Anecdotally Speaking Shawn Callahan & Mark Schenk
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Welcome to our podcast, Anecdotally Speaking. Each week we tell a business story, talk about why it works and discuss where you might tell it at work. Our aim is to help you build your story repertoire.
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204 – The Serve and Return Turning Point: Agassi, Becker and perseverance
We are all looking for the turning point in a good story, and we love a story that demonstrates perseverance and resolve.
Shawn and Mark discuss the relevance of this story to: explaining the data in a story, sizing up your competition and 'keeping Mum' with your competitive advantage. -
202 – Efficiency versus cost cutting
Reducing waste increases the efficiency of raw material use. But can we all agree that scraping mould off food product prior to packaging may be a little beyond the pale?
Shawn and Mark discuss the relevance of this story to: understanding the difference between efficiency and cost cutting, short 'single point' storytelling, the retelling factor in stories with disgust, and the importance of avoiding abstraction in your stories. -
201 – Governance and accountability lose their Barings
A governance and accountability story. Welcome to the Anecdotally Speaking podcast!
Visit our website for more captivating stories and business insights!
https://www.anecdote.com/
In this episode, our hosts Shawn Callahan and Mark Schenk kick off the 2024 season of the show!
The episode features a cautionary story about Nick Leeson, an infamous investment trader for the Queen’s bank (Barings) who traded them into bankruptcy.
Expect to learn:
* The devastating story leading to the bankruptcy of England’s oldest investment bank
* The importance of governance and accountability
* The impact of high risk investment trading
* The vital difference between talent and luck
And…much more!
Links and References:
Nick Leeson story
Shawn Callahan on LinkedIn
Mark Schenk on LinkedIn
Come say hi on our social Medias!
LinkedIn Page
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash
For your story bank
Tags: governance, internal control, trust, accountability, trader, bankruptcy
This story starts at 04:09 and ends at 10:39
This business story is centred around the downfall of Barings Bank in the 1990s. The bank’s Singapore office, led by the young and successful Nick Leeson, initially thrived with a doubling strategy, turning profits. However, Leeson’s high-risk trades led to substantial losses hidden in an obscure account. The lack of oversight and accountability within the bank’s governance allowed the losses to accumulate, ultimately resulting in the bank’s bankruptcy in February 1995.
The takeaways from this story include: the importance of governance, trust, accountability, and the fine line between talent and luck in the financial world. -
200 – Weber BBQ Australian Success
Welcome to the Anecdotally Speaking podcast!
Visit our website for more captivating stories and business insights!
https://www.anecdote.com/
In this episode, our hosts Shawn Callahan and Mark Schenk celebrate the 200th episode of the show!
The episode features an inspiring story about Ross McDonald, a former accountant who found unexpected success in the barbecue industry.
Expect to learn:
* The inspiring journey of the Weber Kettle Barbecue in Australia
* The importance of customer experience
* The impact of perspective on identifying opportunities
* The vital role of curiosity in recognizing patterns for success
And…much more!
Links and References:
Ross McDonald story
Shawn Callahan on LinkedIn
Mark Schenk on LinkedIn
Come say hi on our social Medias!
LinkedIn Page
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
Photo by Harry Knight on Unsplash -
199 – Approach to the south poles apart – Amundsen Scott
Two explorers from the northern hemisphere set out to be the first to reach the South Pole – Roald Amundsen of Norway and Robert Falconer Scott of England. Their expedition planning, team, equipment and transport selections could not have been more different.
Shawn and Mark discuss the relevance of this story to: corporate culture, knowing your limitations, hand picking your teams and the impact of clear, singular goals on success.
Welcome back to a new Anecdotally Speaking episode.
For your story bank
Tags: workplace culture, know your limitations, teams, goal setting, planning
This story starts at 01:25 and ends at 06:29
Early 1900s – Race to reach the South pole
Robert Falconer Scott UK v Roald Amundsen Norway
Amundsen already traversed South West Passage
Time among Inuit – dogs, skiis, clothing
Scott naval officer – royal appointment
Both commence missions early 1910
Amundsen single focus > pole and back safely
Planning food > eat penguins, then the sled dogs… eeuw!
Amundsen encounters bad storm early – retreats and tries again later
Amundsen reaches pole Dec 11 1914
Not so well for Scott…
Multiple objectives and ‘noble’ mission
Ponies and motorised sleds – die and breakdown – party left to continue on foot
Inadequate food supply
Scott arrives at South Pole one month after Amundsen
On Scott’s return, get to within 12 miles of supply depot, but…
All die in their tents – exhaustion, frostbite, malnutrition
Culture
Know your limitations – learning via immersion
Keep it simple
Get the local knowledge
Hand pick your team
Clear, singular goal >
Too many objectives/stakeholders is dangerous
The importance of planning
Disgust in this story – penguins, then dogs > horror -
198 – Mayor in the monkey suit – Stuart Drummond
People from Hartlepool UK are known colloquially as ‘monkey hangers’ – a moniker that stems from the Napoleonic Wars of the 1800s. But this story is about a larrikin mascot in a monkey suit making mayor and breaking records…
Shawn and Mark bring these disparate (but related) stories together to illustrate some business points around seizing the day, fact being stranger than fiction, and judging books by their covers.
Welcome back to a new Anecdotally Speaking episode.
For your story bank
Tags: Risk taking, Leadership, Seize the day, Opportunity
This story starts at 01:42 and ends at 07:48
Napoleonic wars – French v British
Ship Wreck Hartlepool
Only survivors was a monkey
Brits had never seen a monkey or Frenchman before (assumed monkey was french!)
Tried and hanged the monkey as a French spy
Hartlepool folks now known as ‘monkey hangers’ (based on legend?)
Fast forward to the 1999
Local Hartlepool footy club find monkey mascot in Stuart Drummond
Bit naughty, but endearing
Bribed township with bananas for votes
For a lark, ran for mayor and won not once, but thrice
A British record, world recognised
Big turnaround for the larrikin
Can’t judge a book by it’s cover
An opportunity to lead might be just what/all that you need
Fact is stranger than fiction
Seize the day