Magic in the Room #151: Values: Becoming an Impactful River with Guest Wendy Togami
June 6, 2023
In this episode of Magic in the Room, Luke and Chris sit down with guest Wendy Togami to talk about how individuals, families, and organizations can live their values. Wendy introduces us to a metaphor of values as river banks. The banks keep the water flowing with direction and momentum. Without values to guide our lives, we can end up more like a puddle, which is unfocused and does not have an impact.
Listen now on your favorite platform!
Find Wendy on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/wendy-togami-34a810268
Credits:
- This episode of Magic in the Room was recorded at goroguestudio.com
- Music by Evan Grim. Find his music on
Apple Music
In this episode of Magic in the Room, Luke, Hannah, and Chris explore the lessons, transitions, and leadership insights they’re carrying forward into 2026, emphasizing the importance of narrowing focus, letting go of resistance, and aligning with natural rhythms to create meaningful momentum. They discuss how personal and professional growth often emerges through periods of chaos and transition, highlighting themes such as intentionality, subtraction as a multiplier, and the courage required to release control, certainty, and outdated habits. Drawing on their work with purpose-driven organizations, they explain how leadership transformation begins internally, noting that organizational change is inseparable from personal development and mindset shifts. They also explore how embracing disturbance, addressing root causes instead of symptoms, and cultivating hope rather than cynicism can unlock resilience, stronger culture, and long-term performance.
In this episode of Magic in the Room, Luke, Hannah, and Chris delve into the timely topic of hope versus cynicism in leadership, particularly in a world rife with uncertainty and negativity. The discussion focuses on whether hope alone is sufficient for transformational leadership or if, in environments steeped in cynicism, leaders must amplify their energy and intentionality, sometimes matching the intensity of cynics to move organizations forward. They examine the "hope recipe," which involves envisioning a better future, creating a pathway, and having agency. They also discuss the difficulty of maintaining agency when systems, culture, or fatigue threaten to sap it. They differentiate between strategically "letting go" and simply "giving up," emphasizing the importance of support, accountability, and self-awareness as antidotes to cynicism.