Mitch Joel's Blog: Six Pixels of Separation, page 41

SPOS #919 – Todd Rogers On How To Write For Busy Readers

Welcome to episode #919 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #919. In a world of information overload, Todd Rogers, a Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, recently published the book, Writing for Busy Readers – Communicate More Effectively in the Real World (co-authored with Jessica Lasky-Fink), as a testament to their understanding of the nuances of better writing in our text and emoji-paced world. Todd has dedicated his career to the study of efficient communication strategies, whether it’s engaging with families, students, consumers, employees, or voters. His expertise is not just academic, it is also deeply rooted in practical applications, as evidenced by his co-founding of the Analyst Institute and EveryDay Labs. These organizations reflect his commitment to using behavioral science for public good – from improving voter communications to reducing student absenteeism through better family engagement. At Harvard, Todd’s course, The Science of Behavior Change, is one of the most sought-after classes, a testament to his ability to translate complex theories into actionable knowledge. His role as the faculty chair of the executive education program Behavioral Insights and Public Policy, and his leadership of the Harvard Behavioral Insights Group, further highlight his central position in the landscape of behavioral science. In Writing for Busy Readers, Todd (alongside Jessica), dives into the challenge of writing effectively in a society that is bombarded with tasks and distractions. They champion the principles of brevity and clarity, advocating for the power of concise messages in capturing and retaining the attention of busy readers. Their book is a must-read for anyone looking for the balance between being informative and being succinct. Todd discusses the importance of standout subject lines, the pitfalls of overusing adjectives and common phrases, and the relationship between writing and persuasion. Todd addresses the impact of generative AI on writing, revealing his insights on how technology can aid in the principles of effective communication. Todd and Jessica’s work is not just about writing – it’s about understanding and engaging with the reader’s context and perspective. His insights offer a roadmap for writing in a way that resonates in a society where time is the most precious commodity. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 56:40.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.Check out ThinkersOne.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with Todd Rogers.Writing for Busy Readers – Communicate More Effectively in the Real World.Jessica Lasky-Fink.Harvard Kennedy School of Government.EveryDay Labs.Follow Todd on X.Follow Todd on LinkedIn.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Takeaways:

Writing for busy readers requires brevity and clarity.Consider the reader’s context and perspective when crafting written communication.Skimming and scanning are common reading behaviors in a busy society.Subject lines should be unique and attention-grabbing to capture the reader’s attention.Avoid overusing adjectives and replace common phrases with more concise alternatives.Effective writing is closely related to persuasion and the ability to make it easier for readers to understand and respond.Generative AI tools like chat GPT can assist in writing, but they need to be trained on the principles of effective communication.Teaching effective writing strategies in schools can help individuals communicate more effectively in various contexts.Acknowledging others’ efforts and providing positive feedback can have a significant impact on their well-being.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction and Background01:15 – The Principle of ‘Less is More’04:18 – The Impact of a Busy Society06:32 – The Burden of an Infinite Queue08:01 – The Importance of Being Brief10:07 – The Evolution of Reading and Writing12:28 – The Art of Skimming and Scanning17:23 – The Impact of Context and Emojis19:37 – The Renaissance of Writing20:36 – The Paradox of Writing More25:38 – Understanding the Reader’s Context27:41 – The Challenge of Sarcasm and Miscommunication29:23 – The Power of Impactful Words46:25 – The Power of Subject Lines47:53 – The Overuse of Adjectives50:26 – Phrases, Persuasion, and Effective Writing52:38 – The Impact of Generative AI on Writing55:42 – Making Writing Easier for Readers57:16 – The Importance of Acknowledgment

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #919.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #712

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another: 

