The Power in Motion Podcast: Recent Episodes
Aaron Bach, Rhys Williams
Power in Motion is a podcast where two old friends converse about business, politics, sports, and life in an attempt to make a meaningful impact in their small corner of the world.
After a year and a half of the working world operating out of their homes, the call is starting to come in: time to return to the office. But what happens when that company's workforce has gotten used to – and in many cases, started to prefer – working remotely?
In this episode, Rhys and Aaron unpack their feelings about returning to the office, speculate how their philosophies of hybrid work might pan out, and sincerely hope that companies are adapting their understanding of what "successful work" really is.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
Going Back In
- https://fortune.com/2021/05/24/the-best-new-books-on-how-to-lead-from-a-distance-and-design-a-market-to-combat-climate-change
- https://fortune.com/2021/06/01/moving-into-the-hybrid-workplace-with-intention-workday-hilton-ceo-daily/amp/
Our Next Step
- Aaron
- https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/remote-work-not-from-home
- Pause during hybrid meetings to make sure virtual people have the opportunity to interact
- Encourage team members to work remotely from different locations other than their homes
- Rhys
- Be intentional about how to lead and interact in meetings when there are both in person and virtual attendees, taking the time to make sure the people on virtually have a chance to participate
Rhys & Aaron React
- This Was Steve Jobs's Most Important Observation When He Returned to Apple.”
- https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/this-was-steve-jobs-most-important-observation-when-he-returned-to-apple-it-changed-everything.html
- The Great American Cleanup
- https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-great-american-clean-up-deodorant-teeth-whitener-fly-off-the-shelves-11621869232
- “Does correcting online falsehoods make matters worse?”
- https://news.mit.edu/2021/misinformation-correcting-worse-0520
- What Gen Z Wants
- https://fortune.com/2021/05/26/what-gen-z-workers-want-ceo-daily/
- “The Master List of Logical Fallacies”
- http://utminers.utep.edu/omwilliamson/ENGL1311/fallacies.htm
One Good Thing
- https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/fernandina-giant-tortoise-confirmed-rediscovered-from-2019-tests/
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro Music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
- "Rhys & Aaron React" Music: Diamond Ortiz
- "One Good Thing" Music: Cheel
Business is full of acronyms, but one, in particular, gets thrown around a lot: M&A, or Mergers & Acquisitions. The process of buying and selling companies is very opaque and often difficult to understand, but it doesn't need to be.
In this episode, Rhys and Aaron discuss their experiences on both sides of the deal table, demystify the act of acquiring, and reflect on the challenges of leading through a time of ultimate change.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
M&A
- CFI’s 10 Steps of the M&A Process
- Develop an Acquisition Strategy
- Set M&A Criteria
- Search for Potential Acquisition Targets
- Begin Acquisition Planning
- Perform Valuation Analysis
- Negotiations
- M&A Due Diligence
- Purchase & Sale Contract
- Financing Strategy for the Acquisition
- Closing and the Integration of the Acquisition
- https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/demystifying-deal-making-lessons-from-m-and-a-veterans#
Our Next Step
- Aaron:
- Continue to honor your team by appropriately representing information and answering questions when & where you can
- Rhys:
- Be intentional about the type of leader I want to be during the deal process - transparent where possible - and throughout the integration - open and supportive
Rhys & Aaron React
- Aaron
- Jeff Bridich steps down as GM of Colorado Rockies
- https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31339954/jeff-bridich-steps-gm-colorado-rockies
- Peloton shares take a hit after CPSC issues warning over treadmill
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/04/16/peloton-treadmill-injuries-death-cpsc/
- Jeff Bridich steps down as GM of Colorado Rockies
- Rhys
- China → The New Green OPEC
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2021/03/14/how-chinas-solar-industry-is-set-up-to-be-the-new-green-opec/?sh=14a907f41446
- Safer Streets in Denver
- https://www.axios.com/denver-smart-technology-safer-streets-ad852c1f-9f03-4bbc-a5f2-c83df9c98c16.html
- China → The New Green OPEC
One Good Thing
- This High Schooler Invented Color-Changing Sutures to Detect Infection
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/high-schooler-invented-color-changing-sutures-detect-infection-180977345/
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro Music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
- "Rhys & Aaron React" Music: Diamond Ortiz
- "One Good Thing" Music: Cheel
Whether receiving it or giving it, there's one work experience that nearly everyone has gone through: interviewing. We've been interviewed, we've given interviews, and in every circumstance, we've attempted to figure out whether this combination of person and opportunity is a fit. But as usually happens, textbook and reality are rarely the same.
In this episode, Rhys and Aaron reflect on their many years of interviewing and being interviewed, share tips and strategies that have worked for them, reflect on a few of the stranger interviews, and as always, try to figure out where to go from here.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
The Interview
- Types
- Behavioral - focused on the person
- Case - talk me through this situation
- Competency - show me know you know the skills
- Situational - what would you do if
- Stress Tolerance - line of questioning to put someone under pressure
- Format
- Planned/Structured
- Panel
- Telephone
- Unstructured
- 1:1
- Serial
- Our best stories being interviewed
- Our best stories interviewing
Our Next Step
- Aaron:
- Structure interview and questions so that there is a part measuring for & testing for will
- Rhys:
- Structure questions and answers around STAR
- Develop a more structured interview process across entire team
Rhys & Aaron React
- Aaron: “The End of Tesla’s Dominance May Be Closer Than It Appears”
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-24/tesla-tsla-and-elon-musk-s-dominance-is-threatened-by-volkswagen
- Rhys: "The Most Important Month for Climate Change"
- https://www.axios.com/climate-action-infrastructure-bill-paris-agreement-54bfc4d4-4793-40f9-b71d-c2c98bd9afb4.html
- Aaron: “GPT-3 tries pickup lines”
- https://janellecshane.substack.com/p/gpt-3-tries-pickup-lines
- Rhys: The Inequities in March Madness
- https://www.axios.com/ncaa-basketball-social-media-followings-a98b2f21-e907-4276-b860-32565654d64a.html
- Aaron: “Amazon is Aware Drivers Pee in Bottles and Defecate En Route”
- https://theintercept.com/2021/03/25/amazon-drivers-pee-bottles-union/
- Rhys: The NFT Craze
- https://www.axios.com/nba-top-shots-nfts-11e23a5c-b90d-417e-91a5-fd62935738ca.html
One Good Thing
- Ever Given Memes
- https://junkee.com/ever-given-suez-canal-memes-free/291454
- https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/suez-canal-boat-ship-stuck-memes
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro Music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
- "Rhys & Aaron React" Music: Diamond Ortiz
- "One Good Thing" Music: Cheel
On average, we spend 30% of our lives at work. With that kind of time, it's natural that our work relationships – our colleagues, our superiors, and even our employees – will often become friendships, as well. But what do we do when it comes time to reign in the friendship and have a difficult work-related conversation?
