Soul of Business with Blaine Bartlett

“It’s The Dark Matter Of Business”

Join me and my guest Charlie Gilkey (charliegilkey.com), CEO of Productive Flourishing (productiveflourishing.com). Charlie has advised hundreds of teams, from Fortune 100 companies to tiny nonprofits and is the author of the critically acclaimed Start Finishing: How to Go From Idea to Done and his current book, Team Habits: How Small Actions Lead to Extraordinary Results. We explore the concept of Compassionate Capitalism and its implications for team dynamics and performance – especially the role of team habits in achieving extraordinary results.

Summary

In this conversation, Blaine Bartlett and Charlie Gilkey explore the concept of compassionate capitalism and its implications for team dynamics and performance. They discuss the importance of understanding the “soul of business” as a living organism, the role of team habits in achieving extraordinary results, and the significance of belonging and communication within teams. The dialogue emphasizes the need for explicit communication of goals and conditions of satisfaction, as well as the challenges of maintaining excellence in a comfortable environment. Ultimately, they highlight the distinction between groups and teams, advocating for a culture of interdependence and shared commitment to improvement.

Takeaways

• Compassionate Capitalism emphasizes the interconnectedness of all business actions.
• Teams are a collection of relationships that require conscious effort to maintain.
• Team habits can either reinforce bad practices or promote positive change.
• Belonging within a team enhances performance and problem-solving capabilities.
• Conditions of satisfaction must be articulated to ensure team alignment.
• Making the obvious explicit helps avoid misunderstandings and misalignments.
• Cordial hypocrisy can hinder performance; teams must prioritize excellence over comfort.
• High-performing teams distinguish themselves through shared commitment and accountability.
• Interdependence is crucial for effective teamwork and achieving goals.
• Leadership should focus on the “why” rather than the “how” to empower teams

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“Learning The Ropes Without Hanging Yourself”

Join me and my guest Elizabeth Freedman, Vice President Executives and Team Performance at BTS (bts.com). She is the author of Learning the Ropes of the Workplace Without Hanging Yourself and a regular contributor to Forbes, where she writes about leadership strategies for C-suite executives. Her expertise on leadership has also appeared in Chief Executive, The New York Times, Fortune, The Boston Globe, and the Rotman Management Journal. We discuss the challenges faced by leaders in maintaining connection to their organization’s core values amidst changing demographics in the C-suite and the need for continuous self-development. Our dialogue also highlights practical strategies for developing future leaders and fostering a culture of ownership and engagement within organizations. 

Summary

In this conversation, Blaine Bartlett and Elizabeth Freedman explore the multifaceted nature of leadership, emphasizing the importance of understanding the soul of a business, the role of values, and the necessity of creating meaning in the workplace. They discuss the challenges faced by leaders in maintaining connection to their organization’s core values amidst changing demographics in the C-suite and the need for continuous self-development. The dialogue also highlights practical strategies for developing future leaders and fostering a culture of ownership and engagement within organizations.

Takeaways

• Leadership is about causing effective movement and is not dependent on title.
• The soul of a business is its permanent truth.
• Co-creating values leads to better alignment and engagement.
• Meaning in work is essential for employee motivation.
• C-suite leaders face unique challenges in today’s complex environment.
• Values must be operationalized to be meaningful.
• Self-awareness is crucial for effective leadership.
• Smaller organizations often overlook the importance of meaning.
• Language reflects internal realities and shapes perceptions.
• Developing future leaders requires practical, hands-on approaches.

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Chris Sinkinson – Entrepreneurship: A Hero’s Journey

Join me and my guest Chris Sinkinson, Co-Author of Startup Different (startupdifferent.com), and former CTO and Co-Founder of AppArmor. In 2022, AppArmor was acquired by Rave Mobile Safety for $40 million, and later that year, both were acquired for over $550 Million by Motorola Solutions. In this episode we discuss the hero’s journey that defines being a successful entrepreneur, focusing on the importance of empathy, company culture, and myth-busting in startups. Chris shares his experiences of starting a business with his brother, the challenges they faced, and the lessons learned along the way. He emphasizes the need for continuous improvement, the significance of intentionally building a strong company culture, and how empathy can be a powerful tool for leaders. We do a deep dive on the importance of being adaptable and willing to pivot in response to changing circumstances.

Takeaways

• Myth: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it (You need to get ahead of stuff breaking or it’ll break your business)
• Why being “tough” in business won’t get you far: The direct correlation between empathetic leadership to improved market performance and profitability
• Starting a business involves debunking many myths and navigating unexpected challenges.
• Empathy is crucial for effective leadership and team dynamics.
• Building a strong company culture requires intentional effort and discipline.
• Hiring should be approached with caution; it’s easier to hire than to fire.
• Continuous improvement is essential for long-term success.
• Pivots should be strategic and based on market needs, not just reactive.
• Company culture should reflect the values and operational style of the founders.
• Engaging with customers can provide valuable insights and motivation for the team.
• A successful startup often requires multiple attempts before finding the right idea.
• Trust and relationships with employees are vital for navigating tough times.

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“Diversity Is Essential To Thriving”

Join me and my guest Dr. Joel A. Davis Brown (joeldavisbrown.com), an attorney with a doctorate in educational leadership. Joel is Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Pneumos LLC, a management consulting and coaching firm based in San Francisco and Nairobi. In this wide ranging conversation we explore the critical role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in business leadership. We discuss how personal experiences shape leadership perspectives, the challenges organizations face in implementing DEI initiatives, and the importance of understanding equity versus equality. Additionally, we highlight the power of storytelling as a tool for leaders to connect with their teams and foster an inclusive workplace culture.

Takeaways

• Diversity is a key ingredient for organizational success.
• Personal experiences can significantly shape leadership styles.
• Leaders must recognize the humanity in their teams.
• Equity focuses on providing opportunities, not guaranteed outcomes.
• Storytelling is a powerful tool for connection and empathy.
• DEI initiatives should be integrated into everyday leadership practices.
• Leaders need to articulate the importance of DEI clearly.
• Creating an inclusive environment benefits everyone in the organization.
• Feedback and decision-making processes should be inclusive.
• Long-term commitment is essential for effective DEI work.

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“Your Mindset Is A Miracle Worker”

Join me and my guest Phillip Goldfine (phillipbgoldfine.com), founder of Hollywood Media Bridge, a film and television studio based in Hollywood with over 200 film credits and numerous television series. A winner of numerous awards including an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony, Phil has worked producing films and television for every major film studio and network in Hollywood, including Warner Bros., Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney, Sony, MGM, Paramount and Lions Gate Films. Phil has had the great privilege of working with and has relationships with Actors such as Hilary Swank, Katherine Heigl, Jack Black, Jerry O’Connell, Denise Richards, Wesley Snipes, Dolph Lundgren, Ray Liotta, and Val Kilmer.

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“Heart Centered Business”

Join me and my guest Mark Silver, M.Div., Founder of Heart of Business (heartofbusiness.com) where he works with his clients in the realization that “every act of business can be an act of love.” In this fascinating conversation Mark and I explore the concept of marketing as being the process of creating safety and power of building relationships based on care and support. Mark shares his insights on prioritizing and making choices that align with compassion and love. The result being the realization of the profound significance of relationships and the impact they have on the success of a business. Mark’s book, Heart-Centered Business: Healing from Toxic Business Culture So Your Small Business Can Thrive, is heartily recommended by me.

Summary

In this conversation, I interview Mark Silver about heart-centered business and the role of compassion and love in business. We discuss the importance of understanding the soul of business and how every act of business can be an act of love. We also explore the concept of marketing as being the process of creating safety and building relationships based on care and support. Mark shares his insights on prioritizing and making choices that align with compassion and love. They emphasize the significance of relationships and the impact they have on the success of a business. Mark’s book, ‘Heart-Centered Business: Healing from Toxic Business Culture So Your Small Business Can Thrive,’ is recommended for further exploration.

