Disrupt Yourself Podcast with Whitney Johnson

Workplace culture, work/life balance, and burnout have been under the microscope in recent years. But long before the unique challenges of the pandemic, Fran Katsoudas has worked to build a "conscious culture" at Cisco. She's a 25 year veteran of the technology company, and currently the Chief People, Policy and Purpose Officer, who knows that our "work selves" can't be separated from our "regular selves" — especially when we work from home. Because of this, purpose is paramount — not just for the individual, but for the entire company. “Purpose has to be embedded in your day-to-day business,” Fran tells Whitney. And that's not just a feel-good mantra. She has the data to show that a "system of goodness" improves your products, and is always better for the bottom line. Fran shares how we can bust commonly held myths about employee satisfaction, use tech to facilitate leader attention, and why hybrid work can be a powerful force for inclusion. She also shares the time she stepped back from a big promotion in order to change her perspective.

We've got another bonus episode for you this week, because who doesn't love Adam Grant? Whitney's conversation with the author and organizational psychologist from July 2019 is one of our favorites. It's all about how we perceive reciprocity: givers, takers, any why it's so important not to confuse "takers" with those willing to receive help. Adam breaks down why this informs so much of our personal and professional lives. If you haven't heard this one, you're in for a treat. And even if you have, it's absolutely worth another spin. --Original Show Notes: July 16, 2019-- When Adam Grant joined his high school diving team, his coach told him he had good news and bad news: Adam lack flexibility and grace, two of the three components needed to be a successful diver. The good news? His coach would be there to support him the entire way. This event had a profound impact on Adam. His coach not only believed in him but was willing to match the effort that he would put into his own success. His influence was also felt as Adam reached out to help other divers—even those that would be in direct competition with him—because he knew that he could help.

This week, Whitney shares the entire first chapter of her new book Smart Growth: How to Grow Your People to Grow Your Company, which covers the launch point of any new S Curve of learning: Exploration. Exploring something new is exciting, and we can be better decision makers if we consider criteria like: Is this achievable? Is it worth the cost? Does it align with my values? We also take a lesson that TV host Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs) shared on this very podcast. If you're learning a new musical instrument, a TikTok dance, or a major career shift, this chapter will be your road map. Smart Growth is now available as an audiobook, paperback, hardcover, and Kindle edition on Amazon, or wherever books are sold:  Smart Growth: How to Grow Your People to Grow Your Company  

We have an extra dose of inspiration for your week with this encore episode from January 2020. Author and speaker Simon Sinek sat down with Whitney to ask the simplest question: "Why?" "Why am I doing this work? Why am I on this career path?" These questions lead to a disruptive change in Simon's life. Despite uncertainty, Simon is so successful because he seeks out challenges, rather than looking for obstacles. --Original Show Notes from January 7, 2020-- To kick off 2020 I am talking to Simon Sinek, who is best known for popularizing the concept of “why” in his 2009 TED talk. To date, it is the third most-watched talk at TED.com with over 40 million views. Simon is the author of several best-selling books, including “Start With Why,” “Leaders Eat Last,” and “The Infinite Game,” which was released in October of 2019. For those who are long-time listeners to this podcast, my first question may surprise you. Instead of my usual beginning, I asked Simon one simple thing: What is your “why”? “My ‘why' is to inspire people to do the things that inspire them, so together each of us change our world for the better.” There really was no other way to begin the conversation. Simon has been speaking about the importance of “why” since 2005, when he “fell out of love” with his marketing career and began speaking publicly about the importance of “why” to friends, and eventually friends-of-friends. The organic growth of his ideas eventually caught the attention of the US Air Force, and by mid-2006 he was invited to speak at the Pentagon and military bases across the US.

We can't talk about personal disruption without discussing disruptive technologies, so this week's episode is a bit different. It's a 101 course on blockchain, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and the philosophy behind the decentralization movement. Most of us have heard these terms by now, but many (even those who dabble with them) don't understand how they actually work, or why they matter. Adam B. Levine joins Whitney to provide a primer. He's the managing editor of CoinDesk, host of the "Speaking of Bitcoin" podcast, and the CEO of Tokenly.com. Levine shares practical examples (and some great metaphors!) about how blockchain tech verifies "who owns what stuff" on the Internet, and what the future might hold for NFTs and Bitcoin once the current mania subsides. Editor's Note: This episode does not provide financial advice. Commodity and currency trading of any kind carries risk.

