Posts Tagged ‘Motivation/Inspiration’
177 God: A Different Dialogue | Pastor Dave Ferguson
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Now you might be asking, why are we dealing with God on a business podcast? Well, first of all, if you’re a regular listener, you should know this is no normal business podcast. When this crisis started, we decided to steer right into this crisis, to frankly, help and scale ourselves to meet the challenge of this time.
In this episode, Pastor Dave Ferguson joins us to talk about God. He is an award-winning author and the founder/lead pastor of Chicago’s Community Christian Church. His book Hero Maker: Five Essential Practices For Leaders To Multiply Leaders is a must-read. Pay special attention to pastor Dave’s thoughts on what he thinks God wants for all of us.
Evil Cloaking As Christians
Chris shares with Pastor Dave what has been occupying his mind and heart in the past months. Aside from another recent family accident, Chris shares how the case of the murder of his best friend has finally come to a close. The Santa Cruz police brought his murder to justice after they captured the four murderers.
“The other thing you should know is, my dear friend Tushar, was a — and these are his words — a brown guy. They [murderers] we’re young, 19, 22, and 23. These men who murdered Tushar are white Baptists from Southern California.” – Christopher Lochhead
Too Much Evil In The World
Chris shares he does not expect anything from the baptist church, but at least a public denouncement of evil, especially after they learned that these murderers belonged to the said church. In fact, the father of one of the criminals is a pastor.
“But just like with the discussion around the police, Pastor Dave, are there bad police? Yes, there are. Are there bad Muslims? Yes, there are. Are there bad Christians? Yes, there are bad human beings. Evil is a very real thing.” – Christopher Lochhead
Having Important Conversations
Pastor David recounts to Chris a few stories he had about the racial disparity and the clamor for equality. He spoke about African-American pastors and colleagues and about his parents (also pastors) who also joined the movement to have important conversations in their congregation.
Pastor David also shares what he asks others from other people who are searching for meaning.
“For people that are really sincerely seeking, I’m going like ‘just continue to search that, continue to pursue that. If it’s real, because we’re talking about God, in this case, he’ll make himself real to you.’ In fact, I’ll even sometimes challenge people, ‘hey, take 30 days and just pray ‘God, if you’re real, make yourself real to me.’ There have been enough times in your history where God has proven himself real. He’s taking you down a really good path. He has consistently shown up.” – Pastor Dave Ferguson
To know more about God from a completely different kind of dialogue with Pastor Dave Ferguson, download and listen to this episode.
Bio:
Dave Ferguson is an award-winning author, founding and lead pastor of Chicago’s Community Christian Church, a missional multi-site community considered one of the most influential churches in America.
Dave is also the visionary for the international church-planting movement NewThing and president of the Exponential Conference.
You can get more information about Dave at www.daveferguson.org or check out his latest book, Hero Maker.
Links:
Book: Hero Maker: Five Essential Practices for Leaders to Multiply Leaders (Exponential Series)
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and subscribe on iTunes!
126 Grief & Happiness For The Holidays w/ Dushka Zapata
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Today, one of the most prolific and important writers in the world, Dushka Zapata, joins us for a very unusual but moving discussion. They talk about grief, happiness and why its okay to opt-out for the holidays. Her work has been viewed over 150 million times on Q & A site Quora.
This might be the most different conversation you’ve ever heard about the holidays!
Remembering Those We Have Lost
The holidays are wonderful celebratory times for us to focus on our friends, family and for many of us, our faith. For many of us, the holiday season can be a happy season. However, there are quite a number who have moments of some sorrow. The holidays, intentionally or unintentionally, reminds us of the people we have lost.
“As you know, I write a lot at Quora. A lot of questions I answer are about people who are asking permission.’Is it normal for me to be sad? How long should grief last? i lost my dog four years ago and I’m still mourning, is that normal?’ To me, my answer is always, ‘who cares?’ Who cares if it’s normal? You should feel whatever it is that you’re feeling. Who is it that is an authority on regulating what other people should or shouldn’t be feeling?” – Dushka Zapata
The 7 Steps To Overcome Grief
Christopher shares that there are no 7 steps to overcome grief. Some people advise those who are grieving with tips on how to cope but the reality is, there are no stages to grief and Dushka says its totally acceptable.
“I think so many people want to help but I’m going to tell you, asking someone to cheer up when they’re grieving is like sitting on someone’s chest when they’re trying to breathe.” – Dushka Zapata
A Happy Person Who Grieves
Dushka shares some personal stories on how she considers herself as a happy person who grieves. The primary reason she grieves during December was her father passed away that month. Ever since, she has not celebrated the holiday.
