347: Steven Strogatz - How Calculus Reveals The Secrets Of The Universe

<p>The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk</p> <p>Text LEARNERS to 44222</p> <p>Full show notes can be found at <a href= "http://www.LearningLeader.com">www.LearningLeader.com</a></p> <p>Episode #347: Steven Strogatz - How Calculus Reveals The Secrets Of The Universe</p> <ul> <li>Leaders who sustain excellence: <ul> <li>Have a willingness to be a beginner <ul> <li>"When you're naive, you ask new questions"</li> </ul> </li> <li>"They have the courage to be someone who's just starting"</li> <li>How do you fight the urge to live up to a prior reputation of being an expert at something? <ul> <li>Be known as an adventurer. Cannot have an ego.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>Six degrees of separation is a math problem</li> <li>The strength in weak ties <ul> <li>It's important to connect with people outside of your typical orbit</li> <li>Action: Go to a strange party, play a new sport, go to a new gym, meet oddballs <ul> <li>Collect "casual acquaintances"</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>The value of being a helper: <ul> <li>Be the assist person, help others, do little acts of kindness, promote someone else's work</li> </ul> </li> <li>How Steven and I got to know each other: <ul> <li>David Epstein's wife made an intro for David and Steven... And then from David to me. <ul> <li>"Be the kind of person who remembers others names"</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>Why should a normal person learn calculus? <ul> <li>"The world has been turned upside down by calculus"</li> <li>"Calculus is the mathematical study of change"</li> <li>"It's a great intellectual adventure story"</li> <li>"Calculus is the language that God talks" --&gt; The laws of nature are built in calculus</li> </ul> </li> <li>How to be more creative? <ul> <li>Be broadly interested in many different topics. Take something from one area and apply it somewhere else.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Advice Steven would give to a mid-level manager: <ul> <li>"Getting high grades is jumping through hoops someone else sets"</li> <li>"As a PhD, you have to make your own hoops"</li> <li>"People need to be more adventurous, and then figure it out"</li> </ul> </li> <li>Why you should study Improv as a leader: <ul> <li>Use "Yes and..." This helps with brainstorming and coming up with new ideas. Put out a lot of wacky ideas to get to the good stuff.</li> <li>"I want people to be gripped irrationally by the imagination"</li> </ul> </li> <li>The power of mentors: <ul> <li>"Learn from both the great coaches and the bad ones"</li> </ul> </li> <li>The value of friendships: <ul> <li>The story of Mr. Joffray -- Physically impressive and wonderfully intelligent. He took pleasure in Steven passing him.</li> </ul> </li> <li>The value of teaching: <ul> <li>It helps create empathy... It forces you to put yourself in the mind of someone else. "Bad teachers don't have empathy."</li> </ul> </li> <li>How does Steven prepare for big moments? <ul> <li>"I try to be myself. And talk myself out of being intimidated." ---&gt; The audience wants you to do well.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Life advice: <ul> <li>"Do what you care about most, what drives you the most, do the hard work to become skillful."</li> <li>Why joining <a href= "https://learningleader.com/leadership-circles/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Learning Leader Circle</em></a> is a good idea</li> </ul> </li> </ul>