Rebalancing Society with Henry Mintzberg: Addressing Imbalances in Politics, Economy, and Community

 

In this episode, Aidan McCullen is joined by renowned business strategist Henry Mintzberg to discuss his book on radical renewal. Mintzberg explores the root causes of our current societal crisis, emphasizing the need for balance among the public, private, and plural sectors. They delve into historical and contemporary issues that have led to extreme imbalances, from capitalism's dominance post-1989 to today's political polarization. Offering insights grounded in history and strategy, Mintzberg advocates for a strengthened community sector to restore equilibrium. Addressing not only societal but also personal imbalances, Mintzberg highlights the urgency for action amid global challenges like economic disparity, environmental degradation, and political unrest. The conversation serves as a wake-up call encouraging listeners to engage in meaningful change at both the individual and community levels.

 

00:00 Introduction: Enough is Enough!

00:38 Welcoming the Guest: Henry Mintzberg

02:44 Understanding Imbalance in Society

05:47 The Role of Business and Government

08:05 Historical Context and Current Issues

11:30 The Concept of Rebalancing Society

18:16 Personal Responsibility and Action

23:56 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action

 

Find more info here: https://mintzberg.org/books/rebalancing-society

A conversation with Aidan McCullen, host of The Innovation Show and author of 'Undisruptable'.

This a re-edited version of Tech Tonic, the world's first AI Thought Show with hosts (and friends) Scott Wolfson and Kes Sampanthar. Each episode, they explore the world of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and their impact on our lives. With engaging discussions, expert guests, and a dash of humor, Tech Tonic provides a unique perspect.

Aidan shares his origin story, detailing his transition from professional rugby to digital transformation and media. Discover the inspiration behind his podcast, the importance of continuous learning, and the concept of 'the show before the show'. Aidan's journey is filled with insights on overcoming resistance, embracing reinvention, and the value of autodidactic learning. Don't miss this deep dive into the life of a true innovator. 

00:00 Introduction and Initial Struggles

00:29 Welcome to the Innovation Show

00:58 Aidan McCullen's Journey

01:24 Early Days and Learning Curves

03:45 The Birth of the Innovation Show

05:59 Challenges and Resistance

10:07 Taking the Leap

11:26 Seth Godin and the First Episode

13:24 The Concept of Reinvention

18:45 The Power of Discipline and Consistency

29:05 Digital Transformation and Creative Destruction

34:59 The Power of Education and Strategic Alignment

36:03 Embracing Failure and the Path to Success

37:04 The Journey of an Autodidact

38:31 Overcoming Skepticism and Building Credibility

42:44 The Importance of Coachability and Learnability

46:10 The Role of Passion in Professional Growth

57:45 The Reinvention Summit and Its Vision

01:00:48 The Neuroscience of Learning and Thinking

01:07:13 The Journey and Future of Reinvention

01:16:26 Reflections and Final Thoughts

Find TechTonic here: https://www.youtube.com/@theAIthoughtshow/streams

#InnovationShow #AidanMcCullen #DigitalTransformation #ContinuousLearning #Reinvention #Podcast

 

Fueling Today with Tomorrow Eating the Seed Potato or Planting the Seed Snake

"Do Not Mortgage Your Future for Small Gains Now" - Nassim Nicholas Taleb

"Business leaders are being motivated and rewarded to heat their houses by burning their furniture." - Mark W. Johnson

In our pursuit of immediate comfort or short-term gains, we often sacrifice the foundations of future success. This principle is captured in countless cautionary stories. In this week's Thursday Thought, we explore those of the Irish Potato Famine, corporate strategy, and the unexpected world of collectible snakes. To build a sustainable future, we must resist the urge to mortgage it for fleeting rewards. As the old saying goes, "We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." Similarly, our future isn't something we passively receive—it’s something we shape with the choices we make today.

The Irish Famine: Eating the Seed Corn  

During the Great Irish famine, desperation led farmers to consume their seed potatoes—the very resource needed to secure future harvests. Fishermen sold their nets, and artisans sold their tools, sacrificing not just physical assets but the means of their future livelihoods. This poignant image of short-term survival at the expense of long-term resilience serves as a powerful metaphor for organisational decision-making.

In the corporate world, this dynamic plays out when companies sell valuable assets or slash critical investments in research and development and innovation to sustain short-term valuation. Consider Sears, a retail pioneer that, under financial pressure, sold off its highly profitable financial arms, including Discover Card and Allstate Insurance. These divestments provided immediate capital but stripped Sears of lucrative assets that could have supported its survival during the retail industry's famine. By "eating its seed potato," Sears left itself with little to plant for the future.

