In this episode of Time Billionaires, Rebecca speaks with Naomi Midanik, a cancer survivor and Founder at Bright Balance Psychotherapy. As a registered psychotherapist practicing in Ontario, Canada, Naomi brings a unique perspective, having spent 17 years in corporate marketing before transitioning to therapy. Her specialty focuses on professionals, entrepreneurs, and working moms navigating career challenges and workplace burnout.

The conversation explores the reality many face: being stuck in a job they hate without the immediate option to quit. Naomi introduces the concept of radical acceptance from dialectical behavior therapy, explaining how to validate your negative feelings about work while simultaneously focusing energy on what you can actually control. She shares practical strategies for making the best of difficult situations, from reframing your commute to managing difficult boss relationships.

Timestamps:

• Opening question about hating your job but making the best of it – 0:00
• Introduction to Naomi and her background – 0:26
• Why people feel trapped in jobs they hate – 1:28
• What radical acceptance actually means and how to practice it – 2:39
• The "good" reframe vs. radical acceptance for different situations – 4:40
• Personal example: cancer diagnosis and appropriate responses – 5:32
• Toxic positivity vs. genuine acceptance in career situations – 7:42
• Understanding emotional numbness as an early burnout signal – 9:14
• Signs to watch for when going through the motions – 10:39

Connect with Naomi:

Bright Balance Psychotherapy: https://www.brightbalancetherapy.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/naomimidanik

For more insights on turning hidden minutes into your greatest asset, connect with Rebecca and the Time Billionaires Podcast on LinkedIn!

And if you love the show, subscribe to follow it.

Shout-out to Graham Duncan from East Rock Capital for the "Time Billionaires" concept that inspired our show name - originally shared on The Tim Ferriss Show.

• (00:00:00) - How to Make a Living from Your Job
• (00:00:46) - What Radical Acceptance Can You Do For Your Job?
• (00:07:43) - How to Get Over a Hating Your Job
• (00:09:25) - The Signs That You're Starting to Burnout

Have you ever walked away from a discussion—about work, politics, parenting, or even something small—wondering how two reasonable people could hear the same words and leave with completely different conclusions?

After years studying how people interpret ideas, first in public policy, then in marketing, and eventually in her own family, Rebecca noticed a pattern: it’s often not what we’re saying that derails conversations, but the invisible opposite our words quietly introduce.

Whether you’re trying to advocate for something you care about, explain a decision at work, or stay connected with people who see the world differently, this episode offers an easy mental shift that can keep the people you’re interacting with engaged, curious, and willing to keep talking.

What you'll learn:

• Different brains naturally scan for different priorities (change vs. stability)
• How introducing the wrong frame can lose someone before the conversation starts
• The "Opposite Test": a simple way to strengthen your arguments before you make them
• Why repetition subtly legitimizes ideas, even wrong ones
• The connection between effective framing and building meaningful relationships

For more insights on turning small moments into your greatest asset, follow Rebecca and the Time Billionaires Podcast on LinkedIn!

And if you love the show, subscribe to follow it.

• (00:00:01) - How to Become a Billionaire in 31 Years
• (00:00:34) - The Only Way to Win a Political Argument
• (00:06:39) - The Micro-moment Exercise

In Part 2 of this Time Billionaires episode, Rebecca continues her conversation with Oren Shai, Co-Founder of Feeling School, exploring the deeper connections between nervous system regulation, success, and emotional well-being. Oren explains the difference between parasympathetic (rest and digest) and sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system states, offering practical techniques like elevating legs above the heart to quickly access parasympathetic responses.

The conversation takes a turn as they discuss how most people misunderstand success, operating from what Oren calls the "coffee and trauma" model, constantly medicating themselves with stimulants while chasing achievements that they believe will finally make them feel complete. Instead, he advocates for redefining success as living authentically, contributing meaningfully, and connecting with others.

Timestamps:

1. Understanding parasympathetic vs sympathetic nervous system states – 0:42
2. Contextual approaches to nervous system regulation – 2:30
3. The importance of experimenting with what works for you – 4:23
4. Why most careers are "fueled by coffee and trauma" – 6:33
5. Redefining success beyond achievement metrics – 7:47
6. Childhood conditioning and earning love patterns – 12:25
7. Moving beyond protective patterns without blame – 13:36
8. Final thoughts: The way you want to feel is on the other side of what you're not feeling – 14:40

If you'd like to connect with Oren, you can find Oren on LinkedIn and learn more about Feeling School here.

For more insights on turning hidden minutes into your greatest asset, connect with Rebecca and the Time Billionaires Podcast on LinkedIn!

And if you love the show, subscribe to follow it.

Shout-out to Graham Duncan from East Rock Capital for the "Time Billionaires" concept that inspired our show name - originally shared on The Tim Ferriss Show.

