The Chris McMahon Episode: The Fine Art of Making Space
What do a board game designer, creative director, and left-handed fencer all have in common? In Chris McMahon’s case, they all live under one roof. But moving from city to city – Atlanta to New York, Detroit to Chicago, and now Nashville – has taught him something simple but powerful: you only have so much space.
In this episode of The B-Side with Sri, Connico President Sri Kumar sits with Chris to explore how “making space” has become Chris’s guiding philosophy. Through stories of moves, clutter, ideas, and humility, Chris shows us that space isn’t a limit; it’s a canvas.
Below are some of the most powerful moments and lessons from the conversation. You can listen to the full episode below, and follow the podcast for more untold and motivational stories.
Letting go to gain something better
Every time Chris moves, he and his partner audit their lives: what to pack, what to sell, and what to leave behind. When they moved from Atlanta to New York, their living space halved and the rent doubled. Chris saw it as an opportunity to be deliberate about his possessions and who he is.
“It’s a moment to examine – do I have this item out of habit, or do I have it because I’m being intentional about what it brings into my life,” Chris said. “You don’t have to have a major life change to ask yourself that. I’m always trying to make space for things that might become part of who I am.”
This kind of regular culling, he says, is essential. It’s how we make room for what truly adds value, like board games that fuel connection, books that offer inspiration, or moments that ground you.
Making space for ideas & creativity
Chris doesn’t just clear out physical clutter. As a creative director, he knows not every idea is a winner. Chris treats ideas like seedlings in a garden. If you plant things in dark, shady corners – or pile ideas together without care – they suffocate. But when you give them light, air, and consistent care, they might grow into something you’re proud of.
To Chris, leadership is about creating room for others to contribute. “Meetings, like living rooms, aren’t meant to be stuffed. They’re meant to highlight what matters,” he shared.
He described a memorable TV campaign for Hershey’s, filmed after the onset of COVID, where he found himself in a small Minnesota town with no script and 60,000 bars of chocolate. No concrete plan, just people connecting and telling their stories. The outcome? A campaign rooted in humanity, community, and shared joy.
People, passion, and permission to be bad
One of the biggest “ROIs” from making space, Chris says, is the room to be bad (especially when trying something new!). Whether that’s a new city, a new creative project, or a hobby, embracing imperfection gives you space to grow without pressure. Progress requires time, patience, failures, and, yes, space.
Some of Chris’s most inspiring personal lessons come as small reminders:
- Sometimes you need to ask dumb questions to get smart answers.
- If you create space for it, the solutions start coming to you.
- You never get to pick other versions of yourself.
It’s not just about you, either. Let others in – let your team, your friends, your partner help you see spaces you’re overlooking. Invite people into rooms (literal or metaphorical) where new ideas can emerge.
Small choices make a big impact
Chris emphasizes the importance of everyday decisions:
- Deciding what objects to keep (books, games, instruments).
- Setting aside 20-30 minutes in the morning for stretching or mindfulness.
- Prioritizing one key message you want every project, conversation, or interaction to get across.
- Resisting the temptation to overstuff meetings or ideas.
All of these add up and over time, create clarity. They create room – not just physically, but mentally and emotionally – for the things that matter most.
Final thought: Choose your hard, see space as opportunity
Chris leaves us with this: clutter is like old grief. It’s the stuff we keep out of habit, sometimes attachment, but we don’t always need it. It lingers until you choose to let it go. And when you do, you might find there’s room for something better.
Removing it doesn’t always feel good in the moment. It can even feel like heartbreak. But, beyond the heartbreak lies opportunity. Once you make space, you have room to grow, create, connect, and do work that matters. Only then you can be the version of yourself that’s not weighed down by what no longer serves.
“You know, you never get to meet the person you aren’t. Who you might be if you took that job, who you might be if you didn’t meet someone,” Chris said. “I take comfort in that.”
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by clutter, overbooked by commitments, or mentally muddled by ideas or expectations, Chris’s practical wisdom offers something different. Not the pressure to be perfect, but permission to be intentional.
Wondering how to start? Begin small. Choose one thing – an object, a meeting, a habit – and ask: Is this adding value? If not, can I remove it? If yes, can I give it space to grow into something better?
Once you start, the dividends appear. More clarity, more energy, and more joy in the simple things.
