“This book dives deep into the prefrontal cortex and reintroduces us with vigor and joy to what is possible when we use our heads with intention.”
DANIEL H. PINK, #1 New York Times bestselling author
We have access to the single most powerful technology ever known — our brain.
And yet, as incredible as that organ inside your head is, it hasn’t been upgraded since the beginning of time. Your brain is designed to keep you safe (thank you!), but it’s up to you to upgrade your operating system to be happy and productive in the office and at home.
Fear is the default when you’re not intentional about how you use your brain. This translates to overwhelm, distraction, burnout, and other workplace stressors. In Brain On!, Deb Smolensky serves as your coach to retrain your brain through mental fitness strategies that will help you navigate the ever-changing and uncertain world in which we work. As one of the leading authorities on human performance and workplace well-being, Smolensky knows that just as our muscles need a program to get stronger, our brains need exercises to be more creative, innovative, and healthy.
Whether you are a proactive individual wanting to stay energized, efficient, and fulfilled or an organizational leader looking to improve your team’s culture and environment, this is your guide for optimizing your brain, winning the workday, and creating mentally strong workplaces.
Advance Praise For Brain ON!
“We often underestimate the strength of the miraculous human brain. Deb Smolensky in this book dives deep into the prefrontal cortex and reintroduces us with vigor and joy to what is possible when we use our heads with intention.”
Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Drive, The Power of Regret, and A Whole New Mind
“Deb understands both the challenges of working in today’s world and the opportunities to make it better for both individuals and organizations. Brain On! is a great resource to bring forward the intrapersonal skills critical to bringing more compassion, energy, well-being, and gratitude into the workplace and workday.”
Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, LLC
“Organizations would serve their leadership and employees well by learning how to apply Deb’s mental fitness exercises. Brain On! is a playbook to help change work from the inside out.”
Scott Shute, former Head of Mindfulness and Compassion Programs at LinkedIn and author of The Full Body YES!
“Deb is doing important work to make organizations of all types work better. We all accept that business performance is a function of human performance—but we don’t always invest in the mental health, aptitude, and skills of our people. Deb is working to change that. Her approach, to understand and strengthen the brain at work, is a critical input to better the health of our workforce and our businesses.”
Eric Langshur, co-founder and managing partner at Abundant Venture Partners
“A lively, friendly guide…[Deb] doesn’t pull her punches…always holds her readers responsible…and she acknowledges the difficult realities of maintaining one’s daily mental health. At the same time, she frames her explanations with a bracing optimism that readers are sure to appreciate…powerfully uplifting.”
Kirkus Reviews
“An encouraging self-help text filled with methods for managing worker energy and cultivating emotional intelligence in the office.”
Foreword Reviews
“Refreshing…Smolensky’s cheerleading style is warm and encouraging, and the message is likely to be well-received…well organized and clearly presented. Those who need a friendly push to form better emotional habits will find it here.”
BlueInk Reviews
With Deb Smolensky, Explore:
- Why Your Brain Needs Mental Fitness
- How to Upgrade to Your Brain 2.0
- The Brain On! Individual Daily Playbook, including mental fitness exercises, goal-setting how-tos, and brain boosts
- Brain On! Organizational Playbook, designed for leaders, HR teams, and anyone who want to create a thriving workplace environment
Deb Smolensky
DEB SMOLENSKY is a highly sought-after author, speaker, and award-winning thought leader in the area of human performance and health at work. She serves as the Well-Being and Engagement Practice Leader at NFP, and also as an advisor for the insurtech, fintech and digital health start-up communities. Over the past twenty-five years, Deb has received numerous certifications and designations in organizational health and productivity. She consults with a variety of clients, including numerous Fortune 500 companies, to develop strategies, programs, and practices that empower employees and executives to lead healthy, productive lives at work through innovative, meaningful, and engaging solutions.