Anecdotally Speaking

In 286 of Anecdotally Speaking, learn a remarkable story of leadership, humility and what it means to truly put the organisation first. In this episode … The post 286 – Please Demote Me – Satya Nadella appeared first on Anecdote.

Often we dismiss signals that we should interpret. Listen to hear how one woman’s sense of smell established a new field of medicine. In this … The post 105 – A rose by any other clinical name (Rerun) appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 285 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover how Forrest Mars rolled up his sleeves to learn from the factory floor and built a global empire. … The post 285 – Building Empires – Forrest Mars appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 284 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover how the story you tell yourself shapes resilience, leadership and meaning at work. In this episode, Mark shares … The post 284 – The Meaning You Choose – Tsutomu Yamaguchi appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 283 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover how at times data can reveal preferences but not what people truly care about. In Episode 283 of … The post 283 – What Data Can’t Tell You – New Coke appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 282 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover what ancient Polynesian navigation teaches us about vision, leadership, and organisational alignment. In this episode, Mark shares an … The post 282 – Can You See Tahiti? – Polynesian Voyaging Society appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 281 of Anecdotally Speaking, hear how a single act of curiosity led to a life-saving discovery that transformed industries. In this episode, Shawn … The post 281 – Stronger Than Steel – Stephanie Kwolek appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 280 of Anecdotally Speaking, learn how an art dealer’s unconventional strategy with Picasso offers lessons in decision-making, risk, and productivity. In this episode, … The post 280 – A Portfolio of Possibilities – Picasso and Kahnweiler appeared first on Anecdote.

Explore the devastating consequences of the UK Post Office scandal and the lessons it offers for leadership, transparency, and institutional accountability. In Episode 279 of … The post 279 – Computer Says No – UK Office Scandal appeared first on Anecdote.

In this Episode 233 of Anecdotally Speaking, learn how Domino’s transformed their business by owning their flaws and taking bold action. In this rerun episode, … The post 233 – Sorry We Suck: Domino’s Pizza (rerun) appeared first on Anecdote.

Discover how James Watt’s brilliant marketing idea transformed the adoption of steam power and how it applies to speaking your customer’s language today. In this … The post 278 – Selling Steam Trains – James Watt appeared first on Anecdote.

Episode 277 of Anecdotally Speaking shares how one quiet moment in Tanzania forever changed the way we understand ourselves. In this episode, Mark shares the … The post 277 – Noticing Changes Everything – Jane Goodall appeared first on Anecdote.

In this episode, Emlyn Hatch shares his journey into storytelling and how it’s transformed his leadership and team culture. In Episode 276 of Anecdotally Speaking, … The post 276 – What We Do is Who We Are – Emlyn Hatch appeared first on Anecdote.

Listen to hear how Manchester United shows us that small changes can erode culture. In Episode 275 of Anecdotally Speaking, Mark shares a story about … The post 275 – The Magic Went Missing – Manchester United appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 273 of Anecdotally Speaking, we’re rejoined by Paul Fairweather to explore how creativity, storytelling, and illustration intertwine in his new book. In this … The post 273 – Bold, Brave and a bit Quirky – Paul Fairweather appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 272 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover how a unique metaphor helped Disney’s CEO evaluate risky decisions and how it can help you too. In … The post 272 – Are You Selling Trombone Oil? – Bob Iger appeared first on Anecdote.

Episode 271 of Anecdotally Speaking explores why most business problems live in a field of uncertainty, not precision. In this episode, Mark tells the story … The post 271 – Planning for the Unexpected – New Horizons appeared first on Anecdote.

Discover the remarkable journey of Simone Biles and the powerful lessons it offers on burnout and the importance of empathy in judging others. In this … The post 215 – Rising from Burnout – Simone Biles (rerun) appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 209 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover how asking the right questions brought us GPS – and how you can take these lessons into your … The post 209 – Take the Opposing View (rerun) appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 270, learn how a moment of courage by Katharine Graham shaped history and provided a lesson in principled leadership. Mark recounts the powerful … The post 270 – Publishing on Principal – Katharine Graham appeared first on Anecdote.

Discover how an Olympic medal and generosity changed lives, and what leaders can learn from this act of selflessness. In Episode 269 of Anecdotally Speaking, … The post 269 – Generosity Inspires Generosity – Maria Andrejczyk appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 268, learn how Philip Seymour Hoffman’s career illustrates the value of staying connected to your roots. In this episode, Mark shares a story … The post 268 – Sharpening the Saw – Philip Seymour Hoffman appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 267 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover how Howard Schultz reignited Starbucks’ purpose to drive a complete business turnaround. Shawn shares the story of how … The post 267 – Back to What Matters – Howard Schultz appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 266, discover how a 1930s courtroom appearance by a woman in pants turned into a lesson in values, justice, and change. In this … The post 266 – The Right to Wear Pants – Helen Hulick Beebe appeared first on Anecdote.

Episode 265 of Anecdotally Speaking explores Quentin Tarantino’s early setback and the value of persistence and learning from failure. In this episode, Shawn shares the … The post 265 – Thrown to the Sharks – Quentin Tarantino appeared first on Anecdote.

