WEBVTT 00:00:02.880 --> 00:00:05.580 Matt Abrahams: Community catalyzes transformation. 00:00:05.910 --> 00:00:08.970 My name is Matt Abrahams and I teach strategic communication at 00:00:08.970 --> 00:00:10.680 Stanford Graduate School of Business. 00:00:11.010 --> 00:00:14.250 Welcome to Think Fast Talk Smart, the podcast. 00:00:14.580 --> 00:00:19.140 Today, i'm incredibly excited and very curious to speak with Gina Bianchini. 00:00:19.325 --> 00:00:23.580 Gina is the CEO and founder of Mighty Networks, a community building platform. 00:00:23.970 --> 00:00:28.710 Prior to Mighty Networks, she was the CEO and co-founder of Ning, a global platform 00:00:28.710 --> 00:00:31.170 for creating niche social networks. 00:00:31.380 --> 00:00:35.910 Gina also wrote the book, Purpose: Design a Community and Change Your Life. 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:37.020 Well, welcome Gina. 00:00:37.020 --> 00:00:38.910 I so look forward to this conversation. 00:00:38.910 --> 00:00:41.340 I look forward to continuing the conversations we've had prior. 00:00:41.519 --> 00:00:42.930 Gina Bianchini: Thank you for having me. 00:00:42.930 --> 00:00:43.710 This is so nice. 00:00:43.710 --> 00:00:44.129 Matt Abrahams: It is. 00:00:44.129 --> 00:00:44.580 It's awesome. 00:00:44.580 --> 00:00:45.480 So shall we get started? 00:00:45.480 --> 00:00:46.200 Gina Bianchini: Yeah, let's do it. 00:00:46.410 --> 00:00:50.010 Matt Abrahams: So to start, can you define what you mean by community and distinguish 00:00:50.010 --> 00:00:52.230 it from an audience or a following? 00:00:52.605 --> 00:00:56.025 What is the value of a community in general? 00:00:56.355 --> 00:01:00.015 Gina Bianchini: Community is when people come together and every 00:01:00.015 --> 00:01:03.690 single member has something to give and something to receive. 00:01:03.990 --> 00:01:06.150 Now, contrast that to an audience. 00:01:06.450 --> 00:01:11.220 Following is, I am important and I am valued based on the number of 00:01:11.220 --> 00:01:15.270 followers, as if they're nameless, faceless people who are less than me. 00:01:15.570 --> 00:01:21.510 So the work that I am doing and the work that the technology has never been 00:01:21.570 --> 00:01:27.210 available before to take advantage of this is every single person in a community 00:01:27.540 --> 00:01:29.480 has something important to offer. 00:01:29.830 --> 00:01:34.804 And we have an amazing ability today to build communities like the very 00:01:34.804 --> 00:01:36.065 best party you've ever been to. 00:01:36.335 --> 00:01:41.044 Where you show up and you're like, wait a second, everyone here, tell me more. 00:01:41.315 --> 00:01:45.574 And I like myself in this room because I'm looking around and every single 00:01:45.574 --> 00:01:50.705 person that I am seeing and meeting and talking to is interested in me, but 00:01:50.705 --> 00:01:52.565 also is a really interesting person. 00:01:52.714 --> 00:01:59.380 Now compare that to what has happened in real life with people that have been 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:03.010 brought up in social media, you start to notice something really interesting 00:02:03.010 --> 00:02:06.130 if you pay attention to it, which is people start by talking about themselves. 00:02:06.460 --> 00:02:11.590 Because the way that we are being conditioned is what is important, 00:02:11.590 --> 00:02:15.220 is what I have to say, versus how I'm showing up for other people. 00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:20.950 So to me, that is the core difference of a community, is that every single 00:02:20.950 --> 00:02:27.210 person matters and it is a network of peers versus star on the stage that 00:02:27.210 --> 00:02:32.310 is collecting people's attention in a way that is not actually introducing 00:02:32.310 --> 00:02:34.320 them to other people in that following. 00:02:34.620 --> 00:02:38.880 Matt Abrahams: When I first heard of your work, I was really moved by the 00:02:38.880 --> 00:02:44.400 way you look at community, because I have over time really come to believe 00:02:44.460 --> 00:02:47.280 that connection happens in community. 