Leverage Your Leadership

In the second half of Sylvia's conversation with Dr. Assegid Habtewold, the host of the TV show “Pick Yourself Up”.  The conversation around masterminds continues.  Sylvia shares with us how you know if you need a mastermind group and where to begin your search in looking for one.     :54 - How do you know what the right mastermind group is & how do you find it? Sylvia explains the first thing you need to think about before joining a mastermind is to answer the question: “do I need a mastermind group?”.  If you are unsure of the answer to that question then generally, the first sign that you need a mastermind is when you find yourself struggling. Whether that be the fact that you need to clarify your thoughts or you have an idea you want feedback on, even if you find yourself struggling to get things done at work.  These are all signs that you may need the support of a mastermind.    2:00 - Where to find mastermind groups?  Before you start your search for a mastermind group you need to sit down and do some internal thinking.    Ask yourself:  What type of mastermind are you looking for?  Where will you feel most comfortable?  What do you want from the mastermind?    Where to find masterminds: Look online for groups  Ask your network  Search around locally  Ask others like you  Social media - put a post out    4:08 - What are the main takeaways from your book, Internal Masterminds Sylvia?  Sylvia explains the main concepts inside the book: what is a mastermind, why you should be in one and what it can do for your career How do you create a mastermind or get into one  How facilitating a mastermind helps you grow your leadership    6:40- Sylvia's 3 Success Factors   Connecting with people who are different from you Fast is listening: be silent and listen.  People will tell you what you need to know.  Collaborate   11:20 - How to deal with setbacks?  Sylvia explains how she views setbacks. She focuses on the bigger picture and you will understand the situation you are in now, will pass.    Sylvia closes off the conversation by sharing her biggest tip.  You need to get out of your own stuff. Stop worrying about what you think you need to be doing and who you need to be around and just get out there. Get out into the world and move forward! Connect with Sylvia Henderson Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviahenderson/     Connect with Dr. Assegid Habtewold LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/assegidhabtewold/ Pick Yourself Up Show: https://www.mmctv.org/programs/pick-yourself-up/ Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

On this week's podcast episode we have chosen to share part 1 of Sylvia's - MindTeam Solutions CEO - conversation with Dr. Assegid Habtewold, the host of the TV show “Pick Yourself Up”.  “Pick Yourself Up is designed to inspire, inform, and equip immigrants, job seekers, and those who are experiencing continual setbacks in their personal life, relationships, profession, and/or business”.  Inside this episode, Sylvia discusses the power of masterminds and why they are important.    4:32 Why did you make the shift to masterminding from ideation?  Sylvia explains that there is a big connection between the two, people and ideas come together in many ways - Sylvia has chosen to make them come together in mastermind groups and create a business around that.    The goal was to figure out how people in companies can come together, share ideas and make companies more innovative & build culture. As this is Sylvia's passion, being able to bring this idea to life in a business sense and create a business around her passion has been a huge driving force.     6:05: The benefits of masterminding Sylvia breaks down the difference first between “masterminding” the verb: coming together of people and “mastermind” the noun, like a mastermind group — which is a small number of people who come together with a similar goal.  When you do this, you can gain other people's ideas and thoughts that are different from your own.     8:30: Whether you are a speaker or not, masterminding is beneficial  Getting together with other people is huge.  Success does not come alone and any business anywhere can benefit from working together and sharing ideas with each other in the form of a mastermind.  It's not a competition.  It is the outreach and connection that will propel your business forward.     10:03: Why is masterminding important now? We have just been through over a year of dealing with the pandemic. This means we have been isolated socially, this has affected our minds and bodies in so many different ways.  We as humans need to connect and feel connected to other people.  That's why now more than ever we need masterminds.     11: 40- What makes a mastermind group successful?  Sylvia leaves us with her top tips to make sure a mastermind group is successful:    Long-term, small groups Same people - builds trust  Facilitated Have an agenda  Regular - same time & date  Commitment Connect with Sylvia Henderson Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviahenderson/     Connect with Dr. Assegid Habtewold LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/assegidhabtewold/ Pick Yourself Up Show: https://www.mmctv.org/programs/pick-yourself-up/ Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

