IgnitedNeurons

Our Mission is to inspire & ignite your spark & be part of your journey as you discover your true self.

We are an organization driven by a sense of purpose and a clear focus on delivering impact with every life we touch. The three values are a part of our DNA and are expressed in our every interaction, every action.
> Excellence श्रेष्‍ठता - the quality of being very good
> Empathy समानुभूति - the ability to imagine how another person is feeling
> Equality समानता - everyone has the same rights and advantages

We truly believe that each one of us has greatness within us. Our objective is to be with you on that journey to discover who you are and who you can be.

We provide the following services - 
1. Executive and Leadership Coaching
2. First Time Manager Coaching Journeys
3. Happiness Coaching
4. Sessions on Well-being, Finding Purpose
5. Co-create Journeys to Help Each One be their Best Self

Founder

The IgnitedNeurons Podcast

I am the host of The IgnitedNeurons podcast that aims at humanising leadership by building conversations with guests and amplifying their stories globally!

Podcast Host

Can We Talk

Learning and Development Manager

BetterUp

BetterUp partners with global enterprise customers to bring transformation experiences to their people and measurable growth to their organizations. At BetterUp, I coach executives from Fortune 500 companies across the globe to help them navigate workplace challenges and achieve professional goals for career success. The BetterUp experience brings together world-class coaching, AI technology, and behavioral science experts to deliver change at scale - improving individual resilience, adaptability, and effectiveness.

Fellow Coach

Associate Coach

Torch

Torch is an integrated platform for Learning and Development leaders to deliver, manage, and measure employee growth at scale. In this role, I will be an Executive Coach to the clients that Torch onboards onto their platform.

Executive Coach

Mentora

In this role, I am heading the India Office for the organization & working closely with clients in the Asia-Pacific region. I enjoy the challenge of keeping pace with the changing external conditions while staying authentic to who I am as an individual and we are as a team.

Director Of Operations & Client Development

Director Of Marketing

Director Of Photography

Production Manager

Narang Healthcare and Wellness

Director & Founder

Executive Coach | Your Copilot to a Fulfilling Life and Career Growth | Powered by the Ignite Life Method™ | Coached 1,200+ Leaders at Dropbox, Salesforce, Coinbase | Take the Quiz to See What Needs to Shift — Now

Do you feel that you are stuck in your career,
life overwhelmed with busyness, 
and you are disconnected from yourself... 
then we need to talk.

Most high achievers I coach aren’t broken — they’re just disconnected.

🚨 Disconnected from their purpose.
🚨 Disconnected from the work they once loved.
🚨 Disconnected from the life they truly want to live.

It shows up as: STUCK, FRUSTRATION, LOST.

❌ Career stagnation
❌ Constant firefighting
❌ Burnout masked as busyness
❌ Imposter syndrome despite success

I help ambitious professionals — founders, product leaders, and emerging executives — reignite clarity, rebuild courage, and create conscious impact using The Ignite Method™.

You don’t have to choose between growth and fulfilment. You can have both.

🔥 The Ignite Method™

1. Clarity Journey — Rediscover who you are and what truly matters.
2. Courage Building — Move through fear and start acting boldly.
3. Conscious Impact — Create a career and life that actually feels like success.
4. Cohesive Action — Align what you think, feel, and do every single day.

🎯 What My Clients Gain

✅ Unshakable clarity on what’s next
✅ Courage to make big, aligned decisions
✅ Confidence to lead teams or businesses with purpose
✅ Energy and ownership to thrive at work and at home

📍 A Bit About Me

- PCC Certified Coach (ICF)
- 1,200+ leaders coached in 18+ countries
- Clients from Google, Coinbase, Dropbox, Salesforce, Intel, EA Sports, Rubrik, Visa, Zynga and more
- TEDx Speaker: Can Fear Push Us to be Courageous? Google it!
- Founder, IgnitedNeurons — a platform helping build a culture of high performance, growth mindset and based in values!
- Building the IgnitedNeurons Podcast to extract lessons you and I can apply in everyday life

💼 If You’re Leading a Team or Organisation:
I also partner with founders, HR heads, and L&D leaders to design bold cultures, build values-driven teams, and humanise leadership.

📩 Ready to Take the First Step?
Take the free 5-minute Ignite Life Quiz to discover what’s holding you back.

Let’s ignite your next chapter.

Utkarsh Narang

Stuck isn’t a place. 
It’s a mindset.

At the start of 2025, I thought clarity would just show up.

Spoiler: it didn’t.

What worked instead? 
Courage. 
Curiosity. 
Imperfect action.

Now as the year closes, ask yourself: Am I where I want to be?

If not, don’t wait for January 1. Change begins the moment you choose.

Here are 25 ways to get unstuck before 2026 begins:
1.	Reconnect with your values.
2.	Follow curiosity.
3.	Reach out to old peers and mentors.
4.	Test-drive skills through side projects or volunteering.
5.	Build something of your own.
6.	Learn: courses, books, workshops.
7.	Shadow someone in a role you admire.
8.	Refresh LinkedIn and your CV.
9.	Explore a new industry.
10.	Start small, aim consistent.
11.	Join inspiring communities.
12.	Reflect: what’s working, what’s not?
13.	Protect your energy.
14.	Ask for feedback.
15.	Attend events,online or offline.
16.	Embrace imperfection.
17.	Find a mentor or coach.
18.	Tap into online resources.
19.	Research company cultures.
20. Sharpen soft skills.
21.	Track and celebrate wins.
22. Stay open to surprise paths.
23. Try coaching for clarity.
24. Take the risk you’ve avoided.
25. Keep going.

Progress is rarely perfect but it is possible.
And sometimes, one small step is all it takes to open the next big door.

💬 What’s one step you’ll take before the year ends?

♻️ Share this with someone who feels stuck right now.

