Francisco Cepeda’s Post

Iron Sharpens Iron: Embracing Perspective, Resilience, Optimism Iron Sharpens Iron - Episode 1 Summary Date: September 22, 2026 Participants: Dr. Charles "Charlie" Garcia - Recent Doctor from UT, Texas Frank Cepeda, Amazing Counselor Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. MainTopicsDiscussed Perspective Resilience Optimism 3. ActionItems 4. Follow-UpPoints 5. AdditionalNotes Introduction The inaugural episode of the podcast "Iron Sharpens Iron" features a deep and meaningful conversation between Dr. Charles Garcia and Frank Cepeda. The discussion revolves around key personal development themes: perspective, resilience, and optimism. The hosts emphasize the importance of these qualities in personal and professional lives, especially among men. Main Topics Discussed Perspective Definition & Importance: Charlie Garcia defines perspective as one's view on life, emphasizing the ability to see the silver lining in challenging situations. Frank Cepeda adds that perspective involves understanding diverse viewpoints and aligning communication to foster positivity. Application in Leadership: Importance of recognizing individual perspectives in leadership roles. Encouraging positive outlooks to motivate and uplift others. Personal Anecdotes: Frank shares a story about complimenting a fellow patron caring for his father, highlighting the impact of small positive gestures. Discussion on how perspective shapes interactions and personal growth. Resilience Conceptual Understanding: Described as the ability to bounce back from failures and challenges. Compared to a muscle that can be strengthened through practice and perseverance. Resilience in Action: Emphasis on adapting, learning, and returning stronger after setbacks. Importance of not internalizing others' negative emotions and maintaining emotional management. Personal Insights: Frank discusses his own journey with resilience, acknowledging ongoing efforts to improve. Charlie speaks about building resilience in his children, Gage and Jack, focusing on grit and the ability to learn from failures. Leadership Perspective: Anticipatory acumen and tolerance for ambiguity as key traits in resilient leaders. Encouraging effective conflict resolution and emotional intelligence in leadership teams. Optimism Definition & Significance: Optimism is portrayed not just as positive thinking but as a proactive approach to finding the good in every situation. Described as contagious and capable of creating a ripple effect of positivity. Practical Examples: Sharing personal stories, such as the motivational talk involving a soda bottle to illustrate optimism versus pessimism. Reference to the Rocky films to exemplify resilience and optimism in the face of adversity. Impact on Relationships: Discussion on balancing optimism with empathy, especially during crises or personal tragedies. Importance of being a cheerleader for oneself and others to maintain a positive outlook.

When truly challenging situations show up for us at work, we can inadvertently disempower ourselves by the way we react. It’s called the “second arrow”. The FIRST arrow is the pain of the situation itself. We often don’t have any control over the first arrow—it’s just something that happens to us. But the SECOND arrow is the pain of what we do to ourselves. It’s our mental and emotional reaction to a situation—it’s the story we’re telling ourselves about what happened. We take an unpleasant situation and make ourselves feel even worse with the anger, fear, anxiety, resentment that we feel as we tell the story over and over again to ourselves. So other than causing ourselves unnecessary pain, what’s the problem with the second arrow? Well, by amplifying our own emotions, we make it less likely that we can effectively respond to our circumstance. We can get paralyzed by a bad situation or alternatively, over-react and shooting ourselves in the foot. Long-term these types of response can cause a career that originally was on an upward trajectory to take a sideways detour. So how can YOU avoid that trap? Well, first you want to get good at recognizing when you might be on the edge of falling into it. The latest episode of the Mastering The Power Skills podcast provides you with several questions to ask yourself that will start to nudge you back to an empowered, growth mindset. You’ll also learn the attributes of an empowered problem-solver so you can model them yourself and be better equipped to address the challenge. Join us in Episode 41: How To Navigate Challenges Skillfully: https://lnkd.in/eVtvQ5w4 #empowerment #growthmindset