In this episode, Rhys and Aaron unpack the beautiful, challenging dynamic of workplace friendships, discuss what to do when a boss is also your friend, and reflect on what their previous experiences can teach them about their future.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
The Workplace Relationship
- Friend / Mentor or Mentee or Sponsor or Sponsored / Colleague
- https://hbr.org/2015/01/how-to-handle-difficult-conversations-at-work
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashiraprossack1/2018/10/28/how-to-have-difficult-conversations-at-work/?sh=2d872cb910b7
- https://medium.com/swlh/5-problems-with-hiring-friends-d3ab124a54c3
- https://hbr.org/2019/01/what-to-do-when-a-work-friendship-becomes-emotionally-draining
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/elanagross/2016/06/27/8-managers-share-the-best-way-to-ask-for-a-raise-and-get-it/?sh=7778a67e74ff
- https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/10159-work-friendship-boundaries.html
Our Next Step
- Aaron:
- Be willing to have a direct conversations for key conversations
- Use language that demonstrates that I am a empathetic leader
- Rhys:
- Continue to foster friendships and mentor/mentee relationships with work colleagues
- Set boundaries of various relationships (friends/mentor/colleagues)
- Set the table for key conversations by how you get into it so that everyone is on the same page
Rhys & Aaron React
- Aaron: What Value is Clubhouse Providing?
- https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/feb/17/clubhouse-app-invite-what-is-it-how-to-get-audio-chat-elon-musk
- Rhys: Denver’s Rising Crime and a Controversial Theory
- https://www.axios.com/denver-crime-spike-police-stops-murders-7ce92619-8fa3-4766-94b5-3366fe798e33.html
- Aaron: “The US Will Have Enough COVID-19 Vaccines For All Adults By May, Biden Says”
- https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer/biden-vaccines-covid-may
- Rhys: The Future of Workplace Benefits
- https://www.axios.com/future-workplace-benefits-a06d7672-8068-49c2-b69b-efa8e1d5fcbf.html
- https://avc.com/2021/03/return-hybrid-remote
- Aaron: SpaceX Starship SN10, Launches, Lands, and Explodes
- https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03/starship-goes-up-starship-goes-down-but-is-the-program-moving-forward
- Rhys: Biden’s Approach to Big Tech
- https://www.axios.com/biden-tech-critics-tim-wu-lina-khan-68af4526-8bd6-48f1-9fe9-f75da80f547b.html
One Good Thing
- “Age of Distractions (or how to calmly enjoy what you are doing in 2021)”
- https://www.lostbookofsales.com/age-of-distractions/
- “One only needs to stop and observe his thoughts in a calm state.”
- Stop and observe
- Understand your screen time (and dial back appropriately)
- Disable notifications (be especially brutal about Slack, Teams, and email)
- Don’t do anything else during a 1:1 interaction
- Regularly reflect and be lovingly-but-brutally honest with yourself
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro Music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
- "Rhys & Aaron React" Music: Diamond Ortiz
- "One Good Thing" Music: Cheel
Colorado – and Denver in particular – is quickly becoming known as one of the premier hotspots for innovation and entrepreneurship in the U.S. What it is about the Rockies and the Front Range that has created the perfect melting pot for innovation in business, government, education, and nonprofit?
In this episode, Rhys and Aaron interview Erik Mitisek (an icon in the Denver community and, among many other notable achievements, the co-founder of Denver Startup Week) about what makes Denver's entrepreneurial scene special, how crucial it is to be a "four-sport athlete" in innovation, and his ideas for how to solve the state of Colorado's biggest challenges.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
Erik Mitisek
- Personal Site: https://www.mitisek.com
- Highwing: https://www.highwing.io
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/erikmitisek
Our Next Step
- Aaron:
- Remember the concept of the “four-spot athlete” in innovation; don’t assume that non-private-sector ventures couldn’t give him additional wisdom
- Rhys:
- Reflect more on applying grit in his own life and pushing through
- Be intentional about injecting innovation as a cultural standard into his teams
- Erik:
- Stay fired up about Highwing and expanding it as a truly special Colorado story
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
It used to be that workers endeavored to stay with one company their entire career. However, that's just not the case these days, where it's more likely that workers will move on to new opportunities after a shorter amount of time.
In this episode, Rhys and Aaron discuss Aaron's decision to leave his company after more than a decade, unpack the emotions of such a large life change, and give Aaron meaningful encouragement as he steps into the next chapter.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/
Main Topic
- Aaron’s journey of getting a new career opportunity, telling his team members, and going through the emotions of saying goodbye after a decade at his current company.
Our Next Step
- Aaron:
- When transitioning into a new era, have a group of loving “advisors” around you who can challenge you, support you, and care about you (thus saving you from doing it by yourself).
- Rhys:
- Use your values to make big decisions. Specifically, I line my values and stack rank the following 5 key career factors:
- Compensation
- Work / Life Balance
- Do you love the work you do (ie what you do on a day-to-day basis)
- Do you love the people you work with (ie culture)
- Do you love the product or service the company sells
- Use your values to make big decisions. Specifically, I line my values and stack rank the following 5 key career factors:
Aaron & Rhys React
- Rhys: Amazon’s New CEO
- https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/02/jeff-bezos-to-step-down-as-amazon-ceo-andy-jassy-to-take-over-in-q3.html
- Aaron: It’s Never Been Easier to Sidestep the Press
- https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-media-trends-980eaff9-01b3-441b-8983-58dd9301fe59.html?chunk=2
- Rhys: Is Peloton worth $43B?