👋🏼 I’m Utkarsh Narang, Executive Coach and lifelong learner. I share ideas on leadership, growth, and living courageously. Follow along for more.

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Talks about #personalgrowth, #bebettereveryday, #leadershiplessons, #utkarshbrainspark, and #leadershipcoaching

Executive Coach Helping Ambitious Professionals Breakthrough Stuck Careers & Inner Frustration | Ignite Life Method™ | Coached 1,200+ Leaders at Dropbox, Salesforce, Coinbase | Take the Quiz to Reignite Yourself

Your past doesn’t define you.

Your next choice does.

We spend so much of our lives replaying old memories: 
the job we left, 
the words we wish we hadn’t said, 
the version of ourselves we can’t seem to forgive.

Yes, your past shaped you.
Yes, it taught you lessons.

But it doesn’t decide who you become now.

The future? It’s a man-made illusion.

Will you or I even be here for it? No one knows.
And that’s the whole point. The only thing that truly exists is this moment, and the choice you make in it.

Viktor Frankl once said:

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space.
In that space is our power to choose our response.
In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

That space is where life changes.
It’s where courage replaces fear.
It’s where awareness turns into action.

Every time you choose with awareness, you rewrite your story.
You move from reacting to responding.
From surviving to living consciously.

If you’re at that point where you’re ready to choose differently, to build a life rooted in clarity, courage, and conscious impact, that’s exactly what we do through the Ignite Life Method.

Because your next choice can change everything.

💬 What’s one choice you’re ready to make, consciously, today?

Are you winning in life? I am. 
And yes, I don’t have the CXO title or a billion dollars in my bank.

If you want to win in life, 
you need to know what it actually means to win.

Here are 4 hard truths most people learn the hard way 👇

I promise that if you can put these into practice, 
You will get closer to winning life, and very few are lucky enough to achieve this.

1️⃣ You won’t be liked by everyone.
The moment you start choosing yourself, someone will call you selfish.
Let them.
You’re not here to be universally liked. You’re here to live truthfully.

2️⃣ Not everyone deserves access to you.
Your time, energy, and attention are currency.
Spend them on people who expand you, not those who drain you.

3️⃣ Growth means leaving people behind.
You’ll outgrow circles, habits, and even versions of yourself.
It’s not betrayal. It’s evolution.

4️⃣ No one is coming to save you.
Not your manager. Not your partner. Not luck.
The day you stop waiting for rescue is the day you start leading your own life.

Winning isn’t about having it all.
It’s about having the courage to let go 
of validation, approval, and old identities 
so you can finally become who you’re meant to be.

💬 Which one of these truths hit you hardest today?

If this resonates:
♻️ Repost it to help someone who needs this today!
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more.

“Utkarsh, I just don’t think I’m doing enough.” If I were paid a $ for every time I heard this, I would be a billionaire.

We’re all terrible at seeing our own gifts.

We focus on our flaws.
We dismiss our strengths as “just normal.”
We compare our struggles to everyone else’s highlight reels.

A few months ago, one of my coachees, a senior marketing leader, came to me and said:

“Utkarsh, I just don’t think I’m doing enough.”

She had built a high-performing team, led major launches, and earned deep respect across her organisation.

But all she could see were the gaps, what she hadn’t done, what she could’ve done better.

Through our coaching, we worked on rewriting her lens.
Every session, I asked her one simple question:

“If your best friend achieved what you did, how would you describe them?”

Slowly, something shifted.
The tone changed. The self-talk softened.
She began to see what had always been there. 
Her own brilliance.

Three months later, she didn’t just show up differently at work.
She showed up differently for herself.

Most people don’t need motivation.
They need a mirror, someone who helps them see what they’ve stopped recognising.

That’s what I do through The Ignite Life Method and help people move from self-doubt to self-trust, from noise to clarity.

If you’re constantly questioning your worth despite everything you’ve built,
DM me IGNITE, and let’s help you see yourself clearly again.

💬 When was the last time you gave yourself credit for how far you’ve come?

If this resonated with you, 
♻️ Repost it help someone who needs this today.
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more such insights!

Over the last 40 years, I have grown.
And that growth has come at a cost.

That's what makes growth so scary.
So painful.
So hard.

I have lost relationships, careers, opportunities, and more.

In pursuit of growth that aligns with who I am.

The new you will cost you the old one.
This is how I pay the price.

No one talks about what you’ll have to let go of to grow.
The habits that kept you safe.
The people who preferred your smaller version.
The identity that gave you comfort.
The validation that made you feel seen.

Growth isn’t about adding more.
It’s about shedding everything that no longer fits.
And in that shedding, you’ll lose applause. You’ll lose belonging. You’ll even lose yourself for a while.

But then…
One day, you’ll wake up lighter. Clearer.
And you’ll realise, you didn’t lose anything.
You just outgrew what was never meant to come along.

So if it feels lonely right now, that’s okay.
You’re not breaking down.
You’re breaking through.

🧠 Question for you:
What part of your “old self” are you finally ready to outgrow this season?

When I had 4,000 people in my LinkedIn community, I dreamed of 10,000. At 10,000, I started imagining 20. Now, at 23,000… 

I’ve realised the number was never the point.

There’s a past version of me, sitting behind a clinic desk, or staring at a blank screen, or doubting if my words mattered, who would be amazed to see what I get to do today.

Not because it’s perfect.
But because I kept showing up even when no one was watching.

I kept writing when the likes were low.
I kept coaching when clients were few.
I kept believing that impact begins long before attention arrives.

And that’s what I remind my coachees, too.
The goal isn’t to only scratch the surface,
it’s to go deeper.
To become someone your past self would be proud of.

If you looked back right now,
you’d probably see the same thing,
a younger you who’s stunned you made it this far.

Don’t rush past that version.
Honour them.
Because they’re the reason you’re here.

And you’re not done yet.
Not by a long shot.

💬 What would your past self thank you for today?