In the final installment of our conversation with Theresa Royal Brown the founder of Entrepreneur Professional Network and CEO of Premier Events Management, we dive deeper into our conversation around networking. In today's episode, we discuss where you will find networking opportunities and how you should conduct yourself when you meet them.   1:40 - Fear of being the only one - how to get past that? Theresa shares with us her top tips for this fear.  Her first tip that she believes is one of the most important is to take a minute, calm your nerves and walk into the room confident. Even if you don't feel that confident you must exude that confidence.   How can you do that?  Start by saying hello to others in the room, introduce yourself and ask them about themselves.  This will take the focus off of you. Remember, the goal is not to talk about ourselves but to ask & think about how we can help others.  3:55 - When it is applicable, share interesting facts about yourself.  This is a great way to find commonalities or even to open up the conversation to more discussion.  As you build discussion, you can build connections but in order to build connections, you have to be able to learn about others and open up those conversations to dive deeper into other's lives. Think about ways you can connect & stand out among others. 5:11 Seek out fellow loners  Strike up a conversation with those who are not in big crowds. It's easy to want to flock to where everybody is but instead try to find that person who is sitting alone.  This person may provide you with so much information and become someone that is very valuable to you.  7:40 - Listen first  It's crucial that you remember to listen first. As tempting as it is to just begin talking and continue, the value comes from listening. Pick up key facts about the other person and remember those things. The value of setting yourself apart from others is what will make sure you are remembered. You must set yourself apart from the competition.        Connect with Theresa Royale Brown Website- https://premiereeventsmanagement.com/ https://www.epnetonline.com/?fbclid=IwAR1F9aHmKrR5U76FotUtpZbmhD0GlmJjTpowncmGlLBvQV3HopztEc-O5yU LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresaroyalbrown/ Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/theresaroyalbrown/ Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

In the third installment of our conversation with Theresa Royal Brown the founder of Entrepreneur Professional Network and CEO of Premier Events Management discuss how developing good networking skills not only helps you in your career but also helps you to grow as a leader.   :13 - How does networking help develop leadership skills & how do these skills overlap? As many know, being a leader means that you have to be assertive, you have to push for change, do things others won't and learn to be bold. This overlaps with networking as when you network with others you must learn to be bold as well. You are speaking to people you do not know. By doing this, it helps you as a leader to begin to think outside the box & also receive outside the box thinking which is key to being a leader.  When you begin to start doing that internal networking, it forces you to change & really grow your thoughts & ideas.  As Theresa states, everything changes & as a leader you have to be able to change and adapt as well. By networking, you are opening yourself up to new ideas and ways to implement change.   3:12 - The more you do something, the more you master your craft  Networking is a skill. It is not a natural skill that we are all born with and that is something that a lot of people get wrong about networking. They believe they just can't network but that couldn't be further from the truth.  As Theresa explains to us, you can master networking simply by practicing it. The more you do something, the better you get.  5:21 - There are commonalities with everyone you met  Sometimes, it can seem overwhelming thinking about networking, but in reality, you can find commonalities with everyone.  There is always something you can talk about, whether it be your past schooling, jobs, the location you can find something. Which can make it less scary.  As mentioned earlier in the show, networking takes practice so if you can find a question and even if you ask that same question again and again that practice becomes a skill that becomes a habit and will turn into competency.   6:45 - Everything is changing As we all know, everything is always changing right now. That can sometimes bring around confusion and can lead others to feel as though they don't understand it and if you don't understand something you may run away from it — change is scary. Networking can be a tool to propel yourself forward and combat change. With this thought in mind, Theresa leaves us with her opinion on how she believes networking should be addressed in corporate situations and that is that companies should focus more energy on making sure employees are networking, with a focus on making employees network & interact with each other that can bring about more change.      Connect with Theresa Royale Brown Website- https://premiereeventsmanagement.com/ https://www.epnetonline.com/?fbclid=IwAR1F9aHmKrR5U76FotUtpZbmhD0GlmJjTpowncmGlLBvQV3HopztEc-O5yU LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresaroyalbrown/ Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/theresaroyalbrown/ Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

