2 Pages with MBS

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Bobby Herrera, author of The Gift of Struggle, is the co-founder and CEO of Populus Group. He is also a proud U.S Army Veteran, an unwavering champion for the underdog, and, most importantly, an all-pro dad to three amazing kids. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Bobby reads two pages from his book, ‘The Gift of Struggle.’ [reading begins at 5:47] 

Hear us discuss: 

Being an underdog, but not disempowered: “One of the most important questions we can ask ourselves in leadership is, ‘Who am I becoming?’ and staying on that journey–imperfectly, but consistently.” [2:33] | How intimidating struggle can be when coupled with inexperience: “We all have a PhD in struggle.” [8:25] | “The long way is the shortcut.” [14:54] | Renewing the commitment to struggle: “Asking for help is a sign of strength.” [15:30]

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I’m writing a new book that’s due for release in the middle of 2023, and I was just sitting at a coffee shop reading my editor’s response to the first draft. She’s been reviewing it for about three weeks, and those three weeks have been nerve wracking. I’ve released something into the world but not yet grasped what’s next. Anything is possible right now. In other words, I’m sitting with the ambiguity of it all and trying not to freak out. 

You know how sometimes products just seem perfect for the task at hand? The reimagination that goes into creating them is the work of a product designer, and those individuals are taught by people like Andrea Small. She started out studying architecture and metalsmithing at Miami University, but later moved into product design after it was recommended to her. Andrea now teaches strategy and design research at the Stanford d.school, where people use design to develop their own creative potential. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  

Andrea reads two pages from ‘The Book of Eels’ by Patrik Svensson. [reading begins at 16:15] 

Hear us discuss: 

“Being open to anything is both good and bad.” [6:57] | How to release control when navigating ambiguity. [7:53] | Is ambiguity truly synonymous with uncertainty? [21:33] | Learning to sit with the discomfort of ambiguity: “It’s physically active to navigate ambiguity–that’s why it seems so exhausting.” [23:19] | The relationship between ambiguity and individuality. [30:54] | “There is no perfect solution to navigating ambiguity.” [40:26]

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Keep this between us, but I have an offer for you. There’s this thing called the Insiders Club; it’s amazing and exclusive, and the other people who are a part of it are truly extraordinary, like you. We don’t let anybody in–it’s invite only, and the invites are rare … This doesn’t really exist, but it’s tempting to be an insider, isn’t it? 

Actually, even though you’re not in the Insiders Club, you already are an insider. You belong to certain groups that have rules to keep people in, and others out. So, just as you’re already an insider, you’re already an outsider, too. My question is: What are you doing to create insiders, and to mitigate the pain of being an outsider? 

Dominic Packer is a Professor of Social Psychology who studies how groups shape our identities, decisions, and our lives. He teaches at Lehigh University, and he’s recently co-authored a book, The Power of Us, with a fellow psychology professor, Jay Van Bavel. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Dominic reads ‘Experiments in Ethics’ by Kwame Appiah. [reading begins at 15:48] 

Hear us discuss: 

“I think you can be both with and against.” [8:47] | The practice of effective dissent: “If you’re dissenting for the good of the group, your goal is to persuade.” [9:52] | The evolution of social identity over the last decade. [21:20] | Managing and navigating identity politics: “Power has always been held by those who had identities.” [24:41]

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Nir Eyal is a former lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and the author of Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. His first book Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products explored using the psychology of revolutionary products such as Facebook and Slack to make other products engaging and habit-forming. Indistractable, on the other hand, is about breaking bad habits - getting away from the things that distract us from what we really want to do with our time, attention and life. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

He reads two pages from a chapter from his book ‘Indistractable,’ entitled How to be An Indistractable Lover. [reading begins at 3:40]

Hear us discuss: 

“If you asked me today what superpower I’d want, I would want the power to be indistractable.” [2:07] | Surfing the urge: The key to mastering your internal triggers. [8:52] | “Most distraction begins from within us.” [9:54] | “Time management is pain management.” [10:13]

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‘Why bother’ is a question we ask ourselves at certain moments in our lives; moments when life beats us down and we’re finding it harder and harder to keep caring. How do we muster up the will to fight for the life we want? How do we avoid giving up?

Jen Louden is a national best-selling author of 9 books and the host of Create Out Loud, a podcast for creatives. For almost 30 years, Jen has been a leading voice in the spheres of self-care and creative transformation. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  

Jen reads two pages from her book Why Bother. [reading begins at 7:47]

Hear us discuss:

“Sometimes, you just have to fight for your life.” [5:48] | “It’s not unique to feel disappointment about our lives.” [10:51] | Leaving the past behind to make room for the future: “Nothing can be new unless it first turns to ashes.” [12:39] Committing to the process: “Letting go of the outcome does not mean giving into resignation.” [16:41]

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What does it mean to be a radical? Karl Marx had this to say about it: “To be radical is to go to the root of the matter. For man, however, the root is man himself.” So, radical compassion, empathy, generosity, leadership, humanity - perhaps it’s time to be a radical. 

