5: Being Authentic and Professional: Can You Have Both?

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Have you ever felt like you couldn’t be your true self at work? Maybe you felt like you had to hide certain aspects of your personality, or you felt pressure to conform to a certain image or standard. If so, you’re not alone!

Join Anders Boulanger and his featured guest Michael Kerr, a Canadian Speaking Hall of Fame inductee. He is an international business speaker, a very funny motivational speaker, and a workshop trainer.

This episode tackles why authenticity is key to building strong relationships with colleagues and superiors while maintaining a professional demeanor.

Watch the full episode on our Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/zt2KotC3kv0

Stay in the loop and never miss an episode – hit that subscribe button and ring the notification bell!

Our host Anders Boulanger is the founder of Engagify who is dedicated to teaching people in business how to be most effectively understood and heard. He shares that he loves teaching others how to become more engaging. He’s looking to interview those in the role of Director of Sale Enablement, VP of Marketing, or VP of Sales at an industry-agnostic company based in the US.

If you share the same passion, you can be our next guest on the show. Visit our website: https://go.engagify.ai/podcast-guest to apply.

Want to learn more about Anders and his work? Check out Engagify’s website at https://engagify.ai/. You can also connect using your favorite social media platforms:

https://www.facebook.com/GetEngagified

https://www.linkedin.com/company/getengagify/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrXgsV2Syqpj5tWnO6dRfLA

Transcript
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WELCOME TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF ENGAGING PERSONALITIES.

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WE'RE HAVING A GUEST BACK.

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UM THIS GIVES ME PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE AN

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AUTHOR OF EIGHT BOOKS INCLUDING THE

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JERK FREE WORKPLACE.

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HE'S A HALL OF FAME SPEAKER AND HE'S

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A WORKPLACE CULTURE EXPERT.

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AND ONE OF THE FUNNIEST GUYS I KNOW,

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PLEASE WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM,

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MR MIKE, HER MIKE.

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HEY, GOOD MORNING.

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HELLO, EVERYONE.

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UH I'VE GOT MY OFFICIAL GOOD MORNING SIGN

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ACTUALLY READY TO GO.

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HOW ARE YOU,

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ANDRE? GOOD,

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GOOD, GOOD,

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GOOD. UM THANKS FOR COMING BACK AND

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I BROUGHT YOU BACK BECAUSE UH I MEAN,

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WORKPLACE CULTURE,

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THINGS ARE CHANGING IN TERMS OF UH

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WORK FROM HOME,

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IN TERMS OF COVID STUFF HAPPENING.

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UH VIRTUAL HAS CHANGED A LOT OF THINGS

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AND I WANTED TO UH UM BRING ON THIS TOPIC

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OF AUTHENTICITY VERSUS PROFESSIONALISM AND

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KIND OF AND,

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AND JUST TO KIND OF PREF FRAME THIS BEFORE

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WE, WE DIG INTO IT.

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I FIND MYSELF GIVING ALMOST OPPOSING ADVICE,

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RIGHT? SOMETIMES.

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SO I'M TRAINING SALESPEOPLE TO BE

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MORE ENGAGING,

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WHETHER IT'S ONLINE OR IN PERSON OR,

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YOU KNOW,

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IN INTERACTIONS AND SOMETIMES I'M TRYING

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TO GET THEM TO DO THINGS THAT ARE AGAINST

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THEIR NATURE,

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RIGHT? TO KIND OF,

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AND, AND SO YOU'RE,

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AND THEN YOU'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT,

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WE WANT TO BE PROFESSIONAL AND WE,

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IT'S LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO COVER UP

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THINGS AND THEN WE'RE TRYING TO BRING

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OUT THINGS AND IT'S KIND OF ALMOST LIKE

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THERE'S OPPOSING THING.

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SO I WANTED TO KIND OF EXPLORE THIS TOPIC

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WITH YOU AND,

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AND, AND KIND OF,

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UM, GET AT IT.

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SO LET'S START OFF WITH AUTHENTICITY AND

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PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONALISM.

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ARE THEY AT ODDS WITH EACH OTHER OR

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WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

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I DON'T THINK SO.

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NOW I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE SAYING JUST

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EARLIER AND,

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AND THAT IS IT,

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IT'S AN INTERESTING TOPIC,

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RIGHT? BECAUSE WE TALK,

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SOMETIMES WE,

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WE GIVE ADVICE TO ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT PROFESSIONALS,

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YOU KNOW,

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BE YOURSELF,

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YOU HAVE TO BE YOURSELF.

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BUT THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER IT'S,

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WELL, NOT THAT SELF,

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MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT SELF

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THAN THAT SELF.

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BUT NO, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE OPPOSING

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FORCES. IN FACT,

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THE WAY I LOOK AT THIS TOPIC IS IF

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YOU WANT TO BE MORE PROFESSIONAL,

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YOU NEED TO BE MORE AUTHENTIC AND AUTHENTICITY

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WILL HELP YOU BE MORE PROFESSIONAL.

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WHETHER YOU'RE A LEADER,

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WHETHER YOU'RE IN SALES,

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WHETHER YOU'RE A PRESENTER,

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BEING MORE AUTHENTIC WILL HELP YOU COME

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ACROSS AS A TRUE PROFESSIONAL.

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INTERESTING TAKE ON THAT.

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OK. NOW I'M JUST GONNA PUSH YOU ON

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THAT MIKE JUST A BIT BECAUSE I THINK MAYBE

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IF WE DEFINE AUTHENTICITY IN A CERTAIN WAY

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BECAUSE I THINK LET'S,

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LET'S LET'S TAKE,

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FOR EXAMPLE,

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THE VIRTUAL SIDE OF THINGS,

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RIGHT? YOU KNOW,

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UM, NOT CURATING YOUR BACKGROUND OR

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SOMETHING LIKE IT'S JUST A PIG STY

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BACK THERE.

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HEY, THAT'S ME.

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THAT'S THE WAY I LIVE.

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THAT'S THE AUTHENTIC ME.

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RIGHT. YEAH.

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TO ME THAT DOES KIND OF FLY IN THE FACE

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OF THE PROFESSIONALISM A LITTLE BIT.

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SO, UM, FOR SURE.

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YEAH. AND WHAT,

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WHAT WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR ON,

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YOU KNOW,

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AND, AND IT'S BECOME A BIT OF A BUZZWORD

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LATELY, RIGHT?

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AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP.

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BRING YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF TO WORK.

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UH AND OF COURSE,

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WE DO HAVE TO CLARIFY THAT THERE HAS

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TO BE BOUNDARIES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT YOUR

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AUTHENTIC SELF.

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WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF

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THAT YOU WERE AT THREE O'CLOCK IN

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THE MORNING WHEN YOUR DOG WAS THROWING UP

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ON THE CARPET IN THE LIVING ROOM.

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NOT THAT SELF.

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OF COURSE,

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WE, WE STILL HAVE TO BE PROFESSIONAL.

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WE WANT TO,

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TO BE RESPECTFUL.

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WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE COMMUNICATING,

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HOW WE'RE COMING ACROSS EVERYTHING FROM

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HOW, HOW WE DRESS.

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I MEAN, AS YOU SAID,

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THAT'S A GREAT BACKGROUND,

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RIGHT? OUR,

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OUR BACK.

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YEAH, THAT,

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THAT'S RIGHT.

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HEY, TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.

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THAT'S HOW I LIVE.

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MY OFFICE IS A PIG'S TIE,

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RIGHT? OR UH YOU KNOW,

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THIS IS JUST HOW I DRESS OR,

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OR I, I CURSE LIKE A SAILOR.

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THAT'S I'M JUST BEING THE REAL ME

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HERE. I, I JUST CURSE LIKE A SAILOR.

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SO LIVE WITH IT.

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SO OF COURSE THERE IS THAT OPPOSING FORCE.

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SO I THINK,

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I THINK WE DO HAVE TO DEFINE IT UH

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TO MAKE SURE WE,

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WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

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BUT SINCE WE KNOW THAT AUTHENTICITY,

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WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE,

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WHEN WE THINK PEOPLE ARE BEING MORE AUTHENTIC,

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BEING MORE GENUINE,

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BEING MORE REAL,

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WE KNOW THAT IT MAKES THEM MORE APPROACHABLE,

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MORE LIKABLE.

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I THINK WE TRUST THEM MORE.

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IT HELPS CREATE PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY IN

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TEAMS IN THE WORKPLACE.

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EVEN WHEN YOU'RE DOING A PRESENTATION,

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I THINK IT CREATES PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY

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WHEN YOU SEE THE PRESENTER BEING AUTHENTIC

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AND REAL AND VULNERABLE,

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WHICH IS KIND OF A SUB ASPECT OF AUTHENTICITY.

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SO I THINK WITH,

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WITH THAT DEFINITION IN MIND,

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I THINK OF COURSE IT HELPS YOU BE MORE

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PROFESSIONAL.

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YEAH, AND,

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AND THIS DOES REMIND ME AND WE KIND OF

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TOUCHED ON THIS JUST IN THE,

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IN THE GREEN ROOM IF YOU WILL UM ABOUT

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MISTAKES,

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YOU KNOW,

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HUMANIZE US,

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RIGHT? AND,

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AND THIS,

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OH, THAT'S A BONEHEAD MOVE RIGHT THERE.

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YEAH. THERE,

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THERE YOU GO.

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UH SO, SO THIS IDEA THAT,

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YEAH, THAT IF THINGS ARE TOO PERFECT,

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SOMETIMES IT IS UM YOU KNOW,

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UH FORGETTABLE OR SOMETHING,

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RIGHT? LIKE,

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YEAH, THERE THERE'S ALMOST A DANGER AND

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AS PRESENTERS,

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WE KNOW THIS EVEN AND I'VE ACTUALLY HAD

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THIS FEEDBACK SOMETIMES OVER THE YEAR

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WHERE WHERE UM PEOPLE DON'T TRUST YOUR

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MESSAGE IF IT'S TOO SLICK,

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IF IT COMES ACROSS SO PROGRAMMED,

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LIKE YOU JUST PULL THE STRING AND IT'S

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JUST COMING OUT,

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WORD FOR WORD AND THEY DON'T SEE ANY

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KIND OF REAL CONNECTION WITH THE AUDIENCE.

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THEN PEOPLE DON'T TRUST YOU AND THEY

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DON'T TRUST THE MESSAGE THEREFORE.

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AND IT'S INTERESTING YOU TALK ABOUT MISTAKES.

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I COACH A LOT OF SPEAKERS OVER OVER THE

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YEARS AND WHEN I'M COACHING,

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ESPECIALLY SENIOR EXECUTIVES,

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I ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE THIS SITUATION WHERE

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A SENIOR EXECUTIVE IS PRESENTING THEIR

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MATERIAL AND THEY GO INTO SPEAKER MODE,

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RIGHT? OR,

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OR LEADER MODE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEIR

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WHOLE PERSONA CHANGES,

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THEIR VOICE CHANGES,

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THEIR MANNERISMS CHANGE.

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AND NO, I,

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I'M A SPEAKER AND THEY'RE TALKING BLAH,

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BLAH, BLAH.

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I LIKE THIS ROBOT ALMOST.

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AND THEN THEY MAKE A MISTAKE AND IT'S

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SO FASCINATING WHAT HAPPENS BECAUSE THEY'LL

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LAUGH, THEY'LL VERY OFTEN STEP OUT

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OF THEMSELVES ALMOST.

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IT'S LIKE THEY'RE STEPPING OUT OF

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THEIR BODY BECAUSE THEY'LL TAKE A

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STEP OVER FROM THEMSELVES AND THEY'LL LAUGH

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AND THEY'LL GO,

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CAN WE START OVER AND THEN THEY JUST

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TALK VERY NORMALLY,

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VERY CONVERSATIONALLY.

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AND THAT'S ALWAYS THE POINT WHERE I

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GO THERE.

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THAT'S THE PERSON.

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WE ALL WANT TO HEAR THIS PERSON,

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NOT THE ROBOT PERSON BEFORE THAT PERSON.

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SO THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT MAKING MISTAKES

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THAT JUST HELPS US,

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I THINK, BE MORE,

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MORE HUMAN,

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MORE REAL,

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MORE GENUINE,

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THOSE FACADES FALL DOWN,

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THOSE MASKS FALL DOWN THAT WE SOMETIMES WEAR

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AND, AND AGAIN,

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IT MAKES US VULNERABLE AND I THINK BEING

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VULNERABLE LIKE THAT HELPS US AGAIN TO

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BUILD TRUST BECAUSE WE COME ACROSS MORE

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GENUINELY.

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YEAH. YEAH.

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AND, AND I THINK YOU,

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YOU, YOU BRING UP A POINT THERE THAT,

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THAT IDEA THAT PROFESSIONALISM SOMETIMES IS

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LIKE THE,

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THE SUIT THAT WE PUT ON,

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RIGHT? LIKE,

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OR THE, THE,

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THIS KIND OF,

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UM, YOU KNOW,

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PROFESSIONALISM,

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RIGHT? AND,

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UH, AGAIN,

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GOING BACK TO THE PRE PRESENTATION THING

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YOU TALKED ABOUT,

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I ALWAYS FELT THERE WAS LIKE TWO DIFFERENT

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PRESENTATIONS.

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THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT SHOWS,

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YOU KNOW,

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MY BACKGROUND BEING A MAGICIAN IS THE

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SHOW YOU WANT TO DO.

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AND THEN THE SHOW,

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THE AUDIENCE NEEDS RIGHT IN,

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IN THE MOMENT.

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AND, AND WHEN I WANTED,

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WHEN I KNEW THERE WAS A VIDEO RECORD,

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I MEAN, UH WE WERE RECORDING IT FOR

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A PER VIDEO OR WHATEVER.

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IT'S LIKE I WANTED IT TO BE,

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YOU KNOW,

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LIKE I WANTED IT TO BE THE SHOW.