Discover how Dishoom gamified dining to become a must-visit destination, offering lessons in creative problem-solving and customer engagement. In Episode 261 of Anecdotally Speaking, Shawn … The post 261 – Gambling on a Curry – Dishoom appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 264 of Anecdotally Speaking, hear how a chance act of curiosity led to the groundbreaking discovery of Australian amber, and what it teaches … The post 264 – Finding What Didn’t Exist – Beth Norris appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 263 of Anecdotally Speaking, hear how a potter turned a late payment request into a meaningful conversation through storytelling. In this episode, Shawn … The post 263 – Chasing Payment, Finding Connection appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 262 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover how a 25-second train delay in Japan sparked a deep conversation about organisational culture. In this episode Mark … The post 262 – What We Walk Past appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 260 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover how keystone behaviours transformed Mary T. Meagher into an Olympic legend. In this episode, Shawn shares a story … The post 260 – Every Turn is An Olympic Final – Mary Meagher appeared first on Anecdote.

Discover how vulnerability and connection drove Eleven Madison Park to become the world’s best restaurant. In Episode 259 of Anecdotally Speaking, Mark shares a story … The post 259 – Unreasonable Hospitality – Will Guidara appeared first on Anecdote.

Discover how creativity under constraint led to one of the world’s most distinctive memorials. In Episode 258 of Anecdotally Speaking, Shawn shares the inspiring story … The post 258 – A Memorial in Mashed Potato – Maya Lin appeared first on Anecdote.

This episode explores how story delivery can either ignite or flatten your message, illustrated by the fire and restoration of Notre-Dame. In Episode 257 of … The post 257 – How to Make a Great Story Boring – Notre-Dame appeared first on Anecdote.

Discover why coaching drives real behaviour change, far beyond training alone. In Episode 256 of Anecdotally Speaking, Shawn shares research by Joyce and Showers that … The post 256 – The Power of Coaching appeared first on Anecdote.

Discover how 17th-century Rome reveals a clever behavioural insight still relevant for change initiatives today. In Episode 255 of Anecdotally Speaking, Mark shares a story … The post 255 – Rich Church, Poor Church appeared first on Anecdote.

Last week, Mark shared a short but impactful scientific story, and this week Shawn does the same! Shawn first read the story in The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson: https://buff.ly/2WZu1Yi It follows the actions Jennifer Doudna, an American biochemist, took to have her team’s paper published and illustrates the impact of gender constructs.  Shawn and Mark mention our upcoming public programs. You can find more information via our events page: https://www.anecdote.com/events/

Listen to hear how Ericsson’s workplace culture was transformed by a cleaner, and the lessons this brings in empowerment and initiative. In Episode 254, Shawn … The post 254 – Cooking Up Company Culture – Ericsson appeared first on Anecdote.

Learn how Patagonia’s radical transparency over PFAS transformed a corporate challenge into a brand triumph. In Episode 253 of Anecdotally Speaking, Mark tells the story … The post 253 – Radical Transparency in Action – Patagonia appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 252, discover how a radical playground redesign during WWII transformed free play and what it teaches us about engagement, creativity, and ownership. Shawn … The post 252 – The Architecture of Play – Carl Sorensen appeared first on Anecdote.

Discover how a missed flight led to the creation of one of the world’s most iconic airlines and what it teaches us about innovation and … The post 251 – Starting an Airline with a Blackboard – Richard Branson appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 250 of Anecdotally Speaking, hear how Ruth Handler used a simple story to reframe scepticism and launch one of the world’s most iconic … The post 250 – Barbie is Born – Ruth Handler appeared first on Anecdote.

Discover how Jerry Seinfeld’s process in finding comfort in the mundane can guide your path to excellence in your career and life. In Episode 249 … The post 249 – Find the Torture You’re Comfortable With – Jerry Seinfeld appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 248 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover how unexpected talents and hidden connections can spark world-changing innovation. Shawn shares an unexpected story set during World … The post 248 – Tuning into New Frequencies – Hedy Lamarr appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 247 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover how moments of desperation can spark remarkable change and what businesses can learn from one man’s race against … The post 247 – The Cure was Already Here – David Fajgenbaum appeared first on Anecdote.

Learn how Patrick Matthew’s overlooked insight into the theory of evolution shows why execution, not just inspiration, drives real impact. In Episode 246 of Anecdotally … The post 246 – The Value is in the Doing: Patrick Matthew appeared first on Anecdote.

How a coach’s unexpected decision showed the power of empathy, lifted a team, and reminded us that leadership is deeply human. In Episode 245 of … The post 245 – Doing the Human Thing: Joe Ingles appeared first on Anecdote.

Discover how Jeff Bezos turned a DIY desk into a powerful symbol of frugality and a cornerstone of Amazon’s culture. In Episode 244 of Anecdotally … The post 244 – Building Culture with Your Bare Hands: Jeff Bezos appeared first on Anecdote.

Listen to hear how Stan Lee’s bold decision-making and trust in his instincts turned Spider-Man into a global icon, and what you can learn for … The post 243 – Trust Your Spider Senses: Stan Lee appeared first on Anecdote.

Listen to hear a timeless fable, useful in business situations where great ideas face real-world challenges and execution matters. In Episode 242 of Anecdotally Speaking, … The post 242 – Who’s Going to Bell the Cat? appeared first on Anecdote.

In Episode 241 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover how a wrong note became a moment of brilliance – and the lesson it holds. Mark shares a … The post 241 – Turning Mistakes Into Magic: Miles Davies appeared first on Anecdote.