“I just feel like we should all be making that space for others. It’s okay to grieve, it’s okay to be sad, it’s okay to hate the holidays, its okay to not want other people to have a happy holiday because you just can’t do that to another person, to be happy, forceful happiness, its okay.” – Dushka Zapata
To hear more information about Dushka Zapata and to listen to why its okay to feel grief over the holidays, download and listen to the episode.
Bio:
Dushka Zapata is one of the most prolific and popular writers working today.
On question and answer site Quora her work has been viewed over 150 million times.
She’s the author of eight best-selling books.
Dushka has over 20 years experience as a senior communications executive in Silicon Valley.
When she’s not writing, she serves as a communications executive at tech juggernaut Zendesk.
Links:
Love Yourself: and Other Insurgent Acts That Recast Everything
You Belong Everywhere: and Other Things You’ll Have to See for Yourself
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and subscribe on iTunes! Get amazing, different stories on business, marketing, and life. Subscribe to our newsletter The Difference.
112 California Wildfires & The Heroes Who Fight Them w/ TJ Welch
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As California is suffering another horrible season of wildfires, we thought it would be powerful to give you some inspiring insight into how heroes fight these massive fires. On this special reissue episode, Retired Battalion Chief TJ Welch gives us an insider’s view of how thousands of Firefighters and first responders spring into action in a matter of hours to save lives and property.
TJ Welch – Starting Out in the City
TJ spent the first years of his career dealing with brush fires and structural fires. He also had his fair share of wildland fires as a chief officer. But he and other city firefighters pretty much only stood guard in front of the houses.
It wasn’t until the late ‘90s when they made full use of city firefighters. They went to timber and brush areas to stop fires and perform other operations.
“This was my moment where it kind of changed my perspective of my role as a chief officer.” – TJ Welch
Wildland Fire in Numbers
Back in the day, the biggest of wildland fires reached up to 160 thousand acres, which is equal to the same number of football fields. This number has been expanding in recent years, reaching up to 200 thousand acres of wildland catching fire.
The terrifying numbers make sense when taken in the context of the number of residences, the timber that is involved, how exposed the wood is, and how quickly it burns. These wildland fires burn a couple of football fields per second. They are impossible to outrun and risk many lives.
There’s a lot of reasons as to why wildland fires catch so quickly. On the other hand, timber could take a while to dry and get moisture back. With the drought that has gone on for so many years along with other forest products left out in the open, the wildland fires have become more gigantic.
A Turning Point
There was one fire that forever changed TJ. This gave way to a collective effort to train firefighters in the art of effective mobilization when tempering these massive fires.
“When I left that fire, I said I’m not gonna be so ignorant when I come to another wildland fire.” – TJ Welch
To hear more about how California firefighters move as a unit and how TJ Welch dealt with the massive responsibility of being a leader, download and listen to the episode.
Bio:
TJ Welch is a 32 year veteran of the fire service.
Throughout the course of his career, he served in volunteer, industrial and municipal fire departments.
TJ was a member of CAL Fire ICT 3 from 1997-2005 and a founding member of CICCS. He was a qualified Type OSC2, OPBD, DIVS, and STEN.
TJ retired in 2014 as Battalion Chief with Alameda County Fire Department.
He currently teaches and writes Officer courses for OSFM, and is a Firefighter Safety Specialist for California Department of Public Health and NIOSH where he investigates firefighter line of duty deaths.
Links:
How to donate to victims of Fires in California:
How To Help Victims Of California Wildfires As Tens Of Thousands Are Forced To Flee Homes
Supplying Aid To Victims Of Emergency (Save)
California Community Foundation: Wildfire Relief Fund
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and subscribe on iTunes! Get amazing, different stories on business, marketing, and life. Subscribe to our newsletter The Difference.
102 How to make your place in the world w/ “The Three Foot Giant” Dr. Sean Stephenson
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Today’s episode is a special re-issue with Dr. Sean Stephenson, “The Three-Foot Giant.” He’s a great example of turning obstacles into opportunities, transforming his life into a legendary one. This conversation with Christopher Lochhead is made even more powerful upon the recent passing of Dr. Sean Stephenson.
Join us as we relive the inspiring story of “The Three Foot Giant” in this episode.