- https://fortune.com/2021/02/04/peloton-app-sales-business-covid-pandemic-pton-stock-competition-icon-lululemon-apple-plus
- Aaron: Rockies Trade Arenado
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2021/02/02/nolan-arenado-trade-rockies-cardinals/4361486001/
- https://teespring.com/shop/blake-street-bozos-t-shirt
- Rhys: Musk May About Be a Lot Richer
- https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/11/investing/elon-musk-pay-wealth-tesla-stock-options/index.html
- Aaron: Regular Afternoon Naps Linked to Improved Cognitive Function
- https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/afternoon-naps-linked-to-improved-cognitive-function/
One Good Thing
- "What’s Going On" Turns 50
- https://www.axios.com/marvin-gaye-whats-going-on-50th-anniversary-96b92d3d-7833-41d3-b5c0-ad6e994a74ba.html
- "I’m here live, I’m not a cat"
- https://twitter.com/lawrencehurley/status/1359207169091108864
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
Of the many challenges that 2020 presented, how leadership should look different in a post-pandemic world is on many people's minds. After all, if workforces are now going to spread around the world and spend less time in the office, are the traditional skills of leadership – charisma, presence, presentation, and other in-person traits – still relevant?
In this, the first episode of 2021, Rhys and Aaron discuss ascriptive and achievement leadership styles, reflect on whether the skills they've spent their lives honing are still relevant, and as always, try to figure out where to go from here.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/
How Leadership Changes Post-Pandemic
- Leadership in a Post-Pandemic World
- https://tomtunguz.com/recruiting-different-characteristics-remote-managers
Our Next Step
- Aaron
- Take an honest look at whether he’s leaning too much on certain characteristics
- Supplement my emotional learning with tactical learning (to remain connected in the job itself)
- Don’t give in to imposter syndrome
- Rhys
- Do a serious review of his (and his team’s) operating cadence
- Be intentional about who needs to be in meetings, what the agenda is, etc.
- Be focused on picking up cues from others and acting appropriately
Aaron & Rhys React
- Bitcoin Worth $146k (Rhys)
- https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/05/jpmorgan-bitcoin-price-could-rise-to-146k-as-it-competes-with-gold.html
- Intel Is Finished (Aaron)
- https://seekingalpha.com/article/4395996-intel-is-finished
- Biden’s $1.9T Economic Plan (Rhys)
- https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/14/politics/biden-economic-rescue-package-coronavirus-stimulus/index.html
- Robinhood Was Indeed Too Good to Be True (Aaron)
- https://www.morningstar.com/articles/1015686/robinhood-was-indeed-too-good-to-be-true
- CEO’s the 4th Branch of Government (Rhys)
- https://www.axios.com/ceos-fourth-branch-government-trump-7eee851f-0027-4bfa-a2c0-58ec254e2dbe.html
- Google Employees Pursuing a Minority Union (Aaron)
- https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-login-b8c3c82e-7e12-4ee8-9e14-9559ad424367.html
- Red Sox Make History (Rhys)
- https://sports.yahoo.com/red-sox-make-bianca-smith-the-first-black-woman-to-coach-in-pro-baseball-history-220238951.html
- Peacock Basing Pricing Model on The Office (Aaron)
- https://twitter.com/ItsRetroNemo/status/1346565557848580096
One Good Thing
- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/23/podcasts/the-daily/2020-good-news.html
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
Once upon a time, having the acronym "MBA" after a job title indicated world-class education and unlimited opportunity – but in an era where technology, automation, and the internet has lowered many barriers into business, one has to ask: is the MBA still worth it?
In this episode, Rhys and Aaron reflect on meeting each other at the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business in 2008, debate the educational value of a graduate business degree, and discuss how a decade of doing business in the real world has updated – and in some cases, affirmed – their feelings about their education.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/
Things I Wish I had Learned in Business School
-
- Principles: - Being Effective vs Being Right - The power of authenticity and vulnerability - Leading down, across, and up - DEI
- Principles in Action:
- How to hire
- How to conduct a good 1:1
- How to have a hard conversation with someone you lead as well as your boss
- How to lead a global team
- How to think about your career
- https://daniels.du.edu/denver-mba/curriculum/
Our Next Step
- Aaron:
- If you are considering an MBA, evaluate if it is worth the time and money investment if you are the type of individual who is comfortable learning on your own
- Continue to get the “Life MBA”
- Rhys:
- Figure out if the ROI is right for you
- Stay curious and work with your leaders, mentors, and individuals in your network to continually grow and learn
Quick Takes
- Salesforce Acquires Slack
- https://investor.salesforce.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2020/Salesforce-Signs-Definitive-Agreement-to-Acquire-Slack/default.aspx
- 8mi of Ice Age Rock art found in the Amazon
- https://www.cnn.com/style/article/amazon-rainforest-ice-age-paintings-scli-intl/index.html
- “The Broncos’ Emergency QB Game Somehow Went Even Worse Than Expected”
- https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2020/11/29/21725771/denver-broncos-quarterbacks-covid-kendall-hinton-saints
- Elon Musk is Fortune’s business person of the year and says Telsa needs to cut costs or get “crushed like a souffle under a sledgehammer”
- https://fortune.com/longform/elon-musk-ceo-tesla-spacex-2020-businessperson-of-the-year/
- https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/business/elon-musk-tesla-stock-price/index.html
- AI solves 50-year-old science problem in ‘stunning advance’ that could change the world
- https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/protein-folding-ai-deepmind-google-cancer-covid-b1764008.html
- Finanical TImes and McKinsey named Sarah Friers “No Filter: The Inside Story of How Instrgram Trasformed Business, Celebrity, and Our Culture”
- https://www.ft.com/content/a955b704-39e6-4357-9ce6-b6647991ebdd
- https://www.amazon.com/Doesnt-Have-Be-Crazy-Work/dp/0062874780
- LA Targeted Safer at Home Order and Podcasts as Essential
- https://www.lamayor.org/sites/g/files/wph446/f/page/file/20201202%20Mayor%20Public%20Order%20Targeted%20SAH%20Order_1.pdf
