Career Blindspot

Would More Time Actually Make You Happier? (It Might Be Energy You're Missing)   Juan questions whether having more free time would actually make people happier, proposing that many would feel just as miserable because they wouldn't know how to use the extra time beyond more consumption or distraction. Juan cites the pandemic as evidence: despite eliminating commutes and gaining time, many remote...

Top Five Career Influences: Mentors, Coaches, and Unexpected Teachers   Juan talks about his five key career influences and urges all of you to do the same and reach out to someone you haven't thanked in a while. He credits Louise, a Glendale Community College fitness center boss and health/wellness faculty member, for building confidence and telling him at 19 he'd be paid to speak. Mike D., a Cit...

Why "Nice" Isn't a Compliment at Work   Juan argues that being described as "nice" is rarely a real compliment in the workplace and often signals a lack of meaningful contribution, unlike respect earned through skill or expertise. Using an example from teaching gymnastics at The Little Gym, he explains that vague praise like "good job" provides no useful feedback, similar to calling someone "nice"...

Smart + Kind But Stuck: The Missing Ingredient Is Experimentation   In this episode, Juan explores why smart, kind people still feel stuck, arguing it often comes from avoiding risk and clinging to perceived safety, security, and responsibility. He notes that loud voices frame empathy as weakness, but for people trying to live well and care for others, empathy is an advantage; the real problem is...

Don't Hate, Cultivate: Turning Negativity Into Community Help   Juan reflects on how easy and even enjoyable it can be to "hate" or judge others—citing examples like comic book movies, social media, the news, and everyday relationships—but argues it's ultimately unsatisfying. Inspired by a "Don't hate, cultivate" shirt from Cultivate Coffee in Phoenix, they propose cultivating as a remedy: creatin...

Reactive Distraction and Self-Sabotage: Protecting Your Boundaries   Juan talks about recording this short episode while feeling time pressure to get home to help his sick wife and 1-year-old, using this as an example of "reactive distraction" in his BS (blind spot) model: leaking energy by reacting to interruptions and obligations that don't match the urgency. He shares cases like choosing to hel...

Name Your Distraction: "Troubleshooting" and the Neutral Labeling Practice   In this episode, Juan asks everyone to identify the word they use for how they distract themselves and suggests choosing a neutral term without shame or pride. He describes his own pattern as "troubleshooting," citing examples like repeatedly adjusting camera setup, tinkering with Apple Music sync issues, and getting side...

Are You Allowing Yourself to Heal? Using the Blind Spot Model to Stop Avoidance   Juan asks whether listeners are allowing themselves to heal, using his own recent ankle injury and past back nerve pinch as examples of how avoiding discomfort can stall recovery even when life stays busy with work and family. He connects physical healing to emotional and relational healing through his "BS model," de...

What's Up, Danger? Leaps of Faith in IVF, Career, and Life Courtney shares that "What's Up Danger" from Into the Spider-Verse helped her hype herself up to self-administer painful IVF hormone shots, connecting it to Miles Morales' leap-of-faith scene where he forces himself to let go. Juana and Courtney reflect on IVF as a physically and psychologically difficult experience that ultimately led the...

Talent Dysmorphia: Finding the Sweet Spot Between Confidence and Self-Doubt Courtney and Juan discuss a concept Juan calls "talent dysmorphia," modeled after body dysmorphia, describing distorted views of one's abilities that swing between under-confidence and inflated confidence. Courtney shares that much of her life she felt unclear about her skills, leading to jobs misaligned with her strengths...

Why Your Ego Makes Mentorship Hard to Find   Juan and Courtney discuss why people struggle to find mentors, arguing that ego and assumptions (that mentors don't like you, are too busy, or you already know enough) keep people from asking for help even when others would gladly provide it. They note that wanting to mentor isn't the same as being the right mentor, and emphasize evaluating credibility,...

Birthday Hotel Stay Sparks a Conversation About Rest and Self-Care Courtney explains she sent Juan to a downtown Phoenix hotel for two nights as a birthday gift because they have two kids she's still sleep training and she wanted him to get time away, though it was only two miles from home. They discuss how taking time for yourself prevents resentment and irritability and how Courtney struggles mo...