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I WANTED IT,

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RIGHT? UH AND YET BECAUSE THAT'S HOW

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I WANTED TO PRESENT IT,

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BUT IT NEVER,

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I WOULD ALWAYS THEN,

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YOU KNOW,

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GO TO THE AUDIENCE AND GIVE THEM WHAT

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THEY NEED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WAS RIGHT

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IN THE MOMENT,

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RIGHT? SO,

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UM BUT YEAH,

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FINDING THAT THAT THING.

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SO LET'S JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT

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AND DEFINE PROFESSIONALISM THEN LIKE,

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HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE PROFESSIONALISM?

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WELL, TO,

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TO ME PROFESSIONALISM TIES INTO ACCOUNTABILITY,

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IT TIES INTO,

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AGAIN, THAT NOTION OF TRUST.

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I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

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HERE IS TRUST,

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RIGHT? SO BEING PROFESSIONAL TO ME

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IS MAKING SURE YOU,

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YOU DELIVER ON YOUR PROMISE,

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YOU DELIVER ON YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE,

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PROMISE YOUR BRAND PROMISE,

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WHATEVER THAT MAY BE THAT YOU'RE ENGAGING

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WITH PEOPLE IN A RESPECTFUL WAY,

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BUT ALSO IN AN HONEST WAY,

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RIGHT? I I IT'S,

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IT'S NOT PROFESSIONAL TO ENGAGE WITH

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PEOPLE IN A DISHONEST WAY.

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AND AGAIN,

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I THINK THERE'S A CONNECTION TO AUTHENTICITY

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THERE AS WELL.

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ONE OF THE REASONS WE MISTRUST DISTRUST PEOPLE

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IS IF WE GET THE SENSE THAT THEY'RE NOT

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BEING AUTHENTIC,

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EVEN AT A SUBCONSCIOUS LEVEL,

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IF WE THINK THERE'S SOMETHING OFF BETWEEN

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MAYBE THEIR FACIAL EXPRESSION AND THEIR

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WORDS OR THEIR ACTIONS AND THEIR WORDS

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OR THEIR TONE OF VOICE AND THEIR WORD

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OR WHATEVER IT IS,

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EVEN AT A JUST MICRO LEVEL THAT SENDS

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A SIGNAL TO OUR MIND,

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IT DISTRACTS US ALMOST AND WE START TO

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THINK, I DON'T KNOW IF I TRUST THIS

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PERSON OR NOT.

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SO I DON'T KNOW IF I TRUST THEIR MESSAGE

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OR NOT. SO AGAIN,

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THOSE THINGS ARE TIED TOGETHER IN MY

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MIND. BEING PROFESSIONAL IS ABOUT,

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OF COURSE,

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PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD,

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BUT PUTTING YOUR BEST AUTHENTIC FOOT

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FORWARD IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

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YEAH. AND,

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AND YOU KNOW,

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HERE, HERE AT MY COMPANY,

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WE DEFINE PROFESSIONALISM IS ONE OF

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OUR, OUR CORE,

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YOU KNOW,

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VALUES AND WE DEFINE IT AS MASTERING THE

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DETAILS THAT MATTER.

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I LOVE THAT.

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YEAH, THAT'S GREAT.

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RIGHT. SO UH TAKING CARE OF ALL THE

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DETAILS AND THE,

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AND THE ONES THAT MATTER BECAUSE AND

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IT AND IT MAKES ME THINK,

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LIKE, YOU KNOW,

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I, I'M NOT WEARING A DRESS SHIRT EVERY

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DAY AT THE OFFICE IF,

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IF IT'S JUST ME OR WHATEVER,

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YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

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LIKE, IT'S LIKE THERE ARE THE TIMES,

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YOU KNOW,

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IT'S, IT'S,

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IT'S LIKE WHEN IT MATTERS,

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RISING TO THE OCCASION AND MAKING SURE

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THINGS ARE ON POINT.

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RIGHT. THINGS THAT THEY'RE THERE.

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AND I HAVE TO ADMIT YESTERDAY,

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UH, IT WAS A HOLIDAY IN,

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IN CANADA.

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RIGHT. AND,

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UH, AND I ACTUALLY HAD A MEETING WITH

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A VENDOR IN THE UK AND I TOTALLY FORGOT

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ABOUT IT.

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SO I JUMPED ON THE ZOOM CALL,

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YOU KNOW,

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LIKE, HADN'T SHAVED T-SHIRT ON AND

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I WAS KIND OF LIKE,

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I WAS KIND OF EMBARRASSED.

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RIGHT, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST NOT THE

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WAY THAT I NORMALLY PRESENT.

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RIGHT. IN,

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IN, IN THAT SENSE.

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UM, SO I WAS VERY AUTHENTIC.

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LET'S CALL IT THAT FOR,

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YOU KNOW,

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AAA MORNING MORNING THAT I WASN'T GONNA

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BE WORKING.

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UM, BUT YEAH,

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PROFESSIONALISM,

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I, I FEEL LIKE TOO,

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IT'S, IT'S ALMOST LIKE MEETING THE

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EXPECTATIONS OF THE CONTEXT.

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DO YOU THINK OF THAT AS A DEFINITION?

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YEAH, I'D LIKE THAT MEETING THE EXPECTATIONS

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OF THE CONTEXT BECAUSE OF COURSE,

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UH, THINGS CHANGE DEPENDING ON THE CONTEXT,

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DEPENDING ON THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM,

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DEPENDING ON THE,

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THE SITUATION,

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THE EVENT,

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THE TYPE OF MEETING YOU'RE IN OF THE

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COMPANY. RIGHT.

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FOR SURE,

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FOR SURE.

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YEAH, ALL OF THAT.

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SO IT'S VERY CONTEXT SPECIFIC.

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I HAVE THIS CONVERSATION THOUGH,

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ESPECIALLY WITH SENIOR LEADERS A LOT.

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IN FACT, A GROUP OF CEO SI WAS SPEAKING TO

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RECENTLY,

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WE GOT INTO THIS DISCUSSION OF,

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OF WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE PROFESSIONAL AND

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NOT BE PROFESSIONAL AND GOING DOWN THIS

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REALLY INTERESTING CONVERSATION ABOUT

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HOW IT, IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT FOR SENIOR

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LEADERS SOMETIMES TO,

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TO UH LET THEIR GUARDS DOWN AND BE

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GOOFY EVEN SOMETIMES BE SILLY SOMETIMES EVEN

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THOUGH THAT MIGHT SEEM THE POLAR OPPOSITE

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OF BEING PROFESSIONAL.

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BUT IN FACT,

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IN THE BIG PICTURE,

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IN THE LONG TERM SENSE,

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THAT'S INCREDIBLY PROFESSIONAL BECAUSE

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THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFF SENIOR LEADERS

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NEED TO DO TO BUILD TRUST,

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TO BUILD THEIR CULTURE,

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TO BUILD SUPPORT IN TEAMS UH IS IS

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TO PRESENT THAT SIDE OF THEM TO THEIR

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PEOPLE. SOMETIMES I,

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I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING AS

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LEADERS TOO.

