Productive Flourishing

Charlie Gilkey
  • 4.9 (100)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
Productive Flourishing Podcast

Productive Flourishing (formerly the Creative Giant Show) explores how to do the work that matters to become your best self in the world. Host Charlie Gilkey and occasional co-host Angela Wheeler take listeners on a deep dive into the lives of leaders, changemakers, creatives, and entrepreneurs who are thriving in life and business by doing work that matters. Listen in to see how they cultivate meaning, success, and happiness as well as their approach to productivity, business, health, and the challenges (yes, even the deep, dark ones) that show up in their lives. www.productiveflourishing.com

  1. SEP 11

    Mo Bunnell: Give to Grow (Episode #254)

    Topics We Explored: * Mo Bunnell’s new book Give to Grow and why it makes sense to focus on relationships and a giving mindset as the foundation for long-term business success. * How to define business development and distinguish it from pure sales, as well as the importance of strategic helpfulness in developing a business or career. * The logic behind providing value upfront through small projects or advice to build trust and increase the likelihood of future business and engagement. * Strategies for making effective recommendations and managing client expectations, including the use of social proof and escalating commitments. Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: * Mo Bunnell: Website | Podcast * Give to Grow Supplemental Materials: Downloadable resources, including the Give to Grow Team Launch Guide, top lead generation methods worksheet, meeting prep questions, research citations, and an exclusive secret chapter. * Find Your Business Flow: PF’s new cohort program to help entrepreneurs focus on (among other things) growth — building relationships, scaling your business, and winning the work that matters. Perspectives like those in this episode can help you grow your business. By upgrading to a paid subscription, you gain access to exclusive content, monthly coaching calls & e-courses. About Mo Bunnell: Mo Bunnell helps complex organizations grow by scaling business development skills and creating a growth-oriented culture. He’s the founder of Bunnell Idea Group (BIG) and the author of The Snowball System. BIG has trained tens of thousands of professionals at hundreds of organizations. Mo lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Thanks for Listening! Subscribe to Productive Flourishing on Apple Podcasts to get all the latest episodes delivered straight to your preferred mobile device. This is the perfect option for listening to the show in the car, on the subway, or while you’re working out. Plus, you won’t have to fuss with figuring out how you’re going to listen. Episode Timestamps [0:01:46] Charlie Gilkey introduces Mo Bunnell and discusses why he's excited about the Give to Grow book. [0:05:02] Discussion of the broader definition of business development and how it differs from sales. [0:07:34] Mo Bunnell explains the importance of balancing altruistic and economic success in business. [0:11:41] Importance of selling the problem and the solution, not just the expertise. [0:13:26] Discussion of the differences between the skills needed for "doing the work" versus "winning the work". [0:18:30] Explanation of the concept of "certainty" versus "possibility" in business development. [0:22:05] Explanation of the "give to grow" strategy and providing value upfront to build trust. [0:26:52] Discussion of how to make effective recommendations and manage client expectations. [0:31:14] Advice on naming programs and offerings to focus on outcomes, not just processes. [0:35:47] Importance of providing options and allowing clients to choose. [0:41:44] Addressing the challenge of transitioning from free to paid content. [0:47:59] Practical tips for committing to and testing new business development strategies. [0:52:54] Discussion of the importance of casting possibility and helping clients see their best version. [1:06:51] Final thoughts on the emotion and inspiration of winning the work. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

