Yo Elaine! ...assuming this is the Elaine Aradillas I know, very cool to see you here, and particularly to get kind words from an ace interviewer. Hope you're well! (And if this is another Elaine Aradillas: really appreciate you reading, and leaving this nice note.)
I love every word of this!!! Thank you for the questions and the answers - and for the introduction to Peter Sims in the unique way you think! I now have to go back and reread it all. :)
Ilyse, so kind of you to say! Since I know Peter, I was hoping it wouldn't come off as too "insider" to one another, skipping through some of the background of his work. So I'm really glad you enjoyed.
David! This post is thrilling. Thank you. Whether down by the Bay or up in some Little League ball field, you consistently hit it out of the park. You have inspired me to forward this to two close friends who not only are entrepreneurs but have giant hearts for humans and this planet. So inspired that I will reach into our marital pocket, shallow though it might be, and subscribe. With gratitude.
Wow, cool! I don't think I've ever had a post called "thrilling" before, and I love it. This is just an all around great comment, from the baseball analogy, to the wonderful description of your giant-hearted entrepreneur friends. Thanks so much for this, Larry.
Wow, two of my favorite authors talking to each other. 🤩 Your book, Range, and Peter’s book Little Bets gave me the validation I needed to not follow the beaten path and live a life of curious experimentation and iteration.
Also, Peter’s attitude to being of value to someone who’s more « accomplished » is pure gold:
« At first, I didn’t think I could contribute much of anything to a living legend like Ed, but gradually I discovered what I brought to the table. At first it was energy, then I realized I had some useful insights to share, then that I could be a good listener, then that I could help him think about his career. »
Renita, that was probably my favorite part of this chat, when Peter when through the sort of steps of identifying what he could add a given moment to Ed. So glad it caught your eye too. And I'll definitely pass along your kind words to Peter, if he hasn't already read them.
Interesting post David. I like the idea of de-centering ourselves to help us see what others are offering to the world. I’ve also wondered about the roots of the Girl Scouts and their broad appeal — good to hear more. Lastly, it’s easy to underestimate our own power to influence or support others irrespective of someone’s title or perceived status - were are all humans & need to figure out how to cultivate collective purpose to address many of the pressing issues we face today.
Kate, thanks for reading and so glad you enjoyed! As always, I'm self-conscious about my digressive interview style, so really glad to hear you found something of value here.
Wow. I I hadn't ever read anything by Peter Sims, but this interview is something. Even reading his words on the page is energizing, which I feel is pretty rare.
Also, I clicked on that link, and One Piece is the best-selling comic by a LOT. The difference is more than one-third of the second-best-selling comic's total sales. I'd read a Range Widely post on that achievement alone.
What was the superpower that he mentioned to you that had you thinking you should use it more? Was it the same as what he mentioned later in the piece?
I love that you found it energizing! I feel that way reading good quotes sometimes. He'll be thrilled to hear that.
One Piece, yeah it's a phenomenon. It's helped by the fact that it has been running as a continuous story since the late 1990s, but obviously that is also due to its continuing appeal. It's pretty remarkable both as an epic narrative (everyone is looking for something called the "One Piece" and neither they nor the reader even now what it is), and as just a creative explosion. The creator has probably had to draw more than a thousand different named characters, never mind background characters. Very frequently something about a character is recognizable, and you can see that he's just grabbing inspiration from any and everything in the world. (There are a bunch of graphics made by fans matching the character to the obvious inspiration, like this: https://onepiece.fandom.com/f/p/3100000000000157313)
Regarding my superpower, he was talking about seeing connections between things that don't strike most people as related. So sometimes when he and I have talked he'll mention some challenge, and I'll say that it reminds me of some other thing that on the face of it is pretty unrelated, but I argue that there are structural similarities. That occurs to me a lot (constantly, to be honest) but I'm often hesitant to share some connection if it feels really far afield. Peter was convincing me that raising those connections is actually really helpful to get people unstuck in their thinking, or to reframe something in a helpful way. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like what happens in the lab groups I wrote about in Range, from the studies of Kevin Dunbar, where people start sharing analogies and it often sparks a new path. ...So I think sometimes I've shied away from making some of these disparate connections, because at first I didn't realize it was anything unusual, and then because it might just seem really random. But I'm more inclined now to think it adds value, or at least doesn't do any harm and can be interesting, so I embrace it more at the risk of tossing out the occasional non sequitur;)
Wow. One creator has come up with all these characters. That's wild! I'd run out of ideas too no matter how many times I read Adam Alter.
Obvioulsy Peter has talked with you in person more than I have, but based off your comments and writing, that seems to ring true to me too. I think a common critique of the genre of book that you write may be that too often different books use the same examples. (I've seen you address this in comment sections too, so I know you're aware of it.) I think your superpower helps you avoid this trap. Even when you write about popular topics, it'll be with an angle that isn't what you'll usually see (e.g., the Kahneman piece or Caitlin Clark just to name some recent ones). We readers enjoy this!! Or, at least, this reader does.
Hey David, I hadn't come across Peter's work before so this was a lovely introduction! It sounds like his work dovetails really nicely with your own work and research. This made me think of leadership and how Peter shows real leadership qualities by recognising synergies where others wouldn't and by demonstrating confidence in his ability to work collaboratively with a range of people and also by pointing out the strengths of others which are often difficult for them to see themselves (he does that really well in this interview where he compliments you on some of your own superpowers at the end). Thanks. Ps I hope the book project is going well 🙌
Hi William, the book project is...going;) It might be going well. Honestly, it's really hard for me to tell. I lose perspective once I'm immersed in it, one reason why an editor is so helpful! More than editing lines, she helps me with perspective, which often means figuring out what rabbit hole I found enthralling but that is really too much of a digression. In any case, I can say for certain that I am presently on pace to finish by the deadline, so that's a good and objective thing. (I have drafts of seven of twelve chapters, and two of these four sort of short interludes I'm going to try.) It's a little scary to be working with a new process, but also invigorating. And I can say that there are at least few spots that I've loved. (That happened with both my previous books, and I also learned that the parts I love the most tend not to be the parts that others will love the most. That, and also that the people who like my work the most like it far more than I do. ...I mentioned that to a great video game designer, and he said he'd often had the exact same thought, in basically the same words.) ...Speaking of digression...;) In any case, I think you hit on something important. Peter really does have a confidence in his ability to connect with people, and to add something, whether that be a connection, or new idea, or just pointing out what someone is good at. That confidence definitely comes through in person, and I think it's probably also part of what makes him quick to build other people up.
Hey David, that's really cool to get an update on the book project! And I'm delighted (and even a bit surprised) to hear that you are on track timing wise for the deadline! Planning fallacy and all that.. I think that demonstrates that your knew 'model' (for want of a better word) is working very well.. isn't enjoying the process a big part of it all.. I'm delighted to hear that you can at least enjoy some of it and I can't wait for whatever it produces (but really I can wait as I have tonnes of books on my shelf waiting to be read! But I'll still be extra excited whenever this one lands). Thanks for the update and cool that Peter is like this in person as well as how he comes across in the q&a. (Perhaps Black Sheep is another book to add to the pile haha).
Such a great interview, David! And you probably didn't intend this, but talking about the One Piece hero's superpower makes me want to check out the show because that character trait that some people have is interesting to me. Were you talking about the anime or the live action remake?
Hey William, glad to have intrigued you about One Piece! I've bounced between the comic, and the anime, but haven't seen the live action. I started with the anime, and felt that early on the pacing is not great, so switched to the comic, but at a certain point I got hooked on the anime. So I've done both (they're essentially identical story-wise so easy to bounce between). And I marvel at some of the feats of storytelling. I mean, the story has been going for almost 20 years, and everybody is searching for the "One Piece," and neither the viewers nor the characters themselves even know what it is! Pretty remarkable...so I like just thinking about some of the narrative feats that the creator is pulling off.
This was great. Big part of what I do and want to do more of. Micro-moments that compound to real life change in society. All around relationships.
True North is a great book, and I found the leadership work of Warren Bennis because of it. My sense is the mindset here is also in Bennis’s work, like On Becoming a Leader. Are you familiar?
Hey Andrew, thanks for the kind words! I like that term — micro-moments. I'm aware of Warren Bennis's work, and I've seen him referenced many times, but never actually read any of his books. Is On Becoming a Leader one you'd recommend?
Absolutely! You'd like it. He is kind of stacking the deck or setting the stage for the leader to emerge. He also engaged some in Hollywood, which I'm curious about because of the role of narrative at play in True North and other roles for the leader.
Thank you for calling out 'micro-moments'... a sort of play off micro-movements that deliberate practice encourages, but in context with people relationships instead of sports training.
This was an amazing interview. And what a gift to have someone like Peter see you so clearly. I'll have to go back and check out his work!
Yo Elaine! ...assuming this is the Elaine Aradillas I know, very cool to see you here, and particularly to get kind words from an ace interviewer. Hope you're well! (And if this is another Elaine Aradillas: really appreciate you reading, and leaving this nice note.)