Eating smarter is always popular in January, so we're excited to share another bonus episode with you this week. This time, it's Whitney's conversation with wellness author and podcaster Shawn Stevenson from February 2021. Shawn was diagnosed with a debilitating disease in his early 20s. Doctors gave him pain meds and told him to lay in bed. His athletic career was over. That is, until he disrupted his diet. Today our guest is Shawn Stevenson, the host of the #1 Nutrition and Fitness podcast in the U.S., The Model Health Show. He’s the author of Sleep Smarter, and now most recently Eat Smarter, which at the time we spoke, was one of the top ten selling books on Amazon. Shawn’s passion for empowering individuals to take control of their health and wellness is apparent to all who connect with him. Diagnosed with a debilitating degenerative bone disease at just 20 years old, Shawn found himself overweight, in constant pain and severely depressed. Determined to change his circumstances, he began a transformational journey discovering just how much influence we can have on our bodies through nutritional and behavioral levers. Now, motivated to help others discover the power of nutrition, Shawn provides actionable steps to help people embark on their own wellness journey.

The S Curve of Learning is about personal development — our skills, mastery, and career aspirations. But applying it to teams unlocks a whole new way to run a business. After all, the individual is the fundamental unit of any company. In her latest article for the Harvard Business Review titled "Manage Your Organization as a Portfolio of Learning Curves," Whitney expounds on why it's not enough to track your team's performance and goals. Knowing where each individual is on their personal S Curve has huge ramifications for talent development, team configuration, and the long-term health of your business (long after your current team has moved on). Some of this advice may seem counter-intuitive. Having a dream team at 100% mastery sounds like a win ... until they all get bored and leave. And hiring a person who is underqualified for a role sounds like a recipe for disaster ... unless you're thinking about the big picture. Disruption Advisors coach and veteran broadcaster Steve Ludwig joins this episode as a guest host to interview Whitney about the HBR article and how it connects to her new book Smart Growth, which is available for pre-order now. Read the full article: https://hbr.org/2022/01/manage-your-organization-as-a-portfolio-of-learning-curves Pre-order Smart Growth: https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Growth-Grow-People-Company-ebook/dp/B08TCJZ7ST

Turns out, people like Star Wars more than they like spreadsheets. That's pretty obvious, yet we constantly find ourselves in front of boring presentations. Data and facts are important, but when woven into a "hero's journey," they become undeniable. Dan Roam is on a mission to put the tools of our greatest storytellers in your hands. Next time you need to convince your boss, your team, or a customer to get on board with an idea, consider his book, The Pop-Up Pitch. Whitney and Dan discuss why humans are wired to love visual storytelling, the key moment of drama you need in every presentation, and the fateful day the back of a napkin changed the trajectory of Dan's career forever

When we think of role models, we often picture mythical heroes, overnight success stories, and leaders who made key decisions in the nick of time. But Scott Miller is far more interested in the mistakes of successful leaders. He discusses them deeply in his bestselling books and immensely popular podcast On Leadership. For every world-famous actor, there are box office flops. For every bestselling author, there are manuscripts in the dustbin. Scott argues we can learn much more by "hyping our failures," and that true leadership isn't about being right, but being vulnerable. And in an age of connectivity and intimate media, even if you think you don't have a mentor, you probably do. Just look to your favorite podcaster, author, or influencer to see how they've grown. Scott isn't all talk. He had to step back from a comfortable CMO job at the leadership training company FranklinCovey when he realized he was an "accidental diminisher." This re-examination of his skills changed the course of his career, and he's on a mission to help other S-curve jumpers do the same.

Hard work is a pillar of any success, but it doesn't always have to feel so hard. Howard Morgan started his first company at 13 years old. Today it generates $130 million a year, and he hasn't slowed down. But Howard's joyful optimism around hard work is what sets him apart. It was instilled in him at a young age by his grandfather and a rich family life. Howard shares inspiring stories from his career, building multiple businesses, and his fascinating time settling labor disputes. His work illustrates how fairness and respect are much more productive than "taking sides" — sage advice for crucial conversations in any context. His wisdom around letting the headlines be about others is essential listening for anyone who manages (or is part of) a team. Howard also warns against why investing in "overhead" is risky and often misguided.