- 2020 IPO Market
- https://news.crunchbase.com/news/heres-who-has-gone-public-in-2020-so-far/
- https://www.axios.com/unicorn-stampede-ipos-08f6d68d-4fb3-42c5-a77e-f2a1d8690daa.html
- https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/30/21726364/airbnb-doordash-valuations-higher-ipo-wall-street
One Good Thing
- A Letter to Santa
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/little-girls-plea-to-santa-is-touching-hearts-around-the-world/ar-BB1bziEg
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
The 2020 Presidential election is finally over and in a year with few loose ends tied up, many Americans are feeling relief at the notion that maybe – just maybe – this can be a new chapter for both America and the world. In this episode, Rhys and Aaron finally let out a breath, reflect on the night of the election and the days that followed, and wonder whether the state of our democratic process should inspire concern or confidence.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
Our Next Step
- Aaron:
- Remain level, don’t deify or demonize, make conclusions based on data, and try to be an example to others of engaging with people who don’t think like me
- Rhys:
- Get more engaged in politics/elections, especially outside the U.S. Presidential cycle
- Have conversations outside of my particular political echo chamber
Quick Takes
- Space Force Launches into Space
- https://www.axios.com/space-force-heads-to-iss-f8dc38eb-dc98-4919-924a-2f3683c70b96.html
- The Pandemic’s Darkening Days
- https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-pm-3fa3f018-1d05-4c47-b3f1-b3ee882b8155.html
- Oprah’s Favorite Things List
- https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/10/cnn-underscored/oprahs-favorite-things-2020-holiday/index.html
- Apple’s Take on Contact Tracing
- https://slate.com/technology/2020/09/apple-ios13-7-covid-contact-notification.html
- Amazon Antitrust
- https://fortune.com/2020/11/10/europe-lays-out-amazon-antitrust-charges-targeting-its-use-of-merchants-data/
- What is going on with Drew Lock?
- https://www.nfl.com/news/drew-lock-cajoles-broncos-to-man-up-before-second-half-comeback-vs-chargers
- https://www.si.com/nfl/broncos/news/qb-guru-reveals-how-drew-lock-can-capitalize-on-closing-window-of-opportunity
One Good Thing
- 12 Career Lessons by Rishad Tobaccowala
- https://rishad.substack.com/p/ 2-career-lessons
- The Early Years
-
- Find the least sucky job you can
-
- The Trend is your Friend (see what others are doing)
-
- Plan and make decisions over a long horizon
-
- Even the best jobs are only good seventy percent of the time
-
- Compete against yourself rather than with others
-
- Plan your career as if you were a company of one (you’re not a cog)
-
- The Middle Decades
-
- Who you work for is critical so choose your boss well
-
- Find Fit (begin to specialize)
-
- Build your Brand
-
- The Later Years
-
- Unlearn. Transform. Re-Invent
-
- Exits are as important as Entrances in Career Management
-
- Build a portfolio career and start giving back aggressively
-
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
The hearings to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett add yet another polarizing headline to a year already filled with them. And with the 2020 presidential election mere weeks away, Americans seem to be struggling to understand what a Supreme Court with Justice Barrett might entail. In this episode, Rhys and Aaron interview Alan Chen, Law Professor at the University of Denver, about the confirmation process and its efficacy, his views on the future of the nation's highest court, and his perspective on connecting Constitutional law with the lives of real people.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
Professor Alan Chen
- Sturm College of Law Profile: https://www.law.du.edu/about/people/alan-chen
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/profalankchen
Our Next Step
- Rhys is going to stay informed of current legal happenings (both federally and locally) and focus on more consistent involvement in local politics outside of direct election cycles.
- Aaron is going to not allow media-drive sound bytes to dominate his mind and focus on the "framework" of issues (the Constitution, court rulings, etc.) rather than anyone attempting to sales pitch them.
- Alan wants to practice what he preaches and be more involved in Colorado state politics, as well as advocate for initiatives that make voting (and its ancillary ceremonies) as easy as possible.
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
Accountability. Values. Especially in business, words that should have deep, human meaning are often thrown around to loosely describe objectives that are less than human. In this episode, Rhys and Aaron discuss the idea that accountability is the highest form of leadership, reflect on ethical challenges they've faced over the past decade, and zero in on the idea that commitment to one another as human beings is the most powerful thing we can do.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
Accountability and Values
- Rhys' company held its annual conference and two speakers really stood out
- Sam Silverstein
- He argues that the highest form of leadership is accountability, which he defines as “keeping your commitments to other people”
- https://samsilverstein.com/accountability-its-personal/
- I commit to discover and realize my own potential… so I can help others reach theirs
- I commit to the truth
- I commit to living my values
- I commit to “its all of us” (ie we succeed with others succeed and we fail with others fail)
- I commit to embrace faults and failures as well as opportunities and success (we speak up about our shortcomings and see them as an opportunity for growth)
- I commit to sound financial principles (we maintain our resources responsibly and commit to giving)
- I commit to a safe space
- I commit to my word is my bond
- I commit to stand with you when all hell breaks loose
- I commit to a good reputation (our actions matter, not just the end results)
- Mary Gentile
- https://www.givingvoicetovaluesthebook.com/about/
- Part of the reason people don't speak up when their ethics are questioned is that they haven’t practiced how to
- https://www.givingvoicetovaluesthebook.com/about/
Our Next Step
- Aaron:
- The best way to model accountability is to go first – so, Aaron: go first!
- Don't jump to solve other people's problems; instead, help them create the space for their own problem-solving abilities to shine.
- Rhys:
- Re-commit to the people in his life and regularly check in on whether he's standing with others
- Make sure he has a clear understanding of how his personal values align with the company's values (and teach others to do the same)
Quick Takes
- The UN’s World Food Program, one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world (provided assistance to 100m people in 88 countries last year) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Some argue this could serve as a rebuke to governments to try to pull funding from organizations like UN’s WFP
- https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/nobel-peace-prize-2020-scli-intl/index.html
- Time Travel w/o Paradoxes
- https://www.npr.org/2020/09/27/917556254/paradox-free-time-travel-is-theoretically-possible-researchers-say
- JP Morgan Chase Investing $30B to Address Black and Latino racial inequality. The broad initiative seeks to bolster homeownership, increase banking to underserved communities, provide capital to minority-owned businesses, and diversify the bank’s own employee ranks.
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/jp-morgan-chase-to-spend-30-b-to-address-racial-inequality-040722670.html
- The NFL's (lack of) bubble burst
- https://www.axios.com/nfl-coronavirus-bubble-0143169d-f2c9-4226-a736-0d6e9c3a2d80.html
- 50 Richest Americans are worth as much as the poorest 165m. Millennials are the largest generation in the workforce (72m), however, only control 4.6% of the wealth. “The pandemic is further widening divides in wealth and economic mobility” (Fed Chair Powell)
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-08/top-50-richest-people-in-the-us-are-worth-as-much-as-poorest-165-million
- Acedia: the lost name for the emotion we’re all feeling right now
- https://theconversation.com/acedia-the-lost-name-for-the-emotion-were-all-feeling-right-now-144058
- Results from a recent Slack survey showed:
- Only 12% of knowledge works say they want to return to the office full time
- 72% say they want a combination of in the office and at home
- 52% say work-life balance is better
- 42% say stress and anxiety are better, and 37% say productivity is better
- https://fortune.com/2020/09/02/slack-future-of-work-pandemic-office-ceo-daily/
One Good Thing
- Fat Bear Crowns its Winner - 747 was announced the winner of Katmai’s National Park competition celebrating bears who are fattening up for winter
- https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/28/us/fat-bear-week-2020-trnd/index.html
- https://explore.org/fat-bear-week
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
We've all been there: you're sitting at your computer, quietly doing your work, when all of a sudden, you receive a nuclear blast of an email. Flaring tempers, unfair accusations, a reversion to our primal "fight or flight" mechanisms... What is a modern person to do? In this episode, Rhys and Aaron share what getting nuked via email is like for them, revel in the power of writing – and then trashing – a response, and reflect on the power of slowing down just a little bit.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
Getting Nuked via Email
- The Right Way to Respond to Negative Feedback
- https://hbr.org/2018/05/the-right-way-to-respond-to-negative-feedback
- Dont rush to react - don’t send the email you have written
- Get more data - ask trustworthy sources if they have noticed the same behavior
- Find a harbinger - find a symbolic public action that show you are taking feedback and change seriously
- Dont be a lonely martyr - pull people who give you negative feedback closer
- Remember that change is just one option - admit your flaws
- Brene Brown
- https://brenebrown.com/blog/2019/05/01/lets-rumble/
- A rumble is a discussion, conversation, or meeting defined by a commitment to lean into vulnerability, to stay curious and generous, to stick with the messy middle of problem identification and solving, to take a break and circle back when necessary, to be fearless in owning our parts, and, as psychologist Harriet Lerner teaches, to listen with the same passion with which we want to be heard.
-
Engaged feedback checklist
-
- I’m ready to sit next to you rather than across from you.
- I’m willing to put the problem in front of us rather than between us (or sliding it toward you).
- I’m ready to listen, ask questions, and accept that I may not fully understand the issue.
- I want to acknowledge what you do well instead of picking apart your mistakes.
- I recognize your strengths and how you can use them to address your challenges.
- I can hold you accountable without shaming or blaming you.
- I’m willing to own my part.
- I can genuinely thank you for your efforts rather than criticize you for your failings.
- I can talk about how resolving these challenges will lead to your growth and opportunity.
- I can model the vulnerability and openness that I expect to see from you.
-
Our Next Step
- Aaron: write down your response (but do not include anyone in the response line) to allow your system to “get everything out”, read it again, and ultimately, trash the response
- Rhys:
- Receiving Negative Feedback:
- Get more data
- Don’t be a lonely martyr
- Giving Negative Feedback -> leveraging the concept of a “Rumble”
- Receiving Negative Feedback:
Quick Takes
- EU Net Neutrality Decision
- https://fortune.com/2020/09/15/net-neutrality-zero-rating-europe-cjeu/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=ceo-daily&utm_content=2020091511am
- https://www.ncsl.org/research/telecommunications-and-information-technology/net-neutrality-2019-legislation.aspx
- We’re Numb to the Virus
- https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-social-media-attention-aade9f77-2f82-4708-99a2-8c6609da6150.html
- The Election’s Impact on Business
- https://www.pwc.com/us/en/library/risk-regulatory/election-2020.html
- GenZ is Eroding the Power of Misinformation
- https://www.axios.com/gen-z-is-eroding-the-power-of-misinformation-5940e3cd-e3d0-44a1-b66c-93be45fe1d2c.html
- Google and Facebook Go Carbon Nuetral
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/15/facebook-and-google-announce-plans-become-carbon-neutral
- What it Would Mean to Find Life on Venus
- https://www.axios.com/life-evolution-venus-8e1897bc-cdfa-483e-9ff3-ccff5b4c0f99.html
- Oracle & Tik Tok Partnership
- https://fortune.com/2020/09/14/tiktok-oracle-deal-trump-twitter-microsoft/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=ceo-daily&utm_content=2020091511am
- https://daringfireball.net/linked/2020/09/13/microsoft-tiktok-starkent
- https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-pro-rata-75a29b4e-06bf-4c03-bcf8-a498ad920145.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosprorata&stream=top
- Oliver Burkeman’s Eight Secrets to a Fairly Fullfilling Life
- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/sep/04/oliver-burkemans-last-column-the-eight-secrets-to-a-fairly-fulfilled-life
-
The lessons:
- There will always be too much to do – and this realization is liberating.
- When stumped by a life choice, choose “enlargement” over happiness.
- The capacity to tolerate minor discomfort is a superpower.
- The advice you don’t want to hear is usually the advice you need.
- The future will never provide the reassurance you seek from it.
- The solution to imposter syndrome is to see that you are one.
- Selflessness is overrated.
- Know when to move on.
- NFL Week 1
- https://apnews.com/79a1faa4da6028aaa10157edc5034630?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top
One Good Thing
- https://www.upworthy.com/adam-trent-played-a-trivia-game-with-the-delivery-guy-that-changed-his-life-in-an-instant
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
Launching a business is incredibly challenging in normal times – but in an abnormal year like 2020, it becomes a different challenge altogether. In this episode, Rhys and Aaron interview Caitlin Logue, CEO and Founder of Denver-based 5280 Coffee Co. about her experience as a founder, the challenge of crafting a business that encourages people to care about sustainability, and the legacy she desires to leave behind.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
5280 Coffee Co.
- Website: https://5280coffeeco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5280coffeeco
Our Next Step
- Aaron is going to take a moment to appreciate the stories of brave people who step out of their comfort zones and work to not automatically assume that outward success indicates inward peace.
- Rhys is going to work to not just focus on the next deadline, but take a step back and ask, "Am I'm doing something I'm passionate about?"
- Caitlin is going to remind others that they are the authors of their own lives and to say "yes" when considering life's next step.
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
In addition to being a part of our national heritage, sports provide excellent insight into other crucial areas of life. One such connection is that of a coach and business leader – whether they are in charge of players or employees, these men and women must constantly balance achieving their goals and stewarding the people in their care. In this episode, Rhys and Aaron contrast the styles of Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney, assess the proper way to mix leadership styles, and make the case for servant leadership above all else.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
Main Topic - Saban vs. Dabo
- Nick Saban, head coach at the University of Alabama with 6 national championships, famous for “The Process”
- https://247sports.com/college/alabama/Article/Alabama-Coach-Nick-Saban-has-had-to-replace-a-large-number-of-assistant-coaches-in-his-12-years-leading-Crimson-Tide-football-127929384/
- Dabo Swinney, head coach at Clemson University with 2 national championships, famous for being a players coach
- https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/2019/07/11/highest-paid-college-football-clemson-coaches-staff-stays-together-keep-winning/1680657001/
- Bill McDermont and Jack Welch
- https://hbr.org/2020/03/jack-welchs-approach-to-leadership
- https://fortune.com/2020/07/14/bill-mcdermott-servicenow-leadership-next-podcast/
- Jack Welch, CEO of GE from 1981 to 2001
- Bill McDermott, former CEO of SAP and now CEO of ServiceNow
- John Maxwell 360 Leadership 5 Levels of leadership
- https://www.johnmaxwell.com/blog/the-5-levels-of-leadership1/
Our Next Step
- Aaron is going to coach his emerging leaders on how to build a foundation on being a player-coach and and "frame the house" with structure.
- Rhys is going to continue his transformation toward's Dabo's style (and leveraging John Maxwell's framework to do it).
Medium Takes
- Takeaways from the DNC
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/democratic-national-convention-takeaways-moments/
- Epic Games vs. Apple/Google
- https://www.polygon.com/2020/8/17/21372119/fortnite-apple-google-sued-epic-games-lawsuit
- https://twitter.com/EpicNewsroom/status/1295430127455596544
- https://daringfireball.net/linked/2020/08/17/apple-epic-developer-account
- TikTok and Oracle?
- https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/19/just-what-would-an-enterprise-company-like-microsoft-or-oracle-do-with-tiktok/
- California’s Ruling on Uber & Lyft
- https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/16/tech/uber-lyft-california-suspension/index.html
- Thoughts from the Sports Bubble
- https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/all-77-false-positive-covid-19-tests-came-back-negative-nfl-testing-partner-cites-isolated-contamination/
- The Top-Secret iPod
- https://tidbits.com/2020/08/17/the-case-of-the-top-secret-ipod/
One Good Thing
- https://www.bushcenter.org/exhibits-and-events/exhibits/2021/out-of-many-one.html
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
2020 is an odd year for Republicans as they face an election where their incumbent polarizes like few politicians before him. In this episode, Rhys and Aaron examine Aaron's background as a 90s Republican, how he levels that against the upcoming election, and how America's impossibly divided political system can be re-examined and possibly redeemed.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
Main Topic - A 90s Republican in 2020
- How do traditional republicans, fiscally conservative and socially moderate, think about the upcoming election given what Donald Trump has done to the GOP?
- Why Competition in the Politics Industry is Failing America
- https://www.hbs.edu/competitiveness/Documents/why-competition-in-the-politics-industry-is-failing-america.pdf
- Two party system
- https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/01/two-party-system-broke-constitution/604213/
- From the 1960’s - 1990’s US had more of a four party system with conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans
Our Next Step
- Aaron is going to differentiate policies between the idea and the implementation of the idea
- Rhys is going to do two things:
- Volunteer and donate to organizations who help to get out the vote
- https://votesaveamerica.com/
- Continue to have conversations with individuals who have different opinions
- Volunteer and donate to organizations who help to get out the vote
Medium Takes
- Open Source COVID-19 Software
- https://avc.com/2020/07/open-source-exposure-alerting-apps
- Sports in a Bubble?
