Jackie Zach
October 29, 2024
In this episode of Tough Love for Business, Jackie Zach and Mike McKay explore the critical distinction between the mind and the brain, emphasizing how each influences decision-making and behavior. Mike explains that while the brain is a physical organ handling basic functions, the mind holds beliefs and perspectives, often shaped by generational influences, which guide actions and determine success. Using the metaphor of a car (brain) and its driver (mind), they discuss how ingrained beliefs, like family traditions or cultural expectations, impact choices and responses. Yet, they stress that these beliefs aren’t fixed; the mind can be “reprogrammed” through conscious choices and affirmations.
Transitioning to business applications, Mike highlights that many limiting beliefs are often inherited or adopted without scrutiny, such as the idea that doubling work input doubles output. Instead, they advocate for working smarter, focusing on efficient input rather than sheer effort. Jackie and Mike also underscore the importance of “pruning” in business—like tending a rose bush—by letting go of low-value tasks to allow high-impact efforts to thrive. By aligning business practices with natural laws, they suggest, entrepreneurs can better manage energy and focus. The episode closes with a reminder of the power of choice, urging listeners to embrace their roles as professional business owners and take deliberate action toward their goals.
Your brain is the car, your mind is the driver.
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Podcast Transcript:
Jackie Zach: Welcome back to the Tough Love for Business podcast. I’m here with my co-host, Mike McKay. I’m Jackie Zach, and today, we’re diving into the difference between the mind and the brain.
Mike McKay: Great. So, your brain is the physical “meatball” in your skull—an organ performing essential tasks, like controlling breathing, heart rate, and blood flow, most of which occur subconsciously. Your mind, however, is intangible and filled with beliefs, thoughts, and perspectives guiding what you’ll do. It has a strong influence on your success.
Jackie: Right. The brain can’t discern good from bad, but the mind evaluates options and choices.
Mike: Exactly. The brain is like a car, and the mind is the driver. The car handles combustion or electrical flow, while the driver directs it. The mind’s beliefs are “coded” by oftentimes dead people.
Jackie: What do you mean by that?
Mike: Well, beliefs pass down through generations. For example, your great-grandparents might have had specific ways of preparing a holiday meal, and you might still follow it today. These beliefs shape your mind’s decision-making. But the good news is, the mind can be recoded if you choose. However, it can also be shaped by what you see online, and that can be misleading. Your brain doesn’t distinguish right from wrong; it’s the mind that filters and accepts what’s fed to it.
Our ancestors’ beliefs can go unquestioned. For instance, I was raised Catholic because my parents and grandparents were, without any deeper exploration of why. Religion is one example of how a single decision can shape many aspects of one’s life. The mind acts as an interface, like a keyboard to a computer. Emotions come through the amygdala, and beliefs often stem from generational influences. Ironically, we resist becoming like our parents, only to notice familiar behaviors in our 40s or 50s.
Jackie: Right, exactly.
Mike: In business, many beliefs are just adopted from others—not necessarily right or effective. For instance, people think output doubles only if work input doubles, but the actual way to double output is by improving input efficiency, not by adding more work. Your mind can learn to work smarter rather than harder, but it can also default to old beliefs if left unchecked. You can recode it, just as you might switch from Facebook to TikTok or stay off social media. You can also opt to read a book over watching a movie.
Jackie: It boils down to choices—your mind decides, and your body and brain follow. So, what will you choose? Will you read a book or watch TV?
Mike: The interesting thing is that once you give your brain enough instructions, you don’t need to instruct it anymore. Your brain essentially learns what is considered appropriate and what isn’t. When I was a kid, I believed that whatever the priest said was right, while anything I said was wrong. Repeating those messages programs the brain to act accordingly. So, if you’ve been taught that public speaking is terrifying, your brain releases chemicals that trigger a nervous response: your gut clenches, you feel queasy. But this response is programmed. The beauty is that you can reprogram it. We use tools like “I Am” statements so you idealize, visualize, verbalize, and materialize what you want. People can be skeptical about manifestation, but if you idealize getting water, get up, and get it, you’ve manifested that water. It’s about taking action, not just waiting for things to happen.
Jackie: Exactly—it’s the action that makes things happen. Things don’t just appear out of nowhere.
Mike: Right. You won’t magically simplify your business; you’ll learn what to stop, what to keep, and what to prune. Businesses operate by natural laws, just like a rose bush. If you don’t prune the blooms, the plant will exhaust itself. By cutting back, you allow energy to flow to fewer blooms, making them stronger and preparing the plant for the next season. Similarly, in business, you can’t do everything. You need to prune away low-value tasks so the high-impact ones can fully thrive. Your mind can recognize this pattern, but your brain just follows instructions. If there’s one lesson, it’s that the laws of nature also apply to business: grow or die, manage energy, and embrace precession. When you understand that nature’s principles apply to your business, things get easier. That’s what your mind is uniquely capable of doing for you.
Jackie: So remember, you can change your mind. You’re in control—your mind decides, and your body follows. Choose wisely. Remember you’re a professional business owner. Now, go kick some ass.