People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast Podcast By Andy Kaufman cover art

People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast

People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast

By: Andy Kaufman
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 Welcome to the People and Projects Podcast, where we provide interviews and insights to help you lead people and deliver projects. Since 2009, this show is brought to you by speaker, author, and executive coach Andy Kaufman. If you're looking for insights on project management, leadership, and how AI influences both of those, you've come to the right place! And if you hold a project management certification, you can even earn free PDUs for listening!(c) 2001-2025 Institute for Leadership Excellence & Development Inc. Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • PPP 459 | Redefining Success: Why IQ Might Not Matter as Much as You Think, with Adrian Kelly

    PPP 459 | Redefining Success: Why IQ Might Not Matter as Much as You Think, with Adrian Kelly
    May 9 2025
    Summary

    In this episode, Andy interviews Adrian Kelly, author of The Success Complex: Ancient wisdom, the building blocks of life and your path to sustained success. Drawing from history, behavioral science, and personal stories, Adrian offers a compelling redefinition of what it means to succeed. From his humble academic beginnings to building international ventures, Adrian brings a unique perspective on resilience, motivation, and identity.

    They discuss why IQ may be overrated and how something Adrian calls the “Point Guard Quotient” might better predict success. The conversation dives into increasing your luck, avoiding de-motivation, managing identity through career changes, and maintaining balance in a high-achievement world. They also explore practical lessons from the Challenger disaster and how small changes in communication can shape results.

    If you’re looking for insights on redefining success, building motivation, and leading with awareness and impact, this episode is for you!

    Sound Bites
    • “We overestimate talent and underestimate persistence.”
    • “Opportunity doesn’t waste time with the unprepared.”
    • “People want to help people who help themselves.”
    • “You don’t fall off a cliff overnight—you drift one day at a time.”
    • “Avoiding de-motivation is often more important than sustaining motivation.”
    • “Sometimes the drawback isn’t a setback—it’s a setup for a better path.”
    • “Nobody traps us quite like we trap ourselves.”

    Chapters
    • 00:00 Introduction
    • 01:07 Start of Interview
    • 01:18 What from your early life shaped your view of success?
    • 07:12 How much does IQ influence success and what’s the 'Point Guard Quotient'?
    • 11:52 What can we learn about success from the Challenger disaster?
    • 14:03 What do you mean by avoiding de-motivation to sustain motivation?
    • 18:57 What do you mean by a tangled identity and how has that affected you?
    • 27:05 Is it possible to increase your luck? If so, how?
    • 30:41 How do biases and communication styles affect our opportunities?
    • 33:48 How can we balance the drive to succeed with well-being?
    • 39:34 Why is autonomy and attention so important for success?
    • 43:39 As parents, how can we prepare our children for success?
    • 47:00 End of Interview
    • 47:30 Andy Comments After the Interview
    • 53:49 Outtakes
    Learn More

    You can learn more about Adrian and his work at AskMore.ie.

    For more learning on this topic, check out:

    • Episode 458 with Elizabeth Lotardo about finding joy and meaning in your current job.
    • Episode 402 with Eduardo Briceño about developing a growth mindset.
    • Episode 283 with Tom Rath about success, meaning, and legacy.
    • Episode 261 with David Epstein about his book Range and embracing diverse career paths.

    Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

    Talent Triangle: Power Skills

    Topics: Leadership, Project Management, Motivation, Identity, Career Transitions, Communication, Decision Making, Bias, Wellbeing, Autonomy, Attention, Personal Growth, Success

    The following music was used for this episode:

    Music: Echo by Alexander Nakarada
    License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

    Music: Energetic Drive Indie Rock by WinnieTheMoog
    License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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    55 mins
  • PPP 458 | Dreading Monday Mornings? How to Find Joy in the Job You Already Have, with author Elizabeth Lotardo

