Meikles & Dimes

Lisa Cron is a story coach and the author of: Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers From the Very First Sentence. Lisa has worked in publishing at W.W. Norton, as an agent at the Angela Rinaldi Literary Agency, as a producer on shows for Showtime and CourtTV, and as a story consultant for Warner Brothers and the William Morris Agency. And since 2006, she's been an instructor in the UCLA Extension Writers' Program and been on the faculty of the School of Visual Arts MFA program in visual narrative in New York City. In this episode, we discuss the following: Take almost any bit of data, random or not, and our brain will try to make sense of it…it will try to create a story to explain it. Given that our brains are wired for stories, when it comes to persuading other people, stories are the most powerful tool we have. Don’t underestimate the power of stories.   Connect on Social Media: X: https://twitter.com/nate_meikle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natemeikle/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate_meikle/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nate.meikle

In this episode we talk about how to solve problems that no one has ever solved. And then we discuss the books that have most impacted Tozer.  I've started making my way through these books and they're excellent. And to make it easier for you to read the books, here's the list: As A Child Haunted Mesa by Louis L'Amour Western books by Zane Gray Old Testament and New Testament Old Mother West Wind by Thornton W. Burgess As An Adult The Street Lawyer by John Grisham When I Found You, Walk Me Home and Take Me With You by Cathryn Ryan Hyde Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling The Boys in the Cave, by Matt Guzman Bad Blood by John Carreyrou Centennial by James A Michener Greyhound by Steffan Pyper The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg A Child Called It by David Pelzer A Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Beautiful Boy by David Sheff Endurance by Alfred Lansing South by Ernest Shackleton Teach Like Your Hairs on Fire (first 2/3 of the book) by Rafe Esquith Einstein by Walter Isaacson Jesus the Christ by James Talmage The Journal of Joseph by Joseph Smith Jr. and Leland R. Nelson Battle Rock: The Struggle Over a One Room School by William Celis Blind Man’s Bluff by Sherry Sontag (Tozer worked with Tiernen) Dead Run by Dan Schultz (murder that happened in Cortez) October Sky by Homer Hickam

Kim Clark’s leadership experience is impressive: Dean of Harvard Business School, President of Brigham Young University—Idaho, Commissioner of Church Educational System for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kim is also the author of the book Leading Through, which he wrote with his daughter Erin and son Jonathan. Kim earned his B.A., MA, and PhD in economics from Harvard. In this episode we discuss the following: We’re all leaders. And the best leaders lead in 3 ways: they help people experience meaning, purpose, and personal growth. They help the organization realize its purpose. And they strengthen the organization. Leaders always do good. They strive to increase light and decrease darkness. When Kim became Dean of Harvard Business School, he knew he had to fire a colleague who had been a kind of poison. The previous administration had been afraid to fire the colleague for fear of a lawsuit with the Union. But when Kim fired the person, the Union said, “What took you so long?”   Connect on Social Media: X: https://twitter.com/nate_meikle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natemeikle/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate_meikle/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nate.meikle

Matt Richtel is an award-winning writer and journalist for the New York Times. He is the author of several books including, Dead on Arrival and Doomsday Equation, and in 2010 Matt was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for a series on distracted driving. Matt earned a bachelor's degree from Cal Berkeley and an MS from the Columbia School of Journalism. In this episode we discuss the following: Matt was happy in San Francisco, and when the New York Times told him he needed to relocate to New York City or be fired, Matt decided that he didn’t want to mess with happiness, so he stayed in San Francisco. He then waited for the Times to fire him, but the call never came. And eventually Matt went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. “Happiness can be fragile. Don’t mess with happiness.”   Connect on Social Media: X: https://twitter.com/nate_meikle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natemeikle/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate_meikle/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nate.meikle

Doug Girod is the chancellor of the University of Kansas. Under his leadership, KU has recruited the largest freshman class in history and earned the highest designation for the KU Cancer Center. Before becoming chancellor, Doug was a head and neck surgeon and served as executive vice chancellor at KU Medical Center. Doug earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of California at Davis and his medical degree from the University of California at San Francisco. He also served in the United States Navy Reserve for 15 years, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander and earning the Meritorious Service Medal. In this episode we discuss the following: Listen before you speak. Doug intentionally tries to not sit at the head of the table in meetings to signal to others that they’re all equals. Doug has more bosses now than he's ever had Connect on Social Media: X: https://twitter.com/nate_meikle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natemeikle/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate_meikle/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nate.meikle

Ty Detmer changed the game of football. As a junior at BYU, Ty threw for 5,000 yards and 41 touchdowns, setting 42 NCAA records and tying five others. The highlight of the season was beating the #1 ranked Miami Hurricanes, who were also the defending national champs. In that game, Ty threw for 400 yards and three touchdowns. At the end of the season, Ty won the Heisman Trophy, given to the most outstanding player in college football. For his college career, Ty set 59 NCAA records and tied three others. His ability to accurately pass the football was unprecedented, and played a pivotal role in the passing revolution in football. And in 2012, Ty was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Ty continued playing football beyond college, spending 14 years in the NFL where he mentored players such as Brett Favre and Michael Vick. In this episode we discuss the following: Maybe no football player has ever been so successful while also being so often mistaken for an equipment manager. But as Ty said, a little bit of toughness and a little bit of grit can go a long way. In Ty’s first college game he threw four interceptions; in an NFL game he threw seven. But he simply took accountability and kept working hard. It’s not what happens to you but how you react to it that matters in life.   Connect on Social Media: X: https://twitter.com/nate_meikle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natemeikle/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate_meikle/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nate.meikle

Ingrid Price, Special Counsel for Covington & Burling, advises clients on national security matters, including cross border investment, supply chain security, and public policy.  She has successfully represented numerous clients in gaining regulatory approval across various technology sectors, including AI, mobile applications, software, telecommunications, and robotics. Prior to joining Covington, Ingrid clerked for Chief Judge James E. Baker of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. She also served as in-house counsel at Amazon Web Services before returning to Covington as Special Counsel. Ingrid is a graduate of Stanford Law School and the University of Cambridge. In this episode we discuss the following: When it comes to investment in technologies that are relevant to national security, such as AI, quantum computing, integrated circuits, or even collecting sensitive personal data, the U.S. government wants to ensure that’s its interests are protected, so it was interesting to hear how Ingrid helps companies navigate that investment process. I thought it was especially interesting that Ingrid felt “underwater and overwhelmed” when she first started her career, especially given her intelligence and background. But her advice is excellent: People should come into their careers with confidence, knowing they have something to contribute but also with humility recognizing that there is always more to learn.   Connect on Social Media: X: https://twitter.com/nate_meikle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natemeikle/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate_meikle/

Jeffery Thompson is the director of the Romney Institute of Public Management at the BYU Marriott School of Management. He was raised in Boise, Idaho, and graduated from BYU with a BA in Japanese and a Masters degree in business. Jeff then earned a PhD in organizational behavior, with an emphasis in ethics, at the University of Minnesota, and then taught for four years in the business school at Miami University of Ohio prior to returning to BYU. Jeff’s research focuses on organizational ethics and meaningful work. And in 2009, Jeff and his coauthor, Stuart Bunderson, published a paper that went viral in the academic world, and has been cited nearly 2,000 times. Much of our conversation today revolves around findings from that work. In this episode we discuss the following: Jeff found that the zookeepers he studied, consistent with others who have found their calling, have three things in common: First, they do work that has an other-orientation, a sense of service. Second, they embrace, and leverage, their own unique gifts. And third, they describe a sense of destiny, as if it were fate that had led them to their position. And even though Jeff eventually found his own calling, he realized that there was more to his calling than he initially thought, as he accepted new positions and embraced new opportunities.    Connect on Social Media: X: https://twitter.com/nate_meikle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natemeikle/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate_meikle/

Admiral McRaven is a four-star admiral who oversaw the Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden; his forces were responsible for the capture of Saddam Hussein; and he also led the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips, who was held hostage by Somali pirates (which became the basis for the blockbuster movie, Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks). As commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, Admiral McRaven led a force of 72,000 men and women and was responsible for conducting counter-terrorism operations worldwide. After his military career, he served as chancellor of the University of Texas System, overseeing 14 institutions, 220,000 students, 20,000 faculty and more than 80,000 health care professionals, researchers, and staff. In 2014, he gave a commencement speech at the University of Texas that went viral, titled, “If You Want To Change The World, Start Off By Making Your Bed.”   He is also the author of several books, including Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations and the New York Times Bestseller, Make Your Bed. In this episode we discuss the following: When Admiral McRaven asked his Master Chief how to earn the respect of the soldiers, he responded: “Work hard. Come early. Stay late. Work on the weekends.” You don’t have to be the most talented to succeed. But regardless of talent, everyone can work hard. You will earn the respect of others if they know you are working hard on their behalf. Know your business. As a Navy SEAL that meant knowing all about weapons, diving, and demolition. It also meant knowing the details of the playbook. For example, if you’re in an ambush, first guy goes left, second guy goes right. When Admiral McRaven’s solider accidentally blew off the leg of his colleague, the Master Chief wanted to go relatively easy on the solider. But Admiral McRaven believed they needed to “throw the book at him.” And through the tough love of accountability, the solider bounced back and became Sailor of the Year. How do you gain respect of those you lead? Work hard and be a good person. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. When I asked Admiral McRaven, “Did you ever get scared?” he laughed out loud: “Yeah, of course. You’re scared all the time.” But he was able to fall back on his training and barricade his fears to help him get through countless life-threatening situations.   Connect on Social Media: X: https://twitter.com/nate_meikle Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MeiklesnDimes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natemeikle/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate_meikle/

Alfred Grace is the President of the Polynesian Cultural Center on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Alfred grew up in New Zealand and then moved to Hawaii for an engineering apprenticeship and later attended BYU Hawaii. He had hoped to become a tour operator for New Zealand, but ended up working for the PCC, where he then became president. The PCC is one of Hawaii’s top destinations, having served more than 40 million visitors since opening in 1963. In this episode we discuss the following: When Alfred became president of the PCC, the goal was to attract as many customers as possible. But COVID gave them a chance to reassess their strategy, and they realized that maximizing attendance put too much stress on the infrastructure and the employees, which in turn reduced the satisfaction of the guests. By capping attendance, they were able to increase guest satisfaction, increase employee satisfaction, and also charge a premium. And lastly, I love Alfred’s advice to the employees when they ask him for advice: Keep trying to excel at whatever you do. Love what you do. Enjoy what you do, and don't worry so much. Because if you are consistent, and do the things you do very well, life is going to take care of you.   Connect on Social Media: X: https://twitter.com/nate_meikle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natemeikle/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate_meikle/