Ep. 230: Jason Harris - The Art of Soulful Persuasion

Persuasion is not a word we hear often, but the reality is that we all find ourselves in acts of persuasion throughout each day. We use persuasive tactics in our interactions with family, co-workers, neighbors, and strangers without even realizing it. If you want to be more persuasive, empathetic, generous, and understanding in your relationships, you don’t want to miss today’s show.
Jason Harris is CEO of the award-winning creative agency, Mekanism, co-founder of the Creative Alliance, and author of the national bestseller, The Soulful Art of Persuasion. Jason works closely with brands through a blend of soul and science to create provocative campaigns that engage audiences. Jason has been named in the Top Ten Most Influential Social Impact Leaders, as well as the 4A’s list of “100 People Who Make Advertising Great.” His methods are so effective that they are studied in cases at Harvard Business School. 
How to stand out in business
Do you need a different approach to your business? Jason’s book contains a unique approach, and the feedback he’s received shows that people have responded well to his ideas. Many have adopted Jason’s actionable principles and turned them into action steps for their own success. Jason doesn’t just state abstract theories for people to follow, but he gives habits and examples to be put into practice that can truly make a difference. The book is original and authentic in every way, which stays true to Jason’s values. He explains that to stand out in your business, you have to lead with originality and vulnerability. 
TWEET: Turn actionable principles into action steps for success! @jason_harris #chasingdreams
Live with generosity
Are you a generous person? What Jason means by leading a life of generosity is to give something away with every interaction and to leave someone better off for having crossed paths with you. Advising, counseling, and sharing can all be part of generosity as you let someone know that you are thinking of them and care about their interests. Generosity can be shown in giving a gift to someone, but Jason challenges people to think of it in less tangible ways. He explains how it’s been the hardest thing for him to learn, but being generous has helped him be successful because people are drawn to generous people. These “things” you give away will come back to you with compounded interest. Being open enough to ask for favors and help is another form of generosity, as demonstrated by the Ben Franklin effect, which Jason explains in detail. 
TWEET: Give something away with every interaction and leave someone better off for having crossed paths with you. @jason_harris #chasingdreams
What the world needs now is . . . empathy
Would you call yourself an empathetic person? Even though, as humans, we are 99.9% the same as each other, empathy seems to be in very short supply in today’s world. Empathy is developing a natural curiosity for others, along with listening and understanding people more. We don’t often know and understand the micro experiences that contribute to people’s beliefs and opinions about certain issues. Once we know their back story, we can better understand why they think or act the way they do. That is empathy, and it takes more time and effort than judging people quickly and painting everyone with a broad brush. Jason explains that another part of empathy involves collaboration, which is reaching out to others and asking for help when you need it. 
TWEET: Once we know someone’s back story, we can better understand why they think or act the way they do. @jason_harris #chasingdreams
Guest Recommendation: ONE action step for a dream chaser to take-”Be a dream chaser.”
OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE:
[0:04] Jason’s book and his viewpoint on persuasion
[4:00] The reception to Jason’s book
[9:57] The importance of the stories within us
[15:10] The importance of generosity
[18:45] The Ben Franklin effect
[21:37] The principle of empathy...

Persuasion is not a word we hear often, but the reality is that we all find ourselves in acts of persuasion throughout each day. We use persuasive tactics in our interactions with family, co-workers, neighbors, and strangers without even realizing it. If you want to be more persuasive, empathetic, generous, and understanding in your relationships, you don’t want to miss today’s show.

Jason Harris is CEO of the award-winning creative agency, Mekanism, co-founder of the Creative Alliance, and author of the national bestseller, The Soulful Art of Persuasion. Jason works closely with brands through a blend of soul and science to create provocative campaigns that engage audiences. Jason has been named in the Top Ten Most Influential Social Impact Leaders, as well as the 4A’s list of “100 People Who Make Advertising Great.” His methods are so effective that they are studied in cases at Harvard Business School. 

How to stand out in business

Do you need a different approach to your business? Jason’s book contains a unique approach, and the feedback he’s received shows that people have responded well to his ideas. Many have adopted Jason’s actionable principles and turned them into action steps for their own success. Jason doesn’t just state abstract theories for people to follow, but he gives habits and examples to be put into practice that can truly make a difference. The book is original and authentic in every way, which stays true to Jason’s values. He explains that to stand out in your business, you have to lead with originality and vulnerability. 

TWEET: Turn actionable principles into action steps for success! @jason_harris #chasingdreams

Live with generosity

Are you a generous person? What Jason means by leading a life of generosity is to give something away with every interaction and to leave someone better off for having crossed paths with you. Advising, counseling, and sharing can all be part of generosity as you let someone know that you are thinking of them and care about their interests. Generosity can be shown in giving a gift to someone, but Jason challenges people to think of it in less tangible ways. He explains how it’s been the hardest thing for him to learn, but being generous has helped him be successful because people are drawn to generous people. These “things” you give away will come back to you with compounded interest. Being open enough to ask for favors and help is another form of generosity, as demonstrated by the Ben Franklin effect, which Jason explains in detail. 

TWEET: Give something away with every interaction and leave someone better off for having crossed paths with you. @jason_harris #chasingdreams

What the world needs now is . . . empathy

Would you call yourself an empathetic person? Even though, as humans, we are 99.9% the same as each other, empathy seems to be in very short supply in today’s world. Empathy is developing a natural curiosity for others, along with listening and understanding people more. We don’t often know and understand the micro experiences that contribute to people’s beliefs and opinions about certain issues. Once we know their back story, we can better understand why they think or act the way they do. That is empathy, and it takes more time and effort than judging people quickly and painting everyone with a broad brush. Jason explains that another part of empathy involves collaboration, which is reaching out to others and asking for help when you need it. 

TWEET: Once we know someone’s back story, we can better understand why they think or act the way they do. @jason_harris #chasingdreams

Guest Recommendation: ONE action step for a dream chaser to take-”Be a dream chaser.”

OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE:

[0:04] Jason’s book and his viewpoint on persuasion [4:00] The reception to Jason’s book [9:57] The importance of the stories within us [15:10] The importance of generosity [18:45] The Ben Franklin effect [21:37] The principle of empathy [30:09] We don’t hear to listen [31:02] Soulfulness [39:02] The writing experience [41:38] ONE action for a dream chaser

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Jason’s Twitter

Jason’s Instagram

Jason’s LinkedIn

For a Sneak Peek of Jason’s Book: The Soulful Art of Persuasion

Purchase The Soulful Art of Persuasion on Amazon!

Watch the Episode on YouTube 

TWEETS YOU CAN USE:

Storytelling is part of being an original person. @jason_harris #chasingdreams 

We are all in moments and acts of persuasion all day long. @jason_harris #chasingdreams 

You can learn the principles of being a master influencer by repeating them. @jason_harris #chasingdreams

To be successful in business, you have to let your uniqueness and vulnerability stand out. @jason_harris #chasingdreams