2 Pages with MBS

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Malcolm Gladwell famously made popular the idea of 10,000 hours of practice for mastery in his book Outliers. This comes with all sorts of caveats, but the concept holds up an interesting mirror. The other day I was asked, ‘How do you start writing books?’ As I attempted to give an answer, I realized that I’d been writing to find my own voice for 40 years now. I must have written about a billion sentences by now, and I’ve come to understand where my edge is. Perhaps that’s what mastery is - not a completion but rather an increasingly subtle understanding of where you’re honing the edge of yourself and your craft.  

Eric Klein is first and foremost a dear friend and returning guest, but also a spiritual teacher and author. Five years ago, I’d have added that his focus is geared towards bringing greater spirit, mindfulness and meaning to the workplace, but that’s shifted a bit since then. Presently, Eric offers the same through his community at Wisdom Heart, helping people to be on a spiritual path, while still walking in the world. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Eric reads two pages from The Bhagavad Gita. [reading begins at 18:05]  

Hear us discuss: 

The task of rejecting the conventional path to pursue the call of spirituality: “I thought I could ‘hack’ the process and not come to terms with my inheritance.” [9:49] | Undergoing spiritual experiences without crisis. [26:14] | How to manage your expertise: “To be a good teacher, always have part of your mind in the student’s seat.” [32:32] | “Reality can only wake up in your life as you.” [38:22]

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How are you labeled? How have you been labeled by others? And how have you labeled yourself? You listen to this podcast, which means that you're the type of person who thinks about who they are in this world, who they've been and who they're becoming. One of the ways we claim a sense of self is by the labels we give ourselves. What at first can be a helpful handhold can soon become a straitjacket, what William Blake would call a “mind forged manacle”. I'm wondering how your current labels serve you. And I'm wondering how they don't.

Caroline Webb is a renowned expert in the field of behavioral science and how to apply its insights to improve your daily life. She is the author of the popular book How to Have a Good Day. Her career began as an economist working on public policies, but she soon realized her true passion was in the human aspect of economics, specifically what makes a good team and leader. She eventually returned to behavioral economics, where she continues to work as a leadership coach and executive coach. Webb is known for her courage to step out of her comfort zone and take voyages of discovery, she encourages others to do the same. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Caroline reads two pages from ‘How Emotions Are Made’ by Lisa Feldman Barrett. [reading begins at 10:52]  

Hear us discuss:

Looking for the “sticky” or resistant parts of change when you’re trying to make a decision. Ask yourself, “What if I were not fearful about that? What would I do? Could I do that in a small way?" [5:05] | “Your emotions are just your brain's best guess at trying to make sense of what's going on, both in what you're experiencing and perceiving from the outside world, but also what you're noticing in your body." [15:12] | “We don't want to reinvent or question everything all the time, because this is actually the way that our brain navigates, see trillions of pieces of data at any given moment. We need to have an interpretation hypothesis." [21:10] | "Maybe what we're experiencing in our heads is a simulation, but that doesn't mean it isn't a wonderful life." [32:23] | "I think of my personal mission in life as being of service to others and helping other people thrive." [33:42]

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A question for you - who do you trust with your work? Whatever project you may be working on, it can’t be down just to you to bring it out into the world. You have to find the right champions; people who will play their necessary parts in creating, refining and sharing whatever it is that you’re building. As an author myself, it took me a while to find the right partners for my books. Eventually, I found the people I trust, and who understand what I’m trying to achieve. These are people who have my back. So, who has yours? 

JeVon McCormick is the CEO of Scribe Media, and board member at Conscious Capitalism, Inc. He also works with The StartEdUp Foundation, where students pitch their entrepreneurial ideas for a chance at $25,000 and the opportunity to collaborate with the best-in-class people who can help them turn those ideas into a business. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

JeVon reads two pages from ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill. [reading begins at 21:19]  

Hear us discuss: 

“You can learn through negatives.” [5:50] | Reclaiming the power of your name: “Whatever we’re not changing, we’re choosing.” [9:14] | Finding peace with money. [31:17] | How fear taints leadership and corporate culture. [33:03] | “In most cases, when people use the word ‘fear,’ they are fearing something that may not even happen.” [36:53] | Balancing the need for individual action, and the need for community support. [43:32]

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Two things I love about Whitney Johnson are her relentless drive for self-improvement, and her incredible generosity. As the CEO of WLJ Advisors, she aims to help you grow your people and your business. Whitney is best known for her book Disrupt Yourself, but today she’ll be reading from her first book Dare, Dream, Do: Remarkable Things Happen When You Dare to Dream. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Whitney reads two pages from her book ‘Dare, Dream, Do.’ [reading begins at 4:50]  

Hear us discuss: 

Dreaming with your beliefs in mind: “We do dream within the context of our values, but how do I know what my values are?” [2:02] | The role of quotes in articulating your values: “Attaching a quote to something adds feeling, emotion and memory, and evokes so much more than individual words do.” [9:00] | A quote’s shelf life: Does it remain resonant over time? [12:54]

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When I first published The Advice Trap back in 2022, it was accompanied by a bonus course I created called ‘The Year of Living Brilliantly.’ Fifty-two different teachers, each teaching one powerful lesson on video. If you’ve been a participant, you’ll know today’s guest because his episode is one of the most popular. If you haven’t taken the course yet, you’re in luck - you’re about to meet one of its brilliant faculty members. 

