What Can We Do In These Powerful Times?

I've been working in the field of sustainability and climate change for some 20 years. It feels like the need for change is growing faster than the impact we are delivering. So, I am wondering what I can do next that is useful. Speaking with others, they have the same challenge.Which is why I’m doing this interview series. In 30 minute bites, I ask some brilliant people what they are doing now and why. All to inspire and enable the audience (which may turn out to be just me!) through stories grounded in experience. Please do listen, be inspired and suggest who I should be interviewing.Thank you -- David (powerfultimespodcast@gmail.com)

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What Can We Do In These Powerful Times?

Liam Black

January 21, 2023 • David Bent • Season 1 • Episode 32

Liam Black has a long history of leading social enterprises (including Jamie Oliver's Fifteen), and is now 'Chief Encouragement Officer' and mentor to many (website, Twitter, LinkedIn).

In his own career, Liam has made many jumps into the unknown. His view is if you are clear about the work you want to be doing, then taking the jump gives others the chance to recognise what your'e trying to do and to offer you help (including, maybe a job).

Also that "if you do things with good intention, with enough advice from the right people, you can always come back from whatever mistake you make". Putting it another way, in the long-term it is better to try than not.

Liam's book is "How to Lead with Purpose: Lessons in life and work from the gloves-off mentor". Buy it here.

Links

Furniture Resource Centre is now known as the FRC Group have a "social mission to reduce and ultimately end furniture poverty".

Book: There's No Business Like Social Business: How to Be Socially Enterprising (with Jeremy Nicholls).

Background on Jamie Oliver's Fifteen here.

Wavelength executive education business.

Together All is "a safe, online community where people support each other anonymously to improve mental health and wellbeing".

The Conduit is "a new workspace for changemakers in the heart of London".

Friar Tom Cullinan

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

The iron law of megaprojects: over budget, over time, under benefit. -- Bent Flyvberg

Timings

0:50 - Q1. What are you doing now? And how did you get there?

8:27 - BONUS QUESTION: Is there a way you can tell in advance that you're ready to make that jump? is how can you have the confidence to jump? How did you get there?

15:47 - BONUS QUESTION: To make the leap, you are saying you need the direction and guide rails but not lots of constraining details?

17:58 - BONUS QUESTION: One of the recommendations in the book is to have alignment between your platform and your purpose. What do you man by 'platform'?

26:00 - Q2. What is the future you are trying to create, and why?

33:00 - Q3. What are your priorities for the next few years, and why?

35:17 - Q4. If someone was inspired to follow those priorities, what should they do next?

40:11 - Q5. If your younger self was starting their career now, what advice would you give them?

41:18 - Q6. Who would you nominate to answer these questions, because you admire their approach?

42:25 - Q7. Is there anything else important you feel you have to say?

More here.

Twitter: Powerful_Times

Website hub: here.

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Thank you for listening! -- David

People on this episode

David Bent

Host