Today we're getting in the wayback machine to 2019--remember that? We were still living in 2016 back then, and we were such summer children.

Are you innovative? Do you know what it means to be innovative? Probably not, but that's ok because today I'm brining back my 2019 conversation with Harvard Business Professor, Gary Pisano.

In his own words: "Over my three-decade career, I have explored fundamental questions about how organizations learn, innovate, and compete. A researcher, teacher and consultant to many of the world’s largest corporations, I focus on the management of innovation, strategy, enterprise growth, the commercialization of science and international competitiveness. My work on these topics has spanned a broad range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, apparel, electronics, entertainment, financial services, health care, manufacturing, restaurants, semiconductors, software, specialty chemicals and web services."

The article that blew my mind and made me need to talk to Prof. Pisano: The Hard Truth About Innovative Cultures

And another great one from 2021, applying the lessons of evolution and Gary's own research in a case study about how Moderna developed their COVId-19 vaccine: What Evolution Can Teach Us About Innovation

Outro: "Rockaway Beach" by The Ramones

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Today, we revisit our 2020 talk with Moe Carrick!

Moe is an Executive Leadership Coach who focuses on my favorite subject: building leaders who are good leaders to the people they are leading! And if you are lucky enough to get in to her Leading People Program, you can be just such a leader. She's also, among other things, a speaker, an author, and, since we last talked... a Podcast Host!

Learn more about Moe by clicking HERE
Check out the "Let's Make Work Human" Podcast with Moe and Mei HERE (or probably wherever you're listening to this very podcast)

Go enroll for the Project Manager's Masterclass Now! Offer code: MONDAYPOD25 for 25% off

Get some book recommendations at the Mondaypod Manager's Book Club HERE! 

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Today, Chris wraps up season 3 with a recap of why Team Leadership is important, how good team leadership can led to better executive leadership, the Five Strengths of getting better at anything, and where you can go to learn more (SPOILER ALERT: Chris is referring to his free webinar and his not-free 12-part Course on Mastering Project Management.) He also gives you the Mondaypod Manager's Book Club picks for the summer.

Thanks for listening, everyone!

Mastering Project Management Webinar (Click to Register!)

The Project Management Masterclass (Enrollment opens on May 9th, but you can get a sneak peak, now! And listeners can put in coupon code MONDAYPOD25 for 25% off!)

Mondaypod Manager's Book Club

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Hey, better late than never! We're just trying to put out an honest podcast folks, sometimes the plane comes in late and sometimes, it doesn't land at all. That's a reference to today's topic, "The Last Tycoon" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Chris talks about the book, what it's about and what a novel written in the 30's has to tell us about life and work here in the cozy embrace of 2023. (Hint: people haven't changed as much as we might have hoped.)

Chris also talks about the "Mastering Project Management" Webinar hosted by this very podcast host, that you can sign up for by clicking that link! Tune in next week and Chris will give you the code for 25% off registration.

Project Manager's Masterclass (enrollment opens on May 9th!)

Glad Bitch Podcast (it's excellent, better than this one!)
Mondaypod Manager's Book Club on Amazon
"The Last Tycoon" by F. Scott Fitzgerald (publisher's site)

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

What does it all mean? Why bother with any of it? 

Today Chris takes a look at the world of Project Management gurus and Rise and Grind Culture, and the ocean of leadership books and wonders: "Does any of this stuff matter? Does it get to why any of this is important? Who cares about being a good project manager or a good team leader, anyway?"

Spoiler alert: it does matter. It matters for deeper and better reasons than the prevailing messages would have you believe. 

Two more episodes left, folks! 

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Even a lot of experienced team leaders forget that the job of leading teams isn't just to chase down dates and deliverables. The job is leadership and to have an effective team, you need good team morale. 

Chris talks about building team morale and offers a few hard-won lessons from his own tenure as a leader on what to do...and what NOT to do to manage the micro-culture of your team. 

He also gives a nod to the indie radio DJs of yesteryear, and spins a little nostalgia for those people who placed "a little doubt" on the pillows of those of us growing up in the 'burbs.

Today's Outro: An early version of R.E.M.'s "Radio Free Europe" that doesn't appear on any commercial album. Damn the man. 

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Today, Chris talks about the Mondaypod Manager's Book of the Month: "The Last Tycoon" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and why it's so weird that people seem to have a hard time picking out who the villain is in movies.

Then, he gets in to one of the common misconceptions that team leaders have: that you can't push back on Senior Executives. He gives you five strategies to consider when you find yourself needing to (gently) correct the people who run the show.

Mondaypod Manager's Book Club on Amazon
"The Last Tycoon" by F. Scott Fitzgerald (publisher's site)

"The Man Who Broke Capitalism" book on Jack Welch by David Gelles (interview on NPR)

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

On the lucky 13th episode of the Monday Pod, Chris talks a bit about "The Great Gatsby" and why he loves that book. Why is that relevant? Because he also announces the Mondaypod Manager's Book Club pick for April: "The Last Tycoon" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

He then gets in to the six most common mistakes, misconceptions and limiting beliefs that Project Managers--or any team leader, really--tend to have about their role, and offers a couple of stories about making those mistakes and learning from them.

Mondaypod Manager's Book Club on Amazon
"The Last Tycoon" by F. Scott Fitzgerald (publisher's site)

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

On today's show we talk about the Mondaypod Manager's Book Club pick for March: "King of the Mississippi" by Mike Freedman.

Chris gets in to what "writing what you know" really means, how story and myth inform us, but can also get out of hand, why satire--good satire--is necessary so we can laugh at ourselves and maybe modulate some of our worse impulses, and why you need smart people in your life, especially in your 30's, to make sure you don't suck.

If you haven't yet, go grab a copy of "King of the Mississippi" by Mike Freedman at your local book store. 

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Today, Chris talks about the stories we tell and the myths we make about leadership, and how that too often contradicts reality. This might make for great copy, and excellent social media engagement, but it ultimately hurts everyone and prevents us from doing work that might have value. 

Then, we discuss the kind of story you need to tell yourself when you step in to a new leadership role, and how that's going to help you make a break from the past and step in to a shiny-new future. 

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved