An inspirational podcast can set you up for success. Our team is constantly getting inspired by the podcasts we listen to. We have discussions on each podcast and highlight what we have learned from them.
Take a look at what HR Lab is listening to. We hope you enjoy our recommendations!
"How Much Sleep Do You Need?" by Dr. Jade Wu, Savvy Psychologist
In this podcast, Dr. Jade shares a few tips to determine how much sleep we need. She explains that healthy sleepers differ from one another, and it changes as we age. We constantly hear that 8 hours is the magic number, but that is not 100% true. Eight hours of sleep may work for some, but not for all individuals. We must listen to our bodies to find our magic number.
Have you ever felt tired but not sleepy? For example, do you catch yourself constantly saying you are tired, but once you take yourself to bed, you start thinking of tasks for the next day? As Dr. Jade explains, this is a sign you are tired but wired. You may think you are sleep deprived of feeling tired all day, but you may be trying too hard to get more sleep than your body needs. If you were indeed sleep-deprived, you would have no issues falling asleep. We often think tiredness and sleepiness are intertwined, but we cannot force sleep even when tired. However, if you are sleepy often, you must prioritize sleep! Sometimes we don't take daytime sleepiness too seriously, but if you are continuously dozing off when you don't mean to, you may lack excessive sleep. Try your best to get the most sleep possible. Dr. Jade suggests getting into bed 30 minutes earlier or waking up 30 minutes earlier. You must cherish your rest, do not take it for granted!
The last tip is to keep a constant wake-up time! Having inconsistent sleep schedules can confuse your body and may cause sleepiness one day and insomnia the other. Sleeping 7 hours a night feels much better than switching between 4 hour nights to 7 hour nights. Once you stick to the same wake-up time for a couple of weeks, your body will let you know when to go to bed. We must remember that getting enough sleep is essential for our health and happiness. After listening to this podcast, I now understand that my body needs 7 hours of sleep to wake up feeling productive and motivated. Everyone’s body differs, and the only way to know what your body needs is to listen to it.
"Power of Self Belief" by Layne Beachley, TEDx Talks
Layne started the TED Talk with a powerful question, “if you believed you were magnificent and you believed in your ability to overcome obstacles and challenges, what would your world look like?” People often want to reach a goal but fail before attempting to go after due to the excuses they make. She shared a quote by Oprah Winfrey that said, “ You don't manifest what you want, you manifest what you believe.” She surrounded herself with people who believe in her more than she believes in herself. Her love for surfing started when she was only four years old, however she felt like she was in her way in achieving her goals. After discovering she was adopted, she felt unworthy of love and felt rejected. When you face obstacles in life, “you have a choice; you either become a victim of your circumstances or you become a master of your destiny,” Layne said. Many people see circumstances in their life as a one-way road.
Often, people do not realize that they can truly overcome anything, so long as they fixate their mindset that they absolutely can. While feeling the pain of rejection, Layne decided that she is going to become a world champion, and when she does, she will be loved by everyone. Layne has claimed six consecutive titles and seven in total before retiring.
The three critical aspects in achieving your goals are that you have to clarify your vision, surround yourself with people who believe in you, and hold you accountable.
This TED Talk was eye-opening in realizing that you can not achieve your goals simply by being positive, you genuinely have to believe in yourself by putting it into action. At times people say they want to perform a specific purpose, however their actions or words do not reflect it. Layne gives a detailed guide on how to manifest your goals step by step. I would recommend taking notes and writing her advice down as it will significantly impact you. Looking at the steps written in your own words will help you envision your goal as a roadmap. I already feel more confident in my dreams by simply writing them down and gazing at the steps I have to take next.
"Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable" Luvvie Ajayi, TED Talk
In her TED Talk, Luvvie Ajayi talks about taking action and doing what many people are afraid to do. As Luvvie says, for the dominos to fall, the first one needs to be willing to fail. She talks about her personal experiences and how doing what she was always afraid of has helped her grow and become the woman she is today. Luvvie calls herself a professional trouble maker as she is always speaking out about issues no one else will. There is a stigma that people who speak up are fearless and unaware of the consequences of their actions, however, Luvvie says that those people are just ready to be the first dominos to fall.
Luvvie Ajayi then describes an experience she had at a convention when she had to pay for her travel and stay. After researching, she found out that the white men who were invited got reimbursement for travel and their stay, the white women got a travel reimbursement. Luvvie, an African American female, had to pay to speak at the conference. She knew that if she spoke up, it would affect her career, but she did anyways - she became the first domino. After she wrote about this, she received numerous comments from people telling similar stories.
Luvvie’s main point is that even though some things are hard to do, one has to find it to do it and start that chain reaction to make this world a better place. “When it comes to saying these hard things, I ask myself: one, did you mean it? Two, can you defend it? Three, did you say it with love? If the answer is yes to all three, I say yes and let the chips fall.”
"Every Business Can Be a Subscription Business" by HBR Ideacast
Do you know how exciting it is to see a podcast on HBR about a concept that your very own business is generated on? Well, I was ecstatic. In this podcast, Robbie Kellman Baxter, the author of the book The Forever Transaction: How to Build a Subscription Model So Compelling, Your Customers Will Never Want to Leave, states that any business can turn into a successful subscription-based business. Robin also adds that subscriptions have been around when there were trade guilds in the 12th century, so the idea is not a new one. What is different now is the technology aspect of it which allows for remote trusted relationships.
It is a very insightful podcast indeed because it explained how it is really in the company’s interest to build a formal relationship with the customer. Companies need to understand how their customers are using the products and services that they are paying for.
In a nutshell, subscription companies are about trust and quality when done right. Robin states that companies with more flexible and transparent cancellation policies do better in the long run. They are more attractive to the customer. They let the customer be the decision-maker. Towards the end of the podcast, Robin shared that subscription businesses give people greater access and greater variety.
What I learned from this podcast is that subscription businesses are not a standardized solution for all. You need to have an established relationship with the customer; you need to show them that you are of value to them and care about quality and giving back. Thank you, Robin, for your time, and thank you, Curt, for conducting the interview.
Follow us as we put the spotlight on some of the most inspiring podcasts that we listen to at HR Lab - leaders, visionaries, business owners, and more.
About HR Lab: Formed in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, HR Lab is here to make a difference. At HR Lab, we work to strengthen workforce quality by improving the HR system, ensuring its ongoing relevance, and preparing employers, workers, educators, and governments to use it effectively. Our vision is a labor market that relies on the relevance, quality, and value of workforce credentials for opportunities, growth, and development.
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Disclaimer: The information in these materials should not be considered legal, accounting, or investment advice, and it should not substitute for legal, accounting, investment, and other professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. It is provided for informational purposes only. If you require legal, accounting, or investment advice, or need other professional assistance, you should always consult your attorney, accountant, or other professional advisor to discuss your particular facts, circumstances, business, personal finance, and investment needs.
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