Confronting the paralyzing question that plagues every leader, parent, and dreamer -"How do you know if you are on the right path?" - McKay challenges the common misconception that clarity must precede action. He argues that confidence is not a prerequisite for starting, but a result of "walking the path" and leaning on proven principles rather than fleeting fads.

McKay opens with Kiva co-founder Jessica Jackley, who discovered her purpose through a single connection in Uganda rather than overwhelming data. He then spotlights Bill Courtney, a coach who rebuilt a team by valuing character over the scoreboard. The episode weaves in lessons from NFL legend Jerry Rice and McKay’s own career pivot to Idaho to illustrate the power of proven principles. It concludes with his daughter’s story, illustrating that clarity often arrives only after we commit to the journey.

Main Themes:

• Clarity is found by walking the path, not by waiting for certainty.
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• When the destination is unclear, rely on "proven principles" like character and discipline.
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• True happiness comes from "self-concordance" - aligning goals with internal values, not external pressures.
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• The sign of the right path is peace, not comfort; comfort is ease, but peace is alignment.
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• Direction often comes through "small miracles" and quiet confirmations rather than dramatic signs.
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• Failure isn't a stop sign; it's "fertilizer" for your growth and potential.

Top 10 Quotes:

"Rarely do we know with absolute certainty that we're on the right path. We start something new without certainty, hoping that it's right, but often unsure."

"Character is what you do when no one is watching."

"Stick with the critical activities. The self-assurance you get from doing so will carry you through the less-than-clear times."

"Comfort means ease. Peace means alignment."

"Peace says, ‘I might be struggling, I might be working hard, but I know I'm in the right struggle.’"

"God will give you some signs. And those signs come in the form of people, encouragement, moments of clarity, or a feeling of certainty."

"You have to walk down the path of uncertainty a bit... you have to try the thing on and start as if you're going to do it, and then you find the answer."

"Start walking, give it your all, and soon you will know."

"Failure can be good. It's fertilizer."

"The difficult road you are on is a purposeful road to help you rise to become more like your Maker."

Show Links:

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

Confronting the universal internal battle against "resistance" - the invisible force of procrastination, fear, and self-doubt that stops us from doing our most important work - McKay draws upon the powerful distinction between an "amateur" and a "pro” to argue that we can consciously decide to adopt a professional mindset in any area of our lives. This decision, he notes, is not about a title or a paycheck; it's an act of will that transforms our approach to challenges, failures, and our ultimate potential.

Opening the episode with the core lesson from Steven Pressfield’s book The War of Art - the hardest part of any task is simply starting - McKay then illustrates the professional mindset through a series of compelling stories. Listeners hear about Kobe Bryant’s legendary work ethic that reset the culture of the 2012 US Olympic basketball team; Captain Tammie Jo Shults’ incredible composure while landing a crippled Southwest jet; and astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell’s steadfast focus on her work, even after being overlooked for a Nobel Prize. The episode culminates with the idea that, like the Apostle Peter, even when we fail, we can "decide again" to be a pro, recommitting to our purpose with even greater strength.

• The greatest obstacle to achieving our goals is an internal force called "resistance," which manifests as procrastination and fear.
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• An amateur works when they feel inspired, but a professional does the work regardless of their mood, the circumstances, or their fear.
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• "Turning pro" is a conscious decision - an act of will to show up and do the work, especially when it's hard.
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• True professionals don't dwell on mistakes; they learn from them and immediately focus on the "next play."
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• A pro is defined by their commitment to their purpose, not by external validation, credit, or praise.
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• Even after a setback, you can always choose to recommit and be "twice born" into your professional mindset, emerging stronger than before.

Top 10 Quotes:

“It's not the writing part that's hard. What's hard is the sitting down to write. What keeps us from sitting down is resistance.”

“That's the price for being in the arena and not on the sidelines. Stop complaining and be grateful.”

“Pros do the work regardless of how they feel.”

“You can't win the next play by thinking about the last one.”

“We make up our minds to view ourselves as pros and we do it. Simple as that.”

“Pros don't get overly excited, emotional, or moved off their professional approach.”

“Every day that you sit around trying to figure out what to do, someone else is already doing it.”

“This time, having decided twice, he is stronger than ever.”

“You can choose to be a pro again.”

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Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

McKay tackles a quiet but pervasive modern crisis: the decline of belief in ourselves, our institutions, and each other. Using powerful case studies and the core concept of the "Belief Window," he argues that this trust can be intentionally rebuilt, transforming our personal and collective realities.

Starting off with Matthew McConaughey's observation that "belief is in short supply," McKay uses a 2025 Pew Research Center study to explore the root causes of this erosion of trust, from the internet's rise to political polarization. The episode then pivots from problem to solution, drawing on the real-world success of a struggling Scottish primary school and the cultural transformation of the Cleveland Clinic. These examples illustrate how specific, actionable strategies - such as listening, celebrating small wins, and fostering empathy - can reignite trust and achieve remarkable results.

Main Themes:

• Belief is the invisible architecture of a functioning society, and its decline is a quiet crisis.
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• Trust can be systematically rebuilt through intentional acts of listening, learning, and celebrating small wins.
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• Our "Belief Window" is the powerful, personal filter that shapes our reality, and it can be changed.
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• True leadership, whether in a family or a business, is about actively building belief in others.
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• A belief in God or a higher purpose can provide a moral foundation and hope in the face of adversity.
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• Deep learning fosters belief, while the age of easy information can lead to superficiality and mistrust.

Top 10 Quotes:

“In our world today, belief is in short supply.”

“Trust is like the air we breathe. When it's present, nobody really notices. When it's absent, everybody notices.”

“If you'll go home and be a light, not a judge, trust and belief will grow.”

“The decline of belief is not an abstract philosophical idea. It very well could become a quiet crisis shaping our homes, our workplaces, and ourselves.”

“You were not put here on this earth to be less than. You're not defined by where you've been, only by where you're going.”

“Learning increases belief.”

“Our belief window makes all the difference.”

“The simple belief that there is a life after this, and the choices we make here in this life have a lasting impact, cause people to make better choices.”

“If you bet on God and you open yourself to His love, you lose nothing, even if you're wrong.”

Show Links:

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen