Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

Summary Debbie Danielpour, an award-winning screenwriter writer, and I examine how screenwriters and speakers use objects to grab their audiences' attention at a particular moment and for a particular reason. This is an abridged — and enhanced — version of episode 219. Takeaways √ Objects can be used by screenwriters or speakers to focus an audience's attention the way dialogue can't. √ Objects can be physical elements, a name, or something ethereal. √ Objects can play at least four roles in a film or communication. Referenced The paper in "Moneyball" The paper in "Charade"

Summary Like the powerful question organizations need to ask — "Why do we exist?" — "Why do I do what I do?" is a powerful question we should all ask ourselves periodically. Takeaways √ "Why does our organization exist?" is a powerful question that everyone in an organization should be able to answer uniformly. If they can't, the organization's purpose and people are likely out of alignment. √ Misalignment can have a significant impact on staff morale, productivity, and achieving desired results. √ Asking, "Why do I do what I do?" brings purpose setting down to the individual level. √ If the work we do and how we do it is not in alignment with our deepest values, we will find ourselves in a position of misalignment — and suffer the consequences. Referenced A Month in a Tuscan Villa Didn't Fix My Burnout City Slickers L.A. Confidential Interview with Brooke Erol Interview with Steve Miletto

Summary In this episode, my friend and fellow podcaster, Steve Miletto, and I discuss the "next big thing," the next chapter in our lives, the "one more" challenge we want to tackle. My guest Steve Miletto is the Executive Director of North Georgia Regional Educational Services Agency, which provides professional development services and support for 5 school systems in North Georgia. Steve is in his 36th year in public education in Georgia. He is also a professional leadership coach, a classroom teacher mentor and coach, a speaker on better instructional, leadership, and social media practices and the host of the very popular "Teaching Learning Leading K12" podcast. He is also a multiple award-winning teacher and principal. Takeaways √ "One more" is knowing that you have more in you to give to support your purpose. √ School leaders are wrestling with staff resignations and how to encourage staff to stay. √ When it comes to purpose, we tend to over-focus on the what and the how and under-focus on why we're doing what we're doing on behalf of those we serve. √ Don't look externally for purpose; look internally. √ To find purpose, "Ask: would I regret not doing "X" or stopping too soon doing what I'm doing? √ Feeling overwhelmed? Revisit your purpose. Ask yourself why you do what you do, and examine what you like doing. References / Links LinkedIn Podcast: Teaching Learning Leading K12 YouTube Channel @smiletto Instagram and Twitter @SRMiletto Pinterest Leadership from the Inside Out by Kevin Cashman L.A. Confidential - "Why did you want to become a cop?"

Summary Central to any focus on change are some looming questions: why change, how to change, and how to overcome obstacles. Looking broadly at change across many fields, what intrigues me about change is the engine that drives it, and that's curiosity. And curiosity is not just a point in time; it's a process: helping people to pause, reflect, ask questions, gain clarity and then change. My guest Andy Vargo is no stranger to change! If you ever feel awkward about yourself, then you can understand how Andy Vargo lived the first forty years of his life. Coming out of the closet at forty doesn't define him; pursuing his passion to help others does. Having changed everything about his life, Andy leads others as a motivational speaker and helps people live their fullest lives as a business and life-change coach. At night you can find him working stages around the northwest as a comedian, making light of his journey with the gift of laughter. Awkward is not only his brand, but his style as Andy encourages us all to 'Own Your Awkward' and be true to your genuine self. Takeaways √ "Owning your awkward" is being true to who you really are. √ When you recognize your awkwardness, it's time to change. √ "Authenticity" is not trying to fit in and put on a certain personality. √ Often the initial questions that clients come to coaching with are only scratching the surface. It's what's below the surface that's the real issue. √ Change is not about just having a goal; it's determining the results you want when you achieve the goal. √ The problem to a solution is often contained in the problem itself. √ Getting Unstuck is not an accident; it's a process. Referenced / Links Andy hosts the "Own Your Awkward" podcast, authored the Awkward Journal series, and Own Your Awkward Life Changes. He shares his thoughts and ideas in his blog and video series at awkwardcareer.com.

Summary Research has shown that curiosity can make us happier, increase academic achievement, and increase our emotional intelligence. And of equal importance, as today's guest explains, curiosity is a divining rod in our search for creativity — a key ingredient of long-term business and personal success. My guest My guest in this episode is Dr. Caroline Brookfield, a veterinarian, stand-up comic, and passionate believer that we can courageously welcome creativity into our lives. She is the author of THE RELUCTANT CREATIVE: 5 Effortless Habits to Expand Your Comfort Zone. Takeaways √ Creativity is one of the top skills that people are going to need over the next 10-20 years to be effective problem solvers. √ People — especially children — learn how not to be creative, in part because we are pattern and routine driven. √ One of the killers of creativity is that we internalize how others react to our work. √ Daydreaming can generate both negative and positive results. √ D.A.N.C.E. D = Daydream A = Ambiguity N = Novelty C= Curiosity E= Edit later √ Mindfulness gives you space to be creative. √ Fear holds us back from experimentation. Resources / Links / References Free creative exercises from The Reluctant Creative Instagram and tik tok @artfulscience LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-brookfield/ Book thereluctantcreative.com Website carolinebrookfield.com

Summary Obstacles standing in the way of progress often seem insurmountable. Leaders who remain adaptable, flexible, and pause to give themselves time to assess options increase their likelihood of breakthroughs. And very often, the solution to the problem sits within the problem itself. Takeaways √ The seeds of a problem's solution are usually contained in the problem itself. √ Effectively problem solvers work within the constraints of limited time and budget and ask a question of curiosity: what can we do differently right here with what we have? √ Overcoming obstacles, according to author Ryan Holiday, requires that we take three steps: 1. Change our perception of the problem — our attitude and approach to it. 2. Use our energy and creativity to uncover the opportunity within the problem 3. Cultivate and maintain an inner will to overcome setbacks. Referenced The Obstacle is the Way

Summary Much of the teaching profession is in turmoil. Thousands of teachers are leaving the field for a variety of reasons. Among them are: • Teachers exhausted and dispirited after pivoting to remote instruction during the pandemic — and now having to quickly make up for "lost learning." • Teaching has been increasingly politicized through limitations on the content teachers can cover and how teachers can teach. • Teachers feel unqualified to work effectively with students in critical areas such as social and emotional learning. But many teachers who are working with enlightened leadership are flourishing and helping to ignite their students' inherent curiosity. My guest Nate Hassman is on a quest: seize every possible opportunity to position students as leaders and experts, and partner with students to find a path that is individualized to their skills and interests. He wears several hats for Maine Township School District 207, in Des Plaines, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago. By trade, Nate is a science teacher at Maine West High School. Additionally, he facilitates workshops with fellow teachers in action research and classroom culture, sponsors Maine West's student mentor-leader organization, and coaches track and cross country. Takeaways √ District 207 sees its responsibility as providing students with multiple post-high pathways from which to choose depending on their interests and circumstances. √ Nate's teaching has evolved from a pure content focus to one where he generates experiences for the students to evolve as experts. √ Methods of evaluating students have had to shift from traditional assessments to listening for the types of questions they ask and how they analyze problems. √ Student curiosity is fostered through experiences that get them to think, not just regurgitate knowledge. √ Curiosity is also fostered by bringing real-life news into the classroom and relating it to the course of study. √ Effective leaders have mastered the art of adapting to internal and external stimuli, and they are not afraid to ask the collective to pause to consider options. Referenced New Harmony High School > "Getting Unstuck" Interview > School Website