Efficiency-driven strategies are seductive because they deliver quick results and a sense of control. Yet, these strategies often resemble mining soil without replenishing it. Companies that prioritise cost-cutting and share buybacks over innovation may temporarily appease shareholders, but they risk sacrificing their ability to adapt and grow. The story of Heinz under CEO Tony O’Reilly is a cautionary tale.

To boost earnings, O’Reilly slashed R&D and marketing budgets, undermining the company’s long-term competitiveness. Bill Johnson, O’Reilly’s successor, later admitted, “We weren’t supporting our brands, and we weren’t being innovative at all…. In terms of cost cutting, the mistake for the industry, in retrospect, is that it did not take the cost out of the system. It took the cost out of the product.” Like farmers consuming their seed potato, Heinz prioritised immediate gain over future resilience, leaving it vulnerable to shifting market demands.

Planting the Seed Potato: Philips’ Strategic Reinvestment

Philips serves as a masterclass in planting and replanting the seed potato for future success. (We discussed Philips with friend of the show and prolific author Paul Nunes, links here and video embed below). In 2006, while still profitable, Philips made the bold decision to phase out its incandescent lighting business, recognising that LEDs would soon become more cost-effective. Rather than eating the seed potato of its legacy business, Philips acquired smaller LED-focused companies, cultivating this new field until its LED division grew into a $7 billion powerhouse. By 2016, Philips had spun off its lighting business into Philips Lighting (now Signify), freeing resources for its next strategic planting.

In an impressive act of replanting, Philips pivoted to the healthcare industry, focusing on diagnosis and treatment equipment. Through careful planning and a balanced portfolio strategy, Philips invested heavily in this fertile ground. By 2017, most of the company’s revenue came from high-end medical equipment, cementing its place as a leader in the healthcare sector. This transformation was not an overnight miracle but the result of strategic foresight and the courage to reallocate resources from legacy crops to future harvests.

Planting the Seed Snake

On this week's Innovation Show, our Keynote speaker at the Reinvention Summit, Seth Godin shared the story of Justin Kobylka. Justin is a pioneer in the snake breeding industry. Once a small-scale operation where pythons sold for $20, the market transformed thanks to the internet, which expanded access to collectors globally. Justin's key differentiator was his early investment in his facilities and the genetic quality of his pythons.

Many times, he might have sold off his prize python for a healthy reward and many times he resisted. Instead of cashing out by selling his most valuable snakes for immediate gain, he retained them to breed even more extraordinary future generations.

Conclusion: The Cost of Strategy Decay

In our forthcoming series with Gary Hamel, we discuss the concept of strategic decay. Strategies, like assets, have a finite lifespan. Over time, the competitive advantages that once fuelled growth erode. Rivals replicate best practices. Market dynamics shift. Without reinvention, even the most successful organisations fall prey to strategy decay.

This decay is exacerbated when companies rely on short-term fixes to prop up performance—share buybacks, cost-cutting, or selling off valuable assets. These actions create the illusion of health, but hey mask future problems. These problems are often inherited by an unassuming new leader, who soon discovers that damage done by her predecessor.

Organisations that thrive in the face of disruption are those that embrace innovation as an ongoing, foundational practice. This means fostering a culture of long-term thinking, experimentation, and creativity. It also requires the discipline to let go of what no longer serves the mission and the courage to invest in what does.

The choice is to burn tomorrow’s fuel for today’s warmth, or invest in building a sustainable fire that will burn brightly for generations to come.

Seth Godin - This  Is Strategy | The Innovation Show

 

Join us on this episode of The Innovation Show with the inimitable Seth Godin, author of 21 international bestsellers that have profoundly influenced the way we think about work and art. In this engaging conversation, Seth delves into his latest book on strategy, emphasizing the importance of identifying your smallest viable audience, understanding and leveraging systems, and prioritizing long-term thinking over instant gratification. He shares valuable insights on why most people gravitate towards instructions rather than forging their own paths, the concept of 'elegant strategy,' and how viewing challenges as a game can make failures more manageable. Seth also explores the impact of AI on the workforce and the significance of systems in shaping our strategies. Whether you're transforming an industry, sparking a movement, or building a career, this episode is a must-listen for change-makers and innovators.

 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:19 Seth Godin on Teaching and Strategy

02:21 The Lego Metaphor and Strategy

04:54 Games, Systems, and Empathy

07:34 AI and Office Plankton

11:11 Understanding Systems and Change

16:10 Innovation and Elegant Strategies

21:47 The Role of Incremental Improvement vs. Innovation

24:00 Innovation Theater and Real Change

36:25 Long-term Thinking and Strategy

42:15 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Eric von Hippel  - Free User Innovation | The Innovation Show

In this new series on The Innovation Show, we dive into the groundbreaking work of Eric von Hippel, MIT Sloan School professor and pioneer of free innovation. We explore how users—not just producers—drive transformative innovations, and how this paradigm has been overlooked historically. With intriguing examples such as the evolution of skateboards and center pivot irrigation systems, von Hippel illustrates the power of user-driven innovation. We also discuss the role of platforms like Wazoku and companies like Haier in harnessing the potential of free innovator communities. Eric shares his insights on how companies can leverage these external ideas and improve their own innovation processes. Don't miss this fascinating conversation on the untapped potential within each of us to innovate and create impactful solutions.