Sound Bites

• Every act of business can be an act of love.
• The true role of marketing is to create safety.
• The content of your life is the curriculum of your soul.
• Marketing should focus on creating safety and building relationships based on care and support.
• Prioritizing is about choosing what is important and letting go of what cannot be cared for.
• Generosity and gratitude have a ripple effect in business.
• The content of our lives is the curriculum of our souls.
• Prioritizing with Love: Choosing What Matters Most
• The Soul of Business: Every Act Can Be an Act of Love

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“Motivation vs. Inspiration”

Join me and my guest Johannes Leerink (www.thehiddentransit.com), former president of Sara Lee Benelux and senior executive with Procter & Gamble. We explore the importance of aligning high performance with personal fulfillment and how chasing external goals can lead to a lack of fulfillment. Johannes emphasizes the need to live in the present and find fulfillment in the journey rather than waiting for the achievement of goals. In this inspiring conversation we jump into how he aligns high performance with personal fulfillment as an essential part of creating meaningful and satisfying life. He developed his Hidden Transit Method, a four-month self-learning process, to help individuals navigate transitions and find fulfillment.

Summary

Johannes Leerink, a former president of Sara Lee Benelux and senior executive with Procter & Gamble, shares his journey from success to fulfillment in the world of business. He discusses the importance of aligning high performance with personal fulfillment and how chasing external goals can lead to a lack of fulfillment. Johannes emphasizes the need to live in the present and find fulfillment in the journey rather than waiting for the achievement of goals. He also mentions his work with the Tuhoe tribe in New Zealand and the lessons he has learned from their collective decision-making process. In this conversation, Johannes Lierknecht shares his journey of finding fulfillment and connection through nature and the Maori culture. He emphasizes the importance of coming home to oneself and tapping into the unified field of energy. Johannes discusses his Hidden Transit Method, a four-month self-learning process that helps individuals navigate transitions and find fulfillment. He also highlights the distinction between motivation and inspiration, and how connecting to one’s purpose can create a winning team. The conversation concludes with a reminder to be a center of distribution, not accumulation.

Takeaways

• Aligning high performance with personal fulfillment is essential for a meaningful and satisfying life.
• Chasing external goals can lead to a lack of fulfillment and a constant need for validation.
• Finding fulfillment in the present moment and enjoying the journey is more important than achieving external success.
• Learning from indigenous communities, such as the Tuhoe tribe in New Zealand, can provide valuable insights into collective decision-making and sustainable practices. Finding fulfillment and connection often requires coming home to oneself and tapping into the unified field of energy.
• The Hidden Transit Method is a four-month self-learning process that helps individuals navigate transitions and find fulfillment.
• Motivation is externally driven, while inspiration comes from within and is connected to one’s purpose.
• Treating people as volunteers and inviting them to be part of a winning team can create a sense of fulfillment and commitment.
• Being a center of distribution, rather than accumulation, aligns with the natural flow of life.

Sound Bites

• “A goal is something outside me. And literally the picture I got, which had me jump off this wagon, was that a goal is nothing else than something to run through like a carrot here.”
• “But then when that was transformed, a calling came up and I don’t know how to describe it, but it was like being blown or sucked in by the future.”
• “There is no contradiction between fulfillment and high performance. It looks like a contradiction, but there is none.”
• “Nature’s probably the best teacher ever.”
• “Watch somebody in the eye for two seconds more than normal and see if you can still judge him.”
• “Life is about making connections.”

