16 - Ping-Pong Tables and Other Failures of Cultural Design

20 - Problem Solving...or Good Feelings?

In this episode Todd and Aaron engage in a probing and thought-provoking discussion relevant to every organization that seeks to market and communicate its message, internally or externally, and try to get to the very bottom of human motivation. Are we after solutions to problems, or good feelings? How does this shape our behavior and communication? This episode is essential for anyone who wishes to improve their communication and persuasiveness, wherever you find yourself in an organization. We both were pushed to think hard with this one and examine our assumptions. Enjoy! Recorded 7/26/24, includes: * Can’t be anyone else, y’know? * A quiet July * Opportunities on the horizon * The consultant’s toolkit & a question about Todd’s genius for speaking * Leadership is about picking up and reflecting strengths back to others * “Beginner’s Pluck” - Passion grows over time * You and I are always finding these chicken and egg things! * We come into a society that’s been figuring out how to serve people for millennia * Aaron’s journey and new book * If that’s the only thing you’re here to do it would be enough * I need to figure out how to get more of that feeling! * Knack for speaking, knack for writing * Stories about Aaron’s journey as a writer * That was panic!  In 1999 * Parallels between writing music and writing words * Thoughts about the creative process * Do the words or music come first? * Topic for the day… * Book: How to Win Customers and Keep Them for Life * How do you know when you’re selling a good feeling or a solution to a problem? * Todd’s bike riding example * Just another day on the Crushin’ Company Culture Podcast! * Todd solves problems, but makes people feel incredibly good * Sacrificing lesser goods to greater ones - the larger patterns of existence * Aaron’s opinion - solving problems is about creating better feelings * A story from Todd to corroborate that point * Todd channeling the ancient philosopher Heraclitus - we only have good feelings because we know what bad feelings are like * Do Aaron’s clients seek solutions to problems or good feelings? * Strategy is about solving problems * We need to make people aware of their pain * Know like and trust is about connecting through good feeling * The important challenge of asking for testimonials * Your clients and customers have a vested interest in your success * Feelings and problems are tools that we have as benevolent communicators * Feelings and problems in Aaron’s approach to coaching and consulting * Creating good feelings makes it likelier that people will continue to support you * Paul Martinelli’s sales training - rapport vs. commonality * I need to go and think about this! * When do you switch to problem-solving mode? * Work is about expertise * Todd’s perspective - every organization can improve * Problems that Todd helps to solve * Is leadership development about solving problems or creating good feelings? * This conversation is thought-provoking! * Takeaways from this conversation - putting a bow on it! * Comedians are about good feelings, moreso… * The world’s just one big pain we’re trying to solve!  The pain of existence, the pain of having time to fill, the pain of being in a lesser state and growing toward a greater one * How do we distinguish between wants and needs? Learn more about Todd at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://toddkuckkahn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://toddkuckkahn.com/], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/toddkspeaking], or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddkuckkahn/] Learn more about Aaron at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aaronjmarx.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://aaronjmarx.com/], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/aaronjmarxcoach], or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-j-marx-631384288/]

19 - Mental Health

NOTE: We are not licensed therapists. If you are struggling with mental health or having thoughts of self-harm, please ask for help right away. This episode offers ways to do that. In this episode Todd interviews Aaron, and the two have a very honest and probing conversation about how to improve mental health in the workplace and life in general. Mental health is on a lot of people's minds right now, and for good reason. We know more about it than ever and are asking more and more questions about it. Here's our thoughts about the meaning of mental health and how best to approach and improve it. Enjoy! Recorded 6/21/24, includes: * “All Ravs are Zorgs” * Speaking of mental health… * A hot topic * What to do if you are struggling - call 211 * A story from Todd * Can “mental health” be defined? * The link between depression and high intelligence * Discerning qualifications in a content-saturated world * 3 philosophical questions about mental health * Is the human condition inherently unhealthy? * Aaron’s 5 Perpetual, Perennial, Problematic Dysfunctions of the Human Condition * Start by talking about it, even if it’s uncomfortable - if you keep it inside it only gets worse * “One big support group” - simple, but extremely complicated * How do you know when you should get help with your mental health? * How do we improve and who defines improvement? * How do you get outside your own frame of mind? * Eckhart Tolle’s interesting observation - “I just can’t live with myself any longer” * Locating your “actual self” * Nuancing introversion and extraversion - stepping out of one’s comfort zone - branding & positioning - change is good * What is the role of the workplace in mental health? * All points of human interconnection are susceptible to dysfunction * Is mental health the responsibility of the leader or the individual? * “For some of these people the workplace is the best part of their day” * How do we create a culture in which more individuals take an active interest in their mental health? * It all comes down to culture… * Every group is built around shared valuation * I worked up a sweat today! Bonus clips: * If you have an issue, reach out to someone * How do we know dysfunction when we see it? * What’s the best way for the mind to work? * How do you know how uncomfortable to be? * Another inherently unhealthy part of the human condition, the honey-do list * The moment when the universe became unhealthy… Learn more about Todd at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://toddkuckkahn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://toddkuckkahn.com/], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/toddkspeaking], or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddkuckkahn/] Learn more about Aaron at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aaronjmarx.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://aaronjmarx.com/], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/aaronjmarxcoach], or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-j-marx-631384288/]

18 - All About Culture Teams

This episode gets into Todd's thinking about one of his favorite tools to improve organizational cultures, Culture Teams. Full of helpful perspectives for organizations of all shapes, sizes, and aims. Enjoy! Recorded 5/31/24, includes: * Getting a haircut is the one thing Aaron doesn’t overthink * What’s the one thing you want to be sure to do this summer? * It’s all the little things * Connected to my momentum * The new book Aaron is working on about Commerce Theory * Trying to get through May… * The program Todd is working on for businesses about “Culture Teams” * Why C-suite executives are nervous about Culture Teams and losing control * The power of Culture Teams for employees throughout the organization * Why Todd believes in Culture Teams * Mindset work for individuals vs. impact on the greater workplace * “Culture is mindset” * Culture Teams are a product Todd can offer to organizations * Culture Teams can make a difference for talent attraction and retention, and preventing the “Sunday scaries 😱” * Why culture is like a garden * “So friggin’ intangible!”  How do you measure the improvement of a culture? * Transactional vs. transformational * It seems like only the good leaders take courses on improvement * You can never be too good at communicating, and you can always find more places where communication is happening * “Their brains are smoking!” * What Todd and Aaron see when they go into a new organization * Why C-suite leaders sometimes fear bringing in Culture Teams and why the fear is unfounded * The importance of representation and inclusivity in Culture Teams * Putting together a congress * Why the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra always has a member of the orchestra on the board and Family Health Centers has at least 51% clients on their board * How Culture Team meetings work and liaison with the Executive Team * Calling into question traditional notions of hierarchy - titles are less important for some people * What is driving these cultural shifts and the influence of younger generations on the workplace * Speculating about the tension between hierarchy and democratic organization through history * You still need people in the C-suite, but must balance it with the input of the Culture Team * Todd’s work experience wish * What Todd would do on the first day as CEO, and what his office would look like * Why it’s important to know how team members are feeling as functioning as people * For some people the workplace is a haven * Why Todd and Aaron are both (unlicensed) therapists * The power of listening and caring enough to ask * “I noticed she was off” - Todd’s superpower for sensing interpersonal and group dynamics * Aaron’s sensitivity and instinct for listening to people and ability for asking very insightful questions * Why do C-suite executives spend so much time in their offices, away from the team? * We don’t do enough training in leadership * Priorities and 4,000 handwritten birthday cards * Is Todd the “CEO whisperer?”  He’s on a mission to revolutionize company culture * Culture is EVERYBODY’s responsibility, but it must be part of your strategic plan * Culture often gets dumped on the HR person PLUS... * One of Aaron’s other content conversation partners [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2061003/15160414] * Feeling a whole lot better 😌 * On the next episode of Crushin’ Company Culture! Learn more about Todd at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://toddkuckkahn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://toddkuckkahn.com/], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/toddkspeaking], or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddkuckkahn/] Learn more about Aaron at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aaronjmarx.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://aaronjmarx.com/], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/aaronjmarxcoach], or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-j-marx-631384288/]