Eight Numbers To Understand China – The Documentary – BBC. “It’s a big year for China – the only one of twelve with a fantastical beast (the dragon). Lots is going on, and this BBC podcast was an interesting look at the country, debunking and confirming several things I’ve heard about elsewhere. Happy New Year!” (Alistair for Hugh). AI, And Everything Else – Benedict Evans . “Benedict Evans‘ annual decks are fascinating. Here’s a link to his latest one, plus a talk he gave at Slush. Very worth your time.” (Alistair for Mitch). Brains Are Not Required When It Comes To Thinking And Solving Problems—Simple Cells Can Do It – Scientific American . “We keep discovering unexpected ways that the natural world ‘thinks’, which continues to challenge our still-foggy understanding of what consciousness means. Trees, for instance, seem to communicate and plan ahead together through root systems. Even simpler systems, like clumps of cells, sometimes seem to have a mind of their own.” (Hugh for Alistair). The Era Of The AI-Generated Internet Is Already Here – Mashable . “What happens when you start feeding ChatGPT generated content into the ChatGPT training model and then keep rinsing and repeating? Large language models (LLMs) collapse into total nonsense. And, if the Internet is starting to get filled with ChatGPT-generated text, which is then used to train ChatGPT, well, things might be about to get very gooey.” (Hugh for Mitch). Is The Media Prepared For An Extinction Level Event? – The New Yorker . “Things have been scaring me lately. Wars? Yep. Climate? Yep. Trust in each other? Yep. Many of things that I wholly believed the Internet would do to bring us all together as a shared humanity have (two decades on) done almost the exact opposite. I used to scoff at people who did not believe that the truth is… the truth. Now, depending on which prism with which you see the world, we hold many truths to be true. The media landscape has changed dramatically. And, while I still believe in the power of real journalism not corrupted by opinion, we are in a dark state of affairs, and it only seems to be getting worse. Sure, we have more and more people pointing their phones at our reality and exposing things live in the moment, but the context is important too. (and often lost in these short vids). This piece terrified me, mostly because it makes a lot sense…” (Mitch for Alistair). Jon Ronson’s Guide To The Culture Wars – The New Yorker . “I’ve had the pleasure (and spent some time talking to) Jon Ronson over the years at the TED conference. Putting that aside, I have always been fascinated with the topics he takes on and how he sheds light, opinion and stories around a subject. If you’ve had your head in the sand when it comes to cancel culture and the culture wars (and, yes, these are times of culture wars), here is a quick and easy way to arm yourself. Jon has defined the culture wars as both, ‘almost everything that people yell at each other about on social media’ and then, ‘the battle for dominance between conflicting values’. And when it comes to values, we humans are quite different from geography to politics to religion to media and beyond. I’ve spent a lot of time burrowing deep on this topic via podcasts, books and articles. There has been a lot of ‘busting’ of my own beliefs in this process. Please check this out and start paying a different kind of attention to your own experiences…” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on X, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Clicks, Tricks And Honest Picks – Unpacking The Online Review Racket

Do you trust customer reviews online?

Back in 1999, I was the Director of Advertising and Sponsorship (…a salesperson) for one of the first search engines on the Internet (some might call it, the mother of all search engines aka Mamma).
To put the timing into perspective, Google wasn’t even a player in the search space just yet.
As we tinkered with new forms of advertising (pay per click, auction-based placement, enabling ads to show based on the keywords chosen by the user, and other models that are now commonplace), ecommerce started to flourish.
The terms ’search engine optimization’ and ’search engine marketing’ didn’t exist yet.
One thing I noticed back then, was that there might be a business based on regular people (like you and me) providing our honest feedback and reviews for the stuff that we were buying online.

At the time, I purchased the domain www.HonestShopper.com and let it linger.

I got busy with work and never pursued the idea.
Fast forward to 2005, and I am connected to Brett Hurt (now a dear friend) and his new startup, Bazaarvoice.
Back then, Bazaarvoice focused on allowing businesses to add product reviews to their websites (at the time, this was something that Amazon was doing but few others could afford to build out on their own).
Bazzarvoice did phenomenally well, going public (raising $114 million in its IPO), then being taken private. Brett has moved on, but the company still moves forward.

Consumer reviews are also seen as the backbone of marketing and developing trust with consumers.

It has become commonplace online.
Now, user generated content and consumer reviews is big business.
How many reviews… how many people are speaking positively about a product… it all matters and it all counts.
In the realm of film critique, where opinions shape perceptions and ratings influence decisions, the landscape of paid reviews casts a shadow over the integrity of our critical discourse.
After recent articles in Wired (Online Reviews Are Being Bought and Paid For. Get Used to It), Vulture (The Decomposition of Rotten Tomatoes – The most overrated metric in movies is erratic, reductive, and easily hacked — and yet has Hollywood in its grip) and Search Engine Land (Google says it took down 45% more fake reviews in 2023 thanks to new algorithm), the value and ethics behind online reviews are back in the spotlight.

So… what do we know?

