Say It Skillfully® OUR VOICES – Cason Crane, “It’s All Mental”

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. Episode 104 is the 18th monthly feature of “Our Voices,” intended to accelerate social change that levels the playing field—helping everyone live to their full potential. Explorer and entrepreneur extraordinaire Cason Crane sheds new light on overcoming adversity in our lives. The oldest of 5 siblings, Cason grew up in a household in which he was pushed mentally and physically from a very young age. As a 6th grader, he was already studying multiple languages and completed his first half Ironman triathlon! He shares how this pressure affected him at the time and how he grew to appreciate it. His strong mental capacity and the competitive nature in his household instilled his values of never giving up and believing in himself. Cason talks about the positive experience of coming out as openly gay as a freshman in high school and the process of coming into his own. He expresses deep gratitude, “Knowing my family would always accept me” and acknowledges the privileges in his life. At just 18 years old, Cason set a goal to climb the Seven Summits: the tallest mountain on each continent, including Mt. Everest. Being the first openly LGBT person to do so, he used his platform to raise $135,000 for the Trevor Project—raising awareness for suicide prevention and supporting LGBT youths. You may be surprised to hear his thoughts around athleticism vs will. While working several years as a consultant after college, Cason used the pandemic as a launch pad to combine his love for exploring the world with his desire to make it a better place and started his now award-winning coffee company Explorer Cold Brew. Cason’s family motto is “It’s all mental,” and he says, “The biggest obstacle that people face is their own lack of self belief.” These ideas, along with his belief that quitting is not an option, continue to push him forward in tough times... whether a mountain climb, triathlon, business venture, or life in general. Cason inspires all to know no boundaries and to commit to taking action so that all can be safe, seen and heard, and our true and best selves. Tune in to hear him talk about the best parts of being an entrepreneur, and how to never say “I can’t…”—a motivating and heartwarming account of living one’s values, finding your true north and leading others. Molly’s thought for the week—Thank you Cason: “It’s all mental” and “give yourself permission to adjust your definition of success.” #sayitskillfully resources: As a leader, here’s how to demonstrate the non-negotiable behaviors for your team. https://bit.ly/30EDNgu How to amp up your self-confidence http://bit.ly/2NyZxHN All Molly’s videos by category here: https://sayitskillfully.com