If this resonated with you:
♻️ Repost it to help someone who needs it.
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more such insights!

LinkedIn

Most professionals give everything to a job that would replace them in a week.

I am not against that. Hear me out.

82% of professionals say they live with the constant fear of being laid off.

If you are lucky enough to find the sweet spot between your passion, profession, 
And a culture that values it…
Don’t let go.

But if you are someone who 
‼️Dreads Monday morning
‼️Feels that the weeks are long and the weekend is a myth
‼️Does not know what they ‘really’ do at work

Then you must pause. 
Pause and ask yourself…

Who are you?

We’ve tied our identity to our job title.
Our self-worth to our performance review.
Our security to a company that can change its mind overnight.

This is why it hurts so much when people lose jobs,
because they don’t just lose income,
they lose who they thought they were.

Work is important.
But it’s not your oxygen.

You existed before your job.

You’ll exist after it.

If you’re reading this and feeling the weight, 
start investing in yourself, not just your company.

Learn. Reflect. Build something that no layoff can touch,
your clarity, courage, and capability.

Because if you don’t define who you are beyond work,
someone else will.

➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more content that hits hard.

Last weekend, I had the joy of coaching my 11-year-old son’s basketball game. Before tip-off, I told the boys something simple…

 👉 “That’s the basket you’re scoring in.”
They laughed, of course, they knew that.
But in the second half, something happened.

In all the excitement, one of our players sprinted across the court, dodged defenders beautifully, and scored in the wrong basket.

The crowd gasped. 
The kid froze.
He’d done everything right… except one thing.
He’d lost sight of direction.

And that’s when it hit me - we adults do this all the time.
We sprint through life,
chasing goals we didn’t choose,
burning energy in the wrong direction.

Imagine Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating after scoring in his own net.

Or Serena Williams smashing the perfect ace on the wrong side of the court.

Ridiculous, right?
Yet, that’s what so many of us do every day
moving fast, 
going nowhere.

Speed feels good. 
Progress looks good.
But if you’re not clear on where you’re headed,
you’ll end up exhausted, not evolved.

So here’s my reminder:
If you’re moving fast but going nowhere, slow down.
Because in the long game of life,
direction will always matter more than speed.

If this resonates with you,
♻️ Repost it to help someone who might need this today.
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more such daily posts!

___

On Dec 12, I’m hosting a 90-minute masterclass “Unapologetically You.” It’s for anyone ready to stop living the default version of themselves and start leading, creating, and living with their signature.

Save your spot – link is in the comments.

We live in a world where everyone is talking…
but almost no one is telling the truth.

We message, reply, react, “circle back,” drop emojis, soften edges, and avoid anything that might create discomfort.

We communicate constantly.

But honest conversations?

Rare. Painfully rare.

We need to bring truth back.

Truth with empathy.
Truth with courage.
Truth that builds, not breaks.

Because when people start saying the real thing… cultures transform. Teams breathe again. Leaders become human. And individuals feel free.

This week, try asking yourself:
✨ What honest conversation have I been avoiding?
✨ What truth (with kindness) could change everything?
✨ What reality am I finally ready to acknowledge?

Honesty isn’t the risk. Avoidance is.

Follow Utkarsh Narang and subscribe to the newsletter!

Welcome to another beautiful week. When an idea sparks that I think is worth sharing, it becomes this weekly newsletter. If something hits home, write

A world full of communication but starved of conversations

'A-Players' are not born. They are made. 
The world needs more A Players.

Here’s what the research says 👇🏽

Harvard and McKinsey found that the top 20% of people create nearly 80% of results.

They’re not just more talented.
They’re more intentional.

When I watch a Roger Federer, an Usain Bolt, a Serena Williams... I wonder, what is different about them and I think it comes down to their insatiable appetite for growth.

A Players:
 ✅ Own outcomes, not excuses.
 ✅ Seek feedback, not comfort.
 ✅ Compete with their potential, not their peers.
 ✅ Turn pressure into progress.

But here’s the truth most people miss -
Being an A Player is a choice.
Not everyone wants to go there.

But if something inside you whispers, “I was made for more,” then staying in your comfort zone will always feel like betrayal.

Because a few decades from now, 
you’ll meet one of two versions of yourself:

Your default self or your designed self.

Which one will it be?

Answer in the comments and let's have a conversation.

Follow Utkarsh Narang for more!

What It Takes to Become an 'A' Player

7 costs of entry you must pay to get the life you want
(most people quit at #3)

1️⃣ Rejection — Airbnb
Rejected by investors 20 times. They turned cereal boxes into cash to survive.

2️⃣ Embarrassment — Howard Schultz (Starbucks)
His idea was laughed at 242 times. He kept pouring the coffee anyway.

3️⃣ Uncertainty — Netflix
They offered to sell to Blockbuster for $50M and were turned down.
That moment of uncertainty birthed a $200B empire.

4️⃣ Discipline — Jeff Bezos
Every year he writes the same shareholder letter: “It’s still Day One.”
Boring consistency beats bursts of brilliance.

5️⃣ Loneliness — Sara Blakely (SPANX)
No one believed in her idea for women’s shapewear.
She sold door-to-door with a smile and grit.

6️⃣ Faith — Walt Disney
Bankrupt twice. Rejected hundreds of times.
Still believed in the magic he wanted to build.

7️⃣ Ego Death — Steve Jobs
Fired from Apple. Built Pixar. Came back stronger.

Sometimes you must lose what you built to rediscover who you are.

The cost of the life you want?
A true belief in who you are and what you aspire to build.

Everything fake, easy, or familiar.
But on the other side of that payment… is freedom.

If this resonates with you,
♻️ Repost it to help someone who might need this today.
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more such daily posts!

___

On Dec 12, I’m hosting a 90-minute masterclass “Unapologetically You.” It’s for anyone ready to stop living the default version of themselves and start leading, creating, and living with their signature.

