Inspired by a sentiment from Jen's daughter, Pete and Jen explore a network of ideas around the question: What is the bare minimum? Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: How might we use the bare minimum as a tool of definition? What is a cheeky goal? Is discovering the bare minimum useful in all contexts? To hear all episodes and …

This week, Pete asks Jen to noodle on how they might help their clients maintain the momentum of their coachings or workshops even after they have left the room. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: How might you encourage clients to reach out to you outside of the coaching time? How are stories a motivating factor, as far as illu…

After a workshop Jen ran with leaders and coaches, she and Pete thrash about two ideas: A great audition is nothing more than smoke and mirrors, and keep it actionable. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: What is the difference between an audition and acting, or an interview and the job? How might we push aside theory in favor of…

To celebrate Episode, 300, Jen and Pete host a live recording of The Long and The Short Of It, and noodle on questions presented to them by the listeners. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: When do Jen and Pete record each episode before the ship date? What is the most impactful thing that Jen and Pete have learned from each oth…

This week, Jen and Pete ask and noodle on this question: What might happen when you tell someone, who already knows the whole story, the whole story as if they had never heard it before? Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: How does telling the whole story show up on a professional level? And on a personal level? What are some str…

This week, Jen and Pete noodle on the flying time of a project, and the relationship between flying time and elapsed time. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: What is the definition of flying time? Why might a walk or taking time to read a book factor in to the elapsed time of your work? Why are deadlines and working collaborativ…

Please join Pete and Jen for a live recording session of the Long and The Short Of It, celebrating our 300th episode. It will be an Ask Us Anything episode, so please also send in your questions! This event will take place on Monday, June 17th at 6pm Eastern Time, which is Tuesday, June 18th at 8am Australian Eastern Time. To register for this even…

Inspired by the book Unreasonable Hospitality, Pete and Jen noodle on where they can add a bit more unreasonability into their work and every day lives. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: How might someone practice being unreasonable? Why is it important to think beyond scale? What are some strategies we can employ to introduce …

This week, Jen and Pete take (and sort of fail) the cringe test, regarding the work they have put out in to the world, and noodle on how to be more accepting of their former selves. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: What is a cringe test? How can we learn from the things we now cringe at? How might we frame our past actions in …

Inspired by the year 2,000, Jen and Pete noodle on the anticipation and building up to a big event, and how we might utilize that planning period in our every day life. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: What are some tools to utilize if there is something coming up that makes you nervous? Within a large event or difficult discu…

Inspired by advice from a pediatrician, Pete and Jen noodle on questions that inspire a different perspective when it comes to leadership. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: Is this certain issue bothering me, or is it bothering my client or direct report? How might we think about leadership in terms of the needs of the person o…

This week, Jen and Pete appreciate the idea of looking for the genius in the every person they interact with, from clients to friends to strangers. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: What does it mean to assume genius in someone else? Why is it important to have belief in someone, even if they might not have it of themselves? Wh…

Inspired by a book by Priya Parker, Pete and Jen noodle on the idea of how to begin the leading of a gathering, and how that beginning might affect the rest of the experience. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: Why might it be best not to start a funeral with logistics? Why is context imporant, when thinking about a beginning? W…

Inspired by a new aha moment, Jen and Pete noodle on how there might be five points of contact in many different social interactions, and how we might prepare for these exchanges. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: What are the five points of contact in an audition? How might the five points of contact apply to many different so…

Inspired by a song by Gloria Estefan, Jen and Pete noodle on the idea of getting up on your feet early in the creative process. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: What are the benefits to getting up on your feet early in the creation of a workshop or keynote? Why is context important when getting a new idea up on its feet in fro…

Inspired by an idea from James Clear, Pete and Jen noodle on the categorization of a problem as either a muddy puddle or a leaky ceiling. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: What is the difference between a problem that is a muddy puddle and a problem that is a leaky ceiling? How might someone determine how to categorize challeng…

This week, Jen and Pete think about procrastination and ask the question: Is this form of procrastination actually helping the work? Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: When might procrastination actually be useful? What is the relationship between curiosity, process, white space, and procrastination? What negative stories do we …

After both having done workshops on feedback, Jen and Pete thrash about the relationship between feedback and dramatic structure. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: How might feedback follow a three act structure, both in giving and in receiving? When giving feedback, how might we consider the context and circumstances in which …

After a week of riding his own wave, Pete brings Jen the story of his experience and they thrash about it together. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: What does it mean to ride the wave, metaphorically? How might we gather momentum to form a wave of our own? What might we do when we are preparing for the wave to come? To hear al…

This week, Jen and Pete share the tools that their clients and they themselves use in order to muster up some gumption. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: What are some tactics we could use to help when we are feeling vulnerable or nervous? Why might these tactics be successful, and when is it best to use them? How often do Pete…

This week, Pete and Jen's love of acronyms brings them to a discussion of Shane Parrish's acronym of H.A.L.T. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: What does H.A.L.T. stand for? How might H.A.L.T. act as a checklist in the decision making process? What might we gain by checking in with ourselves and others before making a decision?…

Jen and Pete thrash about the process of creating exercises, and think about when it might be useful to use an exercise when trying to help another person (or themselves) to reach a goal or outcome. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: What is the difference between a note, an adjustment, and an exercise? What are certain situatio…

This week, Pete and Jen dive in to how exciting it can be to be a beginner...and also thrilling and frustrating and scary, and a whole smorgasbord of emotions. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: How might you seek out ways to become a beginner again? What tools might you utilize when you're a beginner, to help you learn? In what…

This week, Jen and Pete noodle on giving and receiving feedback on a scale of one to ten, combined with the question of what it would take to achieve your desired number on that scale. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: How might a scale of 1 to 10 actually help thwart perfectionism? Why might feedback given on a scale be receiv…

Having returned from his own solo off-site, Pete shares with Jen about his experience, and together, they noodle on tips and tricks for people looking to create their own version. Specifically, in this episode Jen and Pete talk about: What is a solo off-site? How might a change in environment help you to think about things that aren't brought up in…