Send us Fan Mail #StoriesAndStanza #Septemics #HumanBehaviour #SelfImprovement #EmotionalIntelligence "95% of the problems in industrialised society are because people don't understand people, including themselves." That conviction sits at the heart of Septemics, a system Jim Marshall spent decades building. In this episode, Abhra sits down with Jim to explore his book Septemics: Hierarchies of Human Phenomena. Jim describes Septemics as a philosophical science grounded in direct observation: many human phenomena unfold in sequences of seven levels. The book sets out 35 unique scales, 245 levels in all, covering the problems we face with people. Jim explains three ways to use it. First, as a yardstick for judging whether a group, individual or activity lifts people up or drags them down. Second, as a source of insight once you spot where someone sits on a scale. Third, as a set of gradients for helping yourself or others improve, one level at a time. He shares how the system grew out of his work with hundreds of clients as a human development engineer, why the seven-level structure only became clear to him in 1995, and why he chose to write for everyday readers rather than specialists. Along the way, he applies the scales to relationships, choosing who to go into business with, historical leaders from George Washington to Adolf Hitler, and the difference between criminals and truly destructive people. His argument: once you know someone's level, you can predict their behaviour and steer clear of downscale troublemakers. CHAPTERS 00:00 Why Septemics Exists 04:00 Seven Levels and 35 Scales 21:08 Real World Uses and Reading People 44:33 Reading People by Gradients 50:12 Power and Danger Levels 54:04 Self Improvement and Who Changes ABOUT JIM MARSHALL Jim Marshall is a polymath who has devoted more than 50,000 hours to the study and practice of human potential and development. He received a classical education as an honour student at a Jesuit military prep school, was accepted into engineering school while still a junior, and attended college on an academic scholarship, graduating with a Bachelor of Science cum laude from City University of New York. As an undergraduate, he began studying "alternative" arts and sciences, what today might be called transformational and holistic practices, and went on to become a professional practitioner. After 28 years of formal education, he built a 40-year career as a Human Development Engineer, treating and training hundreds of clients. He has integrated some of the most advanced techniques available and extended them through his own research and discovery, and is the inventor of Septemics and several consciousness-expanding systems. His areas of expertise include psychology, philosophy, theology, parapsychology, science, engineering, mathematics, law, literature, history, music, organisation, metaphysics, military science, political science, physical culture and education. Learn more about Septemics: https://septemics.com If this conversation gave you something to think about, subscribe and follow Stories and Stanza on YouTube or your favourite podcast platform, and share it with someone who's curious about what makes people tick. https://storiesandstanza.com Support the show 📩 CONNECT WITH STORIES AND STANZA Email: info@storiesandstanza.com Fan mail & reviews: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2639460/fan_mail/new Wish to read about the episodes in advance or need a recap? Find us on 👉 SubStack. 📌 Follow us: YouTube | Facebook | X | Instagram ☕ Buy me a coffee 🛠️ Tools we love: vidIQ · Descript