• (00:00:00) - An Exercise for Connecting to Parasympathetic
• (00:06:13) - What Most People Don't Understand About Success
• (00:14:35) - How to Feel the Way You Want to Feel

In this episode of Time Billionaires, Rebecca speaks with Oren Shai, an organizational psychologist, neuroscience-based executive coach, and Co-Founder of Feeling School. Oren teaches his signature methodology to high-achieving leaders, integrating cutting-edge neuroscience with depth and humanity to help them step into their most connected, alive expression of leadership at work and in life.

The conversation explores why we fight our natural energy fluctuations instead of working with them. Oren introduces his concept of the "human wave", the natural cycles of energy that everyone experiences throughout the day, week, and seasons. He explains how fighting these cycles creates tension and shame spirals, while recognizing and supporting ourselves through them leads to better performance and well-being. Oren also shares practical somatic tools for resetting during busy workdays, including visual system resets, pattern interrupting techniques, and the importance of giving our nervous systems intentional breaks from the constant vigilance required in urban environments.

Timestamps:

1. Introduction to the "human wave" concept and energy cycles – 0:41
2. Why we shame ourselves for natural energy fluctuations – 1:45
3. Understanding that everyone operates in natural cycles – 3:35
4. The importance of intention when using grounding tools – 4:30
5. Pattern interrupting vs. forcing focus – 5:23
6. Creating somatic-friendly office cultures – 6:45
7. Simple tools for 3-minute breaks and visual system resets – 10:03
8. Deep belly breathing and parasympathetic activation – 13:45

If you'd like to connect with Oren, you can find Oren on LinkedIn and learn more about Feeling School here.

For more insights on turning hidden minutes into your greatest asset, connect with Rebecca and the Time Billionaires Podcast on LinkedIn!

And if you love the show, subscribe to follow it.

Shout-out to Graham Duncan from East Rock Capital for the "Time Billionaires" concept that inspired our show name - originally shared on The Tim Ferriss Show.

• (00:00:00) - Executive Coach Oren Shy on Life's Natural Cycles
• (00:04:05) - How to Get More Present in Your Life
• (00:05:19) - Practice of Slow Down
• (00:06:57) - How to Get Out of the Office
• (00:10:09) - What is the somatic practice?
• (00:10:48) - How to Lower Your Body's Stress Cycle

In Part 2 of this Time Billionaires episode, Rebecca continues her conversation with Michael Barber, Chief Marketing Officer at StarTech, diving deeper into career decision-making and the courage required for growth. Michael introduces his powerful "mirror test" for decision-making, asking yourself whether your current choices reflect what you want to see in the mirror, both literally and metaphorically.

This framework helps him evaluate everything from daily priorities to major life decisions, ensuring his actions align with his desired outcomes. The conversation explores Michael's unconventional career path of spending only 2-4 years at each position, a strategy that was unusual before 2010 but has accelerated his growth through diverse experiences across different industries and teams.

He emphasizes that discomfort is the price of growth and encourages embracing uncomfortable decisions rather than avoiding them. Michael shares his personal framework for knowing when it's time to make a career change: when he stops sleeping well. He explains how physical and behavioral indicators can signal when you're not doing what you want to do or feel you're running out of time for what matters most.

Timestamps:

- The mirror test: Aligning decisions with desired outcomes – 0:35

- Opportunity costs in personal life and micro-moment decisions – 1:45

- Michael's unconventional career strategy of short sprints – 3:59

- Why being uncomfortable accelerates growth opportunities – 5:30

- How to know when it's time for a career change – 6:29

- Using sleep as a gut-check indicator for life decisions – 7:15

- The "best version of yourself" framework for relationships and jobs – 8:05

Connect with Michael Barber:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljamesbarber/

For more insights on turning hidden minutes into your greatest asset, connect with Rebecca and follow the podcast on LinkedIn!

Time Billionaires on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/time-billionaires-pod

Rebecca: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccashaddix/

And if you love the show, subscribe to follow the show!

Shout-out to Graham Duncan from East Rock Capital for the "Time Billionaires" concept that inspired our show name - originally shared on The Tim Ferriss Show.

• (00:00:00) - Time Billionaires: How to Prioritize Your Life
• (00:03:39) - What Do You Wish You Knew About Time Management?

In this episode of Time Billionaires, Rebecca speaks with Michael Barber, a Chief Marketing Officer with over 20 years of experience leading marketing teams. Michael's work has been featured in The New York Times and Forbes, and he's known for helping companies grow while ensuring their teams actually enjoy the process.

Michael introduces the powerful concept of "micro legacies", the idea that everyday humans can create meaningful impact through small, intentional daily actions rather than comparing themselves to celebrities and influencers. He argues that holding doors, asking genuine questions in meetings, and listening more than talking can collectively make the world a better place through accumulated positive interactions.

The conversation explores how time poverty affects our ability to be generous and patient with others, referencing a fascinating study about Good Samaritan volunteers who were three times less likely to help others when they felt rushed. Michael shares his proven "three D's" framework (Do it, Delegate it, or Drop it) that he's used for nearly 20 years to make quick decisions and avoid time debt in both professional and personal contexts.

