Vince Chan
speaker
6,989 appearances
347 recordings
1 series
first heard Nov 2024
last heard Jun 2025
Vince Chan’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.
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Appearances
Hi, everyone. Welcome to our show, Chief Change Officer. I'm Vince Chen, your ambitious human host. Our show is a modernist community for change progressives in organizational and human transformation from around the world. How many people do you know who actually walk into a public restroom and leave it cleaner than they found it? I do. And so does the wife of our guest.
Like me, she does it because she wants to leave it better for the next person. So who is our guest today? Is Monty Wood, author of the book called Generosity Wins and the former CEO of Opus Agency, a creative branding partner for some of the world's most influential brands.
Monty has worked directly with legends like Mike Benioff of Salesforce, Andy Gross of Intel, Steve Jobs, John Chambers of Cisco, and Andy Jassy of Amazon. From these leaders, his own mentors, and his mother, Monty has learned what generosity truly means, why it matters and how to apply it to life and career to become more successful, happier and healthier. Curious to find out more?
We made a two-part series for you. Yesterday, in Part 1, our last episode, we looked into Monty's personal experiences, his definition of generosity, and why he believes so strongly in practicing generosity as a habit. Today, Part 2, we'll explore what isn't generosity. why practicing generosity can be challenging in today's world, and how to nurture generosity-centered mindset.
If you are still skeptical about how generosity can lead to success, join us for this conversation. We'd love for you to be part of the discussion. Let's get started. I have a couple of follow-up questions. You shared why generosity is important, your definition, what it means, and some real examples from people you've worked with.
But on the flip side, I'd like to hear about what isn't generosity. In your career, you've worked with a lot of leaders and teams. What are some behaviors or attitudes you've seen so far that you would say are the complete opposite of generosity Maybe things that shrug you as really rude. I think understanding the flip side would be helpful for listeners.
giving them a clearer perspective on what generosity isn't. It might even help them recognize, identify, and avoid those less generous behaviors in their own actions or interactions. Could you share some of those not so generous examples?
If you could stand on top of a mountain and shout to the world, telling everyone how essential it is, not just as a concept, but as a life approach that can truly change your life, make you happier, and bring more fulfillment, then why aren't more people embracing it? In your experience, why do you think we've lost the art of generosity? I have my own theory, but I'd love to hear yours.
What's gone wrong in a society that some of us have either forgotten about it or never developed the skill at all?
Looking at it from human nature. Greed is one of our seven deadly sins, as they say. We even got a movie called Seventh. Brad Pitt, wasn't it? While there's a lot that could be said about that, I would rather focus on how our present reality has impacted generosity. First off, Social media has changed how we see and interact with the world.
It affects how we conduct ourselves, often emphasizing superficial connections over genuine connections. Mainstream media adds an outer layer, often with their own agenda. pushing certain narratives that can cloud our judgment, especially around elections or other high-stick events. Independent journalism is wailing, and we're left with these biased perspectives shaping the way we think.
Then there's this trend of idolizing successful tech founders, especially among younger leaders. They see people raising millions, building billion-dollar companies, and assume they need to emulate every behavior to reach that level. But as you pointed out, even Steve Jobs though he had a clear purpose, wasn't known for his kindness in the workplace.
It's as if some tech founders believe they have to be ruthless to be successful, ignoring that generosity and empathy are just as essential to leadership and success. And this brings us to a big misconception with technology. Connectivity does not equal connection. We think that having friends or followers means we are connected, in quotation. But that's not true.
Real connections are much deeper and more meaningful. People text family members in the same house rather than having a face-to-face conversation. In offices too, I hear stories from friends who say, back in the day, we just turned to the person next to us to chat. Now, even when two people are seated beside each other, one would send a message instead of speaking.
All this technology has left us disconnected as human beings. And without real connection, the idea of giving generously without expecting anything in return becomes wearer. This disconnect is a big factor across all cultures and why generosity is harder to come by today.
It seems to me that you are an optimist. You are hopeful about the impact of generosity in the world. Despite the challenges we've discussed, you genuinely and passionately want to help people become more generous. You share insights, you write, you publish books to get the message out there. Would you say that's accurate? That you believe we can still build a more generous society?
One where leaders and individuals alike can grow to be more generous, happier, and ultimately more successful?
For everyday people, not just leaders or influencers, what advice would you give on cultivating a generosity mindset in daily life? How can we become more conscious of generosity and move beyond the mindset to make it a habit? So it shows up consistently in our actions and behaviors. Any practical tips for building this habit?
Yes, I actually add to that. I think it's really beneficial to use a notebook and pen instead of typing on your phone. Studies show that the act of writing by hand helps with analyzing, filtering, and clarifying thoughts, which can really benefit mental health. So I assume you're suggesting actual writing, not just typing on a laptop or phone?
Yes, and about using the phone, I actually go a step further, jotting things down on my phone, but eventually I transfer it into a physical notebook. I know there's tech now that lets you write digitally and it saves to a notebook file. But I still enjoy the actual human art of handwriting. Writing really makes a difference.
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