- Full Potential Zone
- Posts
- This is how you lose
This is how you lose
You’ll wish you read this before your next meeting...
Justin Mecham
July 05, 2025
Hey Full Potential Zoners,
Calm isn't your default— it's your decision.
Staying calm in a difficult conversation isn’t a talent, it's a trained response.
When emotions rise, most people rush, react, or shut down.
But strong communicators?
They pause with purpose and stay in control.
First, please check out the incredible opportunity from today’s sponsor. 👇
You don’t need to start a big business. You don’t need a course empire. You just need a system that makes what you already know… sellable.
That’s what people are building inside creatyl.
People who:
Answer the same questions again and again
Teach or guide others informally
Have tools or templates buried in folders
Want to stop waiting and finally put something out there
Inside creatyl, you’ll shape your first offer — fast.
No tech walls. No waiting. Just a clear path forward.
Turn your idea or advice into a digital product
Set it up inside a clean, no-code storefront
Launch with one simple link
Track everything from one place (sales, clicks, and leads)
This isn’t theory. It’s your first product — built and live in a matter of days.
🔗 Click here to try creatyl for free - For a limited time, I’ll help the next 5 people who sign up create their first offer
There’s more you can do in the moment— use my sheet to find out which shifts in posture, language, and mindset can change the outcome.
You don’t need to win the moment.
You need to lead it.
Today we are going to help leaders master this by using:
‘Difficult Conversations - How To Stay Calm When It Counts'.
Let’s dive in!
Download This PDF + my Top 60+ Cheat Sheets At Bottom of Email
How to Stay Calm When Work Gets Tense
1. The Last-Minute Deadline Surprise
Scenario: Your manager suddenly adds a big task to your plate — due tomorrow.
Tactical Pausing:
Take 5 full seconds before you speak. Let the silence create space.
Mental Reframe:
Instead of “This isn’t fair,” try “How can I make this work without burning out?”
Say:
“Okay, give me a second to think through this. I want to do it right.”
Then follow up with:
“What’s the most critical part to deliver by tomorrow? I want to focus on that first.”
It shows composure, protects your mental space, and opens the door to prioritizing instead of panicking.
2. The Passive-Aggressive Coworker
Scenario: A coworker says something snarky in a meeting — directed at you.
Mirror Technique:
Don’t react — reflect their words back in a neutral tone.
Breath Control:
Inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4 before replying.
Say:
“So you’re saying you feel like I dropped the ball — is that right?”
Pause, breathe
“I want to understand what didn’t work for you.”
Reflecting their words keeps you calm and shifts the tone from attack to problem-solving.
3. The Heated One-on-One
Scenario: Your direct report is frustrated and venting in a private chat.
Ask Clarifying Questions:
Don’t defend. Instead, help them unpack.
Tactical Pausing:
Don’t fill the silence. Let them speak fully.
Say:
“Sounds like a lot. Can I ask — which part is bothering you most?”
Then later:
“What would a better version of this look like to you?”
It makes them feel seen without making you the villain. Clarity helps cool the fire.
4. The High-Stakes Feedback Session
Scenario: You’re giving tough feedback to a team member who’s underperforming.
Mental Reframe:
This isn’t about judging — it’s about helping them grow.
Breath Control + Verbal Cue:
Take a breath, then start with a soft entry.
Say:
“Let me think out loud for a second. I’ve been looking at how things are going, and I noticed a few patterns.”
“I want to make sure this helps you, not hurts you — can I share what I’m seeing?”
The mix of breathing, framing, and softer cues keeps things steady — and avoids triggering defensiveness.
When was the last time you created an offer that actually worked for you?
That builds your income. From your ideas. In your words.
➡️Here’s what changes everything:
Start building something that solves your own daily problem — then sell that.
Why it works:
You’ll care more, so you’ll finish it
You’ll explain it better, because you’ve lived it
You’ll connect deeper, because others feel the same
Here’s how to do it inside creatyl
✅ Turn your process, template, or insight into a product
✅ Launch a simple page — zero code or tech blocks
✅ Share one link — and it sells, delivers, and tracks for you
You’ve done enough work for everyone else.
Time to build something that works for you — even when you’re not working.