Have you ever wondered why we often feel that others don’t see our value? It’s because deep down, we might doubt our own worth. Feeling like what you have to offer doesn't matter or isn't good enough is challenging, but here’s the thing to understand: it’s not really about what others think or do; it’s about what you think of yourself. When we don’t believe that we matter and we don’t value ourselves, we might get upset or defensive, expecting others to make us feel valued. But the truth is, our self worth and happiness isn’t anyone else's responsibility. It is our responsibility to do the work and empower ourselves. So it is important to understand that we hold the power to make ourselves feel worthy, happy and emotionally full. Here’s how you can start helping yourself instead of expecting others to make you feel, worthy, happy and good: 💪 1. Reflect: ask yourself Why do you need validation from others? 2. Self-Love: Remind yourself of your worth, strength and value. 3. Set Boundaries: speak up and communicate your needs. 4. Seek Support: Surround yourself with positivity, people that support and love you. 5. Focus on Growth: write your goals, think positively and picture what you want. And Stop waiting for others' love, validation and whatever. Be your own cheerleader! 💖 And put yourself first, this will help you not to wait for others to make you happy. 🌟 If you want to learn more about the mindset shift. Check out our podcast episode 004 for more.🎙️ #YourWorth #SelfLove #YouAreEnough #SelfWorth #SelfEsteem #SelfValue #InnerStrength #SelfCare #SelfBelief #Empowerment #MindsetShift #SelfAcceptance #LoveYourself #SelfConfidence #PositiveMindset #YouMatter #OwnYourHappiness #SelfEmpowerment #coaching #change

How do you adapt when life throws you a curveball? In a world increasingly filled with burnout, understanding how to navigate stress is more crucial than ever. This week on The Future of Teamwork podcast, Dr. Andre Martin spoke with Dane 🦘 Groeneveld about the essential interplay between stress and resilience. Drawing inspiration from the insightful book "Burnout" by Nagoski, the conversation offers a fresh perspective on stress—emphasizing the importance of completing stress cycles to manage life's pressures effectively. Stress is more than just feeling overwhelmed now. It's about our struggle to resolve continuous stressors ranging from global crises to daily hurdles. Cultivating resilience emerges as a critical approach to mitigate stress's impact. How do you manage stress and foster resilience in your daily life? Share your strategies and insights in the comments below! #MindfulLeadership #MentalWellness #StressSolutions

Have you felt unmotivated lately? (I know I have...but here's why I'm not worried) Thanks to the Mel Robbins podcast, I now think about motivation differently. On a recent episode, she talked to a doctor. He said (paraphrase) that all motivation is emotional or physical impulses. So we don't lack motivation. We just can't rely on it to do the hard things that we want to do. Because most often, it's not going to be there. When we're hungry, we're motivated to eat those chips that are rightthere. When we're angry, we're motivated to yell and/or throw things. When we're tired, we're motivated to take a little nap. Physical stimulus or emotional stimulus=motivation. But there isn't really a motivating stimulus for sending a cold email, doing 20 auditions in a day that you don't get any feedback on and may never book, or for continuing to go to the gym five days a week when you just wind up feeling sore and your jeans still don't fit. This is why habits are more important than motivation. Habits are far superior. The systems you put in place that tell your brain "I don't care if we don't FEEL like it, we're doing this." This is why action leads to motivation and not the other way around. It seems backwards, but it's true. Trick yourself into doing one thing today that you don't feel like doing... And I would be willing to bet that it leads to you doing more. Will you commit with me? I'm going to put away all of this clean laundry that's on my bed AND I'm going to schedule 30 cold emails. What one thing will you do today that you aren't motivated to do? Share below! #motivation #action #determination #systems #habits

❤️ Some relationships work. 💔 Others take a lot of work. For some people, we'll easily give them the benefit of the doubt. For others, we just doubt. 🤷♀️ Why is that? 🤷♀️ Pause for just a minute and answer that question for yourself. Think of that one person who is a struggle to work with - at home or at work. Here's some good news and some great news. Good News ➡️ Your answer to that question says more about you than about them. Great News ➡️ People don't make you mad, sad, stressed, or anything else. You do. That means YOU have all the power to change that relationship. No. Matter. What. That includes all of the teasings that my two OLDER sisters have given me over the years. (It's so tough being the youngest.) But you still have the power. That's an amazing thing to know. So, if you want to learn more about how you can feel better in all of your relationships (plus 2 quick tools you can use today), check out Episode #45, People Puzzles, from The Healthy Leader Podcast. (See the post in the first comment.) In the meantime, I'd love to see some pics of the people in your life! Create an ah-mazing Wednesday! ~traci #RelationshipGoals #ProfessionalGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #LifeCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #MindfulLiving #WellnessCoach #HealthyRelationships #SelfImprovement #MentalWellbeing #LeadershipDevelopment #Empowerment #PositiveLiving #WellbeingCoach #HolisticHealth #MindfulnessPractice #SuccessMindset #Wellbeingness #TheWEllnessCoach

