Experts vs. Explorers

04/06/21 • 54 min

Your knowledge is finite. Your curiosity is infinite. So why, oh why, do we usually rely more on our existing knowledge than our boundless curiosity? We live in a society that seems to value the ability to have the answers, but the path to making work that matters just might mean admitting, "I don't have the answers, but I'm going to figure this out."

What if we stopped acting like experts and started acting like ... well ... something else?

In this episode, we hear stories from keynote speaker Andrew Davis, bestselling author Shane Snow (Dream Teams, Smartcuts, The Storytelling Edge), and Dr. Jade Wu, sleep psychologist and researcher from Duke University.

NEWSLETTER:

Playing Favorites shares one new story every Friday morning that you can't find anywhere else, focused on creating work that matters. Subscribe at jayacunzo.com/newsletter

MEMBER GROUP:

Make What Matters is where marketers, freelancers, podcasters, writers, and creatives join forces to push themselves and each other to create more elevated work and accelerate their careers. For techniques, connection, collaboration, and inspiration, consider joining at makewhatmattersgroup.com

SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS EPISODE:

Andrew Davis: akadrewdavis.com | twitter.com/DrewDavisHere

Shane Snow: shanesnow.com | twitter.com/shanesnow

Jade Wu, PhD: jadewuphd.com | twitter.com/jadewuphd

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THANKS FOR LISTENING AND SUPPORTING!

Keep making what matters.

-Jay

What if we stopped acting like experts and started acting like ... well ... something else?

NEWSLETTER:

Playing Favorites shares one new story every Friday morning that you can't find anywhere else, focused on creating work that matters. Subscribe at jayacunzo.com/newsletter

MEMBER GROUP:

SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS EPISODE:

Andrew Davis: akadrewdavis.com | twitter.com/DrewDavisHere

Shane Snow: shanesnow.com | twitter.com/shanesnow

Jade Wu, PhD: jadewuphd.com | twitter.com/jadewuphd

***

THANKS FOR LISTENING AND SUPPORTING!

Keep making what matters.

-Jay

Previous Episode

Voices

In this episode, the story of Lisa Schneider, (former) Chief Digital Officer at Merriam-Webster, and their award-winning, President-trolling, brilliant and witty Twitter account, social media presence, and dictionary brand -- yes, a beloved dictionary brand.

Their success started with a simple aspiration that threw into question the most accepted approach to their marketing work. It all ended in a very personal place for the team.

Meanwhile, story producer Andrew Littlefield goes exploring in New York and meets a jazz trombonist who gives us something we can use in our quest to trust our intuition.

Finally, Tom Webster voices the dictionary.

You can't make this stuff up! It's almost ... unthinkable? (No. Nope. No. I won't go there...)

NEWSLETTER:

Playing Favorites shares one new story every Friday morning that you can't find anywhere else, focused on creating work that matters. Subscribe at jayacunzo.com/newsletter

MEMBER GROUP:

SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS EPISODE:

Lisa Schneider on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisaschneider64

Merriam-Webster on Twitter: https://twitter.com/merriamwebster

Andrew Littlefield (story producer) on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FSUAndrew

Mariel Bildsten (jazz trombonist) on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6MYXOUN2105Bi2ROMNmoYS?autoplay=true

Tom Webster (voice of the dictionary) on Twitter: https://twitter.com/webby2001

***

THANKS FOR LISTENING AND SUPPORTING!

Keep making what matters.

-Jay

Next Episode

The Gap

Every creative person is trying to make what matters. The projects and jobs they pursue, the bosses or clients they like or dislike, and the works they admire -- it all comes back to that one idea. Not "rank #1" or "drive massive growth."

Make. What Matters.

I believe everyone has what it takes to make what matters, but we often stop or stagnate in our creative process. So what do prolific, thriving, ever-improving creators have in common? What does a healthy body of work require to create?

Well, if we stop to consider what a body of work actually is, we'll notice something tiny, something we all grapple with, and something that, when you really distill creativity down to its essence, represents the ONLY thing that matters to us as creative people.

The next rep.

Welcome to a new journey, where each episode, we explore stories and ideas about reaching the next rep consistently, faster, and better. I have a TON more questions than answers at this point, but if we can learn what it takes or what successful creators do to constantly reach the next rep, then we'll understand how to build an entire body of work -- all in the name of making things that make a difference.

Welcome to this journey. Welcome to The Next Rep.

NEWSLETTER:

Playing Favorites shares one new story every Friday morning that you can't find anywhere else, focused on creating work that matters. Subscribe at jayacunzo.com/newsletter

MEMBER GROUP:

SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS EPISODE:

Jeremy Enns, Jeanne Ivy, Molly Donovan, Tallie Gabriel, Telyse Adams, and Michael Ashford.

"The Gap" quote is from Ira Glass and can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91FQKciKfHI

***

THANKS FOR LISTENING AND SUPPORTING!

Keep making what matters.

-Jay