Productive Flourishing
A newsletter and community for driven possibilitarians who are seeking full-spectrum thriving, hosted by award-winning, best-selling author of Start Finishing, Charlie Gilkey.
Self-Improvement
Business
Society & Culture
Mark Drager: The Gift of Not Knowing (Episode #253)
Key Takeaways:[3:24] Charlie’s background and why he...
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Feb 9 2023 1h 25m
Ruby Vesely & Eric Spencer: Why We Need Connection in the Workplace (Episode 252)
Key Takeaways:[2:57] Ruby and Eric discuss some of t...
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Jan 19 2023 1h 3m
Spotify Live: Do we really all have the same 24 hours as Beyoncé? (Bonus Episode)
Key Takeaways:[6:20] We are in a media environment t...
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Dec 15 2022 56m
Jennifer Brown: How to Be an Inclusive Leader (Episode 250)
Key Takeaways:[3:13] Jennifer discusses finding her ...
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Dec 1 2022 1h 12m
Jadah Sellner: Build Your Life With L.O.V.E. (Episode 249)
Can magic strike twice? As we learn in this episode,...
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Nov 17 2022 52m
Tara McMullin: Unpacking the Code of What Works (Episode 248)
Key Takeaways:[4:36] Tara talks about what led her t...
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Oct 27 2022 1h
Mark Nepo: Navigating Storms of the Human Experience (Episode 247)
Key Takeaways:[4:17] Mark talks about the experience...
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Oct 6 2022 49m
Lisa Nicole Bell: How Creativity and Curiosity Can Fuel Success (Episode 246)
Key Takeaways:[4:54] Lisa would consider herself men...
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Sep 15 2022 1h 9m
Chapter 1 9 sec
Lisa would consider herself mentally ambidextrous. She likes structure and hard problems but also enjoys free thinking. Both these qualities help her as a storyteller and entrepreneurChapter 2 3 mins
Lisa talks about deciding that she wanted more out of early retirement than sitting and eating pancakes all day!Chapter 3 4 mins
As a polymath, you can both be multidisciplinary and singularly focusedChapter 4 36 sec
Sometimes people put themselves in a prison of their own making. Lisa talks about how we can lean into creativity and fun rather than being stuck feeling like we have to do one thingChapter 5 1 min
When we start thinking about making decisions that affect our evolution, we tie in three factors that make them super hard and high-stakes: we make a decision, it is non-reversible, and it seems like it’s non-recoverableChapter 6 11 mins
Sometimes we think that we are failing, when we're really in the middle of succeeding, but the only way you know that is to know that you are trying a new thing and experimentingChapter 7 11 mins
Lisa discusses how her definition of success was flawed and how she was basing success on outcome rather than creating a process that really reflected where her money and time were going, and if this matched her valuesChapter 8 26 mins
Lifestyle changes can take timeChapter 9 3 mins
It’s often what we are ashamed of and embarrassed about that can lead us to really get what we wantChapter 10 1 min
Lisa’s challenge to you: make yourself a “to don’t” list
Kate Strathmann: Building Business Partnerships - Cooperative or Collective? (Episode 245)
If you’ve ever wanted to do interesting projects wit...
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Sep 1 2022 52m
Chapter 1 8 mins
Kate talks about how someone with an art degree and a love of wandering around India ended up in bookkeeping and a finance consultancyChapter 2 2 mins
Kate defines a cooperative as a business that is owned by the people that benefit from it. There are different types of cooperatives. A worker co-op is a type of business where the employees directly own and control the business, generally on a democratic basis of one person/one voteChapter 3 7 mins
In a worker co-op, ownership derives from working in the company, rather than investing in capitalChapter 4 4 mins
Pay and power are not the same things. Just because you have 50/50 ownership in the business, it might not necessarily mean you get paid the sameChapter 5 21 mins
Kate talks about some of the conditions that skew us towards a co-op versus more of a standard partnership: the number of people, owner obsolescence, and creating a multi-generational structureChapter 6 2 mins
What is the line between resilience and interdependence?Chapter 7 1 min
Kate’s challenge: think about one way the structure of your business could shift to benefit all the humans and communities it touches
Esmé Wang: Keeping Momentum While Living with Disability (Episode 244)
This week, New York Times bestselling author and ess...
