The Dan Nestle Show: 113: How Communications Brings Purpose to Life with Michael Morris

113: How Communications Brings Purpose to Life with Michael Morris

Sep 17, 2023

In this episode, Dan reconnects with a former colleague and marketing communications collaborator, Michael Morris. A world traveler who has spent his career putting purpose at the forefront of everything he does, Michael recently co-founded Denmark-based Engagement Lab, an advisory firm specializing in behavioral insights, brand building, competitive positioning, and strategic communications – and focused exclusively on businesses in the green transition.

Dan and Michael dig into the importance of purpose and serendipity in career decisions as they explore Michael's fascinating story. Early in his career, during a stint in Ghana that didn't go according to plan, Michael realized that being a communicator gave him a unique role in bringing purpose to life, not just for himself but for his company and colleagues as well. His later work with World Vision propelled him on a purpose-driven path that continued through his work at MHI Vestas Offshore Wind, helping improve the lives of others through strategic communication.

Through their conversation...

Discover the road to fulfillment and maximum impact in your career, guided by purpose and authentic communication.
Uncover the value hidden in networks and mentorships and how they unlock doors to personal and professional growth.
Grasp the transformative power of empathy in fostering genuine relationships, elevating marketing communications to new heights.
Understand the game-changing role of energy transition and sustainability in setting new standards for careers and businesses.
Delve into the fascinating interplay between AI and the writing landscape, highlighting the tightrope balance between creativity amplification and preservation.

Notable Quotes:

“It’s important for us to recognize poignant moments when they happen.” – (8:21), Michael
“Every person that you meet is a whole new door to who knows what else.” – (11:00), Dan
“I choose to believe that things happen for a reason because if only because then I’m more aware of when things happen and who I’m meeting with.” – (17:44), Michael
“Let’s make sure that we’re doing our best to have continuity between the internal experience and the external messaging.” - (37:08), Michael
“Because of tech, you don’t have an internal announcement and an external announcement, you have an announcement.” – (40:40), Michael
“Your work is made better by cultivating and integrating your peripheral interests.” – (1:00:07), Michael
“AI doesn’t care about the truth.” – (1:09:00), Michael

About Dan Nestle

About Michael Morris

The key moments in this episode (as generated by my AI buddy, Capsho) are:

00:00:00 - Introduction,
00:00:19 - The Power of Purpose,
00:04:14 - Michael's Journey,
00:08:30 - Working with Purpose,
00:15:12 - The Heartbreaking Reality in Sub-Saharan Africa,
00:16:50 - Embracing Serendipity and Openness,
00:19:42 - The Power of Storytelling in Communications and Marketing,
00:21:08 - The Superpower of Connecting Dots and Cultivating Empathy,
00:26:15 - Engagement Lab: Facilitating Connection and Empathy,
00:31:22 - Overview of Communication Scope,
00:32:47 - Communication Challenges in the Energy Transition,
00:33:27 - Identifying Needs in the Energy Transition Space,
00:35:05 - Importance of Founding Values and Employee Engagement,
00:36:23 - Internal Communications and External Messaging,
00:47:31 - Dealing with Impatience and Inspiration,
00:48:24 - The Ambivalence of Gen X,
00:49:39 - Embracing a Balanced Approach,
00:51:51 - The Long-Term Nature of the Energy Transition,
00:54:02 - Acknowledging the Benefits of Power,
01:02:54 - Introduction to Barrett Road and its Agile Approach,
01:03:25 - The Impact of AI on Writing and Creativity,
01:05:34 - AI's Potential to Replace Writers and Artists,
01:09:15 - AI's Lack of Commitment to Truth and Connection,
01:13:30 - Embracing AI as a Tool and Making Writing More Efficient,
01:17:13 - The Power of Technology in Graphic Design and Artistry,
01:18:37 - Unleashing Creativity with AI,
01:19:44 - Experience and Career Advantages in the Age of AI,
01:20:31 - Connecting with Michael Morris and Engagement Lab,
01:21:29 - Gratitude and Encouragement

Timestamped summary of this episode (also presented as generated by Capsho):

00:00:00 - Introduction,
Dan Nestle introduces the podcast and his guest, Michael Morris, a strategic communications professional with a passion for purpose-driven work.

00:00:19 - The Power of Purpose,
Dan and Michael discuss how purpose can transform a career and bring fulfillment. They emphasize the importance of recognizing pivotal moments and connecting with instrumental people along the way.

00:04:14 - Michael's Journey,
Michael shares his journey from working in Ghana to traveling across Africa with World Vision. He highlights the impact of experiencing adversity and how it shaped his commitment to work with purpose.

00:08:30 - Working with Purpose,
Michael and Dan discuss the significance of purpose finding you rather than the other way around. They emphasize the importance of human-to-human connections and being open to opportunities for making a positive impact.

00:15:12 - The Heartbreaking Reality in Sub-Saharan Africa,
The guest discusses the heartbreaking stories of children dying from diarrhea in sub-Saharan Africa. He emphasizes the importance of addressing this issue and highlights the work done by World Vision. He also encourages listeners to support organizations like World Vision.

00:16:50 - Embracing Serendipity and Openness,
The conversation shifts to the concept of serendipity and the importance of being open to unexpected opportunities. The guest shares his belief that things happen for a reason and encourages listeners to recognize pivotal moments in their lives. This mindset is crucial for success in the creative field and helps in building connections and empathy with others.

