A Bit of Optimism

In a world of job-hopping, side hustles, and an endless LinkedIn feed, Tim Harris did something almost no one does anymore. He stayed put.

Few executives spend an entire career helping build a dynasty. Tim Harris spent 35 years with the Los Angeles Lakers, rising to President of Business Operations and helping transform the franchise into a global brand. Through championship eras, iconic athletes like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, and decades of change in professional sports, Tim's influence was felt not on the hardwood, but in the culture, leadership, and business excellence that powered one of the NBA's most storied organizations.

In this episode you'll learn:

➡️ Why clarity of role is the most underrated tool in any leader's arsenal

➡️ The three unspoken words that silently destroy any team 

➡️ What Kobe Bryant taught Tim about mindset (+ why it matters off the court)

➡️ How the Lakers built one of the most powerful brands in sports

➡️ What elite athletes do differently + how it translates directly to business 

➡️ What caring, high-performing leadership actually looks like 

➡️ Why giving away free tickets to strangers was a brilliant + caring business decision

➡️ The cost of short-termism + what we lose when we stop playing the long game

Even a brand as iconic as the Lakers wasn't built by championships alone. Tim says its foundation was built one small, genuine human moment at a time. 

This… is A Bit of Optimism.

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Chapters
Chapters

00:00:00 You Have to Love Them in Order to Win
00:01:54 Why Tim Stayed 35 Years With One Company
00:04:30 From Soccer Player to Lakers President: Tim's Unlikely Journey
00:07:54 Coaching as Leadership: Don't Play on the Field
00:09:39 The Long Game vs Day Trading Success
00:11:00 The Underrated Tool of Clarity of Role
00:13:29 Kobe's Compartmentalization: Nice Guy Off Court, Competitor On Court
00:15:19 The Mental Game: What Separates Elite Athletes From Everyone Else
00:22:08 The Three Unspoken Words That Ruin Any Team
00:24:16 Meeting People Where They Are
00:36:45 Caught You Being a Laker: Empowering Employees to Create Magic
00:30:31 The Empty Seat Philosophy: Turning Sunk Costs Into Memories
00:31:35 Building Brands One Tiny Act at a Time
00:38:42 Remember That Business Is Always Human
00:42:04 The Jenga Theory: Every Interaction Either Builds or Destroys Your Brand
00:46:31 Caring Structure: What People Actually Crave at Work
00:47:26 Never Miss Your Kid's Game: The Accountability Agreement
00:50:09 Learning From Legends: Phil Jackson and the Human-First Philosophy
00:48:48 The Work Happens in the Dark: What Made Kobe and LeBron Great
00:50:56 Stop and Look at the Joy: Championship Lessons and Kobe's Legacy

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Credits

Footage: NBA Entertainment

Photos: http://bit.ly/43Fb37Z (Full List)

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Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together.

Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do.

Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and The Infinite Game.

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Website: http://simonsinek.com/

Leaderful: https://simonsinek.com/leaderful

Podcast: http://apple.co/simonsinek

Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek

Hello from Team Simon! We're taking a quick break this week and will be back with brand-new episodes of A Bit of Optimism next Tuesday. 

Until then, we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes — when bestselling novelist Fredrik Backman joined the show to talk about the thing he's spent his whole career writing about: the quiet, radical power of showing up for people.

And Fredrik says great friendships aren't found by luck. They're built deliberately, repeatedly, and, sometimes, inconveniently by people who choose to do the work.

Fredrik is the internationally bestselling author of A Man Called Ove (adapted into the film A Man Called Otto), Anxious People, and the Beartown series. His book, My Friends, is a love letter to the relationships that quietly shape who we become.

In this conversation, Fredrik opens up about his best friend of over 30 years and what 30 years of real friendship actually requires. His words will have you thinking hard about the friends you might be taking for granted.

In this episode you'll learn: 

➡️ Why great friendship is a skill + what the work actually looks like 

➡️ The concept of your "people” vs. “humans" 

➡️ Why your friends are your best editors

➡️ The friendship rule that changed how Fredrik's entire friend group thought about relationships

➡️ The unexpected value of quantity of time vs. quality of time 

➡️ How to be genuinely happy for someone else 

➡️ The difference between healthy self-deprecation and low self-esteem 

➡️ Why the work in a relationship is never solely on the relationship — it's always on you

A great relationship isn't a stroke of luck. It's a choice you make every day, in small ways, often when it's inconvenient. This conversation is a reminder of why it's worth it.

This… is A Bit of Optimism.

