Productivity Smarts 062 - Deep Tradeoffs with Mike Hassell

Productivity Smarts

In a world increasingly chaotic, how can one make clear decisions and find peace of mind? Amidst the noise of debates and conflicts, it's easy to lose balance.

This episode of the Productivity Smarts Podcast is a deep dive into the fascinating concept of deep trade-offs. Host Gerald J. Leonard speaks with Mike Hassell, former General Manager and Co-founder of audio publisher Knowledge Products. Mike's background spans engineering, business, and liberal arts, a testament to the power of curiosity and risk-taking. His book, “The Deep Trade-offs,” explores conflicts between values and how understanding these can enhance decision-making.

They discuss mental and physical health connections, grit, and persistence in overcoming challenges. Mike explores living authentically, drawing on the idea of being kaleidoscopic in adapting to different situations. They delve into honesty versus deception, reversible versus irreversible decisions, and the transformative power of relationships. Storytelling emerges as a tool for understanding complex ideas and forging meaningful connections.

This episode offers practical wisdom and thought-provoking insights to revolutionize productivity and decision-making. Let’s dive in!

What We Discuss

• [02:01] - Introduction to Mike Hassell

• [03:25] - Mike's defining trait that has driven his success

• [05:34] - Understanding deep trade-offs

• [10:43] - Subconscious and emotional decision-making

• [12:16] - Insights gained from psychology and medicine

• [15:43] - Growth mindset and grit

• [18:43] - The concept of authenticity

• [21:10] - The tension between ideals and reality

• [22:59] - The subconscious and shaping behavior

• [31:08] - The difference between corresponding truth and coherent truth

• [33:05] - The impact of relationships on inducing change

• [36:31] - The concept of theories as stories

Notable Quotes

• [06:13] "We don't give up on the things that we want to happen, and we struggle for them, and we step on toes." - Mike Hassell

• [05:19] "What we admire most about people is generally not their pleasures and their beauty; it's their endurance and their resilience and their ability to do something in the face of hardship." - Mike Hassell

• [11:35] “A lot of our decisions are made by emotions, and then we rationalize them to make them logical.” - Gerald J. Leonard

• [20:01] "We change over time and we change based on the circumstances that we're in, but yes, we're a lot more like chameleons in some ways." - Gerald J. Leonard

• [25:11 "A lot of times it's not the things that we don't know that's the problem; it's the things that we know that are not true." - Mike Hassell

• [33:05] "People are not shoved into change; they're loved into it. Relationships come first if you want to change somebody, including yourself." - Mike Hassell

Resources

Mike Hassell

• Website - https://deeptradeoffs.com/

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hassell/

• Book: Deep Tradeoffs: Restoring Balance and Respect In A Polarized, Angry World

Productivity Smarts Podcast

• Website - productivitysmartspodcast.com

Gerald J. Leonard

• Website - geraldjleonard.com

• Turnberry Premiere website - turnberrypremiere.com

• Scheduler - vcita.com/v/geraldjleonard

Kiva is a loan, not a donation, allowing you to cycle your money and create a personal impact worldwide. https://www.kiva.org/lender/topmindshelpingtopminds