Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. This week, we celebrate 150 episodes of Say It Skillfully® with Molly’s brilliant friend Bruce Kasanoff, who shares his journey, learning to take initiative and succeed in a wide variety of fields (and even be selfish). Eventually, he became one of about 125 original LinkedIn influencers, and excelled writing about “how to do well by doing good” and “bring humanity back into business.” He’s settled into where he truly feels at home—as a co-creator and ghostwriter. Growing up in Boston, very unhappy with his surroundings, Bruce recalls “giving up” after 6th grade and coasting through high school. He opens up about the confusion he felt hearing his parents say “You can do anything you put your mind to”, but seeing them stuck in their lives. He believes their early deaths are partly attributed to this feeling of entrapment. At the same time, he recognizes how the unconditional love they showed him gave him the freedom to try and fail and eventually succeed. Bruce shares the 30 seconds that changed his life: a few sentences from a production manager compelled him to take initiative for the first time, moving up from $3/hour stage crew, to crew chief! This also created one of his first “say it skillfully moments”, in which a friend clued Bruce into his “bossy” side. Bruce is amazed that four decades later, it’s still hard to find the right words in uncomfortable situations. In another great example of initiative, Bruce tells the story of a time at WGBH/Boston in which he bet on himself and went to his boss’s boss’s boss (yikes) to escape from his current role (it ends well). Bruce gives us a rundown of his work across many different fields, and how after finding success as an original LinkedIn influencer, he followed his heart and settled in as a co-creator—helping to magnify the talent of talented people. Don’t miss Bruce’s “far and away best lesson he’s ever learned”— intelligence is having something valuable to say, but much more importantly, knowing what’s valuable to different people. Mastering this concept has helped set Bruce apart from others in all channels of his life. Raising 3 kids, Bruce talks about the ups and downs of this hectic family life and regrets, including situations where he wishes he showed more empathy for the desires of others. Bruce inspires all to know no boundaries and to commit to taking action so that all can be safe, seen and heard, and our true and best selves. Molly’s thought for the week, inspired by Bruce: “Be yourself, but not obsessed with being yourself.” Visit Bruce’s website and LinkedIn page for outstanding life and business tips, newsletters and more!: https://kasanoff.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kasanoff/ Molly’s brand-new Say It Skillfully mini course: https://bit.ly/3SgwLaS