00:02:47.715 --> 00:02:51.135 We call connections like followers, that's a connection I have, but what 00:02:51.135 --> 00:02:54.915 you're really talking about is that bi-directional, we have something 00:02:54.915 --> 00:02:56.415 to give, we have something to learn. 00:02:56.625 --> 00:02:59.505 And it really highlights, as you mentioned, social media 00:02:59.535 --> 00:03:01.515 really isn't that social. 00:03:01.725 --> 00:03:03.825 It's really broadcasting. 00:03:03.945 --> 00:03:08.775 And to have a community of like-minded individuals who all share some 00:03:08.775 --> 00:03:12.795 similar ideas and where everybody can benefit is really powerful. 00:03:13.035 --> 00:03:16.065 And you've argued in your book Purpose, and I've heard you talk about this 00:03:16.065 --> 00:03:20.234 before, that community can serve as a catalyst for transformation. 00:03:20.325 --> 00:03:25.755 And I'd love to hear more about how can community lead us to that transformation 00:03:25.755 --> 00:03:27.135 and through that transformation. 00:03:27.435 --> 00:03:31.695 Gina Bianchini: Human beings are designed to get results and transformation 00:03:31.695 --> 00:03:35.535 in their lives from being members of communities, of having an identity 00:03:35.834 --> 00:03:40.515 as a runner, an identity as a leader. 00:03:40.545 --> 00:03:44.175 And so power of community really is, I think about it as the three things. 00:03:44.175 --> 00:03:50.010 So number one, a community is the absolute most effective way to 00:03:50.010 --> 00:03:54.810 navigate rapid change because all the content in the world doesn't 00:03:54.810 --> 00:03:57.390 help you in a real time environment. 00:03:57.480 --> 00:04:01.950 Only people talking to each other in real time is what is going to 00:04:01.950 --> 00:04:05.825 help us all navigate the world that is moving faster and faster. 00:04:06.525 --> 00:04:11.655 A community is the most effective way to build new practices and change 00:04:11.655 --> 00:04:17.894 habits because you don't have to lean into and on your own self-discipline. 00:04:18.165 --> 00:04:21.315 Now again, some social sciences, some psychologists would say 00:04:21.524 --> 00:04:23.145 more or less that's true. 00:04:23.145 --> 00:04:25.755 That we don't have a finite amount of like willpower. 00:04:25.935 --> 00:04:30.015 Let's just say it's easier to build new practices and build new habits 00:04:30.015 --> 00:04:33.795 in the context of being surrounded by people who are on the same path. 00:04:34.174 --> 00:04:38.405 If all your friends stop drinking, it's a heck of a lot easier to stop drinking. 00:04:38.914 --> 00:04:41.435 It becomes much less of a thing. 00:04:41.854 --> 00:04:47.885 And then finally, if community is the single most effective way to navigate 00:04:47.885 --> 00:04:53.565 rapid change and build new practices and habits, it is the fastest way 00:04:53.595 --> 00:04:56.715 to get results and transformation you just can't get on your own. 00:04:56.895 --> 00:05:01.155 So I really look at creating communities, hosting communities, 00:05:01.185 --> 00:05:05.655 joining communities in a way that is about what you can give and then ask. 00:05:05.925 --> 00:05:10.230 It is the most important and also the most energizing thing that any of us can do. 00:05:10.805 --> 00:05:14.705 Matt Abrahams: The ability of a community to catalyze change and 00:05:14.705 --> 00:05:17.345 cement that change is really powerful. 00:05:17.345 --> 00:05:21.035 I think about the changes in my own life and how they were 00:05:21.185 --> 00:05:24.905 accelerated and supported through the communities that I have. 00:05:25.115 --> 00:05:28.085 When my wife and I started our family, we had a strong community. 00:05:28.415 --> 00:05:31.925 When my father passed away, we had a strong community. 00:05:32.105 --> 00:05:35.675 As my career has evolved, it has been through the support of others 00:05:35.675 --> 00:05:40.635 in similar positions, so the ability to have community help us change. 