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In this Bite Size Fridays episode of It's an Inside Job, host Jason Liem introduces the contrarian mindset and its first skill: focusing on what we can control. The contrarian mindset is about challenging the status quo in our minds, questioning our typical reactions, and discovering unconventional yet effective ways to enhance resilience and navigate life’s unpredictability. Jason explores how the practice of focusing on controllable aspects can alleviate stress, streamline decision-making, and foster a proactive approach to achieving personal and professional goals.

Three Key Takeaways from This Episode:

1. Understanding Control vs. Influence:
   Jason explains the importance of distinguishing between what lies within our control and what does not. By focusing on controllable elements in our lives, we can direct our energies more effectively and feel more empowered. This approach minimizes stress and allows us to allocate resources toward meaningful actions.
2. Shifting from Reactive to Proactive Thinking:
   Moving from a reactive stance to a proactive one is essential for building resilience. Jason encourages listeners to adopt a proactive approach by setting clear goals, anticipating challenges, and making informed decisions aligned with their core values. This shift ensures that we respond to life's uncertainties with flexibility and resilience.
3. Mastering the Art of Letting Go:
   The art of letting go is integral to the contrarian mindset. Jason discusses the benefits of releasing our need for control over external outcomes and instead focusing on internal strengths and adaptability. This approach not only reduces stress but also enhances mental clarity and emotional well-being.

Episode Highlights:

• Contrarian Mindset Overview:
  Jason defines the contrarian mindset and explains how it can simplify life by cutting through fears, dysfunctional thinking, and unhelpful mental patterns.
• Skill 1: Focusing on What We Can Control:
  The episode dives into the first skill in the contrarian mindset, focusing on controllable aspects and letting go of external uncertainties. Jason shares tips for implementing this approach to reduce stress, improve focus, and feel more empowered in daily life.
• Combatting Information Overload:
  Jason touches on information overload in the digital era and how focusing on what's within our control can help counter this modern-day challenge.

Additional Resources:
Interested in building a contrarian mindset for resilience, fortitude, and psychological strength? Check out the other episodes in this series linked in the show notes, and subscribe to It’s an Inside Job for more insights on resilience, well-being, and personal growth.

Part 1 – Discover the Power of The Contrarian Mindset: A New Approach to Rewiring Your Brain for Resilience and Growth

Part 2 – Discover the Power of The Contrarian Mindset: A New Approach to Rewiring Your Brain for Resilience and Growth

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Curious about what it takes to become a successful negotiator? What if you could learn from a negotiation expert with extensive international experience? If you're ready to enhance your negotiation skills and navigate complex discussions with confidence, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Remi Smolinski, a negotiation professor at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management. With a focus on negotiation theory and practice in international settings and innovation management, Dr. Smolinski brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our discussion.

Imagine mastering the art of negotiation, overcoming common pitfalls, and effectively navigating complex discussions.

By listening to this episode, you can:

1. Understand Successful Negotiation: Learn what it means to negotiate well and strategies for effectively overcoming common challenges.
2. Measure Negotiation Performance: Discover key indicators and metrics used to assess the effectiveness of negotiation outcomes.
3. Apply Innovative Approaches: Gain insights into innovative negotiation strategies and their impact on the negotiation landscape.

Three Benefits You'll Gain:

1. Comprehensive Negotiation Strategies: Learn practical strategies for navigating negotiations across cultures and diverse backgrounds.
2. Skill Development: Understand the role of negotiation competitions in developing negotiation skills and how they differ from real-world scenarios.
3. Future Trends: Stay ahead of emerging trends and developments that will shape the field of negotiation theory and practice.

Are you ready to uncover the secrets of successful negotiation and enhance your negotiation skills? Scroll up and click play to join our enlightening conversation with Dr. Remi Smolinski.

Learn practical strategies, innovative approaches, and key skills to become an effective negotiator in an ever-evolving world.

Dr. Remi Smolinski's contact information:
LinkedIn: @DrRemiSmolinski
Website: The Negotiation Challenge
Book: The Negotiation Challenge: How to Win Negotiation Competitions

REFERENCES:
S2 E21: Learn how you can build resilience & confidence in demanding conversations with one of Singapore's top mediators. Interview with Aloysius Goh.
S1 E23:Learning How to Negotiate by Keeping The Brain in Mind. Interview with Roar Wægger.

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Sign up for the weekly IT'S AN INSIDE JOB NEWSLETTER

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Get in touch with us! We’d appreciate your feedback and comments.

In this episode of It’s an Inside Job, we take on the often overlooked reality of domestic abuse with Deena Kordt—advocate, author, and podcaster. Drawing on her lived experience of emotional and psychological trauma, Deena explains how non-physical abuse works, why it’s hard to name, and how it can reshape a person’s sense of self and safety. She shares her path from a strict conservative upbringing to surviving an abusive marriage for more than three decades.

We talk about the patterns that keep abuse hidden: silence, “invisibility” as a coping strategy, and the slow build of control. Deena breaks down how hyper-vigilance and people-pleasing can become survival habits—and how they often persist even after someone leaves. Her reflections challenge the myth that abuse must be physical to be real, and spotlight the manipulation that makes emotional and psychological abuse so difficult to recognize and describe.

Deena also offers practical guidance for supporting someone who discloses abuse: validate what they’re telling you, protect their confidentiality, and show steady, non-judgmental concern. We also address common misconceptions and stigma, including the fact that men can be victims too—and often face additional barriers to seeking help. Deena argues for more open, informed conversations so support becomes easier to access and shame loses its grip.

The episode closes with three concrete actions for anyone experiencing—or witnessing—abuse: tell a trusted person, document what’s happening, and build a clear, practical exit plan for when it’s safe. Deena’s message is simple and hard-won: reclaiming your voice starts with recognising your worth, and none of this has to be faced alone.

Life Changes Channel Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7lvBpq6n1Otj42xcKTk5VX?si=6cbe25a55c704260

Websites:
https://DeenaKordt.com/
https://LifeChangesMag.com/

Deena Kordt LI profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deenakordt/

UGlowGRL FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/UGlowGRL19/

UGlowGRL IG acct:
https://www.instagram.com/u.glow_grl/?hl=en

Life Changes & Divorce IG:
https://instagram.com/lifechanges_divorcemagazine_ca?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Life Changes & Divorce FB Pg:
https://www.facebook.com/lifechangesdivorcemagazinecanada/

Life Changes & Divorce LI Pg:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/divorcemagazinecanada/

Life Changes & Divorce YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@U.Glow_GRL

Shift Happens Talk Show:
https://deenakordt.com/shifthappensshow

Books:
https://deenakordt.com/makeshithappen

Support the show

Sign up for the weekly IT'S AN INSIDE JOB NEWSLETTER

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