Wanted: CEOs with People Skills

These graphs by Axios and HBR, revealing the most-wanted skills in the C-suite, got our attention. They show that “culture” and other high-EQ qualities are … The post Wanted: CEOs with People Skills appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Social Cop-Ye-ing

One thing that allows us to dominate the animal kingdom is our ability to copy what we perceive as successful behavior. This is why most … The post Social Cop-Ye-ing appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Would You Be Missed If You Were Gone?

Satya Nadella became Microsoft’s CEO in 2014. Since then its share price has exploded, after years of stagnation, marking one of the biggest turnarounds in … The post Would You Be Missed If You Were Gone? appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

We Contain Multitudes

Walt Whitman said it best back in 1855: “I contain multitudes.” We all do. We all carry different identities around with us, often in competition … The post We Contain Multitudes appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Driving Off the Glass Cliff

British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, resigned earlier this week after only 6 weeks in office, the shortest tenure for any PM on record. There was … The post Driving Off the Glass Cliff appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Listen Like a Trampoline

Change without listening doesn’t happen.  Why is this true? Because if you don’t listen, it means you think what you already know is sufficient to … The post Listen Like a Trampoline appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Big Speech Coming Up? Here are a few tips

Step One: Don’t give a speech during the daylight. Ever. Step Two: When you give a speech (at night of course), opt for dark red ominous lighting. … The post Big Speech Coming Up? Here are a few tips appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Marshall Goldsmith on the Essentials of Leadership

Marshall Goldsmith started his career out as a business school professor but ended up as one of the world’s top executive coaches. In Episode 142 … The post Marshall Goldsmith on the Essentials of Leadership appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

All the Previous You’s

Recently, we listened to Marshall Goldsmith’s interview on The Knowledge Project, Episode #142. Marshall Goldsmith is one of the top executive coaches in the world, … The post All the Previous You’s appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

How to Avoid Driving Into a Lake

In the beloved sitcom, The Office, the main character Michael Scott drives his car into a lake. Why? Because he followed his GPS. He focused … The post How to Avoid Driving Into a Lake appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

How to Get Ideas to Spread

Voter registration ends today in most states. That means the beloved American tradition of the “I voted” sticker is right around the corner. This simple … The post How to Get Ideas to Spread appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Myth Busting with Mark Blyth

One of the smartest people we know is the Political Economy professor from Brown University, Mark Blyth. Before NN Taleb was a thing, he gave … The post Myth Busting with Mark Blyth appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Whether you think you can, or you can’t, you’re right

Henry Ford famously said, “whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” Ford had many faults, but he certainly hit the … The post Whether you think you can, or you can’t, you’re right appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

What Hurricanes Teach Us about Humanity

We came across a great Twitter thread recently that shared anthropologist Margaret Mead’s take on the first signs of civilization. She shared that it’s not what you might … The post What Hurricanes Teach Us about Humanity appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Putting Culture First: Just Do It

The advertising industry lost a real titan recently. Dan Wieden, the co-founder of Wieden And Kennedy, passed away at the age of 77. W+K is … The post Putting Culture First: Just Do It appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Cleese on Creativity

James O’Brien is a well-known radio journalist and author in the UK who also has a podcast, named “Full Disclosure.” Back in August, he talked … The post Cleese on Creativity appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Who Do You Belong To?

This image and article were inspired by Episode 606 of the Tim Ferriss Podcast, with Balaji S. Srinivasan.  Humans need to belong. We need to belong to other humans, … The post Who Do You Belong To? appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Slashing Rules That Don’t Matter

This email is inspired by Episode #141 of The Knowledge Project podcast, featuring serial entrepreneur and incisive business thinker Kunal Shah. Pick your poison. That’s the choice life … The post Slashing Rules That Don’t Matter appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Courage Is Calling by Ryan Holiday

Today’s post was written by our old friend, the author Ryan Holiday. Ryan has gotten famous as a popularizer of Stoicism, the Greco-Roman philosophy, and his blog, The … The post Courage Is Calling by Ryan Holiday appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Sarah Kauss on How I Built This: It’s More Than Just a Water Bottle

These images were inspired by Episode 444 of the How I Built This Podcast, interviewing Sarah Kauss, founder of S’well water bottles. How I Built … The post Sarah Kauss on How I Built This: It’s More Than Just a Water Bottle appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Sarah Kaus on How I Built This: It’s More Than Just a Water Bottle

These images were inspired by Episode 444 of the How I Built This Podcast, interviewing Sarah Kaus, founder of S’well water bottles. How I Bult … The post Sarah Kaus on How I Built This: It’s More Than Just a Water Bottle appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Dancing up a storm…in a tea cup

There isn’t much in this hyper-connected hyper-woke modern age that still makes people gasp like a jury after a big revelation in a Southern courtroom … The post Dancing up a storm…in a tea cup appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

We know you’re winging it

This image was inspired by a thought from an interview with IDEO’S Founder and Former CEO, David Kelley, on the How I Built This Podcast on … The post We know you’re winging it appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Core Human Motivations: Thoughts Inspired by Kunal Shah

These images were inspired by Episode 141 of the Knowledge Project podcast (TKP), interviewing serial entrepreneur and incisive business thinker, Kunal Shah. The Knowledge Project … The post Core Human Motivations: Thoughts Inspired by Kunal Shah appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

What you need to know about ‘quiet quitting’.

