Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

Summary This is part 2 of my conversation with two very smart guys, Wade Bruffey and Zoltan Sarda, the co-founders of GoMobi.work, a partnership-driven software company that helps organizations build and optimize their employee development program. They bring 30 years of experience working with teams and individuals to help people grow and succeed. Organizations using GoMobi.work's frameworks build systems that foster clarity, empower high performance, and help team members take aligned actions. With GoMobi.work, organizations create transformation that lasts. In Episode 274, I interviewed Wade and Zoltan. In this episode, they interviewed me for their podcast. Both interviews evolved into deep conversations about hiring practices, organizational purpose and culture, and leadership. Topics in this episode Intuition, leadership, and decision-making. (1:34) Interviewing techniques and storytelling in the workplace. (8:53) Leadership, storytelling, and building a culture. (13:45) Leadership, coaching, and change management in the workplace. (20:34) Using data to inform business decisions. (27:16) Data-driven decision-making and leadership. (29:32) Education assessment and coaching. (32:45) Reflection on business and personal growth. (35:53) The importance of reflection and taking time to think in leadership growth. (38:14) Aligning actions with espoused theories in business and coaching. (39:40) Reflective capacity and coaching in business. (40:51) Leadership, teamwork, and organizational obstacles. (45:52) Social Media Links Website: www.GoMobi.work LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gomobi-work Register for GoMobi's free weekly management workshops: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcoceqrpzstHNMm18b3k2wKyu7znBOBar-- Sign up to be a part of GoMobi's software launch: https://gomobi.work/beta-signup Jeff's book: Shifting - How School Leaders Can Create a Culture of Change

Guest Jeanne Gutierrez is a Curatorial Scholar in Women's History at the New-York Historical Society. She is a Ph.D. candidate in History at the CUNY Graduate Center. Jeanne is the co-curator of the NYHS "Women's Work" exhibit. Summary In this episode, Jeanne takes me behind the scenes at the New-York Historical Society to understand the collaborative thinking and effort that goes into curating a major museum exhibit, in this case, "Women's Work." From the Museum's exhibit program description: "What is "women's work?" How have broad trends in American economic, legal, and political history encouraged women to take certain jobs and restricted them from "men's work?" How have race, ethnicity, social class, legal status, sexual orientation, and gender presentation impacted these distinctions? In a new exhibition, the Center for Women's History showcases approximately 45 objects from New-York Historical's own Museum and Library collections to demonstrate how "women's work" defies categorization." Listen for: • What story the curatorial staff is trying to tell about the nature of women's work. • Why collaboration between curators, scholars, and designers is essential. • How the limited number of artifacts were selected and challenged the team. • Why the staff had to limit the artifact captions to about 100 words. • How the intentional organization and display of artifacts contribute to the story and visitor experience. Social Media / Referenced • https://www.nyhistory.org/ • Missionary Rag Baby, 1893–1910

My Guest Born in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jennifer Lang lives in Tel Aviv, where she runs israelwriterstudio.com. Her prize-winning essays appear in Baltimore Review, Under the Sun, Midway Journal, and elsewhere. She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is an Assistant Editor at Brevity Journal. She is a longtime yoga practitioner and instructor. She has two unconventional books forthcoming, Places We Left Behind: a memoir-in-miniature (9/5/23) and Landed: A yogi's memoir in pieces & poses (10/15/24), both with Vine Leaves Press. Summary In this episode, Jennifer and Jeff explore Jennifer's memoir, Places We Left Behind: a memoir-in-miniature. They delve into Jennifer's deliberate choice of format, which serves to craft emotional impact through a concise narrative of only 13,000 words. The memoir encapsulates Jennifer's family life in New York, California, and Israel and explores themes of conflict, commitment, belonging, and the meaning of home. Therapy and yoga emerge as Jennifer's anchors, aiding her in marital challenges. Philippe, her husband, gains insight into her journey through her memoir. The main takeaway for readers is to hold onto their voice and remain true to themselves in the midst of the partnership of marriage. Social Media Links instagram.com/jenlangwrites facebook.com/jenlangwrites facebook.com/israelwriterstudio

My guest Spencer Seim (rhymes with "time") lives a life devoted to fishing, environmental issues, and serving people. Since he was 8 years old, Spencer has been obsessed with fly fishing. Spencer has been guiding northern New Mexico and southern Colorado for eighteen years. Eight years ago, he founded ZiaFly, a guide service that focuses on a personalized fishing experience with access to some of the best trout fisheries in the Rockies. Spencer is also very well-versed in fly tying. He's tied flies commercially, for art, for competitions and of course, for his guided trips. Spencer's flies have been featured in The Drake magazine, New York Times, Kirk W. Johnson's book The Feather Thief, and America's Favorite Flies. Spencer has been mentioned in This American Life, Smithsonian Magazine, and Outside Magazine. The Takeaway Life typically moves along at a fast pace for most of us. By the end of the day, activities we've been engaged in are often a murky blur in our rearview mirror. What, then, might be the payoff in slowing down, observing, and reading the environmental water, say, like a fly fisherman? And how do we give ourselves the ability to hold onto and make sense of those moments of pure serendipity? As you listen What is it that drew Spencer to the water and fly fishing? What life lessons can we take away from the fly fisherman's need to observe and immerse him or herself in the trout's environment? How did Spencer get involved in the mystery surrounding the disappearance of almost 300 rare bird skins that could be used to tie salmon flies? What is the underlying story of The Feather Thief? How does Kirk Johnson's decision to write the story rest on one of those rare moments of serendipity in life? How does Spencer distinguish himself as a guide? How does he demonstrate differentiated servant leadership? How does he view guiding as being part of a team? Connect with Spencer ZiaFly website Referenced Home Waters by John Maclean A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean The Element by Sir Ken Robinson Finding Your Element by Sir Ken Robinson

My Guests Wade Bruffey and Zoltan Sarda are the co-founders of GoMobi.work, a partnership-driven software company that helps organizations build and optimize their employee development program. They bring 30 years of experience working with teams and individuals to help people grow and succeed. Organizations using GoMobi.work's frameworks build systems that foster clarity, empower high performance, and help team members take aligned actions. With GoMobi.work, organizations create transformation that lasts. Summary Wade and Zoltan discussed the importance of cultivating curiosity, empowering individuals, and creating collaborative relationships to improve decision-making, strategy, and company culture. They also emphasized the need for organizations to hire individuals based on their thinking abilities rather than just their skills, use data-driven approaches to identify the right candidates and align core values with organizational goals and the well-being of customers and employees. Additionally, they discussed how their software helps guide employee development conversations and the importance of leaders investing in training and creating a culture of innovation within organizations. Finally, they talked about their work in helping organizations create supportive, collaborative, high-performing environments by focusing on leadership ownership, people, and core values. Key Points Curiosity: Wade and Zoltan believe that it is important for people to be curious and ask questions. They said that curiosity leads to innovation and problem-solving. Empowerment: They believe that employees should be empowered to make decisions and take initiative. They said that this leads to a more engaged and productive workforce. Collaboration: They believe that collaboration is essential for success. They said that organizations should create a culture where people feel comfortable working together and sharing ideas. Data-driven decision-making: They believe that organizations should use data to make decisions. They said that this helps to ensure that decisions are based on evidence, not on gut instinct. Training and development: They believe that training and development are essential for employee success. They said that organizations should provide employees with the skills and knowledge they need to do their jobs well. Culture of innovation: They believe that organizations need to create a culture of innovation. They said that this requires a supportive environment where people feel comfortable taking risks and trying new things. Social Media Links Website: www.GoMobi.work LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gomobi-work Register for our free weekly management workshops: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcoceqrpzstHNMm18b3k2wKyu7znBOBar-- Sign up to be a part of our software launch: https://gomobi.work/beta-signup

