The episode is full of practical advice and powerful reminders that “words matter.”

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Perspective

• Metaphor of the Lens:
  Dr. Misner uses his love of astronomy as a metaphor, sharing how different telescope filters/lenses reveal different things in the night sky, directly relating this to how people experience the world.

  • “The lens that we choose to see the world through can greatly influence the things that we see and experience.” — Dr. Ivan Misner [01:28]

• Real-life Application:
  Two people can have the same experience but interpret it vastly differently based on the mental lens they use.

  • “You can sit at the same table, eat the same meal, and be worlds apart if you see the world through a different lens.” — Dr. Ivan Misner [01:26]

2. The Impact of Words

• Shaping Reality through Language:
  Misner underscores how the words we use internally and with others shape our reality.

  • “What you say about your world experience helps determine the world that you live in and the people you attract into your network, into your BNI group.” — Dr. Ivan Misner [02:00]

• From ‘Busy’ to ‘Full Life’:
  He consciously reframes “busy” as having a “full life,” focusing on abundance and joy, not overwhelm.

  • “You can be busy or you can have a full life. Having a full life is a goal worth pursuing, and having a full life brings me joy.” — Dr. Ivan Misner [02:26]

3. Managing Negativity & News Consumption

• Microdosing the News:
  Misner highlights the mental toll of constant negativity, especially from news media, and describes his personal strategy:
  • “I now microdose the news. I can stay up on what's going on without hearing or viewing all the vitriolic opinions that are being pitched as the news.” — Dr. Ivan Misner [03:13]

4. Reframing Major Life Events

• Diagnosis and Identity:
  After being diagnosed with cancer, Misner intentionally described it as being “diagnosed with cancer” versus “having cancer,” carefully separating circumstance from identity.

  • “It was my diagnosis. It was not who I was.” — Dr. Ivan Misner [03:59]

• 2020 and ‘The Great Pause’:
  Instead of “lockdown” or “quarantine,” Misner dubbed the COVID-19 year as “The Great Pause.” He observed that those who embraced this mindset fared better emotionally.

  • “While everyone was talking about being in lockdown or quarantine, I spoke about experiencing the Great Pause in life... How people respond to the Great Pause made a tangible difference relating to their experience and their life.” — Dr. Ivan Misner [04:19]

• Coping with Personal Loss:
  On losing his wife, he chose to respond to inquiries about his well-being with phrases like “one day at a time” or “putting one foot in front of the other.” This, he says, helped him move forward rather than remain stuck.

  • “Feeling horrible was true, but I also believed that living in that mental space would not help me get through those horrible times.” — Dr. Ivan Misner [05:04]

5. Fear: Frozen or Focused

• How to Respond to Fear:
  “People get frozen by fear or they get focused by fear. I propose that all of you listening… get focused by fear. Focus on a lens that will help you see through the fog of chaos that surrounds you and look for possibilities, look for the positive…” — Dr. Ivan Misner [06:17]

6. Who’s in Your Room: Surrounding Yourself with the Right People

• Engines vs. Anchors:
  Misner stresses the importance of surrounding oneself with “engines”—people who drive you forward—instead of “anchors” who bring you down.

  • “If all you do is focus on the problems, you're going to be an expert at problems. You also have to focus on solutions.” — Dr. Ivan Misner [08:25]
  • “Surround yourself with engines, people who drive you forward, who make you a better person. Not anchors, people who are trying to bring you down.” — Dr. Ivan Misner [08:43]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “What you put in your head shows up in your world, whether you're talking about an abundance mentality versus a scarcity mentality, the law of attraction, or the glass being half full. Words matter.” — Dr. Ivan Misner [02:08]
• “The lens you choose makes all the world of difference: in astronomy and in the world of people and business.” — Dr. Ivan Misner [09:58]

Key Timestamps

• [01:24] Choosing your lens; astronomy analogy
• [02:00–02:26] The importance of words and reframing “busy”
• [03:00–03:20] Microdosing the news
• [03:59–05:10] Reframing identity and loss; “Great Pause;” coping with grief
• [06:17] Fear: freeze or focus
• [08:25–08:43] Solutions vs. problems; “Engines not anchors”
• [09:58] Final thoughts on the power of perspective

Takeaways for Listeners

• The way you perceive and describe your world greatly determines your experiences and relationships.
• Consciously choose a positive, solution-oriented lens—especially in challenging times.
• Words and self-talk have real consequences; practice reframing for better results.
• Limit exposure to negative influences, including news and negative people.
• Surround yourself with people who energize and uplift you (“engines”), not those who drag you down (“anchors”).

Listener Call to Action:
Dr. Misner invites feedback:
“I’d like to hear about your lens or your filter that you see the world through… let me know what you think about this podcast. I appreciate it.” [09:58]