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AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING,

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MIKE IS FOR THE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE

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COMPANY TO EMBRACE WHO THEY FULLY ARE

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AND TO BE ABLE TO BE THEMSELVES,

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YOU KNOW,

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IN TERMS OF A CULTURE FOR,

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FOR SURE.

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YOU KNOW,

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WHEN I, I'VE INTERVIEWED UH EMPLOYEES AND

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LEADERS IN COMPANIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

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AND SO OFTEN WHEN I'VE GONE INTO WHAT

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I WOULD CALL TRULY INSPIRING WORKPLACES THAT

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ARE JUST ROCKING IT.

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THOSE COMPANIES THAT ARE LISTED AS

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THE BEST PLACE TO WORK AND ARE JUST KILLING

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IT WITH THEIR CULTURE.

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TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

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WHEN I INTERVIEW THE EMPLOYEES,

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WHAT DOES IT MAKE?

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WHY, WHY IS THIS PLACE SUCH A ROCKING PLACE

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TO WORK. THEY WILL SAY TO ME,

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YOU KNOW,

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IT'S BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST JOB

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I'VE EVER HAD WHERE I CAN JUST FEEL

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FREE TO BE MY REAL SELF.

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I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO TALK IN

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THIS FAKE WAY.

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I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO PUT ON

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THIS FAKE FACADE.

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AND WHEN YOU HAVE TO DO THAT,

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THINK ABOUT THAT,

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WHEN YOU WORK IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE

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YOU FEEL YOU CAN'T BE YOURSELF.

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WHEN YOU FEEL EVEN THERE'S A DISCONNECT BETWEEN

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YOUR PERSONAL VALUES AND THE ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES,

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THERE'S A MENTAL TOLL THERE.

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I WOULD SUGGEST,

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IN FACT, I WOULD SUGGEST THERE'S A

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PHYSICAL TOLL ON YOUR BODY.

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THERE'S A MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DRAIN ON

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US WHEN WE CANNOT JUST BE OURSELVES.

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IT'S ALMOST LIKE PART OF OUR BRAIN HAS

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TO GO INTO OVERDRIVE MODE AND,

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AND PLAY THIS DUAL ROLE AND OF COURSE,

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THAT'S GONNA SUCK UP A LOT OF ENERGY.

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BUT YEAH,

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BECAUSE YOU'RE BEING IN A YEAH,

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IT'S, IT'S,

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IT'S KIND OF LIKE IT TAKES MORE EFFORT

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TO KEEP TRACK OF YOUR LIES,

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TO BE HONEST,

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RIGHT. YEAH.

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UH WE GOT,

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WE GOT A QUESTION FROM UH RICHARD LABEL.

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HOW DO YOU TRAIN LEADERS TO BE THEMSELVES?

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SO, MIKE,

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WHAT, WHAT,

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WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WHEN YOU,

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WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GET LEADERS TO,

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TO BRING MORE OF THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES?

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YEAH, RICHARD,

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THAT'S LIKE,

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THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND IT'S AN

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INTERESTING QUESTION,

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RIGHT? CAN YOU TRAIN SOMEBODY TO BE

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AUTHENTIC.

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YOU KNOW,

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I'M, I'M PRACTICING IT BEING SINCERE.

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I'M FAKING IT.

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THERE'S ALL SORTS OF QUOTES ABOUT THAT.

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I THINK GEORGE BURNS VERY GREAT.

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YEAH. IF YOU,

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IF YOU CAN FAKE SINCERITY,

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YOU'VE GOT IT MADE.

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RIGHT. SO CAN YOU REALLY TRAIN SOMEBODY?

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I THINK PART OF IT,

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I, I THINK YOU CAN,

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AND I'VE COACHED LEADERS AND WORKED WITH

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LEADERS AND,

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AND I THINK YOU CAN,

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PART OF IT IS JUST RAISING AWARENESS AND,

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AND PART OF IT IS GETTING INTO,

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I THINK A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT

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SOME OF THEIR ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT LEADERSHIP

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AND ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT HOW BUSINESS AND

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WORKPLACES OPERATE AND CHALLENGING THOSE

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ASSUMPTIONS THAT THEY HAVE MAYBE BROUGHT

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ALONG WITH THEM FROM JOB TO JOB OR

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OVER THE THE SPAN OF THEIR CAREER.

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AND THAT'S THE PROFESSIONALISM BUTTONED

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UP, KIND OF KNOW THAT I CAN'T,

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I'M NOT GONNA BE SEEN AS BEING PROFESSIONAL

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IF I DO THIS.

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SO I THINK HELPING THEM SEE THAT,

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THAT, THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

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I THINK SHARING EXAMPLES OF LEADERS THAT

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DO THINGS THAT,

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THAT WHERE THEY PRESENT THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES

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UH AND ACHIEVE GREAT RESULTS BY DOING

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SO. SO I THINK SHARING THOSE STORIES CAN

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CERTAINLY HELP.

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I THINK AS WELL,

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COACHING AND TRAINING LEADERS ON BECAUSE

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A LOT OF THIS COMES DOWN TO SELF AWARENESS,

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I THINK, RIGHT,

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IF YOU, IF YOU'RE NOT SELF-AWARE AS

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A LEADER,

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I THINK THIS TOPIC IS GOING TO CHALLENGE YOU

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A LITTLE BIT.

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SO IT REALLY IS ABOUT ENCOURAGING LEADERS

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TO LOOK INWARD,

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TO BE MORE SELF AWARE,

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UH TO THINK ABOUT THEIR OWN ACCOUNTABILITY TO

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THEIR PEOPLE AND HOW ARE THEY COMING ACROSS?

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AND THAT MIGHT INVOLVE GETTING FEEDBACK FROM

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THEIR PEERS,

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FEEDBACK FROM THEIR EMPLOYEES WORKING WITH

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A COACH, BUT REALLY TAKING A HARD LOOK

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AT THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP STYLE AND JUST

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ASKING THEMSELVES I,

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AM I COMING ACROSS REAL AM I DO?

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I FEEL LIKE I'M,

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I'M LIVING MY PERSONAL VALUES WHEN I

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COME INTO WORK OR DO I HAVE TO LEAVE THEM

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AT THE DOOR AT EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE

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MORNING? DO I FEEL LIKE I CAN BE VULNERABLE

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WITH MY EMPLOYEES?

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AND WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?

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BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THERE'S A

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LINE THERE TOO,

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RIGHT? BEING AUTHENTIC DOESN'T MEAN

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THAT, YOU KNOW,

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I'M GOING TO USE MY TEAM AS MY GROUP

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THERAPY SESSION,

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RIGHT? BECAUSE I'M GETTING AUTHENTIC WHEN

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WE TRAIN UH SALESPEOPLE AND,

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AND WELL,

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AND SOMETIMES EVEN ENGINEERS AND THAT

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SORT OF THING ON BEING MORE ENGAGING IN

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THEIR PRESENTATIONS.

