Do you ever feel invisible? It's not a good feeling, is it? How about the flip side? How does it feel in those special moments when you feel like another human being sees you for who you are - not what you can do for them, but as an end to yourself? Pretty terrific, right? Now, imagine the culture in your organization. How much do the people there feel truly seen? What might it be like if everyone felt seen and appreciated every day? Do you think that might make a difference in attitude? Level of engagement? Amount of energy given to the shared cause? Absolutely - it makes all the difference in the world. For people, and the organizations that provide the structure within which we serve one another, it's the difference between thriving and just surviving, or worse. That's why the Mentor Machine is designed the way it is - to put an evergreen system in place that provides a continuous gravitational pull in this healthy direction.

Have you ever been amazed by how smart people do dumb things? Maybe you're a smart person who has done a silly thing once or twice! In this week's episode, we take a look at seven traps that can turn our very intelligence against us. If you'd like to harness more of that intellect to make wiser decisions and manifest a higher quality life experience, it's a good idea to apply the solutions for these seven traps - just to be sure you're not falling into them now! We draw from the wisdom of Friedrich Nietzsche, Carl Jung, and other important psychological thinkers to light the path to greater wisdom - whether you consider yourself smart or not!

I happened upon the Netflix series Sirens knowing nothing about it. Well, I was drawn in by the sophistication of the story, along with the acting and production. The story is a modern myth, complete with the lessons that mythology offers. To get a good look at some of those lessons, we use the Eye of Power model to analyze the story's elements and distill some wisdom nuggets. When we keep these in mind, we can avoid some of the big traps that can shipwreck us on the rocks of life.

The shortest, and hardest path to a better life - meaning better relationships, better associations, better work conditions, and more peace of mind and fulfillment - is to be impeccable with our word. Don Miguel Ruiz teaches this in his seminal book The Four Agreements. In this episode, we look at what this means both psychologically and in practice. We identify ways to be more impeccable with our word. A more valuable investment in energy there is not.

This week Tom is joined by career guru Donovin Lindsay. Donovin helps those preparing to begin a career with educational choices, career path guidance, resume preparation, interview coaching, and job search strategy. He is also a dynamic speaker who can inspire young people to strive to fulfill their potential. Tom and Donovin talk about his path and discuss some of the ways people can improve their professional experiences.

It's hazardous to talk politics these days. It shouldn't be this way. Not and continue with representative self-governance. What are we supposed to do to avoid the vitriol? In this episode, Tom explores the things that go wrong, and right, in political discourse. It's a powerful episode that many should hear and heed!

Tom welcomes Dr. Philip Mann to the show. Dr. Mann has extensive experience in the fields of Aviation, Project Management, and Leadership. They discuss his views on how leaders can be more effective and Dr. Mann shares important takeaways for anyone who wants to improve their team'x experience and performance. Here is more about Dr. Mann:

Dynamic learning & development professional with nearly 30 years of aviation experience, including 17 years at the Federal Aviation Administration. Recognized aviation safety expert and National Airspace System specialist with a proven track record of implementing impactful initiatives across complex industries. Featured across national and international media outlets, providing expert analysis on critical aviation incidents, reaching 3.6M+ viewers globally.

Dr. Mann partners with organizations to:

- Align learning programs with strategic objectives and measurable outcomes

- Enhance organizational capabilities through innovative training solutions

- Create engaging learning experiences that simplify complex concepts

- Drive successful project outcomes using structured methodologies

Key areas of expertise:

- Strategic learning program design and implementation

- Cross-functional team leadership and project management

- Organizational effectiveness and employee engagement

- Aviation safety and operational analysis

- NAS infrastructure project management and technical operations

- Risk management in high-stakes environments

Dr. Mann's approach combines industry knowledge with expertise in:

- Organizational assessment and strategic analysis

- Adult learning principles and instructional design

- Stakeholder engagement and change management

- Federal aviation regulations and safety standards

- Aviation systems implementation

Current Roles:

- Director, Center for Project Management Innovation and Assistant Professor of Organization and Management, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

- Adjunct Assistant Professor of Project Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Featured Media Appearances:

- LiveNOW Fox

- USA Today

- NewsNation Now (Multiple appearances)

- The Associated Press (AP)

- Morning Glory with Mike Graham (London)

- WGAL 8 News (Multiple appearances)

- And other prominent national and international media outlets

Dr. Mann is open to discussing organizational transformation, learning & development initiatives, aviation safety, project management in aerospace, or general aviation industry insights.

#LearningAndDevelopment #OrganizationalEffectiveness #StrategicAnalysis #ProjectManagement #AviationExpert #EmployeeEngagement #ChangeManagement #MediaCommentary #RiskManagement #AviationSafety

This week, we turn topical as we look at the recent historic NFL draft. Highly rated University of Colorado Quarterback Shedeur Sanders was widely anticipated to be a high draft pick. As the draft unfolded, he fell all the way to the fifth round. This has been met with a wide array of reaction, and many people have a take about what exactly happened. Whatever the dynamics that caused his fall in perceived or real value, Shedeur's story shows us some things about our personal power. Tom discusses these and invites further discussion.