The win then is to get out of our own way... To tame the fears that we have... “To ultimately stop thinking of ourselves so much and our own comfort... And start thinking about how we can truly and meaningfully help others by showing up our best without the distraction or barrier of fear. Or more accurately, we can recognize the fear and keep going anyway, Knowing our circumstances will improve as a result, Our relationships with others will strengthen, And we will grow.” More on how to quiet the fears that can cause burnout in my latest podcast episode here: https://lnkd.in/eC-NxNDu Learn the 3 simple steps to prevent full-on burnout in my course here: https://lnkd.in/eG-z72dc #burnout #stress #careerstrategy #work #hardwork #career #careergoals #success #performance #professional #satisfaction #business #leadership #coaching #executivecoaching

“An Atomic morning isn't optional, it's foundational. Don't let anything steal the gift of a new day.” Matt Gagnon on Atomic Mornings, Speaking at The Gathering Event, His Hero's Journey That Led to His TEDX Talk, and The 5 Supply Lines of Success On ACTA NON VERBA episode 222 top executive coach, TEDx Speaker, Atomic Mornings creator and good friend Matt Gagnon discusses his journey from corporate burnout to living a fulfilling life aligned with his core values. Our conversation delves into the benefits of personalized morning routines, the importance of actions over words, and how early rising can enhance personal fulfillment and productivity. Matt also shares insights on overcoming Adversity, harnessing simple habits for mental and physical well-being, and balancing work with personal growth. Highlights include Matt's experiences at the Gathering Summit, his philosophy on resilience, and the impactful story of delivering a TED talk during the pandemic. Episode Highlights: 06:09 The Power of Atomic Mornings 07:55 The Importance of Morning Routines 30:25 The Sugar Crash Cycle 31:14 Finding Your Muse 40:02 Overcoming Adversity 43:31 The TED Talk Journey Matt Gagnon spent 15 years entrenched in the corporate grind, sacrificing family time and personal milestones, including a decade without Thanksgiving celebrations. After facing burnout and health challenges, he left his six-figure job in 2015, determined to reclaim his life and serve others. Overcoming fears and limited beliefs, Matt rebuilt his world, becoming an international coach, TEDx speaker, and author. Matt believes that with courage and boundaries, anyone can achieve both a thriving life and an epic career. I’ve know Matt for over 7 years now and have nothing but the utmost respect for the man he is and the work he does. Go follow him on LinkedIn to learn more about Matt and Atomic Mornings. Thank you for everything you do my friend. Connect with him on LinkedIn at Matt Gagnon 1 Listen to the rest of this ACTA NON VERBA episode, subscribe, share, and review anywhere you listen to podcasts ✅ #leadership #selfleadership #actanonverbapodcast

When we look at high-achieving professionals, great leaders, and anyone considered successful, the first things we notice are their abilities, talents, strategies, and determination. We zone in on the hard skills, but soft skills are essential. In particular, there is an area of self-management that not only paves a path to success, it’s the key to combating stress, coming back from burnout, and helping you prioritize self-care in a way you haven’t before. In episode 218 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast, Chantay Golson, LPC joins me as we dive into how emotional intelligence connects to our success, personally and professionally. Chantay shares her 3-tier formula for increasing your emotional intelligence and gives you actionable steps to take right now to use emotional self-awareness for better decision-making and stress management. We cover the following topics: * What Emotional intelligence (EQ) is: the ability to be aware of and recognize one’s emotions and respond appropriately.  * How recognizing and investigating our triggers and patterns is the first step in developing emotional intelligence. * How self-care (or soul-care as Chantay describes it) is an essential aspect of preventing burnout. Our stress levels, ability to prioritize self-care, and our personal and professional successes are all impacted by our choices and how we strengthen skills like emotional intelligence. 🎧Listen here: https://lnkd.in/ec2srReG #emotionalintelligence #softskills #eqforsuccess #successskills #selfawarenesss #selfregulation #productivitycoach #positivelylisa #positivelyproductive #positivelylivingpodcast

Changing Your Behavior – Warrior Mind Podcast #699 Changing your behavior isn’t just about making a decision—it’s about nurturing the courage to stick with it through all of life’s twists and turns. In my journey, I've realized that real transformation, the kind that sticks, happens slowly and often feels a little uncomfortable at first. But here’s the truth: changing behavior is the most powerful tool you have to build grit and inner resilience. It’s the foundation for lasting growth, and it’s a choice that redefines how you face challenges. #podcast #behavior #resilience