17 - Habits, Disciplines, Resolutions

Todd and Aaron met to discuss their different approaches to habits, disciplines, goals, resolutions and more. The result ended being surprisingly and incredibly inspiring and affirming to them both, in spite of significant differences in their psychology and the nature of their days. Recorded 2/9/24, includes: * I know you!  That means I’ve been branding it well. * A good result * I’m here for it, but I don’t know where it’s gonna go… * I don’t put much thought into it, I just let it ramble out of my mouth * One of the few times in my life I’ve actually set goals * I really can’t control that outcome, only the things that lead to that outcome * Every month we bet $50 each, and we’ve each had to pay * If I change my habits it will help me to focus on my priorities * Todd’s list of daily habits * Learning styles are a huge thing!  What does it mean to learn and what should we learn? * I wasn’t growing my knowledge base * I’ve got my Sundrop - I’m ready! * Is it restrictive? * I thought I was an effective procrastinator… * By this time in my life shouldn’t I have things figured out?  * Everyone’s a personal brand expert because of social media * I don’t know what results to improve until I start talking to people * A new best * CEO time in our businesses * How did you discern the correct disciplines and habits? * Habits and disciplines as a solopreneur vs. an employee * Benefits of the DISC assessment, the importance of followthrough * Aaron’s central questions regarding habits and routines * The difference between being employed and being in business for yourself * Always questioning whether you are using your time correctly * A deeper level of satisfaction * Executing routines in spite of self-doubt and fear of failure * Whose dream are you living? * Intrapreneurs vs. entrepreneurs * Habits and routines for Aaron…”a very organic human” * Not a job, but…a piece of art * Aaron’s priority: what is the muse asking of me today? * A transactional approach * Always thinking about thinking, ways to think differently, ways to think better * Two different but good approaches servant leaders and raising people up * A very intentional way of flowing * Results come from thinking.  How do we improve results?  Think about the thinking! * How does Aaron take a break? * Two examples that illustrate how Aaron is always “on” * What does it mean to be human?  How do we improve the results of being human? * Now he does that with his son too! * Yes, Aaron DOES have routines 🙂 * Todd has never heard of ASMR * You want your body to work right * Working on the business vs. in the business * Internal guidance vs. external guidance * We never go in a straight line 😄 * This is especially uplifting! * How should larger organizations think about goals, habits, and routines? * Hard skills vs. human skills * Businesses must be both transactional and transformational - we need love in the workplace Learn more about Todd at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://toddkuckkahn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://toddkuckkahn.com/], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/toddkspeaking], or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddkuckkahn/] Learn more about Aaron at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aaronjmarx.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://aaronjmarx.com/], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/aaronjmarxcoach], or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-j-marx-631384288/]

16 - Ping-Pong Tables and Other Failures of Cultural Design

A super-fun chat about company culture, depth of conversation, and Aaron’s new comprehensive theory of human commerce. Episode Links: ⁠DEFINITION OF COMMERCE⁠ [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commerce] ⁠AARON'S "COMMERCE THEORY"⁠ [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D4hNI2vOBLq1RwkglptEljhtFQq0zXEf/view?usp=sharing] ⁠5 WAYS TO BECOME A MORE VALUABLE WRITER⁠ [https://aaronjmarx.com/ebooks-1/p/5-ways-to-become-a-more-valuable-writer] ⁠INDO-EUROPEAN LANGUAGE FAMILY⁠ [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-European_languages#/media/File:Indo-European_Language_Family_Branches_in_Eurasia.png] Recorded 1/12/24, includes: * Listening to “Pinnacle of Success” by Airae * Aaron’s Business X-Change at the PCBC * “It almost sounds like our conversations are negotiations” * “Merriam-Webster, I’ve heard of that!” * Everything we do is commerce! * “There’s an exchange here too” * You have relationships with everyone in the world * A productive, disruptive confusion * I talked about more metaphysics in Commerce Theory than I’ve ever talked about before! * Reading Think and Grow Rich for the 4th time with Paul Martinelli * There are no new ideas * It’s had the same shape since the beginning of humans * Ping-pong tables are one of the bright, shiny new objects * Signal is not the same as cause * Who can guess how many years ago Todd was in college? * The yin and yang of vision and culture * Now, next, later? Culture is all the time! * Culture is based on intention * The roots of the word “culture” * Culture must be sustained * About Aaron’s new Commerce Theory * “This is hard to do in 25 words or less!” * Maybe you can’t help but to worship * “All human behavior follows that basic shape” * I’ve got 15,000 questions to ask you and we’ve only got time for 1! * Todd’s word for 2024 * Psychology dances with what is sacred - humans are theological * Whatever you’re doing is what you believe to be the most valuable thing to do with your time and space * Todd is an understated genius * Where does Aaron’s fascination with words come from? * The etymology of “leadership” * A meta-etymology * That stuff shapes your thinking and you don’t even realize it! * Why do people think ping-pong tables will improve their company culture? * Taking conversations below the surface - making them meaningful and deep * The boat is very special and meaningful, but you can’t start with the boat * The length of time to transformation - the actions become more automatic * For deep alignment, see your company culture chiropractor * They were yelling at me about how much I’ve changed in a year! * Do you get into resolutions? * Resolutions vs. Habits * Outcome goals vs. process goals Learn more about Todd at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://toddkuckkahn.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://toddkuckkahn.com/], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/toddkspeaking], or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddkuckkahn/] Learn more about Aaron at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aaronjmarx.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://aaronjmarx.com/], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/aaronjmarxcoach], or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-j-marx-631384288/]