- https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29553630/mlb-postpones-all-marlins-games-sunday
- https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29533526/players-opting-2020-nfl-season-coronavirus-concerns-tracking-full-list
- Revised Work From Home Plans (WFH) for Tech Companies
- https://www.axios.com/tech-hits-the-brakes-on-office-reopenings-2b1b4376-73b1-4212-b8e3-814f4db5d895.html
- Beginning of the Climate Migration
- https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/23/magazine/climate-migration.html
- Congressional Hearing with Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Apple
- https://www.axios.com/apple-google-facebook-amazon-tech-ceos-task-stay-cool-wave-flag-5fbe5031-81d0-456b-a75d-01c5e111b4e0.html
One Good Thing
- John Lewis New York Times Op Ed
- https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/morgan-freeman-reads-rep-john-lewis-last-words-89332293780
- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/30/opinion/john-lewis-civil-rights-america.html
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
For the first time in over 100 years, the United States is experiencing four concurrent "super-disruptors" at once. COVID-19, a painful recession, mass protests, and an upcoming presidential election unlike any in recent memory...it's safe to say that stress is at an all-time high. In this episode, Rhys and Aaron discover that their adrenaline has worn out, explore their own struggles with the state of the world, and figure out what to do next.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
Quick Takes
- The White House Tries to Discredit Dr. Fauci
- The White House has recently tried to discredit Dr. Fauci by providing media outlets with out of context quotes and took it a step further with Peter Navarro, the White House Trade official, published an op-ed trashing Dr. Fauci
- Recent polling:
- New York Times Cienna Poll found 67% of voters trust Fauci about the coronavirus
- A July ABC Poll found 67% disapproval of Trumps handling of the coronavirus
- https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/07/trump-fauci-coronavirus-pandemic-oppo/614224/
- Twitter Hacked
- https://twitter.com/rockies/status/1283534974126297090?s=10
- Verified Twitter accounts for Joe Biden, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and more were hacked this past week in a cryptocurrency scam
- Social engineering of Twitter employees gave attackers access to internal tooling
- https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/15/twitter-accounts-hacked-crypto-scam/
- The Colorado Rockies made fun of it on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockies/status/1283534974126297090?s=10
- Biden and the EU’s Proposed Economic & Clean Energy Investments
- Biden’s $2 Trillion plan would include:
- Carbon free power and grid infrastructure, mass transit, efficient buildings, sustainable housing, and climate smart agriculture
- Discounts to consumers who trade in gas powered cards for electric models and re-tooling manufacturing plants to focus on electric vehicles and battery technologies
- 100% carbon free power generation by 2035 (not 2050 as originally proposed)
- Several pillars of Biden’s proposal may need congressional approval, which will hinge on: 1) the Democrats winning the Senate and 2) adjusting the rules to the filibuster
- https://www.axios.com/joe-biden-clean-energy-plan-7082826b-4836-4164-a8ca-74ce911b2d03.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top
- The EU’s proposed investment includes:
- $40B of green stimulus has been announced by 16 countries (led by 54% from Germany) and another $18.5B allocated for carbon intensive sectors
- 34% for electrified transport, 25% for hydrogen, 17% for energy efficiency, and more
- https://data.bloomberglp.com/professional/sites/24/BloombergNEF-Green-Stimulus-Life-But-Not-As-We-Know-It.pdf?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top
- Biden’s $2 Trillion plan would include:
- Celebrities Recent anti-Semtiic Comments and Responses to these Comments
- Kareem Abdul Jabar’s editorial:
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kareem-abdul-jabbar-is-outrage-anti-semitism-sports-hollywood-1303210
- Kareem Abdul Jabar’s editorial:
- A Thought Exercise - Modern Monetary Theory (MMT)
- Keynesian Economics (what the US has operated under for 80+ years)
- Government should use interest rates to influence the economy
- Government should fund itself from taxes
- MMT
- Government should use taxes to influence the economy
- Interest rates would be set at 0%
- Government guarantees jobs for everyone and decides which projects these people should pursue
- Government finances jobs by making money (ie grow the deficit) as well as tax the wealthy
- https://tomtunguz.com/modern-monetary-theory/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Monetary_Theory#cite_note-70
- Government should use taxes to influence the economy
- Proponents of MMT:
- Jobs for everyone
- Public sectors deficit is private sectors surplus
- Opponents of MMT:
- Ignores inflation with governments maintaining deficits during a growing economy
- Put the power to create and allocate money, credit, and spending in the hands of politics
- Keynesian Economics (what the US has operated under for 80+ years)
- Star Wars Reboot?
- Disney is considering “Ignoring” the final trilogue (episodes XII, XIII, & IV) of Star Wars given mixed reviews from fans and considering having Kathleen Kennedy, co-chair of LucasFilms, leave:
- https://cosmicbook.news/disney-ignoring-star-wars-kathleen-kennedy-2022
- A fans take on the last trilogue
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a3dggHrtiQ&t=2189s
Main Topic - 2020's Super-Disruptors
- Aaron is really struggling to maintain optimism, forward motion, and hope in 2020 with all of the stressors
- A framework for thinking about the 3 phases of pandemic journey
- Respond (Triage): March - June
- Adapt (Review & Refine): June - Mid 2021
- Thrive (Build Our Future): Mid 2021 and Beyond
- “How 2020 Is Bringing the Future Faster” by Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas (law firm in D.C.):
- https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/6988354/Great-Acceleration-Mehlman-Q3-2020.pdf?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&streamt
- op
- Four Concurrent Super-Disruptors
- Recession
- Pandemic
- Mass Protest
- Intense Election
- Brad Feld: “We are living in the collision of a series of complex systems that are beyond anything I’ve experienced in my 54 years on earth. It’s happening against the backdrop of instantaneous global communication, which allows anyone to distribute and amplify any sort of information. In a crisis, anger and fear generate irrational behavior, especially given the need to control things. History has taught us this, but all you need to do is watch the bad guys in popular movies implode to be reminded of it.”
- https://feld.com/archives/2020/07/predictions-prognostications-and-the-future.html
- The General Adaptation Syndrome and the Disease of Adaptation (The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism):
- https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article-abstract/6/2/117/2722959?redirectedFrom=fulltext
- The three stages of stress:
- Alarm: “The sympathetic nervous system is stimulated and biological changes occur to make you poised to take action.”
- Resistance: “Our bodies attempt to return to a normal balance, counteracting the "alarm" response in the first stage.”
- Exhaustion: “The final stress stage is exhaustion, which results from your body trying to combat stress for an extended period. Typically, in this stage you find yourself feeling run down and with far less energy than normal. You may fall ill easier as your immune system can also weaken due to stress. This stage is a signal that your stress is severe. Long-term psychological changes can occur as well, causing you to become depressed, possibly sleep deprived, or chronically anxious.
- Do the commonly-accepted methods actually work in a time like 2020?
- “Notice your body’s stress signals.”
- “Adjust your thoughts.”
- “Help your body relax.”
- “Get more rest.”
- “Engage in productive activities.”
