PODCAST · business
From Chad
by Chad Smith
Your thinking is bad. I can help. These quick daily messages aim to upgrade your mental game by helping you tell a better story. The most powerful story in the world is the story you tell yourself. You can download my book at fromchad.gumroad.com. Email me at [email protected] or visit www.fromchad.com for episode transcripts.
Episodes
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Waiting #1219
Patience is power, not weakness. The story of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812 illustrates this, as Mikhail Kutuzov’s strategic retreat and patience, ultimately led to Napoleon’s downfall.
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Reflecting #1218
Rika Matsuda was reminded of a kindness from a stranger when she was seven through a writing assignment. After a bike crash, a man helped her and gave her an origami crane. She never saw the man again, but 10 years later realized he left her something more than the paper crane.
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Experimenting #1217
Curiosity, a powerful motivator, keeps us moving and learning. While children naturally embrace curiosity and experimentation, adults often lose this eagerness, feeling obligated rather than excited. The key is to shift our mindset from “have to“ to “get to,”embracing life‘s experiments with...
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Training #1216
Pals Sudden Service, a drive-through burger chain in Tennessee, prioritizes training over blaming employees for mistakes. Employees receive 120 hours of training before working a station and a regularly tested for confidence. The company’s leaders believe that if it someone isn’t performing...
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Hiring #1215
Skills can be taught, but attitude must be brought. Pal’s Sudden Service, a successful burger chain out of Tennessee, prioritizes hiring for attitude, and provides extensive training for skills. The key takeaway is that attitude is the biggest life decision and can be changed instantly, while...
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Carrying #1214
Matt Starke, a Navy SEAL diagnosed with brain cancer, lived 24 years behind his initial prognosis. His family, particularly his son Gharet, carried him everywhere once he was incapacitated, demonstrating that love is not just an emotion but an action. The strength of one’s love is the capacity to...
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Failing #1213
Krystal Niu exemplifies the idea that winners lose more because they show up more. Despite numerous falls and injuries, she consistently returns to her act, inspiring audiences with her resilience. Embrace failure as part of the journey and get back up after every setback.
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Wondering #1212
Leonardo da Vinci‘s curiosity, not just his talent, drove his groundbreaking work. Curiosity, a trait shared by da Vinci, Einstein, Herb Kelleher, and all the greats, is a powerful tool that can lead to success and fulfillment. Embrace curiosity, as it can take you farther than talent alone.
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Improving #1211
Truitt Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A, prioritized getting better over getting bigger, leading to the companies success. Focus on improving your work, and bigger opportunities will follow.
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Underestimating #1210
A Brazilian photographer, Sabastião Salgado, returned to his family‘s farm devastated after photographing the Rwandan genocide. He and his wife planted a forest, transforming the land and his spirit over 20 years. The story emphasizes the importance of patience and consistent effort, encouraging...
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Demanding #1209
What is the meaning of life? Viktor Frankl turned the question around. Life is the one asking. Your roles are how it asks. Stop asking life what it means and start answering what it’s asking of you.
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Cooperating #1208
Upgraded thinking recognizes that nothing exists alone; success comes from interdependence, not independence. Ask yourself what your team needs from you, not what you need from them, and play your part.
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Persisting #1207
Felix Dennis built a publishing empire and became one of the richest men in England. But he had to persist through dire poverty and economic recession. As Winston Churchill said, “Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
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Hibernating #1206
Preparation is the key to success, as demonstrated by Backpack the bear, who won Fat Bear Week 2026 by preparing diligently during the summer. Your “winter” is determined by the work you do in your “summer”.
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Something #1205
Terry Fox, an 18 year-old cancer survivor, attempted to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. Despite not finishing due to cancer, returning, his legacy lives on through the annual Terry Fox Run, which is raised over $1 billion. The message encourages people to start small and do...
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Flipping #1204
Ozzie Smith, the Hall of Fame shortstop, did a signature back flip when he took the field at the start of baseball games. This act symbolized his appreciation for the privilege of playing baseball. You don’t have to do a backflip every day, but you can flip your attitude and recognize the gift in...
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Scaffolding #1203
Todd Graves, founder of Raising Cane‘s, viewed his temporary jobs as scaffolding to build his dream business. He worked various jobs, including as a boilermaker, and salmon fisherman, to fund his chicken finger restaurant. His story emphasizes that current jobs are steppingstones, not permanent...
