Leadership

Executionist

Nobody cares about our great ideas.
They care how we make ideas happen.

This moniker is a tribute to movement. It honors ingenuity by recognizing all who apply consistent action to nudge the world.

Executionists appreciate planning but don’t get stuck in endless brainstorms. They’re not rushing into bad ideas, but they are often the first to tinker. Action-based execution is why the title of my first book, podcast, and keynotes remain true. It even grounds the preface of You Don’t Need This Book, which we will revisit here:

There are good reasons why we have so many clichés about talk being cheap. Movement is required when it’s time to get things done. Cheers to so many who don’t stop at ideas. Heretics who build when others don’t. Leaders who choose to make a ruckus without permission, and in so doing, go beyond the status quo by evolving ideas into reality.

Executionists show up.
Executionists experiment.
Executionists connect dots.
Executionists are consistent.
Executionists learn by doing.
Executionists leverage uncertainty.
Executionists don’t require a roadmap.
Executionists courageously communicate.
Executionists take time to be detailed-oriented.
Executionists are organized to stay efficient.
Executionists know when to shift gears.
Executionists add pieces to a puzzle.
Executionists are Serendipitists.
Executionists choose to care.
Executionists keep promises.
Executionists invite blame.
Executionists give credit.

Brewed From Within
#45 📖 Leadership

By Ben McDougal, ago

Producing a Podcast

Everyone has experiential wisdom to share, and piloting those stories into a podcast can shape a potent piece into the larger puzzle of our work.

Time is the resource required to pursue a podcast. Let’s save some by sneaking behind the scenes of You Don’t Need This Podcast, which is timeless insight packed into 100+ episodes, recorded in-studio with featured guests. This entertaining achievement helps us analyze what it takes to unearth treasured time for yourself while curating rhythmic value with people you respect.

As you juggle the idea of producing a podcast, think about why this outlet is something you want. Imagine if you had a collection of episodes already available everywhere. How might they be formatted? What genres and topics would your podcast be defined by? Who would benefit most, what does success lead to, and in a scenario where nobody cares, what’s the worst thing that could happen?

Extra Shot

People without a podcast want one.
People with one, know what it takes.

It’s not hard to start a podcast. Anyone can buy recording equipment, find a space, push record, and host files on a podcasting platform. That is one reason so many podcasts don’t go further than a few fun files. As you determine your why and feel the excitement of something new, remember that a podcast will require time, a little money, communication, systems, networking, marketing, resilience, and even more time. While opportunity cost is higher than most expect, the return on your investment can be meaningful conversations and recorded relics you’ll always appreciate.

To produce a podcast, you’ll need to orchestrate the participants, duration, tempo, branding, distribution engine, recording gear, post-production, and execution plan. Action will push a podcasting idea further than constant planning, but let’s turn each knob to prepare you for the dance.

Duration

With your why, realities, and audience in mind, determine the estimated duration for each episode. There are no rules, but the length of a podcast affects how much you can cover and what you’ll ask from others plugging in.

Anything under 30 minutes works for a solo host without co-hosts or featured guests; 30–60 minutes provides space for featured guests and still invites anyone to listen. Podcasts that last more than 60 minutes invite deeper interactions, but can also drone on and cause audience fatigue. No matter the duration, preparation is required. What are your capabilities as a host and who else will be involved? Consider lengths you like to listen to, experiment to find flow, and know you can always categorize different episode lengths to keep things interesting along the way.

Tempo

The cadence for releasing new podcasts will determine how much content needs to be created. Single episodes take a shot of effort and can add a nice sound to existing content, while a comprehensive effort will be needed to string two or more episodes together. The more time between each episode, the harder it is to build meaningful momentum.

Occasional drops provide flexibility but make it impossible for an audience to add your podcast into their routine. An annual or quarterly cadence also provides elasticity, but more distance between new episodes will limit growth. If your podcast hits the ears of someone who likes it, attention will fade fast if you stop delivering fresh content.

For those trying to produce a podcast that thrives on its own, a monthly release is practical, but a weekly release speeds everything up. There are daily podcasts, but those become talk radio, focused on monetization more than true value compressed into each episode.

If you’re unsure, the hack is a topic-based series of 3–5 episodes. This will provide room to experiment, offer success without much commitment, eliminate the need to purchase equipment, and adds clarity from a shorter feedback loop to help assess value as you navigate what’s next. If the episode count starts to push higher, a few categories leave room for different types of episodes, and breaking things up into multiple seasons adds an offseason to take a break.