    PPP 458 | Dreading Monday Mornings? How to Find Joy in the Job You Already Have, with author Elizabeth Lotardo
    May 1 2025
    Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Elizabeth Lotardo, author of Leading Yourself: Find More Joy, Meaning, and Opportunities in the Job You Already Have. Drawing on insights from her book, Elizabeth shares a practical and empowering framework for navigating the everyday challenges that can drain energy and joy from our work lives--things like imperfect bosses, lethargic coworkers, and overwhelming workloads. The conversation explores how we often start a role with excitement, only to find ourselves disengaged over time--and what we can do about it. You’ll learn the key differences between purpose and passion, how to counteract unhelpful workplace narratives, and what it looks like to reclaim agency in frustrating situations. Whether it’s dealing with difficult stakeholders, receiving feedback, or rethinking your career path, Elizabeth offers tangible strategies for finding value and fulfillment in the job you already have. If you're looking for ways to lead yourself better, rediscover meaning in your work, and take more ownership of your day-to-day experience, this episode is for you! Sound Bites “Purpose has a drastically more significant impact on how we feel about the work than passion does.”“If you're not waking up super hyped about something, that's OK!”“You're always in control of your own response--even in soul-sucking meetings.”“This is my chance. It's a mindset shift to reframe interruptions and annoyances into opportunities.”“Sometimes all you need is 15 seconds of insane courage.”“When we default to negative assumptions at work, we dig ourselves into ruts that are hard to escape.”“Just give your brain a moment to articulate: What if it went awesome?”“Being invaluable means having great value in a variety of situations--not being stuck as the only one who can do a specific task.”“You are never powerless. That's a sentiment I hope stays with my son.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction02:24 Start of Interview02:34 What Sucks the Joy Out of Our Jobs?03:49 The Difference Between Purpose and Passion05:34 Coaching People to Understand Their Purpose08:08 What Is a Ripple Effect or Impact Map?09:23 Workplace Lies and Breaking Out of Mental Ruts12:17 How Elizabeth Deals With Feeling Trapped in a Rut13:26 Balancing Risk and Opportunity15:43 The Power of 15 Seconds of Courage16:47 Reframing Challenges with “This Is My Chance”19:21 Handling Difficult Meetings and Draining People22:59 The Indispensable vs. Invaluable Mindset24:48 How Our Identity Gets Entangled With Our Job25:58 What Feedback Taught Elizabeth About Growth29:19 Lessons About Identity and Self-Worth at Work30:39 Helping Kids Learn They’re Never Powerless32:52 End of Interview33:20 Andy Comments After the Interview38:52 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Elizabeth and her work at ElizabethLotardo.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 437 with Nada Sanders about future prepping your career in the age of AI.Episode 318 with Jon Stepper about his book Working Out Loud.Episode 213 with Christopher Avery about his book The Responsibility Process. Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Leadership, Self-Leadership, Motivation, Purpose, Passion, Agency, Feedback, Mindset, Career Development, Meaning at Work, Workplace Culture, Decision-Making, Project Management The following music was used for this episode: Music: Imagefilm 034 by Sascha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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    42 mins
  • PPP 457 | Virtual Communication Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making, with Andrew Brodsky

    PPP 457 | Virtual Communication Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making, with Andrew Brodsky
    Apr 25 2025
    Summary

    In this episode, Andy talks with Andrew Brodsky about his new book, Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication. The discussion covers key topics, such as the impact of typos, the use of emojis and exclamation points, and the importance of timely responses.

    Andrew highlights the pros and cons of different communication mediums, offering evidence-based recommendations on when to use email versus meetings, and the benefits of cameras on or off during virtual meetings. Practical advice is given on mimicking language to build trust, improving small talk to enhance virtual hallway interactions, and preparing younger generations for successful virtual communication.

    If you're looking for insights on how to lead and more effectively when you're not face-to-face, this episode is for you!

    Sound Bites
    • “Regardless of whether you work from home, the office, hybrid, anywhere in between, we're now all virtual communicators.”
    • “When you're writing an email, try to read the message in the opposite tone you intended.”
    • “The shorter meetings are and the fewer participants there are, the more engaging they are.”
    • “If it's a new relationship and you're trying to build trust, you're probably going to want your camera on.”
    • “Sometimes a 30-second text can build more team cohesion than a full hour of meeting time."
    • “We assume the recipient wants a response a lot quicker than they do.”
    • “Typos in angry emails made the person seem angrier, and in happy emails made them seem happier.”
    Chapters
    • 00:00 Introduction
    • 01:39 Start of Interview
    • 01:56 Andrew's Personal Story and Research
    • 03:16 Defining Virtual Communication
    • 04:53 The P of Ping: Perspective Taking
    • 08:15 In-Person vs. Virtual Communication
    • 11:14 Meeting Dynamics and Camera Use
    • 16:09 Email Urgency and Response Expectations
    • 21:34 Impact of Typos in Virtual Communication
    • 22:58 Understanding Typos and Ambiguity in Virtual Communication
    • 24:42 Using AI and Tools for Effective Communication
    • 25:47 The Rise of Voice Notes and Their Impact
    • 27:40 Emojis, Exclamation Points, and Language Mimicry
    • 30:04 Bringing Small Talk into Virtual Interactions
    • 32:48 Preparing Kids for Virtual Communication
    • 35:13 End of Interview
    • 35:40 Andy's Comments After the Interview
    • 41:42 Outtakes
    Learn More

    You can learn more about Andrew and his book at ABrodsky.com.

    For more learning on this topic, check out:

    • Episode 407 with Ben Guttman about his book Simply Put. It's an intriguing book on how to design clear messages.
    • Episode 332 with Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel about their book on virtual teams.
    • Episode 237 with Nick Morgan about his book on virtual communication.

    Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

    Talent Triangle: Power Skills

    Topics: Virtual Communication, Email Etiquette, Remote Work, Leadership, Team Cohesion, Productivity, Small Talk, Emotional Intelligence, AI Tools, Generational Differences

    The following music was used for this episode:

    Music: The Fantastical Ferret by Tim Kulig
    License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

    Music: Chillhouse by Frank Schroeter
    License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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    44 mins
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