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Aug 18 2022 54m
Chapter 1 27 sec
When you’re a creator and dealing with disabilities and chronic illness, one of the things you have to accept is that your plans don’t always work out the way you want them to, because life happensChapter 2 8 mins
Esmé talks about growing up as a professional writer with immigrant parents from Taiwan who put a very high emphasis on attending an Ivy League school and productivityChapter 3 1 min
One of the problems of living a creative life and unconventional path is that the normal markers people would use for success may not be thereChapter 4 4 mins
Esmé’s first book was rejected 41 times before it was picked up by a publisher. She talks about how luck plays a role in successChapter 5 3 mins
We all have the same hours in a day as Beyonce, but definitely not the same level of support!Chapter 6 4 mins
Esmé discusses her own dealing with illness as a person that put high importance on output and productivityChapter 7 2 mins
How can people with chronic illness and disability reframe the way they look at productivity and time management in a way that doesn’t lead to frustration and disappointment?Chapter 8 7 mins
Culture and our capitalistic society are obsessed with productivityChapter 9 3 mins
Able-bodied people often don’t realize how much it takes for someone with a disability or chronic illness to do the things they view as “normal” or easyChapter 10 3 mins
How the Momentum App can helpChapter 11 11 mins
How we can better communicate with the people in our lives when we need a break or are running out of energyChapter 12 1 min
Challenge: write down EVERYTHING you do in a day. Everything. You are doing way more than you think you are
Building a Profit First Framework, Digital Advertising, and The Journey of Entreprenuerishp with Tara Newman (Episo...
Tara Newman is the Founder and CEO of the Bold Profi...
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Jul 21 2022 56m
Chapter 1 4 mins
Many of us come to entrepreneurship out of necessity. Tara talks about her diagnosis of Lyme Disease, and how getting COVID-19 also flared up her EB Virus. To heal, she needed proper time and space to focus on her health journey, which having your own business can allowChapter 2 7 mins
The pandemic cycle introduced new layers that we hadn’t had to consider beforeChapter 3 4 mins
Why it’s detrimental to condition your reward system to seek likes, followers, and comments rather than true valueChapter 4 3 mins
Tara explains how the online business model is the most costly thing she has ever seenChapter 5 1 min
Tara is a big believer that you can be a millionaire without having a million-dollar businessChapter 6 2 mins
There is no regulation for digital advertising and research shows that up to 88% of ad clicks are fraudulentChapter 7 10 mins
Publicly held companies are cutting their ad revenue and marketing because they know they can make sales without themChapter 8 9 mins
The biggest benefits to having a profit-first framework as a methodChapter 9 8 mins
What has Tara learned as a wartime leader?
Flow, Cooperative Technology with Steven Kotler (Episode 242)
Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author...
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Jun 23 2022 52m
Chapter 1 3 mins
Steven talks about starting his career in journalism and expanding his interest in disruptive technology and how people get and stay in their flowChapter 2 4 mins
Steven talks about his thoughts on being a rational optimist, and what we mean when we say radical humanismChapter 3 15 mins
How did COVID-19 disrupt the way we work and live when it comes to both AI and material revolution and how can we embrace these changes moving forward?Chapter 4 2 mins
The four best tools to manicure our nervous systems are gratitude, mindfulness, exercise, and regular access to flow. It is imperative that we take advantage of these during a crisisChapter 5 1 min
How do we cooperate at scale at speed without a war driving us forward?Chapter 6 13 mins
Steven talks about his book, The Devil’s DictionaryChapter 7 3 mins
Are we going to use these technologies to fix the globally broken supply chain? That’s an open questionChapter 8 4 mins
Steve explains how we need different models for sharing value at scale than what we currently haveChapter 9 57 sec
In order to solve world problems, we need empathy for all beings, plants, animals, and ecosystemsChapter 10 49 sec
If you’re interested in creativity and innovation, and entrepreneurship, you need to tamp down the brain’s negativity bias and make room for new information. The easiest way to do that is through empathy
Sabbaticals and Slowbaticals (Episode 241)
In this episode, Angela is back as we discuss why it...
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May 5 2022 59m
Chapter 1 4 mins
When reflecting on this episode, Angela realized she and Charlie continued to have the “burnout” discussion without ever taking a break to rechargeChapter 2 2 mins
What is a slowbatical? And why it’s more attainable than a true sabbaticalChapter 3 42 sec
So many of us have reached a tipping point where today’s pace is driving us to burnout on a detrimental scaleChapter 4 2 mins
One positive of the pandemic is we have begun talking more about burnout and the need for slowing down; even though it was at a tipping point before COVID-19Chapter 5 2 mins
When we talk about burnout, most people think about being incapacitated but there are levels of burnout. Oftentimes, it’s more gradual than a dramatic implosionChapter 6 1 min
Rather than waiting for a falling out, it’s best to plan for what to do if there is burnoutChapter 7 7 mins
The OEN April panel discussion spared an important issue which is why there is so much pressure and threat of burnout on founders and small business owners, especiallyChapter 8 3 mins
It’s okay to recognize what role privilege plays in the need for sabbaticals and slowbaticals without discounting the importanceChapter 9 3 mins
While this episode has an emphasis on founders, it is just as important for those with side hustles or traditional jobs to allow themselves the mindset to slow downChapter 10 4 mins
There may be a cost to taking a break, but there will likely be a bigger cost to not taking oneChapter 11 9 mins
What and when founders and business owners can plan for sabbaticals and slowbatticalsChapter 12 1 min
It’s time to stop saying, “I can’t” when it comes to sabbaticals and slowbaticals. And start asking, “Why?”Chapter 13 2 mins
The two questions you need to ask when thinking about a slowbatical are 1) What are you making space to do more of? 2) What are you making space from?Chapter 14 5 mins
Time and time again, people that take slowbaticals find that results remain relatively the sameChapter 15 5 mins
Angela has not only helped clients and seen their growth with slowbaticals but she’s also had to examine and struggle with this in her own life
Create More Free Time (Episode 240)
In this episode, Jenny Blake joins Charlie on the sh...