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Adding #1202
There are two types of people: adders and subtractors. Adders believe that sharing ideas, energy, and credit increases them, while subtractors hoard them. Share an idea, give credit, or bring energy to others today, and you’ll receive more in return.
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Doing #1201
The “know–do gap“ is the difference between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Knowledge without action is useless, so take action to close the gap between knowing and doing.
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Owning #1200
General Bill Creach improved the air forces maintenance system by assigning dedicated crew chiefs to each jet, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility. The story highlights that ownership is a mindset, not just a title, and encourages listeners to treat their responsibilities with care,...
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Filtering #1199
The most important story you hear is the one you tell yourself. Just as we filter our water, we should filter what we feed our minds. Sonya Carson‘s decision to limit her son’s TV time and encourage reading, demonstrates the power of controlling mental inputs.
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Painting #1198
A painting by Gertrude Abercrombie, purchased for $30 at an estate sale, was later authenticated and will be auctioned for up to $250,000. The story highlights the importance of recognizing one’s own value, regardless of external perceptions or circumstances.
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Improving #1197
The most valuable player on a team is the one who makes everyone else better, not the one who scored the most. Bill Russell exemplified this by elevating his teammates performance, leading the Celtics to 11 championships. The best way to measure your own success is by how much better you make…
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Focusing #1196
Focus is not just paying attention, but paying attention to the right thing. Instead of focusing on results, focus on effort, as demonstrated by Diana Nyad successful swim across Leek Ontario. Remember, you are the driver of your life, so focus on your effort and the results will follow.
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Resuming #1195
Emma Tillman has run marathons in all 50 states despite setbacks like a pulmonary embolism and a chronic gut condition. After a two year hiatus, she completed her goal in Alaska, proving that a pause is not a stop.
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Gaming #1194
Nigel Richards, a New Zealand Scrabble champion, won the French in Spanish world championships without speaking the languages. He focused on learning the rules and strategies of the game, not the languages themselves. The lesson is to simplify and focus on the specific game you’re playing, rather...
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Advising #1193
Poet Ilan Shamir found clarity by sitting quietly beside a tree and listening to his own inner wisdom, which inspired his poem “Advice from a Tree.“ The poem‘s message is to hold your ground, take risks, remember your roots, and enjoy the journey.
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Capitalizing #1192
Jason “Jmac” McElwain, a student manager for the Greece Athena Trojans, scored 20 points in three minutes during his only varsity basketball game. Instead of fading into obscurity, he built a career as a coach, official, and speaker, demonstrating that his best moment was just the beginning of a...
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Training #1191
Rudy Giuliani observed that firefighters and police officers, trained for dangerous situations, would tremble at press conferences. The Takeaway is that training, not talent, is the key to success in any area.
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Meaning #1190
A study found that hotel room attendance who were told their job was exercise experience, experienced health, benefit, benefits, despite no change in their workload. This highlights, the power of meaning and personal value in motivating behavior change.
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Rescuing #1189
Nicholas Winton, a London stock broker, saved 669 children from Nazi persecution in 1939. His story, largely unknown for decades, highlights, the power of individual actions to make a significant difference. Recognize opportunities for good in their daily lives, no matter how small.
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Climbing #1188
Fishermen don’t put lids on crab buckets because the crabs will pull each other down if one tries to escape. This story illustrates how conformity and fear of judgment can hold people back from achieving extraordinary lives. Ignore the “claws” of others, and keep climbing towards your goal!
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Believing #1187
Believing is a skill that can be trained, as illustrated by the story of David and Goliath. Core beliefs, which shape our perception of reality, are built through repetition and focus. By changing our core beliefs, we can transform obstacles into opportunities for growth.
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Tricking #1186
Juan Pujol Garcia, a double agent for both the British and Germans during World War II, successfully deceived both sides with fabricated stories. This highlights how our brains, like Garcia, can act as “double agents,“ prioritizing safety instability over success by generating stories that...
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Shifting #1185
While technology advances, remember that predictions are not set in stone and the future is always uncertain. Focus on the next right thing you do today rather than being swayed by predictions.
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Shouting #1184
Stanley Praimnath was one of four survivors of the World Trade Center on 9/11 on a floor above the impact of where the plane struck. Brian Clark heard Stanley’s shouts and together climbed down to safety.
