How to Live Hard, Embrace the Future, and Create Success With Dr. Todd Dewett

I’m excited to share my conversation with Dr. Todd Dewett in Episode 57 of the Impact Makers Podcast!

I met Dr. Dewett several years ago, when I was just getting my start as a professional speaker, and we both shared the stage at a regional conference.

At that time, he was a successful university professor teaching leadership and innovation to MBA students – but he didn’t look or sound like most of the professors that I’d come across in my academic career. Big, tall, bald, and covered in tattoos had never greeted me when I walked into a classroom in school.

So, of course I was intrigued to hear what this guy had to say about leadership, and I was not disappointed. With a fresh perspective, an authentic message, and some great stories, he captivated the audience, and inspired people to be bold, and think differently.

Since that time, we’ve become friends, and I’ve continued to learn from him over the years as he wrote books, left the academic world to pursue a career as a full-time speaker, and became one of LinkedIn Learning’s most popular trainers.

Now, with his unique brand of edgy leadership, Dr. Todd Dewett is a best-selling author, one of the most in-demand leadership keynote speakers in the world, and he’s motivated millions to perform at higher levels, and lead with true authenticity.

His latest book is called Live Hard, and it’s a collection of twenty inspiring stories packed with advice about living life more fully.

I think you’ll find Todd’s frank advice and unique perspective refreshing, and I’m sure you’ll get some great takeaways from our conversation.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

What prompted Dr. Dewett to leave the corporate world to pursue a PhD in Organizational Behavior, and then leave a great job as a university professor to become a full-time author, speaker, and trainer.
Interesting and creative ways that Dr. Dewett encouraged students to embrace discomfort in order to open themselves up to creativity and innovation.
Dr. Dewett’s advice for living a more authentic life.
What happens when we don’t push ourselves to be more authentic with others and take principled risks.
Two things Dr. Dewett recommends to avoid plateauing in your life and career in your 20’s and 30’s.
What Dr. Dewett thinks we all need to get serious about in 2021 and beyond to ensure career and life success – even those who feel secure in their current job.
Dr. Dewett’s best advice for living hard, embracing the future, and creating success.

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 57

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Key Quotes From This Episode:

“No growth ever happens until you get uncomfortable, and you certainly can’t develop a team to care about creativity, innovation, and change until they become moderately okay with discomfort. That’s just the nature of learning.” ~ @Dr. Todd Dewett

“We know that breaking routines behaviorally breaks mental routines, and really does improve perspectives and increase creativity. So that’s all I’m essentially trying to do is to get people uncomfortable and out of routines in the classroom, because it does tend to enhance learning – at least in the areas where I’m teaching.” ~ @Dr. Todd Dewett

“You’ve got to stop censoring – as much. We over censor because we have a sensitivity to norms.” ~ @Dr. Todd Dewett

“You have to accept that people will not always universally love you. Stop trying to maximize how much people like you. Because, it turns out, happiness isn’t about maximizing how much everyone likes you. It’s about building a tribe of people that are similar-ish in values and interests, because then, liking each other is freaking easy.” ~ @Dr. Todd Dewett

“You are never universally loved. Your brand is a unique search for people that get it, not an expenditure of energy about those who don’t get it. And that is okay. If you can accept that, then the nebulous thing called authenticity is within your reach.” ~ @Dr. Todd Dewett

“Where are you going to try? Stop saying it’s not the right time. There’s never a perfect time.” ~ @Dr. Todd Dewett

“Life is very very short. What in the heck are you so scared of? Try, fail, learn, try again, and you are very likely to have lived a life that makes you content, and you got the most out of it you possibly could.” ~ @Dr. Todd Dewett