ThinkWORKS: Because Thinking Is The Hardest Work There Is.

As we bring Phase 1 in our series of episodes based on You 2.0 to a close, this episode pulls together a series of tools and shows how they fit together. As ever, join in the discussion at https://revolutionradio.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/community/channels/ThinkWORKS----Recent.-6aJNXw/posts/6a49119c2eb852b4672c5b45

Don't worry, this is NOT about diversity policies... but rather about why you as individuals, business owners, senior managers or project leaders should seek to surround yourself with different voices. Join in the discussion at https://revolutionradio.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/community/channels/ThinkWORKS----Recent.-6aJNXw/posts/6a4235d773b57ccc9b58e65c

When should you push through a problem and when should you redesign the system or process? This episode discusses how to identify which action to take and poses three simple questions to help get you started. Join in the discussion HERE . 

What if the resistance you're feeling isn't a sign to stop? What if it's showing you where the growth is? This week on ThinkWORKS, Darren Smithson explores the idea of Productive Friction —why struggle, resistance, and difficulty are often part of the process rather than evidence of failure. From creativity and learning to personal growth and change, discover why what's hard might matter more than...

Sometimes, you really don't feel like you can give it your best. That's when you need systems to help support you on your off days. This episode explains why and gives some examples of how. Join in the discussion at https://revolutionradio.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/community/channels/ThinkWORKS----Recent.-6aJNXw/posts/6a2aad6f2f880bca831130cc

What if the systems that change your life don't look like systems at all? This week on ThinkWORKS, I explore the quiet rhythms, habits, and structures that sit behind everything I create—from books and podcasts to blogs and projects. No productivity hacks.  No 4am miracle routines.  No optimisation obsession. Just simple, sustainable systems that keep working when real life gets in the way. Join i...

Why do so many modern systems feel exhausting, overwhelming, and impossible to keep up with? This week on ThinkWORKS, Darren Smithson explores why loud systems often fail quiet people — and why reflection, depth, and sustainable thinking are becoming increasingly valuable in a world built around constant noise, urgency, and reaction. Because sometimes the strongest systems…  are the quiet ones. Jo...

This week, we revisit some of the ideas in my book You 2.0 and tease out an underpinning support structure- those quiet systems that aren't big or sexy, but simple, progress making routines that can save the day when we're not feeling at our best. Join in the discussion HERE and tell us your quiet systems.

Almost everyone has heard of 'Atlantis' but how many fully understand the story behind what has become the greatest 'lost civilisation' legend of all time. Join Darren and regular guest Steve Lowe as they discuss where the legend came from, what it all means, and what, if any, lesson Atlantis teaches us today. Join the discussion HERE!

What if you’re not stuck… just catching up? This episode explores identity lag and how real change settles over time—if you don’t interrupt it. Join in the discussion at Join in the discussion at https://revolutionradio.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/community/channels/ThinkWORKS----Recent.-6aJNXw/posts/69f334335b39191fc1d0ccc6

This week, we look at 'the vision thing'- why having a vision IS important in business AND life, and WHY so many visions aren't worth the paper they are written on. Join in the discussion at https://revolutionradio.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/community/channels/ThinkWORKS----Recent.-6aJNXw/posts/69ee7bd7f5d56f842fe9c6f0

You’d think finishing a book would be the hard part. For me, it wasn’t. Publishing it was. In this episode, I talk about the moment I nearly stalled You 2.0 —and the idea of identity lag that came out of it. That gap between what you’ve done… and who you feel ready to be. It’s something I now see everywhere—and it’s where a lot of progress quietly gets stuck. Join in the discussion HERE!

Why does motivation fade — even when you start strong?  In this episode of ThinkWORKS, we explore identity lag — the gap between who you are and who you’re trying to become, and why lasting change often breaks down. If you’ve ever struggled with consistency, discipline, or building better habits, this episode reframes the problem — and shows why motivation alone isn’t enough. Because real change d...