Here's how you can make it real today:
Daily C.A.L.M. Challenge
Step 1: Choose Your Focus
Pick one part of the C.A.L.M. Model you want to work on today.
Think simple and specific.
Examples:
“I want to pause before I speak.”
“I want to listen without interrupting.”
“I want to use reason instead of reacting fast.”
Pick what feels real for you right now.
Step 2: Spot Your Moment
Look at your day ahead. Where might this show up?
Choose one situation that’s already part of your day.
Examples:
A 1:1 with your manager
A team meeting you usually stay quiet in
A conversation where emotions might run high
You don’t need drama — just pick something real.
Step 3: Make Your Move
When the moment comes, take one step toward your focus.
Ask yourself:
“What’s one small thing I could do here to stay steady?”
Then do it.
Take one breath.
Pause 3 seconds before speaking.
Ask a clarifying question.
Repeat a calm word in your mind.
Small is enough. That’s the practice.
Step 4: Notice What Happened
Afterward, ask yourself:
Did I stay more steady than usual?
Did the tone shift?
Did I feel more in control?
Don’t look for big wins. Even the tiniest shift matters.
Step 5: Finish This Sentence
At the end of the day, write:
“Today, I stayed calm by [what you did].”
Optional extra line:
“Tomorrow, I’ll try [next move] in [situation].”
AI Prompt: “Act as a calm coach helping me stay steady in one real conversation today. Use the details below to create a clear and simple plan I can follow:
Part of the C.A.L.M. Model I Want to Practice: [Insert one — “Center,” “Active Listening,” “Logic over Emotion,” or “Mindful Speaking”]
Why I Chose This: [Insert reason — e.g., “I tend to react too fast in tense moments” or “I want to speak more clearly when I feel pressure”]
A Real Situation Today Where This Might Happen: [Insert one — e.g., “1:1 with my lead,” “Team meeting at 2pm,” or “Client follow-up call”]
Help me:
Give one specific thing I can say or do in that moment to practice staying calm
Offer a backup move if the first one doesn’t work or the moment changes
Share one short reflection question I can ask myself afterward to learn from it
Make it easy. Make it real. Talk to me like a steady guide who wants to help me show up with more control today.”
Most people regret what they said when they were upset. You don’t have to be like most people.
Staying calm isn’t about being quiet — it’s about being clear.
What you don’t say in the heat of the moment matters just as much as what you do.
Being calm doesn’t mean being passive — it means being intentional.
And it often leads to a better outcome than anything you could plan ahead of time.
Until next time and with lots of love,
Justin
This Week’s Growth Recommendations
Book To Read:
“Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most” by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen (see it here)
TED Talk to Watch:
“3 Ways to Lead Tough, Unavoidable Conversations" by Adar Cohen (see it here)
Guide to Download:
“Create Once. Earn Forever.” My personal step-by-step plan on how I earn money as a creator and how you can too (see it here)
I created an online version of my live cohort at a 94% lower cost!
🏆 Everything the live cohort has - just do it at your own pace
✔ 550+ Prompts for ANY Work/Life Situation
✔ Learn to Master ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok, Copilot
✔ Results You’ll See Fast
✔ Yours for Life - Learn on Your Schedule
✔ Clear, Step-by-Step Execution
✔ No Confusion, No Guesswork
✔ No Tech Skills? No Problem.
✔ Save Hours, Cut Costs, Work Smarter
✅ AND SO MUCH MORE
👉 Every day without AI in your leadership is a missed opportunity.
👉 Check out the course I made that teaches ANYONE to be a design expert!
✅ Step-by-step modules to master:
✔️Infographics that stand out in the feed
✔️Cheat sheets that simplify complex ideas
✔️Carousels that drive massive engagement
✔️Quote images that get shared
✔️Lead magnets that attract the right audience & MUCH MORE
✅ PLUS 220+ Done-for-You Templates – Customize them in minutes and make them your own.
📑 Today’s PDF
Download today’s PDF by Clicking Here
📑 Justin’s Top 60+ Cheat Sheets
Download All 60+ PDFs by Clicking Here
Were you forwarded this email? Subscribe and get my free eBook Click Here
Want to Sponsor this newsletter or a LinkedIn post? Click Here