A (Legendary) Life Well Lived
Dr. Sean passed away on the 28th of August 2019, following an accident. He was predicted not to survive at birth because of his rare bone disorder, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, which stunted his growth and caused his bones to be extremely fragile. When he was 18 years old, he has already fractured his bones for over 200 times.
Despite his obstacles in life, he lived an inspiring life. He served as an instructive example of how to make your place in the world when you can’t find a place in the world. He worked for President Clinton and shared the stage with his Holiness the Dalai Lama and Oprah. He’s also the author of the bestseller: Get Off Your “But”: How to End Self-Sabotage and Stand Up for Yourself.
“I have decades and decades of education where I help people through their pains and their problems. But in some ways, I’m still learning to walk myself, learning to navigate this world, and I’m loving the experience of making mistakes.” – Dr. Sean Stephenson
Staying True To Oneself
Even after achieving his stature as a public speaker, Sean admits that he’s still growing. He was in business with his father for 22 years. His experiences at home were wonderful as he lived with his family until he was 31 years old. However, all good things must come to a challenging end, when he decided to step out into the world, leaving his father behind.
“As of recent, I decided to “out” my true self, words and all. I kind of hid that over the years. If people knew that about me, they wouldn’t respect me. I’m finding out the opposite is true, the more honest I am, the closer people are becoming to me.” – Dr. Sean Stephenson
Breaking the Mold
To continue his self-discovery, he would reorganize his life every five years or so. He wants to look back on the past five years to reevaluate and learn from his mistakes.
“Maybe there’s a wrongful belief out there that the version of you will always be the same as you get older but I don’t agree with that. I’m constantly breaking the mold and starting over and trying new things and figuring out what do I believe in.” – Dr. Sean Stephenson
To hear more about how to make your place in the world and more relevant information about “The Three-Foot Giant” Dr. Sean Stephenson, download and listen to the episode.
Bio:
Dr. Sean Stephenson was predicted not to survive at birth because of a rare bone disorder that stunted his growth and caused his bones to be extremely fragile (fracturing over 200 times by the age of 18).
Despite his challenges, he took a stand for a quality of life that has inspired millions of people around the world.
Since 1994, his powerful message has been heard at live events in nearly all 50 states and in 16 countries.
Sean has presented at hospitals, universities, prisons, and to companies such as Nike, Whole Foods, Zappos, Walmart, and Sharp Healthcare. He’s shared the stage with U.S. Presidents, billionaire business moguls, celebrities, and his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
Sean has appeared on everything from The Oprah Show to Jimmy Kimmel, in addition to online videos with tens of millions of views.
The Biography Channel produced an hour-long feature on his life called, Three Foot Giant.
Mindie Kniss & Sean Stephenson his international best-selling book, Get Off Your “But”, has been translated into over a dozen different languages.
As a board-certified therapist, and doctor of Clinical Hypnosis, Dr. Stephenson used to see clients in a unique 12-hour session that gets to the root of their fears, excuses, and insecurities.
In the past, Sean hosts live events and group coaching programs to mentor individuals in the art and business of public speaking.
Sean also used to frequent the gym, play NBA 2K with his friends, or watch NBA basketball with his wife and business partner, Mindie Kniss.
Links:
Because of Dr. Sean’s condition, he was only able to qualify for basic health insurance and was not able to qualify for life insurance.
You can support his family with a GoFundMe donation here:
Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and subscribe on iTunes!
092 1000+ Little Things Happy Successful People Do Differently w/ Marc & Angel Chernoff
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Our guests for today, NY Times best-selling author/power couple Marc and Angel Chernoff talks about their new book and other self-help topics. We had an insightful conversation about happiness and unhappiness, as well as overcoming serious set-backs and other tons of practical insights for living.
The Journey is Worth It
Marc and Angel Chernoff got into this line of work when they lost someone — a best friend and a sibling. Just in their late 20s, they found themselves investing a lot in personal development and self-reflection.
“It was those moments where ultimately — we saw therapists, I mean depression sets in. We had no tools for coping and coming out of it. We realize what we want to do on a daily basis was to reflect.” – Marc Chernoff
Fast forward to the present day, Forbes dubbed this duo as “the authors of the most popular personal development blogs on the planet.” They are promulgators of the idea of acknowledging that “our present lives are more important than all of the lofty goals we have set for ourselves.”
“Because obviously it’s a cliche, but the journey is worth it. The journey is more important. Are we spending our days the way we want to spend our lives? Our days are our lives.” – March Chernoff
Live a Life Worth Living
Marc and Angel further share some wise words about living a life worth living. Marc pointed out how lucky most people are, as there are a lot of people living in dire situations and facing immense challenges. He further discussed the importance of a positive mindset and the ability to focus on the present.