    1h 9m

  2. AUG 27

    Fixing the Plane While We Fly It with Kate Tyson

    Note to the reader: Team Habits, my most recent book, was released one year ago this week. You might also be aware of Productive Flourishing’s sister publication, Better Team Habits, a spin-off of the book. We’ve had incredible moments over on BTH in the past year. For those not subscribed to both publications I’d like to celebrate the book’s anniversary by sharing with you a singular podcast episode I sat down to do with my friend Kate Tyson on “fixing the plane while we fly it.” I think it will prove fruitful for PF readers too — for your current or future teams. — Charlie Many of us would likely agree on the fact that the dominant, central power structures that make up our system need some reform. That goes for institutions large and small, whether we’re talking about a particular startup company or the global economy. But what is change supposed to look like, and how does it come about? If I could offer one of the basic tenets from Team Habits, it’s that we start the change process by first shifting the way we relate to each other — in our teams and at work.  This episode originally aired on Kate Tyson’s podcast Boss Talks: Whiskey Fridays, in which she and I dive into how cultural change is a long-term play, and why better team habits are a critical component of the process. Topics We Explored * The challenges of leading and effecting change in businesses, particularly in the context of social and economic change, and the importance of engaging with the 'messy middle'. * Looking for 'subversive simplicity' in our lives, business, and management decisions — which often challenges conventional wisdom on growth and productivity. * The disconnect between workplace culture and the caretaking reality at home of many team members. * How to address these and other issues of power and balance in the workplace we’ll need as a whole a more collaborative approach to decision-making and team bonding * Leading and forming teams is never easy. * Why by acknowledging issues and addressing power dynamics head-on, we have a chance to avoid conflicts or deal with them effectively. * How prioritizing relationship-building with our teammates ultimately creates change and trust This episode touches on many topics I explore at length in my book, Team Habits: How Small Actions Lead to Extraordinary Results. If Productive Flourishing adds value to your inbox, consider a paid or pro subscription for access to the full archive, monthly community coaching calls, and more. About Kate Tyson Kate Tyson is a multi-disciplinary business owner and rebellious spirit, and the owner and director of Wanderwell, a consulting and bookkeeping practice that grows thriving small businesses, while investigating new models for being in business. Wanderwell integrates financial expertise with an empathic, vision-forward approach, and leads with the belief that businesses can help create a more just world that centers people, community, and the environment. Episode Timestamps [0:00] Leadership, power sharing, and social change. What does it take to shift from a single-leader model to a democratic leadership approach? Many companies and leaders struggle with the challenge of moving towards shared leadership without losing direction. Businesses can be platforms for social and economic change, and as a result, grapple with the complexities of dismantling oppressive structures within capitalist frameworks. How do we foster collaboration and ensure respect within the workplace while striving for excellence? [5:28] Cultural norms in the workplace. The workplace can be a site of systems change and social justice, given the growth of decentralized micro-capitalist businesses in the 2000s. Leaders need to prioritize team well-being to avoid perpetuating negative aspects of the dominant culture. Charlie shares how to recognize and dismantle harmful cultural norms — and how leaders can become aware of and shift away from perpetuating negati

    1h 5m
  3. Mark Drager: The Gift of Not Knowing (Episode #253)

    02/09/2023

    Mark Drager: The Gift of Not Knowing (Episode #253)

    Key Takeaways: [3:24] Charlie’s background and why he decided to become an entrepreneur. [9:16] It typically takes 18 months to 36 months just to figure out what you're doing as an entrepreneur. [13:13] Mark talks about his career journey from going to film school to going to a corporate company at a franchise company making videos. There, he started to look at which projects he enjoyed the most and which ones had the highest profit margins that he could deliver. [14:01] The lowest point in Mark’s business and how it changed. [16:13] Mark’s story of using his high intelligence, talent, and energy in a way that served himself and others. [23:47] Asking for help is one of the greatest things we could do. [24:15] When you accept the gift of not knowing, it opens up all these possibilities. [24:20] It’s okay that you don’t know, and you don’t have to fight that. [31:42] What path will get your message in front of the people you want to speak to, and then once you are there, how do you build an experience better than your competitors? [33:16] The principles of marketing and sales haven’t really changed since 2000 years ago. We’ve just gotten better at implementing those principles. [45:28] Mark’s decision to stop running his business. [1:04:11] Doing our best work requires us to center ourselves on our dreams and our passions. [1:11:05] Ask yourself: what’s the smartest thing you can do next, and then, what’s the most courageous next step you can take on that project? [1:19:38] Mark’s Challenge: Let him help you.   Mentioned: Mark Drager: Website | Podcast Richard Branson Fast Company Breakthrough Advertising This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

    1h 26m
  4. Ruby Vesely & Eric Spencer: Why We Need Connection in the Workplace (Episode 252)

    01/19/2023

    Ruby Vesely & Eric Spencer: Why We Need Connection in the Workplace (Episode 252)