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Meaning #1183
A task may seem menial, but the meaning you bring to it determines its significance. Treat every task with care and dedication, like them, Melanie’s Taylor who cut shirts with love or Dr. Rob Gilbert who recorded 13,000 daily messages.
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Noticing #1182
Jasper Steinmetz, an Indiana University graduate, noticed a worn, red IU backpack worn by a stranger, Samson James. Recognizing the backpack, Jasper discovered Sampson‘s story of hardship and started a fundraiser, raising $20,000 to help him rebuild his life. Taking action after noticing…
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Listening #1181
A 16 year-old Michael Jordan asked a stranger for feedback on his basketball skills, demonstrating his willingness to receive criticism. This openness to feedback, or the “blind“ pain of the Johari Window, is a key trait of successful people. By seeking and accepting feedback from others,...
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Pinpointing #1180
Peter Thiel‘s approach at PayPal was to assign each employee one responsibility, prioritizing the most important task. This eliminated competition and internal conflict, allowing the company to focus on the most critical issues. The key takeaway is to identify and prioritize, your most important...
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Running #1179
Haruki Murakami quit smoking by replacing it with running, a habit that naturally fit his lifestyle. He didn’t try to quit smoking, but rather focused on maintaining his new running habit, which led to quitting smoking as a byproduct. The key used to replace bad habits with good ones, rather than...
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Rising #1178
Dale Sanders is the oldest person to through-hike, the Appalachian Trail and 91 years old. Despite falling 71 times, including a fall 200 yards from the summit, he persevered and finished the trail. His story emphasizes the importance of resilience and the mindset of getting back up after setbacks.
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Warning #1177
A massive ice and rock slide in the Himalayas caused a devastating flood, resulting in over 1000 deaths. While explanations for such disasters are common, they don’t provide the stability needed for rebuilding. Instead, focus on building a solid foundation, like the Pombaline cage used in Lisbon...
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Recommending #1176
Writer and farmer Wendell Berry died this week. Wendell Berry spent 60 years writing about one imagined county in Kentucky. Readers have been handing his books to one another because they found something worth sharing. That’s what a recommendation is. You don’t need to be an expert to tell…
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Arguing #1175
Ethel Caterham is the oldest person on earth. She turned 117 last month. What she says is her secret may surprise you.
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Sticking #1174
Facts don’t stick but stories do. A story makes people discover the truth themselves instead of just being told. The Bible story of Nathan tricking King David into condemning himself with a parable, ties back to the reason these daily messages are built on stories, not lectures.
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Inventing #1173
A new technology developed by science Corp., a company, founded by a NeuroLink cofounder, offers hope to patience with geographic atrophy, an advanced form of macular degeneration. The technology, which involves a chip planted under the retina and glasses with a camera, has restored some vision…
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Serving #1172
Dolly Parton‘s commitment to always being “ambulance-ready” exemplified her dedication to her image and her fans. She believed that every encounter, no matter how small, deserved her best effort, as she understood the impact her presence could have on others. This mindset underscores the…
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Recording #1171
Dolly Parton‘s mother made a commitment to provide for her daughter, despite their poverty, sewing a coat from rags. Dolly made this commitment public by wearing the Koch to school, facing ridicule. Years later, she turned this experience into her favorite song, “Coat of Many Colors,“…
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Amazing #1170
The average person today has the equivalent of 200 servants, thanks to modern conveniences like appliances and smart phones. These machines perform tasks that would have required hundreds of people in the past, and they do so tirelessly and without needing things. Appreciate these modern...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Your thinking is bad. I can help. These quick daily messages aim to upgrade your mental game by helping you tell a better story. The most powerful story in the world is the story you tell yourself. You can download my book at fromchad.gumroad.com. Email me at [email protected] or visit www.fromchad.com for episode transcripts.
HOSTED BY
Chad Smith
CATEGORIES
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How many episodes does From Chad have?
From Chad currently has 851 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is From Chad about?
Your thinking is bad. I can help. These quick daily messages aim to upgrade your mental game by helping you tell a better story. The most powerful story in the world is the story you tell yourself. You can download my book at fromchad.gumroad.com. Email me at [email protected] or visit...
How often does From Chad release new episodes?
From Chad releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 851 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
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Who hosts From Chad?
From Chad is created and hosted by Chad Smith.
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