Constellations

On this episode, our hosts are joined by Matthew Barzun, an American businessman, diplomat, and ...

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On this episode, our hosts are joined by Matthew Barzun, an American businessman, diplomat, and longtime political fundraiser. Sarah and David dive into his paradigm-shifting book, The Power of Giving Away Power, and what it teaches about leadership. Along the way, they also discuss everything from what Barzun learned during his time fundraising for former president Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, to the etiquette of bowing to royalty while working as an American ambassador abroad.

Show Notes:

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  1. Avatar photo
    Ben Connelly

    I have to say, I found Barzun’s conclusions very unsatisfying. In a world in which Simone Biles is ridiculed by armchair second-guessers, the last thing we need is to tell people the Man in the Arena speech is misguided. In the Arena of sports and athleticism, we could do with a lot fewer critics and a lot more doers. Barzun’s attack on competition is based on a flawed understanding of competition. Competition rightly understood is a good thing. The people who cheat or display poor sportsmanship do not exercise competition rightly. Just as saying “you can’t make me wear a mask” to a 7/11 clerk is not self-government rightly understood.

    Sarah, I take your point about being a critic in the political sphere. Actually, I do strongly agree with you there. Your job (and that of David and everyone at the Dispatch) is vitally important as is that of everyone who works to hold our leaders to account and shine a light on the uses of power. In a Democracy, it is absolutely necessary for the people to hold the right to criticize their leaders. However I would distinguish between substantive criticism and the sort of “F the system, they all suck” criticism I hear from the uneducated and uninformed and apathetic.

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  2. Avatar photo
    Robert Knudson

    Belatedly celebrating my brother's birthday in Austin this October at the Circuit of the Americas. You buried the lead on F1.

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    Jonathan Crymes

    Couldn't help thinking about the book Robert Wright's book "Nonzero" and the general arc of his work and his message on the necessity of creating non-zero-sum relationships within society and between nations.

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  4. Avatar photo
    Holly

    "You can't win a career", "you can't win a marriage" remind me of what I like to say: "Prom Queen, because someone has to win the Prom". I think another way the conversation about The Arena can be boiled down to is: not everything is a competition. And that's okay, it's actually really good. It also reminds me of my daughter refusing to be in the Sixth Grade Spelling Bee: "I understand why it's important to be a good speller, but I don't understand why it's important to prove I'm better than everyone else". Okay, yeah, you don't have to do the Spelling Bee. She didn't want to be in The Arena, but that is okay.

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  5. Jessica Carney

    And so it ends... Not with a bang, but a blurb. Burp. Blurp?

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  6. Rodney Rubert

    David tried to give voice to an opposition of Teddy's Arena quote. I think it was done better by the Charles Bronson character in the Magnificent Seven........ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wOxuFrMP1E

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  7. Daniel Hall

    David, having just finished Broadchurch myself and hearing you talk about your love for British crime drama, I would recommend an older one called "Wire in the Blood" (if it's still available for streaming anywhere). I only came across it years back because it was one of the early shows available for streaming on Netflix.

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  8. Avatar photo
    BWG

    Sometimes the constellation method works, sometimes not. I've had meetings hoping for a creative, collaborative solution to an issue, but one person was completely entrenched in their own "I must win" position.

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  9. Avatar photo
    BWG

    Interesting ending. Brings to mind a song I learned as a third grader:
    Oh I wish I was a little mug of beer,
    Oh I wish I was a little mug of beer.
    I'd go down with a slurpy
    And come up with a burpy,
    Oh I wish I was a little mug of beer.
    I've got more of those little ditties and I'm not afraid to use 'em. Some bawdier than others.

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  10. David

    Agree with the others posting that the “arena” can be many things, not just politics. For example, it can be a social situation or networking event where you aren’t sure who to talk to, but just go for it and try to strike up a conversation. You are putting yourself out there, being vulnerable, subjecting yourself to potential criticism. Dating is another good example or when you are the new person at work. Those situations take courage and there are many others everyday at work, church, or in the family. Those arenas matter and they are applicable to everyone.

    The phrase that I hate is, “better to be thought a fool, than open your mouth and remove all doubt.” F that, get in the arena and give it a go.

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