2 Pages with MBS

198. The Single Most Important Thing to Do: Kumi Naidoo [reads] “Dearest MaRiky”


Listen Later

A favourite quote of mine, a call to action really and one that I reference in How to Begin, is “give more to the world than you take.” Jacqueline Novogratz said it, and she’s the founder of Acumen a venture capital firm that invests in non-profits making the world a better place. 


I find it powerful because it’s about the long game. Over your lifetime, give more than you take. There are some seasons when you need to harvest, of course. You trying to build a good life for yourself.

But there should be other seasons when you plant, and when you build.


Adam Grant’s first book was about giving and taking, and the core insight from that book is that people who give, paradoxically, tend to be the most successful, so long as they give in a sustainable way. The people who give without boundaries tend to fail over time.


I suspect on balance that many of us could get better at giving. I also know that for many of us, we have to learn to also receive.


Get book links and resources at http://2pageswithmbs.com and subscribe to the 2 Pages newsletter at https://2pageswithmbs.substack.com.


Kumi Naidoo reads two pages from Dearest MaRiky by Louisa Zondo. [reading begins at 20:56]


Hear us discuss:

“My area of focus right now is very much asking the question, what will it take for activism to win bigger and faster? And if I write that up as a book, I'll probably call it The Reflections of a Failed Activist.” [09:10] | “When we think about health and self-care, we tend to often think more about physical health and we're not sufficiently ready. to embrace the idea that we are dealing with a colossal global mental health crisis right now, from eco-anxiety, from climate anxiety, and also just a sense of injustice that people feel.” [19:42] | "Vulnerability is expressing strength and courage, not an acknowledgment of weakness and failure." [35:12] | "Activism is about people who look at the world, say 'this is an injustice,' and contribute in a way that makes a difference." [37:14] | "The moment of history we find ourselves in, pessimism is a luxury we simply cannot afford." [42:51]

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

2 Pages with MBSBy Michael Bungay Stanier

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

36 ratings


More shows like 2 Pages with MBS

View all
On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

On Being with Krista Tippett

10,406 Listeners

HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

HBR IdeaCast

177 Listeners

Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly by Apostrophe Podcast Network

Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

814 Listeners

Good Life Project by Jonathan Fields / Acast

Good Life Project

3,287 Listeners

The One You Feed by Eric Zimmer

The One You Feed

2,501 Listeners

The Psychology Podcast by iHeartPodcasts

The Psychology Podcast

1,831 Listeners

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk by Ryan Hawk

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

1,288 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,483 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,553 Listeners

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee by Dr Rangan Chatterjee: GP & Author

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

4,084 Listeners

Everything Happens with Kate Bowler by Everything Happens Studios

Everything Happens with Kate Bowler

5,058 Listeners

3 Books With Neil Pasricha by Neil Pasricha: Bestselling Author

3 Books With Neil Pasricha

257 Listeners

The Daily Stoic by Daily Stoic | Backyard Ventures

The Daily Stoic

4,786 Listeners

The Next Big Idea by Next Big Idea Club

The Next Big Idea

1,274 Listeners

A Bit of Optimism by Simon Sinek

A Bit of Optimism

2,190 Listeners