Save your spot – link is in the comments.

7 costs of entry you must pay to get the life you want 

Don’t preach what you can’t practice.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
 
Ralph Waldo Emerson said that.

I lived that.
Most people don’t know this, but my career didn’t move in a straight line.

It looked more like a crash course in starting over.
✅From Physiotherapy - three clinics, full house, “successful” by every measure.
✅To Video Production, where I filmed 400+ hours of leadership content, with no roadmap, just curiosity.
✅To Sales, where I learned the art of rejection and resilience.
✅To Coaching, where I finally found alignment between who I am and what I do.

Every chapter felt like burning down an old version of myself, with family, kids, bills, and responsibilities whispering, “play it safe.”
But something louder inside said, “You were not born to play small.”
Reinvention isn’t about being fearless.

It’s about being honest. Brutally, unapologetically honest,
about the fact that comfort kills dreams.

And every time I chose growth over fear, I found a deeper version of me waiting on the other side.
If you’re in a season of doubt, remember this…
The world benefits nothing from your pretending.

Your kids, your team, your future self, they’re all watching you choose.

On Dec 12, I’m hosting a free 90-minute masterclass: Unapologetically You

It’s for those who are done hiding behind titles, roles, and expectations and ready to build an unapologetic mindset.
Because the greatest accomplishment is not success.

It’s becoming yourself and staying that way.
👉 Register now. Don’t wait for life to force you into clarity. Choose it.

—

If this resonates with you,
♻️ Repost it to help someone who might need this today.
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more such daily posts!

Everyone has a signature.
Few ever live it.

A thumbprint. A voice. A rhythm.

Even that scribble at the end of your email — uniquely yours.

And yet, somewhere between fitting in and growing up,
most of us became templates.

Every time you mute your truth to please the room,
you erase a line from that signature.

The goal isn’t to be perfect —
it’s to be distinct.

To bring your flavour, your courage, your weirdness, fully alive.
Because nobody remembers the photocopy.

They remember the original.

On Dec 12 at 12 PM, I’m hosting a 90-minute masterclass “Unapologetically You.” It’s for anyone ready to stop living the default version of themselves and start leading, creating, and living with their signature.

Save your spot – link is in the comments.

Why Be Ordinary When You Can Have Your Signature?

An engineering manager I worked with once told me,

“Utkarsh, I’ve been trying to move into people leadership for 5 years, but nothing’s shifting.”

He was smart, capable, and respected.

But he couldn’t move upward because he couldn’t influence
not stakeholders, 
not decisions, 
not outcomes.

Through our coaching, we discovered something powerful:
He already knew how to influence.
He did it everyday, with his friends, with his family, in his personal life.
He listened deeply. He understood others. He made people feel seen.

But the moment he walked into work, that shifted.
He feared judgment.
He tried to sound “smart” instead of being real.
He started performing instead of connecting.

That’s what most people get wrong about influence.
It’s not about talking louder, dressing sharper, or being in every meeting.
It’s about creating space for others to succeed around you.

Once he broke through that fear and showed up the same way at work as he did outside it.
He was unstoppable.
Within three months, he’d built trust, led with empathy, and earned the leadership role he’d been chasing for years.

If you’re reading this and you’ve been:
•	Stuck in the same role for years
•	Doing great work but still unseen
•	Unsure how to influence upward

Then it’s time to stop trying to “act” influential and start becoming it.

That’s exactly what we do through The Ignite Life Method.

We help leaders build clarity, courage, and conscious impact - the real foundations of influence.

DM me IGNITE, and let’s unlock your next level.

If this resonates with you,
♻️ Repost it to help someone who might need this today.
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more such daily posts!

___

On Dec 12, I’m hosting a 90-minute masterclass “Unapologetically You.” It’s for anyone ready to stop living the default version of themselves and start leading, creating, and living with their signature.

Save your spot – link is in the comments.

Facebook Fitness Fanatics.
That was the first community I ever built, more than a decade ago.

I had no playbook. 
No followers. 
No clue what “content strategy” even meant.

Just a deep desire to share, connect, and grow.

We posted workouts, motivation, messy progress photos,
and in that small corner of the internet, I learned what creation really feels like.

Since then…
 🎥 I’ve made YouTube videos.
 💬 Written hundreds of LinkedIn posts.
 🎙️ Launched a podcast.

Different hats. Different platforms.
But one thing stayed constant — I kept showing up.

There were days it felt pointless.

Posts no one read. 
Videos no one watched.

But I kept going.
Because creation, for me, was never about applause.
It was about aliveness.

Looking back, I realise…
What you see today started in silence, not success.

It started with a habit, not hype.

So whatever you’re building today 
do it with joy and consistency.

Because in the long run,
systems will always beat emotions.
And consistency will always beat luck.

If this resonates with you,
♻️ Repost it to help someone who might need this today.
➕ Follow Utkarsh Narang for more such daily posts!

___

On Dec 12, I’m hosting a 90-minute masterclass “Unapologetically You.” It’s for anyone ready to stop living the default version of themselves and start leading, creating, and living with their signature.

Save your spot – link is in the comments.

Why be ordinary when you can have your signature?

Each of us is born with a unique pattern that no one else has.
A thumbprint.
A voice.
A rhythm.
Even that scribble at the end of your email that says PFA, your signature, is uniquely yours.

And yet… most of us live templated lives.
We work like everyone else.
Speak like everyone else.
Even dream within the same safe boundaries.

Somewhere between fitting in and growing up, we lost our originality.
We started seeking validation instead of expression.

But here’s the truth…
Your signature is your story in motion.
It’s your way of saying,
“I was here. I mattered. I left a mark.”

Every time you suppress your ideas to please the room,
you erase a line from that signature.

The goal isn’t to be perfect.
It’s to be distinct.
To bring your flavour, your truth, your weirdness - fully alive.