Timestamps:

- Introduction to micro legacies vs. celebrity influence– 0:43

- Why everyday actions matter more than big achievements – 2:30

- How time poverty affects our generosity and patience – 4:45

- The three D's framework: Do it, delegate it, or drop it – 5:25

- Applying decision frameworks to emails and daily inputs – 5:58

- One-touch tasks and personal time management – 8:30

- Adapting the three D's for personal relationships – 9:15

Connect with Michael Barber:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljamesbarber/

For more insights on turning hidden minutes into your greatest asset, connect with Rebecca and follow the podcast on LinkedIn!

Time Billionaires on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/time-billionaires-pod

Rebecca: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccashaddix/

And if you love the show, subscribe to follow the show!

Shout-out to Graham Duncan from East Rock Capital for the "Time Billionaires" concept that inspired our show name - originally shared on The Tim Ferriss Show.

• (00:00:00) - "Micro Legacies": The Impact of Your Actions
• (00:00:43) - Michael Barber
• (00:01:14) - Your concept of micro legacies
• (00:04:58) - How to Regain Control of Your Time

We're taught that wanting more makes us selfish, that ambition and desire are at odds with being humble or grateful for what we already have. But what if wanting is actually what makes us human?

From childhood, many of us learn to shrink our desires, and be accommodating, humble, and not take up too much space. We confuse contentment with complacency and mistake humility for self-erasure. But research shows that this conditioning often leaves us chasing quick hits of pleasure instead of pursuing what truly fulfills us.

In this episode, Rebecca explores why we feel guilty for wanting things, diving into evolutionary psychology and happiness research to reveal the crucial difference between hedonic happiness (instant gratification) and eudaimonic happiness (lasting fulfillment). You'll discover how to balance both types while breaking free from the guilt that keeps you stuck in cycles of short-term comfort at the expense of long-term growth.

What you'll learn:

• Why our hunter-gatherer conditioning makes us think success is a zero-sum game (and why it's not)
• The hidden ego behind self-denial and why "being the bigger person" sometimes keeps you small
• How to distinguish between what makes you happy vs. what just makes you feel good momentarily
• Why the most fulfilling experiences often don't feel pleasant in real time
• The research behind two distinct types of happiness and how to balance both
• How to rewire your brain to crave meaningful progress over instant gratification

Quick Actions You Can Take Today:

• Try the non-dominant hand writing exercise to assess what you actually want beyond surface desires
• Identify one area where you've been settling for "good enough" and get honest about what you really want
• Next time you reach for a distraction, pause and ask whether you need comfort or growth in that moment
• Practice reframing one desire from "selfish" to "human" and notice how it changes your relationship to that want

This episode offers hope for anyone who's been taught to want less, do less, or be less.

Because when you get honest about what actually makes you happy, you expand what's possible, not just for yourself, but for everyone around you.

Follow Time Billionaires wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.

For more insights on turning hidden minutes into your greatest asset, connect with Rebecca and follow the podcast on LinkedIn!

• Rebecca's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccashaddix/
• Podcast Page:

• (00:00:00) - Time Billionaires
• (00:00:57) - Why Do We Feel Guilty About Wanting Things?
• (00:08:31) - Reclaiming Your Time With a Micro-Moment

In this episode of Time Billionaires, Rebecca continues her conversation with Jo Amato about creating sustainable approaches to managing work and life demands. Jo shares a powerful reframe on work-life balance: giving yourself permission to be "good" at work some weeks while being excellent in your personal life, and vice versa. She reveals why trying to be excellent at everything simultaneously is unsustainable for mental and physical health. The conversation explores practical communication strategies, including Jo's experience with a "red, yellow, green" system at work where team members briefly shared their energy levels at meeting starts, helping colleagues understand capacity and redistribute tasks appropriately.

A key insight emerges around shifting from self-critical questioning ("Why can't I get more done?") to curious, compassionate inquiry ("Why am I struggling with this? Oh, I'm doing a lot."). Jo emphasizes that when you name where you are and what you need, you create permission structures for yourself while allowing others to actively support you. This mindset shift impacts not only personal well-being but also how you manage teams and relationships. The episode concludes with Jo's daily check-in practice: asking "What was my biggest priority today? Am I on track? If not, why not?" from a place of curiosity rather than judgment.

Timestamps

1. Permission structures: Being good vs. excellent – 0:00
2. Intentional communication about work-heavy weeks – 3:30
3. The red, yellow, green energy system at work – 4:25
4. How naming your state allows others to help – 5:34
5. From self-criticism to self-compassion – 6:49
6. Morning routines for self-awareness – 7:35
7. Daily priority check-ins with curiosity – 8:30

Connect with Jo Amato:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joellenamato

For more insights on turning hidden minutes into your greatest asset, connect with Rebecca and follow the podcast on LinkedIn!

Shout-out to Graham Duncan from East Rock Capital for the "Time Billionaires" concept that inspired our show name - originally shared on The Tim Ferriss Show.

• (00:00:00) - How to Give Yourself Permission to Be Good at Work
• (00:05:29) - Check in With Yourself Every Day