Hope is NOT a Plan

Have you ever been involved in an activity that you were no longer excited about? Has your job lost its luster? Do you feel there is more out there for you to give to the world? On today’s episode, Knowing When to Walk Away from Something, I’m going to help you recognize the signs it's time to move on, even if hope is whispering otherwise. Considerations: Stay safe out there, know that hope ignites and that action transforms, and I wish you all, Godspeed, Kevin

No matter the cause of our pain, sitting around and stewing in misery will not get us to a better place. Taking ownership and planning for action are the only ways. In this Five-Minute Friday I share how taking ownership and moving to action have helped me, and can help you, move through tough times and improve your life. Read more on seven pillars that helped me re-balance myself in tough times at https://hopesnotaplan.com/strengthen-your-pillars/ Godspeed y’all, Kevin

Despite having the tools for success, some organizations often struggle to translate processes and training into effective action. This is not only evident in reading after action reports or ‘AARs’ from disasters, and human attacks, it is also true in the world of project and change management. Upon reading these AARs you'll consistently find three key themes among the lessons learned: a disconnect between process and practice, a "knowledge-action" gap, and a lack of a culture of action. Today I’m going to equip listeners with practical strategies to transform well-intentioned plans into tangible results by focusing on process optimization, making time for training, and prioritizing realistic practice. Thank you all for listening to Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Action. I do hope this episode ignites your passion to make a difference in your own knowledge gaps, and your actions begin to transform not only yourself, but those around you in a positive way. This podcast is available on Apple, Spotify, and most other platforms, where you can also, and I ask that you do, leave a review, subscribe, and share with others. Stay safe out there, know that hope ignites and that action transforms, and I wish you all, Godspeed, Kevin

Today, we're exploring human factors engineering, a fascinating field that impacts everything from your office chair to the airplane cockpit.

Imagine a young man growing up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, excelling on the baseball diamond, then trading his cleats for the uniform of a U.S. Navy submariner. This video interview and podcast episode, My Dad Kept Us Safe: A Nuclear Engineer's Journey, isn't just a conversation; it's a window into a life working in the nuclear power industry fueled by dedication, a thirst for knowledge, and a desire to make a positive impact. Key Chapters: 00:00 From the Ballpark to the Control Room 24:00 Nuclear Power: Beyond the Headlines 1:06:20 Safety First, Powered by People Thank you all for listening to this second, and more detailed, part of my conversation with my Father George Pannell. His passion for nuclear power and doing the right thing will stay with me forever. Stay safe, consider the human factors, and Godspeed, Kevin More at https://hopesnotaplan.com

In A Five-Minute Look at the Dying Process, I help prepare the listener for what it is like when their loved one moves through their last moments on Earth. Death is a difficult topic, but knowledge about death can empower us and mentally prepare us for when our loved ones are ready pass on. In this short episode we talk through the stages of physical death. The Stages: As hard as seeing death, particularly seeing our loved one’s die is, remember that hope is not a plan and that with some preparation, we can fuel our hope and better prepare our mind, body, and spirit to support our loved one’s journey to the afterlife. Stay safe, spend time with your loved ones, and Godspeed, Kevin If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone you think could benefit. For more on caring for an ailing loved one or parent, visit hopesnotaplan.com and listen to the Hope is NOT a Plan podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter @hopesnotaplan and visit the Facebook page and YouTube channel, both called Hope is NOT a Plan

End-of-life care can be a difficult conversation, but planning is crucial to help have more productive conversations, to shore up potential care plans, and, ultimately, to face the truth of what’s to come. It's normal to feel overwhelmed or scared, but avoiding the topic can cause more problems later. In this episode, How to Support Your Parent's End-of-Life Care Planning I’m sharing five considerations to help you support your ailing or end-of-life parent in the most action-oriented and efficient manner. Five Considerations: Thank you for choosing the Hope is NOT a Plan podcast. I hope the plans in these episodes help you balance your life, mind, body, and spirit. Stay safe, wash your hands, and Godspeed, Kevin More at https://hopesnotaplan.com | IG & Twitter: @hopesnotaplan

This one's gonna hit a little close to home. You might have noticed I've been a bit off schedule this past week. That's because I was helping to take care of my Dad, George Pannell. As I shared in the previous episode, Dad passed away after a two-year long fight with metastatic prostate cancer on the morning of April 2nd. Today, I'm sharing how my Dad, George Pannell, held onto hope while keeping his fighting spirit and actively participating in his care plan. So, take a listen to this, Dad. This one's for you. You may be gone, but the lessons you taught me, the way you faced your challenge – that will stay with me forever. Thanks for showing me what it means to truly fight. Stay safe out there, wash your hands, and Godspeed y’all, Kevin

My Father, George Pannell, passed away this week after a courageous battle with cancer. Like us, he had hope AND devised a plan to fight the horrible disease. And fight he did. I believe a lot of his fighting spirit came from growing up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and as a U.S. Navy Submarine Warfare qualified Sailor. I was fortunate to record this discussion in June 2023 and dive deeper into the stories I heard growing up. Please join me in honoring him by listening to his story. I love you, Dad, Kevin More at https://hopesnotaplan.com