Millennials and Gen Z’ers are (deliberately?) disengaging from their jobs. It’s called “Quiet Quitting.” A 30-year-old teacher who Quiet Quit said “You don’t even have to just … The post What you need to know about ‘quiet quitting’. appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

You Can’t Go Far Without A North Star

Without a North Star, all action is equal, and anything goes. But none of us believe that. And we certainly don’t act like it. Because … The post You Can’t Go Far Without A North Star appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

How to be a great leader: Eight Lessons from Queen Elizabeth

HRH Queen Elizabeth died yesterday, at age 96, after being on the throne for 70 years. That’s six years longer than Queen Victoria. The issue isn’t whether or … The post How to be a great leader: Eight Lessons from Queen Elizabeth appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Houston…we have a problem

The insight from the semiotic above is from NASA  Associate Administrator Thomas Zurbuchen, who was interviewed in 2020 on The Knowledge Project Podcast. It was under Zurbuchen’s direction that … The post Houston…we have a problem appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Your #1 Employee Perk

  When we think of Labor day, most of us think about fun stuff like tailgate parties and barbecues. We take it for granted now, but … The post Your #1 Employee Perk appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Why Nobody Understands You

This email is inspired by Episode #141 of The Knowledge Project podcast, featuring serial entrepreneur and incisive business thinker Kunal Shah.   Our brains are designed to ignore … The post Why Nobody Understands You appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Massive Transformation Is Indirect

This image was inspired by something Marc Andreessen, the legendary VC said in a recent podcast (The Knowledge Project #129), namely that when an organization gets to … The post Massive Transformation Is Indirect appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Are You Leading?

We all know competent leadership means more than tasking ‘to do’s’. Tasking, of course, isn’t leading, and it may not even be managing, but for … The post Are You Leading? appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

I Hereby Order You To Take PTO

Recently, Nike had almost all employees take an entire week off. No negotiating. Balsamiq, a European software firm, mandated 18 days of vacation. No negotiating. PwC did … The post I Hereby Order You To Take PTO appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

It’s the Economy, Stupid

The Soviets weren’t the best managers, to put it mildly. They were famously god awful at it. Here’s an example of a Soviet-era error: A … The post It’s the Economy, Stupid appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

It’s Why They’re Called Sheep

Let us tell you a story about tens of millions of people and tens of billions of dollars. It’s a short story. It’s a true … The post It’s Why They’re Called Sheep appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

8 Strengths of Transformational Cultures

  Everyone who comes in contact with a strong culture feels it. Customers develop unique relationships with these companies. So do employees. As a result, a strong … The post 8 Strengths of Transformational Cultures appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Man Plans, God Laughs…or Does She?

  What if someone told you that your plans are doomed to fail? That the act of planning itself is presumptuous? That there is too … The post Man Plans, God Laughs…or Does She? appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Understanding The Paradox of Success

Fearing failure leads to failure. Why? Because fearing failure leads to not trying new things, not innovating, and not taking risks. And not trying is often the … The post Understanding The Paradox of Success appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

The Secret Key to Greatness

“Nothing happens until someone feels something.” This is a core pillar of our work. It’s one of our “big” ideas. Logic, reason, and evidence inform … The post The Secret Key to Greatness appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Why great leaders are scarce and cherished

What are some of the closest teams on the planet, with some of the strongest cultures? The team of firefighters rushing into a burning building. … The post Why great leaders are scarce and cherished appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Getting Turned On Requires More Than You Think

We all know what a virtuoso is, we all know about virtuosity. Artists whose chops are off the scale. Violinists, dancers, painters…chefs, even. But have … The post Getting Turned On Requires More Than You Think appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

The ONE Choice All Fulfilled People Make

Star Wars is a story as old as time. Team Darth Vader or Team Luke Skywalker? Do you side with the Empire, even though your soul will probably be … The post The ONE Choice All Fulfilled People Make appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Follow the Yellowbri…Road to Greatness

Discover the heaviest burden you can bear, then bear it. This idea was recently popularized by Jordan Peterson. This is heroism. And if you catch yourself … The post Follow the Yellowbri…Road to Greatness appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Why Every Business Needs Powerful Storytelling

Before the written word, humankind used a different tool to spread useful information quickly and memorably through populations and generations. The tool? Storytelling. The more … The post Why Every Business Needs Powerful Storytelling appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

Digital Transformation isn’t what you think…

Everyone talks about “Digital Transformation” (DT), but few people talk about what it actually means. Because it has the word “Digital” in it, one automatically … The post Digital Transformation isn’t what you think… appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

How $.99 can transform your life!

  Our long-time friend and collaborator, Dr. Benjamin Hardy, has a new book out called: Be Your Future Self Now. The book proposes a new model … The post How $.99 can transform your life! appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

What does the future of work look like?

    Two stories hit the doom scrolls at roughly the same time this month. First, Bloomberg Media asked if the era of remote work is coming … The post What does the future of work look like? appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago

The first rule of management is gold

There’s a cornerstone of Western thought, calledThe Golden Rule. Basically, it says (as it says in the Bible), “Do unto others as you would want … The post The first rule of management is gold appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 2 years ago