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Mar 31 2022 1h 5m
Chapter 1 47 sec
Jenny invites listeners to do less. So much of free time is permission, and that permission is to be a little bit radical with your free timeChapter 2 3 mins
How did Jenny end up with the book Free Time? She explains how she was inspired to write her first two books, Life After College and Pivot, and Free Time is about optimizing what's nowChapter 3 2 mins
A lot of books on systems tend to be quite dense and complex. Jenny's aim was to bring some levity to the conversation with her bookChapter 4 3 mins
For business owners, Charlie highlights some important things to keep in mind about people sharing their numbersChapter 5 6 mins
What is Free Time about? At its core, it's a book that helps you make your business work for you without so much work to make it workChapter 6 2 mins
We need to start thinking about systems differently. A system is essentially a set of interrelated, interconnected parts that produce a consistent result. Oftentimes, in organizations, it can feel like people are at fault, but the underlying issues may be the work systems that have been createdChapter 7 12 mins
Jenny shares some examples of the importance of having systems on the personal and household frontChapter 8 2 mins
When we look at the things we don’t like to do or are not good at doing from another perspective, we can actually see that there are people out there who are good at it, and who want to do it, and will benefit economically from doing itChapter 9 3 mins
One of the things we have to take seriously in all teams is the energy and emotions that we inject into themChapter 10 3 mins
The bottleneck and chief constraint in a business is often not time, but energy and attentionChapter 11 8 mins
Jenny and Charlie discuss infinite games and how happiness and free time tie into thatChapter 12 5 mins
Creating systems can start by thinking of what you would like an ideal world to look like. The point is not to get caught in the minute details of how that is possible but merely visualize and dream what is possibleChapter 13 8 mins
Strategic laziness can be a helpful concept to tap into to create systems and processes in your business to make things easier for your future self
Putting Together the Start Finishing Field Guide (Episode 239)
In this episode, Productive Flourishing team members...
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Feb 10 2022 49m
Chapter 1 2 mins
Charlie explains his process of writing Start Finishing, and how it turned out to be the kind of book that it isChapter 2 1 min
Steve was the champion for the Start Finishing Field Guide from the beginning. He shares more about why he felt the worksheets and guides that accompanied Start Finishing were so importantChapter 3 1 min
When writing a non-fiction book, it is always important to be open to other bits of collateral that you might need to support itChapter 4 1 min
It took a lot of effort to bring the Start Finishing Field Guide into existence. Steve talks about why important tasks that aren’t urgent can sometimes get pushed to the back, especially if there isn’t someone in the organization to champion themChapter 5 3 mins
There was a gap between the information presented in Start Finishing and readers actually translating that into a final finished projectChapter 6 1 min
How did Maghan get roped into the field guide of Start Finishing? She talks about how she started as part of a street team to promote Start Finishing and found herself needing companion worksheets to better process the concepts it coveredChapter 7 2 mins
Charlie outlines the timeline for the field guide and how it ended up being launched nowChapter 8 2 mins
Steve talks about some of the calculations and approximations the team had to do around the cost of producing the field guide, as well as how the team decided which other projects were going to be put on the backburner for thisChapter 9 4 mins
What are some of the differences between publishing a workbook and a traditionally published book?Chapter 10 4 mins
What's the thought process behind creating worksheets to help people grasp concepts or ideas better?Chapter 11 4 mins
For Maghan, working out how to translate each chapter of the book into worksheets essentially became a lesson for her on what to do next and how to implement the principle of that chapter in her lifeChapter 12 7 mins
The team shares their reflections on what they have learned from working on the field guide and being a part of the PF teamChapter 13 2 mins
Why is the book called a field guide rather than a workbook? It’s a great resource to have along the journey!Chapter 14 1 min
Sign up to get the details about the field guide when it gets releasedChapter 15 4 mins
Steve, Maghan, and Cory share their final thoughts to wrap up the interview
The Road to Recovery from Traumatic Brain Injury (Episode 238)
In this episode, Angela joins Charlie on the show a...