What Would It Take for You to Give Yourself Proper Rest?   In a solo, on-the-fly episode, Juan asks what it would take to give yourself proper rest, reflecting on a birthday staycation Courtney booked at an older downtown Phoenix hotel near Van Buren that has changed over time. Though only a few miles from home and not his best sleep, he values the space to reset, enjoy simple pleasures without sh...

Why did I build the Blind Spot Community? Because I want to help more people than 1:1 coaching allows — and because most of us already know what to do… we just don't keep doing it. In this episode, Courtney and I break down the purpose of the community and how the three tiers are designed for different stages: Tier 1 : practical handouts + monthly updates for people who want tools they can actuall...

Why did you dump me in 2004? That's how this episode starts. But this isn't just a relationship story. It's about rejection — in love, in leadership, in sales, and in career growth. We talk about: Why rejection feels isolating (even when it's necessary) The difference between being rejected and being freed How rejection forces the next chapter Why leaders must normalize "no" Sales, negotiation, an...

What does a leader need to know about AI — if they're not planning to become an expert? More than you think. Less than you fear. In this episode, we unpack what actually builds credibility around AI for leaders: Embracing the fact that you don't know everything Avoiding the "curse of knowledge" Why curiosity beats certainty How fast iteration changes leadership expectations Why technical expertise...

For years, I've coached leaders using a framework I never fully explained — until now. The BS Model (Blind Spot Model) reveals where your attention goes and what it produces: Intentional Presence Task Execution Reactive Distraction Avoidant Coping Most people live externally focused and call it productivity. But without internal clarity, busyness turns into burnout. This episode breaks down: Why "...

Why aren't our babies sleeping? That's the question. But this episode isn't just about sleep. It's about leadership, ownership, energy, and what happens when a system that once worked starts slipping after a new variable is introduced. Sleep training is project management. Regression is iteration. Exhaustion changes your standards. We talk about: ·        Why knowing what to do isn't the same as d...

CBQ: How do you change someone's attitude?   Changing someone's attitude is not about force. It is about awareness, sequence, and humility. In this episode, Juan and Courtney explore why you can not skip emotional stages, why progress is often smaller than you want, and why the first attitude you must check is your own. Drawing from Tribal Leadership and Tattoos on the Heart , they unpack the five...

"Make your own traditions. Do not do things just because everyone else does." – Courtney   CBQ: Why are there white Christmas trees in our bedroom and the kids' rooms?   Summary: Juan and Courtney talk through why traditions should evolve with your life—and how choosing intention over obligation turns holidays into something you actually enjoy instead of just survive.   HIGHLIGHTS "Nothing says Pa...

"I did not understand what networking was. I thought it was just, 'Here is my job, help me.'" – Courtney CBQ: How much do you hate networking today?   Summary: Juan and Courtney break down why traditional networking felt like a "negative 34" and how getting clear on your talent, value, and curiosity can turn awkward events into intentional, energizing collaboration.   HIGHLIGHTS "You are more exci...

"It lifted a weight off your shoulders I did not realize I was holding." – JK   CBQ: Why did you get a vasectomy?   Summary: Juan and Courtney use a very personal story to expose an overlooked leadership truth: responsibility shared is pressure reduced, and sometimes the smallest physical procedure removes the biggest emotional load. HIGHLIGHTS "It was a pinch for you. It was surgery for me." – Co...

"Getting out of the house makes us do work better." – Courtney   CBQ: Why are we in a phone booth at Industrious?   Juan and Courtney pull back the curtain on their recording setup to unpack the modern co-working experience—why intentional environments matter more than trendy spaces, and how isolation quietly kills creativity.   HIGHLIGHTS "Getting out of the house makes us do work better." – Cour...

"It is not the content. It is the intention behind it." – Courtney   CBQ: What is the difference between doom-scrolling and researching on your phone?   Summary: Juan and Courtney dissect the blurry line between learning and avoidance—why "research" can be productive curiosity or just another flavor of self-distraction.   HIGHLIGHTS "Doom-scrolling is when I am not actually going to apply what I l...