Unstuck with Jay Abbasi

Meet Ariana. It's 9 PM on a Wednesday. She's sitting on her living room sofa balancing her laptop on her knees. Her husband walks in, carrying two mugs of tea. "You need to call it a night, honey," he says gently. She nods absentmindedly, staring at the screen. The reality is, she can't. There's just too much to do. As the vice president of training for a leading pharmaceutical company, Ariana is...

In a world where daily pressures and personal challenges can feel overwhelming, it’s easy to lose perspective. How often do we let fear, stress, and limiting beliefs take control of our thoughts? This week, Jay takes us on a transformative journey to recalibrate our thinking by exploring The Pale Blue Dot, inspired by Carl Sagan’s reflections on Earth as seen from 4 billion miles away. In this sol...

Meet Phil. It's 10 PM on a Thursday, and he sits at his desk with a heating pad draped over his shoulders, staring at a blinking cursor on his laptop. A throbbing migraine has become his nightly companion, a reflection of his endless stress and self-doubt. As a regional director at a national marketing firm, Phil seems to have it all—a high-performing team, respect from peers, and consistent resul...

In our last episode, you met Tyler, a senior VP of marketing, grappling with impatience and restlessness driven by the pull of instant gratification. Tyler, like many of us, spends countless hours tethered to his smartphone, finding it hard to unplug. As the demands of his job grow, so does the anxiety and exhaustion that come from constantly seeking quick dopamine hits. His story mirrors a challe...

Meet Tyler. It’s late on a Thursday night, and he’s slumped in his office chair, exhausted from endless hours of work. As the senior vice president of marketing at a fast-growing tech company in San Francisco, Tyler has poured himself into a high-profile rebranding project, only to see slow results. His frustration at work bleeds into his personal life, straining his relationships and wellbeing. C...

As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to align your actions with your higher purpose. In this solo episode, Jay shares a powerful four-step process to help you gain clarity on your purpose and ensure your life reflects what truly matters. This process is one Jay uses with his 1-on-1 coaching clients and is designed to connect you with the experiences and legacy you aspire to create. Drawing...

Meet Megan, a driven COO of a fast-growing tech company who finds herself stuck in a frustrating loop. Deadlines are being missed, tensions run high within her team, and despite her relentless efforts to push harder, nothing seems to improve. At home, the stress bleeds into her personal life, leaving her questioning her leadership abilities and feeling disconnected. Megan wonders—what’s holding he...

As we step into the new year, Jay reflects on the concept of equanimity—a state of calm acceptance, regardless of life’s uncertainties. Building on lessons from the previous episode with Julie Hruska, Jay explores how equanimity can help us navigate the highs and lows of daily life with greater ease and resilience. In this solo episode, Jay shares the timeless parable of the Chinese farmer, illust...

Meet Edward, the CFO of one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S. As a single father raising a son with developmental challenges, Edward feels the pressure of balancing personal responsibilities with his demanding professional role. Recent changes in leadership and mounting workplace expectations have left Edward feeling stretched thin and struggling to maintain clarity and focus. In this...

As we approach the end of the year, it’s time to reflect on 2024 and set meaningful goals for 2025. In this solo episode, Jay discusses a common mistake people make when setting goals: focusing solely on outcomes rather than the experiences they wish to create. Jay introduces a three-step framework to help you reflect on the past year, identify the experiences you want in the coming year, and alig...

Meet Helen, a dedicated chief HR officer at a financial services company in Chicago. Helen is stuck, grappling with low employee engagement, high turnover, and a tired workplace culture. Despite her deep commitment to her team, Helen struggles to reconnect her organization to a sense of energy and purpose. In this episode, Jay welcomes Gregory Offner, an award-winning speaker, workplace strategist...

In our last episode, we met Steven, a newly appointed CEO struggling with self-doubt and team dynamics, alongside guest Eva Minkoff, who shared insights on vulnerability, authenticity, and managing fears about the future. In this solo episode, Jay explores the deceptive nature of worries and how they often lead to unnecessary stress. Highlighting findings from a 2019 Penn State University study ti...

Meet Steven. A newly appointed CEO at a healthcare organization in North Carolina, Steven is full of visionary ideas but feels stuck and disconnected. His attempts to gain team buy-in and overcome his self-doubt leave him drained and overwhelmed. Despite his determination, Steven struggles with the challenge of inspiring others to embrace change. In this episode, Jay sits down with Eva Minkoff, fo...

In our last episode, we met Carlos, a high-performing professional grappling with anxiety and panic attacks stemming from workplace stress. With the help of guest Jeff Salzenstein, we explored practical tools to manage chronic stress and reframe limiting beliefs. As we approach the end of the year—a time for reflection and goal-setting—Jay dives deeper into the transformative power of beliefs. In...

Meet Carlos, a high-performing senior manager at a motor vehicle manufacturer in Michigan. The relentless pressure at work recently culminated in a terrifying moment—a late-night panic attack that sent him to the ER. Carlos is stuck, grappling with anxiety and disconnection from purpose. In this episode, Jay is joined by Jeff Salzenstein, a world-class athlete turned performance coach, speaker, an...

In our last episode, we explored Rachel’s story—feeling disconnected from purpose in her role—and heard from executive coach Jennifer Hill on how to navigate those challenges. Today, Jay dives deeper into the concept of purpose-driven work, breaking down a fascinating 2019 University of Michigan study on the impact of purpose on job satisfaction and productivity. This episode highlights how a sens...

Meet Rachel. When her husband asks, “How was your day?” she hesitates, replying, “It was fine,” though she knows it’s not. As a senior director at a software company, Rachel once loved her role. However, recent leadership changes have replaced creativity and collaboration with a focus on profits, leaving her uninspired and questioning her future. Jay sits down with keynote speaker and executive co...

In our last episode, we explored Dimitri’s journey as a high-performing leader struggling with interpersonal anxiety, particularly around authority figures. Brett McDermott, host of the Persistence Playbook podcast, joined Jay to share actionable strategies for boosting confidence and charisma. Today, Jay dives into two essential books that have significantly impacted his communication skills: The...

Meet Dimitri. He leaves the company event thinking, Why can’t you just be normal? A talented Scrum Master, Dimitri excels in his leadership role, earning praise from his managers. But there’s one challenge he can’t seem to overcome—connecting with senior executives. He’d been preparing to meet Amir, the company’s COO, for weeks at the event. Dimitri admired Amir and saw this as a golden opportunit...

In our last episode, we learned about Elliott’s struggles with emotional awareness and rigid expectations about his career and relationships. We featured Sara Westbrook, who brought incredible insights into managing workplace dynamics. Today, Jay explores the role of expectations in our happiness and resilience. By introducing his "Formula for Happiness," Jay explains how adjusting perception and...

Meet Elliott. He puts his pen down and feels a sharp twist in his stomach. After a brief call with his director, Elliott, a top-performing account executive for three years, realizes the career advancement he’s been working for might never come. His director tells him there are no management openings, but Elliott’s been hearing that for months, while new managers are hired from outside the team. F...

In our last episode, we followed Tara, an account manager at a critical career crossroads. Geoffrey Roche, a leader in workforce transformation, joined us to offer his insights. His advice? Trust your gut, but balance it with a thoughtful and objective approach. Today, Jay introduces a simple yet powerful framework to help you make career decisions with confidence. With four clear criteria, this e...

Meet Tara. She feels the tension at the Christmas dinner table as her father repeatedly questions her about leaving her stable job of six years. With a hesitant laugh, she replies, “I’m still mulling it over.” Recently, Tara received an enticing offer from a startup as a senior account manager. The role excites her, promising the chance to build her team and step into a leadership position. Yet, l...

In our last episode, we met Erica, the VP of Human Resources who faced challenges in articulating her ideas to executive leadership. We welcomed expert Brielle Woolhouse, who specializes in empowering leaders to become confident and articulate speakers, and she shared invaluable insights. Today, Jay dives into the critical role communication plays in shaping your career. It's not just about unlock...

Meet Erica. It’s the end of the quarterly budget meeting, and with a forced smile, she says goodbye to her peers and CEO. As she heads to her office, head down, she’s overwhelmed with a single thought: “Why can’t I just get my message across?” On paper, Erica’s role as VP of Human Resources looks successful. But today’s meeting felt like a failure. She struggled to present confidently despite prep...