Today I want to reiterate the core message of Hope is NOT a Plan as it relates to self-defense. Relying solely on hope is not enough to achieve success in life, especially in situations of self-defense. So, during today’s episode I am going to share some broad self-defense and martial arts insight, as well as some specific information about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), my chosen combat sport. The Question: Will I be ready if I have to defend myself or my family? The Hope: I'll just "see red" and destroy my attacker The Plan: Recognizing the benefits of confidence, fitness, awareness, and martial skills that come from training in legit combat sports and sharing how to get started by visiting a gym, asking others and online, and finding your martial arts "Why?" Stay safe, get some training, and Godspeed, Kevin

Hey everyone, welcome back to the Hope is NOT a Plan podcast, Radical Candor in Risk Management | Five Minute Friday 02, I'm your host, Kevin Pannell. Today on Five Minute Friday, well, Saturday edition I suppose, I’m diving into a concept crucial for project success: Radical Candor and Risk Management. As an example, my radical candor is that I was traveling yesterday, got home, got some work done, then took advantage of time with my wife and kids. I apologize for not delivering on a Friday, but here we are, and here we go… Key Concepts: Stay safe, wash your hands, and Godspeed y'all, Kevin

Today, Beyond the Song: Unpacking "We Are the World's" Project Management Secrets on we're tackling a project that aimed to change the world – literally. We're talking about the iconic charity single, "We Are the World," as highlighted in the Netflix documentary The Greatest Night in Popi, and the herculean task of bringing together some of music's biggest egos for one, history-making night. Key Elements: Stay safe out there, wash your hands, and Godspeed y'all, Kevin

Exercise is hard. Building up the motivation to exercise when depressed or in a depressive mood is even harder. In Moving Your Body When Depression Holds You Back | Five Minute Friday 01, I'm sharing five practical and action-focused steps we can take to get ourselves moving and get the endorphins flowing through exercise when depression has its grip on us. Stay safe, wash your hands, and Godspeed y'all, Kevin *Read more, listen, and subscribe at https://hopesnotaplan.com

Hey everyone, and welcome back to Hope Not a Plan! I'm your host, Kevin. Today, on Conquer Depression: Move Your Body and Feel Better, we're diving into a powerful tool that can significantly boost your mental health and even combat addiction cravings: exercise. The Question: How can I exercise if I'm depressed or anxious? The Hope: Someone, a pill, or God will bring me the solution The Plan: Pulling ourselves out of depression and moving past anxiousness by getting the mood bosting benefits of exercise, pushing past lack of motivation, moving a muscle to change a thought, using exercise to fight addiction cravings, and making exercise fit our needs. If you're struggling with mental health or addiction, please reach out for help. You are not alone. There are resources available, and support groups can provide invaluable guidance. Stay safe, wash your hands, get after it, and Godspeed, Kevin

In this episode of Fixit Friday, The Power of Asking Objective Questions | Fixit Friday 5, we are diving into the importance of staying objective when asking questions and when providing feedback and updates to others. Staying objective helps us: Stay safe, wash your hands, and Godspeed, Kevin Read more at https://hopesnotaplan.com

Whether you're a healthcare professional transitioning patient care, a Project manager handing off a project, or simply passing the baton in any collaborative effort, a smooth handoff is crucial for success. In Master Project Handoffs: Ensure Success Every Time I share what I've found most helpful for both providing and receiving a stellar project handoff. The Question: How to give and receive an effective project handoff? The Hope: We'll be able to figure out what to do once we take over the work The Plan: Setting the mindset for being a SENDER by updating documentation, preparing our pitch, reviewing data, and sharing the intangibles. Then, switching to RECEIVER mode so we can review the use case, ask objective questions, and start thinking of next steps. Stay safe, wash your hands, and Godspeed y'all, Kevin

Welcome to Five Steps To Get Started On Your Fitness Path | Fixit Friday 4 back to on Hope is NOT a Plan! Today, we're tackling a topic close to everyone's heart: how to really get started with a fitness routine. We all want to feel good, move with confidence, and maybe even rock that swimsuit (or whatever makes you feel fierce!). But where do you even begin? Click play on this episode to find out more about the five steps listed below. Stay safe, wash your hands, and Godspeed, Kevin

What do Kyle Manard, Alex Roca, and Ryan Job all have in common? None of them let their physical challenges overpower their will to improve and accomplish hard things. So, what's our excuse? The Question: How to get started on a regular fitness routine? The Hope: A workout "hack", pill, or mindset will get me in shape The Plan: Creating a sustainable fitness program by owning where are and where we want to be, defining our fitness "Why?", getting a health screening, acquiring fitness education, getting perspective on goals, and getting moving and keeping going. Stay safe, wash your hands, Godspeed y'all, Kevin

Today, we're cracking the code on creating 360-degree feedback surveys. Be prepared, because 360 feedback can be scary. It can expose weaknesses, highlight conflicts, and leave egos bruised Buckle up, because we're about to get real about feedback! Five focus areas should be: Stay safe out there, wash your hands, and Godspeed, Kevin

Hey leaders, hope you're ready to ditch the delusion and dive into the raw reality of leading people. Because let's be honest, hope is not a plan, especially when it comes to building high performing, engaged teams. Today I'm sharing my 20+ years of leadership difficulties, and together we're tackling the cornerstones of becoming a good people leader. No fluff, just actionable advice to level up your leadership game. The Question: How to start a new journey as a people leader? The Hope: What got me here will make me a good leader The Plan: Focus on the leadership steps of learning policy, knowing the organization, taking leadership classes, asking for feedback, letting leaders lead, allowing for team pushback, and taking ownership of the good and bad. Stay safe out there, wash your hands, and Godspeed, Kevin