In this episode of Your 5-Minute Friday, I break down a powerful mental framework that’s changed how I lead, parent, and run my practice. It’s simple, but transformative: the moment a problem comes your way, throw up the timeout sign and ask, Is this really my problem? That single pause can save your sanity, protect your leadership energy, and empower your team.

Too often, we take on the emotional weight of problems that don’t belong to us. And while I’ll always be here for support, guidance, and solutions, I’ve learned that being a sounding board is not the same as being a sponge. I share real stories from my office, personal insights from therapy, and tips on how I’ve trained my team (and even my kids!) to take radical responsibility without burning out.

Quotes

“There are only two kinds of problems in the world: mine, and not mine.”

— Dr. Glenn Krieger

“When someone brings you a problem, throw up the timeout sign and ask—do I really need to carry this, or can I coach them through it?”

— Dr. Glenn Krieger

Key Takeaways

• Intro & challenge (00:00)
• Why identifying “my problem vs. not my problem” changes everything (00:48)
• The therapist analogy and emotional burnout (01:30)
• How I support without absorbing others’ stress (02:40)
• Training your team to own their problems (and when to escalate) (04:00)
• The parenting lesson: how I want my kids to handle challenges (06:40)
• The final exercise: timeout, assess, empower (07:50)

Additional Resources

Here’s your challenge: The next time a problem gets thrown at you, pause and ask, “Is this mine?”

And if it’s not, train, support, and empower the person who owns it. You’ll see your leadership, your team, and your peace of mind all level up.

Ready to implement this in your practice or family life? I’m here to help. Reach out to me anytime—we’ll figure it out, together.

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