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To buy Fredrik’s book, My Friends, visit: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Fredrik-Backman/411545926 

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Chapters
Chapters

00:00:00 We Don't Need Algorithms to Find Our People
00:02:45 Fredrik's Viral Speech: Fueled by Pure Panic
00:05:55 The Power of Authenticity: Why Imperfection Resonates
00:07:29 Choose Your Seven Humans Wisely
00:08:56 The Friend Who Taught Him Everything
00:15:43 Quality Time vs Quantity Time: The ROI of Presence
00:17:53 The "I Want To," Not "I Have To" Philosophy
00:20:55 Your Friends Are Your Best Editors
00:13:23 Writing as Self-Editing
00:15:06 Learning to Be Happy for Others
00:22:41 The Gift of Time: Showing Up When It Matters
00:23:56 Be A Great Friend, Get Great Friends
00:28:55 The Work Is On You: Relationships and Self-Growth
00:36:23 Algorithms Would Never Match Us: The Value of Difference
00:34:21 Trying Is Everything
00:35:55 People vs Humans
00:37:18 Self-Deprecation vs Low Self-Esteem
00:39:22 The Jantelagen: Swedish Humility Law
00:45:26 The Fear of Disappointing People
00:48:00 Expectations vs Reality: Letting Go of Fantasy
00:49:00 Understanding Bullies: Finding What We Have in Common
00:51:21 Fighting Narcissism: Surrounding Yourself With Better People
00:52:08 Being Comfortable Not Knowing: The Gateway to Learning
00:55:28 The World's Best Cardamom Bun Debate

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Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together.

Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do.

Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and The Infinite Game.

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Website: http://simonsinek.com/

Leaderful: https://simonsinek.com/leaderful

Podcast: http://apple.co/simonsinek

Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek

Maybe this sounds familiar: you leave a party and spend the rest of the night convinced everyone was upset with you. Or you replay something you said in a meeting for days and second-guess every last word.

Vanessa Van Edwards has been there. As a self-proclaimed "recovering awkward person," she’s spent two decades decoding the hidden dynamics of human interaction to make those skills teachable for introverts and extroverts alike.

Vanessa is a behavioral researcher, bestselling author, and founder of Science of People. In her book, Conversation: How to Be Instantly Likeable in Any Interaction, she makes the case that social skills aren't a personality type, they're learnable. And she believes we are living in the most critical moment in history to start learning them.

In this episode you'll learn:

➡️ Why "just be yourself" is unhelpful advice + potentially cruel

➡️ The important everyday interactions technology + AI replaced

➡️ Where to stand at a party so someone always talks to you

➡️ How to have better conversations (+ why you already have the skills)

➡️ What the real antidote to awkwardness is

➡️ How to practice micro-social skills without turning people off

➡️ Why we’re all ambiverts + how to understand ambiversion

➡️ How soft skills drive major career inflection points

➡️ The concept of social fitness + the “nutrition” of your relationships

In this conversation, Vanessa lays out how even the most socially anxious among us can build real connections and become more likable… even in a world that has quietly removed all the places we used to accidentally get good at being human. And the secret isn't confidence. It's something far more generous.

This… is A Bit of Optimism.

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Watch A Bit of Optimism on Spotify, and Spotify Premium users can enjoy the show ad-free.

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To pre-order Vanessa’s new book, Conversation: How to Be Instantly Likeable in Any Interaction, head to: https://www.scienceofpeople.com/conversation/

Want to learn more people skills from Vanessa? Check out The Science of People: https://www.scienceofpeople.com/

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Chapters
Chapters

00:00:00 Social Skills in the Digital Age Crisis
00:01:47 Vanessa's Journey: The Accidental Social Skills Expert
00:05:45 Mistakes Everyone Makes Learning to Improve Social Skills
00:08:09 Where Did Our Places to Practice Being Human Go?
00:11:17 Where to Stand at a Party When You Don't Know Anyone
00:14:17 The Ambivert Reality: Social Fitness and Friendship Nutrition
00:18:07 The Discomfort Problem: Why Young People Avoid Rather Than Adapt
00:21:33 Put the Shoes in the Box: The Art of Knowing When to Stop
00:34:54 Intention Matches Action: Defining Authenticity
00:46:56 The Power of Being Seen: How Love Changed Everything
00:49:51 The Ultimate Social Skill: Helping Others Feel Normal
00:42:20 Micro-Social Skills: Finding the Parts of Yourself You Like

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Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together.

Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do.

Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and The Infinite Game.

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Website: http://simonsinek.com/

Leaderful: https://simonsinek.com/leaderful

Podcast: http://apple.co/simonsinek

Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek

We often comfort ourselves with the idea that things happen for a reason, or define our struggles as a test of strength. Tom Nash might ask you to reconsider.

Tom is a speaker, former DJ, and globe-trotting advocate for agency, anti-fragility, and the radical idea that your worst moment might be your greatest asset — as he argued in his TED Talk, "The Perks of Being a Pirate.” He’s also the mind behind Last Meal with Tom Nash where he asks his guests what their last meal would be if the world ended tomorrow, and then actually cooks it for them.

In our conversation, Tom shares how, at 19, a rare bacterial infection left him a quadruple amputee with a 2% chance of survival. And he'll tell you it's the best thing that ever happened to him.

