Unstuck with Jay Abbasi

In this solo episode, Jay reflects on the wisdom of seven timeless quotes by the 13th-century poet Rumi. Each quote has shaped his perspective on resilience, growth, and the way we relate to ourselves and others. From embracing pain as a teacher to recognizing the interconnectedness of all things, Jay unpacks the deeper meaning behind Rumi’s words and shares how they can be applied in everyday lif...

Meet Reggie. The alarm blares again as steam rises from the conveyor belt. Some employees shout over the noise while others stand idle. As plant manager of a mid-sized food processing facility, Reggie has held this place together for more than 25 years. But lately, he feels like he’s plugging holes in a dam that’s about to burst. Veteran workers are burning out. New hires quit after a few weeks. C...

In our last episode, we met Lucy, a leader in the hospitality industry who felt the entire weight of responsibility was on her shoulders. With her team not fully showing up, the pressure grew heavier. Jay spoke with Annie Meehan about how Lucy could take better ownership, care for herself, and step into stronger leadership. That conversation introduced a powerful idea: assuming positive intent. In...

Meet Lucy. She slams her laptop shut after another long, frustrating day. Deadlines are missed, clients are unhappy, and she feels like she’s carrying the weight of everyone else’s mistakes. At home, the words spill out: “People just don’t care, and I can’t fix that.” Later that night, she replays her own frustration. Deep down, she knows she’s fallen into a victim mindset, projecting stress onto...

In our last episode, we met Cindy, an executive leader struggling to get her team aligned. Jay was joined by Mike Robbins, who shared insights on taking ownership and embracing change. While many leaders buy into these ideas, they often struggle with execution, especially when it comes to addressing conflict head-on. In this solo episode, Jay introduces a simple but powerful tool for handling conf...

Meet Cindy. She has a fresh agenda in front of her as she works to keep the leadership meeting on track. But already, the conversation has drifted into side comments and jabs between department heads. Marketing blames sales. Sales blames operations. The tension is quiet but sharp, and Cindy can feel the energy spiraling into another round of finger-pointing. As COO of a fast-growing company, she’s...

In our last episode, we met Bobby, a sales leader frustrated by a stagnant team. Alongside high-performance coach Alan Stein Jr., we explored the importance of simplifying success and committing to the process. In this solo episode, Jay dives into five practical habit hacks designed to help you follow through with the actions that matter most. Drawing from research by James Clear (Atomic Habits) a...

Meet Bobby. He’s leaning forward at the head of the conference table, arms crossed, listening as his sales team lists missed deadlines, client changes, and delays from other departments. Bobby listens, but as the complaints pile up, his jaw tightens. Finally, he cuts in: “Look, we all have challenges. You want better results? Do the work. Focus on what you can control and stop making excuses.” The...

In our last episode, we met Chloe, a talented director struggling to communicate with confidence and influence senior leaders at her company. Alongside guest expert Stacey Hanke, we explored her “Monday to Monday” philosophy and how consistent communication builds trust and credibility. In this solo episode, Jay reveals seven actionable techniques that anyone can develop to communicate with more c...

Meet Chloe. She’s seated in a Monday morning strategy meeting, fingers laced tightly in her lap, nodding as the VP speaks. Her idea, an inventory strategy that could cut costs by 18%, burns on the tip of her tongue. "Say it,’’ her mind urges. ‘’But don’t. You’ll sound like you’re challenging him. What if you’re wrong?’’ This isn’t the first time Chloe has held back. As Director of Supply Managemen...

In our last episode, we met Sam, a communications manager wrestling with self-doubt and hesitation. Together with guest Hussain Halak, we explored how fulfillment and resilience begin when we stop clinging to ourselves and start serving others. In this solo episode, Jay expands on that idea with a powerful framework drawn from his upcoming book and TEDx talk. He explains why our primal brains are...

Meet Sam. He’s just stepped off stage at a media leadership conference, still riding the high of a panel that went better than expected. An attendee leans in and says, “You could be a motivational speaker. You’re so good at this.” Sam smiles, but inside, those words don’t land as encouragement. They echo as doubt. He thinks, “Who am I to do that? I’m not an author. I don’t have a TED Talk. I’m not...