It me -- the one and only! ;)
Congrats on your continued success. I always look forward to your newsletter. It's one of the best around!
So exciting to hear from you! You made my day...I hope we cross paths in person before too terribly long!
I love every word of this!!! Thank you for the questions and the answers - and for the introduction to Peter Sims in the unique way you think! I now have to go back and reread it all. :)
Ilyse, so kind of you to say! Since I know Peter, I was hoping it wouldn't come off as too "insider" to one another, skipping through some of the background of his work. So I'm really glad you enjoyed.
David! This post is thrilling. Thank you. Whether down by the Bay or up in some Little League ball field, you consistently hit it out of the park. You have inspired me to forward this to two close friends who not only are entrepreneurs but have giant hearts for humans and this planet. So inspired that I will reach into our marital pocket, shallow though it might be, and subscribe. With gratitude.
Wow, cool! I don't think I've ever had a post called "thrilling" before, and I love it. This is just an all around great comment, from the baseball analogy, to the wonderful description of your giant-hearted entrepreneur friends. Thanks so much for this, Larry.
Wow, two of my favorite authors talking to each other. 🤩 Your book, Range, and Peter’s book Little Bets gave me the validation I needed to not follow the beaten path and live a life of curious experimentation and iteration.
Also, Peter’s attitude to being of value to someone who’s more « accomplished » is pure gold:
« At first, I didn’t think I could contribute much of anything to a living legend like Ed, but gradually I discovered what I brought to the table. At first it was energy, then I realized I had some useful insights to share, then that I could be a good listener, then that I could help him think about his career. »
Renita, that was probably my favorite part of this chat, when Peter when through the sort of steps of identifying what he could add a given moment to Ed. So glad it caught your eye too. And I'll definitely pass along your kind words to Peter, if he hasn't already read them.
Interesting post David. I like the idea of de-centering ourselves to help us see what others are offering to the world. I’ve also wondered about the roots of the Girl Scouts and their broad appeal — good to hear more. Lastly, it’s easy to underestimate our own power to influence or support others irrespective of someone’s title or perceived status - were are all humans & need to figure out how to cultivate collective purpose to address many of the pressing issues we face today.
Very well said, Eoin. As is regularly the case in these comments, this is a more succinct summary of a main point that I could've done myself.
David - your gifts + Peter’s = our inspiration. Exceptional interview; BLK SHP followed and book ordered!
Kate, thanks for reading and so glad you enjoyed! As always, I'm self-conscious about my digressive interview style, so really glad to hear you found something of value here.
Wow. I I hadn't ever read anything by Peter Sims, but this interview is something. Even reading his words on the page is energizing, which I feel is pretty rare.
Also, I clicked on that link, and One Piece is the best-selling comic by a LOT. The difference is more than one-third of the second-best-selling comic's total sales. I'd read a Range Widely post on that achievement alone.
What was the superpower that he mentioned to you that had you thinking you should use it more? Was it the same as what he mentioned later in the piece?
I love that you found it energizing! I feel that way reading good quotes sometimes. He'll be thrilled to hear that.
One Piece, yeah it's a phenomenon. It's helped by the fact that it has been running as a continuous story since the late 1990s, but obviously that is also due to its continuing appeal. It's pretty remarkable both as an epic narrative (everyone is looking for something called the "One Piece" and neither they nor the reader even now what it is), and as just a creative explosion. The creator has probably had to draw more than a thousand different named characters, never mind background characters. Very frequently something about a character is recognizable, and you can see that he's just grabbing inspiration from any and everything in the world. (There are a bunch of graphics made by fans matching the character to the obvious inspiration, like this: https://onepiece.fandom.com/f/p/3100000000000157313)
Regarding my superpower, he was talking about seeing connections between things that don't strike most people as related. So sometimes when he and I have talked he'll mention some challenge, and I'll say that it reminds me of some other thing that on the face of it is pretty unrelated, but I argue that there are structural similarities. That occurs to me a lot (constantly, to be honest) but I'm often hesitant to share some connection if it feels really far afield. Peter was convincing me that raising those connections is actually really helpful to get people unstuck in their thinking, or to reframe something in a helpful way. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like what happens in the lab groups I wrote about in Range, from the studies of Kevin Dunbar, where people start sharing analogies and it often sparks a new path. ...So I think sometimes I've shied away from making some of these disparate connections, because at first I didn't realize it was anything unusual, and then because it might just seem really random. But I'm more inclined now to think it adds value, or at least doesn't do any harm and can be interesting, so I embrace it more at the risk of tossing out the occasional non sequitur;)
Wow. One creator has come up with all these characters. That's wild! I'd run out of ideas too no matter how many times I read Adam Alter.