00:19:42 - The Power of Storytelling in Communications and Marketing,
The guest explains how storytelling plays a vital role in communications and marketing. The goal is to persuade, convince, or change minds by using the power of story and imagery. Being open to connections and embracing serendipity is essential in effectively reaching and engaging with different audiences.

00:21:08 - The Superpower of Connecting Dots and Cultivating Empathy,
The guest discusses the superpower of connecting dots that others may not see. This ability to find connections is essential in the creative field and contributes to success. It is driven by empathy, which requires mental energy and the ability to put oneself in someone else's shoes.

00:26:15 - Engagement Lab: Facilitating Connection and Empathy,
The guest introduces Engagement Lab and

00:31:22 - Overview of Communication Scope,
The guest explains that their communication services are broad but limited to engagements that include upfront research. Their specialization is in the energy transition sector.

00:32:47 - Communication Challenges in the Energy Transition,
The guest highlights the communication challenges faced by energy transition companies, such as assuming everyone believes in their mission without considering the need for effective communication and understanding of alternative solutions within the renewables industry.

00:33:27 - Identifying Needs in the Energy Transition Space,
The guest emphasizes the tremendous need for effective communication within the energy transition sector, especially for rapidly scaling companies. They discuss the strain on culture, values, and internal communications as businesses grow.

00:35:05 - Importance of Founding Values and Employee Engagement,
The conversation explores the significance of founding values and employee engagement in growing firms. Companies need to ensure continuity and alignment between internal culture and external messaging to maintain employee satisfaction and trust.

00:36:23 - Internal Communications and External Messaging,
The guest discusses the importance of internal communications and how they influence external messaging. They stress the need for consistency and alignment between the internal experience and the external image portrayed to stakeholders.

00:47:31 - Dealing with Impatience and Inspiration,
The conversation explores the dilemma of balancing impatience and inspiration in the face of climate change. It discusses the need for companies, leaders, communicators, and marketers to be inspirational while counteracting people's impatience about the state of the world.

00:48:24 - The Ambivalence of Gen X,
The hosts discuss their generation's ambivalence towards various issues but acknowledge the importance of passionate individuals working in renewable and climate change-related industries. They emphasize the need for these individuals to see the bigger picture and the importance of focusing on specific areas and products to effect change.

00:49:39 - Embracing a Balanced Approach,
The conversation emphasizes the importance of living with urgency and passion, while also maintaining a pragmatic view of the technology and practicalities involved in the energy transition. They highlight the need to blend the inspiration of environmentalists with the knowledge and understanding of technology experts.

00:51:51 - The Long-Term Nature of the Energy Transition,
The hosts discuss the reality that the energy transition is a long-term process rather than an overnight fix. They acknowledge the need for political action to accelerate the transition but emphasize that it requires time, investment, and a willingness to explore and embrace multiple solutions.

00:54:02 - Acknowledging the Benefits of Power,
The conversation acknowledges the historical benefits of power and energy in improving people's lives, despite the negative environmental impacts. They highlight the need for a cleaner and

01:02:54 - Introduction to Barrett Road and its Agile Approach,
Michael Morris discusses Barrett Road, a family business known for its tight-knit group and agile approach in client engagements.

01:03:25 - The Impact of AI on Writing and Creativity,
Michael shares his thoughts on how AI technology, such as Chat GPT, is impacting the writing process. He believes that while AI can enhance writing, the journey of exploration and creativity is what truly makes writing powerful.

01:05:34 - AI's Potential to Replace Writers and Artists,
The question of whether AI will replace writers and artists is explored, with different opinions ranging from full replacement to AI being a tool for augmentation. Michael leans towards the idea of humans staying in control of the writing process for a more meaningful connection with the audience.

01:09:15 - AI's Lack of Commitment to Truth and Connection,
Michael highlights the importance of truth and empathy in writing and how AI lacks the commitment to these aspects. He emphasizes the human-to-human connection and engagement that good writing brings.

01:13:30 - Embracing AI as a Tool and Making Writing More Efficient,
While acknowledging the benefits of AI in enhancing writing skills and accessibility, Michael suggests finding a balance between using AI as a tool and maintaining the journey of research and personal growth that comes with writing. He encourages writers to embrace AI while still staying in control of the process.

01:17:13 - The Power of Technology in Graphic Design and Artistry,
The guest expresses his surprise at the quality of work produced by AI tools like Mid Journey and Dolly, despite not having a background in graphic design. He highlights the potential for these technologies in the energy transition and cautions about the need for fact-checking.

01:18:37 - Unleashing Creativity with AI,
The guest shares an example of how Chat GPT was used to discuss the carbon credit controversy in Shakespearean style, showcasing the creative possibilities of AI. He emphasizes the importance of humans in competing with AI and hopes that these technologies won't displace people in the value chain.

01:19:44 - Experience and Career Advantages in the Age of AI,
The guest acknowledges that his and the host's experience and position in their careers protect them from being displaced by AI. He encourages others to find ways to compete with AI and expresses hope for the future.

01:20:31 - Connecting with Michael Morris and Engagement Lab,
The host provides information on how listeners can connect with Michael Morris on LinkedIn and mentions the upcoming launch of the Engagement Lab website. He encourages readers to explore the work of Engagement Lab in the energy transition.

01:21:29 - Gratitude and Encouragement,
The guest expresses his gratitude for the conversation and praises the host for incorporating different elements of his life into the podcast. The host reciprocates the appreciation and encourages listeners to subscribe and leave reviews.

*Notes were created by humans, with help from Capsho, my preferred AI show notes assistant.