Christopher also shares his own views on living life, especially about dealing with failures. He quoted Marc when he discussed “the belief that failure is the opposite of success.” He shares candidly that he has failed himself into a life that he loves and shares a quote that says “failure feels fun.”
“I don’t necessarily think that time wasted is wasted time. It’s time for self care, it’s time to relax. We don’t always have to be go-go-go.” – Angel Chernoff
Other practical insights
Both Marc and Angel share tips on how to cope with heartbreaks — from love interests to a divorce or a broken friendship to a loss of life. Marc shares how we can use these experiences to empower us in moving forward with our lives.
Marc, Ange-and Christopher discuss a lot more about things that happy and unhappy people do, as well as dealing with expectations of others.
To hear more about the 1000+ little things happy successful people do differently, and more information about Marc and Angel Chernoff, download and listen to the episode.
Bio:
Marc and Angel Chernoff are New York Times bestselling authors, professional coaches, full-time students of life and admirers of the human spirit. Forbes recognized the couple as having “one of the most popular personal development blogs.”
Through their blog, books, course and coaching, they’ve spent the past decade writing and teaching proven strategies for finding lasting happiness, success, love, and peace.
Marc and Angel’s New York Times bestselling book, Getting Back to Happy: Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Reality, and Turn Your Trials into Triumphs, is a guide to spark sustainable action—and to return to whenever needed.
Links:
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and subscribe on iTunes!
082 Next Time You’re In The Endzone, Act Like You’ve Been There Before
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In this episode, Christopher Lochhead talks about the idea of “faking it till you make it.” He poses a real question about what to do when you finally “make it.” This episode is inspired by Silicon Valley coach Bill Campbell’s quote, “next time you’re in the endzone, act like you’ve been there before.”
Bill Campbell’s Wise Words
On Episode 072, Randy Komisar of Kleiner Perkins joined Lochhead to celebrate the life and lessons of legendary Silicon Valley coach, late Bill Campbell. Guest Randy Komisar, along with colleague Paul Martino of Bullpen Capital, came together to capture Bill in a podcast, called No Bull Podcast. Bill was the coach to Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and countless Silicon Valley legends.
Randy shared a story about Bill, back when he was coaching a football team. There was a time when the team hit a touch down and went mental to celebrate the small victory. According to Randy, Bill did not approve of this and gave the team his wise words: “Hey guys, next time you’re in the endzone, act like you’ve been there before.”
Don’t Do The Victory Noise
Even Lochhead is guilty of celebrating small wins. He recounts a story about surfing as he gets all too excited when he encounters a good wave, often called as “claiming the wave.” His buddy corrected him and told him the message that he sends out to other surfers is that it was “just one” of his best waves. He reminded Lochhead to have the mentality that all of his waves are the best ones.
“You wanna act like you’ve been here before. You wanna act like all your waves are like that” – Christopher Lochhead’s friend, when he does his victory noise
Fake it till you make it
Lochhead candidly shares that he had “faked it till he made it” a number of times in his life. However, Lochhead poses the question, what will you do when you finally make it?
“Act like you’ve been there before, act like it’s something that happens all the time.” – Christopher Lochhead
Further, Lochhead reminds that when we’re pushing ourselves to the next level, we have to act in our own minds and in our behavior. We have to always think that we are the “Whoah-Man or Whoah-Woman.” It’s always nice to celebrate wins, but ideally, it is best to do it privately.
“You have to prepare yourselves so you’ll have the least amount of faking as possible and when in you’re in the situation and something happens, just roll it.” – Christopher Lochhead
To hear more about how to act next time you’re in the endzone and more relevant information from Lochhead, download and listen to the episode.
Bio:
Links:
072 Why Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos & many others turned to “The Coach” Bill Campbell
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and subscribe on iTunes!
073 Why Dyslexia is a Superpower w/ Gibby Booth Jasper
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Gibby Booth Jasper, host of podcast Dyslexia is a Superpower, joins us today for a powerful dialogue about the learning difference Dyslexia. As a coach and advocate, Gibby talks about real life experiences of Dyslexics as well as the challenges and triumphs that go along with it.
Dyslexia is a Superpower
Gibby Booth Jasper believes that the real value of being dyslexic is the power of having a different mind. Dyslexics look at problems differently. It enables different solutions and in turn develops a person’s tenacity and determination.
