We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ted Whetstone a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ted, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

Frankly, I want to transform the human “mind.” I feel like humanity is bumping up against a glass ceiling: trying to understand a world far more complex than our language and mental models currently support. For instance, we understand 3-dimensional “space” and we understand “time” but we can’t even grasp Einstein’s 4-dimensional “space-time.” How the hell are we going to understand n-dimensional space which is how our hyperconnected world actually works?

A new “language” for conceiving and exchanging complex ideas (i.e., reality) is required. It doesn’t have to be difficult: just borrow from nature – it’s right there! The real challenge is understanding the nature of nature. Physicists already “speak” the language of nature: it’s complex mathematics. Fortunately, the average mortal doesn’t have to become a mathematician: metaphors can get us a long way there. So, I’m creating a library of metaphors in simple, consumable bites. Articles on my website demonstrate just a few of those.

My plan is to assemble these metaphors into a comprehensive framework to synthesize “what’s really going on” in a self-evident way. I think then we can weed out a lot of human ignorance that, frankly, is holding us all back. We’re inherently brilliant beings but the current “operating system” of our minds is hideously outdated and limited. It’s time for an upgrade – individually and collectively – to evolve into “what’s next.”

Ted, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was fascinated with science from an early age. In my teens, I become interested in personal development. Then I got into the business world and became a management consultant working with Fortune 500 companies, solving complex organizational problems. But there was always something missing beyond process and profit: people! Specifically, I saw firsthand how human potential gets crushed in organizations. Capitalism focuses on a reductionist, task-oriented mindset and, inevitably, kills creativity and innovation. I feel it is far more than an enormous missed business opportunity: it’s a tragedy and a human crime.

That’s why I became a leadership and executive coach. Yes, I’m interested in developing great leaders of organizations and others. But I’m even more committed to people becoming great leaders of themselves. That goes for me too – and it’s not always easy. How many of us can truly say we have dared to become who we truly are? I believe we are all artists inherently and have great things to share. But the fear of rejection or perceived humiliation keeps us small. Many leaders I’ve worked with suffer from lack of confidence: once they find their own unique leadership voice, it becomes self-confidence and no one can take that away.

What if everyone found the courage to become their own “Einstein?” They don’t have to be brilliant scientists: they just need to question assumption. That’s it: think for themselves. And then follow that voice inside to become a roaring lion on the world stage.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

I treat people like creative individuals – not robots. I love to ask, “What would be ideal?” Or “What do you (uniquely) think?” Try it! At first, they’ll look at you like you’re unhinged or they’ll first carefully look around to see if it’s safe to engage such heresy – that alone shows you how shut down we all are. But keep asking: soon the ideas, excitement, creativity, and inspiration will start to flow. And then look out!

We are the only ones in our own way: my job is to remove that inner friction. Life can drag us down but when we connect to ourselves and others to themselves, anything becomes possible. It sounds a little corny but it’s absolutely true: any resistance otherwise, is just more of that which keeps us stuck.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I’m a fan of context over content. Accordingly, I appreciate books that share models that transform the way we see and perceive. Blue Ocean Strategy was one of the early business resources that impacted me. Many companies try to be all things to all people. When they dare to differentiate and align powerfully with the just one or two things that matter most to them and their customers, they find unique, sustainable, uncontested success. To me, that sounds like a pretty good strategy for each of us to find our own special place in the world!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tedwhetstone.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedwhetstone/