Anecdotally Speaking Shawn Callahan & Mark Schenk

Reducing waste increases the efficiency of raw material use. But can we all agree that scraping mould off food product prior to packaging may be a little beyond the pale?



Shawn and Mark discuss the relevance of this story to: understanding the difference between efficiency and cost cutting, short 'single point' storytelling, the retelling factor in stories with disgust, and the importance of avoiding abstraction in your stories.

A governance and accountability story. Welcome to the Anecdotally Speaking podcast!

Visit our website for more captivating stories and business insights!

https://www.anecdote.com/



In this episode, our hosts Shawn Callahan and Mark Schenk kick off the 2024 season of the show!

The episode features a cautionary story about Nick Leeson, an infamous investment trader for the Queen’s bank (Barings) who traded them into bankruptcy.

Expect to learn:



* The devastating story leading to the bankruptcy of England’s oldest investment bank

* The importance of governance and accountability

* The impact of high risk investment trading

* The vital difference between talent and luck



And…much more!

Links and References: 



Nick Leeson story 

Shawn Callahan on LinkedIn 

Mark Schenk on LinkedIn 



Come say hi on our social Medias! 



LinkedIn Page 

Instagram 

Twitter 

Facebook



Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash

For your story bank

Tags: governance, internal control, trust, accountability, trader, bankruptcy

This story starts at 04:09 and ends at 10:39



This business story is centred around the downfall of Barings Bank in the 1990s. The bank’s Singapore office, led by the young and successful Nick Leeson, initially thrived with a doubling strategy, turning profits. However, Leeson’s high-risk trades led to substantial losses hidden in an obscure account. The lack of oversight and accountability within the bank’s governance allowed the losses to accumulate, ultimately resulting in the bank’s bankruptcy in February 1995.

The takeaways from this story include: the importance of governance, trust, accountability, and the fine line between talent and luck in the financial world.

Welcome to the Anecdotally Speaking podcast!

Visit our website for more captivating stories and business insights!

https://www.anecdote.com/



In this episode, our hosts Shawn Callahan and Mark Schenk celebrate the 200th episode of the show!

The episode features an inspiring story about Ross McDonald, a former accountant who found unexpected success in the barbecue industry.

Expect to learn:



* The inspiring journey of the Weber Kettle Barbecue in Australia

* The importance of customer experience

* The impact of perspective on identifying opportunities

* The vital role of curiosity in recognizing patterns for success



And…much more!

Links and References: 



Ross McDonald story 

Shawn Callahan on LinkedIn 

Mark Schenk on LinkedIn 



Come say hi on our social Medias! 



LinkedIn Page 

Instagram 

Twitter 

Facebook



Photo by Harry Knight on Unsplash

Two explorers from the northern hemisphere set out to be the first to reach the South Pole – Roald Amundsen of Norway and Robert Falconer Scott of England. Their expedition planning, team, equipment and transport selections could not have been more different.

Shawn and Mark discuss the relevance of this story to: corporate culture, knowing your limitations, hand picking your teams and the impact of clear, singular goals on success.



Welcome back to a new Anecdotally Speaking episode.

For your story bank

Tags: workplace culture, know your limitations, teams, goal setting, planning

This story starts at 01:25 and ends at 06:29



Early 1900s – Race to reach the South pole

Robert Falconer Scott UK v Roald Amundsen Norway

Amundsen already traversed South West Passage

Time among Inuit – dogs, skiis, clothing

Scott naval officer – royal appointment

Both commence missions early 1910

Amundsen single focus > pole and back safely

Planning food > eat penguins, then the sled dogs… eeuw!

Amundsen encounters bad storm early – retreats and tries again later

Amundsen reaches pole Dec 11 1914

Not so well for Scott…

Multiple objectives and ‘noble’ mission

Ponies and motorised sleds – die and breakdown – party left to continue on foot

Inadequate food supply

Scott arrives at South Pole one month after Amundsen

On Scott’s return, get to within 12 miles of supply depot, but…

All die in their tents – exhaustion, frostbite, malnutrition

Culture

Know your limitations – learning via immersion

Keep it simple

Get the local knowledge

Hand pick your team

Clear, singular goal >

Too many objectives/stakeholders is dangerous

The importance of planning

Disgust in this story – penguins, then dogs > horror

People from Hartlepool UK are known colloquially as ‘monkey hangers’ – a moniker that stems from the Napoleonic Wars of the 1800s. But this story is about a larrikin mascot in a monkey suit making mayor and breaking records…

Shawn and Mark bring these disparate (but related) stories together to illustrate some business points around seizing the day, fact being stranger than fiction, and judging books by their covers.



Welcome back to a new Anecdotally Speaking episode.

For your story bank

Tags: Risk taking, Leadership, Seize the day, Opportunity

This story starts at 01:42 and ends at 07:48



Napoleonic wars – French v British

Ship Wreck Hartlepool

Only survivors was a monkey

Brits had never seen a monkey or Frenchman before (assumed monkey was french!)

Tried and hanged the monkey as a French spy

Hartlepool folks now known as ‘monkey hangers’ (based on legend?)

Fast forward to the 1999

Local Hartlepool footy club find monkey mascot in Stuart Drummond

Bit naughty, but endearing

Bribed township with bananas for votes

For a lark, ran for mayor and won not once, but thrice

A British record, world recognised

Big turnaround for the larrikin

Can’t judge a book by it’s cover

An opportunity to lead might be just what/all that you need

Fact is stranger than fiction

Seize the day

Australian champion swimmer Kieren Perkins barely qualified for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and only just made the final for the 1500 metre event

Shawn and Mark discuss how extraordinary ‘turn-arounds’, under promising and over delivering, and reduced expectations of self can sometimes lead to world class moments



Welcome back to a new Anecdotally Speaking episode.

For your story bank

Tags: Kieren Perkins, adversity, turn-around, inspirational, under promise, over deliver

This story starts at 01:03



Kieren Perkins 1996 – Superfish

Prep for Atlanta Olympics

Daniel Kowalski ‘up and comer’ tipped for gold

K’s form slumped personal and health problems. Past his prime, self-talk was pretty ‘has been’

400 (world record holder)/800 metres didn’t qualify > only for 1500 m

Scrapes heats into the 1500 m final

Lane 8 – “same water as everyone else, give it a crack..”

Increased his lead with every lap throughout race

Led the whole race and won by 7 seconds and 20 metres

ahead of second placegetter

Things don’t always turn out the way you planned

Adversity (and taking the pressure off) can inspire amazing performance