Unstuck Your Mind

“People may do their best thinking when they are not concentrating on work at all.”

When I was a young creative, I had a seasoned creative director gift me this coaster:

It was his way of always making sure I put in my “think time” on observing the world.?

I was constantly in audit mode on myself -- not just with my think time — but also with my thinking-about-think time:

Where do I do my best thinking?

What time of day is that exactly?

For what type of project?

In my 20’s, for shorter content, I used to do my best work at night (hence, the coaster).

Now, I am much fresher in the AM.?

I also recognize that slower-cooked stories (books, documentaries, scripts) bring forward an entirely separate but necessary process.?

One that demands that I fully clear my plate.?In those moments, inspiration can hit when you’ve scheduled space to do nothing at all. Like last weekend, when I was on a camping trip with the family. The perfect place to disconnect and to just be.

I was reading Phil Jackson’s "Eleven Rings” when I came across the following…

“The unconscious mind is a terrific solver of complex problems when the conscious mind is busy elsewhere or, perhaps better yet, not overtaxed at all.” (Science, Dutch psychologists)

For any thinker who might feel stuck, often the way to break free is to first "unstuck yourself" from your existing environment.

? Go camping (or on a hike)

? Tour an inspirational city

? Take a solo vacation

? Lock yourself in a hotel for a weekend

? Stay curious and live an adventure?

? Don’t stress spending on a trip just for you

Every suggestion above I’m happy to report I have experienced.?

I have solo journeyed to Hawaii accompanied by only a handful of books.? I have locked myself in a Caesars Palace hotel room in Las Vegas with a deadline of knocking out a book.? I have given myself grace to not stress writing when the words wouldn’t come — even when I’m out on an adventure.

The next time you feel stuck, remember: sometimes the best way to solve a problem is to stop trying to solve it at all. Give your conscious brain a vacation — and trust the process — because your unconscious brain is paying attention on your behalf.?

THE COURAGEOUS PODCAST

Picture an era when advertising didn’t just sell products—it shaped culture. That’s the legacy Ron Berger helped build, from co-founding the 700-person agency MVBMS with Tom Messner, Barry Vetere, Louise McNamee, and Bob Schmetter to penning era-defining taglines like “Time to Make the Donuts” and “Subway Eat Fresh.” In this episode, Ryan reconnects with his former boss to explore how Ron helped launch Adweek and nurtured a culture of candid collaboration over empty hierarchies. Drawing a line between sports competition and creative excellence, he explains why teamwork, accountability, and “impact winning” have always been at the core of his leadership style. Ron also shares on building a culture at MVBMS that prized strategic clarity over trendy cool.

Missed the last 5 Podcasts?

• The Firestorm Group w/ Steve Fitzgerald
• Phillip Morris International w/ Marian Salzman
• The 200th episode w/ Micah & Mackenzie Berman
• Win Without Pitching w/ Blair Enns
• Performance Paradigm's Reggie Butler

Listen?on Apple Podcasts

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Ryan Berman is the founder of Courageous; a think-feel-do change consultancy based in Southern California. With 25 years in creative business, Ryan believes your “future is safe with change”. Ryan is a speaker, practitioner, and authority on the subject who has been featured in Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Inc, and Forbes. Ryan has spoken on the topic all over the country including at Google, Procter & Gamble, Snapchat, Kellogg’s, Kraft Heinz, Logitech, Discover Card, and charity: water. Ryan also hosts The Courageous Podcast where he talks with leaders from around the globe to uncover what it means to be courageous in today's world. His book, Return On Courage, shares why companies need to unlock courage while providing practical tips on how organizations can operationalize courage today.?Learn more at courageous.io