Greg Hoffman, former VP of Global Brand Creative at Nike and author of 'Emotion by Design', shares his insights on leadership shaped by his experiences as a biracial child. He discusses how empathy and emotional storytelling enhance brand connections and the importance of diverse thinking in achieving high performance. Greg emphasizes the necessity of vulnerability in leadership and how personal relationships impact legacy. He also highlights the role of emotional creativity in business strategies and the transformative power of visualization.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Childhood Experience
Greg Hoffman, biracial and adopted by a white family, felt like an outsider.
Sports and art became his outlets, revealing hidden talents and emphasizing empathy's importance.
insights INSIGHT
Deep Insights
True insights aren't obvious; they require digging deeper than surface observations.
Great brands excel by peeling back layers, like Nike's Michael Jordan commercial about missed shots.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Nurturing Creativity
Foster children's hidden talents by providing support and resources.
Encourage curiosity, as complacency hinders creativity, exemplified by Kobe Bryant's boundless curiosity.
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In this book, Marie Kondo introduces her revolutionary KonMari Method for tidying and organizing. Unlike traditional methods that focus on cleaning room by room or a little at a time, Kondo's approach involves categorizing items (clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous items, and sentimental items) and discarding those that do not spark joy. The method promises lasting results by changing the way one thinks about and interacts with their possessions. Kondo emphasizes the importance of handling each item, thanking items for their service, and finding a designated home for each item to maintain a tidy and organized space. The book also delves into the psychological and lifestyle benefits of tidying, suggesting that it can lead to greater clarity, confidence, and a more intentional way of living[1][3][5].
The Second Mountain
The Quest for a Moral Life
David Brooks
In 'The Second Mountain', David Brooks explores the concept of two mountains in life: the first mountain, which represents individual success and ego-driven achievements, and the second mountain, which symbolizes a life of deeper meaning, commitment, and contribution to a greater good. Brooks argues that our society's extreme individualism has torn the social fabric, and the path to repair is through making deeper commitments to a spouse and family, a vocation, a philosophy or faith, and a community. The book is both a personal reflection on Brooks' own life journey and a broader social commentary, offering practical advice and stories of people who have lived joyous, committed lives[2][4][5].
Emotion by Design
Greg Hoffman
This week’s episode is a conversation with Greg Hoffman, leader, creative and author. Greg worked at NIKE for almost 30 years, his last role being Vice-President of Global Brand Creative and Marketing Innovation. Greg shares with us how being a bi-racial man who was adopted by two white parents shaped his life. His relationship with NIKE first began when he saw they were the only advertising company, using people of colour in their advertisements.
He offers not only what it takes to be a leader in a global brand, but how to be a great one. He has a focus on empathy, understanding and empowering others. To be a great leader, Greg argues that you should never compromise soul or personality, but get rid of everything else in your way.
Greg's book 'Emotion by Design: Creative Leadership Lessons from a Life at Nike' is out now.
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This month on the High Performance Circle... Oli Patrick joined us on The High Performance Tour 2022 and gave a great keynote on the three things you can do to improve your wellbeing and operate at the top of your game. Plus, ultra runner Simon Dent explains the performance benefits and common lessons shared between business and exercise. Sign up now to watch: www.thehighperformancepodcast.com
Also, check out our new weekly addition The Monday Motivation Newsletter. The purpose of Monday Motivation is to connect more regularly with you! We want to give Circle members a bit of inspiration, motivation and purpose at the beginning of each week. Whether that is a few key things to consider when facing the upcoming week, reading recommendations or ideas to think about when listening to the weekly podcast episode. Sign up now. Just go to www.thehighperformancepodcast.com
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