Blog

Have you ever felt stuck in the “originality trap”? It’s when you’re afraid to innovate because you think someone else has already done it or done something similar enough that it would seem like copying.

No one wants to be a copycat or a plagiarizer. But there’s an important distinction here: the difference between “inventive success” and “creative death.”

The writer David Perell talks about how the best way to improve any skill is first to imitate and then innovate. You don’t just start crea…

One of my favorite books of 2021 was April Rinne's Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change. I was thrilled to have April on The Virtual Campfire for a deep and energizing conversation (have a listen).

Being adaptable and flexible have always been hallmarks of effective leadership and fulfilling life. But in a world with so much change and an ever-faster pace of change, flexibility and resilience can be stretched to their breaking points. So the quest becomes how to find calm and las…

Rebellion means going against the flow. To rebel is to be authentic and true to yourself, and it is in this we find success on our own terms. Tony Martignetti sits down to interview corporate rebel Shelley Paxton on what it means to go against the flow. Shelley shares her journey from teenage hell-raiser to corporate superstar and her true, authentic self. Insightful and joyful, let Shelley's message inspire you on your own path.

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Listen to the podcast here:

Rebel Your Way Towards Your A…

"If we remain humble and grounded in nature's wisdom, our mind will guide us safely through the confines of unawareness and the blindness of ignorance." – Erik Pevernagie

Have you noticed how the concepts of leadership extend to all aspects of life? I love exploring the world and what I have come to realize is that a great travel experience requires what I call "Grounded Leadership."

There are scheduling complications, language challenges, and cultural customs to navigate. Those who can't adap…

Success doesn’t just mean hard work. To truly succeed you need a great mindset and the skills for success. Tony Martignetti talks skills development and success with Mark Herschberg, author, speaker and fractional CTO. Mark describes his journey towards success, starting from lessons learned in MIT to the A-ha! moment where he realized how important soft skills are in many aspects both professional and personal life. Tune in to learn and be inspired by Tony and Mark as we sit around the virtual …

"I have seen such beauty as one man has seldom seen; therefore will I be grateful to die in this little room, surrounded by the forests, and the sound, the sound of green." – Edward James

In the subtropical rainforest in the Sierra Gorda mountains of Mexico is one of the most unusual gardens you can imagine. It is called Las Pozas ("the Pools"), and it is the manifestation of a dream by Edward James, the Surrealist sculptor, art patron, and poet. It includes more than 80 acres of natural waterf…

Embracing limitless possibility also means embracing failures. Here to shed light on how you can become limitless and live your best life is Laura Gassner Otting. Laura is a renowned author, speaker, media personality, and executive coach helping entrepreneurs, change agents, and industry leaders push past doubt that hinder great ideas. In this episode, she shares insights from her latest book, Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life, which debuted at No.…

Okay, raise your hand if you love conflict. Amazingly, there are always a few people out there who do. Most of us avoid conflict because it feels uncomfortable, damaging, and emotionally unsafe.

Some people welcome conflict because they know that healthy conflict can be a catalyst for brilliant collaborations, creativity, and growth.

If we look at the work of one of my favorite teachers… nature, it is clear that friction is a necessary part of evolution. Baby chickens would die if they didn’t …

What comes to your mind when I say the words Die Empty? Whenever you think about death or dying, it is hard not to feel the weight of the words. So when I picked up Todd Henry's book, Die Empty: Unleash Your Best Work Every Day, many years ago, I was immediately intrigued by the idea that thinking of death can move us into action, to start working now towards creating an impact. Die Empty is a tool for people who aren't willing to put off their most important work for another day because we even…