Branding

When branding a podcast, it is wise to avoid the fog that settles when we build akin to existing art. Like the founder building a startup, when it comes to early research, don’t fall in love and hope something like it doesn’t already exist. Try to find it! Look for podcasts that may be similar to what you have in mind. Explore related genres, hunt for anything that has a title like yours, listen to a variety of formats, and review the content guidelines for different podcast platforms. Alongside so many existing podcasts, brave awareness helps to avoid future tension and provides the creative freedom for your own art to bloom.

Extra Shot

Wanna one pager to monetize your podcast? Let’s connect.

With a clean identity, have fun creating visuals to represent your podcast. Like cover art for a book that pops off the bookshelf, artwork for a podcast needs to catch the scrolling eye. Alternate resolutions and episode-specific graphics earn extra credit down the road, but your artwork should look its best as a small square thumbnail. Less is more.

Branded assets will support marketing, but first it’s time to lay the groundwork for automated distribution.

Distribution

Nesting a home for this creative season requires a system that starts with a podcast hosting platform. This is where your podcast lives. It’s where you’ll track metrics, connect to popular podcast players, and create embedded players for the richest experience on websites you manage. There are many great podcast hosting platforms, which usually charge an ongoing fee based on the amount of content you upload. This allows you to pay less and grow into more resources, so budget for this important home base.

Now it’s time to align RSS connections between your home base and the major podcasting players. Podcast submission forms or dedicated profiles may be needed for each podcast player. With podcast player requirements met, return to the podcast hosting platform to connect the feed to the podcast player. This automates distribution and only needs to be set up once. When done correctly, episodes are set up with an audio file (.mp3 is a widely accepted file format) and related materials on the podcast hosting platform. Once published from your home base, embedded players will be activated, and new episodes will sync into connected podcast players.

With all major distribution channels aligned, it’s nice knowing your podcast can be heard anywhere. But if you had a choice, where would you want to send listeners? It’s easy to share links provided by popular podcast players, but this cuts you out of the deal. Instead, register a branded URL that lets you control the traffic. This URL can link people directly to a podcast player, but it can just as easily connect to a branded environment dedicated to your podcast. For example, YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com forwards to an internal page on BenMcDougal.com. With one branded link, visitors can enjoy a catered experience that commemorates each episode, with all the popular podcast players and the rest of my art just a click away.

Gear

Securing equipment to bring a podcast to life is easy. Start with a space that vibes. A consistent environment will make the sound quality dependable, and if you’re inviting guests, this should be a public place.

Purchasing equipment and building your own studio is ideal, but the cost may be prohibitive, and there are existing space options to get started. Libraries, schools, coworking spaces, and traditional recording studios are all places to jam. A professional environment is not required, but it will inspire guests and provide quality audio that is easier to optimize. To arrange a podcast studio, here’s a practical shopping list:

  • Quiet environment
  • 4–6 channel mixer
  • 2–3 microphones + cables + mounts
  • Laptop + 5TB external hard drive
  • Headphones are not required but help with quality control and make people feel rockstar.
  • Video can’t be used if it’s not captured. SLR cameras make things cinematic, but smartphones or action cameras will also do the trick.
  • Regardless of the video equipment used, a little extra lighting will really enhance the look.

              The efficiency of our connected era makes podcasting more approachable than ever before. Online podcasting requires less of everything, but when was the last time you got excited to watch people chat on a video call? There are exceptions where professional AV setups reduce the distance felt between each person, but most podcasts that are recorded online fall flat. There’s less body language, banter feels rigid, serendipity is lost, and the whole thing becomes less entertaining. When you’re looking for less content or if resources hinder the ability to share premium human time in a physical space, enjoy the ease of online podcasting but don’t be surprised when enthusiasm stalls and valuable insight gets lost in the noise.

              One vs. Many

              Monologue podcasts are a great way for individuals to express ideas with full creative control. This approach is convenient, provides a healthy release, and distributes art into the world. Unfortunately, a solo mission still requires resources, setup, execution, and marketing. Hosting a podcast by yourself can also be isolating, and a limited reach may be disheartening.

