Great interview, I've been enjoying Brad's work for a while now. I especially liked the part of the interview on completion rituals; I've known of the idea but never heard that term before. I'd always called it "celebrating our successes" in the team environment in which I work, but completion rituals sounds a lot cooler.
Brad is my intellectual hero :) I’ve said this before but his work helped ground me when we were living through a horrible year with a chronically ill child. I found his new book early in the shop and have been reading it. So, so good.
One of my favorites so far! I do agree that excellence isn't found in merely knowing or even just doing. Excellence is becoming. When you work to become something or someone, you're working toward achieving excellence. Thanks for sharing!
Brad's book is next on my list. I like how he frames "completion rituals." It's not just gathering and/or celebrating, but marking end points, which matters just as much as Brad said. I find having bookends to things is where my memories live, otherwise life just blurs together and you can't tell the difference between something you did a year ago or 5 years ago.
I sent his quote "But if you don’t enjoy the process of getting to the achievement, you’re climbing the wrong mountain." to my adult kids. They get caught in 'hustle culture,' believing that in achieving one particular thing, they will 'arrive' and be successful and happy.
I always liked Michelle Obama's quote about becoming: "Now I think it’s one of the most useless questions an adult can ask a child—What do you want to be when you grow up? As if growing up is finite. As if at some point you become something and that’s the end. For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end."
"... not about hacks or habits in isolation, but adopting excellence as a way of being—something that shapes your identity, your values, and how you show up in the world."
Great conversation! Looking forward to reading the book.
Great interview, I've been enjoying Brad's work for a while now. I especially liked the part of the interview on completion rituals; I've known of the idea but never heard that term before. I'd always called it "celebrating our successes" in the team environment in which I work, but completion rituals sounds a lot cooler.
Brad is my intellectual hero :) I’ve said this before but his work helped ground me when we were living through a horrible year with a chronically ill child. I found his new book early in the shop and have been reading it. So, so good.
Great conversation. Interesting information. I took some notes to think about and will check out the book.
One of my favorites so far! I do agree that excellence isn't found in merely knowing or even just doing. Excellence is becoming. When you work to become something or someone, you're working toward achieving excellence. Thanks for sharing!
And I’ve been meaning to reread Zen and the Art…a good motivation
I see flow state in the title, but not explicitly discussed. In the way he discussed it, they certainly are related..
Who’s reading the post? AI?
It sounds like both parties are reading thier own written responses. I get it, but it does ound a little artificial.
Brad's book is next on my list. I like how he frames "completion rituals." It's not just gathering and/or celebrating, but marking end points, which matters just as much as Brad said. I find having bookends to things is where my memories live, otherwise life just blurs together and you can't tell the difference between something you did a year ago or 5 years ago.
I sent his quote "But if you don’t enjoy the process of getting to the achievement, you’re climbing the wrong mountain." to my adult kids. They get caught in 'hustle culture,' believing that in achieving one particular thing, they will 'arrive' and be successful and happy.
I always liked Michelle Obama's quote about becoming: "Now I think it’s one of the most useless questions an adult can ask a child—What do you want to be when you grow up? As if growing up is finite. As if at some point you become something and that’s the end. For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end."
"... not about hacks or habits in isolation, but adopting excellence as a way of being—something that shapes your identity, your values, and how you show up in the world."
Nailed it Brad. Thanks, Michael!
Pat