    Key Takeaways: [2:57] Ruby and Eric discuss some of the unique delights and challenges of being part of a writing trio. [7:45] What is the bridge between this book and Morag’s book Cultivate: The Power of Winning Relationship? [8:05] What are the intentional choices you can make to build ally relationships? [12:44] Ruby and Eric break down the five components of an ally mindset: abundance and generosityconnection and compassioncourage and vulnerabilitycandor and debateaction and accountability[13:23] In order to get more allies, you have to be one yourself. [25:43] How can we start with small ripples of joy in our own lives and have that branch out to help others? [28:12] Are two-hour staff meetings really necessary? And if so, how do we make them more efficient and profitable for everyone involved? [34:13] If you’ve invested in your relationship, it’s going to withstand weird moments. In the meantime, what should we do when a sideways moment occurs? [59:54] Challenge: lean into having the hard conversations. Keeping your head down isn’t going to change a damn thing. And, check out the Ally Mindset Profile to give you some insights into what comes naturally to you, as it relates to the five practices. Mentioned: You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work Ally Mindset Profile John Gottman This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

    1h 3m
  5. Spotify Live: Do we really all have the same 24 hours as Beyoncé? (Bonus Episode)

    12/15/2022

    Spotify Live: Do we really all have the same 24 hours as Beyoncé? (Bonus Episode)

    Key Takeaways: [6:20] We are in a media environment that is saturated with messages about how much more we could be doing. [7:27] Charlie, Jenny, and Tara define capacity and what that means to them. [10:51] What are some of the things that can make working in a team overwhelming? [14:17] When our world gets too big, we tend to get disengagement and boredom. [15:38] The difference between rigidity and rigor in goal setting. [17:09] Why is it important to bring in conversation about rigidity versus rigor as it relates to capacity and the ambitions that so many of us have, especially for creative pursuits? [21:55] How do you effectively and professionally communicate when you’re overcommitted? [29:07] Just be honest about what you can and can't do. [32:07] Yes, technically we all have the same 24 hours as Beyonce, but we have different 24 hours. [45:34] At the heart of hustle culture is a solution to a substantially larger problem that we have in the 21st-Century economy. Charlie, Jenny, and Tara discuss how hustle and bro culture is a larger sign of a patriarchy and white male privilege. Mentioned: Jenny Blake Tara McMullin This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

    57 min
  6. Jennifer Brown: How to Be an Inclusive Leader (Episode 250)

    12/01/2022

    Jennifer Brown: How to Be an Inclusive Leader (Episode 250)

    Key Takeaways: [3:13] Jennifer discusses finding her voice in the workplace equality movement as a professional, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and someone who recognizes their privilege. [5:25] Jennifer talks about carrying the LGBTQ identity as a source of challenge, and using it as a vehicle to transform her own leadership. [12:22] When getting leaders and insiders to enact lasting change, we need to focus on DEI efforts on the moral case, just as much, if not more than, the business case. [15:43] If you are an insider, you can push on other insiders to lead differently. [17:40] Up to 75% of change management efforts fail, especially the top-down-led ones. [21:01] We can find core issues that we can focus on, which will then create ripples of change. One example of this can be toxic masculinity. [33:01] We should recognize that the differences between us are ones we should face and name, rather than sweep them under the rug. [38:11] The journey of understanding others is challenging and may reveal things about ourselves that we never expected. It’s important to be patient, humble, and transparent about our experience. Humans don’t learn by shaming one another. [1:01:28] Leaning on others within your community is super important, and Jennifer talks about the profoundness of an ally showing up to help speak for someone who can’t. [1:09:49] Jennifer’s challenge: get comfortable with being uncomfortable. [1:10:44] DEI is a laboratory for human evolution, and it challenges us at the deepest level in the not knowing. Mentioned: Jennifer Brown How to Be an Inclusive Leader DEI Deconstructed: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Doing the Work and Doing It Right, by Lily Zheng bell hooks This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

    1h 12m
  7. Jadah Sellner: Build Your Life With L.O.V.E. (Episode 249)

    11/17/2022

    Jadah Sellner: Build Your Life With L.O.V.E. (Episode 249)

