Author: Carla Ondrasik

What if the one word holding you back is the word you use the most?

On this episode of Caught on the Mike, Mike sits down with Carla Ondrasik—bestselling author of STOP TRYING!, former Vice President of Creative Writer Development at EMI Music Publishing, and the creator of the powerful No Try philosophy.

Carla spent over 20 years helping sell millions of records, working with legendary artists like Mariah Carey, Cher, NSYNC, and Christina Aguilera, and famously discovered John Ondrasik (Five for Fighting) by hearing him sing through a wall—and choosing to act. In this conversation, she breaks down how the word “try” quietly programs hesitation and excuses, why incomplete intentions drain mental energy, how replacing “try” with decisive action activates momentum, confidence, and dopamine, and why trying harder often leads to worse results. Most importantly, she shares simple, science-backed ways to turn intention into action and finally do the things we keep saying we’ll try.