Show notes
Jay Acunzo is an award-winning podcaster and dynamic keynote speaker. Before creating the popular podcast show Unthinkable, Jay was a digital media strategist at Google and head of content at HubSpot. But realized he was unhappy, and that this highly sought-after path was simply not for him. This experience sparked an interest in intuition and unconventional thinking that we explore in this episode. On the show, Jay discusses why our intuition plays a huge importance in our happiness and well-being. Everyone has unique experiences and unique perspectives, which means that the status quo may not always be the best path for us. But it’s not about trusting your gut or following a muse. It’s about using self-awareness to empower ourselves to do more. You have infinite access to the tools that reveal what direction you will find most fulfilling and meaningful in your work, so use your intuition and unconventional thinking to get yourself there. Key Takeaways: [1:35] How does Jay personally define intuition? [3:10] How did Jay first get introduced to the subject of intuition and unconventional thinking? [4:10] When working for Google, Jay felt like he was not unleashing his full potential there. He was unhappy and searching for more. [5:20] What makes everybody different is their intuition; the ability to think for themselves, and that’s the key to how they can unlock their full potential in life. [5:35] There are infinite roads and paths you can choose from. You don’t have to rely on conventional wisdom for you to figure out ‘What’s next?’ [6:15] With the increase in technology and how-to videos, the focus is no longer on expertise. It is on self-awareness. We need to be conscious of which direction we need to take in this fast-paced world. [7:15] How can we be better at becoming more self-aware? [8:55] How does intuition help you be more productive? [9:45] Does Forrest remember the formula for calculating the slope of a straight line? [11:50] What’s so wrong with following the best practices/traditional advice in your business? [14:45] Use conventional thinking and the status quo as a jumping off point, but it should never be considered the solution. Everybody’s case is different. What works for them, might not work for you. [15:15] How important is looking at beyond your social circle for inspiration and new solutions? [18:40] How does Jay figure out if an idea is worth pursuing? [23:30] Why did Jay decide to create a podcast? [27:30] What has been Jay’s favorite episode so far? [31:15] What does Jay’s daily routine look like? [34:15] How does Jay like to structure his Evernote notebooks? [36:50] Who inspires Jay? Learn More: Unthinkable.fm Unthinkable.fm — Grado Labs Unthinkable.fm — Merriam Webster Sorryformarketing.com Jay on LinkedIn Deathwishcoffee.com Tettra.co Trello.com Calvin and Hobbes Anthony Bourdain