#767: Jerry Colonna — Tim and Uncle Jerry Tackle Life, Big Questions, Business, Parenting, and Disco Duck

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Sep 11, 2024

Jerry Colonna, CEO of Reboot.io and author, dives deep into the power of emotional intelligence in leadership and parenting. He challenges listeners to confront their complicity in creating unwanted reality and explores the importance of self-honesty. The conversation touches on legacy, transgenerational wounds, and the balance between past and future. Jerry shares parenting insights and humorous, poignant anecdotes, emphasizing the universal nature of human experiences and the transformative impact of literature on personal growth.

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ADVICE

Complicity vs. Responsibility

Ask yourself "How have I been complicit in creating the conditions I say I don’t want?".
This question promotes self-awareness, not self-blame, to understand your role in undesirable situations.

INSIGHT

Extreme Ownership as a Defense

Taking responsibility for everything can be a defense mechanism, hindering growth.
True transformation requires discerning your actual role in events, not just blanket self-blame.

ADVICE

Physical and Mental Restoration

Prioritize physical and mental well-being through activities like exercise or time in nature.
Avoid turning these activities into productivity goals; focus on pure restoration.

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Reboot

Leadership and the Art of Growing Up

Jerry Colonna

In 'Reboot,' Jerry Colonna shares his approach to leadership development through radical self-inquiry. The book helps leaders identify and address the emotional baggage and psychological habits that have both driven their success and hindered their relationships and well-being. Colonna draws on his experiences as a venture capitalist and executive coach, blending Buddhism, Jungian therapy, and entrepreneurial insights to guide leaders in finding meaning, building healthy interpersonal bonds, and becoming more compassionate and bold leaders. The book emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, mindfulness, honesty, and self-critique in transforming both personal and professional lives[2][4][5].

Let Your Life Speak

Listening for the Voice of Vocation

Parker J. Palmer

In 'Let Your Life Speak', Parker J. Palmer reflects on the journey of finding one's true vocation through a deeply personal and compassionate lens. The book encourages readers to listen to their inner selves rather than external expectations, and to embrace their true identities and integrity. Palmer shares his own experiences, including struggles with depression and unconventional career paths, to illustrate the importance of authenticity and self-awareness in discovering one's calling. The book emphasizes that vocation is not a goal to be achieved but a gift to be received, and that it involves aligning one's life with one's natural gifts and interests.

When Things Fall Apart

Heart Advice for Difficult Times

Pema Chödrön

In this book, Pema Chödrön offers life-changing tools for transforming suffering and negative patterns into habitual ease and boundless joy. Drawing from traditional Buddhist wisdom, she advises moving toward painful situations with friendliness and curiosity, rather than trying to escape them. The book emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty, impermanence, and groundlessness, and provides practical advice for dealing with difficult emotions like fear, anger, and sadness. Chödrön encourages readers to stay present with their feelings and to cultivate nonaggression and compassion, leading to deeper healing and understanding[1][3][5].

Sacred Knowledge

Psychedelics and Religious Experiences

William A. Richards

In 'Sacred Knowledge,' William A. Richards provides a well-documented and sophisticated analysis of the impact of psychedelics on human consciousness and religious experiences. The book is based on nearly three decades of legal research with volunteers and explores the therapeutic and spiritual potential of psychedelics when used responsibly. Richards blends scientific rigor with personal reflection, addressing topics such as the integration of psychedelics into modern society, their effects on mental health and psychotherapy, and their implications for philosophy, anthropology, and theology. The book also includes personal accounts of Richards' own experiences and those of his patients, offering insights into mystical and visionary experiences facilitated by psychedelics[1][4][5].

The wisdom of insecurity

A Message for an Age of Anxiety

Alan Watts

In this book, Alan Watts draws on Eastern philosophy and religion to argue that true security and peace can only be achieved by understanding and embracing the impermanence and insecurity of life. He critiques the modern quest for security and certainty, highlighting the futility of chasing moving goalposts such as financial success, stability, or escape from pain. Watts emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment, letting go of the past and future, and accepting the uncertainty of life to find true freedom and fulfillment.

Faith

Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience

Sharon Salzberg

In this book, Sharon Salzberg explores the concept of faith in a way that is distinct from traditional religious interpretations. She draws on Buddhist teachings and her own life experiences, including a tumultuous childhood, to explain that faith is about trusting one's deepest experience and maintaining the strength to move forward even in difficult times. Salzberg emphasizes the interconnectedness of all beings and how faith can be a source of healing and peace, accessible to anyone regardless of their spiritual tradition.

Reunion

Jerry Colonna

Call it sleep

Henry Roth

Published in 1934, 'Call It Sleep' by Henry Roth is a profound depiction of the life of David Schearl, a young Jewish immigrant boy in New York City. The novel explores David's fears, family tensions, and the complexities of assimilation in a harsh urban environment. Using stream-of-consciousness techniques, Roth vividly captures David's inner thoughts and emotions, reflecting the struggles of Jewish immigrants during the early 20th century. The book delves into themes of language, identity, and cultural integrity, portraying the squalid urban environment and the emotional depth of David's experiences. It is considered a classic of Jewish-American literature and a significant work in American literary history[1][3][4].