In our last episode, we met Theo, a senior account executive who had no clear goals or direction. Alongside Caroline Miller, we explored how grit and goal setting can transform hesitation into meaningful progress. Caroline emphasized that success comes from embracing the unglamorous work that others avoid. In this solo episode, Jay shares 10 actionable steps to stop procrastinating and start takin...

Meet Theo. He rolls out of bed, head pounding from too many drinks with old friends, scrolling through Slack messages while convincing himself he’ll figure things out next weekend. For years, he’s coasted as a sales executive, hitting quotas but feeling stuck, stuck in the same habits, the same crowd, and the same cycle of instant gratification. Theo has no real goals beyond surviving the week. He...

In our last episode, we celebrated the first 100 episodes of Unstuck by reflecting on lessons 10 through 6. From the power of discomfort to the value of consistency, Jay walked through insights gained from conversations with thought leaders, executives, and everyday professionals finding their way through challenges. In this solo episode, Jay reveals the top five lessons he’s learned since launchi...

Meet Charlotte. She ends the Zoom meeting and stares at her reflection in the blank screen. The word overqualified rings in her ears. She forces a smile, then closes the window only to find another automated rejection email waiting in her inbox. No name. No feedback. For five months she’s been at it. Different resumes, countless job alerts, endless applications. But at 58, with decades of executiv...

In this milestone episode, Jay reflects on the journey of creating nearly 100 episodes of Unstuck and distills the top lessons learned from world-class guests, thought leaders, and personal experiences. From vulnerability in leadership to the healing power of nature, these insights offer a roadmap for resilience, fulfillment, and growth. Jay shares lessons 10 through 6 in this first part of the co...

Meet Jonah. He’s paced this same hallway dozens of times, phone pressed to his ear, telling his cousin all the reasons he can’t start his own thing. Twenty years in SaaS have given him the skills, the ideas, even the network, but also the comfort of a steady paycheck and the paralysis of overthinking. The result? Endless “what ifs” and plans he never fully commits to. In this episode, Jay is joine...

In our last episode, we met Matthew, a nonprofit leader who felt he was on the fast track to burnout, and worried his team was headed there too. Burnout specialist and keynote speaker Cait Donovan joined the conversation, sharing eye-opening insights into what burnout really is and how to prevent it. One key takeaway was the concept of interoception, the ability to sense what’s happening inside ou...

Meet Matthew. He’s in his office, blinds half closed, watching one of his department heads wipe away tears. “I’m trying,” she whispers. “But I just can’t keep doing this.” As executive director of a nonprofit that supports families in need, Matthew knows the mission matters. But the inbox overload, blurred work-life boundaries, and unrelenting pace are breaking down not only his team, but him too....

In our last episode, you met Nico, who was struggling with unhealthy patterns of suppression, numbing, and comparison. Jay spoke with Allan Kehler, who shared the power of expressing how you feel rather than holding it in. In this solo episode, Jay explores the crucial difference between playing the victim and expressing emotions in a healthy way. Drawing from personal experiences and lessons lear...

Meet Nico. He just finished another 12-hour day consulting with overwhelmed pharmacies, troubleshooting systems, and putting out fires. On the surface, he seems calm and collected. But inside, he’s unraveling. A simple comparison to a coworker set off a spiral he couldn’t shake. Now, each night ends the same way: junk food, numb scrolling, and a growing sense of disconnection. In this episode, Jay...

In our last episode, we met Daniela, a passionate leader trying to fix the toxic culture in her workplace. Jay met with Dr. Sherene McHenry, who emphasized the importance of leaders setting the tone by being aware of what they tolerate. That sparked a bigger question: how do we communicate clearly and respectfully when performance is slipping? In this solo episode, Jay challenges the common urge t...

Meet Daniela. As the Director of HR and Risk Management for the City of Orlando, she’s staring at a survey that confirms her worst fears: disengaged employees, toxic leadership, and rising turnover. She's spent her career helping people thrive at work, but now she’s burnt out, disconnected at home, and wondering if she can really turn things around. In this episode, Jay is joined by Sherene McHenr...

In our last episode, we met Wendy, a professional drained by constant giving with little in return. Alongside guest Sharon Weinstein, we explored the “disease to please” and its impact on well-being. In this solo episode, Jay opens up about his own journey as a recovering people pleaser, offering a clear 4-step framework for breaking free from self-sacrifice and approval-seeking. With real talk an...