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Dec 30 2021 1h 6m
Chapter 1 1 min
Angela experienced traumatic brain injury (TBI) in July and has been going through concussion rehabilitation since then. It has been a journey of learning to navigate the changes Angela has experienced in her thinking and thought patterns, both for herself and CharlieChapter 2 1 min
Angela invites listeners to be honest with themselves about where they are and where their capacity is. It starts from there to let the people around you know where you are, so they can engage and interact with you as you areChapter 3 1 min
Team discussions have also taken on a different dynamic within PF with more neurodiversity. This has encouraged the team to become more reflective and introspective about how they share their materialChapter 4 5 mins
Angela’s recent concussion is likely her eighth serious TBI. She talks a little about her experience with previous TBIs and how they have impacted herChapter 5 3 mins
It is possible to have a TBI without blacking out, or any of the other common symptoms doctors screen for. Additionally, having TBI makes you more susceptible to additional TBIsChapter 6 3 mins
Concussions and TBIs are a lot more common than people think they are. Oftentimes, changes that people, especially women, experience because of TBIs are misattributed to hormonal changesChapter 7 6 mins
Angela has been on an intensive concussion rehabilitation program working with multiple specialists. It has been an exhausting experience for her, and she explains whyChapter 8 8 mins
When dealing with TBIs, it is important for the medical team to have a baseline of what the person's original level of functioning was. It makes all the difference in how they’re evaluating the person’s progress. Having someone else to advocate for you can help in this situationChapter 9 8 mins
What are some things Angela and Charlie have learned from this journey? The first thing they realized was how much Angela was in charge of care work in the home, and how that had to change after her injuryChapter 10 5 mins
The second thing they learned was that Angela’s schedule had been lying to her. Charlie and Angela talk more about how they helped her get into momentum planning to schedule her timeChapter 11 1 min
Angela is still deep in the throes of her rehab, but there are already things she is grateful forChapter 12 4 mins
Something that has helped Angela in this process is “sense naps.”Chapter 13 4 mins
Knowing how to ask for help and how to accept it is one of the hardest things to doChapter 14 6 mins
While most of this conversation has been focused on Angela’s journey, Charlie has also experienced some catalytic changes
How to Create a Spiritual Practice (Episode 237)
Ashley Zuberi, yoga teacher, author, and former team...
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Dec 2 2021 50m
Chapter 1 2 mins
For many people, doing yoga, and cultivating a meditation or mindfulness practice are on their to-do list. Yet, people struggle with actually starting and maintaining these practices. Ashley addresses why people can get stuck before beginningChapter 2 1 min
Creating a meditation or yoga or spiritual practice is hard, and it's because it requires experimentation where people are looking for someone to tell them what to doChapter 3 1 min
One way to approach these practices is by integrating these practices into our lives in a more practical way. Ashley outlines how this plays out in her own lifeChapter 4 4 mins
Charlie reflects on how his relationship with yoga has changed since 2020. Yoga is much more than just practicing poses. In its original form, yoga was a meditation practice!Chapter 5 2 mins
It can be just as, if not more, helpful to do shorter periods of yoga more frequently rather than longer sessions at larger intervals. What has happened is the assimilation and co-opting of other traditions into a Western paradigmChapter 6 2 mins
A lot of what drives our actions is being more efficient and doing things more as efficiently as possible. However, that's not the goal in a spiritual practiceChapter 7 3 mins
Even hugs can be a part of your yoga practice if you are tuning into the present moment and practicing presenceChapter 8 1 min
Spirituality is what happens in the moment and not just what happens in the special containers we create for themChapter 9 2 mins
Charlie and Ashley discuss what it means to truly be able to show up as your full self at work, particularly now with COVID-19 and working from homeChapter 10 58 sec
COVID-19 has had some negative impacts on this generation of children, but looking beyond the arbitrary constructs and structures, we can see some other benefits like children seeing their parents at work, and parents being able to spend more time with their kidsChapter 11 3 mins
Charlie explains more about different types of reality, the objective, subjective, and interest objective, and how this ties into spiritual practicesChapter 12 4 mins
Our understanding of what yoga is evolves and changes with time. Charlie and Ashley share what it means for each of them and how it influences how they show up in the worldChapter 13 9 mins
What are some steps we can take to move forward from this conversation and start our spiritual practice?Chapter 14 4 mins
Each of us has our own challenges and struggles with our spiritual practice. What is Ashley feeling most challenged by now?Chapter 15 1 min
Ashley invites you to try something today that helps you find more peace
Tracking Wonder (Episode 236)
Jeffrey Davis, branding consultant, repeat guest, an...
