Tracking Wonder Podcast

Trailer: Tracking Wonder with Jeffrey Davis

What do Haruki Murakami, the Heath Brothers, & Susan Piver have in common? They're about to change the way you think about the pursuit of big ideas & meaningful work. Episodes every Tuesday.

S1 EP1: The Quest for Our Best Ideas

Jeffrey's premise:  "There is one human experience above all others that resides at the crux of a meaningful life, of meaningful relationships, and of meaningful and challenging work. It resides at the impulse to make something novel, useful, and beautiful: wonder."What is the key ingredient of a meaningful life? As entrepreneurs, we are called to create—to make something novel, useful, and beautiful. That impulse is wonder. And if we can reframe our work as a quest and approach each day with openness and curiosity, new possibilities emerge.  This season on Tracking Wonder we are exploring the creative entrepreneur's quest for meaningful work, asking ourselves:   How can we face challenges with less worry and more wonder?  How can we convert pain into purpose?  How can we get the right stuff done without burning out?  Today, Jeffrey introduces us to the theme of this season at Tracking Wonder through the story of world-renowned author Haruki Murakami. Jeffrey recreates the unique moment when Murakami got the idea to write his first novel—during a baseball game. We explore the gap between idea and action, exploring the true meaning of flow and what it takes to pursue your quest day in and day out. Jeffrey discusses the idea of ikigai, explaining how the human impulse to create facilitates a meaningful life. Listen in for insight around the role of curiosity in the twenty-first century and learn how wonder can help us see people, problems and possibilities in fresh ways.  Key Takeaways  [1:27] The theme of this season at Tracking Wonder  Explore creative entrepreneur's quest for meaningful work  [2:56] The story of Haruki Murakami  Idea to write novel came at baseball game  Uses distance running as training for writing  Regarded as most influential living novelist   [6:21] How to advance your own best ideas  Reframe as daily quest  Requires sustained focus  Face voluntary challenges (flow)  Risk for something greater than self  [10:22] The human experience that facilitates a meaningful life  Impulse to create something  Childlike curiosity, wonder  [13:39] How wonder dissolves cynicism  See people, problems in fresh ways  Connect with Jeffrey Tracking Wonder Tracking Wonder on Facebook Jeffrey on Twitter Jeffrey on Instagram Jeffrey on LinkedIn Resources Haruki Murakami Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi The Hero's Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work by Joseph Campbell Melvin Konnor Joi Ito A special thanks to the early supporters of the Tracking Wonder Podcast. Your enthusiasm, feedback, and support helped make this possible. Thank you.  A few very special early supporters: Latise Hairston, Ali Singer, Ron Sparks, Loraine Van Tuyl, Jenny Oney, Nancy Burger, Michal Spiegelman, Fatemé Banishoeib, Lyn de Graaf, Bethany Hegadus, Becky Lindstrom, Laura Worth, Shannon Allstott, Melissa Bennett, Hector Baltazar, Hillary Thing

S1 EP2: Do We Find Purpose or Test it Out? With Katie Dalebout and Caroline Adams Miller