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YOU KNOW,

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I TALK ABOUT THE UM THE,

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THE WORD PERSONA ACTUALLY COMES FROM

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THE MASKS THAT THE GREEKS WOULD WEAR

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THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE SOUND BECAUSE THEY

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WERE ALMOST LIKE LITTLE LOUD SPEAKERS,

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RIGHT? FOR THE OPEN AIR AMPHITHEATER.

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AND SO IT WAS THE MASKS WE WEAR AND

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EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE SAME PERSON,

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WE ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE,

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YOU KNOW,

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WHEN WE'RE WITH OUR SPOUSE,

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WHEN WE'RE WITH OUR KIDS AND WE,

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WE ARE IN A PROFESSIONAL CONTEXT WHEN

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WE'RE WITH OUR BUDDIES OR,

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YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

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LIKE, IF I GO,

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GO OUT FOR DRINKS AFTER A VOLLEYBALL GAME,

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IT'S A DIFFERENT,

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YOU KNOW,

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YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT SIDE OF YOU THAT'S

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SHOWN. SO I THINK THAT,

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LIKE YOU SAID,

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THAT AWARENESS IS A BIG PART OF THAT.

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UH, AND THEN GOING BACK TO PROFESSIONALISM AND

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THIS KIND OF BUTTONED UP KIND OF PIECE

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AND HOW THAT'S KIND OF TRAINED INTO

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PEOPLE. UM,

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I THINK PEOPLE NEED PERMISSION TO UNDERSTAND

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THAT THEY CAN BE MORE THEMSELVES IN,

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IN A CONTEXT AND,

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AND IT REMINDS ME OF A SITUATION WHERE

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I WAS TRAINING A TEAM AND I WAS CHALLENGING

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THEM TO DO DIFFERENT UH ARCHETYPES KIND

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OF SO DO THEIR PRESENTATION,

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LIKE THEY'RE A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER,

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DO THEIR PRESENTATION,

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LIKE THEY'RE LIKE THESE DIFFERENT THINGS

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THAT WOULD JUST BRING OUT DIFFERENT SIDES

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OF THEM. AND AT THE END OF THE,

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THE TRAINING,

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WE WERE KIND OF DEBRIEFING IT AND,

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AND FINDING OUT WHAT,

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HOW PEOPLE FELT AND SOME OF THEM WERE

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JUST TERRIFIED TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT,

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THAT WAS NOT THEM.

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RIGHT. AND THEN AFTERWARDS,

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YOU KNOW,

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THE, THE CONSENSUS WAS I,

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I GUESS I'M MORE THAN I THOUGHT I

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WAS. RIGHT.

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AND, AND I JUST THINK THAT'S A LIKE,

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AND I THINK THAT KIND OF ZEST OR THAT

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AUTHENTICITY PULLING THAT OUT OF PEOPLE

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ALLOWING THEM TO BE MORE OF THEMSELVES.

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YEAH, I LOVE THAT.

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AND I USED TO DO THEATER IMPROV TRAINING,

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I USED TO DO SOME THEATER IMPROV PERFORMANCE

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AND I USED TO TRAIN SENIOR MANAGERS,

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ESPECIALLY CFO S UH AND SOMETIMES FULL

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DAY WORKSHOPS ON THEATER IMPROV AND

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TALKING ABOUT THEATER PROV IMPROV USING

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IMPROV TO TALK ABOUT LEADERSHIP STYLES,

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COMMUNICATION,

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CREATIVITY IN THE WORKPLACE.

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AND OF COURSE,

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90% OF THE PARTICIPANTS WERE TERRIFIED AT

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THE START OF THE DAY,

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RIGHT? LIKE THEY WERE JUST FREAKING OUT,

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BUT BY THE END OF THE DAY,

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THEY WERE LOVING IT,

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THEIR MASKS,

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IT HAD COME DOWN.

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AND I THINK PART OF THE KEY TO SUCCESS THOUGH

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WAS THAT WE WENT VERY SLOW.

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UM SO IT WASN'T DIVING INTO THE DEEP

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END OF THE POOL.

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SO WE CREATED COMFORT.

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WE MADE IT PSYCHOLOGICALLY SAFE FOR

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PEOPLE TO LAUGH WITH ONE ANOTHER.

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WE NEVER PUT ANYONE ON THE SPOT.

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WE WERE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND IT

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JUST HELPED PEOPLE GET MORE COMFORTABLE IN

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THEIR SKIN AT THE SAME TIME THOUGH.

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THIS RAISES AN INTERESTING POINT TO

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THE WHOLE TRAINING IDEA IS WE'RE NOT

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TALKING ABOUT.

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AND I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS CLEAR

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TOO. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT NECESSARILY TRANSPLANTING

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SOMEBODY'S PERSONALITY,

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RIGHT? SO WE HAVE TO I THINK BE CLEAR

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THAT NO, WE'RE NOT,

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WE'RE NOT GOING TO TRY AND CHANGE FUNDAMENTALLY

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WHO YOU ARE.

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WE'RE JUST GOING TO TRY TO BRING OUT

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THE BEST OF YOU AND GIVE YOU SOME TOOLS.

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AND EVEN IF IT'S CONVERSATION FRAMEWORKS THAT

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ARE GOING TO MAKE YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE

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WHEN YOU SIT DOWN WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES,

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MAYBE THAT'S GOING TO HELP YOU ENGAGE

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AT A MORE AUTHENTIC,

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REAL LEVEL WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES.

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SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT JUST,

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JUST HELPING YOU GROW INTO YOUR TRUE

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SELF BUT NOT THE FUNDING YOU.

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AND, AND,

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AND THAT'S THE THING BECAUSE THAT,

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THAT WOULD BE FAR FROM AUTHENTICITY CHANGING

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SOMEONE ELSE,

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RIGHT? AND,

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AND SO I THINK THIS IDEA OF WHAT YOU

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TALKED ABOUT WITH GOING SLOW IN THE

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COMFORT LEVEL AND KIND OF THAT THAT PIECE

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AND IT IS REALLY THE CULTURE OF THAT

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TRAINING IS KIND OF ALMOST THAT THAT

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SIDE OF IT,

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RIGHT? SO WHEN COMPANIES UM CAN FEEL

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UH COMFORTABLE SPREADING THEIR WINGS A

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LITTLE BIT,

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I THINK YOU,

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YOU CAN, YOU CAN SEE PEOPLE DOING THAT,

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RIGHT? AND,

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AND I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE SHIFT THEIR BEHAVIORS,

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I'VE SEEN LEADERS SHIFT THEIR BEHAVIORS DRAMATICALLY

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WHEN THEY'VE JUST LOOKED INWARD,

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DONE SOME,

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SOME WORK ON THEMSELVES IN TERMS OF

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SELF-AWARENESS AND THINKING ABOUT THEIR

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LEADERSHIP STYLES AND ARE THEY REALLY APPROACHABLE?

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THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING ACCESSIBLE

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AND BEING APPROACHABLE?

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RIGHT. SO ARE THEY AS OPEN AS THEY NEED

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TO BE TO HAVE RICHER CONVERSATIONS SO

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THAT EMPLOYEES CAN COME TO THEM WITH

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THEIR CONCERNS,

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WITH THEIR OUTRAGEOUS IDEAS,

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WITH THEIR REALLY DIFFICULT QUESTIONS?

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YOU HAVE TO AS A LEADER CREATE THAT PSYCHOLOGICAL

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SAFETY TO ALLOW FOR THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

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AND SO I'VE,

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I'VE COME ACROSS LEADERS.

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ONE OF MY FAVORITE EXAMPLES IS A LEADER

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WHO I INTERVIEWED MANY YEARS AGO,

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A CEO OF A COMPANY.

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AND HE ADMITTED TO ME,

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HE SAID, YOU KNOW,

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I'M, I'M ACTUALLY SHY,

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I'M A SHY PERSON AND I'M AN INTROVERT AND

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THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

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BUT HE WAS SAYING,

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NO, I'M,

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I'M BOTH,

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I'M SHY AND AN INTROVERT YET.

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I'VE REALIZED THAT AS CEO OF A COMPANY

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AND THE KIND OF CULTURE WE WANT TO

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BUILD HERE,

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I CAN'T HIDE BEHIND THOSE NATURAL PERSONALITY

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TENDENCIES BECAUSE I STILL WANT TO

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CREATE THIS VERY FUN,

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OPEN AUTHENTIC CULTURE WHERE PEOPLE ARE

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ALLOWED TO BE THEMSELVES.

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SO I NEED TO KIND OF FORCE MYSELF TO

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GET OUT OF MY OWN COMFORT ZONE SOMETIMES TO,

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TO SEND THAT MESSAGE TO CONVEY THAT MESSAGE

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OF AUTHENTICITY AND FUN.

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AND HE'S DONE VERY WELL.

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I MEAN, HE SHOWED UP AT MIDNIGHT ON

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A CALL CENTER FLOOR ONCE WEARING A

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MATADOR COSTUME ON ROLLER BLADES TO

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CHECK IN WITH CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES.

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THAT'S PRETTY GOOD,

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I WOULD SAY FOR A SHY INTROVERT.

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YES. YES.

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UM YEAH, THAT'S UH BEING WHO YOU,

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WHO YOUR AUDIENCE OR YOUR EMPLOYEES NEED

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YOU TO BE,

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YOU KNOW,

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IN A, IN A SENSE IT,

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BUT STILL BEING YOURSELF,

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I GUESS. YEAH,

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IT'S AN INTERESTING BALANCE,

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ISN'T IT?

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YEAH. YEAH.

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SO, SO LET'S TALK BRIEFLY HERE ABOUT,

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YOU KNOW,

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WORK FROM HOME CHANGED A LOT OF THINGS

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POST COVID WORLD.

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I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE CAN SAY POST

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COVID WORLD,

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BUT LIKE,

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YOU KNOW,

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WHATEVER IS THE,

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THE NEW THING,

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WE'RE KIND OF POST PRE PRE POST,

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POST. YEAH,

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I DON'T KNOW,

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PRE, PRE POST TO POST.

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YEAH, THERE YOU GO.

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WHAT, WHAT DO YOU SEE COMING DOWN THE

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PIPE IN TERMS OF,

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YOU KNOW,

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HOW WE ARE GOING TO NAVIGATE IN THIS

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NEW, YOU KNOW,

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WORLD AND,

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AND KIND OF,

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I DON'T KNOW,

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EMBRACING THIS,

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YOU KNOW,

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I, I DEFINITELY SEE THIS KIND OF UM

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YOU KNOW,

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PEOPLE EMBRACING,

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HEY, WE, WE HAVE FAMILIES,

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WE HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN AT HOME.

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THIS IS THE REALITY.

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LIKE I SEE THAT OF MORE,

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MUCH MORE ACCEPTANCE OF THAT,

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ESPECIALLY,

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YOU KNOW,

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ON THE VIRTUAL SIDE.

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WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

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UH MIKE. YEAH,

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SIMILAR. I,

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I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF LESSONS THE

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LAST FEW YEARS AND TALKING ABOUT JUST

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THE VIRTUAL WORLD TO START.

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WE, WE ALL HAD THOSE STORIES AT THE

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START OF THIS,

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ESPECIALLY WHERE PEOPLE WERE SHARING STORIES

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OF MAYBE DISASTERS OF WHAT WAS BEING SHARED,

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YOU KNOW,

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BEHIND THE CAMERA,

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LIKE THE SPOUSE COMING OUT OF THE SHOWER,

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UH BECAUSE YOU FORGOT TO CLOSE THE DOOR

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OR THE KIDS AND DOGS BARKING OR COMING

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INTO THE ROOM AND,

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AND THAT'S INTERESTING THAT,

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RIGHT, BECAUSE AGAIN,

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THAT WAS,

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THERE WAS SUCH A DEBATE EARLY ON AND

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I THINK TO SOME POINT THERE STILL IS

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THIS DEBATE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM VERSUS

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AUTHENTICITY WHERE SOME PEOPLE,

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I STILL HEAR PEOPLE SAY,

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WELL, IT'S NOT VERY PROFESSIONAL TO

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HAVE A, HAVE A CAT COME IN AND WALK ACROSS

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YOUR DESK DURING A ZOOM MEETING LIKE

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WE'RE IN AN IMPORTANT ZOOM MEETING HERE

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AND THEIR CAT CAME ACROSS FOR GOODNESS SAKE.

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IT WAS SOMEWHAT PROFESSIONAL AND THEN

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OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING,

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OH, COME ON,

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GIVE ME A BREAK.

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IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE CAT.

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AND IN FACT,

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LET'S TAKE A LITTLE TIME OUT AND INTRODUCE

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THE CAT TO THE TEAM MEMBERS HERE.

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RIGHT. SO,

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WE'VE GOT TO MEET PEOPLE'S FAMILIES SOMETIMES

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THROUGH THIS,

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THEY'RE DOGS,

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THEY'RE CATS,

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WE SEE MORE OF THE REAL SELF.

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SO I THINK IN SOME WAYS IT'S,

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IT'S HELPED UH BRIDGE THAT AUTHENTIC PROFESSIONAL

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GAP IF YOU WILL.

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RIGHT. SO,

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SO THERE'S BEEN THAT ASPECT OF IT.

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ONE THING WE'VE CERTAINLY,

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I THINK THAT I'VE SEEN THAT WE'VE ALL

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LEARNED IS UH AND,

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AND THIS HAS BEEN BORNE OUT IN SO MANY

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SURVEYS AND SO MUCH RESEARCH IN THE

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LAST TWO YEARS THAT CULTURE MATTERS NOW,

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MORE THAN EVER,

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WORKPLACE CULTURE MATTERS WAY MORE THAN

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EVER. AND WE KNOW THAT AS ORGANIZATIONS ARE

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TRANSITIONING BACK TO SOME SORT OF

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HYBRID MIX IN THE FUTURE OR BACK INTO

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THEIR OFFICE,

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THEY HAVE TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THEIR CULTURE.