Obvioulsy Peter has talked with you in person more than I have, but based off your comments and writing, that seems to ring true to me too. I think a common critique of the genre of book that you write may be that too often different books use the same examples. (I've seen you address this in comment sections too, so I know you're aware of it.) I think your superpower helps you avoid this trap. Even when you write about popular topics, it'll be with an angle that isn't what you'll usually see (e.g., the Kahneman piece or Caitlin Clark just to name some recent ones). We readers enjoy this!! Or, at least, this reader does.
Hey David, I hadn't come across Peter's work before so this was a lovely introduction! It sounds like his work dovetails really nicely with your own work and research. This made me think of leadership and how Peter shows real leadership qualities by recognising synergies where others wouldn't and by demonstrating confidence in his ability to work collaboratively with a range of people and also by pointing out the strengths of others which are often difficult for them to see themselves (he does that really well in this interview where he compliments you on some of your own superpowers at the end). Thanks. Ps I hope the book project is going well 🙌
Hi William, the book project is...going;) It might be going well. Honestly, it's really hard for me to tell. I lose perspective once I'm immersed in it, one reason why an editor is so helpful! More than editing lines, she helps me with perspective, which often means figuring out what rabbit hole I found enthralling but that is really too much of a digression. In any case, I can say for certain that I am presently on pace to finish by the deadline, so that's a good and objective thing. (I have drafts of seven of twelve chapters, and two of these four sort of short interludes I'm going to try.) It's a little scary to be working with a new process, but also invigorating. And I can say that there are at least few spots that I've loved. (That happened with both my previous books, and I also learned that the parts I love the most tend not to be the parts that others will love the most. That, and also that the people who like my work the most like it far more than I do. ...I mentioned that to a great video game designer, and he said he'd often had the exact same thought, in basically the same words.) ...Speaking of digression...;) In any case, I think you hit on something important. Peter really does have a confidence in his ability to connect with people, and to add something, whether that be a connection, or new idea, or just pointing out what someone is good at. That confidence definitely comes through in person, and I think it's probably also part of what makes him quick to build other people up.
Hey David, that's really cool to get an update on the book project! And I'm delighted (and even a bit surprised) to hear that you are on track timing wise for the deadline! Planning fallacy and all that.. I think that demonstrates that your knew 'model' (for want of a better word) is working very well.. isn't enjoying the process a big part of it all.. I'm delighted to hear that you can at least enjoy some of it and I can't wait for whatever it produces (but really I can wait as I have tonnes of books on my shelf waiting to be read! But I'll still be extra excited whenever this one lands). Thanks for the update and cool that Peter is like this in person as well as how he comes across in the q&a. (Perhaps Black Sheep is another book to add to the pile haha).
Such a great interview, David! And you probably didn't intend this, but talking about the One Piece hero's superpower makes me want to check out the show because that character trait that some people have is interesting to me. Were you talking about the anime or the live action remake?
Hey William, glad to have intrigued you about One Piece! I've bounced between the comic, and the anime, but haven't seen the live action. I started with the anime, and felt that early on the pacing is not great, so switched to the comic, but at a certain point I got hooked on the anime. So I've done both (they're essentially identical story-wise so easy to bounce between). And I marvel at some of the feats of storytelling. I mean, the story has been going for almost 20 years, and everybody is searching for the "One Piece," and neither the viewers nor the characters themselves even know what it is! Pretty remarkable...so I like just thinking about some of the narrative feats that the creator is pulling off.
Awesome, thanks! Spoiler alert: the "One Piece" is a script for humanoid interaction.
😂 My head would explode!
This was great. Big part of what I do and want to do more of. Micro-moments that compound to real life change in society. All around relationships.
True North is a great book, and I found the leadership work of Warren Bennis because of it. My sense is the mindset here is also in Bennis’s work, like On Becoming a Leader. Are you familiar?
Hey Andrew, thanks for the kind words! I like that term — micro-moments. I'm aware of Warren Bennis's work, and I've seen him referenced many times, but never actually read any of his books. Is On Becoming a Leader one you'd recommend?
Absolutely! You'd like it. He is kind of stacking the deck or setting the stage for the leader to emerge. He also engaged some in Hollywood, which I'm curious about because of the role of narrative at play in True North and other roles for the leader.
Thank you for calling out 'micro-moments'... a sort of play off micro-movements that deliberate practice encourages, but in context with people relationships instead of sports training.