              Adding co-hosts and/or featured guests will add layers to the logistics, but extended coordination can be done efficiently. When more people are involved, a scheduling system will save time and maintain professional encounters as studio time is organized and featured guests are booked. The extra effort pays off because appreciation is shared between everyone involved, diversity of thought thickens value, and additional trust channels ignite engagement from an expanding audience.

              Co-hosts are like co-founders in a company. There’s less money involved but honest expectations with time required and role clarity will help activate other motivating factors. Kept promises, ongoing communication, versatility, and milestones for ongoing evaluation support a healthy relationship for co-hosts creating art together.If featured guests make the podcast more interesting, as they often do, an existing network will make it easier to curate special visitors. If your engaged network is small, slow down the tempo to make room for better connections. This signals respect for experience and a willingness to share time. As patience uncovers more shared interests, the ability to access remarkable featured guests is strengthened. As a podcast grows and more notable guests are featured, future invitations become more appealing. The expanding platform will soon have strangers asking to be a guest, and the original motivation will be tested. This is progress, so embrace the growth while staying grounded in your why.

              Execution

              Before each recording session, forge prompts to guide the conversation and to prepare featured guests. Include time and location, an estimated release date, and resources that make the podcast easy to share.

              When it’s show time, avoid feeling rushed by arriving early to get equipment set up. With headphones hung on each mic, pour beverages and lay out small thank you gifts. Touch base with featured guests, review the conversation prompts, and open relevant websites that may come in handy during the discussion. Guests will appreciate this hospitality and give their best as they hear their own voice in the headphones. Warm up with a little unrecorded banter, go over the basic format, and answer any questions. To feel the moment, take a deep breath because once recording starts, everything speeds up.

              This is when preparation and hard work are rewarded, as exhilarating time is shared and intentional conversations are amplified.As the host, let gratitude galvanize opening remarks, and bring your best as you guide good to great. With featured guests plugged in, give them the spotlight and actively listen to spark inverse charisma. Be responsive, keep topics shifting, and maintain a conversational tone. No matter the duration, time will fly by. Once in flight, keep an eye on conversation prompts and popcorn value, then land on time and with style.

              After the mic is dropped, celebrate the moment by creating a few promotional assets. Photos are awkward, but everyone likes having them. Pop a camera on the tripod and trap time with everyone involved. Premium human time has now been archived, but it will only become art once it ships.   

              Stitch It

              The climb has provided a hope that’s felt in saying yes to adventure. Building a branded system, securing gear, finding an inspired space, and recording good stuff with people you respect has been thrilling. Now it’s time to stitch everything together with post-production.

              Astute organization will help systematize a growing number of files for each episode and all related materials associated with your podcast. With raw files organized, add sizzle by recording brief, attention-grabbing clips to augment each episode. A stimulating intro will acquaint the audience with this creative expression. If you include breaks, these will need to be recorded, and an encapsulating outro is a nice way to end each episode. These assets are minor additions to an individual episode, but they build your brand and add consistency when applied to every episode. With a hot intro and cool outro in place, collaborate with a sound engineer or use editing software and royalty-free music to polish these supplementing assets into eargasmic additions.

              With all the parts in place, use editing software to stitch everything together. If mistakes were made in the original recording, here’s where you can fix those, but work toward single takes to save serious time. With files stitched, enhance the listener’s experience with sound engineering. The better the sound quality going in, the easier this process will be, but software can always add richness, eliminate an echo, and offer other treatments to boost the sound quality. With preferred settings in place, use templates to save time and to apply a similar sound quality to each episode.

              Extra Shot

              Single takes provide a smooth listen and require way less editing in post.

              Not interested in post-production? We can always trade time for money, so if you’d rather hand this work off to others, collaborate with a sound engineer or use podcast editing services and plan to invest $50–$250 per episode. When outsourcing this work, an efficient workflow will include transferring large files, notes for someone who was not part of the original recording, and elongated turnaround times.

              As a groove is found, this collaboration can save time, optimize quality, and extend what’s possible.

              When the noise starts to sound like music, export the entire episode into a single file. WAV files will provide the highest quality, but MP3 files are more widely accepted. Export both file formats, and take one more quick listen to ensure everything sounds sharp.

              Ship It

              With the stage set, it’s time to publish your podcast into the wild! Get finalized episodes uploaded, add show notes, and attach graphics into your podcast hosting platform, which is that home base we established for automated distribution.

              With 5–10 episodes scheduled, you have enough propulsion to launch. This queue provides space to bank more episodes with less stress. Get back to recording while also using the summit of each new episode to increase awareness.

