The Daily What If

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    Think of it as part Instagram, part fast personal growth, and part fresh perspective. Each morning, you’ll get one quick idea to shift your thinking and start strong.  (Scroll down to see examples)

    Created by Doug Fleener, author of Start With What If: Weekly Questions to Spark Immediate Change and Growth. (Coming January 2026)

    “I LOVE your new daily email. It gives me something to think about and do differently that day.” - Anita

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    View fullsize Whether you intend to or not, someone is watching how you live. It might be a child. A teammate. A colleague. A friend. Most of the time, you don’t even know it’s happening. People learn as much from what we do as from what we say. How
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    View fullsize A better way usually doesn’t appear on its own. It appears when someone looks for it. Most things work well enough. That’s often why they don’t get revisited. But staying curious and proactive opens the door to simpler, clearer, or
    View fullsize I recently heard someone say, “I’m the only one who can ruin this day.” It stuck with me because it reframes so much. Not in a naïve, everything-is-perfect way, but as a reminder of where control actually lives. Most days don
    View fullsize The Super Bowl has become one of those shared cultural moments where people slow down together — plans are made, food is shared, and conversations stretch a little longer. Even people who don’t care about the game often find themselves pa
    View fullsize I had a colleague who felt a strong pull to correct people. Big things. Small things. If something was off, he’d jump in. At first, it seemed harmless. Over time, it started to affect his relationships. I usually let it go. Until one day he co
    View fullsize There’s a Japanese proverb that says, “The best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago. The second-best time is today.” It’s a simple reminder that looking back rarely helps us move forward. What matters isn’t when you s
    View fullsize Mistakes are often given more weight than they deserve. One moment turns into a story. One misstep becomes a label. In reality, most mistakes are simply something that happened. Not a verdict. Not a prediction. Just information from a moment that ha
    View fullsize Impatience is usually treated like a flaw. Something to fix or get rid of. But impatience often points to something useful. It shows you care and want progress. It just doesn’t always help you see everything that’s happening. The challe
    View fullsize Helping others build confidence doesn’t usually require pep talks or formal feedback. It often shows up in small moments. A quick word of encouragement to a child. Noticing effort in a partner. A simple acknowledgment to an employee or colleag
    View fullsize One of the biggest challenges people face in relationships and at work is taking things personally. Someone points out a mistake, and what we hear is something much bigger. Not that something needs adjusting, but that we’re bad at our job. Tha
    View fullsize Curiosity is often associated with learning and problem-solving. Asking better questions. Getting smarter. But curiosity also changes how we show up with people. It slows reactions. It opens space. It replaces assumptions with interest. When curios
    View fullsize Late yesterday, I learned that a work colleague passed away suddenly at 64. News like that always lands hard. My thoughts immediately went to his wife and family. Moments like this have a way of cutting through the day-to-day routiness. They remind
    View fullsize Smiling is often thought of as a reaction. Something that happens after a good moment, not something you choose beforehand. But smiling can also be intentional. Research shows that even a small, conscious smile can signal safety to the brain and cre
    View fullsize Misunderstandings happen more easily than we expect. Tone gets missed. Intent gets assumed. A small gap in communication turns into a bigger story. Most misunderstandings start with different perspectives, expectations, or information. What often k
    View fullsize Regret often gets treated like something to avoid or push away. As if feeling it means you did something wrong. But regret usually points to care. It shows you were invested. That something mattered enough to wish you had handled it differently. Le
    View fullsize Some friendships feel effortless. Conversation flows. Time passes easily. You pick up where you left off. But that ease doesn’t mean they require no effort. It usually means effort has already been invested. Small check-ins. Making time. Showi
    View fullsize Determination is often framed as pushing harder or refusing to quit. Gritting your teeth and powering through. A quieter form of determination looks different. It’s continuing to show up without needing drama or force, while trusting that the
    View fullsize Blind spots aren’t a flaw. They’re simply places where growth is still available. Most of us develop habits and patterns that work well. Over time, they become automatic. That’s not a problem. It’s how we get efficient. The o