In the second part of our conversation with Theresa Royal Brown the founder of Entrepreneur Professional Network and CEO of Premier Events Management we dive deeper into our conversation around networking. In today's episode, we discuss where you will find networking opportunities and how you should conduct yourself when you meet them.     :01 - Do people need formal events to network or can impromptu situations pop up? It is often thought that in order to “network” we must be at an actual “networking” event. Theresa shows us that this couldn't be further from the truth.  Theresa explains that regardless of where you are, networking happens. Networking happens everywhere and we must be conscious of that and how we act.  Whenever we are, whether it be new places, common areas like a grocery store, or in an elevator, we have the potential to connect with people we don't know.  It's here that we begin to network. You never know who you may cross paths with & because of that, we must always put our best foot forward.    2:06 - This leads us to Theresa's next main point: you have to be nice to people all the time.   You never know what opportunities you may be presented with unknowingly.  It is the little compliments that can go a long way to helping you open a conversation.  A small compliment could open up a door to a conversation that excels your next career move. Never miss an opportunity to network.    Does this look different when networking internally in an organization?    When you are networking internally this may look like being nice to people in the hallway, talking to people on the elevator. Theresa has seen many people get jobs by doing these small things. Your personality will be the first thing that people see come through and help to open the door for you.     3:43 - The gatekeeper you must get to know at any company is the receptionist. Theresa explains how the receptionist at a company can become your biggest ally internally.  Treat them kindly & strike up a convo with them. When the time comes that their boss is looking for someone, you will stand out in their mind and that could make the difference between you getting looked at or overlooked. This goes back to Theresa's initial comment of making sure that you are nice to everyone.    4:52 - How can organizations help facilitate networking & building relationships within the organization?  Theresa emphasizes the value again of simply getting “back to the basics”.  There seems to be a trend of companies moving away from events that facilitate teammates connecting, such as a company BBQ, but really these events are quite valuable.  We need to incorporate more correspondence internally.  It's not just about networking, it comes down to having great relationships between employees, this includes zoom calls, telephone calls, internal messages and events if possible. In the end that is how you sustain & build great employees — collaboration over competition in culture.    7:20 - Remote workers & companies can still build that “culture of collaboration”.  While many companies are choosing to change the way their employees are working, allowing them the option to work remotely does not mean that you can not create a culture of employees who feel connected and valued and part of a team. Connecting via Zoom where you can have that face-to-face contact can provide valuable connections between a team. Moving away from just emails to more personal and face-to-face connections will serve your business & your team better.     Networking happens all around us, every day. It has no specific venue or timeframe, it is a constant in our everyday lives and Theresa emphasizes that we must treat all our connections as if they are opportunities to connect, learn and network.      Connect with Theresa Royale Brown Website- https://premiereeventsmanagement.com/ https://www.epnetonline.com/?

Theresa Royal Brown the founder of Entrepreneur Professional Network and CEO of Premier Events Management has focused her career around planning corporate & high-end events and teaches networking both internal and external. She chats to us today about the power of networking and why more than ever we need to be focusing on this core skill.    3:06: People don't know how to network the right way.   After being at a few different networking events one thing became blatantly obvious to Theresa...not many people know how to network “the right way”. This lead Theresa to create her signature class: “Networking Your Way Into Your Next Job”.  Inside this class, she teaches people in organizations how to network correctly. She aims to help people learn how to use networking to get that new position and move up the ladder internally,  all based around networking across multiple departments and internal groups.  One of Theresa's goals is to put a end to a trend we are seeing more and more inside companies: a lack of cross-communication between departments.  As Theresa states, “We stay in our own little cubicle - we don't meet anyone else.”    4:47  What is the biggest mistake you see in Networking?  Theresa begins by explaining to us the biggest mistake she sees while watching other's network at corporate events.  She calls it “Business Blocking”.  At its core, this involves a person interrupting a conversation when there are two people already engaged in one. This is a classic example of trying to network at the wrong time, by blocking a conversation and inhibiting it to go further.    How do you change this and “interrupt” properly? Theresa explains you must put yourself in the peripheral vision of the person you want to talk to.  Allow them to “feel you” near them.  If that person does not look at you, this signals to you they are heavily invested in their current conversation and this is not a good time. Simply walk away and come back later.  You must learn to follow the signals of others in order to network efficiently.    8:07 - While networking involves basic skills that we think everyone should know, we are finding the new generation doesn't know these things. We must begin to teach these skills & go back to the basics. Theresa explains that these are valuable skills that you need as a professional in order to advance your career, it is the little things that will help you to make the biggest moves.   10:30 - Networking can be intimidating if you feel as though you are more on the introverted side however Theresa explains networking is not intimidating because you are introverted, that is a common misconception. The reality is you need to learn the skills to network and you simply need to be given the tips and advice on how to do it properly. Regardless of what industry you are in, or your personality type, you can network successfully.    11:00- What makes internal networking different?  When you are internally networking you have to remember that the people you are networking with are ones that you see every day. Your etiquette should be the best it can be, you must be mindful of who you are talking to and what their position is in the business and understand that the conversations and questions you have internally while networking are much different than in another networking setting. While networking internally it is much more strategic than when you are at an external networking event.     15:35 The major benefits to networking internally  Theresa wraps up the first part of this conversation by explaining the biggest benefits to networking internally and why they can truly advance your career forward:    Able to generate some innovative ideas: new ideas come from collaboration Mix experience with freshness: we are in our own bubble we need a fresh perspective  Able to leverage your internal network and get some things done.  Collaborate to finish projects.