Because nobody remembers the photocopy.
They remember the original.

On Dec 12 at 12 PM, I’m running a 90-minute masterclass “Unapologetically You.”
It’s for those tired of living the default version of themselves,
ready to reclaim their signature, at work, in life, in impact.

Your signature isn’t what you write.

It’s how you live.

👉 Save your spot. Be remembered for being you.

If I had one thing to tell my 25-year-old self, it would be this:

You don’t need a perfect plan.
You just need to be aligned.

At 25, I was already a father.
A physiotherapist with one clinic.
Hungry to create impact but unsure what success even meant.

Back then, I thought the answer was in doing more.
More clients. More credentials. More work.

But over the last 15 years, I’ve learned something far simpler and far truer.
You don’t need to know where life will take you.
You just need to know who you are and what feels true inside.

Because when you act from alignment,
your path unfolds, step by step,
without a master plan.

If I hadn’t learned this,
I’d still be living someone else’s life.
Still avoiding conflict.
Still mistaking success for validation.

Today, I’ve changed 
not because I figured it all out,
but because I found peace in not knowing.

Have I achieved everything I want to?
No.
Do I have regrets?
None.

Because the moment you start building from who you are,
not what you should be,
life becomes blissfully, beautifully yours.

⸻

💬 If you could tell your 25-year-old self one thing, what would it be?

Most people don’t have a technology problem.
They have a self problem.

We keep asking:
 “How do we make AI better?”
 
But rarely ask:
 “How do we make ourselves better so AI can actually help us?”

This week on the IgnitedNeurons Podcast, I sat down with Barbara Wittmann — an IT leader turned philosopher and the founder of the Digital Wisdom Collective.

And this conversation shook me.

We spoke about:
 🔸 Why freedom is an inner state, not a career choice
 🔸 How limiting beliefs sabotage our potential
 🔸 Why self-image can be dangerously misaligned
 🔸 The “cleanup of the self” and why it must happen before we build better machines
 🔸 How to identify your unique superpower
 🔸 And why the future belongs to the wise, not just the smart

Barbara’s take is simple but profound:
 If we don’t upgrade our inner operating system, AI will only amplify our limitations.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed by the future, or unsure how to navigate the world we’re stepping into, you’ll want to hear this one.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify 
 
If it resonates, please support the podcast by following IgnitedNeurons and sharing the episode with one more person who needs it.

Let’s build wiser humans for a wiser future.

Award-Winning Author & Interim CIO | Pioneer of Digital Wisdom — the OS for AI and Transformation Success

Most people don’t realize how fragile the world really is until someone explains it with clarity.

This week on the IgnitedNeurons Podcast, I sat down with Irina Tsukerman, one of the most fascinating voices in human rights, national security, and information warfare.

From childhood curiosity to becoming a globally recognized attorney, Irina’s journey is a reminder that the world is shaped not just by power but by people who choose to think critically.

We spoke about:
 🔸 Why geopolitical fragmentation is accelerating
 🔸 How social media quietly manipulates our perception of reality
 🔸 The balance between human rights and national security
 🔸 Why dialogue matters more than ever
 🔸 The importance of empathy in disagreement
 🔸 And the one thing we still underestimate: our personal agency

Irina’s insights are sharp, honest, and much needed in a world drowning in misinformation.

If you’ve ever wanted to understand what’s really happening behind the headlines, this episode will open your mind.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify

 If the conversation resonates, please support the IgnitedNeurons Podcast by following, sharing, and sending it to one person who needs to hear it.

Your support goes a long way.
Let’s build a world where nuance still matters.

A national security & human rights lawyer, Fellow at Arabian Peninsula Institute, Fellow at Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Board Member at The Washington Outsider Center for Information Warfare

Ghostwriter & Messaging Strategist helping leaders achieve 70% opt-ins with a Microstory Journey using the 3-Minute Story Blueprint to build trust and convert hesitant prospects into eager customers.

Most businesses struggle to convert leads because they rely on forgettable downloads and meaningless discounts that fail to create an emotional connection. 

Prospects don't just need information, they need to feel valued, to trust you, and to experience genuine engagement. 

That's why I created the concept of the Microstory Journey, a 5-day emotional experience that uses the 3-Minute Story Blueprint to touch hearts, build authentic connections, and establish unshakable trust, turning hesitant prospects into eager customers ready to take action.

AWAI Verified Copywriter
Case Studies Certification
Sales Enablement Certification

WRITING SERVICES I PROVIDE:

📨 5-Day Education Email Courses
💲 Ghostwriting on Social Media Platforms
📰  Newsletters
🌐   Web Content
✍️   Blog Posting
📧   Email Marketing
🛒   Sales Pages
📱   Facebook/Google Ads 

WHOM I WORK WITH: I help executives, CEOs, founders, & coaches.

3 Simple Steps to Powerful Messaging
1. Define your goals and messaging. 
2. Develop a customized storytelling strategy. 
3. Execute and refine messaging for maximum impact.

HERE'S WHAT TO DO NEXT:
Email me at mike@mikehays.net OR
Book a call with me at https://calendly.com/ask-mikehays

Mike Hays

“If I were really that good… wouldn’t people just know?”

I used to think great work spoke for itself.

That thought used to haunt me.

I’d pour my heart into coaching, get referrals 
here and there, and quietly assume that great 
work would naturally lead to great clients.

Meanwhile, I watched others post daily.
Sharing testimonials. Wins. Lessons. Offers.
At first, I judged them. “Must be compensating,” I told myself.

But beneath that judgment?
A fear I didn’t want to name.

The day I tried writing a post about my services, I froze.
It felt like admitting I wasn’t good enough.
Like needing to promote meant my work couldn’t speak for itself.

But then a client said something that cracked the whole illusion:

I had no idea you even did that. 
I would’ve hired you months ago if I knew.

That hit hard.