00:00 Introduction and Wazoku Acknowledgment

00:38 Meet Eric von Hippel

02:08 The Concept of Free Innovation

02:32 Historical Context and User Innovation

04:20 Examples of User Innovation

11:19 Crowdsourcing and Open Platforms

16:44 Challenges and Opportunities in Innovation

33:56 Altruism and Diffusion in Innovation

37:31 Open vs. Free Innovation

39:54 Conclusion and Resources

 

Find Wazoku

https://www.wazoku.com

 

Find Eric von Hippel's resources including this book “Free Innovation”

https://evhippel.mit.edu/books/

Inside the Jar: Navigating Change and Innovation

 

In this week's Thursday Thought, we delve into the complexities of navigating change from within. Using quotes, research, and insights from the Innovation Show, we explore how our perception of individuality vs. being part of a larger whole affects our ability to adapt. Drawing parallels with superorganisms like beehives, the episode discusses how business and economic cycles, like Kondratiev waves, shape our world. Highlighting examples from companies like Sony, we examine the 'inside view' trap and the importance of stepping outside our immediate focus to see the bigger picture. Join us as we read the label from outside the jar and prepare for the future.

 

00:00 Introduction: Navigating Change from Within

00:57 The Human Condition: A Drop in the Ocean

01:22 The Beehive as a Superorganism

04:18 Kondratieff Cycles: Understanding Economic Waves

06:27 The Trap of the Inside View

10:20 Escaping the Jar: Embracing Change

12:32 Conclusion: Join Us at The Reinvention Summit

 

Full article here: https://thethursdaythought.substack.com/p/its-hard-to-read-the-label-from-inside

In this episode of The Innovation Show, Aiden McCullen interviews Byron Reese, author of 'We Are Agora: How Humanity Functions as a Single Super Organism that Shapes Our World and Our Future.' The discussion delves into Byron's groundbreaking Agora Theory, which suggests that humans may function as part of a larger, conscious superorganism. Topics include the origins of life, the emergence of multicellular organisms, the complexity of DNA, and the potential impacts of understanding life as part of this collective superorganism. The conversation also touches on the role of death, the concept of emergence, and how these insights can apply to organizational strategies and societal progress.

 

00:00 Introduction to Agora Theory

02:40 Understanding Superorganisms

04:06 The Origin of Life and Cells

19:53 The Mystery of DNA

30:07 Understanding Multicellular Life

32:09 Symbiosis and Multicellular Origins

33:39 Theories of Multicellular Life

38:12 The Universe and Life's Complexity

44:02 DNA: The Blueprint of Life

47:11 Human Evolution and Intelligence

49:41 Bottleneck Events and Human Survival

55:02 Emergence and Superorganisms

57:46 Final Thoughts and Reflections

 

Links Aidan mentioned in the episode:

Men In Black sequence: https://youtu.be/OKnpPCQyUec?si=KSGb25FeP72Nvi7T

Family Guy: https://youtu.be/7et6-nByfw8?si=6zIfUIQE1XlFL-oH

 

Byron Reese: https://byronreese.com

In this episode of the Thursday Thought, we delve into the intricate balance between immediate survival and long-term growth, drawing parallels between the human body's stress response and corporate strategies. We explore the concept of temporal discounting, the impact of chronic stress on leadership, and the necessity of preparing for the future during times of calm. Featuring insights from Bruce Lipton, Art Markman, Henry Mintzberg, and Stan Deetz, along with quotes and research, this discussion highlights the importance of balancing short-term reactivity with long-term vision for sustained success.

 

00:00 Introduction to Thursday Thought

00:21 Bodies Under Stress: Balancing Immediate Survival and Long-Term Growth

01:26 The Stress Response: Short-Term Focus

02:22 Temporal Discounting and Leadership Compensation

05:16 The Long-Term Cost of Chronic Stress

06:15 Stress and Cognitive Shifts in Leadership

08:28 Balancing the Present with the Future

09:54 Conclusion and New Year Wishes

In the second part of our 'Energy Rising' series, host Aiden McCullen welcomes back Dr. Julia DiGangi, a renowned neuropsychologist and author of 'Energy Rising: The Neuroscience of Leading with Emotional Power'. Dr. DiGangi delves into her eight transformative codes designed to help us navigate challenges both in and out of the workplace. This episode focuses on the first two codes: transforming emotional pain into power, and building your power pattern by harnessing the brain's pattern recognition abilities. Listeners will gain valuable insights into how to deal with emotional struggles, the impact of words and emotions on our brain, and strategies to create meaningful change in life and leadership. Don't miss out on the chance to win a copy of Dr. DiGangi's acclaimed book. Subscribe to the Innovation Show's Substack for your chance to win!