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Nov 18 2021 1h 2m
Chapter 1 2 mins
Jeffrey invites and challenges listeners to conduct an experiment at the beginning, middle, and end of your day to bring more openness, surprise, elevation, or connectionChapter 2 6 mins
Jeffrey shares the journey of how he wrote his latest book, Tracking Wonder. It was a process of discovery and learning through extreme adversity and crisisChapter 3 3 mins
When we go on these journeys as thinkers and writers, there is often an intense pressure for it to be quick. Often, this is not the case and it can take months or years for ideas to come to fruitionChapter 4 3 mins
Fifteen to 20 years ago, positive psychology was still in its infancy, and the only option then was to turn to philosophy to talk about thriving, wonder, happiness, belonging, etc. Now, there is science to back it upChapter 5 1 min
The past 18 months, both culturally and socially, have raised a lot of questions about meaning and relationshipsChapter 6 5 mins
Charlie and Jeffrey discuss measuring productivity; it has always been difficult to measure and has become even more difficult recently. Why are we tracking only certain metrics for productivity and efficiency and not others?Chapter 7 2 mins
There is a lot of work to be done, and it does have an impact on the company’s bottom line. On the flip side, as leaders, we need to have the integrity to recognize that people need to go out and do something different than just being stuck to their screens all dayChapter 8 3 mins
Charlie reflects on an interestingly productive time of his day when he goes on his coffee walks in the morningChapter 9 3 mins
There are a lot of things that look like not working, that make the working actually happenChapter 10 4 mins
Getting off a structured routine can be a very bewildering experience of deinstitutionalization. When we get off the path fixed for us, we have to create boundaries, rhythms, and structures for ourselvesChapter 11 3 mins
How can we navigate that sense of bewilderment and disorientation when our rhythms are disrupted? Bewilderment fatigue can be a challenge, and sometimes we may disengage or bypass as a way of escaping realityChapter 12 3 mins
Wonder has six facets. Jeffrey explains each one briefly. 1: Openness, 2: Curiosity, 3: Bewilderment, 4: Hope, 5: Connection, 6: AdmirationChapter 13 3 mins
How can productivity and wonder coexist? They seem to be at odds with each other, yet a balance is necessaryChapter 14 1 min
We are more than our work. Charlie shares some ways to detach ourselves from our work in the language we useChapter 15 3 mins
You are what you pay attention to. What are you paying attention to, and what are you focusing on?Chapter 16 2 mins
How can we shape our time together better so that we develop more connection?Chapter 17 6 mins
Jeffery used the design of his book to invoke wonder and bewilderment
The Ecosystem Model of Business (Episode 235)
Pam Slim, business coach, speaker, and author of the...
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Oct 28 2021 52m
Chapter 1 2 mins
An arc connects all three of Pam's books Escape from Cubicle Nation, Body of Work, and Widest Net. She explains the trajectory of the reader going through all three booksChapter 2 3 mins
Pam has experienced several different configurations of working since her first book. She shares more about her journey with work, and how she has built up her network of relationshipsChapter 3 5 mins
In her book, The Widest Net, Pam talks about some of the other elements of marketing that are more relatable and inclusive. At its foundation, The Widest Net is focused on shifting the paradigm from “building an empire” to “building an ecosystem.”Chapter 4 2 mins
A lot of marketing already happens within an ecosystem modelChapter 5 1 min
Whether you’re going deep in cultivating relationships or broad in reaching out to a large audience, you still have to do marketing, and you still have to do the workChapter 6 2 mins
There is a distinction between relational connections and transactional connectionsChapter 7 2 mins
As an expert within your field, you need to have a beacon. It is your responsibility to be really clear about what you do, your perspective, and your unique approachChapter 8 5 mins
Many of us want to showcase all of our talents and interests, and illustrate that we have range. However, this can be problematic from a business perspective. Pam and Charlie discuss how to build a better beacon for our workChapter 9 1 min
You don’t have to let go of all your passions, interests, and different revenue streams in your business. It’s all about what you're shining the light onChapter 10 33 sec
When our beacons are too diffuse, it makes it hard for people to refer us to othersChapter 11 5 mins
Partnerships are an essential part of building success in the ecosystem model. Pam explains how having “peanut butter and jelly” partners and brand partnerships can be usefulChapter 12 5 mins
How can we start positioning ourselves to get into the flow of building partnerships? It can be difficult, especially for underestimated or overlooked foundersChapter 13 7 mins
Pam shares some of the things she has learned about her own business and journey in writing The Widest NetChapter 14 3 mins
Pam invites listeners to identify partners to help them market their business. The first place to start is with your favorite clients, customers, and people you work with
Permission to Glow (Episode 234)
KC Carter, meditation teacher, executive coach, and ...
