8 Words or Less

Samie Al-Achrafi and James Elwes
  • 5.0 (6)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • SERIES

Do you have an ever-growing list of leadership and management books to read - but can't find the time? Every episode, Samie and James share their perspectives on a different book and distil some key themes into a central message of 8 words or less.

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  1. EPISODE 1

    The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek

    In the first episode of our new season, we discuss Simon Sinek’s latest book ‘The Infinite Game’. This is a book that is very relevant for the time that we are currently living through and one that provides a new way of thinking about how we choose to lead.  Whenever there are at least two players, a game exists. And there are two kinds of games: finite and infinite. A finite game is like a game of football - everyone knows the rules, they largely play by them, and there is a set time period at which point someone is declared a winner. Infinite games, by contrast, have infinite time horizons, they are played by both known and unknown players, and there are no exact rules. Crucially, because there is no finish line or no practical end to the game, there is no such thing as winning in an infinite game.The critical problem, and the heart of this book, is that unfortunately most leaders confuse these two games, and by adopting a finite mindset in an infinite game we are creating significant problems. Samie and James review in more depth the difference between these two types of games and the cost of the short term ‘finite game’ mindset. The different elements of what constitutes an infinite mindset are discussed, as well as an acknowledgement of what it takes to have the courage to lead in this way.

    25 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    Bonus Episode - Discussing Simon Sinek's 'The Infinite Game' with John Flint

    In this bonus episode we are joined by John Flint who shares with us his insights on Simon Sinek’s book ‘The Infinite Game’. The economic dislocations caused by this crisis are forcing leaders at all levels to make quick decisions, often with incomplete and changing information - decisions that have been accelerated or compressed in a shorter time frame. This book can be helpful for leaders either as a challenge - or as a comfort - that our decision-making framework is built around something that is beyond the immediate challenges we face today. John shares his views around the importance of balancing all stakeholders, and that the stewards of long term businesses need to be thinking over a time-frame of 10 to 15 years. He discusses how there is a mythology around investors only being interested in short-term results when, in reality, the pressure usually comes from other sources, and that leaders need to have the courage of their convictions to ‘sit through this’ and focus on the long-term. Drawing from his own leadership journey, John shares his thoughts on how leaders can demonstrate courage and why authenticity or just ‘being human’ is so critical for leadership today. We also touch on the lovely illustrated book 'The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse' by Charlie Mackesy, where John shares with us his insights on what success is as a leader, what bravery means, and his greatest discovery as a leader.

    22 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    Discover Your True North by Bill George

    Authentic leadership has never been more critical than now. In his excellent book Discover Your True North, Bill George outlines how, by following our internal compass, and staying focused on our True North, we can chart a course to being truly authentic leaders. In this episode, Samie shares his central message of 'Authentic Leaders go from Me to We'. Picking on examples from the book, we discuss the importance of ‘crucibles’ in our lives, and how these can be used to drive authenticity. We touch on the concept that Bill calls 'servant leadership’, and even manage to combine both Mandela and basketball into the same petal!

    19 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Bonus Episode - Discussing 'Discover Your True North' with Bill George

    In this bonus episode, we are joined by Harvard Business School professor, former Medtronic CEO, and bestselling author Bill George. Bill shares anecdotes from his leadership journey, as well as reflecting on the interviews and stories from his book ‘Discover Your True North’.  We discuss the impact of ‘crucibles’ on our lives and how these can help forge authentic leadership, and how every leader needs a good ‘support group’ around them.  Bill then shares the central message from his book, in 8 words or less: Authentic leaders serve with character and integrity.

    24 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton Christensen

    In this episode, we explore the powerful and wide ranging book by Clayton Christensen that offers a series of guidelines for helping the reader find meaning and happiness in life. The book hits home in many ways and manages to deliver a holistic message grounded in both his experience and the case studies of successful organisations. Samie and James discuss the difference between hygiene factors and true motivating factors, and how often money gets confused for the latter. We talk about the importance of aligning personal resources (time and energy) to what matters most, and how to avoid letting a 'just this once' attitude knock you off-course. A fantastic book and one that stimulates a lot of reflection, leading to James's central message 'Don't leave your life's purpose to chance'.

    19 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    Bonus Episode - Discussing 'How Will You Measure Your Life' with Rob Gardner

    In this episode we are joined by Rob Gardner, investment director for St. James's Place Wealth Management, co-founder of Redington, author and thought-leader on financial education and inclusion. Rob shares his experiences from founding and successfully growing his own businesses and the significant impact that Clayton Christensen’s book had both on his career and keeping him focused on what is really important in his life. Rob talks about the motivations that led him to leave a successful career as an investment banker to start-up his own business, how he stays focused on his ‘why’ (helping others to become in control of their financial future), the concept of ‘Ikigai’, and how he stays intentional about the way he spends his time and energy. Clayton Christensen’s fantastic book stimulates a lot of reflection and is very relevant for the challenging times we are currently experiencing.

    22 min

  7. EPISODE 7

    #Time4Humanity by Samie Al Achrafi

    In this episode we discuss the book #Time4Humanity by Samie Al-Achrafi.  In a wide ranging discussion that matches the breadth of the book, we discuss the implications of advancing technology in all elements of our lives, and whether the right questions are being asked as to the long-term impact of this. Samie talks about the importance of a more conscious leadership style that embraces the full range of our nature.  Linked to this - and particularly relevant in a world increasingly reliant on Zoom - we touch on the criticality of listening, how to create space for deeper listening, and become more aware of what can distract leaders in any given moment. Samie argues that how we show up as leaders – how we listen and connect, and care for others – are not just commitments; they are intentions as much as skills.  Finally, Samie shares the central message, it’s #Time4Humanity.

    25 min

  8. EPISODE 8

    Bonus Episode - Discussing #Time4Humanity with Amna Al Owais

    In this bonus episode we are joined by Amna Al Owais, chief executive and registrar of the DIFC Courts, to talk about the key themes and messages from Samie's book #Time4Humanity. We discuss why Amna has placed values and culture at the centre of her leadership and how she discovered her purpose. Amna shares more about her leadership journey and how she learned, over time, to bring her full authentic self to work.  Finally, we discuss the implications of technology in the legal industry, and how retaining the human perspective is vital in the courts of the future.

    20 min

  9. EPISODE 9

    Principles by Ray Dalio

    In this episode, we discuss Ray Dalio’s book Principles.   Dalio is one of the most successful entrepreneurs and investors in the world, and in this book he distils the, somewhat unconventional, principles that have underpinned his success.  The author shares his life’s journey and how his experiences shaped his principles – particularly the ‘crucible moment’ where he lost everything and had to start all over again.  The principles are structured into ‘work principles’ and ‘life principles’, all of them grounded in the experience of implementing them in the real world and how this contributed to the success of Bridgewater Associates.  Samie and James pick on some of the key principles – namely those focused on radical transparency, facing into reality, learning from failure and radical openness. We discuss how these can be applied in our day-to-day lives, what we can learn from them, and how we can encourage even more transparency and openness in our leadership.

    22 min

  10. EPISODE 10

    Bonus Episode - Discussing Principles with Becks Beere

    For this week’s bonus episode, we are joined by Becks Beere - the founder and CEO of Avec UK, a market-leading strategic brand and product partner for global retailers. Becks recommended 'Principles' by Ray Dalio and shares the many ways the book has influenced her life and how the insights influenced the considerable success of her business.  Basing our discussion on insights garnered from the book, Becks speaks about how failures on her leadership journey have fuelled the desire to create a strong foundation for a lively workplace and inclusive culture. We also discuss the benefits and challenges of radical transparency, and what that means in practice if we are to encourage open conversations among employees and meaningful feedback loops.

    22 min

  11. EPISODE 11

    The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell

    In this episode, we discuss the book The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell and take on the challenge to try and distil it into a central message of #8wordsorless. The book is vast in scope, covering the themes and symbols of ancient narratives and how these continue to bring meaning to our lives, offering lessons that can be applied to leadership today.   We talk about the power of storytelling, and how leaders can, and should, utilise this to communicate a vision and inspire their teams. Samie also talks about Campbell’s famous concept of ‘Follow your Bliss’ before touching upon the monomyth, and the dragons that need to be slayed if we are to ‘be the hero of your journey’.

    23 min

  12. EPISODE 12

    Bonus Episode - Discussing the Power of Myth with Céline Cousteau

    It is a privilege to be joined by Céline Cousteau for the season finale to discuss the book The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell. As a filmmaker, author and environmentalist, Céline is in a unique position to understand and appreciate the power of storytelling. Picking up on Campbell’s assertion that ‘the only myth worth thinking about in the immediate future is the planet and everyone on it’, we talk about what this means in reality today, and whether there is a place for myth in the modern world. In the episode, we explore what it means - in Campbell’s words - to 'find your bliss' and ‘slay your dragon’, and what these concepts have meant to Céline throughout her life and career. Finally, we hear from Céline about the work she has done in the Amazon and the impact this magical place has on all our lives, including how it is said that the rainforest produces oxygen for one in every five breaths we take.

    23 min
See All Season 2 (12)

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Do you have an ever-growing list of leadership and management books to read - but can't find the time? Every episode, Samie and James share their perspectives on a different book and distil some key themes into a central message of 8 words or less.

Information

  • Creator
    Samie Al-Achrafi and James Elwes
  • Episodes
    25
  • Seasons
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 8 Words or Less
  • Show Website
    8 Words or Less

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