Here’s what I finally realized:

The people who need you the most aren’t psychic.
They don’t see the lives you’ve changed unless you show them.
They don’t know the depth of your work unless you talk about it.

Self-promotion isn’t proof you’re not good enough.
It’s proof you care enough to serve beyond 
the ones who already found you.

Quiet brilliance doesn’t create impact.
Visible value does.

Self-promotion isn’t arrogance.
It’s leadership.

If you're a coach or consultant struggling to be seen
what's holding you back from showing up?

Follow Mike Hays for more insights on leadership.

Mike  Hays

Messaging Strategist & Ghostwriter for Leaders - I help you turn short stories into trust, influence, and premium clients with my Microstory Journey using the 3-Minute Story Blueprint.

If Your Team Can't Picture Your Strategy…

They'll Never Execute It Properly.

(The visualization gap that kills execution)

Everyone says, "communicate the vision."
But here's what leaders miss:

↳ Abstract strategies create confusion.
↳ Clear mental pictures drive action.

Here's why visualization transforms execution:

1. Cognitive Clarity

↳ Brain processes images 60,000x faster than text
↳ Visual concepts eliminate interpretation gaps
↳ Teams align on the same mental model

2. Emotional Connection

↳ Pictures trigger emotional engagement
↳ People commit to what they can see
↳ Abstract goals feel impossible to reach

3. Decision Framework

↳ Clear vision becomes a filter
↳ Teams self-correct toward the picture
↳ Reduces constant micro-management needs

4. Progress Tracking

↳ Visual goals show measurable progress
↳ Milestones become obvious checkpoints
↳ Momentum builds through visible wins

The Leadership Reality:

↳ Complex strategies overwhelm teams
↳ Clarity beats complexity every time
↳ Simple pictures inspire action

Your team isn't failing execution.
They're failing visualization.

Quick Question:

How do you help your team picture success?

Share your approach below
Follow Mike Hays  for more leadership insights

The Simple Clarity System I Guarded for Years

Now I’m Finally Sharing It

My career has been defined by high-stakes decisions and ticking clocks.

One thing kept me from burning out.

Clarity.

When the pressure hits, your brain 
wants options, not decisions.

More meetings, more messages, 
more browser tabs pretending to be progress.

Early in my career, I played that game.
I was always busy, rarely moving the needle.

Then higher roles raised the stakes even further.

Clients waited on my calls, revenue hinged on my calendar.

That pressure forced a hard truth on me.

Clarity isn't a nice-to-have.
Clarity is survival.

So I built a simple productivity system my career could trust.

Here is the system I use every single day:
→ Decide what you want.
→ Write it down where you will see it.
→ Each morning, choose the ONE task that moves you closest.
→ Block time and do that task before anything else.

No inbox.

No scrolling.

No “quick favors” that hijack your day.

This is how I rebuilt myself, again and again.

I have started companies, sold franchises, and pivoted careers.
Every reinvention began with one clear daily priority.

Most people confuse movement with progress.

Their calendars are full, their results are thin.

You win when your day serves your direction.

Tonight, will you pick tomorrow's one non-negotiable task?

Follow Mike Hays for more leadership advice.

There’s no “magic list” of buyer emotions.

But there is a sequence you can’t skip.

Every time someone says yes to your offer
They’ve walked an invisible emotional path to get there.

Not because you convinced them.
Because you reflected what was already true.

They were feeling something.
They saw themselves in your words.
And something clicked.

It didn’t start with logic.
It started with emotion.

Here’s what that emotional journey looks like underneath the surface:

Desire: “This matters to me.”

Resonance: “You get me.”

Belief: “This could actually work.”

Vision: “That’s what my life could look like.”

Momentum: “I don’t want to wait another day.”

That’s the runway.

Not persuasion.
Progression.

If your story, sales page, or pitch isn’t landing
Check the emotional sequence.

Are you rushing to urgency…
Before someone even believes it’s possible?

Are you pitching transformation…
Before they’ve felt seen?

Every skipped emotion is a drop-off point.
Every honored one builds trust.

Don’t just move people.
Walk with them.

Which step in the emotional journey are you most likely to skip?

Follow Mike Hays for more communication strategies

⚠️ MARKETER WARNING:

Side effects include curiosity, skepticism, and clicks..

Use of the Word “New” May Cause Unexpected Spikes in Attention, Consideration, and Click-Through Rates...

…but only if you know what the heck you're doing.

Side Effects of Reckless “New” Usage Include:

❌ Sudden bursts of hype with no substance
❌ Inflated expectations your product can’t deliver
❌ Momentary engagement followed by long-term brand erosion
❌ Confused buyers who think “new” means “unproven”

Use “New” Responsibly:

✅ Only apply to genuinely novel value
✅ Frame as a trigger for exploration, not a crutch for conversion
✅ Combine with context, contrast, or mechanisms
✅ Treat “new” as a frame, not just a feature

Final Note:

“New” is a match.
Strike it right, and it sparks attention.

Strike it wrong, and you’re just burning through trust.

Use with strategic intent or don’t use it at all.

Follow Mike Hays and look for the release of Story Sells Better Newsletter

She made a decision most people never do.

Did the world’s most famous coaches give her the right advice?

She stopped asking if she should leave her marriage.

And asked something much harder.

They still loved each other. That part wasn’t broken.

But the relationship?
It was stuck.

↳ No spark.
↳ No growth.
↳ Just a subtle decay
Like paint fading in slow motion.

She felt invisible in her own life.
Still loyal. Still present.
But disconnected from the woman she used to be.

She didn’t want a divorce.
She wanted her clarity back.

So she took a chance and asked for help 
from two people known for unlocking human potential.

They didn’t give her an answer.
They gave her a challenge:

What if, for the next 90 days, you led with love, not logic?

What if you stopped waiting to feel it, and became it?

Not the kind of love that feels good to give.
The kind that feels good to receive from him.