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Sep 30 2021 54m
Chapter 1 4 mins
In his work, KC shows up in many different communities throughout the world. Those with a brand around nonfiction are often under pressure to show up one way all the time, but we are human beings that contain multitudesChapter 2 2 mins
The law of accumulation says that we are more than all that we’ve ever lived, and we’re lucky if we can integrate some of that into our work. There can be a perpetual discomfort knowing which part to display in a given setting to get people to believe what you have to shareChapter 3 6 mins
KC shares his process in overcoming the enormity of his book project to stay focused and on task, as well as to carve out the time to make it happen. He was able to draw on his experience putting a song together and recognizing the joy that comes at the end of a projectChapter 4 3 mins
Glow vs shine: the reason glow resonated more than shine is because of the longevity of its potential, and it allows a wider spectrum of what it means to glow. Glow comes from within rather than reflecting light when we shineChapter 5 5 mins
KC talks through the four permissions: 1. Permission to chill 2. Permission to feel all the feels 3. Permission to glow in the dark 4. Permission to transcend competition for collaboration and uplift our human familyChapter 6 6 mins
The radicalness of the four permissions comes from looking at them in reverse order. Permissions 3 and 4 focus more on what we can do together, but Permissions 1 and 2 are radical in their own right because as a society, we don’t often prioritize these thingsChapter 7 4 mins
KC talks about his struggle with the second of the previous permissions. Because his intelligence centers around his mind (rather than the heart), it can be difficult to let people into his process of struggle and victoryChapter 8 6 mins
KC also included a 5th permission, 5. Permission to suck. This allows people to keep compassion as they create change in their livesChapter 9 3 mins
The permissions are like a vine that continues to propagate throughout your life, and they change you as they change on external and internal levelsChapter 10 6 mins
If you want to get started on these concepts, the default place to get started would be to create a daily meditation habit. That’s the foundation of conscious leadershipChapter 11 2 mins
KC’s challenge to listeners is based on Permission 3 look around at the fear in today’s world, and ask yourself “What would it take for me to defiantly glow in this darkness, no matter what?”
Unlearning in Order to Speak Our Minds (Episode 233)
Andrea Owen returns to the show to talk about her ne...
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Aug 26 2021 54m
Chapter 1 3 mins
Andrea talks through the trajectory of this book compared to her previous book, given the current climate of women’s empowerment and looking back into the culture that raised usChapter 2 4 mins
Her book gets to the root of many issues, and sometimes that’s uncomfortable. But going out of our way to make people comfortable with the conversation sometimes can exclude people from entering the conversation as their authentic selvesChapter 3 2 mins
Charlie and Andrea talk about the idea of generational transmissions, and how the same head trash that affected our parents and grandparents still affects us todayChapter 4 3 mins
One of the best tools Andrea has learned is to get curious about why you’re acting the way that you are. It doesn’t mean you are wrong for it, but it’s valuable to explore where that’s coming fromChapter 5 8 mins
Andrea talks about the pendulum of “the norm” over the past few years, and the wake up call we all received around 2016. As the pendulum is moving back towards the middle, we will be able to have candid and vulnerable conversations that are necessary to unpack “the norm” to move forward to real social changeChapter 6 2 mins
Charlie and Andrea talk about some of the reasons it’s so difficult for women to initiate difficult and vulnerable conversations, as they are often waiting for other people to take care of their needs. It starts with this unpacking and unlearning of the conditioning and socialization that we’ve receivedChapter 7 5 mins
Andrea walks us through the four steps of unlearning: 1. Pay attention 2. Get curious 3. Self compassion 4. Keep the momentumChapter 8 3 mins
In the process of unlearning, there will be feelings of discomfort, and that is okay. The important thing we can be responsible for is our behavior when reacting to those feelingsChapter 9 4 mins
Another important topic Andrea includes in the book is money. Women tend to not talk about money and tend to not invest, even though they are often more successful than their male counterpartsChapter 10 4 mins
Andrea talks about a specific experience with trying to find a babysitter, and the importance of having important conversations with young girls around their worth. Boys are often socialized much differently even from a young age, especially when it comes to financial worthChapter 11 1 min
What you charge is not your value; you should charge for the value that you bring, but the value that you bring is not your personal worthChapter 12 5 mins
Andrea talks about the list of things to start and stop doing that is outlined in her book, as well as which she finds most challenging to work onChapter 13 1 min
Andrea’s invitation for listeners is to think about your conditioning and your socialization, how it is or isn’t serving you, and what you are doing to change it
Rebel Leadership (Episode 232)
Larry Robertson returns to the podcast for this epis...