              Stabilizing awareness for a new podcast takes at least 6 months. As you hit milestones, you’ll realize the mighty potential of a podcast. Magic happens when time, interests, and ideas are shared between people who care. Make your podcast easy to find with social media clips and creative marketing materials, but circulation occurs when others gain status by sharing your podcast.

              If featured guests are involved, keep them updated to make them feel a part of the release. Recommendations are unquestioned when they come from friends, eh. The more excited featured guests are, the wider word will spread.

              Successful storytelling resonates with the right audience at the right time. There’s always more to do, but as episodes accumulate, a snowball effect occurs.

              Extra Shot

              Compose art you’ll be proud of for life.

              Podcasting will always require dedicated time, and the analytics will be lower than expected, but carry on with gratitude. The metric that matters most is how much you enjoy the process. Eventually, you’ll realize that podcasting is for your own well-being. You’ll feel in tune with aftereffects that include perpetual learning, an expanding network, having a new favorite podcast, and recorded relics to leave behind alongside people you treasure.

              Brewed From Within
              #74 📖 Technology

              V2.0 - 100% HUMAN

              In Loving Memory of Jay Byers

              By Ben McDougal, ago

              Horizons

              While the foreground of daily activity occupies so much attention, our cumulative culture has always looked to the edge for answers. Whether it’s cresting through the clouds on a flight, an inspiring rooftop view, or a simple walk around the neighborhood, we love the view of hope-filled distance. Beyond momentary charm, how can we embrace the edges of any horizon to stay sharp?

              Action is obviously required, but staying wild and thinking big takes practice. Being busy can be addictive, and limited resources often make everything feel pressing. The closer the deadline, the more attention it’s given. This means devoted attention needed to analyze our own thoughts can easily be replaced with yet another task. If busy is boss, perhaps it’s time to meditate, to thoughtfully think. This mental exercise nurtures awareness and guides exploration. To avoid exercising in isolation, collide more wild ideas into weird conversations. The edge awaits explorers who have clarity, thanks to honest self-reflection, and then show up geared to get interested.

              As boundaries come and go, avoid energy drains, shortcuts, mind-melting media, debt, addiction, and jail. There’s also no need to rush. Skyline views await us all from anywhere.

              As boundaries come and go, avoid energy drains, shortcuts, mind-melting media, debt, addiction, and jail. There’s also no need to rush. Skyline views await us all from anywhere, and horizon hunters will remain indispensable. We go beyond the circular talk of brainstorming, and instead, edgecraft ideas into reality. We flirt with action, lean into Playforce Principles, and continue to ship on the timeline of now. As we poke the box, trust takes time to flourish but can be lost in an instant. Those who thrive on the edge adhere to prerequisites but see rules as suggested guidelines, while maintaining an extended range to see momentum that converges toward the next horizon.

              Extra Shot
              Elevation makes us all feel successful.

              This riff is abstract, but the thesis is explicit: Opportunities await leaders who find answers on the edge. It’s also a reminder that one horizon is not the only endpoint.

              From the ground, our view to the horizon is three miles. Peering atop the highest observation deck in the United States, humans can see up to 50 miles on a clear day. Each extent is just too cosmic to ever be the same, and gratitude ensures we don’t become numb to the raindrop of time we have.

              This awareness creates a capacity to observe, trap, and sequence distant views as we hug curves and find the edges to appreciate all the horizons that keep us wild.

              Brewed From Within
              #95 📖 Life & Happiness

              By Ben McDougal, ago

              Visualizing Variety

              For leaders who play 80 hours instead of working 40, a diversified career portfolio often emerges.

              Popcorning between activities will keep vanguards ahead of innovation curves and when such variety is strategically adjusted over time, diversification also provides a powerful combination of stabilizing flexibility.

              Extra Shot

              It’s easy to discount our potential, but nobody can compete with being you.

              As we diversify career portfolios, perpetual learning, patience, transparency, rationality, and sincere feedback from an engaged network are critical to maintaining balance. Serenity awaits those who find an equilibrium without complacency. When leaders apply this practice over time, progress is achieved on multiple fronts and awareness helps us reduce the risk of diluting ourselves to mediocrity. Dilution from diversity must not be ignored. Stretching too thin mutates the value of diversification into fragmentation.