This isn’t just another conversation about resilience. It’s a deep dive into agency and the difference between a life that happens to you and one you actually choose.

In this episode, we explore:

➡️ Why the story you tell yourself about your own life is the most powerful force in it

➡️ The difference between resilience and anti-fragility (and why it matters)

➡️ Tom’s framework for navigating adversity: The Artist, the Author, and the Alchemist

➡️ The counterintuitive reason why we actually need support networks

➡️ Why "everything happens for a reason" can be a trap (and the perspective that works better)

➡️ What your last meal choice reveals about what you're really searching for

➡️ Why the concept of being "self-made" is a dangerous illusion

Tom joins me to ask a fundamental question: who is really holding the pen when it comes to your story?

This… is A Bit of Optimism.

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Watch the new season of Tom’s show Last Meal with Tom Nash and head to: https://www.lastmealwithtomnash.com

Want more Tom? Check out his website: https://www.tomnash.com

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Chapters

Chapters

00:00:00 Adversity Can Be The Best Thing You Experience
00:03:45 Tom's Story: Contracting Meningococcal Disease
00:07:47 The Gift of Agency: Choosing to Amputate
00:16:18 The Artist, The Author, and The Alchemist: A Framework for Anti-Fragility
00:20:28 The Alchemist: Turning Adversity Into Advantage
00:23:52 Learning to Walk Again: The Momentum Metaphor
00:26:57 The True Purpose of Support Networks
00:34:33 Why 'Everything Happens for a Reason' Robs You of Agency
00:47:37 The Last Meal Question: What Your Choice Reveals About Freedom
00:42:23 Joel Robuchon: Leadership Through Teaching, Not Commanding
00:58:34 The Problem With Inspirational Affirmations
01:00:59 Stop Saying Everything Happens for a Reason

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Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together.

Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do.

Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and The Infinite Game.

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Website: http://simonsinek.com/

Leaderful: https://simonsinek.com/leaderful

Podcast: http://apple.co/simonsinek

Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek

Simon’s books:

The Infinite Game: https://simonsinek.com/books/the-infinite-game/

Start With Why: https://simonsinek.com/books/start-with-why/

Find Your Why: https://simonsinek.com/books/find-your-why/

Leaders Eat Last: https://simonsinek.com/books/leaders-eat-last/

Together is Better: https://simonsinek.com/books/together-is-better/

If at some point, you've looked at your life—your job, your relationships, your achievements—and thought: “is this it?” This episode is for you. 

Mike Posner had that moment at 30. His life, by every external measure, was extraordinary: he had hit songs, Grammy nominations, millions in the bank. He was a pop star… And he was miserable.

What followed was one of the most honest reckonings we've ever heard on this show. Mike walked across America, survived a rattlesnake bite, climbed Everest, and came out the other side with something no amount of success had ever given him: peace.

Mike Posner is a multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated recording artist, songwriter, and producer. But the reason you should listen to this conversation has nothing to do with any of that. It has everything to do with where he was and his incredibly human journey getting to somewhere better, more peaceful, and more meaningful. He even wrote a song about it—a follow up to his hit song “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” called “I Went Back To Ibiza.”

In this episode you'll learn:

➡️ Why achieving your biggest goals can leave you feeling emptier than before you started 

➡️ The difference between real vulnerability and broadcasting your pain online (and why intention changes everything) 

➡️ Why comfort (not failure) might be the thing quietly hollowing out your life 

➡️ What walking across America actually taught Mike about who he was and who he wasn't 

➡️ Why self-improvement taken too far becomes selfishness 

➡️ The one pursuit more valuable than success, grit, or getting to the top

You don't need a Grammy nomination to relate to this conversation, you just need to have ever wondered if the life you're building is actually the life you want.

This… is A Bit of Optimism.

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Watch A Bit of Optimism on Spotify! If you’re subscribed to Spotify Premium, you don’t get any Spotify ads on my video.

If you want to watch Mike’s new music video for “I Went Back To Ibiza,” check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDL6SEW4xKU

You can find “I Went Back To Ibiza” wherever you stream music.

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Chapters
Chapters

00:00:00 The Real Reason You Feel Empty
00:06:51 Art as Alchemy: Turning Pain into Beauty
00:18:12 The Asymmetry Between What We Have and What We Give
00:20:32 Walking Across America: Getting Out of His Comfort Zone
00:24:54 The Snake Bite: When Attention Came From Pain
00:30:13 The Problem With Avoiding Discomfort
00:33:47 From Fraud to Peace: Mike's Transformation
00:36:31 Walking Each Other Home: The Purpose of Art and Life
00:38:56 The Pursuit of Peace, Not Just Hardship
00:48:48 Getting to the Top of Everest: Only Half of the Journey

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Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together.

Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do.

Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and The Infinite Game.

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Website: http://simonsinek.com/

Live Online Classes: https://simonsinek.com/classes/

Podcast: http://apple.co/simonsinek

Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek