Denver: We’re going to do a Take Five with Paul Zak, the author of The Trust Factor: The Science of Creating High-Performance Companies. Are you ready, Paul?
Paul: Ready to go.
Denver: What should we be worried about?
Paul: Each other.
Denver: What is one of your favorite documentaries or movies?
Paul: Oh gosh, I just saw Dunkirk.
Denver: What is today’s most under-reported story?
Paul Zak
Paul: The care we show for each other.
Denver: is there something really weird or unsettling that happens to you on a regular basis?
Paul: Yeah, when I travel, I can sleep anywhere, like on the floor.
Denver: What is something you believe that other people think is just insane?
Paul: That the world is getting better and better.
Denver: Some organization or person that you have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for?
Paul: Oh gosh. There’s so many. I’m delaying. Personal or organization — The Dalai Lama.
Denver: Tell us an interesting part of your morning ritual?
Paul: I don’t get dressed. I go right to my desk with a robe.
Denver: What is the most important thing that makes for a healthy organizational culture?
Paul: Love.
Denver: What did you change your mind about in the last 10 years and why?
Paul: Oh, four thousand different things. I changed my mind when evidence accumulates, so I’m a hardcore scientist.
Denver: When was the last time that you were voluntarily disconnected from all your devices?
Paul: Two days ago in the Andes in Columbia.
Denver: If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be?
Paul: A spatula. I want to flip.
Denver: What do you wish more people would be open and honest about?
Paul: Their feelings.
Denver: If you were to start your career all over again and do something completely different and away from this field, what would that be?
Paul: Landscape architect.
Denver: What is your super power?
Paul: Love is my super power.
Denver: If you can have one gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, what would it say?
Paul: I love this! It would have my face and say, “Call me for help”, and there will be no number.
Denver: What is something, whether it’s related to your work or not, that you’re really excited about at the moment?
Paul: I hate to play this card, but my kids are the most extraordinary human beings on the planet.
Denver: What are you currently reading right now?
Paul: I am reading a book about undercover agents in the US, FBI, who are weeding out terrorism. A fascinating book.
Denver: Other than anything that you’ve authored, what one book would you give as a gift?
Paul: Oh gosh, I’ve given so many books as gifts. A book called Revenge, A Story of Hope.
Denver: What topic would you speak about if you were asked to give a TED talk on something completely outside your main area of expertise?
Paul: Oh, I did give a TED talk. I would talk about how weird humans are and that world so much more interesting.
Denver: What is something about you that very few people know?
Paul: I have ginormous feet.
Denver: Given the choice of anyone famous in the world, dead or alive, that you could invite over as a dinner guest, who that be?
Paul: I’m a huge George Washington fan, I’ll say George Washington.
Denver: What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?
Paul: Keep grinding away.
Denver: Finally, do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?
Paul: Oh that’s a good one. My algorithm for an effective life is something I call love plus. So, every interaction I have, I try to add love into the world. So, I want to make people around me happier, and I think if we do that, then we ourselves will also be happy.
Denver: Fantastic. Thank you so much, Paul.