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TED Talks Daily

Sunday Pick: Why you should get good at being bad | Fixable

15 Jun 2025

Description

Sometimes the only way to win is by finding the courage to lose. This week, Anne and Frances want you to “dare to be bad” in order to free up capacity to excel at more important things. They share insight on the power of strategic “no”s, the value of ruthless prioritization, and how Steve Jobs and Apple delivered breakthrough innovation by strategically underperforming. Frances explains why you can’t always trust your own instincts, and Anne reflects on the lessons she learned in her early days of parenting. What problems are you dealing with at work? Text or call 234-FIXABLE or email [email protected] to be featured on the show.You can find transcripts for Fixable at ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcriptsFor a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch.Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:TEDNext: ted.com/futureyouTEDSports: ted.com/sportsTEDAI Vienna: ted.com/ai-viennaTEDAI San Francisco: ted.com/ai-sf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Audio
Transcription

Full Episode

7.102 - 25.414 Elise Hu

Hey, TED Talks Daily listeners, I'm Elise Hu. Today, we have an episode of another podcast from the TED Audio Collective handpicked by us for you. If you're feeling a little mediocre at something at work, consider this. That could actually be the key to succeeding at something else.

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25.394 - 47.875 Elise Hu

In this episode of Fixable, business leaders Anne Morris and Francis Fry dare listeners to be bad in order to get good. Using Steve Jobs and Apple as an example, Francis and Anne share insights on why phoning in certain things at work isn't lazy, but rather exactly what you need to do to excel where it matters most in your life and career.

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48.175 - 65.965 Elise Hu

Whatever you're dealing with at work, Fixable is there to help. Listen to Fixable wherever you get your podcasts. And if you've got a problem that you want fixed, call our hotline at 234-FIXABLE. That's 234-349-2253 to leave Anne and Frances a voicemail with your workplace problems.

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76.711 - 85.734 Anne Morriss

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to a brand new season of Fixable from the TED Audio Collective. I'm your host, Anne Morris. I'm a company builder and leadership coach.

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86.055 - 91.108 Frances Frei

And I'm your co-host, Frances Fry. I'm a Harvard Business School professor, and I'm Anne's wife.

91.477 - 113.44 Anne Morriss

Happy New Year to all of our fixtures out there. We missed you desperately, and we could not be more excited to be reunited today. We have so many great episodes in the works. We can't wait to share them with you. And in the meantime, please keep sending us questions so we can keep answering them on the show. And let us know if you want to join us to solve some problems together.

113.62 - 134.201 Anne Morriss

Really, this is our idea of a good time. We're at a point in our lives where we are not fighting it anymore. No more. So Frances, to kick off this season of possibility and new beginnings, we wanted to explore an idea that you and I are really passionate about, which is that we all must have the courage to be bad at some things.

134.782 - 151.304 Frances Frei

It sounds like it's a path to mediocrity or a path to laziness. But the truth is we need to make sacrifice in one area in order to make progress in another. And so we want to be as intentional about that which we're going to be great at as that which we're going to be bad at.

151.765 - 156.334 Anne Morriss

Yeah, this is insight that got you tenure at the Harvard Business School.

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