Hey everybody,
Welcome to Chapter 50 of 3 Books!
Yes, in the midst of coronavirus chaos we’re going to hang out on a hotel room couch in Vancouver for a little bit of calm. (PS. If you haven’t listened to the Surprise Waning Crescent episode of 3 Books all about coronavirus please check that out first.)
I am very excited to have you on the couch beside me and the absolutely incredible Marcus Buckingham.
Who is Marcus?
Well, if you’re in the business world, you’ve probably heard of him. Why? Well, he’s written books sitting on every executive’s bookshelf and his assessments and work is used everywhere. Marcus Buckingham is a global researcher and thought leader focused on unlocking people's strengths, increasing their performance, and pioneering the future of how people work. I have a feeling his work is going to be much needed after coronavirus! How did Marcus end up doing this job? Well, after working as Senior Researcher inside Gallup for a couple of decades he co-authored some of the most popular business books of all time including First Break All The Rules, Now Discover Your Strengths, and his latest bestseller, Nine Lies About Work.
What does Marcus do now? He guides the vision of ADP Research Institute as Head of People and Performance and in 2006 he founded the Marcus Buckingham Company, with the clear mission to instigate a “strengths revolution.”
I love the optimism behind his work. That people are born as acorns, with an imprint inside them on what they could be, and what their true potential could lead them to.
I sat down with Marcus overlooking the foggy mountains over Vancouver Harbour just before he took to the stage for the headlining slot at The Art of Leadership.
We cover a lot of topics in this chapter including:
How do we learn to truly see our children?
How can the education system be improved?
How do we avoid tribalism?
What is the real definition of weird?
What’s the single best question to ask yourself when trying to articulate your strengths?
And how can we find our own unique way to draw strength and love from life?
I found Marcus to be brave, vulnerable, and inspiring in this conversation. Years ago, when I worked at Walmart, we used Marcus’s books and videos in our training sessions. Getting a chance to sit down with him many years later to discuss his 3 most formative books was a rare treat.
Let’s go…
Listen to Chapter 50 of 3 Books:
Click here to Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Spotify, or Google Play.
What You'll Learn:
How do we learn to truly see our children?
How can the education system be improved?
How do we avoid tribalism?
What is the real definition of weird?
What’s the single best question to ask yourself when trying to articulate your strengths?
How can we find our own unique way to draw strength and love from life?
notable quotes from marcus buckingham:
“If I don’t own me-ness then I get drawn into tribalism.” – Marcus Buckingham #3bookspodcast
“When was the last time a day flew by?” – Marcus Buckingham #3bookspodcast
CONNECT With Marcus:
word of the chapter:
Resources Mentioned:
Marcus’ First Book [12:27]
Marcus’ Second Book [39:09]
Marcus’ Third Book [40:45]
Twilight (movie)
The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs
Trombone Player Wanted (Marcus’ video)
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman (book series)
His Dark Materials (show)
Range by David Epstein
The Black Swan by Nassim Taleb
Consilience by Edward O. Wilson
