The document discusses the concept of "flow" - a state of complete focus and engagement in an activity where time seems to fly. It notes that top executives report being 5 times more productive in flow. However, people experience flow less often because they are often living in "survival mode" - constantly scanning for threats even when there are few real threats. This is due to perceiving social threats the same way as physical threats, operating on autopilot out of habit, and seeking instant gratification. The document argues that survival mode is optional and that people can choose how to respond in each moment by developing mental skills like focus, resilience and empathy. It questions how much of life people want to spend in survival mode instead of experiencing

1. PHOTO CREDIT: TYLER STABLEFORD
FLOWM A K E S U R V I V A L M O D E O P T I O N A L
FIGHT, FLIGHT or
RENITA KALHORN | @FLOWJUNKIE | THEFLOWFACTOR.COM

2. You know that feeling…

3. when you’re in the flow

4. ”
“
That state where you’re fully immersed in an
activity, feeling energized focus, full
involvement and enjoyment in the process.
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

5. “
”
It’s just this supreme confidence
that you know it’s going in. It’s
not a matter of if, it’s going in.
Things slow down. You just have
supreme confidence.
Kobe Bryant

6. And it’s powerful.
According to a 10-year McKinsey
study, top executives reported being
five times more productive in flow.
SOURCE: HTTP://WWW.MCKINSEY.COM/INSIGHTS/ORGANIZATION/
INCREASING_THE_MEANING_QUOTIENT_OF_WORK

7. “
”
Sir Richard Branson
In two hours [in flow], I can accomplish
tremendous things. It’s like there’s no
challenge I can’t meet.

8. James Slavet calls “flow
state percentage” — the
amount of time employees
spend in flow— the most
important management
metric for building great
innovation teams.

9. Let me get this
straight.
So, if flow is so
great for
performance,
productivity and
innovation, why
don’t we
experience it
more often?

10. Because even though there
are few actual threats
CREDIT: HTTP://STUDIOARTS.COM/GALLERY_JP_TARGETE

11. To our immediate physical survival

12. CREDIT: WWW.123RF.COM/PROFILE_ALPHASPIRIT
We’re still living in survival mode

13. Constantly scanning our environment for
potential threats. It’s not a time for growth,
creation or “single-minded immersion in an
activity.”

14. What’s that
about?
What’s with you
humans – why are
you still living in
survival mode?

15. Let’s start with three reasons:

16. We live in a volatile and uncertain world
(and we’re constantly reminded of it)
1

17. Perceived “social threats” – to our status,
certainty, autonomy, relatedness and
fairness* - trigger “fight or flight” reactions
the same way physical threats do.
*SCARF social neuroscience model: David Rock, NeuroLeadership Institute
2

18. 3
We’re on autopilot, programmed by our
habits to make the same choices

19. driven by instant gratification
and distraction

20. We’re snorkeling through life

21. instead of diving deep in
full engagement

22. This is a waste of evolution

23. Thanks to an evolving brain, we can respond
more rationally to “fight or flight” triggers.
DON’T THINK,
REACT!
Wait, is my life
really in danger?

24. With training, we can develop “mental muscles:”
focus, resilience, empathy, curiosity, courage.

25. Survival mode is optional. We can decide in
every moment how to respond.
S U R V I V A L
( k n o w n )
P A S T
C R E A T I O N / F L O W
( u n k n o w n )
N O W

26. S U R V I V A L
C R E AT I O N /
F L O W
A T T E N T I O N O N
body + environment +
time
internal world
V O I C E O F
inner critic + ego
intuition
E M O T I O N S O F
“survival:“ fear, anxiety,
frustration, resentment,
anger…
high-frequency:
excitement, gratitude,
love, joy...
F O C U S O N
past (the familiar)
present (the unknown)
S E N S E O F
being out of control
being in control
P R O D U C E
stress hormones: cortisol,
adrenaline, noradrenaline
“feel-good” hormones:
dopamine, serotonin,
endorphins

27. Because seriously, how much of your life
do you want to spend in survival mode?
SURVIVAL
flow
where the best
stuff happens

28. “I’ve been able to reach higher levels of productivity
(completing on average 35% more of my tasks each week
with a focus on higher ROI activities), shatter company sales
goals (reaching sales targets well ahead of my company’s
expectations and causing a revision of double the revenues
from my region before the close of the year) and – probably
most important – a work/life balance that allows me to enjoy
every step of this amazing journey.”
When you could be in the flow…
“…stretching my
boundaries and in
the zone. I’ve been
getting more work
done in the
morning than
most full days!”
“I had black belts in procrastination, fear
and self sabotage. Renita has been
invaluable in breaking down my limiting
and self imposed beliefs and providing a
structure for me to achieve what I am
aiming for, she has kept me ‘in the flow.’”

29. FLOW?create with more
What could you and your team

30. renita@theflowfactor.com
@flowjunkie
Psst, Renita’s a Juilliard-trained concert pianist
and martial arts black belt with an MBA from
INSEAD. She’s passionate about unlocking
human potential and works with entrepreneur
CEOs, their teams and Navy SEAL candidates
on leadership and mental toughness training.
Let’s talk.