216 – Challenge the Status Quo – Todd McFarlane

In Episode 216 of Anecdotally Speaking, listen to hear how Todd McFarlane repopularised the Spider-Man comics by going against the status quo. In episode 216 …

215 – Rising from Burnout – Simone Biles

In Episode 215 of Anecdotally Speaking tune in to discover the remarkable journey of Simone Biles and the powerful lessons it offers on burnout and …

214 – Jumping to New Ideas – Richard Fosbury

In 214 of Anecdotally Speaking, listen to hear how Richard Fosbury used innovation to defy all odds and win a gold medal in the high …

213 – Value is Relative

Episode 213 of Anecdotally Speaking illustrates the impact of product placement and range, giving insight into sales tactics and the impact of identity. In Episode …

212 – Fight Fire with Fire – Wagner Dodge

In Episode 212 of Anecdotally Speaking, delve into the gripping tale of the Mann Gulch fire, a story that will challenge your views on underlying …

211 – Looks Can be Deceiving – Ronald Read

In Episode 211 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover Ronald Read’s secret and its application to staff development and job design. In Episode 211 of Anecdotally Speaking, …

210 – There’s a Story Behind Everything

Episode 210 of Anecdotally Speaking gives insight into how salespeople can increase value and customer buy-in through story. In Episode 210 of Anecdotally Speaking, Shawn …

209 – Take the Opposing View

In Episode 209 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover how asking the right questions brought us GPS – and how you can take these lessons into your …

208 – Making Numbers Meaningful

In Episode 208 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover how to make abstract concepts relatable and humanize data in business settings. In Episode 208 of Anecdotally Speaking, …

207 – Control is an Illusion – Barbra Streisand

In Episode 207 of Anecdotally Speaking, learn the origin of “The Streisand Effect” and uncover its powerful lesson on perseverance in business. In Episode 207 …

206 – Necessity is the Mother of Invention – John Sipe

Explore how John F. Sipe’s 1919 innovation provides lessons in business problem-solving and challenging the status quo. In Episode 206 of Anecdotally Speaking, Mark tells …

205 – Creativity in Constraints – Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie

Boundless creativity can create stagnancy. Listen to hear how Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie demonstrate the importance of constraints in creativity. In Episode 205 of …

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.

203 – The resilience and persistence story of Penfolds Grange

Resilience and persistence are not only the hallmarks of future success in winemaking, but in business too.

Shawn and Mark discuss the relevance of this story to: sticking to your guns, having a ‘partner in crime’ and really, fully backing your instincts.

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, …

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 …

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.

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.

197 – Atlanta Olympic swim 1996 – Kieren Perkins

Australian champion swimmer Kieren Perkins barely qualified for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and only just made the final for the 1500 metre event. Shawn and Mark discuss how extraordinary ‘turn-arounds’, under promising and over delivering, and reduced expectations of self can sometimes lead to world class moments.

196 – Better fire story – Michigan Uni

Michigan University researchers sought to understand the ‘stickiness’ of stories – does factual or emotionally charged information provided ‘after the fact’ change how a story is told or re-told? Shawn and Mark discuss how a ‘better story’ might usurp an prevailing story (sometimes regardless of the truth).

195 – Bullet train kingfisher nose – Eiji Nakatsu

Bird watcher and engineer Eiji Nakatsu sped up and made Japan’s bullet trains quieter by studying the kingfisher’s beak.

Shawn and Mark stick their noses into how a business might use this story to encourage innovation through biomimicry.

194 – French reverse mortgage – Jeanne Calment

Jeanne Louise Calment lived to 122 years of age (a species record). Who would have thought such an age was achievable? How would you feel, betting against such a long life, and losing on the deal?

Shawn and Mark discuss how a business might use this story to illustrate the unexpected nature of planning, and the danger of ‘the sure thing’.

193 – Rolling Stones songwriting – Andrew Loog Oldham

Andrew Loog Oldham at 19 years of age was the Rolling Stones first manager. By suggesting that Keith Richards and Mick Jagger start writing original songs, a 50 year plus collaboration was born (affectionately now known as the ‘Strolling Bones’ ;>). Shawn and Mark discuss how a business might use this story to explain both the value of copying masters, and encouraging innovation.

192 – Americas Cup speed focus – Peter Blake

Sir Peter Blake suggested a single focus for New Zealand’s Americas Cup challenge – only do those things that make the boat go faster – leading to two trophies. Shawn and Mark discuss how a business might use this story to galvanise a team.