Many people look at dyslexia as a disability. However, it can be noted that a learning difference is never a hindrance to achieve personal goals. Just look at famous dyslexic people such as John F. Kennedy, George Washington, Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, Richard Branson and Steven Spielberg, to name a few.
“They say everybody has a mountain to climb, but with dyslexia, your mountain has lava flowing, it has wild boars and all these obstacles. When you finally get to the top, you are able to accomplish so much more.” – Gibby Booth Jasper
Dyslexics Daily Struggle
Gibby believes dyslexics can connect the dots and solve problems differently. However, society has put on a standard on activities like writing, reading, and solving Math—which makes it hard for dyslexics to cope. Other than that, they do have spatial awareness problems, which is the difficulty of differentiating the left and the right.
Gibby and Christopher exchanged personal experiences, as both are dyslexic themselves. Gibby recounter how traumatized she is with gas stations, as she cannot figure out moving forward and backward with her car. Christopher also shared some experiences, especially in self-check out counters in grocery stores and with tipping and counting money.
“Spatial problems, self-checkout counters, counting money. Those are the kind of things that can be normally linked to dyslexia, so if you do see someone struggling, that might be it. Go help that someone” – Gibby Booth Jasper
Empowering Dyslexics
In dealing with dyslexia, Gibby stated the importance of informing their child that they are unique and different in a good way. Parents must reassure their children that nothing is wrong with them and assist them in building self-confidence.
“I think being able to look at it as ‘letting go of things because I can’t control them.’ Just have a sense of humor, because, in the grand scheme of life, it doesn’t matter” – Gibby Booth Jasper on struggles in doing daily activities
The real challenge for a dyslexic lies on their ability to play out strengths and to empower themselves while dealing with the existing society.
We hope you enjoyed Gibby Booth Jasper on this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and subscribe on iTunes!
BIO:
Links:
072 Why Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos & many others turned to “The Coach” Bill Campbell
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Randy Komisar of Kleiner Perkins joins us today to celebrate the life and lessons of legendary Silicon Valley coach, late Bill Campbell. Guest Randy Komisar, along with colleague Paul Martino of Bullpen Capital, came together to capture Bill in a podcast. Bill was the coach to Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and countless Silicon Valley legends.
Depicting The Real Bill
Bill was featured in a book called Trillion Dollar Coach, prior to the release of Randy and Paul’s podcast. The content of the book were flattering, but the title was so off-putting. It sets the wrong tone for understanding what BIll is all about.
“Bill wasn’t a guy with a big theory. He’s not that guy who has rules like ‘10 rules to be successful.’ He was somebody who connected incredibly well with who you were and what you need and was able to get you there.” – Randy Komisar
Bill was associated with a trillion dollars worth of value creation. He was not a highfalutin guy who would’ve wanted to be in the cover of a book. They were able to capture the real Bill, more than what the book portrayed him to be, through this podcast.
Paying it Forward
Randy and Paul had the opportunity to learn and share their respect and admiration for Bill and they want to pay it forward, through the production of their podcast. They wish that the entrepreneurs for the generations to come would be able to do the same.
Entrepreneurs could get a lot of inspiration from Bill. Randy even cited that if it was not for Bill, he would have quit business a long time ago.
“Bill made business interesting for me and many people because he made it about people, not money.” – Randy Komisar
Learnings From The Late Bill Campbell
One important point from this discussion was the difference in doing what is right versus what is smart. Bill believes smart people are great at rationalizing. Most of these people, though, still tend to overthink a problem and justify doing the wrong things.
“The right thing and the smart thing aren’t necessarily the same. The right thing is worth doing, but the smart thing needs a lot of consideration. It may be smart because it allows you to do the wrong.” – Randy Komisar
This conversation with Randy Komisar is jam-packed with Bill Campbell’s wisdom in entrepreneurship, people management, Silicon Valley legacy.
To hear more about Why Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos & many others turned to “The Coach” Bill Campbell and more relevant information from Randy, download and listen to the episode.
BIO:
Links:
Straight Talk for Startups – Book
The Monk and the Riddle: The Art of Creating a Life While Making a Living – Book
Executives Launch Podcast To Pass On Lessons From Bill Campbell, Coach To Silicon Valley Stars
Executives Launch Podcast To Pass On Lessons From Bill Campbell, Coach To Silicon Valley Stars
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and subscribe on iTunes!
067 CEO Whisperer Jerry Colonna Reboot
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WIRED calls Jerry Colonna the CEO Whisperer. He believes better human beings make better leaders. Today, he joins Lochhead in a fun and deep adult conversation about his new book, Reboot, and about growing up, what it takes to become a warrior leader and a lot more.
Writing a Book He Would Read
Jerry shares that Reboot is the only book he could write. Anything else would have been complete and utter bullshit. After all, he has had too many scars to bullshit his way through life.
He didn’t even know what he wanted to write when he received his agent’s offer. But soon he realized that they wanted him to be himself and show up. And the experience, coupled with his readers’ reactions, could easily reduce him to tears.
“I wrote the book that I needed to read 20 years ago.” – Jerry Colonna
Words Coming from Life
Towards the beginning of his book, Jerry ran by some of the many hardships people could go through. A co-founder quitting, investors pulling funding, spouses giving up, and many more. Every one of these instances is not some theoretical experience and can happen to anyone.
Such are the moments to stare deeply into our own experience and ask ourselves some important questions. What are we made out of, what have we chosen? But more broadly, in what ways have we been complicit in creating conditions we don’t want?
“It’s much easier to look at the world and say, ‘Why are you doing this to me? Why is this happening to me?’ But that’s uninteresting.” – Jerry Colonna
Complicit Versus Responsible
In writing his book, Jerry used the word “complicit” purposefully. He says that it differs from “responsible”, in that being complicit is like “going along with” and also unconscious. And like Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung said, until we make the unconscious conscious, it will direct our lives and we will call it fate.
We can realize how we become complicit in creating such conditions by answering the question of how they have served us. After all, that which persists does so because it delivers something.
“We might maintain structures not in our best interest because they serve this sort of larger wish for love, safety and belonging.” – Jerry Colonna
To hear more about Reboot, warrior leaders with open hearts and more life-altering nuggets from Jerry, download and listen to the episode.
Bio:
The founder and CEO of Reboot.IO, Inc. Colonna is a certified professional coach.
Colonna draws on his wide variety of experiences to help clients design a more conscious life and make needed changes to their career to improve their performance and satisfaction.
He established his coaching practice in 2007. Prior to this work, Colonna was a venture capitalist focused on investing in early-stage technology-related startups.
In 2002, Colonna became a partner with J.P. Morgan Partners (JPMP), the private-equity arm of J.P. Morgan Chase where he led the firm’s investments in companies such as ProfitLogic, Inc.
Colonna served as a director at ProfitLogic until its purchase by Oracle, Inc.
During his time at JPMP, his commitment to the non-profit sector increased significantly. In the fall of 2001, he worked with The Partnership for the City of New York to help launch the Financial Recovery Fund, a $10 million-plus program that made recoverable grants to small businesses impacted by the attacks on the World Trade Center.
He was named co-Executive Director of NYC2012 in January 2002, the organization designed to secure the City’s designation as the representation in the competition to host the 2012 Olympic Games.
In that year, he helped raise more than $6 million to further those efforts.
He joined JPMP from Flatiron Partners.
With his partner, Fred Wilson, Colonna launched Flatiron in August 1996. Flatiron became one of the most successful, early-stage investment programs.
During his tenure with Flatiron, Colonna was responsible for the firm’s investments in companies such as Geocities Inc. and Gamesville Inc. Colonna joined his first venture firm, CMG@Ventures L.P. in February 1995 as a founding partner.
CMG@Ventures was the first “Internet-specific” venture firm.
Prior to joining @Ventures, Colonna worked for ten years for CMP Media, Inc.
From 1985 to 1993, he served in a variety of roles at InformationWeek, including a three-year stint as its Editor.
Colonna also serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Naropa University. Naropa University comprises a four-year undergraduate college and graduate programs in the arts, education, environmental leadership, psychology and religious studies.
It is the only accredited Buddhist-inspired university in North America.
He also serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Tibetan Village Project, a not-for-profit, non-political organization dedicated to creating sustainable livelihoods for Tibetans through social entrepreneurship and educational opportunities.
He is also a director at the Good Work Institute, whose mission is to educate and connect a network of local community members and actively support their collaborative efforts to regenerate their places.
The recipient of numerous awards and a compelling speaker on topics ranging from leadership to starting businesses, Colonna has been named to Forbes ASAP’s list of the best VCs and Worth’s list of the 25 most generous young Americans.
A graduate of Queens College, Colonna lives in Boulder, Colo.
Links:
WIRED – This Man Makes Founders Cry
We hope you enjoyed Jerry Colonna on this episode of Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and subscribe on iTunes!
