Violent Positivity: Doing Extraordinary Things with What You Have Right Now

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Episode 10 (Aug 26) - Guest: Doug Slocum "Violent Positivity: Doing Extraordinary Things with What You Have Right Now"

Retired Brigadier General Doug "Odie" Slocum reveals how to inspire rather than intimidate your team while maintaining impossible standards.

Episode Description

Ever feel like you have to choose between being demanding and being positive? Retired Brigadier General Doug "Odie" Slocum, who commanded 5,000 personnel at the largest National Guard base in the country, proves that's a false choice. In this powerful conversation, you'll discover his "violent positivity" leadership philosophy and learn why positivity isn't a personality trait—it's a cognitive choice you make multiple times every day. This episode is essential for any leader who wants to raise the bar without burning people out.

Key Takeaways

• Positivity is a cognitive choice you make multiple times every day, not a natural personality trait
• The Hawthorne Effect: When you tell people they're good, they think they're good, act like they're good, and get better
• Three people who are 90% accurate working together with proper supervision create an error rate of less than 1 in 1,000
• There's a critical difference between being direct and being derogatory—you can maintain high standards without tearing people down
• The continuum of harm principle: Where on the spectrum of acceptable behavior do you draw the line? The answer is zero tolerance

Resources Mentioned

• "Violent Positivity: A Fighter Pilot's Journey" by Doug "Odie" Slocum - violentpositivity.com
• join.othersoverself.com - Free community for ambitious leaders
• Hardcore and At Ease Framework and T.A.R.G.E.T. methodology

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This Week's Reflection Question

What would change if you made positivity a conscious choice instead of waiting to feel positive naturally?

Connect With the Show

• Join the Others Over Self® community: join.othersoverself.com
• Work with Shelly: [email protected]
• Follow on social: @OthersOverSelf • @TheShellyRood

Next Episode Preview

Ambition Alignment: When Personal Drive Meets Organizational Reality - If your heart doesn't align with where your workplace or organization is headed, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview

01:04 Leadership Philosophy and Writing Journey

07:54 Commanding General Insights and Core Values

23:46 Directive Leadership and Personal Examples

25:40 Zero Tolerance and Organizational Values

31:01 Teamwork, Positivity, and Leadership Lessons

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