There’s a huge demand for critical content on products, leading to a market for paid reviews.It’s common for companies to pay for promotional content, including reviews.There’s nuanced ethical considerations for many industries, where financial incentives and the need for visibility of more indie/startup brands intersect.How do we define integrity if a review is paid for?There’s broader implications for trust and authenticity in media and reviews, impacting consumer behavior and the perception of independent art and products.

It’s complex… like most things these days.

This is what Elias Makos and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Mitch Joel · Clicks, Tricks And Honest Picks – Unpacking The Online Review Racket

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

David Rogers On The Digital Transformation Roadmap – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #918 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to

In an era where digital transformation is not just a buzzword but a survival strategy, David Rogers is a world-renowned expert on digital transformation and a distinguished member of the Columbia Business School faculty. He has authored five influential books, including his latest, The Digital Transformation Roadmap, which dives deep into the challenges and strategies crucial for organizations navigating the rapid currents of digital change. David addresses a critical concern: Why do 70% of businesses falter in their digital initiatives? His answer is a clarion call to organizations worldwide — transformation is not just about revamping products… it’s about reinventing the organization itself. David presents a five-step roadmap that guides businesses through the continuous tumult of digital innovation, a methodology resonating with his extensive work with global corporations like Google, Microsoft, and Visa. It’s not about the technology, he argues, but about strategy, leadership, and a paradigm shift in thinking. This philosophy, first introduced in his landmark bestseller, The Digital Transformation Playbook, has been a guiding light for numerous organizations, and is now more relevant than ever. So if you’re thinking about everything from blockchain, the hype and reality of Web3, the future of artificial intelligence, and new business models necessitated by digital transformation, we’re here for it. David’s insights on the impact of Covid-19 on decentralizing platforms and the need for a customer and business-centric approach, rather than a technology-alone focus, are particularly enlightening. His approach is both pragmatic and visionary. He emphasizes the importance of shared vision, problem selection, and innovative leadership in driving successful digital transformation. His ideas on managing growth, nurturing talent, and fostering a culture conducive to innovation are invaluable for any leader navigating the digital age. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via Apple Podcast or whatever platform you may choose):  #918 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

SPOS #918 – David Rogers On The Digital Transformation Roadmap

Welcome to episode #918 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #918. In an era where digital transformation is not just a buzzword but a survival strategy, David Rogers is a world-renowned expert on digital transformation and a distinguished member of the Columbia Business School faculty. He has authored five influential books, including his latest, The Digital Transformation Roadmap, which dives deep into the challenges and strategies crucial for organizations navigating the rapid currents of digital change. David addresses a critical concern: Why do 70% of businesses falter in their digital initiatives? His answer is a clarion call to organizations worldwide — transformation is not just about revamping products… it’s about reinventing the organization itself. David presents a five-step roadmap that guides businesses through the continuous tumult of digital innovation, a methodology resonating with his extensive work with global corporations like Google, Microsoft, and Visa. It’s not about the technology, he argues, but about strategy, leadership, and a paradigm shift in thinking. This philosophy, first introduced in his landmark bestseller, The Digital Transformation Playbook, has been a guiding light for numerous organizations, and is now more relevant than ever. So if you’re thinking about everything from blockchain, the hype and reality of Web3, the future of artificial intelligence, and new business models necessitated by digital transformation, we’re here for it. David’s insights on the impact of Covid-19 on decentralizing platforms and the need for a customer and business-centric approach, rather than a technology-alone focus, are particularly enlightening. His approach is both pragmatic and visionary. He emphasizes the importance of shared vision, problem selection, and innovative leadership in driving successful digital transformation. His ideas on managing growth, nurturing talent, and fostering a culture conducive to innovation are invaluable for any leader navigating the digital age. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:03:42.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.Check out ThinkersOne.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with David Rogers.The Digital Transformation Roadmap.The Digital Transformation Playbook.Follow David on Substack.Follow David on LinkedIn.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Takeaways:

