Episodes
Dec. 24, 2019
Ep131: All Sides of the Decision
In this special by-listener-request episode, we talk about the importance of helping your team understand your decisions, and the even greater importance of setting up a joke before delivering the punchline. Why is that important for...
Dec. 17, 2019
Ep130: Structure Before Success
What can we learn about our own businesses from the cannabis industry? Well, sometimes we design our culture to reflect the product we are selling, but not what our people need. And sometimes we learn that what we think will be...
Dec. 10, 2019
Ep129: The Butterfly Effect and Business
Sometimes, our actions today ripple out and have long term effects. We know this. But it’s wild to think that what happens in 2019 might cause a Christmas tree shortage in 2030. Why is that important for business? The 2008 recession is...
Dec. 3, 2019
Ep128: How to Make Everything Easier
Does social support help just as much as physical support when facing an obstacle? Jodi has been reading NIH studies before she has even had her morning coffee, and it turns out that having someone you care about beside you make even real hills...
Nov. 26, 2019
Ep127: "Just Give Me a Minute."
We aren’t always game for business talk. But it is hard to set a boundary between private and business time if you are unclear on the boundary you are setting. For those fuzzy areas, where you don’t want to set a rule, but you feel like a boundary...
Nov. 19, 2019
Ep126: The Danger of Expectations
Expecting a Christmas bonus? Readying to give one? Listen to this first! Because, though you might not think it, “bonus” can mean more than one thing. Getting it wrong is the difference between a disappointed staff, or a story that spreads the...
Nov. 12, 2019
Ep125: Office Space and Your Future
Let’s talk about strength of commitment, and designing your space to support your future, not just your present or past. And to make it even more interesting, let’s throw in an ill-researched analogy about hermit crabs, for good measure! Why...
Nov. 5, 2019
Ep124: The Benefits of Thinking Small
There is no shame in losing out to Butter, as Eliot finds out, but sometimes, there is shame when it comes to time and productivity. And we want to fix that. Why is that important for business? It is incredibly easy to grossly overestimate what...
Oct. 29, 2019
Ep123: Sugar, Spice & Radiating Values
Does your business radiate your values like a spice company? Find out in this episode! Why is that important for business? Have you heard about the spice company that spent more money on impeachment ads than anyone but Trump? When asked...
Oct. 22, 2019
Ep122: Hacked & Happy About It
Getting hacked is bad. Of course it is. But what if…it’s not all bad? What if being hacked is the key to some really big marketing questions? Why is that important for business? Despite 17 years of putting on marketing events, sending out...
Oct. 15, 2019
Ep121: Negotiation Log
When is process valuable, and when is it a distraction from the productivity it is supposed to create? As always, we come at this question from the angle of stories about things like too-small-roasting-pans and piles of dirt. Because the title of this...
Oct. 8, 2019
Ep120: Gratitude Denied
Uh oh – someone tried to show gratitude to Eliot again! Let’s revisit an early episode of So Here’s My Story, where we talk about compliments, thanking someone, and all of the ways to drive Eliot crazy. (Bonus: we get to hear Jodi use Eliot’s...
Oct. 1, 2019
Ep119: The Fear of Reaction
How do you know when you are overreacting, and when you should call in help? Whether it’s double pneumonia or a product recall, making a decision to be proactive in the face of a potential emergency can be complicated, and fraught with a lot of “I...
Sept. 24, 2019
Ep118: Lofty Goals & Lawn Gnomes
When you set lofty goals that not only don’t serve your larger objective, but actually work against you, you might want to reflect on this episode about Homeowners Associations, lawn gnomes, and setting pointless rules. Why is that important for...
Sept. 17, 2019
Ep117: Communication Triage
“You look so beautiful that I almost didn’t recognize you.” Ever have someone deliver a compliment with that kind of precision and deftness? Sure, there might need to be training to help them better communicate; but listening for intent is just...
Sept. 10, 2019
Ep116: Happy Birthday... Give Me Your Money
Have you ever received one of those messages from a friend from high school, who clearly just wants to sell you something? Or had someone try to jump 6 or 7 rungs on the intimacy ladder, just to do business? Let’s talk about when the attempt to...
Sept. 3, 2019
Ep115: Grin-Worthy Goal Setting
Can you feel the difference between setting a goal and setting a Big Grin Goal? We sure can, and we want to spend some time talking about it. Why is that important for business? We’ve all set goals that – theoretically, at least – we want...
Aug. 27, 2019
Ep114: Ask Anyway (Joe Natoli Part 2)
It’s part 2 of our lovely dalliance with guest host, Joe Natoli, and he has a lot to share, including how to say no to non ideal clients, how to (politely) ignore your clients requests, and how to stand for the truth of your work. Why is that...
Aug. 20, 2019
Ep113: Why All Business is UX (Joe Natoli Part 1)
We have a guest host today, and he has a great (2-part) story about finding the right work, making the invisible visible, and helping humans find new results from their systems. Why is that important for business? Our guest host Joe helped...
Aug. 13, 2019
Ep112: When Ranting Actually Matters
How do you tell when something is just a quick rant, and when something actually matters? Well, we’ve got a story about that. Or a series of rants, as the case may be. Why is that important for business? Rants are specific to the people...
Aug. 6, 2019
Ep111: We Are Baltimore
Leadership isn’t about taking responsibility for just the parts you like; leaders don’t get to separate themselves from their organization. And as much as this episode is about the things Trump said about Baltimore, it’s more about good (and...
July 30, 2019
Ep110: The Value of Imperfect Steps
It’s important to remember that clarity comes through action. For instance, clarity that two semi-introverts might not like to be the stars of their own party. And that there might be a better way to build a community without needing to hide in the...
July 23, 2019
Ep109: Harmonizing for Fun & for Profit
In business, sometimes you need to lead, and sometimes you need to follow. Like singing harmony, it’s a balancing act of merging talents. And if someone doesn’t know or respect their role, nothing sounds right. Why is that important for...
July 16, 2019
Ep108: The Problem with The Ask
When you’re starting a new venture, you’re all passion and enthusiasm. But can you expect your team to be the same? How much is too much to ask of the people around you? Why is that important for business? When you are getting something new...