As leaders, we can often fall into the trap of focusing most of our attention on the work of achieving desired outcomes. While achieving outcomes is critical for organizational success, authentic leaders also focus on how they are showing up to lead the people doing the day-to-day work to achieve those desired results. Focusing their attention there forces the leader to be vulnerable, to think more in terms of "we" than "I." Focusing their attention on the staff doing the work engages the leader's innate curiosity, and that curiosity gives rise to empathy. Empathy nourishes emotional intelligence, which is the cornerstone of sustained impact. Takeaways √ People experience a form of grief when organizations go through layoffs. √ Leadership is akin to being onstage because people are always looking at you, watching what you will say and do. √ "Brave Leadership" is the act of staying true to who you are when the pressure is at its greatest. √ The super-objective that we set for ourselves defines the impact that we want to have on others. √ How you show up is how people see you, not what you believe. Authenticity is in the eye of the beholder. √ If you are not curious about people, you cannot bring empathy to the conversation, and if you are not empathetic, you cannot be authentic and have the impact you want to have. √ Because organizations are numbers-driven, leaders tend to focus on the work as opposed to the people doing the work. √ Real presence doesn't show up in the absence of obstacles. My Guest And someone who knows more than a thing or two about brave leadership is our guest in this episode, Kimberly Davis, author of the best-seller Brave Leadership, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Brave Leadership University. Resources / Links / References Company: onstageleadership.com TEDx: youtube.com/watch?v=PgCBVGBHGx4 Book: braveleadershipbook.com/ Email: kimberly@braveleadershipuniversity.com Twitter: OnStageKimberly LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kimberlydavisonstage Patrick Lencioni - The Advantage Interview – Joanne Duncan Daniel Lubetzky – Do the Kind Thing Interview – Dr. Ken Wallace Sarah Elkins – "No Longer Virtual" Summit

Summary There's a lot of talk about why organizations need to have a purpose — why they do what they do on behalf of those they seek to serve — and to have that purpose go beyond being a mere marketing tagline. What's equally challenging to get at is how an organization defines its why, how they get staff buy-in — or better yet, staff input — and then has the discipline to choose activities that work towards fulfilling it. My guest My guest to help walk us through this topic is Brooke Erol. Brooke is a corporate dropout who pursued her dream of having more meaningful work for herself and others where we are not only seeking money but also contributing to a bigger cause. All her life is spent on writing, speaking, coaching, and consulting on this topic of having a life of fulfilling and purposeful work. She works both with individuals- YourBestLife and organizations - Purposeful Business, Inc. Takeaways √ Many businesses focus on profits over purpose instead of figuring out how to do both. √ An organization's pain point is not necessarily an expressed lack of purpose, but lack of purpose is often the driver below the surface. √ Leaders at the highest point of an organization — founder, and CEO — must have a deep consciousness to understand the imperative of having and living a purpose fully. √ Companies often face a litmus test as to whether they are going to honor their purpose in their decision-making, √ Customers and job seekers should monitor a company over time to see if it adheres to its purpose. √ The number one reason for the purpose to stick is the 100% commitment of the CEO or the founder. √ Instead of trying to save the whole world, find one area where you can have an impact, and let that be your purpose. Referenced/Resources/Links Book: Create a Life You Love: Reflections on Living Life to the Fullest Instagram: www.instagram.com/purposefulbusiness www.instagram.com/happielliatwork LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ozlemerol Twitter: www.twitter.com/boerol1

Summary In this episode, I talk with Megan Miller, who, at an early age, discovered the power of learning a foreign language and now works to empower others who want or need to have a bilingual voice. Megan is the founder of Aprovechar Language Solutions, LLC, whose mission is to empower anyone needing a bilingual voice. She offers a personalized, habit-based approach to teaching Spanish and English language and culture to adults worldwide. Megan has over 20 years of experience in Spanish and has been obsessed with learning and teaching all of her life: from living abroad in Madrid, Spain, traveling worldwide, and being a training consultant and language coach. Megan noted in our conversation that language has the power to help us transition from a "me" mentality to an "us" or "we" mentality. That is, by learning another language, one can better understand the culture and people it represents. Takeaways √ Motivation to do anything and curiosity are inextricably linked. √ Without actually traveling, one can enjoy culture through literature, movies, and music. √ Just as it is with English in the U.S., a foreign language has dialects and accents that shift from region to region. √ If you want to learn a new language, study it as it pertains to something in the culture, e.g., cooking, sports, or art. √ When learning a new language, dabble a little bit each day. References/Links/Resources Website: www.aprovecharlanguagesolutions.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/aprovecharlanguagesolutions LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aprovechar-language-solutions/