Jeffrey's premise:  "One factor that helps high-achieving creatives and fulfilled entrepreneurs face daily challenges is that they have some sense of purpose that helps remind them why they're doing what they're doing every day."You are what you pay attention to, and if your willpower, focus and time are spent trying to control your body image, for example, that quite simply distracts you from becoming who you want to be. Too many young women lose their voices—and ultimately their purpose and passion—in the pursuit of perfection. And if you are busy with the 'part-time job' of an eating disorder, it is impossible to achieve your potential or uncover your unique gift to the world.   Today on the Quest Series Roundtable, Jeffrey is joined by podcaster, blogger and author Katie Dalebout and executive coach, speaker and author Caroline Adams Miller to discuss some of the reasons why we tend to lose our purpose as young adults. Katie and Caroline both share their struggles with body image and eating disorders, explaining how they found their way back to health and discovered joy and meaning in giving back. They speak to the value of journaling when it comes to self-awareness, making meaning of our lives, and healing, and offer their best advice around taking care of yourself in the pursuit of a purposeful life. Key Takeaways [3:05] Katie's take on her young genius Only child, raised on 'adult farm' Propensity for performing Knew wanted life to be big [8:24] Caroline's childhood Girl who wanted to be loved School as happy place (solace in thinking, reading and writing) Sorrow gave empathy, desire to give back [11:50] Why we lose our purpose as young adults Girls lose their voices Must get angry enough to 'throw off chains' Lose purpose, passion [15:25] How Katie deals with the 'mean girls' in her mind Use as tool for self-awareness [19:18] The common issues Katie sees among young women Body image/diet culture Risk aversion (i.e.: entrepreneurship) Impact of social media (distraction, comparison) [31:02] Katie's struggle with eating disorders Anorexia at end of college Received treatment, developed orthorexia Obsessed with control, miss out on life [38:02] Caroline's fight against bulimia Thought next achievement would eliminate sadness Bulimia as 'part-time job' while studying at Harvard Started recovery in 1984 (just after marriage) Found joy in giving back, sharing hope [45:20] The value of journaling Allows for honesty, self-awareness (first step to change) Opportunity to make meaning of lives Positive intervention, part of healing process Ask good questions to get good response Eventually have to 'feel the feelings' [57:17] Caroline and Katie's advice around self-care Purposeful life isn't always easy Seek out your unique gifts Surround yourself with supportive people Be gentle with yourself Do things that make you feel good Out your shame, fear Connect with Katie & Caroline Katie's Website Katie's Podcast Caroline's Website Caroline's Blog Resources Let it Out: A Journey Through Journaling by Katie Dalebout Generation Startup Film Getting Grit: The Evidence-Based Approach to Cultivating Passion, Perseverance, and Purpose by Caroline Adams Miller My Name is Caroline by Caroline Adams Miller Caroline on The Good Life Project Activate Leadership: Aspen Truths to Empower Millennial Leaders by Jon Mertz Larissa Rainey Study: 'The Search for Purpose in Life' A special thanks to the early supporters of the Tracking Wonder Podcast. Your enthusiasm, feedback, and support helped make this possible. Thank you.  A few very special early supporters: Mel Harth, Lovenia Leapart, Brandy Donovan, Sally Fox, Mindy Ohringer, Katy Yang, Patricia B., John Carr, Millie Jackson, Susan Preston, Gregory Berg, Peg Syverson, Cindy Henson, Nikki Jackson, Lauren Ayer, Lisa Batson Goldberg 

S1 EP3: Getting Stuff Done vs Dreaming Stuff Up with Charlie Gilkey and Ishita Gupta

Jeffrey's premise:  "The most influential and fulfilled entrepreneurs and artists can toggle between getting stuff done and dreaming stuff up so they can experience those moments of opening that keep them lit up with meaning."No doubt you've had the experience of being busy all day, yet getting absolutely nothing done.  You work through the easy tasks on your to-do list, avoiding the ones that are truly important—because those projects scare you to death! How could you learn to focus on the things that actually matter? To create your own productivity systems that eliminate distractions and hold you accountable for creating value? To find the necessary balance between contemplation and action?  Jeffrey is joined by speaker and business consultant Ishita Gupta of Fear.less Magazine and business growth strategist, speaker and author Charlie Gilkey of Productive Flourishing to discuss the formative experiences that led to the productivity systems they use today. Ishita shares her take on the need for a personal connection in any innovation, and Charlie explains why it's better to focus on being useful rather than trying to do something new and different. They riff on the process of determining what is really important and eliminating tasks that don't create value. Listen in and learn how Ishita and Charlie approach contemplation and the significance of finding that quiet time to connect with yourself.  Key Takeaways [2:18] Charlie's young genius MacGyver, creative with limited resources Fortune of misfortune: resourcefulness, adaptability [6:42] Ishita's young genius Super-curious, questioned being told what to do Desire to do extraordinary things Bounce back from embarrassment [11:15] Ishita's impetus for developing systems All-nighters in college (hated compromising herself) Missed opportunities from sitting in indecision Needs systems, accountability to stay afloat [15:46] How Charlie came to develop systems for productivity Pursuing master's in philosophy, Army officer at same time Read about others' productivity systems Changed what didn't work, became documentarian of process [19:47] Ishita's take on why innovation must be personal Forced to confront own fear (Seth Godin's altMBA) Interviews around overcoming fear, turned into magazine Solve your own problem first [25:46] Charlie's take on innovation Focus on being useful Start by assimilating others' work, find your 5% difference [32:43] Charlie's approach to getting the right stuff done Tendency to be afraid of important to-dos Focus on fewer things that really matter [35:22] Ishita's advice around getting the right stuff done Accountable to someone else Repeat long-term goals daily Eliminate distractions [38:35] Ishita's take on dreaming Direct correlation between desire and opportunity [42:40] Charlie's insight around the significance of contemplation Contemplation added to morning routine Society has lost ability to sit with selves [46:22] How Ishita gets into a contemplative space Dance party Get into world (i.e.: outdoors) Engage with others [51:08] Charlie's advice for getting into a contemplative space Disconnect from internet Implement 'inbox perspective' Tea ritual Connect with Ishita & Charlie Ishita's Website Charlie's Website Resources Seth Godin's altMBA The Republic of Imagination: A Life in Books by Azar Nafisi A special thanks to the early supporters of the Tracking Wonder Podcast. Your enthusiasm, feedback, and support helped make this possible. Thank you.  A few very special early supporters: Patti Shade, J.R. Schumaker, Madeline Danaher, Marty Neumeier, Lyn Henderson, Lucas Dodd, Carol Delmonico, Megan Eberhardt, Leigh Marz, Tricia Chitwood, Emily Seay, Dana Andersen, Kristal Pooler, Mandy Marshall, Julie Sperring, Stargazer Li   