Pascal Finette is a founder of a boutique advisory firm, Be Radical, and the ‘posse leader’ at The Heretic, one of my favorite–very opinionated–newsletters. He’s worn many hats throughout his lengthy career, and, to this day, continues to be a learner. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Pascal reads two pages from Kraftwerk by Uwe Schütte. [reading begins at 12:30] 

Hear us discuss: 

“You are the people who surround you.” [3:06] | How individuals change: “Make people uncomfortable enough that they feel not only the desire to change, but the necessity. Then–most importantly–give them the tools to do so.” [8:15] | Empowering others to create a preferable future. [15:36] | Navigating the white savior complex: “It comes down to admitting to not knowing.” [22:07]

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What’s your relationship with ambition? I feel I’m both ambitious, and not. On one hand, I want to grow into the best of who I am and have a life of contentment, but on the other, there are some status-based trophies that just don’t matter to me as they once did. I’ve come to realize that it’s only by having pursued and–in some cases–won some of those trophies, have I started to appreciate what my bigger, more internally-driven goals might be.

Shellye Archambeau, author of Unapologetically Ambitious, was ranked one of the 100 Most Influential Business Leaders in America, reflecting a 30 year career of leadership roles in various organizations. As such, she has a profound understanding of ambition at the highest echelons of organizational life, and is eager to share what she’s learnt along the way. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/   

Shellye reads two pages from ‘All You Have to Do Is Ask’ by Wayne Baker. [reading begins at 16:20] 

Hear us discuss: 

Working through imposter syndrome: “I don’t know if I ever actually overcame impostor | syndrome, I just learnt how to deal with it.” [3:54] | “It’s really important in life to have cheerleaders around you.” [5:13] | Finding the right people to ask. [21:12] | How to nurture your network: “A network is the people around you who will do something for you when it’s not convenient.” [24:27] | Being ‘Unapologetically Ambitious.’ [27:45] | The price you pay for being ambitious. [34:07]

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The book I’m writing at the moment is about relationships. I’m neither a relationship expert nor a psychotherapist, but they do say you should write so that you can teach what you need to know. This means I’ve been reading some of the big names: Esther Perel, John Gottman, and most recently, Terry Real, who has a brand new book out called Us: Getting Past You and Me to Build a More Loving Relationship. A phrase often used as part of this book’s marketing that chimed deeply with me is this: ‘At a time when toxic individualism is rending our society at every level, Us provides the tools to find our way back to each other through authentic connection and fierce intimacy.’ It’s a big question – how much are we our own person, and how deeply must we connect? 

Kevin Ashton’s latest book is called How to Fly a Horse, and, if nothing else, that’s a title that will get you curious. Kevin is also the guy who named the Internet of Things, and he’s been a key player in its evolution. Before any idea becomes a big deal, though, it starts as a crackpot’s mad imaginings. Even though the IoT was an idea that nobody really got, it was one that Kevin couldn’t get rid of, and he had a self-created sense of urgency that said, ‘If I don’t act on this now, I never will.’ Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast 

Kevin reads two pages from ‘Finding the Mother Tree’ by Suzanne Simard. [reading begins at 19:50]

Hear us discuss: 

What it takes to cross the threshold: “Life is too short to get wrapped up in doing things just because you want the glory.” [24:57] | Knowing when it’s time to move on: “Don’t be a cliche.” [27:43] | “It’s okay to move on from one thing before you move on to another.” [34:57] | What we can learn from trees: “Trees are intelligent.” [35:07]

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One of my favorite questions is simply this: How can I help? The power of it is two-fold. First, it asks the other person to name the help that’s required – that's powerful for them, as it often isn’t totally clear what that is, even to them. The second power – the more important one, in my opinion – is that it disrupts your own assumption that you already know what they need. But, all of this points to a bigger question: How do you best give more to the world than you take? 

Garrett Bucks is the founder of The Barnraisers Project. It’s just as it sounds: a group of people get together, and collectively build a barn for one of their members. As with all of us, it took Garrett a while to realize what his path should be. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Garrett reads two pages from ‘They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us’ by Hanif Abdurraqib. [reading begins at 22:35] 

Hear us discuss: 

“I spent a whole lot of my career feeling like I had a right to leadership, wherever I went.” [4:00]

Being a neighbour. [10:33] | How to unlearn the heroic, individualistic narrative. [14:32] | Sitting with whiteness and using your privilege: “Whiteness is completely made up.” [30:50] | The importance of lowering your altitude: “If the conversation stops at the big picture, we’re just gonna be stuck in that morass.” [37:38]

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I’m just back from an extended visit to Australia, and as a farewell treat I took my family out to a fancy dinner. I’m a vegetarian but I decided to take them to a high-end steakhouse. I chose to go there for two reasons: first, most of them are committed carnivores; and second, I knew most of them hadn’t had the experience of the theater and rituals that come with a classic steakhouse. Not only was the food great, but I also ran a little pub quiz as dinner unfolded, creating a delightful sense of engagement, competition and bonhomie. At the end of the night, I truly felt like I had accomplished my goal – to create a special memory with the people I love. 

Amantha Imber is a speaker, the host of Australia’s #1 business podcast, and a freshly-printed author. The foundation for all of that is actually her training as an organizational psychologist, helping people do better work and feel better at work. As well as speaking, podcasting and writing, Amantha founded a company called Inventium. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Amantha Imber reads two pages from ‘The Power of Moments’ by brothers, Chip and Dan Heath. [reading begins at 19:35] 

Hear us discuss: 

Identifying your core values with clarity. [15:02] | How to permit yourself to experience extraordinary things. [24:05] | The link between Amantha’s book Time Wise, and the commitment to creating magical memories: “The bad news is, time flies. The good news is that you’re the pilot.” [29:15] | “Humans communicate in dyads. We’re designed to communicate one-on-one.” [33:22] | The bagel–croissant approach to networking. [34:03] | Performing periodic ‘life check-ups.’ [35:08]