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“Integrating IQ and EQ”

Join me and my returning guest Chuck Hogan, Executive Strategist and Co-Founder/Partner at Your Best Life (YBLNow.com). In this conversation, Blaine and Chuck discuss the importance of integrating IQ and EQ to live one’s best life. They explore the challenges of making choices based on personal value systems and the impact of polarization in society. They also touch on the scarcity mindset, the need for moral and ethical decision-making, and the importance of unity in a diverse society. The conversation explores the themes of fear, leadership, compromise, personal value systems, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and the pursuit of a worthy ideal. It emphasizes the importance of diversity, inclusivity, and critical thinking in creating a more perfect union. The conversation also touches on the role of emotions, the impact of fear and scarcity, and the need for ethical guidelines in politics. The hosts discuss the need for leaders who are true influencers, capable of co-creating coordinated movement towards a worthy ideal. They also highlight the importance of being a center of distribution and generosity in creating positive change.

Some Key “Takeaways” Include:

• Integrating IQ and EQ is essential for living one’s best life
• Making choices based on personal value systems is crucial
• Polarization in society hinders growth and understanding
• The scarcity mindset limits possibilities and growth
• Moral and ethical decision-making is necessary for a thriving society
• Unity in a diverse society is a strength Fear is often triggered by scarcity and can lead to the demonization of others, hindering the creation of a more perfect union.
• True leadership involves influencing others, engaging in co-creation, and fostering coordinated movement towards a worthy ideal.
• Compromise is essential for progress and does not mean giving up something, but finding a way to work towards a common goal.
• Personal value systems are important and should be aligned with the pursuit of a more perfect union.
• Emotional intelligence and critical thinking are crucial in navigating complex issues and making informed decisions.
• Diversity and inclusivity are key in creating a thriving society, just like a diverse forest ecosystem.
• Ethical guidelines and accountability are necessary in politics to uphold the ideals of a democratic society.
• Being a center of distribution and practicing generosity can have a positive ripple effect in creating change.

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“Soul Of Business In A Digital World”

Join me and my guest Reggie James, founder of London based Digital Clarity (digital-clarity.com), a digital marketing consultancy that advises tech CEOs and CMOs at the intersection of Marketing, Sales and Product. Reggie has over thirty years’ experience in digital marketing and his expertise has grown and developed as digital marketing has advanced. He witnessed the evolution of the business landscape, particularly during the early days of the internet. As one of the pioneers in the digital realm, he played a pivotal role in shaping business models that are now commonplace in our digital-driven world. Reggie shares insights on the impact of technology on human relationships and the search for authenticity in a tech-driven world.

Our conversation covers topics related to technology, business, and the intersection of digital marketing and human connection. We discuss the concept of the ‘soul of business’ and its relevance in the digital age. Reggie shares insights on the impact of technology on human relationships and the search for authenticity in a tech-driven world. The conversation explores the impact of technology on human connection, the soul of business, and the essence of sustainable success. It delves into the challenges of change, the importance of authenticity, and the need for human connection in a digital world.

Key “take aways” include:

• The intersection of technology and business has a profound impact on human relationships and the search for authenticity.
• The concept of the ‘soul of business’ is explored in the context of digital marketing and the evolving digital landscape.
• Reggie shares insights on the impact of technology on human connections and the importance of authenticity in a tech-driven world, the impact of technology on human connection, and the need for authentic human interaction in a digital world.
• The essence of sustainable success lies in the capacity to continuously start over and adapt to change.
• The importance of understanding customer needs and creating meaningful connections in marketing, sales, and product development.

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“Igniting Minds, Embracing Hearts, Piquing Curiosity”

Join me and my guest April Chavez, founder and CEO of Driven Livin’ (drivenlivin.com) and host of The Wellness Driven Life Show as we discusses the importance of aligning the spiritual, intellectual, and physical aspects of life. Drawing on her career in Law Enforcement and her personal experience with lupus she shares how she refused to let either experience define her, highlighting the power of agency and not allowing external circumstances determine one’s truth. April emphasizes the need to slow down and sip life slowly in order to reduce stress and create a more fulfilling life. She also discusses the role of imagination and curiosity in living a wellness-driven life. For our listeners April offers a FREE eBook called The Seven Reasons to Hug Yourself as a tool for self-care and stress reduction.

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