Chris Colbert built and ran several domestic and international companies focused on innovation and business optimization. After guiding a bold revamp of Scholastic’s core publishing business and its return to positive growth, he left in early 2014 to explore the world of higher education and innovations that might help improve its value. He eventually joined the Harvard Innovation Labs, where he ended up as the Managing Director until May 2019. Since then, he focused on speaking, writing, and consulting as a means of helping countries, companies, and individuals respond to the ever-accelerating pace of change by establishing more adaptive and competitive capacities and cultures that are centered on realizing their full human potential.

In today’s episode, Chris talks with me about what happens when we shift into being more intimate with ourselves. Chris shares some of the “acceptable” rock bottoms he experienced that forced him to realize he needed to change. We discuss how social media has created a validation complex within our society. Chris also talks about how he wants to run for president but is not interested in actually winning.

“Knowing who you are allows us to know other people. Loving who you are allows us to love other people. Understanding your dark and light allows us to accept the dark and light of other people.” – Chris Colbert 

This week on Shift-Starters:

• How Chris ended up giving his “Technology is Dead” speech in front of 60,000 people
• Understanding why humans hate change and how this affects innovation
• The unintended consequences of innovation like social media
• Asking yourself to contemplate your behavior when you seek validation
• Chris’s one regret in his life
• The acceptable rock bottoms Chris experienced to realize he needed to make a shift
• Our capacity to choose courage over fear
• How self-love actually helps draw people closer to you
• What you can do to work on loving yourself more
• How fear leads us to seek out validation
• Why Chris wants to run, but not actually be president

Mentioned Resources:

• The 5 Regrets of Dying People

Connect with Chris Colbert:

• Website
• Technology is Dead Speech
• Book: This Is It, by Chris Colbert
• Podcast: Insert:Human
• Connect with Chris on Instagram
• Connect with Chris on LinkedIn
• Connect with Chris on Twitter

Let’s Start Some Shift!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Shift-Starters with Erin Baker. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more Shift-Starters, like you.

Join me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content, information, and to request your FREE 7 Questions for Tackling Fear workbook, visit my website.