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WE KNOW SO MANY EMPLOYEES,

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RIGHT? WHO HAVE MADE THAT TOUGH CHOICE,

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THAT TOUGH DECISION TO SAY,

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YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS.

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THIS IS KIND OF,

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THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME

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THAT I DON'T ENJOY WHAT I'M DOING FOR

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A LIVING ANYMORE.

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I DON'T WANNA GO BACK ON THE RAT RACE.

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I DON'T WANT TO COMMUTE AN HOUR AND

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A HALF EACH WAY TO WORK SO I'M GONNA

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LOOK FOR ANOTHER JOB OR MY SPOUSE AND

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I HAVE TALKED AND WE,

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WE'VE REALIZED,

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YOU KNOW,

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WE CAN DO WITH JUST ONE SALARY,

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WE'RE GONNA LIVE A SIMPLER LIFESTYLE OR

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WE'RE GONNA EVEN MOVE.

Speaker:

RIGHT? SO ORGANIZATIONS NEED LIKE NEVER

Speaker:

BEFORE TO STEP UP AND BE EXTRA INTENTIONAL ABOUT

Speaker:

THEIR CULTURE.

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TO ME, THAT'S THE KEY WORD,

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INTENTIONAL,

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EXTRA, INTENTIONAL ABOUT THEIR CULTURE,

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INTENTIONAL ABOUT THEIR LEADERSHIP,

Speaker:

INTENTIONAL ABOUT BUILDING TRUST IN

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THE WORKPLACE MATTERS.

Speaker:

NOW, MORE THAN EVER.

Speaker:

SO AGAIN,

Speaker:

IT GOES BACK TO THAT IDEA OF AUTHENTIC.

Speaker:

I THINK IT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT TO

Speaker:

HAVE THOSE REAL HONEST CONVERSATIONS WITH

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YOUR EMPLOYEES ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT,

Speaker:

WHAT THEIR HOPES,

Speaker:

THEIR DREAMS,

Speaker:

THEIR GOALS ARE AND TO HIT THE RESET BUTTON

Speaker:

AND TO READ,

Speaker:

THIS IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO

Speaker:

REIMAGINE A MORE INSPIRING ROCKING WORKPLACE.

Speaker:

YEAH. YEAH.

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AND, AND I'M GONNA PULL OUT THIS QUOTE

Speaker:

THAT WE, WE TALKED ABOUT AUTHENTICITY IS

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A NEW CURRENCY THAT WAS WRITTEN IN

Speaker:

2014. SO,

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I MEAN, IT'S UH IT'S NOT AS NEW,

Speaker:

BUT IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT CURRENCY,

Speaker:

YOU KNOW,

Speaker:

FROM WHAT,

Speaker:

FROM WHAT YOU'RE SAYING UH MAKING THAT

Speaker:

SHIFT BECAUSE RETENTION IS SO HARD,

Speaker:

RIGHT? THE GREAT RESIGNATION AND THAT'S

Speaker:

WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

Speaker:

ABSOLUTELY.

Speaker:

YEAH. SO,

Speaker:

SO AGAIN,

Speaker:

JUST BEING EXTRA INTENTIONAL ABOUT CHECKING

Speaker:

IN WITH ONE ANOTHER,

Speaker:

UH EXTRA INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW WE BUILD

Speaker:

RELATIONSHIPS,

Speaker:

BUILD TRUST ABOUT HOW WE COMMUNICATE ALL

Speaker:

OF THAT HAS BECOME SO SO IMPORTANT NOW,

Speaker:

SO IF WE WERE TO SUM UP AND,

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AND AGAIN,

Speaker:

I WENT INTO IT THINKING THEY WERE MORE

Speaker:

IMPOSING.

Speaker:

YOU. YOU'VE WON ME OVER TO THIS IDEA

Speaker:

THAT THEY BOTH ARE TRUST RELATED IN

Speaker:

A WAY, RIGHT?

Speaker:

BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE PROFESSIONALISM OF

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THE EXPECTATIONS.

Speaker:

UM, AUTHENTICITY IS KNOWING THAT WHAT

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YOU SEE IS ACTUALLY WHAT YOU'RE GETTING

Speaker:

IN TERMS OF THE CONGRUENCE,

Speaker:

RIGHT? UM AND,

Speaker:

AND MAN, I,

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I WAS GONNA SUM UP,

Speaker:

BUT I JUST THOUGHT OF ANOTHER POINT THAT,

Speaker:

THAT I WANT TO BRING UP.

Speaker:

UM I THINK AGAIN,

Speaker:

WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BUTTONED UP

Speaker:

PROFESSIONALISM THING,

Speaker:

I THINK THAT THAT IDEA,

Speaker:

THAT NOTION UM CAN SOMETIMES BECAUSE WE

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ARE UM MEETING THE EXPECTATIONS THAT

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ARE FOR THE CONTEXT,

Speaker:

RIGHT? THAT THAT CAN BE BORING,

Speaker:

RIGHT? AND,

Speaker:

AND THEN THAT THERE'S KIND OF SOMETIMES GOING

Speaker:

OUT, OUT OF THAT BOX,

Speaker:

GETTING OUT OF THAT BOX A LITTLE BIT

Speaker:

IS SO REFRESHING THAT IT'S KIND OF

Speaker:

LIKE, OH,

Speaker:

I WASN'T EXPECTING THAT.

Speaker:

THAT'S INTERESTING,

Speaker:

RIGHT? AS THE,

Speaker:

AS THE PATTERN INTERRUPTIVE OF WHATEVER INTERACTION

Speaker:

THAT IS. AND IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT

Speaker:

IS REAL ABOUT THAT PERSON,

Speaker:

YOU KNOW,

Speaker:

I THINK IT REALLY CREATES A CONNECTION,

Speaker:

YOU KNOW,

Speaker:

IT'S ABOUT CONFOUNDING OUR EXPECTATIONS,

Speaker:

RIGHT? IF YOU GO IN AND MEET WITH UH

Speaker:

A PROFESSIONAL,

Speaker:

WHAT WOULD TRADITIONALLY BE CONSIDERED A

Speaker:

VERY CONSERVATIVE,

Speaker:

YOU KNOW,

Speaker:

BUTTONED UP KIND OF JOB,

Speaker:

A LAWYER SAY,

Speaker:

OR A FINANCIAL INVESTMENT PLANNER.

Speaker:

BUT THE PERSON JUST COMES ACROSS TOTALLY

Speaker:

DIFFERENT THAN ANYONE ELSE.

Speaker:

YOU'VE MET WITH BUT IN A PROFESSIONAL WAY

Speaker:

STILL. YEAH,

Speaker:

I THINK THAT'S GONNA HAVE A HUGE IMPACT.

Speaker:

RIGHT. THEY'RE,

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THEY'RE GONNA STAND OUT FROM THE HERD

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TO BE HEARD.

