Episode 37- Todd Henry -Authenticity, Passionate Work, and Leaving Something That Lasts [PODCAST]

What do you think of when you hear the word “authenticity?” Being yourself? Letting it all hang out? Today’s guest, Todd Henry, thinks that what most people think of when they hear the word is a wrong idea of what authenticity really is. He believes that authenticity is letting people see that you have skin in the game. That means that you not only have to care about your work and the outcomes of it, but you also care about the people your work impacts. In this episode of Crank It Up, David T.S. Wood chats with Todd about his books, his work, and the philosophies that lie behind everything he does. This is a great conversation you won’t want to miss.

Do you have enough “white space” in your life?

Before we get into that you might want to consider what white space is in the first place. When Todd Henry (today’s guest) talks about “white space” he’s referring to the margin or room you intentionally build into your life that enables you to reflect, think, and consider the situations and tasks that make up your life’s work. He believes that times of reflection like that are the only way to truly live an authentic life and remain on track with it. What Todd shares in this episode is a bit contrary to conventional wisdom but right on track when it comes to building a quality life that matters in the long run. Hear more on this episode of Crank It Up.

Todd Henry shares a very practical way to carve out more white space in your life.

Most of us have had a day where we have appointment after appointment, meeting after meeting, task after task and never get to come up for air. Those are the contexts where we find ourselves churning out work without the ability to stay connected to the reasons behind our work and the passion with which we want to do it. Todd suggests you take care to NOT pack meetings or appointments so close together. Take that extra 5 or 10 minutes between them to recenter your thoughts, to draw them back to the place of purpose you long to live out of. It’s one of many practical tips Todd gives on this episode of Crank It Up with David T.S. Wood.

Do you think that technology poses a danger to you as an individual?

This is not a rant about A.I. (artificial intelligence) or a conspiracy theory about machines taking over society, it’s a serious question about the technology that is in your life right now. Your cell phone, tablet, Xbox, television – do they pose any threat to you? Todd Henry believes they could be if you are not careful to be the master of them rather than the other way around. Learning to be present where you are and engaged in life at the moment is becoming a lost art as more and more people are viewing life through the screen of their smart phone. Hear Todd’s thoughts about technology, life, and how we can manage both in harmony on this episode.

“Love doesn’t make everyone feel good all the time.”

In fact, love often means discomfort or pain for a person temporarily in order to benefit them in the future. Todd Henry says those things to point out how skewed our cultural ideas of love have become. He doesn’t say these things angrily or out of a mean spirit but with a genuine desire to see people live wisely, loving others in genuine ways that bring about good, not just in ways that prevent them from being uncomfortable. It’s a difficult topic to unpack in a few sentences so make sure you listen to hear Todd explain it himself.

Todd’s BIO

Todd is the founder of Accidental Creative, a company that helps creative people and teams generate brilliant ideas.  He regularly speaks and consults with companies, both large and small, about how to develop practices and systems that lead to everyday brilliance, and his work has been featured by numerous major media outlets. His books have been translated into more than a dozen languages,