00:05:40.965 --> 00:05:44.205 It can be challenging, though, to find that right community, 00:05:44.565 --> 00:05:48.615 and certainly communities can lead to bad behavior as well. 00:05:48.825 --> 00:05:54.225 What advice do you have for finding your tribe, for finding your community? 00:05:54.555 --> 00:05:58.335 Gina Bianchini: One of the easiest ways to find community is today 00:05:58.335 --> 00:05:59.685 through the creators that you follow. 00:06:00.030 --> 00:06:05.460 Because there are the ones, like you and like others, that are like, hey, I've done 00:06:05.460 --> 00:06:10.200 the hard work of building an audience and now I'm ready to take them from a dark 00:06:10.200 --> 00:06:14.730 room that everybody's sitting, listening to me to, hey, let's roll up our sleeves. 00:06:14.789 --> 00:06:16.590 Let's get people in groups. 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:20.130 Let's get people together and let's go practice. 00:06:20.130 --> 00:06:21.390 Let's go on some quests. 00:06:21.810 --> 00:06:24.840 And while I tend to try to stay away from advice, 'cause it turns 00:06:24.840 --> 00:06:28.469 out advice shuts a conversation down, it shuts community down. 00:06:28.770 --> 00:06:34.320 Whereas if you reposition or reframe advice to sharing stories, 00:06:34.409 --> 00:06:38.940 sharing ideas, sharing experiences, it expands the conversation. 00:06:38.969 --> 00:06:42.450 'Cause then everybody has room to communicate and contribute. 00:06:42.930 --> 00:06:49.055 So what I would share is my own experience of the power of tapping into transitions, 00:06:49.055 --> 00:06:55.025 your own or others, is when people are the most motivated to actually try new 00:06:55.025 --> 00:06:57.275 things, to actually meet new people. 00:06:57.275 --> 00:07:02.044 And where this really became true for me and where it crystallized was, this was 00:07:02.104 --> 00:07:06.695 maybe a couple decades ago, but I was just like stuck where I was physically. 00:07:07.125 --> 00:07:12.405 I went to New York for two months, and where in Palo Alto I would 00:07:12.435 --> 00:07:14.175 find reasons to not go out. 00:07:14.354 --> 00:07:15.794 I'm like, why do I need to go out? 00:07:16.034 --> 00:07:20.625 When I was in New York, I was like, hey, do any of my friends 00:07:20.625 --> 00:07:21.735 have friends I should meet. 00:07:22.034 --> 00:07:23.325 Oh, you guys are going out? 00:07:23.325 --> 00:07:24.375 Sure, I'll go. 00:07:24.735 --> 00:07:26.775 And that's the moment. 00:07:27.135 --> 00:07:34.590 So the more that you can find those things that are about transitions and where you 00:07:34.590 --> 00:07:38.280 are the most motivated, but you're also gonna meet other motivated people, that 00:07:38.280 --> 00:07:43.410 is the best way to start communities, and it is the best way to join communities. 00:07:43.770 --> 00:07:49.350 And there is something about just showing up and being open and introducing yourself 00:07:49.350 --> 00:07:56.990 not as a way to give somebody your resume or flex in ways that make you feel better, 00:07:57.020 --> 00:08:01.190 because that's what you're supposed to do on social media, but rather showing 00:08:01.190 --> 00:08:04.760 up, introducing yourself, and just being curious about the other person. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:10.585 Those small moments do more for building the quality of connection that 00:08:10.880 --> 00:08:15.780 ultimately creates those results and transformation, that value creation. 00:08:16.169 --> 00:08:18.450 Matt Abrahams: I find it really interesting that when I asked how do you 00:08:18.450 --> 00:08:23.489 find community that I was thinking, you go search here and you go search there, 00:08:23.489 --> 00:08:27.479 but in fact what you took that question to be, and I think this is the better 00:08:27.479 --> 00:08:32.115 way to take it, which is, how do you get yourself in a place where you are ready to 00:08:32.115 --> 00:08:34.035 find community and ready to participate? 00:08:34.035 --> 00:08:35.805 And it's identifying transitions. 00:08:35.805 --> 00:08:39.315 Certainly in my life, I can reflect on that and see how that played out. 00:08:39.675 --> 00:08:43.725 And being open, we can get very insular and safe in our 00:08:43.725 --> 00:08:45.345 habits and we have to be open. 00:08:45.345 --> 00:08:47.895 We have to look for those places of transition and others who are 00:08:47.895 --> 00:08:49.425 open and in places of transition. 00:08:49.725 --> 00:08:53.715 And a great place to start is with people that you respect and you have at least 00:08:53.715 --> 00:08:58.375 some fundamental connection with creators, teachers, folks who do something similar. 00:08:58.645 --> 00:09:02.095 I wanna switch to this notion of future story, because I think it 00:09:02.095 --> 00:09:03.775 fits into what we're discussing. 00:09:03.775 --> 00:09:08.665 Can you define what you mean by future story and how can those who are trying 00:09:08.665 --> 00:09:13.975 to build community leverage this future story to help congregate people? 00:09:14.335 --> 00:09:18.625 Gina Bianchini: So one of my investors and just mentors who I admire 00:09:18.655 --> 00:09:20.365 tremendously is a guy named Mike Maples. 00:09:20.714 --> 00:09:25.185 And Mike wrote this incredible book called Pattern Breakers, but even before 00:09:25.185 --> 00:09:28.905 he wrote the book, he would talk about this whole concept of back casting. 00:09:29.385 --> 00:09:33.314 So the whole idea was, and it's what futurists have done for 00:09:33.314 --> 00:09:37.635 seventy years, where you start in the future and you look backwards. 00:09:38.185 --> 00:09:42.314 And a little bit of a backstory here is the whole concept of a future story came 00:09:42.314 --> 00:09:48.480 out of, as I was teaching people how to create communities, what became very clear 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:52.050 to me is that it starts with purpose. 00:09:52.230 --> 00:09:57.150 And it starts with the same purpose that any individual who doesn't even 00:09:57.150 --> 00:10:00.900 wanna start a community, doesn't even wanna join a community, having a 00:10:00.900 --> 00:10:08.310 purpose, a grounding clarity in how to take our time, our talents, our energy 00:10:08.400 --> 00:10:11.280 into the kind of impact we wanna have. 00:10:11.280 --> 00:10:16.650 And what I realized is this concept of back casting is so powerful. 00:10:17.025 --> 00:10:22.155 But what is underlying all of it is the clearer any of us can get 00:10:22.275 --> 00:10:28.275 looking out five years and with as much vivid detail as possible, what 00:10:28.275 --> 00:10:29.865 does the day in the life look like? 00:10:30.135 --> 00:10:31.605 Who are you surrounded by? 00:10:32.055 --> 00:10:33.285 Where are you living? 00:10:33.555 --> 00:10:35.505 What kind of impact have you had? 00:10:35.985 --> 00:10:38.835 Who do you spend time connecting to? 00:10:39.045 --> 00:10:46.155 Being so clear in your own head about what that world is five years from now has 00:10:46.455 --> 00:10:50.085 so much power and it is absolutely free. 00:10:50.535 --> 00:10:51.675 It costs no money. 00:10:51.865 --> 00:10:55.305 Grab a piece of paper and write your future story. 00:10:55.395 --> 00:10:57.315 What does the world look like in five years? 00:10:57.315 --> 00:10:59.265 What is the world you want to live in? 00:10:59.265 --> 00:11:03.975 And I think so much of the moment that we are in right now, where there 00:11:03.975 --> 00:11:08.685 is so much division, has a lot to do with the fact that more and more 00:11:08.685 --> 00:11:13.755 of us are distracted all the time and we don't have time to say, what 00:11:13.755 --> 00:11:15.670 is the world that we wanna live in? 00:11:15.729 --> 00:11:19.150 Whether that's our day-to-day life, or whether that's the world 00:11:19.180 --> 00:11:21.550 more broadly, what is important? 00:11:21.729 --> 00:11:25.479 What are the things worth, not just fighting for, but believing in? 00:11:25.810 --> 00:11:30.275 And the more vivid any of us can be in telling that story, you 00:11:30.275 --> 00:11:34.925 give yourself the absolute best chance at making that a reality. 