Business Archives - The Innovation Show

EP 168: The Polymath: Unlocking the Power of Human Versatility with author Waqās Ahmed

Do you feel restricted by your career, by your workplace identity?

Do you feel you are not doing what you would really like to do?

Are you good at many things, but feel you cannot do them for fear of appearing odd or going against the grain?

You may just be a polymath and that is a major gift!

Every human is born with multifarious potential.

Why, then, do parents, schools and employers insist that we restrict our many talents and interests; that we ‘specialise’ in just one?

We’ve been sold a myth, that to ‘specialise’ is the only way to pursue truth, identity, or even a livelihood. Yet specialisation is nothing but an outdated system that fosters ignorance, exploitation and disillusionment and thwarts creativity, opportunity and progress.

Following a series of exchanges with the world’s greatest historians, futurists, philosophers and scientists, Waqas Ahmed has weaved together a narrative of history and a vision for the future that seeks to disrupt this prevailing system of unwarranted ‘hyper-specialisation.’

In The Polymath, Waqas shows us that there is another way of thinking and being. Through an approach that is both philosophical and practical, he sets out a cognitive journey towards reclaiming your innate polymathic state. Going further, he proposes nothing less than a cultural revolution in our education and professional structures, whereby everyone is encouraged to express themselves in multiple ways and fulfil their many-sided potential. Not only does this enhance individual fulfilment, but in doing so, facilitates a conscious and creative society that is both highly motivated and well equipped to address the complexity of 21st-century challenges

We discuss:

What is a Polymath?
How did we get to this age of specialisation?
Polymaths through time
Polymathy as a gift
Polymaths in an age of Artificial Intelligence
Educational Reform
Workplace Reform
Social Reform
A cognitive Revolution?

More about Waqās here: https://www.the-polymath.com/author/

EP 167: DMT: The Spirit Molecule with Dr Rick Strassman

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From 1990 to 1995 our guest conducted DEA-approved clinical research at the University of New Mexico in which he injected sixty volunteers with DMT, one of the most powerful psychedelics known. His detailed account of those sessions is an extraordinarily riveting inquiry into the nature of the human mind and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. DMT, a plant-derived chemical that is also manufactured by the human brain, consistently produced near-death and mystical experiences. Many volunteers reported convincing encounters with intelligent nonhuman presences. Nearly all felt that the sessions were among the most profound experiences of their lives.

Our guests’ research connects DMT with the pineal gland, considered by Hindus to be the site of the seventh chakra and by René Descartes to be the seat of the soul.

His book “DMT: The Spirit Molecule” makes the bold case that DMT, naturally released by the pineal gland, facilitates the soul’s movement in and out of the body and is an integral part of the birth and death experiences, as well as the highest states of meditation and even sexual transcendence. Our guest also believes that alien abduction experiences are brought on by accidental releases of DMT. If used wisely, DMT could trigger a period of remarkable progress in the scientific exploration of the most mystical regions of the human mind and soul.

We welcome: Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and author of “DMT: The Spirit Molecule” Dr Rick Strassman welcome to the show.

More about Rick: https://www.rickstrassman.com/

EP 165: Fear Hack: How What Scares Us, Makes Us with Hilary Gallo

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“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.”
Mark Twain

For the past few years todays guest has been talking to people about what scares them and helping them to work through their fears.

His book brings together what he has found. Maybe it is about time that we looked at fear differently and asked why it is still such a problem for us.

Hacking fear involves looking at fear from another angle.

Rather than being afraid of our fears, our guest shows us a way of befriending our fears. our fears. Hilary shows us how.

Fear Hacking is a way of turning our experience from a monster story into a love story.

We welcome author of “Fear Hack”, Hilary Gallo to the show

We talk:

How we develop fear
The formative years
How fear can be reframed
How we can embrace fear
How hierarchy controls us
How we can play the victim
How we justify our position
Strategies to break free

More about Hilary here:

Welcome

EP 160: The Myth of Capitalism: Monopolies and the Death of Competition with Jonathan Tepper

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America has gone from an open, competitive marketplace to an economy where a few very powerful companies dominate key industries that affect our daily lives. Digital monopolies like Google, Facebook and Amazon act as gatekeepers to the digital world. Amazon is capturing almost all online shopping dollars. We have the illusion of choice, but for most critical decisions, we have only one or two companies, when it comes to high-speed Internet, health insurance, medical care, mortgage title insurance, social networks, Internet searches, or even consumer goods like toothpaste. Every day, the average American transfers a little of their paycheck to monopolists and oligopolists.

The solution is vigorous anti-trust enforcement to return America to a period where competition created higher economic growth, more jobs, higher wages and a level playing field for all.