During the first installment of this two-part chat with Sylvia Henderson, futurist Joyce Giola illustrated how mental modeling and scenario planning form the backbone of her work. Looking through the lens of the COVID crisis, the speaker and corporate consultant explored the ways successful businesses navigate times of uncertainty. In the compelling conclusion to this conversation, Giola underscores the importance of investing in an organization's talent.   0:28 Holistic Healing In the wake of the many grand reexaminations characteristic of our times, Joyce Giola highlights the essential nature of ensuring their team members are equipped for change. Along with facilitating regular virtual group meetings, she implores organizational leaders to reach out to their employees one by one. A personal interest in your team member as a person has never been more important, as this moment provides a platform to assess all aspects of an individual path in life. This makes now the right time to reward those focused on creating a shared future.   2:28 Recognizing Reality A viable recovery from this ongoing crisis will require a sober look at the circumstances that surround us. Giola forms the foundation of her action plan on a number of reasonable assumptions, including the adequacy of current public health measures as well as the psychological comfort of team members. Only when these things in place can a full return to normalcy begin. Looking into the near-term future, Giola projects more spaced-out office settings as well as staggered shifts to bring maximum typical office capacity down.   4:24 A Dose of Truth Taking a sober view of the national recovery initiative, the futurist points to a few impossible to ignore factors. Businesses that are predicated on heavily trafficked indoor spaces, such as bars, restaurants, and hotels, will see significant logistical issues in returning to their pre-pandemic revenue levels. Other businesses that will be severely impacted over the coming months are those whose business model is predicated on entry-level employee compensation. This means that those organizations that work to make themselves actively attractive to talent will thrive.   5:48 Not Sharing is Caring For better and for worse, the gig economy is one of the pillars of life in the United States. Giola forecasts a significant slowdown in the business of sharing-based services such as rental cars, livery services, and instant hotels. She points to the added overhead that public health awareness brings to business owners in these industries, such as cleaning supplies as well as added packaging. She also questions whether consumers will be willing to shoulder the increased expenses involved with keeping shared public items sanitary for constant use.   7:13 No matter whether your company has two employees or two million, it will have to devise new answers to new questions. Giola advises organizational leadership to arm themselves with knowledge in these uncertain times. Her Herman Trend Alert delivers a wealth of keen insights on the direction of commerce, giving team leaders a powerful resource for contributing to a future compatible with enduring success. With one eye on employee engagement, and the other on sustainable development, we can gain and maintain a clear view of tomorrow's victories.     Connect with Joyce Gioia: Website: https://www.hermangroup.com/joyce_bio.html Twitter: https://twitter.com/joycegioia?lang=en Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

