WONDERSPACE PODCAST - September 2022
Joining us today in Wonderspace is Nicole Yershon, a maverick, consultant, mentor and connector. Before founding the NY Collective,
Nicole ran the Ogilvy Labs for ten years and today sits on the board of Creative Conscience and a school for 'rough diamonds’ which is also the title of her book.
“The intrapreneur is now the entrepreneur”.
To find out more go to www.nicoleyershon.com and www.creative-conscience.org.uk
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Wonderspace x6 questions for Steve Cole
https://ourwonder.space/episodes
Brief:-
Reflecting on our time, I would love to hear your responses to our six questions (below). I would need around 25 mins for a Zoom recording which would then be edited.
What do you think?
Questions with rough timings.
If we could do a flypast on any part of the world that is significant to you, which place, city, or country would it be and why? (1 min)
This is a tough one.
I love to travel (well arriving anyway) and my mantra has been to always visit someplace new each time. So exploring anything and everything is such an inspiring concept. And I don’t know what I don’t know and all that.
With the advent of drones, I’m constantly amazed by the new perspective they give on anywhere and anything.
So this leads me to 2 answers.
Firstly - if I could fly past all the incredible species I’ve witnessed on safari in Africa that close but that safely via drone I would love that and second -
As a city dweller, I’m a crazy big fan of big cities the amazing sights sounds, and scenes of Tokyo, and some of the big unknown cities in China that would normally be so off-limits to me.
Give us a glimpse into your life story so far with an emphasis on what you are doing currently. (3 mins)
I love questions like this.
My life story can be summed up very simply.
Disruption and opportunity.
Throughout each blast of disruption - and there’s been many - I’ve been working on myself and avoiding further chaos. I wouldn’t change very much about it because it has taught me everything. It’s only recently that I’ve realised just how much I’ve learned and how much I’ve still to learn.
My life story is about being practical.
Survive, improve, and connect with people to create greater value than I can on my own. You soon learn how to spot your tribe though.
I’ve been lucky to connect all over the world but quite honestly over recent years, I’ve really had to refine the filter.
I can spot people who I know will be with me for the rest of my life and I can spot people who are only interested in me because of my life.
So now this informs everything I am and everything I do. Simply put, I’m a convener and a collaborator but I’m not prepared to waste my time on those with different values.
I build teams and I make things happen.
I can only do this when I’m working with people of a similar mindset and when I know I’m responding to a clear and well-defined requirement. If that doesn’t exist then I will collaborate with other people who can help me and my clients get that clarity. And then bring in the right resource or talent to help me get that thing done.
Quite honestly nothing makes me happier than being asked to do a task but everyone says it can't be done.
I put that down to working with some of the great creatives and entrepreneurs in the business.
I would say I’m very lucky to be doing what I’m doing.
Where on earth is your place of reset or recharge? (1 min)
Any warm place where the sun is shining, the coffee is great and I’m not far from water. Oh! My apartment. A COMFY BED! That works.
In all seriousness, a change is as good as a rest. If I’m in London then New York is proven to recharge. If I was in Seychelles then the Maldives would probably do the same.
What wonder of the natural world excites you the most? (1 min)
I know it’s not the answer that you want. The natural world is a system and that’s what really amazes me. It’s not really one thing.
CAUSE AND EFFECT
Everything has its place in the system. And that means dependency and connections. And that’s my business model too. A long food chain with all the predators, all the victims, and the hangers-on.
I’m very alive to the reality that the Earth itself will be here long after humans have either messed it up or woken up to its splendor of it. It stirs in me the importance of losing our arrogance, ego, and entitlement. And that demands us, humans, to do what we can to destroy the greed and corruption that exploits us all in favour of the few.
We have a place in the system of course and I suppose what excites me is the hope that eventually humanity is ingenious enough to figure out what it will take to put the demons back in their caves.
As I said, probably not the answer you wanted but it’s what your question triggered.
I LOVE OCEANS AND IT MAKES UP 70% OF THIS PLANET AND YET WE EXPLORE SPACE AND OUTSIDE THE PLANET AND NOT HOW WE COULD LIVE UNDER/ON THE OCEANS?
What is your story of hopefulness (not your own) about a person, business, or non-profit who is doing amazing things for the world? (3 mins)
Well, there are many people who give me hope. I’M A NATURAL OPTIMIST
I’m sure this audience is well aware of the amazing people doing incredible things. Both in business and in related fields. The Brené Browns, the Greta Thunberg, and the Rutger Bregmans of this world.
Thankfully there are some (now) famous brands doing incredible things. They give me hope that it’s not all about greed but about sustainable practices and generally giving back.
But once again this audience is already well aware of them. (Patagonia Yawn)
Perhaps less famous but doing incredible work seeking out inequities in the supply chains (Justin Dillon) and working hard to create different economic models and business models (names) that do not seek to serve the few but the many.
I’ve long been on a journey to create change at the source and by that I mean education. I certainly do not mean schools and the educational systems of the western world which I find culpable. I hate being general about such statements because there’s amazing work and great teachers within the school system.
But frankly speaking, children are being taught the wrong things for the wrong reasons. Until that changes and we go back to something more closely associated with ethics and morality fairness and equality then I will keep doing everything I can. DON’T GET ME STARTED ABOUT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM!
