The Heretic is a free semi-frequent dispatch delivering insights into leadership in exponential times. For entrepreneurs, corporate irritants and change makers. Raw, unfiltered and opinionated.
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/all-you-can-eat --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/dont-be-a-career/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/you-are-not-the-star --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/value-statements-are-typically-useless/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/hiring-for-the-unknown/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/apple-first-boss-second/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/things-that-make-you-go-hmmm --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch https://theheretic.org/2023/no-one-cares/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/poke-life --- TRANSCRIPT --- On November 11th, 1994, around the same time, the first passengers traveled through the Channel Tunnel, and the chemical element Darmstadtium was discovered, the Santa Clara Valley Historical Association (also known as the Silicon Valley Historical Association) interviewed Steve Jobs. It is one of the most remarkable reflections of an undoubtedly remarkable person: Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact, and that is: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it. You can influence it. You can build your own things that other people can use. And the minute that you understand that you can poke life, and actually something will, you know, if you push in, something will pop out the other side, that you can change it. You can mold it. Let this sink in for a moment. Look around you – everything (EVERYTHING) around you, from the chair you might be sitting on to the digital device (and all its components it is made of) you read or listen to this, was made by someone. Not some singular uber-genius but a normal person doing normal things. That person can easily be you. Poke life. And never stop poking. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/give-a-damn/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/perfection-sucks You love what you are doing, are good at it, and take great pride in your work. Awesome. But are you a perfectionist? It's funny how we strive (rightfully so) for greatness. We spend countless hours honing our craft. We aim to remove even the slightest flaws – to deliver the perfect product (whatever that might be in your world). And then we become bores. See, in our effort, we delivered a beautifully polished product – one which ticks all the boxes, but also one which, due to its lack of faults and quirks, is just… boring. The most iconic products, services, and people have mastered the incredible transition from being perfect at what they do to the extent that they allow tiny imperfections to shine through. It's the difference between a synthetic and natural diamond: The former is flawless, and the latter is priceless – despite (actually: because of) its tiny imperfections. Imperfection creates personality. Personality, not perfection, is what we love. So go ahead be imperfect. We love you for it. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/learning-from-the-best --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/der-fisch-stinkt-vom-kopf --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
In this week's episode we deep dive into leadership, why most the advice you get is rather meaningless, and how you become a world-class leader. The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/the-most-important-insight-into-leadership/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/the-deeper-you-get/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/lean-into-the-future/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/stick-with-it/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/what-doesnt-change --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/the-adjacent-possible --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2023/kpis/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-heretic/message
The Heretic Dispatch: https://theheretic.org/2022/it-pays-to-be-early/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-heretic/message
Here is a fun and insightful exercise. I learned this from my friend Frederick Pferdt until recently, Google's Chief Innovation Evangelist: When it comes to change (and all Heretics embrace change, of course), we often skip reflecting on what has changed. It is too easy to go from A to B to C without locking in the learning, which one can gain from pausing, thinking about, and sealing in the wisdom we took from getting from A to B to C. Sadly, much is lost when we hurriedly rush through our lives and careers and the best leaders I met had spent time contemplating what changed when they changed.Next time you find yourself “changed,” take the time to write down your answers to the following two prompts:I used to think… [FILL IN THE BLANK]Now I think… [FILL IN THE BLANK]Two seemingly simple prompts highlight the difference between where you were and where you are now.Having worked with professional athletes, it is something we do every time we change something. It was paramount for us to meticulously track the changes we made and the delta between the before and after states and analyze the difference. Do the same for your professional (and private) life, and you will hugely accelerate your learning. ★ Support this podcast ★
Last week we talked about the vital difference between leaders and managers and the necessity of becoming ambidextrous — our ability to seamlessly switch between these two modalities.Shortly after I posted the dispatch, my friend and long-time Heretic reader, Mark Moore, remarked in an email that management is a business skill. If you want to become a better manager, read books about it, take some courses and think rigorously about it. Leadership, on the other hand, is a human skill. To become a better leader, you need to be determined to be a better human, primarily by hanging out with other good humans.Mark's comment definitely hit a nerve with me. There is, of course, much to be learned from formal and semi-formal education. Business is all about knowing; leadership, on the contrary, is about being. You can stoke your curiosity by reading books about leadership — they can't teach you authentic leadership.I add to Mark's comment that leadership takes practice. For some of us, leadership, like playing tennis, comes more naturally — but even for the most naturally gifted and talented leaders, it is something they have worked hard and long on. Like the finely tuned muscle memory of someone who practiced their serve in a game of tennis repeatedly, good leaders have honed their leadership over time.Heed Mark's advice and surround yourself with good human beings if you want to be a better leader (and, by extension, a better human). ★ Support this podcast ★
When it comes to leadership and management (both of paramount importance to the success of your endeavor), people seem to either mix the terms and treat them essentially the same, or consider them to be positional: Leaders are the select few at the top, providing “leadership”, whereas the managers are located somewhere in the middle of your organization providing “management”. This certainly is true for big (and bigger) organizations, but also plays out even in small startups where leadership comes from the founders, the rest of us are here to manage.Let me briefly clarify these roles: Leadership is about establishing direction, creating a vision for the future, aligning people and motivate and inspire them. Management is setting structures, policies, and actions that enable systems of people and technologies to operate reliably and efficiently — despite size, geographic reach, or other complexities. You can see how both of these things are highly desirable and of utmost importance to your organization.The best leaders and managers are the ones who have become ambidextrous — able to seamlessly switch between both modalities as is necessitated by the situation. The best organizations are the ones which embrace leadership and management across all levels.Embrace the AND of leadership and management — personally and in your organization. ★ Support this podcast ★
The other day I found myself grabbing a bite to eat at the airport. Opposite me sat a family of four: He, nicely groomed, button-down shirt in a discreet plaid pattern, top button open, sleeves carefully pulled up to just below his elbows. She in a black dress, not too casual, not too formal, some tasteful earrings and golden rings, small Rolex watch. Kids straight out of a J Crew billboard ad. I have seen this family before. As a matter of fact I have seen them many, many times — as they are the stereotypical well groomed, affluent family.I am sure you have seen similar blueprints running through your life. There is nothing inherently wrong with this picture. It is just bland and boring. It's like watching black and white television.The interesting people are the ones which are different. Different outfit, different style, different perspective — the ones who choose to stick out (even if its just a little bit) and dare to be… well, different.We want you to be different. It is a much more interesting and colorful world when you dare. So please - dare! ★ Support this podcast ★
The Germans have a strange, and probably very typical German, saying: Der Fisch stinkt vom Kopf — the fish rots from the head.I know, it's gross. But it's also true. Not just in a biological sense — as the brain is typically the first part of a decomposing fish to go smelly (you can thank me later for putting this image into your head), but also in the meta sense: Germans use this saying to describe the challenge that when the leadership inside an organization is dysfunctional (the proverbial head), the rest of the org follows.I've been using this saying for a long time now — as a stark reminder that you can try as you might, if your manager/CEO/board isn't aligned/bought in/supportive/understanding, you are fighting a lost battle.Kudos to those who fight this fight — personally, I wouldn't have it in me — but more often than not (unless the end of the era of this particular fish is in sight), you are fighting a lost cause.If you find yourself in a fishy situation — my advice is usually to take a hard look if there is still something worth fighting for (as there might), and if not: Make your way to the exit (and do visit the gift shop on your way out). ★ Support this podcast ★
A common occupational hazard for anyone I know, who is building something that matters, is to get stuck in a mental loop of “how does this thing I currently do matter in the grand scheme of things?” Playing a computer game to chill out a bit? Get back to work, slacker — the world's problems won't solve themselves. Procrastinating by doom-scrolling through TikTok? How could you — there is work to be done! Taking a day off to do — gasp! — nothing? Can't do!The guilt of being trapped in the “everything has to matter”-loop is real, and gets exaggerated by reading the n-th article on how to be more productive (and the sheer fact that you read this article instead of, you know, be productive, made you feel bad as well).A little while ago, I read “Die With Zero”. It's a good book, highly recommended. One of the interesting comments the author makes, is that — in the grand scheme of things — your actions don't matter. Only a few generations down the line, and the world will have entirely forgotten about you and your work. I find this a very comforting thought — it really doesn't matter all that much what you do with your life (besides for you, of course!). Which means you ought to think about what gives you pleasure and fulfillment — and act accordingly.Now — of course, your actions matter. As a matter of fact, your actions matter greatly. The only way we, as a collective, can make sure we leave this planet better than we entered it, is by working on things that matter, things which have a net-positive impact. Everything matters — from the way you show up for those around you, to what you do with your precious time on this planet.Herein lies the paradox: While nothing matters, everything matters at the same time. I have come to believe that we, individually, have to make peace with this paradox — and go even further by embracing it:Build what matters while being kind to yourself. ★ Support this podcast ★
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