00:11:35.345 --> 00:11:39.095 Matt Abrahams: So a future story allows you to clearly define what's important to 00:11:39.095 --> 00:11:40.925 you and what that can look like for you. 00:11:40.925 --> 00:11:44.435 And that level of detail provides additional motivation. 00:11:44.675 --> 00:11:45.425 Gina Bianchini: And clarity. 00:11:45.515 --> 00:11:49.265 Like so many of us can sit down and like, oh, what's my personal mission statement? 00:11:49.535 --> 00:11:51.785 That's different than a future story. 00:11:51.965 --> 00:11:54.965 Matt Abrahams: It helps us make it a reality, and it helps us understand 00:11:54.965 --> 00:11:59.880 where we need the support that community can bring, and having that focus and 00:11:59.880 --> 00:12:03.810 clarity can really be motivational because it can feel very intimidating 00:12:03.810 --> 00:12:06.300 when I know I want to change, but I don't know where I want to go. 00:12:07.110 --> 00:12:11.040 So you've built a platform, Mighty Networks, and you say that 00:12:11.100 --> 00:12:15.750 part of what it does is allows for people magic to take place. 00:12:15.839 --> 00:12:18.990 And you describe that as the connecting of relevant people to each other. 00:12:19.319 --> 00:12:22.890 What role does communication play in this people magic. 00:12:23.430 --> 00:12:26.490 One of the things that I very much have gravitated towards because this 00:12:26.490 --> 00:12:29.370 isn't something that's very important to me beyond communication, is the 00:12:29.370 --> 00:12:34.260 ability to facilitate because there's the broadcasting of communication, 00:12:34.260 --> 00:12:38.250 but then there's the actual hard act of bringing together, facilitating. 00:12:38.610 --> 00:12:41.645 Share with me what people magic is, and the role communication plays in that. 00:12:42.330 --> 00:12:46.140 Gina Bianchini: What people magic is designed to do is make the 00:12:46.140 --> 00:12:50.340 facilitation easier and easier so that more people can do it and 00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:51.630 more people can do it effectively. 00:12:51.900 --> 00:12:56.760 But the easiest way to think about it is coming back to that openness. 00:12:57.090 --> 00:13:03.030 I don't care who you are and I don't care how many followers you have, how popular 00:13:03.030 --> 00:13:07.320 or unpopular you are, when you are walking into a party you're a little nervous. 00:13:08.040 --> 00:13:16.065 And the difference between your ability to relax and enjoy and meet people and 00:13:16.065 --> 00:13:22.305 create value and connection is that person who either is the host or a friend of 00:13:22.305 --> 00:13:27.645 the host who comes over to you and is like, Matt, I am so glad you're here. 00:13:27.975 --> 00:13:29.655 I invited you with purpose. 00:13:29.685 --> 00:13:31.305 I invited you with intention. 00:13:31.335 --> 00:13:32.265 And, oh my God. 00:13:32.865 --> 00:13:34.635 You have got to meet Josh. 00:13:35.235 --> 00:13:38.505 I knew you guys would hit it off because, and then there's all 00:13:38.505 --> 00:13:41.265 sorts of different techniques for like how to make that connection. 00:13:41.535 --> 00:13:42.405 But what have I just done? 00:13:42.555 --> 00:13:43.605 I've put you at ease. 00:13:43.935 --> 00:13:46.995 I have hopefully hyped you up a little bit. 00:13:47.235 --> 00:13:52.050 Because in the same way that like hurt people, hurt people, confident people 00:13:52.140 --> 00:13:57.569 connect with other people, like the social lubricant, that it exists to 00:13:57.569 --> 00:14:03.360 create networks of people and communities of people come from confidence. 00:14:03.750 --> 00:14:08.790 When you feel good, when you feel like you have something to bring to the picnic. 00:14:09.180 --> 00:14:12.960 And so a facilitator also does something really important, which 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:16.140 is, I'm gonna make sure you don't feel like you're on the spot. 00:14:16.380 --> 00:14:19.439 So in facilitating, I'm gonna structure. 00:14:19.829 --> 00:14:20.880 I'm gonna guide. 00:14:21.150 --> 00:14:26.520 I'm going to be in charge of the experience that we are creating 00:14:26.520 --> 00:14:31.140 here together so that you get results and transformation. 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:39.180 And I believe in a time and a place where as people, we are going to increasingly 00:14:39.180 --> 00:14:43.500 be competing with more and more powerful software that wants to be like us, 00:14:43.590 --> 00:14:48.720 that wants to take more and more time from human beings, the hosts and the 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:53.490 facilitators are going to be the ones that ensure that we are harnessing the power 00:14:53.490 --> 00:14:59.145 of software to make the people we meet, the people we connect with, the people 00:14:59.145 --> 00:15:07.185 that we build, at a level of awesomeness that up until this point, relied almost 00:15:07.185 --> 00:15:09.224 exclusively on luck and serendipity. 00:15:10.215 --> 00:15:13.694 Matt Abrahams: I think that's a really interesting way to define facilitation 00:15:13.754 --> 00:15:16.845 as proactive, productive serendipity. 00:15:17.175 --> 00:15:18.975 And I like that definition. 00:15:18.975 --> 00:15:22.605 I spend a lot of time helping people with the practical, tactical skills 00:15:22.605 --> 00:15:24.314 of facilitation, and I agree with you. 00:15:24.314 --> 00:15:27.615 It's about helping people feel welcome, helping people feel psychologically 00:15:27.615 --> 00:15:30.165 safe, making sure that they don't feel like they're on the spot. 00:15:30.225 --> 00:15:31.755 And I like this idea of host. 00:15:31.755 --> 00:15:35.625 We have Priya Parker on who likes the same ideas, and certainly we've talked with 00:15:35.625 --> 00:15:37.605 Amy Edmondson about psychological safety. 00:15:37.605 --> 00:15:40.440 A good facilitator helps bring that about. 00:15:40.440 --> 00:15:44.010 You set up the context and the environment for the magic to happen, 00:15:44.160 --> 00:15:47.130 but it's really hard because you have to be incredibly vigilant. 00:15:47.280 --> 00:15:52.200 And I had not thought of, as you rightly introduced, that a good 00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:56.970 host or facilitator is also the one who can maximize and leverage the 00:15:56.970 --> 00:16:02.760 technology, be it AI or other tools to help, again, set the scene, set 00:16:02.760 --> 00:16:04.920 the table for the community building. 00:16:06.270 --> 00:16:09.000 Well, Gina, I knew this was going to be a fantastic conversation. 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:11.910 You and I are very aligned on the power of community. 00:16:11.970 --> 00:16:15.150 I'd like to end the way I end all these podcasts with three questions. 00:16:15.150 --> 00:16:16.860 One I create just for you and the other two. 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:18.240 I've been asking lots of people. 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:21.990 So my first question is a little different than the community building. 00:16:21.990 --> 00:16:25.410 You've had to navigate the venture capital world in many capacities. 00:16:25.560 --> 00:16:29.820 Many of the people listening in have to pitch ideas, and I'm curious, what's 00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:34.170 your best advice for communicating a new disruptive idea, especially to 00:16:34.170 --> 00:16:38.490 those who might be a little skeptical or entrenched in the way things are? 00:16:39.020 --> 00:16:42.450 Gina Bianchini: The rookie move is I'm gonna convince 00:16:42.450 --> 00:16:43.680 the people who are skeptical. 00:16:44.069 --> 00:16:46.980 The masters are like, that's not the job. 00:16:47.010 --> 00:16:48.689 The job is to find the true believers. 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:50.939 So what does that look like? 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:54.569 When you are a true believer in your ideas, you're like, I need to 00:16:54.569 --> 00:16:59.189 convince every single person that I meet that this is the future. 00:16:59.670 --> 00:17:04.290 And the problem is that when somebody tells you, no, it's crushing, 00:17:04.470 --> 00:17:06.869 but also it feels so personal. 00:17:07.109 --> 00:17:10.770 So one of the things that I have observed that is absolutely 00:17:10.770 --> 00:17:13.859 critical is number one, volume. 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:19.500 You have to feel like you have abundance in the number of 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:20.849 people that you can talk to. 00:17:21.089 --> 00:17:24.630 So if that's a spreadsheet of people, that you are gonna go down 00:17:24.630 --> 00:17:28.890 that list and so that the nos and the rejections that are inevitable. 00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:32.520 I wish that I was the kind of person that like welcomed rejection. 00:17:32.550 --> 00:17:35.730 I don't, but that has helped a lot. 00:17:35.910 --> 00:17:39.660 The next time that I am going to fundraise. 00:17:40.004 --> 00:17:44.564 I will have a hundred names and I will go through a hundred, and my 00:17:44.564 --> 00:17:48.135 expectation will be that I have to go through a hundred and I just need one. 00:17:48.524 --> 00:17:51.165 And I'm going through that list to find the true believers. 00:17:51.735 --> 00:17:56.145 Finding a true believer that was already thinking about this stuff, that is your 00:17:56.145 --> 00:18:02.895 idea, is much more powerful and important in the ultimate success that you're gonna 00:18:02.895 --> 00:18:05.264 have than trying to convince a skeptic. 00:18:05.685 --> 00:18:07.065 Matt Abrahams: I like that reframe. 00:18:07.095 --> 00:18:09.375 The goal is not to move the skeptic. 00:18:09.435 --> 00:18:13.065 The goal is to find the true believer, and the way to do that is to open 00:18:13.065 --> 00:18:17.565 up to as many people as possible and really think through and identify. 00:18:17.565 --> 00:18:21.945 And that reframe on who the real audience is, I think can really change 00:18:21.945 --> 00:18:23.565 how a lot of people accomplish things. 00:18:24.105 --> 00:18:27.585 Question number two, who is a communicator that you admire and why? 00:18:28.185 --> 00:18:28.935 Gina Bianchini: Steve Jobs. 00:18:29.325 --> 00:18:38.280 Just the ability to capture, not just the vision of where the intersection of art 00:18:38.310 --> 00:18:41.879 and science can go, but in every area. 00:18:42.179 --> 00:18:47.429 Just watching somebody who as a communicator could help everybody 00:18:47.429 --> 00:18:53.730 see what something new could be, and what excellence could look like, and 00:18:53.760 --> 00:19:00.000 the ability to bring people to an entirely new level of contribution. 00:19:00.179 --> 00:19:01.679 The teams that he put together. 00:19:02.055 --> 00:19:06.765 The vision that he said, the future story that he was talking about in his 00:19:06.765 --> 00:19:13.725 twenties, that happened in his forties, that level, and what everyone I know who 00:19:13.725 --> 00:19:19.935 worked with him will say is he made it look like he was a natural and he wasn't. 00:19:20.355 --> 00:19:23.235 Matt Abrahams: There are many famous stories about how much work he put 00:19:23.235 --> 00:19:27.705 into what he did, but the ability to identify a goal, a vision, and 00:19:27.705 --> 00:19:31.605 communicate it, and then assemble the community or teams, really important. 00:19:31.605 --> 00:19:34.130 I can understand why you would gravitate towards Steve Jobs. 00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.130 Final question. 00:19:35.840 --> 00:19:39.919 What are the first three ingredients that go into a successful communication recipe? 