“The Happy Secret to Better Work” | Shawn Achor
November 26, 2025
Originally shared in our November 2025 Top of Mind Newsletter. Most of us are taught a specific formula for success: “If I work hard, I’ll be successful, and then I’ll be happy.” But what if that formula is scientifically broken? In his rapid-fire TED Talk, positive psychologist Shawn Achor argues that our brains actually work in reverse. When we cultivate a positive mindset—fueled by gratitude—our brains flood with dopamine, making us 31% more productive and…
Read more“The Entrepreneurial Mindset Advantage” – Opportunity Discovery Guide
November 10, 2025
Opportunities are everywhere, yet they cannot always be seen with the untrained eye. Discovering these opportunities is something anyone can do, in virtually any set of circumstances. Whether you want to start a business or a side hustle, launch a non-profit, or advance your career, you can make valuable progress using the Opportunity Discovery Process. This is an overview of the process as it is described in The Entrepreneurial Mindset Advantage: The Hidden Logic that…
Read more“Three Good Things: A way to tune into the positive events in your life.”
October 31, 2025
Originally posted in our October 2025 Top of Mind Newsletter. An entrepreneurial mindset means facing constant ambiguity, and many of us are conditioned to view this with a negativity bias. That is, we tend to ruminate on threats, failures, and unfinished tasks. This “stress loop” can be exhausting and block new learning. How can we arrest this cycle? Enter: the “Three Good Things” exercise, developed by positive psychology founder Dr. Martin Seligman. The tool’s practice is…
Read more“Mastery: Why Deeper Learning Is Essential in an Age of Distraction”
Originally posted in our October 2025 Top of Mind Newsletter. What if we measured learning not by time spent in class, but by what we can actually do? In his book, Mastery, Tony Wagner critiques an education system focused on grades and tests, arguing it leaves us unprepared. He champions “mastery learning,” where individuals progress only when they can use what they’ve learned, fostering deeper motivation and real-world readiness. As Tony shared on our podcast, this…
Read more“How can teachers integrate transcendent thinking and civic reasoning into the classroom?”
September 30, 2025
Originally posted in our September 2025 Top of Mind Newsletter. While understanding the theory of transcendent thinking is valuable in and of itself, finding ways to apply it as leaders and educators is a different matter entirely. As a complement to the research out of USC CANDLE around transcendent thinking, the team offers us some key tips for turning frameworks into practice. These tips show how educators and leaders can help learners see connections across ideas…
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