Our Next Step
- Aaron:
- Don’t try to run away from what I’m feeling
- Be better about taking mental health days from work
- Be open and honest with those closest to me about where my mental state is
- Really work to identify my micro-stressers
- https://hbr.org/2020/07/dont-let-micro-stresses-burn-you-out
- Share my journey – good and bad – with people so that they feel free & encouraged to do the same
- Rhys
- Acknowledge what type of days/weeks I am having and be kind to myself when I am having a challenging time
- By dynamic in my work -> if I am struggling to start/accomplish a project, stop, do something else, and come back to it
- Try not to let the enormity of the past and future create additional stress -> Live in the present (feld)
- Encourage team members to be kind to themselves
One Good Thing
- Arianna Huffington, the founder of the Huffington Post and Thrive Global, recently turned 70 and had the following to say:
- “[A]s I read back through half a century of notes, I’m struck by four things. First, by how early I knew what really mattered in life. Second, how bad I was at acting on that knowledge. Third, how draining and depleting all my worries and fears were. And fourth, how little those worries and fears turned out to matter. Now, with 70 almost here during lockdown, I see how much easier it is at 70 than it was at 30 to live the life I always wanted to live.”
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
Most leaders understand the concept of mentorship; after all, who doesn't want to mentor or be mentored by someone else? However, leaders who focus solely on mentorship miss another crucial tool in their toolkits: sponsorship. In this episode, Rhys and Aaron explore a concept that is relatively new to them and wonder how their positions can create opportunities to sponsor others.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
Quick Takes
- John Roberts shatters expectations for the Supreme Court: https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/29/politics/john-roberts-abortion-supreme-court/index.html
- The NFL ain't coming back this season (we think), so Aaron and his dad are going to battle it out via online Madden.
- BP sells $5B asset to Ineos: https://www.axios.com/bp-petrochemical-division-sale-ineos-3723ae13-87ea-4ad4-b05e-fb07e7f25376.html
- You need to get rid of TikTok – like, right now: https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/fxgi06/not_new_news_but_tbh_if_you_have_tiktiok_just_get/
- A number of companies are pulling their advertising from Facebook (and it's starting to spook investors): https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/29/tech/facebook-ad-boycott-stock/index.html
Show Notes
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2019/09/17/understanding-the-impact-of-mentorship-versus-sponsorship/
- https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/sponsors-vs-mentors/
- https://www.leadersedge.com/brokerage-ops/mentor-vs-sponsor.
Our Next Step
- Aaron: Walk through my “mental list” of everyone for whom I’m a trusted figure and figure out the balance of time I’ve spent mentoring vs. the time I’ve spent sponsoring, have open discussions regarding balancing mentorship and sponsorship and determine whether I should seek my own sponsorship (for my benefit and to learn how to do it well).
- Rhys: Identify people in my network who want mentorship and who could potentially want sponsorship, and those who want sponsorship, work with them on a game plan; also, find stretch assignments for team members who want sponsorship.
One Good Thing
- The young boy, the FedEx driver, and Tony Hawk: https://reddit.com/r/HumansBeingBros/comments/h8rxcr/8_year_old_boy_runs_after_a_fedex_driver_to_ask/
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
Leading a fully remote team is one of the most difficult things a leader can take on. But leading a fully remote team through one of the most challenging periods in human history? That's something else entirely. In this episode, Rhys and Aaron discuss the challenges of remote leadership in a world undergoing four different crises simultaneously.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
Quick Takes
- In the month since George Floyd's murder, there have been 1.04 billion social media interactions: https://www.axios.com/george-floyd-racial-inequality-protests-comparison-d7c32b17-3078-4c62-9d6f-ee70b6c37cb1.html
- Former Colorado gubernatorial candidate Walker Stapleton is a supporter of changing the name of the Stapleton neighborhood: https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/06/15/walker-stapleton-family-react-to-push-to-change-name-of-neighborhood/
- Sports are coming back! (sort of)
- Basecamp is in a fight against Apple's inconsistent (and somewhat skeezy) pricing practices: https://www.wired.com/story/apple-threatens-basecamp-email-app
- The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to protect LGBTQ+ employment rights: https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/15/politics/supreme-court-lgbtq-employment-case/index.html
- Aaron's mom suggests an alternate name for the podcast: "Doogie and Napoleon and Their Big Freakin' Ideas"
Show Notes
- AVC newsletter about leading through virtual crises: https://avc.com/2020/06/leading-virtually
- Forbes article about productivity while working from home: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/15259-working-from-home-more-productive.html
Our Next Step
- Aaron: Reinforce the utterly crucial value of peer-to-peer communication, double down on reaching out "just because," continue to encourage relaxation, time away from work, self-care, etc., and promote perspectives that appropriately blend our “corporate life” with world conditions, events larger than ourselves, and the "broader fabric."
- Rhys: Increase pulse surveys across the leadership team to evaluate how the team is doing, encourage Recess and hard stops for family time/hobbies, video is critical for all meetings for body language, and create support systems for those under greater stress at home (ie parents day for mental health).
One Good Thing
- Pandemic of Love: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/pandemic-of-love-connects-people-in-need-with-those-who-can-help
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
In this episode, Rhys and Aaron, decade-long friends who met in business school, reflect on how a failed "Episode 0" of their podcast gave them the confidence to step into emotional – and hopeful – team conversations around George Floyd's murder, the state of their world, and the intention to do something good.
Follow the Show
- Website: https://motion-podcast.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motion_podcast
Show Notes
- 68 Bits of Unsolicited Advice: https://kk.org/thetechnium/68-bits-of-unsolicited-advice
- Roles in a Social Change Ecosystem: https://medium.com/@dviyer/my-role-in-a-social-change-ecosystem-a-mid-year-check-in-1d852589cdb1
Our Next Step
- Aaron: Don’t let perfect get in the way of good enough.
- Rhys: In evaluating future big problems, use the lessons learned from the process of talking about George Floyd.
One Good Thing
- Southwest Flight Attendant and American Airline CEO Discuss Race: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/southwest-flight-attendant-american-ceo-trnd/index.html
- White Fragility: https://www.amazon.com/White-Fragility-People-About-Racism/dp/0807047414
Special Thanks
- Intro/Outro music: Cubic Z by Diamond Ortiz
