"The mere consciousness of an engagement will sometimes worry a whole day." — Charles Dickens

In 2009, Paul Graham identified the conflict between the "Manager's Schedule" (hourly blocks) and the "Maker's Schedule" (long, uninterrupted runways). In this episode, Cameron explores the concept of "Calendar Conformity"—the dangerous organizational habit of forcing creatives into a grid that destroys their flow.

Whether you are a leader or a creator, this episode invites you to protect the spaciousness required for deep work.

Resources:

• Read the original essay: Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule by Paul Graham
• Subscribe to the 3-Minute Reframe Newsletter

"That weirdness? That could be your Purple Cow."

Inspired by Seth Godin, this episode challenges the pressure to fit into a box—whether in business school or the corporate world. We explore the radical courage required to embrace the unique, "weird" parts of your story that actually help you stand out.

Show notes:

• Get the book: Purple Cow by Seth Godin
• Subscribe to the 3-Minute Reframe Newsletter

We sweep things away so quickly, we often forget we even have a rug.

It is easier than ever to distract ourselves from grief, discomfort, or tough conversations. But eventually, the rug gets lumpy. This week’s reframe isn't about judging yourself for hiding things—it's an invitation to get curious about what is waiting underneath.

Resources:

• Subscribe to the 3-Minute Reframe Newsletter

Knowing the feedback isn't enough. You have to embody it.

Twenty years ago, Cameron was a professional mixed martial artist. In this episode, he shares the lesson he learned the moment the cage door shut: Intellectual knowledge dissolves under pressure. True leadership requires integrating feedback into your body through repetition, so you are ready when you step into your own arena.

Resources:

• Caged: Memoirs of a Cage-Fighting Poet
• Subscribe to the 3-Minute Reframe Newsletter

In a world of "Fast Averageness," dare to choose Slow Excellence.

Jiro Ono is considered the world's greatest sushi chef. His secret? A relentless, decades-long curiosity about the same craft. Today, we look at how resisting the urge to "hack" your way to the top can lead to a deeper, more sustainable form of mastery.

Resources:

• Watch Jiro Dreams of Sushi on Netflix
• Subscribe to the 3-Minute Reframe Newsletter

"My most painful experiences have been my greatest teachers."

Inspired by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, this episode explores the necessity of "mud" in our lives. We discuss how to reframe suffering not as a defect, but as the fertilizer required for the lotus to bloom—provided we have the psychological safety to process it.

Resources:

• Read Cameron's article in Lion’s Roar Magazine
• Subscribe to the 3-Minute Reframe Newsletter

Straight lines aren't always the fastest way to get where we want to go.

In physics, the Brachistochrone curve proves that the fastest path between two points is actually a curve, not a straight line. In this episode, we explore how this law of physics applies to Steph Curry’s jump shot, workplace feedback, and nonlinear career paths.

Sometimes, we have to be willing to get worse to get better.

Resources:

• Subscribe to the 3-Minute Reframe Newsletter

Perhaps nothing brings more joy and suffering to our lives than change.

In this episode, Cameron explores Kurt Lewin’s 3-Stage Model of Change: Unfreeze, Change, and Refreeze. While often used in organizational strategy, this model can offer a profound reframe for personal growth.

Cameron shares a personal story about navigating social anxiety as a professor—moving away from the "sledgehammer" approach of forcing change, and toward the gentler, more effective process of "thawing" our fears piece by piece.

The Resource:
For a deep dive into Lewin’s model and other change management frameworks, check out Cameron’s guide: Change Management: The Complete Resource.

The Inquiry:
Where in your life do you feel frozen? Instead of trying to take a sledgehammer to that block of ice to force a radical change, ask yourself: What is one small, practical way you can apply heat today to begin thawing one small part of it?

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Every Thursday, host Cameron Conaway shares a lens that has helped him live with more clarity and courage. No hacks. Just thoughts from a business school professor, former MMA fighter, and investigative journalist trying to wring every last drop out of this wild and precious life.