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YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA,

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IN FACT, PROBABLY TRUST THEM EVEN MORE

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AND YOU'RE GONNA THINK.

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WOW, THIS IS SO,

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THIS IS SO REFRESHING TO SIT DOWN WITH

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SOMEBODY IN YOUR FIELD WHO'S,

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WHO'S, WHO'S LIKE THIS.

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IT'S AWESOME.

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YEAH. IT,

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IT MAKES ME THINK OF THE PEOPLE WHO

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SHARE KIND OF A UNIQUE HOBBY ABOUT THEMSELVES

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WHEN THEY'RE IN THEIR PRESENTATION OR

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SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

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AND YOU'RE LIKE,

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OH, THAT IS LIKE YOU ALL AUTOMATICALLY NOW

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THINK ABOUT THAT PERSON DIFFERENTLY,

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RIGHT? AS OPPOSED TO JUST STAY TO THE

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SCRIPT AND YOU KNOW THAT.

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AND THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT ANDERS BECAUSE

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THAT IS SO TRUE.

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THAT'S WHY I THINK WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE

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IMPORTANCE OF FUN EVENTS AT WORK,

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SOCIAL EVENTS,

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THE, THE,

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SOME OF THE EVEN GOOFY THINGS WE DO

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THAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT DISCOUNT AS

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BEING FRIVOLOUS.

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WHAT I REMIND PEOPLE OF IS,

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IS, YOU KNOW,

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WHERE ELSE DO WE BUILD TRUST?

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WE HAVE TO GET TO KNOW PEOPLE BEYOND THEIR

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JOB TITLES.

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AND SO WHEN YOU LEARN ABOUT PEOPLE'S FAMILY

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LIVES, ABOUT THEIR,

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WHEN YOU MEET THEM WITH THEIR CHILDREN FOR

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THE FIRST TIME,

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YOU SEE THEM THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS,

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YOU SEE THEM AS A FATHER,

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A MOTHER,

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YOU, YOU,

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YOU LEARN ABOUT THEIR HOBBIES AND YOU,

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YOU THINK,

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OH MY GOD,

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I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR 12 YEARS.

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I NEVER KNEW YOU GO SKYDIVING EVERY WEEKEND.

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THAT'S JUST CRAZY.

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AND YOU LOOK AT THAT PERSON IN A DIFFERENT

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WAY AND I JUST THINK,

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YOU KNOW,

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HOW ELSE DO WE BUILD TRUST UNLESS WE

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GET TO REALLY KNOW EACH OTHER AT A

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MORE PERSONAL LEVEL.

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YEAH. YEAH.

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AND, AND THAT'S,

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THAT'S HOW WE BUILD CONNECTIONS IS

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THROUGH, THROUGH,

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THROUGH UNDERSTANDING THEIR COMMONALITIES AND

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THE, AND EVEN NONCOM.

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BUT JUST THAT ARE COOL TO KNOW.

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RIGHT. EXACTLY.

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RIGHT. RIGHT.

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AND AGAIN,

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YOU KNOW,

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I HAVE TO MAKE A PLUG FOR IT BECAUSE OF

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MY BOOK, THE HUMOR ADVANTAGE HUMOR HELPS

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A LOT WITH THIS.

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WHEN YOU CREATE A,

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A WORKPLACE,

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A MEETING THAT IS FULL OF HUMOR THAT

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IS FULL OF LAUGH AFTER WE KNOW FROM SO

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MUCH RESEARCH THAT PEOPLE TEND TO OPEN

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UP MORE, THEY'RE,

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THEY'RE MORE HONEST,

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THEY'RE MORE CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE BECAUSE

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IT CREATES THAT PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFE SPACE

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TO JUST BE YOURSELF.

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AND AS A LEADER,

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IF YOU CAN SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR

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SENSE OF HUMOR IN A SAFE WAY,

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IF YOU CAN POKE FUN AT YOURSELF,

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IF YOU CAN TAKE YOURSELF A LITTLE LESS

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SERIOUSLY,

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THAT'S GOING TO CREATE THAT,

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THAT PSYCHOLOGICAL,

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SAFE SPACE FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

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IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND,

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AND FOR PEOPLE TO JUST THINK ABOUT HOW

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THEIR HUMOR IS GOING TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE

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FEEL AROUND THEM IS SO IMPORTANT.

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YEAH. WELL,

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THANK YOU,

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MIKE. I, I,

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I PUT UP YOUR WEBSITE JUST BECAUSE,

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YOU KNOW,

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WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR BOOK.

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SO, HUMOR IN THE WORKPLACE,

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JERK FREE,

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THE JERK FREE WORKPLACE AS WELL.

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YES. THE NEWEST ONE.

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THERE'S YOUR WEBSITE.

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IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN AND,

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AND BY SOON TO BE,

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LIKE, IN MAYBE 10 DAYS,

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A TOTALLY NEW WEBSITE.

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OK. SO, YEAH,

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SO COME BACK IN 10 DAYS,

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WRITE DOWN THE WEBSITE AND THEN COME

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BACK IN 10 DAYS.

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UM, VERY COOL.

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HEY, UH, I THANK YOU FOR,

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FOR BEING HERE AND HELPING US EXPLORE UM,

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THIS TOPIC.

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I JUST THINK IT'S FASCINATING JUST BECAUSE

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THERE'S SO MANY KIND OF CROSSOVERS AND

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THINGS. YEAH,

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IT'S, IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE,

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AND, UM, AND,

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AND IT'S HELPING ME RESOLVE IT TOO

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AS, AS I TEACH TEAMS BECAUSE IT DID

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FEEL LIKE I WAS KIND OF SAYING,

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OK, WE WANT TO,

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YOU KNOW,

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PLAY DOWN THIS AND PLAY UP THIS AND

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YET, RIGHT?

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LIKE WHAT?

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SO IT'S ALL GOOD.

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UH THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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UM WELL, MAYBE PERHAPS WE'LL DO IT

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AGAIN. I,

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I FEEL LIKE WE'RE A LITTLE BIT,

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UH THIS IS REAL CANADIAN REFERENCE BUT

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BOB AND DOUG MACKENZIE WHERE IT'S LIKE,

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OK, NEW TOPIC,

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YOU KNOW,

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LIKE I GOT A TOPIC FOR THE SHOW PUT

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ON OUR TOO.

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WE, I WOULD LOVE TO WEAR A TUK WITH YOU.

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I CRACK OPEN A CAN OF BEER.

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THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

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I THINK THAT COULD BECOME A THING THAT

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WOULD BE AMAZING.

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SO, SO TO JUST WRAP UP THIS TOPIC THEN?

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ANDERS, I THINK I I PERHAPS LEAVE THE

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LAST WORDS TO THE,

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THE, THE BRILLIANT OSCAR WILDE WHO ONCE

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SAID, BE YOURSELF.

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EVERYONE ELSE IS TAKEN.

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THAT'S PRETTY GOOD ADVICE.

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I THINK IT IS.

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ALL RIGHT.

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WE'LL END IT ON THAT.

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THANKS AGAIN.