The Executive's Mind

The brain uses a specific framework for learning and functioning in the world. Just like individual personalities don’t alter the underlying mechanisms of the circulatory system, there is a foundational structure by which our brains form associations. I refer to this framework as the Universal Mind (UM).

The Universal Mind Framework helps us understand the way we develop behaviors and patterns - and provides a guide to modify our approach when we want to achieve or experience something new or different in life.

I think about personality and life experience as an essential context layer that must be applied to this framework for it to be an effective guide in our lives.

Like overlaying the topography on a basic trial map.

You get direction and distance from the basic map - but you need the topography to fully understand the journey you are about to take.

The topography adds the context of where things will get tough and where you might be able to rest. Without this added context, your ability to successfully complete the journey is left up to chance.

Throughout my life and work, I've frequently encountered a type of topography I call The Executive's Mind (TEM). This landscape impacts leaders, thinkers, experts and high achievers. It affects their ability to take new risks, think innovatively, and reconnect with their inventive mind, specifically after achieving success.

Defining Executive’s Mind

You don't have to literally carry a c-suite title. Although, if you do, you are highly likely to qualify. An ‘executive’ in this context is someone who has worked for and achieved success in life, as they set out to do it. It could be in any area of life - the important thing is that there was something this person wanted, they worked toward it and they've been successful in getting it.

Achieving professional success is just as valid as building a family, a home, being a leader in your community, creating a body of work - all that matters is that the thing you worked toward and achieved was something you set out to get.

At this point, you may be wondering if other types of people even exist. They do. And the fact that you are asking yourself this question indicates a strong likelihood that everything I'm about to say applies to you and your Executive's Mind.

What it's Not

Contrast what I'm describing with someone who falls into success or who was just never driven toward any specific goal. External measures of success aren't important here - someone who lifted themselves out of poverty to a stable middle-income life would qualify while someone who inherits property unexpectedly or who effortlessly rides natural talent and privilege but never feels a drive to push for even loftier outcomes would likely not qualify.

You could also contrast with Executive’s Mind with someone who is simply content with their lives and always has been – this is the hometown loyalist who can’t understand why someone would want to run off to the big city.

It isn’t a statement of good or bad – the point is that people are built differently, and those differences are meaningful and should be considered in our approach to helping them.

Conditions that develop the topography of The Executive's Mind are:

1. You had a goal or something you wanted. Maybe you had multiple goals, but one is sufficient.

2. You worked for it. The process of getting there required some degree of self-reliance, risk, strategy, persistence and grit.

3. You succeeded. Of course, you had your share of failures along the way and the result may not be exactly as imagined (it probably isn't) but when you look around today - you can say that the things you have in life are most of the things you set out to get.

Living through this want-work-achieve cycle develops and engrains a TEM topography.

Universally Stuck

The Universal Mind is designed to optimize overtime. As we progress through life, the mind focuses more and more on what is known and proven to work for us. It is less likely to spontaneously create. This is why you don't see many middle-aged people with imaginary friends - and if they dare to step out of the status quo we have a term for that - mid-life crisis.

While getting stuck is a natural part of life for everyone, what it looks like when you get there is relative. That’s what creates the unique topography layer – the landscape surrounding you in the moment of stalemate.

Some people are stuck in a rut, they are lost in a valley on the trail trying to find their way up and out. For those with the patterns of the Executive's Mind - their vantage point is at the summit.

They've gotten to the intended destination and are looking around - not sure what comes next or even how to chart the course. The nuances here are important and to be effective, we have to work within this context - not outside of it.

When an 'executive' is in the valley - they kick into action mode. They are very unlikely to get stuck here for long. They are wired to create strategies and carry out the necessary work to make the climb. In many ways, being in the valley is when they are at their best.

And most ‘self-help’ is written from the perspective of someone stuck in the valley. They are at some rock bottom. We don't often consider someone at the summit needing 'help' or 'advice' - which is precisely why I believe this work is so essential.

The Focus of my Work

My work is all about understanding why people do what they do so that I can help them navigate their own patterns and live fuller lives, in whatever way they define it.

Every day I see brilliant leaders and thinkers held back by their own patterns and mindsets. The very things that got them where they are – now box them in. They are hanging out at the summit and don’t know where to go next.

My goal is to enable this group to reconnect with their inspiration, creativity and brilliance so that they can show up as their most authentic selves every day. I believe that when our top leaders and thinkers are at their best - it ripples out to everyone their lives touch and carries the potential to ultimately impact everyone in the world.

This is why I do what I do.

The Process: Applied to TEM

Everyone eventually gets stuck at one time or another, it’s an unavoidable aspect of the Universal Mind doing its job. But when someone with TEM gets stuck, the context of their journey is rarely considered and by ignoring it, the world of self-improvement appears either irrelevant, overly simplistic or worst of all – becomes yet another prodding force toward relentless achievement and perfectionism.

The result is that our leaders and experts are left to figure it out for themselves and many remain stuck because of it.

When are best thinkers, innovators and problem-solvers stop creating and stop showing up we all miss out.

The point is not to create new ways of working with the brain, there are plenty of existing techniques that work - instead, this is about how to apply the proven tools in a way that leverages the strengths and is sensitive to the unique challenges of TEM. My work is to present those proven techniques in an order and manner that works with you, not against you or in spite of you.

The Executive's Mind is not a diagnosis - nor is it something to get rid of. You earned it - just like everything else you've earned in life. It's about understanding it, so you can use it to fuel your own progress instead of potentially allowing it to stall you out.

Whether you are interested in learning more about my work or you are looking to apply it to your own life – either contact me or subscribe to my Substack.