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Jul 22 2021 1h 3m
Chapter 1 5 mins
Rebel and leadership are both terms that people are simultaneously attracted to and repelled by; however, the best aspect of both is how we can thrive in these uncertain times. Rebels are innovative, open, experimental, and adaptable. On the leadership side, the best leaders create an environment where everyone can lead in their own wayChapter 2 4 mins
As we move forward in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world, we will experience risk in one of two ways: conventional risk and storm-surge risk. We are experiencing both more often and more simultaneously than the human race has beforeChapter 3 3 mins
Rather than trying to contain the uncertainty, we have to prepare for and learn to live in that uncertainty. Larry talks about structure in organizations and our own preparedness, and using that structure as support for your larger purpose. This VUCA world is an opportunity to create a new normalChapter 4 3 mins
Larry and Charlie talk about the idea of future proofing, and how it can be dangerous to focus on future proofing, because it doesn’t allow you to see opportunities in the middle of difficult times. Future readiness recognizes that we have to continually adaptChapter 5 6 mins
This new book is kind of an evolution out of Larry’s previous two books, focusing on how we lead out of our ideas into something bigger, and how leadership has changed. He combined four ideas to make this book: a sense of incompleteness, time relevance of uncertain times, looking for something new in leadership, and identifying patterns of success for people leading in uncertain timesChapter 6 3 mins
The people that are creating value and impact are engaging and re-engaging in the creative process to not only materialize their best work, but also evaluate what that means, especially over time. Moving on this continuum can make it easier to get started on the next part of your body of workChapter 7 3 mins
When advancing on our next body of work, it’s important to dig deep into what people have thought along the way, what went well and what went poorly, and what kept them on the path through the ups and downs. The back and forth of digging and advancing is part of the mix all the timeChapter 8 7 mins
Larry talks about his interview process. With a broader audience, the more revelatory it is. If you can broaden out the spaces that you’re serving, you’re going to start to see patterns emerge. These patterns become lessons that can transferChapter 9 4 mins
A key thing about interviews is that we often think we need better answers, but in reality we need better questions, and the willingness to engage with them in a way that fits the questionChapter 10 1 min
Another thing to recognize is that during this interview and exploration process, we may not always get closure on a question or idea. Recognizing the power in the idea of accepting the incomplete, we have to begin to apply it across the board, not just to isolated experiencesChapter 11 4 mins
Each of the five insights explored in the book are helpful and powerful, but what they do in combination surprised Larry the most. The interconnection became so important, and as he realized the power, he was able to emphasize that for readersChapter 12 9 mins
As Charlie is writing his new book, Work Ways, this same interconnection becomes important as we examine how making changes in one aspect of work will affect everything else, especially in the times we live in today as we transition back to the workplace. The reality of the uncertainty around us is that it is real, but it is also necessary. Uncertainty is how we stay curious and advance ourselvesChapter 13 2 mins
Larry’s challenge for listeners is to think about leadership differently; it’s not leadership in the traditional way we have thought about it, but an inherent capacity in all of us. His invitation to listeners is to rethink what leadership is, realize that you have a place in it, and choose to step into it
Name It, Claim It, Tame It (Episode 231)
Key Takeaways:[2:15] - The elephant is not the only ...
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Jun 24 2021 46m
Chapter 1 6 mins
The elephant is not the only creature in the room. The idea behind naming the mouse in the room is that sometimes you have to acknowledge the more subtle things in the room they’re not always as big as an elephant. When we don’t name our mice, we’re more disconnected from our souls and from othersChapter 2 4 mins
Charlie talks about the model of “name it, claim it, tame it.” We often can name our feelings, but until we claim them as true, we can’t do anything to tame them, to be able to live and work with them. Emotion drives action, and when we claim those emotions it’s easier to relate to the world through our storiesChapter 3 3 mins
Naming mice is a doorway to deeper connection, more confidence, and stronger leadership. Having these conversations gives us the opportunity to be more deeply connected to what’s actually happeningChapter 4 3 mins
David selected a mouse to represent this idea because it already relates to a saying and concept we have in society, and its size represents the little moments that happen in between the big things in our livesChapter 5 6 mins
At its heart, David’s book is about awareness. Once we become aware of these feelings or moments, then we get the opportunity to name it, welcome it, and acknowledge that it is okay. This acknowledgement is where transformation can beginChapter 6 5 mins
Charles talks about some of the different reactions we feel when we name our mice. In some cultures there is a tendency to take immediate action, but we have the freedom to sit with what we’ve named and just allow it to beChapter 7 6 mins
The same goes for our interactions with others when they name their mice. Authentic relating is about just being with someone to explore what it’s like to feel what they are feeling. As we each relate to the world through our stories, we have the opportunity to weave a common realityChapter 8 5 mins
How much of the range of human experience do we not allow ourselves to experience because we’re afraid to name the mice or share our vulnerabilities? If we don’t acknowledge our emotions, it is hard to move through them and transform themChapter 9 2 mins
David’s call to action for listeners is to visit the Kickstarter page, join the campaign, and share the movement. The more people we get naming mice, the more we can begin to transform the world
Breaking Down Barriers of Philanthropy (Episode 230)
Today’s guest is Kris Putnam-Walkerly, author of Del...
