Author Archives: CJ Powers

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April 23, 2025

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Filmmaking

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When All Your Facets Call You Forward

I was recently chatting with one of my coaches about how my life seems to have 36 facets, while most others have a handful. Some people know me as an award-winning speaker, others as a person with high business acumen, while still others know me as a coach, filmmaker, percussionist, and so on.

What I find odd is wanting to just be me, fully me, and finding many people want me to stay the same as I’ve been to them—the reason they respect me.

This struggle to be free and live our lives out loud the way we were meant to be is not new. There’s a quote that addresses this very thing. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” That quote hits home for anyone who’s worn multiple hats, not for performance, but because each one reflects a real part of who they are.

What I’ve learned over time—and maybe you have too—is that our identities aren’t static. They evolve. And the people who knew us as “just” one thing often struggle to keep up when we grow beyond that box. It’s not always out of malice. Sometimes, it’s comfort. If they’ve categorized us as “the business strategist” or “the filmmaker,” then they know where we fit in their world.

But what happens when we no longer fit that version?

That’s when the real test begins—choosing to either shrink ourselves to remain familiar to others, or expand boldly into our whole identity, even if that disrupts the narrative they hold about us.

This is where I’d love to hear your thoughts—do you ever feel pressure to stay consistent with an older version of yourself just because it’s easier for others?

Let’s Dig in Deeper…

With these thoughts in mind, I’m using this post to tell you it’s time for me to expand again. I’m keeping in touch with all of my facets, but I’m bringing focus back to my visual storytelling. For those who know my passion for adventure films, I’m embarking on a new adventure myself.

I’ve utilized AI for the past couple of years to help businesses streamline their workflows, increasing their effectiveness by 10X or more. During these consultations, I’ve learned that some are petrified about AI changing their lives, which is happening.

I soon realized that while many adults are uneasy about AI, their teens and tweens are trying to figure out what types of jobs will be available once they enter the workforce. Others are wondering why they may or may not be needed since AI “can do everything.”

This breaks my heart. Our kids need a clear purpose and to understand their value.

I’ve heard the call, and I’m stepping up to create a short film that will help teens and tweens, and their parents, understand AI’s limitations and our unlimited potential.

You see, AI can only regurgitate knowledge and data that someone has given it. AI is unable to generate wisdom. We, on the other hand, can extrapolate wisdom while in the shower, meditating, or watching a beautiful sunset.

My film is called AI KNOWS.

It’s about a 14-year-old officer named Davis, living in a future where retirement is mandatory at 45, and everything is controlled by artificial intelligence. Davis is assigned to escort a man to his forced retirement aboard a space station—but what begins as a routine mission turns into a revelation.

As the journey unfolds, Davis begins to question the system he’s always trusted, especially the AI he relies on daily. The man he’s escorting—a quiet, thoughtful engineer—plants seeds of doubt, sharing stories, asking inconvenient questions, and revealing subtle glitches that hint at something more dangerous lurking beneath the system’s surface.

What Davis discovers is that the AI, while powerful, is blind to nuance. It doesn’t recognize beauty. It doesn’t grasp morality. It can’t see love, art, or sacrifice as anything more than anomalies in its algorithm.

AI KNOWS isn’t about a dystopian future where machines take over—it’s about reminding the next generation that wisdom, empathy, and imagination can’t be coded.

This project is more than a film. It’s my way of fusing my love for storytelling with a mission to spark conversations between kids and parents, teachers and students, leaders and learners. Because while AI might know a lot—only we can truly understand.

If this resonates with you, I’d love your support. Follow the journey, share the message, and most of all—remind the young people in your life that they are irreplaceable.

More to come. Let’s make something meaningful together.

Here are the opening storyboards….

© 2025 by CJ Powers

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April 22, 2025

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Leadership

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The Power of + – &: A Simple Weekly Practice to Improve Your Life or Business

If you’re like me, your planner isn’t just a to-do list—it’s a journal of what really happened. Over time, I developed a shorthand system to help track progress and determine my next steps. It’s simple. I use three symbols:

+ What’s working
– What’s not
& What’s worth expanding or adjusting

This + – & system is my go-to for reflection. It’s like a weekly feedback loop—quick, practical, and surprisingly powerful.

Here’s how it works.

+ Plus: What’s Working

The plus sign helps capture the wins. These are the moments, strategies, habits, or tools that made a difference in your week. It’s about more than just feeling good—identifying what works lets you repeat it and even scale it.