Guest Annette Taylor is a part-time researcher of evolutionary psychology who works to understand how our common biology, which evolved from our days as cave dwellers, may help explain various social and antisocial behaviors today. Summary Jeff and Annette discuss the concept of the "cave dweller" inside each person, which refers to our instinctual, psychological, and biological tendencies. Annette shares her personal experience of discovering her own cave dweller, "Claire," and how it influences her behaviors and interactions with others. Listen for • the inner critic's relationship to the cave dweller • the need for human connection and understanding • the presence of our inner cave dweller in the workplace, highlighting behaviors such as ranking, fear of change, and resistance to new ideas • how inner cave dweller concept can clarify in group/out group conflicts Social Media / Referenced Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2549817165317933/ X (formally known as Twitter;) https://twitter.com/Fakecongirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annette-taylor-564aa871/ Medium: https://medium.com/@pennyfie Website: https://www.cavedwellerclub.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/ht3hdlz4w797xoia8t65uhlrq

Guest Scot Simmons is a husband, father, and fly fishing guide. He is 12 years in recovery from addiction and doing well managing depression and anxiety, which started at a young age. Fast forward decades, and he is able to walk and talk in his truth and make purposeful change. Summary Jeff and Scot's conversation delved into their mutual love for fly fishing and the connection it fosters with nature. They emphasized the significance of savoring the process and environment over fixating solely on catching fish. Amidst shared fishing dreams and destinations, Scot revealed his struggles with mental health and how fly fishing served as a therapeutic outlet. He spoke about breaking unhealthy patterns, seeking help, and healing for the sake of his children. The discourse touched on the impact of a viral fishing moment, self-doubt, witnessing George Floyd's murder, and the healing power of community engagement and mentorship. Social media / Referenced Instagram LinkedIn

The Takeaway In this episode, I travel to Berlin, Germany, and the Bebelplatz, a large square in the city's heart. A university borders one side, a church another, and the opera another. Behind me is one of Berlin's main libraries. Sitting atop one of the buildings is an outdoor bar with large colorful umbrellas to shield the patrons. As calming as the setting is today, it was anything but on the night of May 10, 1933. There, a mob of Nazis, Nazi-leaning students, and citizens gathered to burn an estimated 20,000 books the Nazi regime had deemed culturally and spiritually unfit. The only visual evidence of that event is a subterranean memorial with enough empty library shelves to hold an estimated 20,000 books. Social Media / References https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_book_burnings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empty_Library#:~:text=The%20Empty%20Library%20(1995)%2C,Germany%20on%20May%2010%2C%201933. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bebelplatz

Guest Tammy Hader, with a BBA in accounting from Wichita State University, her professional history resides in numbers. In 2018, after a 30-year accounting career, Tammy reinvented herself as a writer. She is an essay writer at Medium, BizCatalyst360, The National Association of Baby Boomer Women, BabyBoomer.org, and WebMD. Tammy is also a contributing author in the Daily Gift Book Series. Walking Old Roads is her first book. Summary Tammy and Jeff discuss her book Walking Old Roads, reflecting on her journey to rediscover her personal sense of kindness and overcome a feeling of disconnection in the current world. She also explores the impact of her corporate career on her withdrawal and the role of role models and faith in regaining a spirit of benevolence. Tammy and Jeff also share insights on trust, genuine connections, and the value of in-person interactions versus technology. Social Media / Referenced www.tammyhader.com www.facebook.com/tammy.hader.1 https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammy-hader-a534b2199/ www.twitter.com/HaderTammy

Guest Doug Peacock is a Vietnam veteran, author, filmmaker, and naturalist – and none of those words do him justice. He is a relentless protector of our physical wilderness and its creatures. Here's a link to the full bio of an extraordinary individual. https://dougpeacock.net/biography Summary Doug Peacock's lifelong fight for American wilderness and grizzly bears began after witnessing the devastating impact of industrialization in the West. He emphasized preserving wilderness for human evolution and consciousness, discussing climate change threats, and advocating for protecting grizzlies from trophy hunting while recognizing the positive impact of wolves on the environment and expressing concern for future generations amidst climate change. Social Media Website Referenced The Monkey Wrench Gang Hal Herring interview on Getting Unstuck