Most people think they've hit their limits when they're actually nowhere close.

Alex Hutchinson returns to the show for his second appearance. As a journalist and author, he's spent years studying the science of human performance. His first book Endure was a New York Times bestseller.

His latest book, The Explorer's Gene, tackles a fundamental question: when do you push into unknown territory, and when do you stick with what works?

Today we explore the exploration versus exploitation dilemma - the choice athletes face every race between sticking with proven strategies or risking everything to test new approaches. The same decision defines careers, businesses, and life.

Alex's research reveals we have a "central governor" in our brains that pulls the plug early, protecting us from discomfort but also preventing breakthroughs.

TALKING POINTS:

• Why the wall you think you've hit probably isn't your actual limit
• The "central governor" theory and how your brain protects you by holding you back
• How to build tolerance for uncertainty like elite athletes do
• The exploration vs exploitation dilemma in careers and business decisions
• Why "optimism in the face of uncertainty" is the optimal mathematical strategy
• How to know when to explore new paths vs exploit existing knowledge
• The danger of stopping exploration too early in life and career

LINKS:

The Explorer's Gene book

Endure book

Alex's writing at Outside Magazine

Alex's LinkedIn

Interested in me sharing insights on these topics with your team? Book a free consultation - HERE

Ollie on Work

Ollie's LinkedIn

Ollie on Work newsletter

My Book Work/Life Flywheel, was shortlisted for the Business Book Awards 2024. You can order your copy HERE (UK) or HERE (US).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most people are still planning careers like it's 1995.

But time itself has compressed. ChatGPT reached 100 million users in eight weeks. The Ford Model T took 70 years to hit the same milestone.

Today I'm joined by Dror Poleg for his second appearance on the show. He's an economic historian and one of the sharpest minds thinking about how this time compression changes everything. His newsletter reaches 35,000+ readers across tech, finance, and government.

Dror's insight? The predictable career path is shrinking fast. What used to be a 40-year "paint by numbers" journey is becoming more like showbiz - constant experimentation with uncertain outcomes.

TALKING POINTS:

• Why the "productivity paradox" means more of our work will seem useless until it's suddenly valuable
• How careers are becoming more like showbiz - constant experimentation with uncertain outcomes
• Why AI might actually force us back to trusting what we can see and touch in person
• The institutions that need to be completely rethought for a post-industrial economy
• Why everyone will need to experiment constantly rather than following set career paths
• How energy constraints might save humans from being replaced by AI

LINKS:

Dror's newsletter: Old/New

Dror's LinkedIn

Interested in me sharing insights on these topics with your team? Book a free consultation - HERE

Ollie on Work

Ollie's LinkedIn

Ollie on Work newsletter

My Book Work/Life Flywheel, was shortlisted for the Business Book Awards 2024. You can order your copy HERE (UK) or HERE (US).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most people assume hard work speaks for itself. Lorraine Lee knows that's a dangerous mistake.

As the author of Unforgettable Presence and former LinkedIn editor, Lorraine has seen firsthand how talented people get overlooked while less qualified colleagues get promoted - simply because they knew how to make themselves visible.

Today I'm joined by Lorraine to explore why visibility matters more than ever in our distracted workplace, and how to build what she calls "unforgettable presence" without feeling fake or inauthentic.

Her insight? Your manager isn't noticing your great work - not because they don't care, but because they're too busy dealing with their own challenges to spot your contributions.

TALKING POINTS:

• Why the "lottery ticket" approach to career advancement is doomed to fail
• How to build unforgettable presence that goes beyond just showing up in meetings
• Practical frameworks for speaking up when you're put on the spot
• Why introverts actually have advantages in building visibility (and how to use them)
• The difference between being heard and being the loudest person in the room
• How to advocate for yourself without feeling like you're bragging

LINKS:

Lorraine's LinkedIn

Unforgettable Presence

Interested in me sharing insights on these topics with your team? Book a free consultation - HERE

Ollie on Work

Ollie's LinkedIn

Ollie on Work newsletter

My Book Work/Life Flywheel, was shortlisted for the Business Book Awards 2024. You can order your copy HERE (UK) or HERE (US).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.