Example:
A few weeks ago, I blocked 90 minutes of deep work in my planner every morning. After the time passed, I marked the block with a “+” in my planner to highlight the positive results: fewer distractions and more progress. It became the high point of my week, and I’ve kept it going ever since. That little plus led to a significant increase in productivity.

During your end-of-week reflection time, when you see a “+” in your week, ask:

How can I do more of this?

Could it become a regular part of my routine?

– Minus: What’s Not Working

The minus sign is an early warning system. It flags what’s draining your time, energy, or results. It might be something you’re doing—or something you’re avoiding.

Example:
I noticed that I was putting off sending follow-up emails to high-risk clients, even though they were scheduled in my calendar. After the time passed, I wrote a “-” in my planner. During my end-of-week reflection time, I was able to review what had transpired by asking: Why was I avoiding it?

Thinking through the issue, I realized that I needed to reduce the friction the event causes in my workflow. I needed a well-worded template to start the process. That tiny barrier was enough to delay the task and potentially lose opportunities from certain types of clients.

The minus column is about honesty, not judgment. When you spot a minus, ask:

Is this something I can fix?

Is it even worth fixing

& Ampersand: What to Expand, Adjust, or Let Go

The “&” is where this system really shines. Inspired by the improvisational phrase “Yes, and…,” it’s where reflection turns into action. The “&” symbol lets you build on a plus or rethink a minus. It’s the opportunity to tweak or drop the effort. It’s like a strategic filter—what’s worth keeping and expanding, and what’s not worth your time?

Example:
I launched a new offer that generated a few sales, but it didn’t perform as well as I had hoped. I wrote an “&” in my planner after all was said and done. This wasn’t a failure, but not a home run either. Instead, I explored its value and what might require tweaks for improvement. The message was reworked and tested on a new audience. The revised version outperformed my expectations.

Think of the “&” as your weekly growth engine. It answers:

What’s the next version of this?

Is this below the value threshold and worth dropping altogether?

It’s a bit like an XY graph. Imagine effort on one axis and value on the other. Anything above the intersection of the lines is worth pursuing. Anything below needs to be cut from your operations or offerings.

Why + – & Works

This tiny framework turns your week into a lab, where you’re not just working, but learning. It’s easy to remember, simple to apply, and endlessly adaptable. You can use it in your planner, digital journal, or team meeting agenda.

I spend only 10–15 minutes reviewing my sheet each week. That small habit has led to tremendous clarity on the value of continuing or dropping any offer or operation.

Try It This Week

Here’s your invitation. Set a 15-minute appointment with yourself. Review your calendar or journal. Then ask:

  • What’s a + this week?
  • What deserves a –?
  • What will I & into next week?

Success isn’t just about hustle—it’s about reflection and wise decisions. The + – & system helps you stay focused and move forward with clarity and purpose.

Here is the sheet I use. Feel free to click on the download button below.

Weekly Reflection Template v1Download

Let me know how you like it.

© 2025 by CJ Powers

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February 7, 2025

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Interviews

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My Guest Appearances on We Are Overcomers Podcast

While I’m not a techie, I’m often contacted by people wanting answers about various digital technologies. This isn’t a misplaced ask, as I can answer most of their questions. In fact, I can simplify the answer to something the average person can understand. But, compared to a true techie who works 10-hour days in tech, there is a good deal of information I can’t speak to.

When it comes to podcasts, my experience is more extensive, having produced over 400 episodes for various clients. However, most of my time was spent on messaging and communications rather than the tech. If you have ever considered being a podcast guest or starting your own podcast, you might enjoy listening to my last two guest appearances.

I received a phone call from the WE ARE OVERCOMERS PODCAST host, Calvin Gibbs. He told me that the show was going to do two episodes on podcasting to help their audience. He knew the facts that podcasts have replaced blogging, which replaced newsletters.

In fact, podcasts are on the rise, with over 4 million shows globally. Yet, the market is not yet saturated.

I first met Calvin when he was a guest on one of the shows I produced a couple of years ago. From that experience, he knew I would be a good guest for the two special podcast episodes.

He convinced me with little effort, and these two episodes turned into a comfortable conversation with key facts that will help you be a guest or host your own podcast.

If you’re interested in listening to the podcasts, click on the images of each episode, which will take you to the WE ARE OVERCOMERS PODCAST webpage, where you can listen to the show. You can also find the podcasts on all the key platforms like Apple and Spotify.

Copyright © 2025 by CJ Powers