Digital transformation is not just about technology, but about the business and the customer.Successful digital transformation requires a shared vision, problem selection, and strong leadership.The five steps of digital transformation are defining a shared vision, picking the problems that matter most, validating new ventures, managing growth at scale, and growing technology, talent, and culture.Centralized and decentralized platforms are a topic of discussion in the digital era, with implications for social media, databases, and more. Blockchain and AI have limitations and should be applied strategically to solve specific problems.The future of AI holds both opportunities and challenges, and it will redefine knowledge and identity.Successful digital transformation requires empowering individuals and teams at all levels of the organization to drive change.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction and Background01:05 – The Digital Transformation Roadmap02:02 – The Challenges of Organizational Transformation13:17 – The Failure Rate of Digital Transformation14:24 – The Five Steps of Digital Transformation18:03 – Rapid Testing and Learning vs. Moving Fast and Breaking Things23:03 – Foundational Customer Behaviors in the Digital Era25:36 – The Evolution of Subscription Models30:11 – The Impact of Cloud Computing on Business Models32:17 – The Challenges of Digital Transformation in Government38:44 – The Need for Cultural Change in Organizations44:04 – Centralized vs. Decentralized Platforms47:16 – Web3 and Solving Problems53:05 – The Future of Artificial Intelligence59:32 – New Business Models in Digital Transformation01:05:06 – Empowering Individuals and Teams in Strategy

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #918.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #711

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another: 

How AI Will Help Us Connect With Ourselves And Each Other – Yohei Nakajima – TED Talks. “I’ve been following Yohei Nakajima for a while on X, and he’s been surprisingly grounded despite the furore he created around BabyAGI, a semi-autonomous, goal-seeking AI he built in a weekend a year ago. Watching this TED Talk, it’s clear why. Mitch, I know you’ve already seen this live, but I wanted to share it with our readers.” (Alistair for Hugh).Lawyering In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence – Minnesota Law. “I feel like I’m overdoing my AI content, but at the same time, I think it’s really important to get our heads around how this will change knowledge work and creativity. Here’s a study of how AI helps lawyers that’s reasonably well researched. The short answer: The good get slightly better, and everyone gets significantly faster. This suggests you need to be smart to become smarter with the help of an AI, at least for now.” (Alistair for Mitch). No, Aliens Haven’t Visited The Earth Why Are So Many Smart People Insisting Otherwise? – Intelligencer . “The great, and (usually) delightfully playful Nicholson Baker, plays party-pooper and pours cold water on the recent UFO craze.” (Hugh for Alistair). Why Interstellar Objects Like ‘Oumuamua And Borisov May Hold Clues To Exoplanets – Knowable Magazine . “But what about Oumuamua, the interstellar object Harvard astronomer, Avi Loeb, believes might be evidence of an extraterrestrial technology? In the first article about Oumuamua not mentioning Loeb, narry a word about alien tech, but lots of interest in more study.” (Hugh for Mitch). How To Fix The Internet – MIT Technology Review . “It’s hard not to marvel at the ironic and terrifying journey our commercialized Internet has brought society – from glorifying cat memes to grappling on the battleground with cybertrolls… it continues to be a digital rollercoaster. This read wittily navigates the dichotomy of the internet – a narrative that flips from praising the internet’s role as a digital haven to critiquing its darker underbelly, with a tone that’s both lighthearted and laden with digital dystopia. Just the kind of stuff we like to dig into here. It doesn’t just throw shade at the usual suspects (looking at you, 4chan) but also offers a glimmer of hope with solutions that could either be groundbreaking or the next ‘pivot’ that goes nowhere fast. It’s a compelling read that’s as much about finding the internet’s ‘Ctrl + Z’ as it is about appreciating its ‘Alt + Tab’ versatility.” (Mitch for Hugh). Everyone’s A Sellout Now – Vox . “Here’s a strong argument that defines the line between building a brand and a personal brand. And, while using the word ’sellout’ in the title might be a little too heavy-handed for me, I can empathize with the vast array of professionals (from artists to lawyers) who suddenly feel like they need to become ‘content creators’ if they want to be successful. Imagine being a great writer with a great manuscript, but the book publishers won’t touch it because you haven’t built a sufficient audience on social media? It’s easy to read something like that and shrug your shoulders, but there’s a ’there’ there. Is it really necessary for individuals to spend their time hyping themselves up to family, friends and former classmates in the hopes that what their sharing expands to the point where strangers want to follow that journey… or shouldn’t that writer just… you know… write and do the work? Maybe we need to dig deeper? Is this constant online engagement and self-promotion to achieve professional success really the end game? The article does a good job of critiquing the impact of this on work and authenticity, underscoring the dilemma faced by everyone who must balance their work integrity with the demands of self-promotion in the digital age.” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on X, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Eyes On The Prize – Apple Vision Pro Takes Center Stage

Is the Apple Vision Pro everything Apple had promised?

Starting off 2024 with a tech bang is last week’s launch of the Apple Vision Pro (currently only available in the United States).
This state-of-the-art device promises to redefine our interaction with technology, seamlessly blending augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) into a single, awe-inspiring experience.