Today’s show is the story of industrial concentration, but it matters to everyone because the stakes could not be higher. It tackles the big questions of: why is the US becoming a more unequal society, why is economic growth anaemic despite trillions of dollars of federal debt and money printing, why the number of start-ups has declined, and why are workers losing out.

We welcome the author of “The Myth of Capitalism: Monopolies and the Death of Competition” Jonathan Tepper

We talk:

Monopolies
Duopolies
Oligopolies
Competition
Monopsonies
Capitalism
Antitrust
Regulation
The worker being squeezes
The concentration of power
The Rural v Urban Divide
The Robber Barons
The Origin of the Problem
How concentration kills innovations
IPOS
Mergers and Acquisitions
Some possible solutions

More about Jonathan here:

About me

EP 154: Leadership Language: Using Authentic Communication to Drive Results with Chris Westfall

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Inside each of us is a vision of how things could be. Yet most people remain frustrated by a lack of impact, unable to connect and inspire the people they care about the most. Why?

There’s a language we understand, but rarely use. A language that’s sincere. Powerful. Compelling. A language of words—and actions—that can’t be denied.

Leadership Language will help you to peel back the ineffective “business speak”, so you can change the conversation. And change your results. Imagine what could happen when you replace frustration with an irresistible vision—for yourself, your team and your organization.

Today’s leaders face so many challenges—employee retention, operational efficiency, culture, collaboration, leading across generations, and more—but communication is at the heart of every one of those issues. A clear message with a powerful delivery gets you halfway home. Honing in on your next conversation can drive more impact, better relationships, and greater overall effectiveness. For yourself. Your career. Your company.

They say there’s nothing that can stop an idea whose time has come. So, take the lead. It’s time for you to create what’s missing. And Leadership Language will show you how.

Get clear on your vision, align with your story, and engage others with your message
Connect with the people that matter most, in a way that invites innovation and new outcomes
Find the courage to move forward, conquer change, and create powerful impact—while you help others do the same

From student leaders to the C-suite, there is only one way for a leader to make an impact: communication. Leadership Language is your personal guide to mastering critical skills and unveiling your authentic potential.

Links mentioned during the show:

Stanley Anderson, the man who hits a 266 mph fastball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o_vCPJpPOs

Murray Willcocks interview: https://westfallonline.com/decision-making-wave/

New online group coaching program, just introduced: http://chriswestfall.net

EP 152: Collaborative Advantage: How collaboration beats competition as a strategy for success with Paul Skinner

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Our guest today argues that we have now reached a turning point in history from which creating Competitive Advantage may no longer be in the best interests of an organization.

He presents today’s business and social challenges through a new strategic lens and offers this book as a practical guide to help you create Collaborative Advantage, transform your business and change the world.

You will gain access to world-leading techniques to enable you to:

Mobilise staff, partners, collaborators and customers around a common purpose that gets everyone you need firmly on your side.

Foster improved innovation, reach more customers or beneficiaries, build greater loyalty, generate greater income and forge more ambitious partnerships.

De-couple your potential for growth from the level of resource your organization controls.

This is an indispensable guide that will help you transform the growth of your business or the impact of your non-profit by bringing the fuller value-creating potential of the outside world inside your organization.

We welcome Strategic consultant, social entrepreneur and the author of “Collaborative Advantage: How collaboration beats competition as a strategy for success” – Paul Skinner

We talk:

The Death ad History of Competitive Advantage

The Birth of Collaborative Advantage

The “Outside In” framework

Common purpose

Personal Purpose

Engaging the Ecosystem

The Circular Economy

More about Paul here:

https://www.theaof.com/

Tags: Paul Skinner, Collaborative Advantage, collaboration, competition, strategy, business, the agency of the future, Pimp my cause

EP 127: Where Others Won’t: Taking People Innovation from the Locker Room Into the Boardroom with Cody Royle

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In the corporate world, we’re fast realizing that people are our largest source of competitive advantage. The problem is, all of our systems and structures are set up for products, services and technology to give us an edge over our rivals. But whether it’s recruitment, leadership, culture or high-performance, pro sports has been quality-testing people strategies for decades, and now contains a treasure trove of ideas for you to harness. Through in-depth interviews and meticulous research, Where Others Won’t dives deeper than ever before into professional sports from around the world.

We are joined by author of “Where Others Won’t: Taking People Innovation from the Locker Room Into the Boardroom”, Cody Royle

We talk:

Team building
Leadership
Hiring
Innovation
Outside-the-box thinking
Best Principles
Leaders as Coaches
and much more.

More about Cody here:

https://medium.com/where-others-wont

EP 124: Dogs Don’t Bark at Parked Cars with Jeff Piersall

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“Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of other men” – Albert Einstein

Dogs don’t bark at parked cars. Dogs only chase moving objects. If you aspire to invest your life in a noble goal; you will experience barking dogs. But you do not have to stop the car for them.