↳ Appreciation.
↳ Recognition.
↳ Presence.

Not to change him.
Not to fix anything.

But to clean the lens so she could finally 
see what was real and what wasn’t.

Long-term relationships gather dust.
Old resentments. Recycled assumptions.
Little bruises that go unspoken.

That dust clouds everything.

But clarity doesn’t come from distance.
It comes from immersion.

The question wasn’t:
"Do I stay or go?"

It was:
“Can I show up with zero agenda, total presence, 
and serve the love that’s still alive?”

This isn’t just about marriage.
It’s about ANY relationship that matters.

Whether it's a spouse, a business partner, or your own team:

* Don’t wait for change—>lead it.
* Don’t negotiate love—>demonstrate it.
* Don’t react from fear—>respond from alignment.

She didn’t find the answer.
She became the woman who could see it.

And the coaches who guided her through that?

Tony Robbins and Sage Robbins.

Follow Mike Hays for more communication insights.

Show Up as Yourself 

Attracts Better Clients Than Any Polished Brand Voice.

If visibility feels like selling out, this is for you.
I used to hide behind my clients’ success instead of my own.

As a coach, I hated those polished, corporate-sounding posts.

Every draft I wrote sounded like a brand deck, not me.
So I stayed quiet and told myself silence meant integrity.

Meanwhile, louder voices defined what “leadership” looked like in my space.
Then a dream client said something that stopped me cold.
“I keep referring you, but your online presence doesn’t sound like you.”

They weren’t asking for a polished version.

They were begging for the real coach they met in sessions.

That day I made one rule for visibility.
I will show up as the room version, not the stage version.

↳ No perfect brand voice.
↳ Just the questions I actually ask clients, written in my voice.
↳ No glossy carousels.
↳ Just simple stories, real stakes, and clear invitations to reflect.

The result surprised me.

Views were smaller, but the right people started reaching out.
They quoted my messy lines, not the polished phrases.

Because leadership and coaching land when they feel human.

If you fear selling out, try this experiment for thirty days.

↳ Post as if you were recapping a session to a trusted friend.
↳ One story, one client moment, one honest insight each time.
↳ Hit publish before you smooth the interesting edges away.

Visibility is not selling out when your values hold the microphone.
What part of you are you still hiding from clients?

Follow Mike Hays for more visibility advice

Sometimes the most obvious solution is staring us in the face…

But we can't see it because we're looking too hard.

(The hiring mistake that costs us millions)

We overthink everything:
↳ The revolutionary marketing agency
↳ The perfect candidate profile
↳ The groundbreaking strategy

But here's what we miss:

What No One Wants to Admit:
↳ 73% of great hires come from internal referrals
↳ Our best marketing ideas already exist in customer feedback
↳ Winning strategies are often simple executions done consistently

Here's why we overlook the obvious:

1. Complexity Bias

↳ We assume harder = better
↳ Simple solutions feel too easy
↳ We discount what's right there

2. External Validation Trap

↳ We chase shiny new agencies
↳ Ignore our internal expertise
↳ Outsource what we already know

3. Strategy Paralysis

↳ We overcomplicate proven methods
↳ Analysis replaces action
↳ Perfect becomes the enemy of good

The Hidden Power:
Our best people are already here.
Our winning message is in our reviews.
Our strategy worked last quarter.

Quick Question:

What obvious solution have you been overlooking in your business?

⤵️ Share below

I could visualize every game as an athlete.
But in business? I couldn’t see anything.

On the field, mental rehearsal was easy.
➤ I knew the plays.
➤ I knew the opponents.
➤ Everything was predictable.

Business wasn’t.

I couldn’t “see” my customers, my market, or my next move.
And it frustrated me.

Then it clicked:

Athletes visualize what they already know.
Entrepreneurs visualize what doesn’t exist yet.

So I changed my approach.

Instead of trying to see the whole future, I visualized one thing:

• One customer with one problem
• One conversation that creates clarity
• One outcome I can actually influence
• One referral from solving that problem

That’s when visualization started working again.

Because business visualization isn’t about perfection.
It’s about specificity.

Stop trying to imagine “success.”
Start imagining the next real scenario you’ll face.

Small picture → clear action → real results.

Follow Mike Hays for more leadership advice.

How a 30-Second Ordinary Moment

Creates Massive Engagement

Most people think great stories need big drama.
They don’t.

I used to believe “epic” moments made content compelling.
Massive wins. Huge failures. Perfectly crafted narratives.

But the posts that resonated most were never the dramatic ones.
They were the small, honest moments I almost didn’t share.

Like the awkward client call.
Or the lesson learned on a random Tuesday.
Or the quiet realization that changed how I lead my team.

You probably don't want to hear this...
Readers connect far more with relatability than spectacle.

They don’t want heroes.
They want humans.

Big stories entertain.
But simple stories connect.

The imperfect detail is what makes people trust you.
The honest moment is what makes people remember you.
The everyday struggle is what makes people engage with you.

You don’t need a dramatic arc to be compelling.
You need clarity, honesty, and a moment someone can see themselves in.

Small stories build big impact.
What “ordinary” moment taught you something recently?

Follow Mike Hays for more microstory tips

The Day I Realized the Market Wasn’t My Enemy

It Was My Mind.

Most entrepreneurs struggle with the same invisible enemy:
(And it's not competition, market conditions, or lack of resources)

False beliefs about themselves.

I know because I fought these battles:
↳ Wasn't a natural communicator
↳ Struggled with confidence
↳ Came from nothing
↳ Felt "not enough"

Here's what changed everything:

1. Evidence Collection

↳ Document every small win
↳ Track progress, not perfection
↳ Your past proves your capability

2. Reframe Your Origin

↳ "From nothing" = resourceful problem-solver
↳ Scarcity taught you efficiency
↳ Your struggle is your competitive advantage

3. Confidence Through Repetition

↳ Confidence isn't innate, it's built
↳ Every post, every conversation adds up
↳ Action creates belief, not the reverse

4. Communication as a Skill

↳ Nobody is born a great communicator
↳ Clarity beats charisma every time
↳ Practice makes you powerful

The Truth:
Your false beliefs aren't facts.
They're outdated stories you keep telling yourself.

