Breath, Stoicism, and The Power of Not Knowing with Carl Smith

In this episode, hosts Dave Prior and Stuart Young sit down with Carl Smith, a "philosophical futurist" and leader of The Bureau (https://thebureau.community/), a community of over 1,500 creative leaders. The conversation explores how to "tune up" your personal and professional systems to better serve yourself and others by embracing vulnerability, mindfulness, and the power of imperfection.

Key Topics and Takeaways

• The Trap of Busyness vs. Productivity: Carl shares a recent "reset" triggered by a Saturday morning spent staring at spreadsheets. He discusses the danger of moving from a "creating" mindset to a "protecting" mindset, and how his attempt to become more efficient unintentionally made his team inefficient. 

• Energy Management and Burnout: Carl defines burnout as a state where you send all your energy out and none comes back. He uses a slot machine analogy to describe how different interactions can either deplete or replenish your internal "jackpot". 

• Self-Regulation Power-Ups:
• Speed Journaling
• NSDR (Non-Sleep Deep Relaxation)
• Nose Breathing (Yes, it's a thing)
• Health Tracking Systems and why you might need more than one
• Stoicism


You can find the podcast here: https://systemsofimperfection.riverside.com/

Links from the Podcast

• No One Is Coming to Save You: The Power Ups to Help Surf the Chaos https://tinyurl.com/5dsh2n4v
• The Bureau of Digital https://thebureau.community/
• Breath by James Nestor https://tinyurl.com/38uemcx4
• Outlive by Peter Attia https://tinyurl.com/4e5a6nc3
• The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins https://tinyurl.com/2rpwe93u
• Project to Product by Mik Kersten https://tinyurl.com/2rksj6bw
• Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman https://tinyurl.com/46xeh8nn
• Everyday Stoicism by Gareth Southwell https://tinyurl.com/5c5n5392
• Daily Stoic Podcast byRyan Holiday https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily-stoic/id1430315931
• Life Saver Graphics LLC https://tinyurl.com/yfr95r8u




Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Systems of Imperfection

03:22 The Importance of Self-Care and Productivity

05:50 Navigating Work Overwhelm and Chaos

08:55 The Role of Community in Professional Growth

11:45 Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence

14:50 Mindfulness Practices for Better Living

17:47 The Power of Authenticity in Leadership

20:59 The Intersection of Technology and Humanity

23:59 Stoicism and Its Relevance Today

26:54 Embracing Imperfection and Learning from Mistakes

29:52 The Future of Work and Community Engagement

32:57 Creating Value Through Collaboration

35:54 Final Thoughts on Being Human in a Digital Age

56:09 Outro.mp4

Contacting Carl

• The Bureau:  https://thebureau.community/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-w-smith/

Contacting Stuart 

• linktr.ee/stuartliveart



Contacting Dave 

• linktr.ee/mrsungo

Navigating Uncertainty: Preparing for Success in 2026 with Johanna Rothman and Mark Kilby

In this episode of the Reluctant Agilist, host Dave Prior welcomes Mark Kilby and Johanna Rothman to discuss their reflections and plans for the new year. The conversation begins with a candid admission from Dave about feeling lost in setting goals for 2026, prompting Johanna to suggest a shift in focus from preparing for risks to preparing for success. The trio explores the importance of collaboration and the need to let go of what hinders progress, particularly in the context of AI and its implications for project management. They emphasize the necessity of resilience and adaptability in a rapidly changing world, advocating for a more positive outlook on success rather than a fear-based approach to risk management.

As the discussion unfolds, they delve into the challenges posed by generative AI, the importance of trust in technology, and the need for personal and organizational resilience. The episode culminates in a reflection on the significance of collaboration and the value of learning from one another, highlighting the importance of community in navigating the complexities of modern work environments. Ultimately, the conversation serves as a reminder to focus on personal growth, inclusivity, and the pursuit of meaningful connections in both professional and personal spheres.

The video version of this podcast is here

The audio version of this podcast is here