              This devolved state can be seen in people who always seem to be doing something different but never last long enough to establish trust, financial freedom, or true impact. The unwanted flywheel effect of diluting oneself to mediocrity incites uncertainty from others, which makes future moves harder to assemble. The remedy for overextension is self-respect, intellectual humility, reduced diversity, and an increased focus on (re)building long-term trust. When change is constant, visualized assessment helps track how time is used. One easy exercise to remain fastidious with your personal bandwidth is found in the Side Hustles chapter of YDNTB,  and it’s worth revisiting here.

              First, think about how you invest, spend, pass, and waste time. If it’s not obvious, consider what you did today, this week, month, and year. Look ahead too, but not far. Now, narrow this personal assessment into activities you consider to be work-related. Assign an imprecise percentage of time dedicated to each activity. Plot this data into a spreadsheet and visualize 

              it into a pie chart. Lastly, add logos or other visuals to represent each portion of the pie chart, and save the graphic as a shareable image. This conversation piece now visualizes how you expend your personal bandwidth.

              The allotment of different activities will always be evolving, so revisit this exercise as needed. An annual effort provides a safe cadence that will ensure ongoing awareness.

              Brewed From Within
              #65 📖 Leadership

               

              BONUS EXAMPLES

              By Ben McDougal, ago

              Interested Introductions

              Leaving a networking event with a pocket full of business cards can feel rewarding, so why do these relics from past interactions quickly feel more like rubble? This can happen when we angle introductory conversations as transactions for immediate progress instead of connections built for consistent progress over time. When the focus is quantity, we tend to set authenticity aside and put on a show in hopes of getting what we want as quickly as possible. Playing this type of networking game may connect the dots that sit on the surface, but it typically won’t convert conversations into a foundation for memorable and sustained connectivity beyond the moment. Flipping this tendency is simple, but it requires shifting the goal from what we want out of the first contact with someone to what both/all parties need to feel a connection. That shift becomes much easier when we make a conscious decision: less of us trying to be interesting, and more genuine interest in who we’re meeting in the moment.

              EXTRA SHOT

              This contribution was written by Nick O’Brien. Nick is a founder and creative economy strategist who connects people to people, people to place, and people to potential.

              When meeting people, what we’re working on doesn’t matter. Ironically, being valuable in a first encounter is about listening and learning rather than presenting ourselves as valuable. It’s about making mental links between them and others in our network. It’s conjuring inverse charisma, leaning into Playforce Principles, and igniting feelings in others that differentiate our first encounters from agenda-focused introductions.

              These feelings produce a neurochemical reaction that sparks the brain’s amygdala and hippocampus simultaneously. It’s as if a cup of coffee is being poured into the parts of our brain responsible for creating and storing memories. In short, when introductory conversations unlock the true emotions of connection, the chances for strong memories of the interaction significantly increase. This makes it easier to stay in tune with more variety as our network expands.

              After years of observing the ways we approach meeting someone new, a few basic trends emerge based on different types of people. Introverts are careful with what they say. They’ll share experiences, perspectives, and opinions but typically not without being asked. Extroverts are more likely to stand out, as they share their experiences, perspectives, and ideas more openly. A complex conversation is required to fully understand extraversion, introversion, and ambiversion, but let’s zoom in on how introverts and extroverts encounter the first moments of potential connection.

              When introverts meet, they typically stay on the surface. The hidden intent is to not stand out, especially if what they say or do might make them seem less interesting. While this reserved approach might lead to an easy, free-flowing conversation, it’s not conducive to getting below the surface, where unique experiences, perspectives, and insights can be exchanged. This safe approach actually decreases the chances they’ll remember each other, because unique feelings were not shared inside the interaction.

              When two extroverts collide, they both dive right in. With an intent of being interesting to the other person, they soon begin to subtly one-up each other to earn attention. Both extroverts may be energized, but the feelings of this memory are built on comparisons to the other person. Instead of feeling genuinely intrigued by what’s possible, confident people are left dwelling on their shortcomings, or worse, become driven to clash rather than to connect.

              When an introvert and extrovert cross paths, it’s natural for an extrovert to dominate the conversation. Unsurprisingly, both personality types are comfortable during these interactions. The introvert is less worried about standing out when all they must do is listen. The extrovert shares their most interesting attributes, which makes them feel comfortable as well. The introvert learns about and feels a connection with the extrovert, which may help them remember more about the extrovert. Because the extrovert is doing all the talking, they learn little about the introvert, which leaves the extrovert feeling less of a connection with the introvert.

