Week 22.08 Behaving Irrationally

I like things simple. I am fond of thinking that I can assess a situation, add up what is going on, and make a good choice. It doesn't always work out the way I thought, but it's good enough, and I get there very efficiently. Over time, I have come to recognize that the world is a lot messier than I would like. People often don't make the right, logical, or even the obvious choice. I see this every day watching how people drive, cross the street, what foods they eat, you name it... it's amazing! And of course, I have to admit that I am also part of that system, and my view of the right choice, is only seen through my lens and it may be the right choice for me, or not the right choice at all. The simple world versus the messy world, predicting the future versus analyzing the past, is like economics versus history.?We yearn to see the world as simple but it’s messy.

When making predictions, economics, looks forward, values universality and simplicity. They look for a uniform system that explains the world and develops ideas on how markets operate. To make that system work, they have to believe that people are motivated by their self-interests, that more is better and that they can model anything. Oddly, they also give themselves the leeway to discount ideas that don't work in the formula or are too messy to model. They do that so often they have a name for it... externalities. Power, and the personal use of power, for example, is an externality and not incorporated.?

Historians, looking backward, see the world as messier, less pure, and often less admirable. They value complexity and are less interested in simplifying. Historians are uncomfortable with the abstractions that are the ether for economists because they see that nothing exists in a vacuum. They are looking for what motivates people (messy) and understanding what drives the outcomes that we see from the past. And if history teaches us anything, it is that few things happen the way we expect them to, and even fewer are simple. To historians, there are no externalities, and power is a crucial driver for society and the economy.?

In life and leadership, we need to look to the future with an eye to the past. We need the models that can give us some approximation of a plan that we can work with while still having compassion for the messiness of the results of that plan. The ambition of economics would have us believe that the narrow pursuit of our interests seems like it would lead to a great outcome?that people would never choose to deny themselves of reward. In contrast, the reality of history, and so many great leadership thinkers, tell?stories of self-denial and sacrifice that leads to the greatest joy, lasting happiness, and purpose.?Rather than using the idealistic predictions of economics to drive my personal decisions and interactions with my team and family, I will let history be my guide and allow myself to behave irrationally to live a good life.

1OO COACHES AGENCY

For the past two years, we have been researching and exploring the offerings of executive coaching for the best leaders in the world. We have learned that there are exceptional talented executive coaches and leadership experts available to support the growth and excellence of the best leaders in the world. Still, the process of connecting them can be complicated. The 100 Coaches Agency has grown organically from the 100 Coaches Community. It is a new agency serving only the best leaders with a bespoke approach that supports the most successful outcomes. Our promise is to match the right coach with the right leader meticulously to deliver the best result. What truly sets us apart is the time we spend listening to the issues and challenges faced by a business leader. Once in-depth insight has been acquired, we recommend several of our world's best coaches and shepherd the leader through the process of choosing the best coach for them. 100 Coaches Agency's talented, iconic coaches and experts provide solutions to any business challenge. Our unique and personalized curation process allows us to intelligently pair leaders with the right resources for their needs. Please visit our new website at?www.100CoachesAgency.com ?to learn more.?

Ignoring a Text Message or Email Isn’t Always Rude. Sometimes It’s Necessary.?Opinion by Erica Dhawan in the NY Times

Ignoring messages is frowned upon in these always-on times. At its most egregious, dropping out of communication is condemned as “ghosting,” which, in the years since the term became widespread, has become a deadly sin of digital communications. Many of us have no choice but to triage, as we are flooded with Slack messages, emails, texts and Zoom requests, and must make constant real-time decisions about which ones warrant an instantaneous response, which ones we need to think about before answering and which others aren’t really worth our attention. All this digital noise can lead to a state of “cognitive overload,” which researchers in a paper on remote work during the pandemic published last year warned “may result in ineffective information processing, confusion, loss of control, psychological stress — or even an increase of depressive symptoms.”?So instead of beating yourself up for not getting back to someone right away, consider slowing down and letting yourself off the hook.?Opinion | A 'Slow to Respond' Message for Digital Overload - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

First M&M Show of 2022 with Tyra Banks and Jodi Bondi Norgaard

Join Martin Lindstrom and Marshall Goldsmith Thursday, February 24 at 12 pm eastern for the first M&M Show Episode of 2022! Their guests this week are two people who I think you may have heard of before… First, we have Tyra Banks, Entrepreneur, Supermodel, and Emmy Award-Winning Television Producer and Personality, along with Jodi Bondi Norgaard, Founder of Go! Go! Sports Girls and Advisor to The White House on Gender Diversity. They will be talking about courage and what it takes to break the rules in a man's world. All I have to say is that this episode cannot be missed!?Click "attend" to be notified when they go live:?https://lnkd.in/dFNKCrRu

Episode 06: Noble Purposes, Defining Your Principles, and the Five Be's of Leadership

In this episode of Duke's Life of Significance series, host Sanyin Siang interviews Hubert Joly, who reminds us to live a purpose-driven life—as individuals and leaders. Hubert notes that it can be dangerous to think about yourself solely in your work; figuring out your noble purpose and orienting your life around that purpose can correct the myth that we are only as valuable as our production output.?Noble Purposes, Defining Your Principles, and the Five Be's of Leadership with Hubert Joly — Duke Life of Significance

TRENDING: The Seismic Shift in Leadership by Michelle Johnston

A seismic shift in leadership has occurred. Leaders who rely on the old characteristics of power, control, and fear are becoming more and more ineffective. We are in a new era: an era that demands connection. The next generation of leaders will create cultures of connection instead of fear. Authenticity, compassion, and alignment are the foundations for meaningful connection. (...) As Matthew Lieberman says, "Connection is a superpower that makes human beings smarter, happier, and more productive." Michelle helps you create environments where you show care and compassion for yourself and those you work with within this book. Where you invest the time to develop healthy relationships. Where you value authenticity over perfection. Where your teams are motivated to collaborate, cooperate, and work together towards a common goal.

Quote of the week: Shonda Rhimes: "Dreams are lovely, but they are just dreams. Fleeting, ephemeral, pretty. But dreams do not come true just because you dream them. It's hard work that makes things happen. It's hard work that creates change."

And, as always, thank you, Marshall, for making all of this possible.

With love and gratitude

Scott