Welcome to Minute with Mallon!

Something I Taught:

Some problems deserve our energy—others just steal our peace. The key is knowing the difference.

Years ago, John Wooden told his players:

Don't write a $5 check for a 50-cent event.

In other words, don’t waste time and energy overreacting to minor issues. Stay calm, focus on what matters, and don’t let small problems distract or drain you.

Often when I'm coaching people, they share with me that they're upset about something that has recently happened in their lives. It could be a situation at work, or something personal that's causing them stress.

Since I'm not emotionally involved in the event, it’s easier for me to stay calm and see things clearly without the emotional attachment.

So I share the coach's quote with them.

And then we have a conversation about the situation from a more logical perspective.

This ties into another concept I teach. I call it "Awfulizing."

Awfulizing is when you exaggerate a situation, convincing yourself it’s far worse than it really is. It’s jumping straight to the worst-case scenario, with all the unnecessary stress that comes with it. Instead of approaching the situation logically, you spiral into negativity, making small problems feel like disasters.

But the reality is—most things in life really are 50-cent events!

So here’s my challenge for you: Next time you feel overwhelmed, take a pause and ask: Am I writing a $5 check for a 50-cent event?

Pause. Breathe. And get some perspective. Get in the habit of doing this!

Not every challenge is a crisis, and not every frustration is worth your energy. Instead of letting stress take over, reframe the situation, focus on what you can control, and move forward with clarity.

Try it this week. And if you catch yourself awfulizing—stop, reset, and handle it with the calm, collected mindset of a champion. You’ve got this! 💪

Something to Ponder:

"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it."

Charles R. Swindoll

Something I Learned:

Another excerpt from the book, "Inner Excellence," by a man named Jim Murphy:

If you want to know why some high performers consistently get good breaks and things somehow work out, their secret weapon and the main separator between them and everyone else is this: their subconscious beliefs about what’s possible in their lives. Those beliefs determine what time they wake up, how they talk to themselves, how much they are willing to sacrifice, and most everything else about their lives.

Beliefs set the boundaries for what’s possible in your life. They also attract situations that try to keep those beliefs intact. It’s called homeostasis—the effort of the subconscious mind to maintain a certain level of skill or achievement, whatever the individual believes is right for him or her. For example, if you're performing above what you believe you are capable of doing, your subconscious will try to bring the performance down to your comfort level. By the same token, if you're performing below what you believe you can do, your subconscious will work to bring the results back up to match your comfort level. You will always draw experiences into your life to support your beliefs.

High performers consistently get good breaks because their subconscious beliefs push their actions, habits, and expectations in a positive direction. Your beliefs set the limits of what’s possible and attract situations that reinforce them—whether lifting you up or pulling you back to your comfort zone.

This is vital knowledge for any leader. Consciously challenge yourself on this—and believe in yourself!

Something I Saw:

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Hope you have an incredible week!

Robert

Minute With Mallon: How to Stay Calm When Life Isn’t!