00:19:40.280 --> 00:19:44.929 Gina Bianchini: I think that ingredient number one is so what. 00:19:45.290 --> 00:19:51.470 So the little trick that I learned from a woman named Amy Jo Kim, who I love, 00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:57.175 was so that we can, so that we can, or so that you can, or so that I can. 00:19:57.885 --> 00:20:02.655 The so that we can, that is the why and the benefits and the results, 00:20:02.655 --> 00:20:08.505 and once that snapped into place for me, it gave that communication hint 00:20:08.805 --> 00:20:11.355 to anybody who's listening, why. 00:20:11.415 --> 00:20:13.155 I think that's ingredient number one. 00:20:13.455 --> 00:20:20.129 Ingredient number two is detail and the real masterclass of detail is 00:20:20.129 --> 00:20:25.320 when you can communicate significant detail in as few words as possible. 00:20:25.379 --> 00:20:29.429 That's when you hit magic in communication because if you're too detailed and 00:20:29.429 --> 00:20:31.949 use too many words, people zone out. 00:20:32.159 --> 00:20:35.310 If you go to too few words, you will want to abstract it. 00:20:35.399 --> 00:20:39.030 And you see this if you try to like put into ChatGPT or Claude or whatever, 00:20:39.030 --> 00:20:42.120 hey, make this shorter and it's the most generic thing in the world. 00:20:42.540 --> 00:20:49.205 So finding that detail in as few words as possible, I think it is the absolute 00:20:49.205 --> 00:20:55.625 hardest thing in communication and the absolute just north star of communication. 00:20:56.015 --> 00:20:58.295 And then I think that the third thing is heart. 00:20:58.625 --> 00:21:04.175 Not trying to BS your way through things, but rather, what do I really care about? 00:21:04.445 --> 00:21:06.185 What is really important to me? 00:21:06.575 --> 00:21:10.055 How do I show up for an idea? 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:17.400 And how do I leave people feeling about the idea, the concept, me as a messenger? 00:21:17.760 --> 00:21:20.610 I think that is something important to pay attention to. 00:21:21.135 --> 00:21:24.765 Matt Abrahams: Having that passion, that heart, the emotion, absolutely critical. 00:21:24.945 --> 00:21:26.565 You clearly demonstrate that. 00:21:26.955 --> 00:21:30.645 I like this idea of taking so what and evolving it into so that we 00:21:30.645 --> 00:21:36.345 can, and finding that sweet spot of detail and concision, really 00:21:36.345 --> 00:21:38.425 important, really difficult to do. 00:21:38.605 --> 00:21:41.665 But what a wonderful recipe and what a wonderful conversation, Gina. 00:21:41.665 --> 00:21:45.295 I love the community that you and I have built and the way we interact and 00:21:45.295 --> 00:21:50.605 the power of community to transform and the power of community to evolve 00:21:50.665 --> 00:21:54.835 just content in one way communication to really being something that's 00:21:54.835 --> 00:21:56.395 special and can help people grow. 00:21:56.635 --> 00:21:59.185 Thank you so much for your time, and thank you so much for your insight. 00:21:59.515 --> 00:22:00.355 Gina Bianchini: Thank you for having me. 00:22:02.725 --> 00:22:04.555 Matt Abrahams: Thank you for joining us for another episode of 00:22:04.555 --> 00:22:06.080 Think Fast Talk Smart, the podcast. 00:22:06.855 --> 00:22:11.115 To learn more about community, please listen to episode 1 74 with Priya Parker. 00:22:11.325 --> 00:22:14.495 Please consider joining our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community 00:22:14.545 --> 00:22:17.365 at fastersmarter.io/learning. 00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:21.810 You'll find video lessons, learning quests, discussion boards, Matt's 00:22:21.840 --> 00:22:24.390 AI coach, and our book club. 00:22:24.810 --> 00:22:29.340 Again, that's fastersmarter.io/learning to become part of our Think Fast 00:22:29.340 --> 00:22:30.960 Talk Smart Learning Community. 00:22:31.260 --> 00:22:35.970 This episode was produced by Katherine Reed, Ryan Campos, and me, Matt Abrahams. 00:22:36.270 --> 00:22:37.830 Our music is from Floyd Wonder. 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:40.290 With thanks to Podium Podcast Company. 00:22:40.530 --> 00:22:43.800 Please find 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