S1 EP4: The Power of Deliberate Unfocus, Rest, & Daydreaming with Srini Pillay and Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

Jeffrey's premise:  "Sometimes our most important discoveries for our projects and our life happen in the margins of our attention."  We live in a culture that trusts conscious attention and labor over intuition and mind-wandering. Yet those moments of contemplation and daydreaming are what set us apart as humans and give our unconscious minds the time and space to rest. It is in those breaks from conscious effort that our creative subconscious continues to work on problems and innovate new solutions.   Jeffrey is joined by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, a Silicon Valley-based futurist, writer and founder of The Restful Company, and Srini Pillay, a psychiatrist, brain-based technology innovator and founder of the NeuroBusiness Group. They discuss how the environments in which they were raised informed their drive to achieve. Srini unravels the myth of deliberate practice as the only factor in creative mastery, and Alex explains how rest and work act in tandem to support and sustain each other. They discuss the magic of the unfocused mind as well as the value in scheduling intensive work followed by deliberate rest. Listen in as Jeffrey, Srini and Alex offer insight around activating the creative brain in the current cultural moment of volatility—when it has never been more important for humans to be human.    Key Takeaways [4:14] Srini's young genius Grew up in apartheid South Africa Sense of curiosity in forbidden [7:49] Alex's young genius Movement between two worlds 'World of ideas' as escape [11:12] Alex's drive to achieve great things Korean father, expectation to be at top of class Found intellectual satisfaction outside university setting [16:02] Srini's motivation to excel 'Neurotically driven on my own' Desire to make family proud Interest in many subjects [21:17] The path to creative mastery Deliberate practice not only factor History of people with combined interests (e.g.: music, science) Must practice AND rest deliberately Work and rest function as partners [29:52] How hobbies impact productivity Scientists with more hobbies had more citations May be protective against dementia [33:06] The magic of the unfocused mind 'Professions' trust conscious attention over contemplation Brains capable of productivity when not paying attention Organize working lives to create space for playfulness [38:43] Srini's methods for activating the creative brain Constructive daydreaming Napping 'Psychological halloweenism' Doodling [46:33] Alex's insight on scheduling work and rest Intensive work followed by deliberate rest Subconscious continues working on problem Schedule rest to protect that time [52:40] The uncertainty of the current cultural moment Alternate perspective necessary in midst of volatility 'Never been more important for humans to be human' Must protect rest in distracted culture of technology [59:09] What Srini and Alex are pursuing in 2018 Alex cuing up next book (work, rest and future) Srini working on musical, book plus clinical work/coaching Connect with Srini & Alex Srini's Website NeuroBusiness Group Alex's Website The Restful Company Resources Tinker Dabble Doodle Try: Unlock the Power of the Unfocused Mind by Srini Pillay MD Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang The Distraction Addiction by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang Princeton Study on Deliberate Practice Anders Ericsson's Paper on Deliberate Practice Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool Leisure: The Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper The Art of Thought by Graham Wallas No Ordinary Disruption: The Four Global Forces Breaking All the Trends by Richard Dobbs, James Manyika and Jonathan Woetzel Brand Artistry Labs A special thanks to the early supporters of the Tracking Wonder Podcast. Your enthusiasm, feedback, and support helped make this possible. Thank you.  A few very special early supporters: Deborah Burand, Katherine Miller, Michael Belfiore, Lisa Grefe, Cathy Presland, Peter Wallace, Rita White, Janet St. John, Kim Manley Ort, Bill Miles, L. Hadley, Blair Glaser, Ann Brech, Laraine Herring, Kate Vogt, Susan Brennan