Aug. 13, 2025

035: "What If You Led Like You Liked People?" ft. Sam Bennet

035: "What If You Led Like You Liked People?" ft. Sam Bennet
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In this deeply human, laugh-out-loud insightful conversation, Erik sits down with the brilliant and hilarious Sam Bennett—actress, writer, leadership coach, and improv-trained creativity wizard. They explore the subtle power of curiosity, how theater prepares us for leadership, and why treating people like you actually like them is the secret to better business and better life.

Together, they unpack how creative problem-solving isn’t just for artists, how improv is a masterclass in self-trust, and how to navigate high-stakes conversations with grace, humor, and impact.

👤 About the Guest

Sam Bennett is the author of multiple bestsellers including Start Right Where You Are and Get It Done. She’s also a powerhouse course creator with over 2 million students on LinkedIn Learning and an improvisational theater veteran from her early days at Second City. Sam’s work helps people move from chaos to clarity by activating their creativity and deepening their leadership presence—without the burnout.

🧭 Conversation Highlights

  • How Sam’s time at Second City shaped her leadership lens
  • The difference between being funny and being present
  • Why you don’t need a “good” idea—you just need an idea
  • The underused magic of improv for teams, parents, and CEOs alike
  • Sam’s one-line business book: “Treat them like you like them.”
  • How to navigate hard conversations with calm, curiosity, and kindness
  • Why theater is one of the best trainings for leadership available
  • The subtle difference in tone that changes the impact of your words

💡 Key Takeaways

  • Improv is leadership training: Learning to respond without a script builds real-time adaptability and authentic presence.
  • Creativity ≠ artistry: Everyone is creative—creativity is simply solving problems in a way only you could.
  • Presence beats perfection: Listening well and showing up fully often matter more than having the “right” answer.
  • Disarming tension starts with curiosity: Replace defensiveness with questions, and you’ll often shift the whole energy.
  • Service jobs teach emotional intelligence: Everyone should spend time in customer service—it’s where empathy, patience, and presence get forged.

❓ Questions That Mattered

  • “What if you just treated them like you liked them?”
  • “What would you do if you were me?”
  • “What happens when we stop trying to be impressive—and start trying to be present?”
  • “How do highly creative people make decisions?”
  • “What if creativity isn’t about having the best idea—but about building something together?”

🗣️ Notable Quotes

"Treat your clients like you like them. Treat your business like you like it. Treat yourself like you like yourself.” — Sam

“You don’t have to have a good idea to write a book. You just need to have an idea. The good part will emerge through doing.” — Sam

“Health is flow. Love, information, breath, blood, money—it all needs to move.” — Sam

“Anything you do just for the money is never worth the money.” — Sam

“You don’t need to have the right answer. You need to have the right presence.” — Erik Berglund

🔗 Links & Resources