Drawing from a life time of entrepreneurial experiences and relationships with some of today’s most dynamic business leaders, founder and CEO of SCB Marketing and author of “Dogs don’t bark at parked cars”, Jeff Piersall shares core principles that are the blocking and tackling of a successful life.

We discuss:

Tackling the Naysayers
Overcoming Fear
Trust
Social Enterprise
Medicating Entrepreneurship
Paying it Forward
and much more

You can find out more about Jeff here:

http://www.jeffpiersall.com/

EP 123: Finding Time to Lead Seven Practices to Unleash Outrageous Potential

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The world is full of leaders, from newly minted entrepreneurs to highly paid CEOs. There are nearly a quarter million CEOs in America alone. But according to a Gallup report, only one in ten people possess the talent that’s required of a CEO. If 90% of people lack innate management skills, how CEOs succeed?

CEOs can build incredible cultures, grow companies, and enhance the bottom line. But without the right guidance, they can just as easily burn out, cause cultures to stagnate, and lead their organisations to ruin.

Drawing from twenty-plus years of working side by side with today’s top leaders, Leadership expert and author of Finding Time to Lead, Leslie Peters pulls back the leadership curtain to reveal the shifts, practices, and tools that move leaders past the status quo.

We explore:

Why “having all the answers” ultimately sabotages success
How to recognise if busy-ness is, in fact, a sign of anxiety or discomfort
Why there’s no such thing as a perfectly crafted corporate message
How the lack of a counter-narrative can bring a CEO down
How to lead change in a way that brings people along
Three great shifts as leader:
From doing to being
From knowing to understanding
From reacting to responding

More about Leslie Peters here: https://www.findingtimetolead.com/

EP 119: Trustology: The Art and Science of Leading High-Trust Teams with Speaker, Author, Consultant, Richard Fagerlin

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“Trust is not what we “do”—it is what results from what we do.” – Richard Fagerlin

Of the thousands of books published each year on leadership, management, self-help, and motivation, very few offer practical tools and solutions to the number one challenge in business: trust.

With trust, our relationships flourish, our productivity rises, and we have high personal and professional satisfaction. A trust-filled atmosphere lets people take risks, allowing innovation and creativity to thrive. Your team’s collective sense of self-worth and purpose becomes a beacon of light for others to follow. The healthy, dynamic atmosphere is contagious, and it raises the bar for your entire organisation. Higher productivity and lower turnover create a more profitable business. High trust is the currency of greatness.

We welcome founder and president of Peak Solutions, globally renowned speaker, consultant and author of Trustology Richard Fagerlin.

In this episode, we address questions like:

What is trust?

Is trust earned?

Who is responsible for trust?

How do you grow trust with others?

What does it mean to be trustworthy?

How can I lead my team to be a high-trust team?

How do I find out how much trust my team has now?

How can team members hold each other accountable for high-trust behaviour?

Any high-trust relationship involves at least two people, so there are always two things to think about regarding trust: Do you trust them? Do they trust you?

How do you build trust in your children?

The premise is that both are your responsibility.

A high-trust relationship requires that you trust the other person and that they trust you back.

More about Richard and his work here:

https://richardfagerlin.com

http://www.trustologybook.com

https://www.peaksol.com

EP 54: Clothing made from Recycled Bottles?

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On this week’s innovation show we talk to Hamilton Perkins the founder and CEO of HPC, the Hamilton Perkins collection. Hamilton tells us how his passion to find the perfect bag led him to create it. Not only that, this former financial consultant ensured this bag was made from recycled materials and made HPC into a B corporation, which gives back as it earns. As an extra bonus use the coupon code INNOVATIONSHOW and save 10% on your first order.

Shop Hamilton Perkins Collection designer travel bags made from recycled plastic bottles and repurposed billboard vinyl lining. Free shipping & returns.

https://hamiltonperkins.com/

Ep 18 – CyberCrime and IoT Special – Smarttech, PwC, SwiftComply, Firmwave

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We talk to Ronan Murphy, CEO and founder of Smarttech, he tells us of some of the latest scams and raises our awareness of how to prevent being a victim. Pat Moran is PwC Head of Cybercrime & IT Forensics, he gives us some astonishing stats on cybercrime and gives us some practical, but excellent advice on how to prevent being a victim in work or even at home.

Michael O’Dwyer has a fantastic story to tell of how he has built a company using personal drive and government funding. He tells us about his company SwiftComply and gives some great advice for startups.

Finally, ex-Army officer and telecoms man Fintan McGovern tells us how he and the Firmwave team are rolling out a different network and conquering the business world. We talk cyborg chickens and connected bus shelters.