I always help each individual that comes across my desk. GIVE BACK
The Starfish
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking up and gently throwing things into the ocean. Approaching the boy he asked,
“Young man, what are you doing?”
“Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die,” the boy replied.
The man laughed to himself and said, “Do you realize there are miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make any difference.”
After listening politely, the boy bent down to pick up another starfish and threw it into the surf. Then, he smiled at the man and said, “I made a difference to that one.”
As we prepare to re-enter, what insight, wisdom, or question would you like to share with us? (2 mins)
Xxxxxx
https://bio.site/nicoleyershon
Questions & Answers
1. If we could do a flypast on any part of the world that is significant to you, which place, city or country would it be and why? (1 min)
CUBA
Havana
Japanese word for it - wabi sabi - (is a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection.[2] The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of appreciating beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" in nature)
It is a place full of contradictions - extremely well-educated people, money spent on education and health, yet they are so extremely poor in wealth, yet the place is loud with music, literally dancing on the streets. Stopped us in our tracks. Sad that we spent 6 hours in a car with someone taking us to Vinalis - super smart man, fabulous conversation and when we he came with us to come back to our hotel to have a coffee on the rooftop, the guards WOULD NOT let him in! It broke all our hearts. Literally, couldn’t comprehend it
2. Give us a glimpse into your life story so far with an emphasis on what you are doing currently? (3 mins)
Privilege with a really strong WORK ethic that came from my parents. Speak your mind, NO LIES, which bred courage, and face consequences for actions and learn from them.
FIRST JOB - age 13, selling blouses on a stall at petticoat lane market - up at 5.30 and on the tube every Sunday!
WORK ETHIC - Mum story of saving my rent and giving it back to me
MY KIDS - Me then doing something similar with my kids with child allowance - value
INSPIRATION - Dad being an inspiration - a true meaning of the word Entrepreneur
https://www.nicoleyershon.com/mike-yershon
I was an Intrapreneur - working in corporate yet an entrepreneurial skills
https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/view-dave-trott-dont-need-thinkers-need-doers/1357686
NOW - the intrapreneur is now an entrepreneur.
What it didn’t prepare me for was covid and stopping for the first time in my working life… what are you doing. ‘Nothing’ but I wasn’t doing anything.
3. Where on earth is your place of reset or recharge? (1 min)
RE-CHARGE, RE-SET - Our home, in London, although London is our base, we love to travel - but it is always amazing coming home. Spent 6 weeks ‘working from anywhere’ in NYC 5 weeks ago and it was the most amazing feeling to be home - the minute i walk through the door and throw the balcony doors open - we are overlooking the Thames and on a Saturday, it’s a treat to go for a walk, buy an almond croissant, bring it back, John makes the best coffee to dip the croissant in while sitting on our balcony. There is something about being that close to the water, it’s extremely calming, especially hearing the waves, as we overlook a ‘cut’ on the Thames - called lime kiln. Always so grateful
4. What wonder of the natural world excites you the most? (1 min)
WATER - I’ve always wondered why we spend so much on space and exploring other planets and yet 70% of our planet is made up of water… why are we not exploring other ways to live in, under the water? Humans haven’t explored it enough, just really ruining it with our waste!
AIR TRAVEL - I’m always so grateful for air travel, if it wasn’t for that we would not have experienced the most amazing places on this planet. Always somewhere to explore. Vietnam was a country that excited me, from top Hanoi to bottom, ho chi min city - it was like stepping onto another planet. For my Xmas/birthday present in Dec 2019, we had a trip planned to explore Japan. Then covid kicked in. So May 2020 was canceled, may 2021 canceled, and may 2022 canceled - so fingers crossed we are able to go next year 2023!
5. What is your story of hopefulness (not your own) about a person, business or non-profit who are doing amazing things for the world? (3 mins)
ROUGH DIAMONDS My son Max - was about to be expelled from school every week, I went head to head with his head teacher, sent him Sir Ken Robinson talks and Seth Godin blog posts and anything I could find about ‘really seeing the child’ - not churning them out like a sausage factory. Finding a ‘translator teacher’ Mr Wilson - Max turned it around and passed his exams, deputy head boy, university, got a first, now the most amazing man - just keep going and listen to what you really feel to be right. It takes courage to fight any system.
Max inspired me to set up The Rough Diamond programme at Ogilvy Labs 15 years ago. To find kids like Max who are about to be expelled, yet are super smart, just not academically smart or able to go through the system. Catch them early enough and change their lives…. A sliding doors moment
EDUCATORS & NEW WAYS OF DOING THINGS,... CHANGE - I have hope for those ngo’s or companies who see education as so important to change how it is for many who are not able to go through the ‘system’ yet are so entrepreneurial and need to be seen/believed in and respected
On board of creative conscience - result as to the work i was doing with rough diamond, and also ideas college -
6. As we prepare to re-enter, what insight, wisdom or question would you like to share with us? (2 mins)
SKILLS - Patience is a new skill and the ability to slow it down. Covid taught me that
The power of saying yes.. And then allowing for serendipity to flow.
From Yuval Noah Harari’s book - The best advice I can give a 15-year-old is: don’t rely on the adults too much. Most of them mean well, but they just don’t understand the world.
You don’t know what you don’t know, so when you do know - learn from it
Daily journal writing
So many more words of wisdom in my book called Rough Diamond: Turning description into advantage
