The Essence of Die Empty and Confronting Mediocrity with Bravery

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The essence of Die Empty is the realization that most people unknowingly slip into mediocrity due to forces like aimlessness, busy boredom, comfort, delusion, ego, fear, and guardedness. Even the most talented individuals are prone to settling for mediocrity by relying solely on their talent and instincts. It takes bravery to confront these forces because it requires countercultural and counterintuitive actions, investing time and energy rather than choosing convenience and comfort. While it may seem obvious, the truth is that humans naturally crave comfort, but choosing comfort over producing value leads to regret. Comfort can ultimately extinguish the passion of the soul. The message of bravery is not about becoming superhuman, but rather being fully human by confronting mediocrity.

This week I’m excited to welcome Todd Henry back to the show for a really encouraging and informative conversation about his new book, The Brave Habit: A Guide To Courageous Leadership. Todd has been a guest on the show many times lending his wisdom and insights on everything from creativity to motivation.

Todd is the founder of Accidental Creative, a company that helps creative people and teams be prolific, brilliant and healthy. He regularly speaks and consults with companies about how to develop practices that lead to everyday brilliance. He is the author of six other books (The Accidental Creative, Die Empty, Louder Than Words, Herding Tigers, The Motivation Code, and Daily Creative), which have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and he speaks and consults across dozens of industries on creativity, leadership, and passion for work.

In this episode Todd breaks down the unique distinctions between bravery and heroism, the importance of claiming agency, and the application of the brave habit to daily work and team dynamics. Todd also shares personal insights, including his journey in redefining his 18-year-old business, and highlighting the need for an optimistic vision in uncertain times. We discuss how to cultivate bravery as a daily habit and the process of leading yourself and others boldly into the future.

Connect with Todd:

Website

Todd’s New Book

Instagram

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Todd’s Episode on The Daily Practice of Creativity

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Connect with Erik:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

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