The Decision-Making Studio Podcast

Ep. 183: Nathan and Susannah Furr - On the Upside of Uncertainty

Oct 10, 2022

01:13:12

Nathan and Susannah Furr are the co-authors of a phenomenal book that is firmly in the wheelhouse of our show. It’s called The Upside of Uncertainty – A Guide to Finding Possibility in the Unknown. It’s been described as a “science-backed guide for navigating and thriving through uncertainty,” and it’s a book that is well overdue given the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

I am reminded of that lovely Voltaire quote – “Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position but certainty is an absurd one.” And it’s appropriate to quote a French philosopher as Nathan and Susannah are Americans based in France. Nathan is an associate professor of strategy at the world-renowned INSEAD in Paris. He teaches innovation and tech strategy and is a recognised expert in these fields having written several books on these topics. Susannah is a designer, art historian with a focus on the Dutch baroque period, and entrepreneur. She founded her own clothing line which was inspired by the intricate embroidery of Dutch women in the baroque.

This conversation is fabulous.

We not only get into the beauty of uncertainty, but Nathan and Susannah share a number of tools and techniques from their uncertainty ‘first aid cross’ that you will hear about. This is all about how to prime, do, reframe and sustain in the midst of uncertainty. These are all essential skills very few of us are formally taught.

Show notes:

Nathan and Susannah

The Upside of Uncertainty – A Guide to Finding Possibility in the Unknown

Nathan and Susannah’s site

“The Peace of Wild Things” – poem by Wendell Berry

Transilience

World Uncertainty Index

The ‘uncertainty first aid cross’

John O’Donohue

Raymond Poulidor vs Jacques Anquetil on the Puy de Dôme

James Carse – Finite and Infinite Games

Carol Dweck and a growth mindset