 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:41 The Eight Codes Overview

02:05 Code One: Transforming Emotional Pain into Power

04:03 The Importance of Emotional Energy

04:28 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Misunderstanding

08:05 The Role of Emotional Patterns

15:03 Code Two: Building Your Power Pattern

22:28 Identifying Patterns and Changing Them

23:36 The Brain's Primitive Interpretations

24:40 Personal Story: Overcoming Sports Challenges

27:47 The Power of Leadership and Creation Energy

30:02 The Meaning Making Machine: Trauma and Success

31:48 The Power of Words and Emotions

38:26 Becoming the Emotional Standard

44:08 Magnetic Leadership and Human Connection

45:27 Conclusion and Contact Information

 

Find Julia here:

https://drjuliadigangi.com

 

Win a copy by signing up to our Substack here: 

https://thethursdaythought.substack.com

 

Hidden Messages of water and the power of sound:

https://youtu.be/Fn73Pgk8GGc?si=lnB4AiKS8F5WnsO1

 

Power of Words:

https://youtu.be/Ctoj0Vy5ICo?si=ipgueuFMd9ISl_LO

In this episode, we are joined by neuropsychologist and author Dr. Julia DiGangi, who discusses her book 'Energy Rising: The Neuroscience of Leading with Emotional Power.' Dr. DiGangi reveals eight powerful codes to effectively navigate challenges and shares transformative stories from business leaders, parents, couples, and combat veterans. Learn about the concept of emotions as real neurological energy, how mastering emotional intelligence can change your leadership game, and the importance of embracing difficult emotions to achieve personal and professional growth. Don't miss the opportunity to grab a copy of Dr. DiGangi's book by signing up for our Innovation Show Substack. This conversation is a profound exploration of how our nervous system regulates our life experiences and practical steps to turn emotional pain into power.

 

00:00 Introduction to Emotional Energy

00:44 Meet Julia DiGangi

01:03 Understanding Emotions as Energy

02:21 The Power of Emotional Intelligence

06:19 Emotional Pain vs. Emotional Power

06:56 Navigating Uncertainty and High Emotions

18:47 The Concept of Self Division

28:56 Leadership and Emotional Energy

35:34 Exploring Ineffective Extrinsic Rewards

36:09 Addressing Leadership Engagement

37:01 Understanding Emotional Contagion

38:08 The Role of Leadership in Emotional Pain

39:43 The Power of Authentic Leadership

41:18 Navigating Uncertainty and Self-Trust

42:53 The Brain as a Pattern Detection Machine

49:15 The Impact of Overworking and Overgiving

53:44 The Importance of Clarity and Connection

01:05:21 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

 

Find Julia here:

https://drjuliadigangi.com

 

Win a copy by signing up to our Substack here: 

https://thethursdaythought.substack.com

Navigating Organizational Transitions with Stan Deetz 

In this episode, we cap off a brilliant year of growth with the insightful Stan Deetz, author of 'Leading Organizations Through Transitions'. Stan shares his expertise on managing change within organizations, focusing on technological disruptions, mergers and acquisitions, and the intricate dynamics of power shifts. We dive deep into the effects of AI on organizational structures, the concept of tacit knowledge, and the adjustments required for a healthy and resilient workforce. Stan also discusses the importance of humility and measurement in driving successful change, with practical advice on maintaining the delicate balance between efficiency and adaptability. Join us for an engaging conversation that offers valuable lessons for navigating complex organizational transitions.

00:00 Introduction and Recap

00:43 New Books and Projects

01:50 Technological Disruption and Organizational Change

03:09 The Sophomoric Effect and AI Challenges

04:44 AI's Impact on Knowledge Workers

06:17 Bias and Vigilance in AI Systems

09:05 Tacit Knowledge and Organizational Expertise

29:45 Forms, Data, and Organizational Decisions

39:14 Understanding the Impact of Our Products

39:53 Leadership and Institutional Knowledge

40:31 Navigating Organizational Transitions

41:56 The Myth of Stable Environments

43:56 The Importance of Diversity and Systems

47:43 Challenges of Short-Term Measurements

50:10 The Value of Long-Term Organizational Health

01:04:47 Cultural Sensitivity in Multinational Operations

01:11:02 The Need for Customization in Management

01:13:43 Starting Organizational Change with Humility

01:17:03 Personal and Organizational Growth

 

Find Stan here: 

 

www.standeetz.org