Bobby Herrera is the author of The Gift of Struggle, a short, excellent book on leadership, and the co-founder and President of Populus Group. Populus is Latin for ‘people,’ and that is absolutely where Bobby’s focus is. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Bobby reads two pages from ‘The Wisdom Pyramid’ by Brett McCracken. [reading begins at 8:44]  

Hear us discuss: 

Discerning what knowledge should be applied. [12:36] | “I’ve simply stopped focusing on anything that I can’t control.” [16:18] | How to both stand out and fit in. [18:39] | The art of surrendering power. [21:02] | Learning to sit with betrayal: “I’ve come to expect disappointment.” [23:30] | Remaining whole while being committed to giving: “Two’s a trend.” [27:08]

2 Pages with MBS is on holiday break until January 10th.

I’m cheering you on for the rest of 2022 and into 2023. I hope the holiday break is restful, delightful, and renewing for you.

I’ll be back with the next great interview on 2 Pages with MBS on January 10th!

Follow Michael on | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Facebook 

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I had two quite different experiences of a library when I was a child. My school’s librarian quite liked books but didn’t really like kids. I was basically scared away from that space. Luckily, my local library was a whole other adventure. There was the kid’s section upstairs where I could wander the stacks and find books I might like, and then came that moment when you go down and dip your toes into the grown-up section below, which opened up many new worlds. Books open up worlds, and libraries help you stumble over the books you never knew you would love, until you did. 

Shariff Abdullah is the Director of the Commonway Institute, an organization that seeks to create a world that works for all. He’s well-educated, was a lawyer, is an author, has traveled the world, and has worked in over 120 different cultures across 45 different countries. It’s an impressive resume for someone who was raised in, according to Shariff, America’s worst city. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Shariff reads two pages from ‘The Timeless Way of Building’ by Christopher Alexander. [reading begins at 25:35]  

Hear us discuss: 

“When I was 8 years old, I not only figured out that there is something fundamentally wrong with our society, but that we can change it if we actually want to.” [2:50] | Maintaining an open-hearted perspective. [7:27] | Identifying and practicing your version of perfection: “There is a win for all, but if what I want in my world is for you to lose, we’ll never get to that point.” [32:16] | Living beyond our individuality. [40:39]

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What makes you uncomfortable? And, how do you hold yourself when you’re in that space? Some years ago, I noticed that a pair of leather shoes I was wearing was badly creased across the top of the right shoe. A friend of mine pointed out the problem - when I get nervous in a group, I sit on the edge of my seat and jiggle my right leg. When I do this, I’m on my toes, and I crease the leather, damaging the shoe. If being in a group makes me nervous, what’s it like to sit with death? 

Dr. Kathryn Mannix is a woman who has spent her life being in the presence of death. Not only that, but doing it with grace, tenderness, humor, and kindness. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/ 

Katheryn reads two pages from ‘Gratitude’ by Oliver Sacks. [reading begins at 17:45]  

Hear us discuss: 

“The most important skill at the bedside of dying people is knowing how to be.” [10:30] | The preciousness of being alive. [22:56] | The importance of listening in living an essential life: “I’ve got nothing, but I’m here.” [25:44] | What a tender conversation calls for. [29:23] | “Stories are the way we understand everything.” [33:16] | The lost value of silence. [42:46]

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Actor Viggo Mortenson once said: ‘To be an artist, you don't have to compose music, or paint, or be in the movies, or write books. It's just a way of living. It has to do with paying attention, remembering, filtering what you see and answering back, participating in life.’ If you tried on the identity of an artist, how does it fit? Trying it myself, I’m struck by the idea that being an artist is participating in life. So, if you were an artist, how are you participating in life? What does that tell you about the art you’re creating, and who, more than anyone, do you make that art for? 

Chadney Everett is a lifelong artist and explorer of the human experience. His work has been featured in galleries, theater, television, and even in film. Chadney’s drive to create art is rooted in connection, which has led him to his current role as the Senior Creative Director at Meow Wolf. Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/   

Chadney reads two pages from ‘The Dehumanization of Art’ by José Ortega y Gasset. [reading begins at 17:35]  

Hear us discuss: 

“Thinking about the audience as you make it is not going to create the best art.” [7:05] | How the hostile majority responds to unpopular art: “The function of art is to form a connection between the artist and the viewer.” [20:50] | What is immersive art? [26:43] | Navigating the resistance to art: “Art is metaphorical.” [31:27]

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My first job out of university was with a company that specialized in innovation. It was there that I really began to understand how creativity flourishes when there are restraints. We were once hired by Kellogg’s to help do something new for Corn Flakes, but weren’t allowed to change the product, packaging, or marketing. I remember realizing that I needed to figure out the rules in order to decide which ones needed to be broken. 

Whatever your situation, there’s liberation in understanding what rules need to be followed, and which ones can be played with. I’m wondering, how might you more joyfully break a few rules? Get‌ ‌book‌ ‌links‌ ‌and‌ ‌resources‌ ‌at‌ https://www.mbs.works/2-pages-podcast/  

Andri Snær Magnason is one of Iceland’s best-selling and most prolific authors, with experience writing across almost every genre, including film.

Andri reads two pages from ‘Einstein’s Dreams’ by Alan Lightman. [reading begins at 16:05]  

Hear us discuss: 

“As an artist, you always have to push your limits and try to reach out of your comfort zone.” [5:00] | The beauty of simplicity: “One of your roles is to not waste your reader’s time.” [18:42] | A vision for the future. [25:12] | “The way we perceive time, both lived and unlived, can go from feeling like an eternity, to feeling like a flash.” [30:40]