Why does change feel fake at first? Have you ever tried to improve something in your life… Started doing the right things…  showing up differently… …and still felt like you were just pretending? Like it’s not really you yet? That uncomfortable gap between: who you’ve been and how you’re now acting 👉 That’s what I’ve been exploring this week in ThinkWORKS — something I call Identity Lag . Join in...

The Shadow. Doc Savage. Sexton Blake. Sherlock Holmes. The Avenger. The Domino Lady. The Phantom. They sold millions of copies, and were the Netflix of their era, and yet very few people know about them or understand just how important they were for every superhero that followed. This is the first part of our discussion on pulp comics, as Darren Smithson & Chris Dingsdale discuss the action he...

 Not every workplace problem starts at the top. Sometimes the biggest barrier to progress is how we choose to respond to change.  In this episode, we explore the difference between constructive challenge and destructive resistance — and ask a simple question:  Are you helping the system… or holding it back? Join in the discussion HERE! 

The phrases we repeat to ourselves shape far more of our lives than we realise. In this episode of ThinkWORKS, Darren explores the hidden power of habitual language — the words and phrases we quietly repeat in moments of challenge, doubt, or decision. Drawing on psychology, neuroscience, and everyday experience, he explains why these mental scripts influence our motivation, resilience, and percept...

Based on my book You 2.0: Build Yourself Better, this episode discusses why making sure you have (or you are) the right person in the right job is crucial- not only in business, but in family and community lives as well. Comment with your thoughts HERE!

 Technology promised us freedom. Instead, it blurred the line between work and life.  In Episode 101 of ThinkWORKS, I examine the cost of constant interruption, the illusion of urgency, and the small behavioural shifts that can dramatically improve both productivity and wellbeing.  Join in the discussion at https://www.darreninform.com/forum/2-thinkworks-voiceworks/discussion/de771046-95b3-4e66-94...

Episode 100 — What Hasn’t Changed One hundred episodes in, it’s tempting to talk about progress. Instead, this episode asks a quieter question: What hasn’t changed? Over time, projects evolve. Language sharpens. Confidence grows. But underneath all of it, certain questions remain constant. The work of thinking carefully. The tension between perfection and progress. The discipline of building delib...

The mysteries of the Unexplained are back in our series within a series, as host Darren Smithson is joined by regular guest Steve Lowe to discuss the power and awe of the Pyramids of the world, considering why were they build, how were they built, and does Pyramid Power truly exist!  Join in the discussion at https://www.darreninform.com/forum/2-thinkworks-voiceworks/discussion/6677a02f-29fd-4439-...

In this episode of ThinkWORKS , Darren explores Chapter 9 of You 2.0: Build Yourself Better — Labelling the Point — and why the words we use matter far more than we realise. From internal self-talk to leadership communication, Darren examines how language quietly programmes behaviour, shapes culture, and influences decision-making. The episode looks at how careless labels create resistance and mis...

You don’t lose credibility because people disagree with you.  You lose it when you don’t use what you promote . In this week’s ThinkWORKS podcast, I unpack why walking the talk isn’t a cliché — it’s the foundation of trust, identity, and leadership. If your actions don’t match your message, people feel it.  🎧 Chapter 8: Walk the Talk | You 2.0 Join the discussion at https://www.darreninform.com/f...

Most people don’t fail because they lack motivation — they fail because they’re waiting to feel ready. In this episode of ThinkWORKS , I introduce the idea of the Actionaut : someone who treats action as exploration, not urgency. We explore why small, deliberate action improves wellbeing, restores agency, and creates clarity — even before results show up. If you’ve been stuck between thinking and...

Most leadership failure doesn’t come from incompetence — it comes from fear.  Fear of losing control. Fear of empowering others. Fear dressed up as authority. In this episode of ThinkWORKS , I explore why the best leaders lead from the back , why macho management quietly destroys organisations, and how a single question — “How can I help?” — can transform teams, cultures, and results. We look at w...