              Maintaining an interest in perpetual learning is the key when meeting new people. With practice, you’ll be more knowledgeable and better at recalling what you know about who you know.

              What you know about who you know can be a superpower in the form of making introductions. Your introductions can be concise (15–20 seconds), aligned, and engaging enough to not only have sticking power but also to generate immediate interest in taking action as a result of the conversations you help curate. An interested introduction is a compelling story that includes five elements: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

               

              1. Exposition = Name the Story
              The names of who you’re introducing become the title of this story, creating a new folder in the introducees’ minds for the information you’re about to share. Many people struggle to remember names, which correlates with why we struggle to remember what we’ve learned about people. As you evoke unique feelings with your introductions, you’ll find yourself remembering the names and related details of more people. Once names are shared, one go-to detail to include is how you met each introducee, especially if you met through mutual connections, at a place they’re both drawn to, or during an activity they both enjoy. This will create immediate feelings of proximity, while demonstrating that the details of your connection are meaningful enough to remember. The relevant context also helps us tap into the knowledge we’ll need for taking the next step in making unforgettable introductions.

              2. Rising Action = Spark Connection
              Briefly explaining your knowledge about each person’s purpose can spark early feelings of connection.  Remember, what someone cares the most about is rarely found on their business card. As you notice the introducees’ intrigue in each others’ callings, that is when you’ll align both parties with the shared potential between their respective missions. A connection sparked through what each person cares deeply about welcomes a variety of aligned feelings that deepen memory and sets the intro up perfectly for what comes next.

              3. Climax = Celebrate Together
              Now we open the door to shared feelings, as the emotions of celebration are useful to tap into at this stage. By sharing a milestone that the people you’re introducing have recently experienced, each can revel in their own interesting journey while also learning about and cheering on who they’re meeting. Ideally, the milestones you’re celebrating are linked to the details you’ve already shared. This can be tricky if you don’t know people well, but get creative with small wins to always have this option. Large or small, professional or personal, mutual celebration is an experience of shared emotion that will make the moment more memorable.

              4. Falling Action = Align Focus
              With connection established and shared celebration flowing, the introducees will be eager to learn how else they can engage with each other. If possible, highlight an obstacle they’re facing or a potential milestone within a project they’re enthused about. If you don’t have these details, hint at potential intersections between their respective journeys. The context we add here invites the exchange of experiential wisdom and new ideas into the conversation that follows.

              5. Resolution = Invite Action
              The stars of this story feel less pressure to act interesting because you’ve done it for them. Now finish the intro story and encourage a longer sequel! To do this, mention (types of) people who each may need to meet in the next chapters of their respective stories. Ideally, these are folks the other person knows and can easily make an introduction to. If you don’t have deep knowledge of the introducees’ networks, name people you know are relevant to the connection between them. If the suggestions are genuine, a sense of being in the right place at the right time inspires emotions that fuel action.

                We have now set the stage for a memorable, emotion-based conversation by including relevant information that makes any personality type feel significant. This introduces equitable, level-setting hooks for a conversation to flourish without you as a constant conduit between them.

                When this method sets a virtuous tone between the people you introduce, there’s no need to rush away, but be quick to hand the mic. Enjoy listening, and watch the story you curated take the spotlight. It’s beautiful to see people meet someone they feel a connection with, and the more we do this, the more often our interested introductions lead to a new and lasting node within the startup community. More memories are made; others are strengthened.

                Extra Shot

                Create Your Magic

                Overtime is always nice, but remember we must also keep moving to share time with others, especially when we’re hosting the networking event.

                The art of stepping away in style is an added real skill. As we read about in You Don’t Need This Book, this is handy when one conversation starts to monopolize time. To stand out, bring more people into the circle. Introduce everyone using this same method and watch the value swell. You then have the option to stick around or excuse yourself. Even if you leave the chat, your energy will remain a part of that new conversation as you mingle elsewhere.

                Another approach is to joke that it’s time for everyone to go meet more new people. This lighthearted suggestion is rewarded as connectors become connected and more people build relationships without always needing you in the room.

                As intentional interactions are personified by emotion, mutual memories lay a foundation for true connection. When true connections show up, follow up, and keep adding diversity through a positive-sum mindset, the expansive value of a community can be realized.

                Brewed From Within
                #48 📖 Leadership

                By Ben McDougal, ago