We asked Jeff, a systems engineer with an extensive managerial role in a high-tech software development company, to tell us about a typical day at his office. He described an all-too-common business environment characterized by information overload and high pressure. “I have thousands of emails I can never get to,” he says. “I’m managing several simultaneous projects, working with large, diverse teams of 30-plus people, including clients, management, end users, developers and analysts. I’m putting out fires all the time. There are lots of deadlines and a lot of pressure.”
Before his ExecuThink training, Jeff was feeling more absent-minded. He’d leave his cell phone at home and forget where he’d put things, like car keys. He’d remember that he had several important things to do in an evening, but not remember what they were. There were periods when he felt mentally unfit. When a friend told Jeff about ExecuThink, he decided to enroll.
“Training was like starting a fitness routine, only more convenient since I didn’t have to drive to the gym, change my clothes and take a shower,” Jeff says. “The professional coach was a clear asset for me. My coach answered all my questions, provided feedback and made me feel that I was accountable to someone besides myself. It helped me push through and work the program.”
Once Jeff was four or five weeks into his training, he began noticing positive changes in his mental abilities.
Since his training, Jeff experiences far fewer so-called senior moments. “I’m able to remember my to-do lists without having to write everything down,” he says, “and it’s been a while since I’ve walked into a room and forgotten what I came for or what I was doing. Recalling names is also much easier.”
Jeff is more aware of other people’s cognitive performances, as well as his own. “I compare myself to others during conversations,” he says. “I notice the challenges of others — how they struggle with words, numbers and recalling events or concepts. In comparison, my sense of recall is much stronger. I find myself completing their sentences for them. It’s tremendous.”
At work, Jeff is better able to manage the complex group dynamics. His many meetings are easier and more productive. He listens more actively and stays focused on the agenda. “I’m less distracted,” he says, “and better able to sift through the noise and chaff and focus on what’s important.”
Jeff’s communication is clearer, and he speaks more concisely. “My vocabulary has improved,” he says. “I have more accessibility to language, and I’m speaking more clearly. Occasionally, I find myself using sentences that surprise me.”
About ExecuThink, Jeff says, “I would recommend it to everyone who feels a little less than on top of their game. I feel sharper and more clear headed. I’m getting far more done in a day and feeling less frustrated. I’m looking forward to continuing with the maintenance portion of the program.”
*Photos above are not of the actual users whose experience we describe
Out of respect for their privacy, we have kept the identities of these people anonymous