…Depending on who you ask.

Last week’s unveiling sparked a mix of wonder and skepticism among consumers and tech aficionados (and some hilarious memes).
True to Apple’s innovative spirit, early adopters eagerly anticipate diving into its groundbreaking features that promise to open doors of transformative applications in education, work, training, and entertainment.
It’s also hard to downplay Apple’s nearly-seamless integration within their ecosystem that raises the bar for user interaction.
Despite this, apprehensions persist around the device’s steep price point ($3500 to get out of the gate), potential user discomfort (battery life and weight of the device on your face), and societal acceptance (do not drive your car while wearing the Apple Vision Pro!).
Let’s not forget…
Privacy concerns (what, exactly, are you doing with this other avatar… and why are you both naked?), health implications (like other VR experiences, it has been producing everything from headaches to nausea), and technical limitations further compound these uncertainties.

Still… onwards…

As we peer into the twilight of 2024, one thing is abundantly clear: the Apple Vision Pro heralds a paradigm shift in media consumption and interaction.
With its capacity to deliver immersive experiences, tailor content to individual preferences, and reshape social dynamics (at home and at work), the device stands poised to usher in a new era of technological innovation.

So…

What is your initial reaction to Apple Vision Pro?Is this a product for everyone or just a select few?Does the functionality and technology of Apple Vision Pro make it all worth it?Will this help or hinder our human interactions?

This is what Elias Makos and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Mitch Joel · Eyes On The Prize – Apple Vision Pro Takes Center Stage – The Elias Makos Show

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Henna Pryor On Embracing Your Awkward – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #917 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to

Can being awkward be a superpower at work (and life)? Henna Pryor knows it can. She is an executive and performance coach and is a beacon of authenticity and transformation. Henna’s approach to coaching, deeply rooted in real-world experiences, breaks away from conventional methodologies, focusing instead on embracing the uncomfortable to unlock one’s true potential. Her latest book, Good Awkward – How to Embrace the Embarrassing and Celebrate the Cringe to Become The Bravest You, is a refreshing take on personal and professional growth. In a world where polish and perfection often overshadow authenticity, Henna’s book serves as a guide to harnessing the power of awkward moments. She asserts that it is in these moments of discomfort that we find opportunities for significant growth and bravery. The realness in her book, makes it a compelling read for anyone looking to break free from the fear of judgment and embrace their authentic selves. Yes, it’s time to rethink our relationship with discomfort. Henna posits that what we often avoid or cringe at can be the very catalyst for our most profound development. Her book is filled with actionable advice, personal anecdotes, and thought-provoking exercises designed to help individuals step into their bravery. In her role as the founder of Pryority Group, Henna has worked with numerous professionals, helping them to navigate career transitions, overcome leadership challenges, and achieve their goals. Her work extends beyond individual coaching. She has been instrumental in guiding organizations through cultural transformations, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability and open communication in building strong, cohesive teams. Let’s shed some light on the unconventional paths to leadership and personal development, with Henna’s perspective on how we can all embrace our true and authentic selves. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via Apple Podcast or whatever platform you may choose):  #917 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

SPOS #917 – Henna Pryor On Embracing Your Awkward

Welcome to episode #917 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #917. Can being awkward be a superpower at work (and life)? Henna Pryor knows it can. She is an executive and performance coach and is a beacon of authenticity and transformation. Henna’s approach to coaching, deeply rooted in real-world experiences, breaks away from conventional methodologies, focusing instead on embracing the uncomfortable to unlock one’s true potential. Her latest book, Good Awkward – How to Embrace the Embarrassing and Celebrate the Cringe to Become The Bravest You, is a refreshing take on personal and professional growth. In a world where polish and perfection often overshadow authenticity, Henna’s book serves as a guide to harnessing the power of awkward moments. She asserts that it is in these moments of discomfort that we find opportunities for significant growth and bravery. The realness in her book, makes it a compelling read for anyone looking to break free from the fear of judgment and embrace their authentic selves. Yes, it’s time to rethink our relationship with discomfort. Henna posits that what we often avoid or cringe at can be the very catalyst for our most profound development. Her book is filled with actionable advice, personal anecdotes, and thought-provoking exercises designed to help individuals step into their bravery. In her role as the founder of Pryority Group, Henna has worked with numerous professionals, helping them to navigate career transitions, overcome leadership challenges, and achieve their goals. Her work extends beyond individual coaching. She has been instrumental in guiding organizations through cultural transformations, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability and open communication in building strong, cohesive teams. Let’s shed some light on the unconventional paths to leadership and personal development, with Henna’s perspective on how we can all embrace our true and authentic selves. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 59:39.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.Check out ThinkersOne.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with Henna Pryor.Good Awkward – How to Embrace the Embarrassing and Celebrate the Cringe to Become The Bravest You.Pryority Group.Check out Henna on ThinkersOne.Follow Henna on LinkedIn.Follow Henna on Instagram.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast – Episode #917.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement  and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #710

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another: 

How To Take Over The Universe (In Three Easy Steps) – Rational Animations – YouTube. “Watch the video in the next link and then decide if we should just become a ‘grabby civilization’ and colonize the universe. I found this a fascinating thought experiment; except it’s not, because the physics and tech on which such a plan relies are only a few decades off. Which begs the question: If there are aliens out there, some of them must be expansionist, and therefore already scheming to colonize the universe in this way. When I mentioned this, my partner pointed out that if there’s some Galactic Council, then being a ‘grabby civilization’ is probably the first thing that gets you in trouble. So, maybe I shouldn’t be amplifying this video?” (Alistair for Hugh).I Wasn’t Worried About Climate Change. Now I Am – Sabine Hossenfelder – YouTube. “Sabine Hossenfelder continues to be the bearer of sobering news. Turns out that the consequences of most climate models hinge on one number: How much impact carbon has on temperature. There are plenty of models, so the predictions we see are an aggregate, with each model given weight based on how likely it is to be right. But the impact of clouds – specifically, sub-zero water in them – is notoriously hard to model. If there’s even a 5% chance we’ve misunderstood the math, we should be acting much more radically and quickly. Also, the first time I’ve seen Sabine do an unscripted ‘fuck’ in her videos. At our next lunch I want to talk about how we make people pay attention to this or elect leaders that do.” (Alistair for Mitch). Why Is Music Journalism Collapsing? – The Honest Broker . “The answer isn’t just the same problems facing all journalism. It’s worse, at least in Ted Gioia‘s telling. Streaming services don’t need or want you to find new music, they want you to keep listening to old music. And if we aren’t listening to new music, what do we need music journalists for.” (Hugh for Alistair). A Low Moment In Higher Education – Freakonomics Radio Episode #574 . “We live in very complicated times. I found this Freakonomics interview with Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University to be a breath of fresh air. He tackles the complexity of life on campuses right now – in the midst of turmoil brought on by the war in Gaza/Israel – with what seems like just the right approach of clarity and openness. I wish every leaders spoke like this, and with such good humour.” (Hugh for Mitch). Why Not? – Dan Pink – The Washington Post . “One of my favorite thinkers and business book authors, Dan Pink, is back. New book? Nope. A new video series on TikTok? Nope again. Dan has been hyping this new project and it’s on display for all to see. According to Dan: ‘Over the next year, in a column for Post Opinions we’re calling ‘Why Not?’, I will try to do just that. In each installment, I’ll offer a single idea – bold, surprising, maybe a bit jarring – for improving our country, our organizations or our lives… For example, why not pay public school teachers a minimum salary of $100,000? Why not relocate the U.S. House and Senate to a different city every few years? In our companies, why not create a new job category for people over 65 as mentors to young employees to ease the transition to retirement and prepare the next generation of workers? In our families, why not give presents on our birthdays rather than receive them?’ Whatever this is… and could be… I’m all in, because Dan looks at things with interest and possibility. We can all use a little bit more of that.” (Mitch for Alistair). Libraries For The Future: Europe’s New Wave Of ‘Meeting Places For The Mind’ – The Guardian . “Whenever someone asks where they can get something – in relation to content, work or even a place to meet, my go to answer is: The library. I’ve written (and linked) about this on countless occasions. Yes, there are books… and magazines… newspapers… physical media and… oh, did I mention… many public libraries now give you free digital access to everything from streaming services to publications that are often behind a pay wall? And, a lot more… events, concerts, conversations… oh, did I mention that many of them have rooms for podcasting or 3D printing? From the article: ‘… recent civic constructions have shared a vision of the library as a living room for the modern city.’ I couldn’t love that line any more. And who amoung us couldnt use more contructive time in a massive living room?” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on X, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

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