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Apr 29 2021 47m
Chapter 1 2 mins
Kris now works with philanthropists as an advisor and strategist, assessing impact and making changes based on what works and what doesn’t. Originally starting with a master’s in social work, her journey through different family foundations led her to this opportunity she has nowChapter 2 2 mins
Kris defines philanthropy as actively promoting human welfare, and generosity and caring for others. While giving money is a big part of philanthropy, the definition extends to giving of our full selves to help our neighbors, communities, and the greater goodChapter 3 3 mins
Charlie and Kris talk about whether the word philanthropy is culturally problematic. When considering the connotation of the words, phrases, or norms we perpetuate, we have to be conscious of racism or structural inequities, and implications they have for people’s lives todayChapter 4 2 mins
As people begin to think about themselves as philanthropists or funders, it’s important to put yourself in uncomfortable positions and make sure you aren’t shying away from the hard problems. Nonprofits can help with this, but funders need to challenge themselves as wellChapter 5 6 mins
Kris talks about overcoming the barrier of overwhelm, especially in an ever-changing world: 1. Start with the right questions (why and what), 2.an valuate where you’re at toda, 3. Figure out what focus items you need to work on to move you forwardChapter 6 4 mins
Charlie and Kris talk about complexity capacity, and the barrier for philanthropists and funders taking on projects that will take an extended time to play out. They talk about putting reality into a relatable context, and also recognizing interim progress and engagement points along the wayChapter 7 5 mins
Charlie shares his own experience fighting racial inequity and social justice on the board of SVP Portland. They looked at what was causing disparate outcomes in the community, and identified where they could make the biggest changeChapter 8 1 min
Once your plan is in action, you also have to intentionally check in to see what’s working and not working, and make changes as necessary. Disruption and volatility are the status quoChapter 9 4 mins
It can be frustrating for the entrepreneurial sector who are used to identifying problems and solutions on their own and at a fast pace. It is important for the entrepreneurial spirit and the coalition mindset to come together to make change happen in the most effective waysChapter 10 1 min
In her book, Kris writes about ways to increase your speed (especially on the coalition side), while also noting that you have to have all the pieces in place for effective processes before you can kick things off. You have to allow time for connectivity to be established, but move quickly enough that the interest and funding remainsChapter 11 4 mins
Charlie and Kris talk about what’s on the horizon for social investors and funders as we are moving toward a recovery period after this pandemic. In addition to looking ahead, organizations should also look back at the past year to identify things they would like to maintain going forward or changes they need to make to remain effectiveChapter 12 2 mins
Kris’ invitation for listeners is to reflect on your strategy, and refresh your strategy based on your reflections over the past year and your team’s plans moving forward. This will give clarity and flexibility
Fierce Love in Action (Episode 229)
In this episode, Charlie and Angela talk about manag...
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Mar 25 2021 55m
Chapter 1 4 mins
In the midst of COVID-19, as well as a rapidly growing and changing business, Charlie and Angela chose to travel to Arkansas to help take care of family. When Angela knew she needed to be there with her parents, they made the decision to come together because Charlie’s dad is also struggling with serious health issuesChapter 2 2 mins
Charlie and Angela talk about the different motivations behind their decisions, and how it created the scenario for both of them to go together so they could serve as an anchor for each other, not just personally but also navigating the business from a new placeChapter 3 4 mins
One of their biggest challenges with this transition is navigating and negotiating how they are going to show up to the business and for their families each day, and defining what their general level of success looks like day to day. One of their greatest joint values is priorities, and it’s necessary for those to look a little different in their current situationChapter 4 4 mins
Angela talks about some of the lessons she’s learned from her team’s support during this time. They work hard in their business to provide a supportive environment for their teams, and now that is being reciprocated while Charlie and Angela are in a different place (literally and figuratively)Chapter 5 9 mins
Being back in Arkansas has also allowed both Charlie and Angela to reflect on what it was like for them growing up in Ft. Smith and what has (and hasn’t) changed. They talk about the disparity in life outcomes, even within their own families, as well as how the medical system contributes to this disparity not only in Arkansas but across the countryChapter 6 9 mins
Advocacy has been incredibly important even from the beginning of their relationship, and especially now, as they are navigating something new. Entrepreneurs, executives, and business owners often fall into the trap of applying their current mindset and worldview back against where they started. It’s going to be different; the important thing is to apply the tools and skills that you learned from your business to healthy advocacy for yourself and othersChapter 7 3 mins
Being back home has been an important reminder to listen really hear what they are saying and help them get their needs fulfilled. This is incredibly true for any type of providerChapter 8 8 mins
It’s easy to lose your “superpowers” when you’re around your family, and let boundaries crumble. To avoid this, apply your GATES (genius, affinities, talents, expertise, strengths) to be of service to your family and your people. It can be a tricky balance to apply these skills, but asking for permission grants the other person the autonomy to accept help. Get alignment on how you can be a part of where they want to goChapter 9 3 mins
When life comes in and competing priorities happen, how do you shift what success looks like to be in harmony with the other things that are important in your life? Remember that you are the one who calibrates your priorities