Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen S1E17 - Successful Leaders are Twice-Born
What does it mean to be twice-born? Today, McKay talks about the key characteristic that successful parents and leaders possess - they are twice-born, and when they try a second time, they’re more successful because the second time around is an empowering one.
The episode opens with McKay narrating the story of New Orleans when the city was overwhelmed by Hurricane Katrina which ravaged the city, leaving it damaged and killing thousands in the process. The people soon lost faith in the city, until a rebirth occurred. McKay encourages listeners to imagine they are at day one whether struggling with a habit or with a business. Noting that there is immense power in becoming a rookie, McKay gives four helpful tips on how to get in the rookie zone and rounds off with lessons from the movie, Groundhog Day.
The Finer Details of This Episode:
- New Orleans’ Superdome - a story of rebirth.
- What does it mean to be twice-born?
- The devil in Mainville.
- The characteristics of twice-around leaders.
- Lessons from rebuilding a business
- The power in doing the opposite - what George Costanza teaches us
- Being in the rookie zone - Liz Wiseman’s research results
- 4 tips on how to get into the rookie zone
- Seeing the world from both sides - the power of perspective
- Lessons from Groundhog Day
Quotes:
“It's easy to feel beaten down by the storms of life, discouraged, wondering if you can rebuild what you once had.”
“When you attempt and possibly fail, and then decide to repeat or revive or improve and start again, there's immense power.”
“The second time around gives you perspective. It gives you strength, it awakens your mind to the challenge.”
“Twice-around leaders know how to influence and they lead by example, and build consensus.”
“People are like sticks of dynamite. The power is on the inside, but nothing happens until the fuse gets lit.”
“Begin again with new eyes.”
“There's power in starting again, and going back to year one and being a rookie, again.”
“With experience, comes a lot of virtues and assets but with experience also comes a number of blind spots.”
“In that rookie space, we ask better questions, we're more alert, we listen more, we value feedback, we seek feedback.”
“If I were starting again, what would I do differently?”
“I would trade youth for perspective any day.”
Show Links:
Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen