Skill is earned. It’s learned and practiced and hard-won. It’s insulting to call a professional talented. She’s skilled, first and foremost. Many people have talent, but only a few care enough to show up fully, to earn their skill. Skill is rarer than talent. Skill is earned. Skill is available to anyone who cares enough.
~ Seth Godin
slip:4a920.
The thing about really deep learning is it actually changes the structure of your brain. You are breaking an old pathway and creating a new neurological pathway. […] The three habits I’ve talked about—seeing in systems, taking multiple perspectives and asking different questions. Those are the natural habits of people who are farther along in this adult development path. If we can encourage ourselves to develop some of those patterns in ourselves, and we can be learning those things in ways that create new neural networks, then suddenly, we are living our way into these more advanced forms of development as we are just going about our daily lives.
~ Jennifer Garvey Berger from ~1h 13m into, The Mental Habits of Effective Leaders with; transcript edited for clarity; The Mental Habits of Effective Leaders: My Interview with Jennifer Garvey Berger
slip:2me1.
This episode from Shane Parrish’s, The Knowledge Project, podcast is excellent. About two-thirds of the way through the 90 minutes, they start going really deep into mental habits including specifics of how to change one’s mindset. The title of the episode could well be expanded to, …of Effective People.
I’ve been asked how it is that I do what I do, in podcast conversations. Here Berger and Parrish have explained it; Frankly, I better understand how I do it, now having listened to Berger. These three habits she points out are the magic that I use to power my conversations. I’ve always had the habit—my parents would say, “to a fault”—of asking good questions. About 35 years ago, when I became immersed in engineering, physics, computers, and the Internet I perfected the habit—here I would say, “to a fault”—of thinking in systems. And 10 years ago, as I began my journey rediscovering my personal movement, I realized the magnificent knowledge and experience available to me through others’ perspectives.
ɕ
What motivates people to engage with storytelling, both as creators and participants, in different formats like podcasting and lighting?
A lighting designer reflects on the parallels between creating ambiance for theater and producing audio stories.
I joke with people that I still know in that industry and I’m like I did lighting for 20 years and now I’m calling myself a sound guy I don’t know what the heck is going on.
~ Sean Mallary (22:45)
The conversation explores the intersections of storytelling, personal connections, and technical expertise, primarily through the lens of podcasting and lighting design. Sean shares his preference for working behind the scenes, explaining that producing and editing align more closely with his personality. He also recounts transformative experiences as a Lyft driver, discussing the vulnerability of passengers and the inspiration it provided for creative projects.
Another key topic is the balance between personal growth and professional roles. Sean reflects on how interviewing strangers has enhanced his communication skills, contrasting this with his previous career in lighting, where collaboration took center stage. The importance of community emerges as a recurring theme, with the Akimbo workshop highlighted as a space for connection and skill-sharing in the otherwise solitary pursuit of podcasting.
Takeaways
The value of storytelling — stories create connections and reveal universal truths across different mediums.
The draw to behind-the-scenes roles — producing and editing offer unique creative fulfillment.
Personal growth through podcasting — interviewing strangers builds confidence and communication skills.
Connections through driving — interacting with passengers provided inspiration for storytelling formats.
Challenges of isolation in creative work — podcasting often lacks the collaborative spirit of theater.
Influence of storytelling icons — classic shows like This American Life set aspirational benchmarks.
Community as a support system — forums like Akimbo offer vital encouragement and perspective.
Theatrical roots in audio production — parallels between stage lighting and podcasting emerge in storytelling techniques.
Resources
Where Did I Get Like This — A podcast exploring nomadic childhood experiences.
Radiolab — A show blending science and storytelling.
Reply All — A podcast about modern life and technology.
This American Life — Iconic storytelling and narrative journalism.
Akimbo Workshops — A community-driven platform for creative learning.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
ɕ
What strategies and experiences contribute to effective storytelling and meaningful conversation?
Effective storytelling bridges gaps between technical concepts and emotional connections.
Listening is not just on the surface—it’s listening to what they’re telling you, what’s going on, and then doing the number one rule in Improv: yes, and.
~ Doug Thompson (32:58)
The conversation focuses on the art of storytelling, touching on its unconscious development and practical applications in fields like sales and communication. Doug shares his early experiences in radio and technology sales, which helped him refine his ability to craft and adapt stories to connect with diverse audiences. He reflects on storytelling as both a natural inclination and a skill honed through practice.
The discussion also explores tools for storytelling, such as improvisation training and active listening. Doug highlights the importance of understanding an audience’s needs, using relatable language, and adapting narratives to resonate effectively. He discusses the neurological basis for storytelling, emphasizing its role in human connection and memory. The talk concludes with advice on encouraging others to embrace storytelling through interactive activities and social engagement.
Takeaways
Storytelling as a skill — It can be unconsciously developed but refined through deliberate practice.
Improv training — Teaches adaptability, active listening, and the “yes, and” approach.
Neurological basis of storytelling — Stories engage emotions and enhance memory retention.
Adapting stories for audiences — Tailoring language and context to resonate with listeners.
Challenges of modern communication — Technology and brief formats can hinder storytelling skills.
Encouraging storytelling practice — Improv classes, social events, and podcasts as gateways.
Resources
Wired for Story — by Lisa Cron, explores the neurological basis of storytelling and its effectiveness in communication.
Toastmasters International — Provides structured opportunities to practice public speaking and storytelling skills.
Doug Thompson Podcast — Focuses on storytelling and related topics; undergoing rebranding.
Doug Thompson on LinkedIn — Connects with storytelling insights and professional activities.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
ɕ
He that cometh to seek after knowledge with a mind to scorn and censure shall be sure to find matter for his humor, but none for his instruction.
~ Francis Bacon
slip:4a919.
In my journey writing thousands of blog posts I’ve developed certain habits and a style. There have been a precious few points where I’ve intentionally made a significant change. I used to lead with the URL followed by the pull-quote, before changing to a more normal style of a quote with a following attribution. At one point I started adding slip addresses, and at another point I started reigning in my use of exclamation marks.
Recently I asked one of my mentors, Jesse, for feedback on some copy, and he made a comment about his personal rule to be very intentional about using the word, “but”. I didn’t think I was overusing it, but [oh no!] I often used it as a conjunction— I often used it as a way to connect two sentences to create a point and counter-point structure— Dammit, Jesse. Now I cannot unsee every “but” as a weasel word. You suck. Thanks for making me better.
ɕ
A sneer is the weapon of the weak. Like other devil’s weapons, it is always cunningly ready to our hand, and there is more poison in the handle than in the point.
~ James Russell Lowell
slip:4a918.
We rarely take the time to capture these guiding principles—even though recognizing them can help steer our actions, lead us to better decisions, and let us live more in alignment with who we are.
~ Chris Bailey from, My 6 guiding principles – Chris Bailey
slip:4uaimy1.
As with Bailey, I don’t think I have a clear set of guiding principles. I’m not sure if I’m okay with that. I am sure that I do not want to spiral off and spend my entire day—that’s what would surely happen to me if I begin—thinking about this. Instead, I read his list and spent some time letting my thinking happen spurred by his principles. Just as he described, I did have one principle spring immediately to mind: Curiosity. To be powered by curiosity. To be passionately curious. “Curioser and curioser”, said Alice.
ɕ
One day I’ll be a filmmaker! One day I’ll be a famous artist! One day I’ll be a CEO! One day I’ll be a Creative Director! One day I’ll be a Venture Capitalist! And so forth.
~ Hugh MacLeod
Then you get to a certain age and you realize that the time for “One Day” is over. You’re either doing it, or you’re not. And if you’re not, a feeling of bitter disappointment starts hitting you deep into the marrow. Which explains why we all know so many people in their 30s and 40s having mid-life crisis’.
sliip:4a917.
I don’t know if you like parties. I don’t know if you’re organized or punctual. But I bet you don’t like rotting smells or long swims in freezing water. That is to say: People are different, but only in certain ways. What’s the difference?
~ “Dynomight” from, Are some personalities just better?
slip:4udybe1.
This article is about personality types, and it goes down the rabbit hole, (in a good way.) We’ve all learned about the theory of evolution, and there are countless examples where it’s used to explain—or at least to try to imagine—how some specific feature of ourselves came to be so.
Way down in that article he mentions in passing that we—us, the people—might not currently be in equilibrium with the current selection pressures. This was a startling thought for me. Evolution can be fast—a gene mutation leading to a significant change in one generation—but I’ve always had the impression that it is most often slow and steady. I’ve always imagined a big-ship with a small-rudder metaphor. And I’ve always had the impression that who we are genetically, (the big ship) has its rudder set for straight-ahead. I’ve imagined that at some point in our distant past, selection pressures made us who we are as a species, and that was then. This is now, when we’ve been on a stable, no-changes evolutionary course for all of recorded history.
What if, let’s say around the time of the invention of the transistor and computers, the social pressures changed drastically. That is to say: Suppose that introduced a major change in the rudder’s position? Suppose we, the big ship with the big pile of DNA-encoded information, are right in the middle of a slow course change. What if right now, important and noticeable features of our biology and psychology are being strongly differentially selected?
ɕ