Quick Question:

Which false belief held you back the longest?

⤵️ Share below

Thank you, Holly Moe, for helping me rewrite the story I was telling myself.

If You Think Your Question Isn't Worth Asking…

You're Missing the Biggest Growth Opportunity.

(The mindset shift that changes everything)

Everyone thinks, "My question is too basic."
But here's what I've learned after 15 years:

↳ Your "dumb" question is someone else's breakthrough.
Here's why you should ask anyway:

1. The Expertise Curse

↳ Experts forget beginner struggles
↳ Your question fills knowledge gaps
↳ Creates valuable teaching moments

2. Collective Intelligence

↳ Questions spark deeper discussions
↳ Others have the same uncertainty
↳ Community learning accelerates growth

3. Vulnerability Creates Connection

↳ Admitting confusion builds trust
↳ Shows authentic learning mindset
↳ Attracts genuine helpful responses

4. Question Quality Myth

↳ "Basic" questions often reveal fundamentals
↳ Simple inquiries expose complex issues
↳ Clarity benefits everyone involved

What you should know:
↳ Courage to ask creates breakthrough moments.
↳ Your question validates others' confusion.
↳ Silence keeps everyone stuck.

The smartest people ask the most questions.
Not because they know less.
Because they understand learning never stops.

Quick Question:

What's one question you've been afraid to ask? 
Share below and let's learn together.

Before: Brilliant but Invisible. 

After: Visible, Trusted, In-Demand.

The most talented professionals often remain invisible in their industries.

(And it's not because they lack expertise)

It's because of three limiting beliefs.

But here's what they don't realize about visibility:
It's not about ego.
It's about impact.

The Hidden Barriers:
↳ "My credentials should speak for themselves"
↳ "Good work will naturally be discovered"
↳ "Self-promotion feels arrogant"

Here's why these beliefs sabotage success:

1. The Service Reframe

↳ Sharing knowledge isn't bragging. It's helping
↳ Your expertise solves real problems for people
↳ Staying quiet deprives others of solutions

2. The Credential Trap

↳ Qualifications open doors, but stories close deals
↳ People connect with transformation, not titles
↳ Your experience matters more than your degrees

3. The Discovery Myth

↳ Exceptional work happens behind closed doors
↳ Visibility requires intentional communication
↳ Talent without promotion equals missed opportunities

The Part You Can’t Ignore:
Your expertise sitting in silence helps no one.
Your knowledge locked away serves no purpose.
But your voice sharing wisdom changes everything.

The experts who break through don't abandon humility, they channel it into service.

They understand that hiding their light isn't noble; it's selfish.

Quick Question:

What's one piece of expertise you've been keeping to yourself that could transform someone's business?

Follow Mike Hays for more leadership insights.

Authority isn’t about confidence.

It’s about language.

We often assume people follow the loudest voice in the room.
But in real conversations, especially at work
authority shows up in much quieter ways.

I started paying attention to the people who 
consistently guided discussions.

↳ They weren’t forceful.
↳ They weren’t dramatic.
↳ They simply used intentional phrasing that changed how others responded.

And once you notice it, you can’t unsee it.

Three simple shifts can instantly change 
how people perceive your authority even 
if nothing else about you changes.

1. Use words that imply direction.
Phrases like “I’d like to set the direction here…” 
or “I don’t like the direction this is heading…” 
subconsciously signal leadership.

The moment you reference direction, people look to you to guide it.

2. Frame ideas through experience.
Open with, “In the past, I’ve found…” 
or “In these situations, I prefer…”

These phrases add instant credibility
not because you’re boasting, but because 
you’re grounding your perspective in pattern recognition.

3. Set expectations clearly and calmly.
Statements like “Let’s focus on the issue at hand…” or 
“Here’s what I think we should prioritize…” 

Bring clarity to the conversation.
And clarity creates trust the foundation of authority.

None of this requires a title.
None of this requires dominance.
Authority is simply controlled direction, 
earned clarity, and consistent language.

Credit to Jefferson Fisher, whose ideas inspired this lesson.

If you want more authority, start with your words they shape the room long before your title does.

What phrase do you use to guide conversations?

Follow Mike Hays for more communication insights.

Want to Be the Most Interesting Person in the Room?
Stop Trying So Hard.

(The counterintuitive truth about charisma)

Everyone wants to captivate.
But here's what actually works:

↳ Curiosity beats performance every time.

Here's why being interested beats being interesting:

1. People Remember How You Made Them Feel

↳ Not what you said about yourself
↳ Not your accomplishments
↳ But how seen and heard they felt

2. Questions Create Connection

↳ "Tell me more" builds trust
↳ Genuine curiosity disarms people
↳ Listening creates loyalty

3. Your Ego Gets in the Way

↳ Talking about yourself = transactional
↳ Learning about others = relational
↳ Relationships drive opportunities

4. Interesting People Are Collectors

↳ They collect stories, not spotlights
↳ They gather insights, not applause
↳ They build depth through others

5. The Paradox Nobody Talks About

↳ The less you try to impress
↳ The more impressive you become
↳ Authenticity always wins

The Real Secret:
↳ Stop broadcasting. Start discovering.
↳ Stop performing. Start connecting.
↳ Stop talking. Start listening.

When you walk into a room focused on understanding 
rather than being understood, everything shifts.

You become magnetic not because of what you say, 
but because of how you make others feel valued.

Quick question:

Who's the most interesting person you've ever met  
and what made them that way?

⤵️ Share your story below
Follow Mike Hays for more insights on authentic connection

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