2 Pages with MBS

Part of the genius of humankind, the very bedrock of civilization is our ability to have ideas and to share them. “Hey, have you noticed ...? Hey, what if...?” That’s why it’s SO irritating that it’s SO hard to actually transmit your best thoughts. Tamsen Webster can help. She bridges worlds as an English-to-English translator. She’s worked with hundreds of TEDx speakers to help take ideas from nebulous and confusing to irresistibly compelling. Her new book, Find Your Red Thread, is a blueprint. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Tamsen reads two pages from Mistakes Were Made (but Not by Me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson [Reading starts at 19:25]

Hear us talk about:

The power of story and argument in communication [4:44] | How to construct a story-argument [11:31] | How to be a successful human [23:48] | Finding your ‘red thread’ [27:34] | Ideas need to be built [30:38]

Most of us understand why diversity and inclusion matters, in theory. But, how do you go from theory to practice? How do you understand and then champion different perspectives, experiences, and lives? How do you truly learn that? Pamay Bassey is someone who may have answers to these questions. She’s the Chief Learning and Diversity Officer for the Kraft Heinz Company. Pamay also is Chief Experience Officer at My 52 Weeks of Worship, a project focusing on interfaith diversity, communication, and understanding. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  

Pamay reads two pages from ‘The War of Art’ by Steven Pressfield. [reading begins at 14:30] 

Hear us talk about:

Battling resistance. [19:48] | “Learning anything is actually difficult.” [22:40] | Overcoming resistance at scale: “The idea of having a practice or habit is the antidote.” [23:53] | Making an impact in a new place: “The foundation is culture.” [26:02]

Science and economics, two models underpinning society, base their theories on humans being rational people doing rational things. Yeah. You, me … we’re not rational, not even most of the time. But we can dream. Julia Galef is the author of The Scout Mindset, a book that seeks to explain how to improve human reasoning and judgement. In this episode of 2 Pages with MBS we dig into just what is rationality, and how grasping the concept will help with personal growth. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  

Julia reads two pages from the book ‘How to Actually Change Your Mind’ by Eliezer Yudkowsky. [reading begins at 11:25] 

Hear us talk about: 

The emotional satisfaction of having uncertainty in your beliefs: “If you see things in black and white, then you have to fight off any evidence that contradicts your theory.” [17:43] | Engaging in arguments without feeling personally attacked. [19:52] | Admitting you’re wrong: “Being wrong doesn’t necessarily mean you did something wrong.” [27:58] | The role of emotions in bettering your thinking: “There would be no reason to do anything if we had no emotions at all.” [32:35]

I started my career in market research, running focus groups. I was seeking consumer insights so we could find and build new products and services. Then, I moved into the world of leadership training and personal growth. Now I was after insight into myself: who am I? But, perhaps insight is not enough. Perhaps, we also need outsight. Today’s episode is perfect for anyone in the world of learning, development, and self-growth. I am joined by Joel Constable, someone who has been doing L&D for years at some of the most interesting companies in the world - Google, Pinterest and more recently, Intuit, where he is the current Director of Talent Development. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Joel reads from the book ‘Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader’ by Herminia Ibarra. [reading begins at 16:05]

Hear us talk about: 

“When I try to introspect or reflect my way into new behaviours, I’m always going to be confined by what I know and how I’ve thought in the past. I can’t think my way into that, I just need to try new things.” [21:39] | The S-curve in personal development: “What got you here, won’t get you there.” [22:15] | Acting like the person you want to become. [24:17] | Being comfortable with failure and making mistakes. [25:56]

The pandemic has accelerated this conversation around the future of work in a way that would have felt inconceivable two years ago. But the future of work isn’t just ‘Zooming’ everything. The bigger questions are: How does power work? How do we stay human-centred? How do we find our way through complexity? In this episode, author and podcast host, Lisa Gill, explores the need for quantum shifts in organisations and the importance of relationships in an archaic company system. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Lisa reads two pages from ‘Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World’ by Meg Wheatley. [reading begins at 08:18]

Hear us talk about:

The fears lying at the heart of traditional management. [15:46] | The brokenness of relationships within organisations. [17:15] | Where to start in paying attention to relationships: ‘Self-reflection is the first step in fixing relationships.’ [20:34] | How crucial it is to have an active connection to your emotions. [24:48] | “Addressing the paradigm from which you operate must come before development conversations.” [26:34] | “Power is energy.” [31:21] | How to articulate power. [35:23] | How to start building your tribe - the comfort of finding other people who share the same frustrations and goals. [38:05]

