Stephen Shapiro

Audiobook Preview Video!

Stephen Shapiro — Tue, 19 May 2026 15:10:14 +0000

The audiobook is available!

And here is a cool video created by the production company, John Marshall Media.

The book is available globally in all audiobook stores, including Audible.

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Eric Clapton’s Impostor Syndrome…Before It Had a Name

Stephen Shapiro — Tue, 19 May 2026 14:51:15 +0000

Did Eric Clapton experience “impostor syndrome” years before it even had a name?

I was listening to American Top 40 from May 13, 1978, when Casey Kasem’s fill-in host shared a fascinating story about Eric Clapton.

Back in January 1973, Clapton kept a packed audience at London’s Rainbow Theatre waiting 45 minutes past showtime.

Why? His nerves got the best of him.

According to the broadcast:

“In show business, it’s a psychological fact of life that the bigger a star becomes, the more insecure he gets…. It’s as though the individual is thinking, ‘How can I possibly be as talented as people are telling me I am? It just can’t be true.’”

The host then shared this quote from Clapton:

“I’m thought of as a lead guitarist, and that’s not me. I’m just an unskilled laborer musician who finds it difficult to get in tune, let alone play lead guitar solos.”

The story continued:

“Once in 1973 at the famous Rainbow in London, a packed house was waiting to hear Clapton play, and they had to wait 45 minutes past showtime while Eric sat outside in his car, too uptight and too insecure about being able to deliver. Finally, he got his head together, went into the club, walked out on stage to a standing ovation, and proceeded to bring the house down with his brilliant playing. When he finished, the audience brought him back for four encores.”

Of course, there’s more to the story.

According to accounts from the time, Pete Townshend and others organized the concert to help bring Clapton back into the public eye and encourage him to overcome his drug addiction. So this wasn’t simply insecurity or what we now call impostor syndrome.

Still, it’s fascinating.

The term “impostor phenomenon” was only coined in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in their paper, “The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women.”

Yet years earlier, one of the greatest guitarists in history was sitting in his car, wondering if he was good enough.

The video contains the audio from the American Top 40 broadcast if you are interested in listening…

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Audiobook Available

Stephen Shapiro — Fri, 15 May 2026 01:55:05 +0000

Do you like to listen to your books?

You’re Not Playing with a Full Deck is now available as an audiobook.

And at just $6.95, it’s currently the least expensive way to experience the book.

Get your copy on Audible.

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Some Poker Magic!

Stephen Shapiro — Tue, 12 May 2026 20:30:51 +0000

Some fun magic!

In Personality Poker, one of the core concepts is that opposites don’t attract. They detract. They repel.

The card trick in this post brings that idea to life.

But there’s a twist: with the right structure, even opposites can work together to create something new.

Enjoy!

Learn more about Personality Poker here

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Invisible Solutions Handdrawn Infographic

Stephen Shapiro — Tue, 12 May 2026 20:27:54 +0000

I recently gave a 2.5-hour session on how to find the hidden opportunities in every problem.

In attendance was a graphic artist, Nate Dailey from Collective Next Graphic Facilitation Support, who captured the content beautifully.

Although I have been promoting my Personality Poker game and the You’re Not Playing with a Full Deck book, for many clients, my work on Invisible Solutions is one of the most powerful concepts available on problem-solving in an AI world.

Get your copy of Invisible Solutions here

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Paperback or Hardcover? Dust Jacket or Case Laminate?

Stephen Shapiro — Mon, 04 May 2026 21:42:44 +0000

QUESTION: Paperback or hardcover?

I just received the proof for the hardcover edition of “You’re Not Playing with a Full Deck.”

It looks great. This version does not have a dust jacket. The artwork is printed directly on the cover, which is called case laminate.

My previous books were all hardcovers with dust jackets. This book started as a paperback, but for clients and special orders, I wondered if the paperback might feel a little too flimsy. Not quite substantial enough.

So I’d love your opinion.

When you buy or receive a business book, which do you prefer?

Paperback
Hardcover with dust jacket
Hardcover without dust jacket, case laminate

I know there are other options, like clothbound or leather, but for now I’m deciding between these three.

Thanks!

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Why Smart Teams Still Fail (podcast)

Stephen Shapiro — Mon, 04 May 2026 13:00:15 +0000

Having smart people isn’t enough in today’s hyper-speed market.

In fact, it can be the problem.

I once led a $30M innovation project at Accenture that failed, not because of a lack of talent, but because everyone thought the same way.

No contrast. No tension. No breakthroughs.

That failure led to a simple idea built around a familiar metaphor: a deck of cards.

Four suits. Four thinking styles. Four roles in the innovation process.

Not everyone thinks the same way, and that’s the point.

In my conversation with Andy Kaufman, we explored:

Why unanimous agreement is a warning sign
How strengths can become liabilities when overused
Why the people who drive you crazy may be the ones you need most

If you want stronger collaboration and better results, you need to play with a full deck – and listen to this podcast episode.

Listen to the podcast here.

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Opposuits Don’t Attract

Stephen Shapiro — Fri, 01 May 2026 13:00:05 +0000

As you probably know, I have a fun card game called Personality Poker and a book called You’re Not Playing with a Full Deck.

When I give speeches, I sometimes wear a very cool shirt or sports coat. You can see the coat in this picture.

My sports coat doesn’t just have cool playing cards on the outside. Maybe this makes it a “suit” jacket.

The lining has some very appropriate features.

The lining is purple, which aligns perfectly with my brand.

But more interesting is the brand name: OPPOSUITS.

In Personality Poker, I talk about how “opposites don’t attract.”

But it would be more accurate to say, “opposite suits don’t attract.”

Or better yet, “opposuits don’t attract.”

I wish I had thought of using this brand when I first created Personality Poker in 2005. The clothing line wasn’t formed until 2012. Oh well.

P.S. The image of me has been AI-enhanced to put me in a casino. I thought that would be more fun.

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Between the Lines on PBS

Stephen Shapiro — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:00:57 +0000

My second book, Goal-Free Living, was published in 2006.

Not long after, I had the chance to appear on the PBS television show, Between the Lines with Barry Kibrick.

Barry is one of the best interviewers out there. Over the years, he’s sat down with incredible minds like Ron Howard, Ed Asner, Ridley Scott, Robert Greene, Walter Isaacson, and Neil deGrasse Tyson, among many others.

I was fortunate to be one of his guests. I hadn’t seen this interview in nearly two decades, until now. Barry recently shared it on his YouTube channel

I hope you enjoy it.

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Hardcover Now Available

Stephen Shapiro — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:04:00 +0000

When I first released You’re Not Playing with a Full Deck, I intended it only to be available as a paperback.

The hardcover was going to be reserved for special clients.

But I had quite a few people request the hardcover, so I decided to make it available on Amazon.

Get your copy today!

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