    Can magic strike twice? As we learn in this episode, it most certainly can. Charlie welcomes Jadah Sellner, best-selling author, business coach, and the host of the Lead with Love podcast. Jadah shares wisdom from her own experience of going from the “green smoothie girl” to an anti-hustle and pro-sustainable leadership business coach. Jadah talks more about her #shebuilds movement, which helps founders build sustainable businesses without burnout, some tips on moving forward when you feel like you’ve outgrown your current situation, and how we can apply anti-hustle productivity in our personal and professional lives. Jadah and Charlie talk about their creative process of book writing, moving from fear to love, and how we can define our “enough” to move through the world more intentionally. Key Takeaways: [3:41] Jadah talks about co-founding Simple Green Smoothies with her then-business partner Jen, and the interesting journey to have the conscious uncoupling not only with a business partner but with an identity of a body of work that she built. [5:20] Can magic strike twice? The answer is yes. [5:58] What should you do when you feel stuck in a pattern, yet your heart and soul call you in a new direction? [10:08] Sometimes we need separation to rebuild on our own and find our way. [10:52] Jadah shares a few people and situations that helped her create her own skill set and tools to pull from in her current life. [11:13] How is She Builds different from anything Jadah has done before? [12:17] Pay attention to where your natural curiosity and interest lie. [14:31] Jadah is an immersive creator, and she talks about giving herself the space to process and creatively cocoon while she is going through the process of creative writing and output. [17:41] Things flow much more easily when we embrace the fact that each project brings a new creative process. [23:15] The core message behind She Builds is that hustle culture isn’t working for women. [32:51] Sometimes advocating for yourself also means having to push back deadlines and be honest with yourself and others that things may not happen on the exact day you plan for them to happen. [38:55] How can we move from fear to love? Jadah breaks down her definition of “L.O.V.E.”: lead, optimize, visualize, and expand. [41:23] In a world where your to-do list can be a bottomless mimosa, it’s important to have an intentional and practical relationship with your to-do list. [48:47] Jadah’s growth edge now is being in a creative process with her book. [50:43] Jadah’s challenge: define your “enough” number. It is personal for everyone and can help move you out of hustle culture. Mentioned in this episode: Productive Flourishing Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done, by Charlie Gilkey The Academy Momentum App Jadah Sellner @jadahsellner Lead with Love Podcast She Builds: The Anti-Hustle Guide to Grow Your Business and Nourish Your Life Elizabeth Gilbert Neil Gaiman Toni Morrison This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

    53 min
  8. Tara McMullin: Unpacking the Code of What Works (Episode 248)

    10/27/2022

    Tara McMullin: Unpacking the Code of What Works (Episode 248)

    Key Takeaways: [4:36] Tara talks about what led her to create the What Works book, a blend of her own personal quest to re-establish her relationship with work and goals, mixed with conversations with people who had all sorts of different relationships to productivity and goals. [6:08] In the process of Tara’s research for the book, it brought up a deeper conversation of how much culture, family, and upbringing have on our identity, which makes an impact on how we structure our work and the goals we set. [6:49] We are bombarded by marketing and societal messages that make us feel like we aren’t good enough, or aren’t doing enough. [7:22] Tara and Charlie discuss why we don’t do the things we really want to do, and why working on teams can be so hard, even though we are primed to work with others. [12:25] We unpack the validation spiral, and why it’s so common. [16:21] Externally, one of the ways that we play into the validation spiral is by saying yes to things, taking on projects, and spreading ourselves too thin to do anything impeccably. [20:23] So many of us are socialized to be the supporting actor when really we can be the lead actor in our own story. [24:01] Ask yourself: what resources do you need, and where might they come from? [33:15] When “shoulding” and “supposed to-ing” yourself, get clear and concrete about what exactly you are looking for. Try to get specific about numbers and benchmarks. [40:15] Why don’t we ask for help before we absolutely need it? [45:10] Get a support team together before you need the help. [52:12] As a community, we can learn to break down resistance to ask for help and more openly offer help to others without expecting much in return. Mentioned in this episode: Productive Flourishing Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done, by Charlie Gilkey The Academy Momentum App Broken Down Girl Tara McMullin What Works: A Comprehensive Framework to Change the Way We Approach Goal Setting What Works  What Works Network This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productiveflourishing.com/subscribe

    1h 0m
See All (255)

4.9
out of 5
100 Ratings

About

Productive Flourishing (formerly the Creative Giant Show) explores how to do the work that matters to become your best self in the world. Host Charlie Gilkey and occasional co-host Angela Wheeler take listeners on a deep dive into the lives of leaders, changemakers, creatives, and entrepreneurs who are thriving in life and business by doing work that matters. Listen in to see how they cultivate meaning, success, and happiness as well as their approach to productivity, business, health, and the challenges (yes, even the deep, dark ones) that show up in their lives. www.productiveflourishing.com

Information

  • Creator
    Charlie Gilkey
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2024
  • Episodes
    255
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Charlie Gilkey
  • Show Website
    Productive Flourishing

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