80 Right Time, Right Place, Right Mindset: The Serendipity Mindset with Noah Graff

Mindfulness Manufacturing

Serendipity: the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. “Getting stuck in traffic” doesn’t sound like it fits the definition of serendipity, but it does for me and this week’s guest, Noah Graff of Graff-Pinkert and the Swarfcast podcast! Noah and I connected when he caught an episode of my podcast while stuck in traffic, and it led to a great conversation about his experiences as a treasure hunter who travels around the world to find interesting pieces of manufacturing equipment, and how he uses a serendipity mindset to find new connections, overcome challenges, and turn outdated or unusable equipment into new treasures!

2:00 – What does it mean to be a “treasure hunter” in manufacturing?

5:00 – Someone’s trash always has the potential to be someone else’s treasure—you just need to have the right mindset to find it!

6:22 – It’s amazing what you can find by keeping an open mind and always looking for the unexpected

9:00 – Serendipity isn’t just about being in the right place at the right time. You also have to be in the right mindset.

9:42 – What’s the difference between mindfulness and luck?

11:30 – Many leaders have either a growth mindset or a fixed mindset, but leaders can also consider a “serendipity” mindset

12:00 – To embrace a serendipity mindset, one strategy is serendipity bombs, or seeking multiple people who can help you complete a task, like finding a piece of machinery or doing research for an article

14:00 – Another tactic is serendipity hooks, or opening up a conversation to find new opportunities

15:45 – By being open to new conversations with new people, you can find great and unexpected opportunities—don’t be afraid to be the spark for a conversation!

Connect with Noah Graff:

Graff-Pinkert website

Swarfcast Podcast