We are all investors. Whether it concerns our time, our focus, or our money, we choose where we want to put it. When you invest, the first question always asked is ‘What is the rate of return?’ What if the question was ‘What does the most good?’ In this episode, Swati Mylavarapu introduces us to her values-based venture capital fund and discusses the significance of humanising the workplace beyond an aim for profit and technological advancement. Swati is co-founder of Incite.org, a brilliant strategist, and a forceful good in the world. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Swati reads two pages from ‘Ghost Work: How to Stop Silicon Valley from Building a New Global Underclass’ by Mary L. Gray and Siddharth Suri. [reading begins at 15:04]

Hear us talk about:

What ‘world positive means from an investment standpoint: ‘Being an investor requires being a concerned and active citizen.’ [1:14] | What Swati offers as a non-traditional venture capitalist. [5:55] | Building and shaping new technology ventures. [20:45] | What influences investment decisions? [23:07] | The value-based diligence process when picking companies to invest in. [24:12] | The modern meaning of ‘work.’ [28:09]

Do you measure time passing by years or by days? Did you know that an 80-year-old has about 30,000 days in their lifetime? No matter where you are on your timeline, Mary Oliver posed the question best: “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Oliver Burkeman, a wonderful author and journalist, joins me to discuss our limited control over reality and the future, and why not expecting things to be easy is the key to happiness. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Oliver reads two pages from ‘Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life’ by James Hollis. [reading begins at 12:27]

Hear us talk about:

Is wisdom only accessible through suffering? :The greatest goal is to make life more interesting.” [15:23] | The difference between the people who travel through ‘the wood’ and those who get stuck in ‘the wood.’ [18:32] | “Every moment of an authentically lived life is an encounter with its limitations, finitude and death.” [22:46] | How thinking that problems shouldn’t exist in life makes you unhappy: “What makes it unbearable is your mistaken belief that it can be cured.” [25:56]

Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Justin Trudeau’s father and former Prime Minister of Canada, famously said 'There's no place for the State in the bedrooms of the nation.’ I agree … but sometimes you just *have* to talk about sex. Minna Salami joins me to explore the issues of freedom, healing, and regaining power after oppression from a black feminist perspective. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Minna reads two pages from ‘The Sex Lives of African Women’ by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah. [reading starts at 07:32]

Hear us talk about:

The search for freedom and healing among different sexualities, religions, and backgrounds. [11:31] | Taking back your power: “It is imperative to reimagine and unlearn everything that we think about power itself.” [14:14] | The ‘river’ metaphor for understanding power: “Power for humans is the equivalent of gravity for rivers - it is how we move forward to our destination.” [20:37] | “It is difficult to dominate people who feel conscientious joy.” [23:05] | The danger of passivity when rage disappears. [25:53] | Returning to freedom and finding home. [28:43] | How to decide where to share your voice. [30:53]

Does business shrink the heart or does it help it expand? Does it nourish the spirit? Can it even nourish the spirit? Martin Reeves of the BCG Henderson Institute and author of the new book “The Imagination Machine” explores how we might deliberately harness the full human potential of imagination in corporate arenas. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Martin reads two pages from 'Radical Uncertainty: Decision-Making Beyond the Numbers' by John Kay and Mervyn King. [reading begins at 07:34]

Hear us talk about:

The limitation of quantitative models and statistics. [11:22] | How Martin brings the concepts of storytelling and imagination into business conversations with clients: 'To create alignment, excitement and motivation, you need more than numbers.' [13:34] | How to keep curiosity and imagination alive in instances where efficiency is viewed as the main goal. [19:43] | Ways to measure success beyond the metrics: 'There are some things in life that you cannot obtain by pursuing them directly." [25:42] | Martin's experience and realisations in co-writing his book 'The Imagination Machine.' [31:01]

Have I ever been embarrassed by some of the things I've done in the past? Endlessly. Have I ever been ashamed of things I’ve done? I have. But have I ever felt ashamed of myself on the basis of being me? Have I felt ashamed of myself for not fitting in because of some ‘unlucky’ so-called roll of the DNA dice? No, I have not. It turns out, this is privilege. Julie Lythcott-Haims, speaker, activist, and author of “Your Turn: How to be an Adult”, shares her experience growing up and living as a black and biracial woman and the struggle she faced in managing shame, and between conformity and being herself. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/

Julie reads two pages from 'Educated' by Tara Westover. [reading begins at 11:18]

Hear us talk about:

Julie's experience of finding her identity and how she harnessed this experience: ‘We must unburden ourselves from the shame installed in us by the opinions of others.’ [20:40] | How to stop seeking conformity and living to please others. [22:47] | How to find your own voice: 'Our doubtful feelings are just as much substantial proof of us being miserable as our bodies breaking down from stress.’ [27:52] | Differentiating which challenges make you stronger and which ones will make you miserable. [33:02] | What it means to be an activist. [36:21] | Moving from fear to love - What keeps us stuck in fear? [39:06]