Futurist Joyce Giola's entire career hinges on her ability to see into the unknown with uncommon clarity. While her chosen title may evoke images of crystal balls and nebulous prophecies, Giola's work is actually driven by comprehensive analysis of hard empirical data. On today's two-part episode of “Think About It,” the speaker and consultant offers her practiced perspective on what comes next for organizations in a post-crisis world.   1:38 Beyond the Tea Leaves Asked to define the role of a futurist in the professional ecosystem, Giola emphasizes her focus on identifying trends. Dismissing those in her field who claim to offer “predictions,” she acknowledges the inherent impossibility of perfect accuracy in seeing what lies ahead. Instead, her goal is to create a forecast. By studying existing data, a futurist can form a spectrum of realistic projections and assist team leaders in making more effective decisions.   2:41 Twist of Fate Giola certainly could not have foreseen her destination at the forefront of corporate futurism. She recalls stumbling upon an entirely new career path during her time working for a consumer electronics review publication. Here, she quickly discovered that there was tangible value in credible projections. Applying her inspiration to coursework in future studies at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, she rapidly expanded her skill set. Time has only validated her decision to look forward, as her clients continue to rely on her expertise.   5:05 Mental Models Much of Giola's work hinges on her ability to extrapolate from incomplete information. Using a technique she calls “mind mapping,” she observes and understands potential outcomes of hypothetical scenarios. She speaks on her time collaborating on a project with the municipal government of Charlotte. As an exercise in multifaceted thinking, she split team leaders into groups. She asked one group to speculate on what could go wrong, and the other to imagine what could go right. In time, these exhaustive examinations yielded real-world benefits.   8:01 Sea Changes Along with the inevitable “wild cards” that may force us to alter aspects of our plans, there can also be events which can totally transform the nature of our aims. Instances in which an organization must completely reconsider their means as well as their ends are explored in a futurist's “scenario planning.” To illustrate this, she uses culture-shifts such as a massive ideological awakening or unknown health crisis as extreme outlying frames. By accounting for unknown unknowns when devising an action plan, flexibility gains its due importance.   10:59 The World of (Literally) Tomorrow Closing out the first segment of this two-part conversation, Giola offers some guidance for the business leaders of today still working to navigate a recovery. She advises team leaders to leverage any advantages that may have proven themselves viable during the crisis. For example, the individuals that make up an organization are coming off unprecedented time and space for consideration. The corporate futurist advocates creating spaces for talent to share insights that have bloomed from this fertile creative soil, building a competitive edge.     Connect with Joyce Gioia: Website: https://www.hermangroup.com/joyce_bio.html Twitter: https://twitter.com/joycegioia?lang=en Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

Even as many of her contemporaries wistfully gaze back at 2019, Joyce Giola's gaze toward tomorrow is unblinking. In the first installment of this two-part discussion, the acclaimed speaker and futurist took a hard look at the cascade of mismanagement that created our current crisis. In this follow-up segment, she explores a vision of a better future once the dust is finally settled. She also offers keen insight on what an America that lives up to its reputation might look like. 0:38 A Dose of Reality Part II of this conversation opens with further background on her industry-shaping Herman Trend Alerts. The latest editions spotlight the COVID response and recovery effort in the United States, which have yielded mixed results at best. On this topic, Gioia emphasizes that any enduring economic recovery must have a public health component. Specifically, she advocates for increased testing and contact tracing so that outbreaks can quickly be identified and addressed. Only by defeating the pandemic wherever it lurks can any sense of “normal” flourish. 2:32 The World of Next Week Asked to project an image of our immediate future, by all indications the future is now. Using an upcoming October conference as a model, the futurist expects that indoor mask mandates and other public health protocols will still be in place. With this in mind, she anticipates having to reconsider her outreach strategies to deliver an experience tailored for the times. From shared spaces to audience engagement, public practices will have to be reimagined. In Gioia's view, the most dramatic changes to our lifestyles and practices will be those we make ourselves. 6:43 Squinting Further into the Future Of course, even after the pandemic has come to a full conclusion, its effects will mark the way we live for generations. Health and sanitation have never been a bigger part of the public consciousness, and many things we once accepted as normal will one day soon be practically unimaginable. Medical care and treatment will benefit from obvious advances, but the effects may render the future into truly unfamiliar forms. The ripple effects could be surprising: Gioia even anticipates cashless and prepaid transactions sending ATMs the way of the pay phone. 8:12 Social Restructuring  Perhaps the most profound legacy of the COVID crisis will be the collective evaluation of social priorities. After months of inactivity to consider every aspect of modern life, individuals are coming to new and provocative conclusions about their place in the world. Gioia points to the renewed enthusiasm for family life, with the workplace losing some social status as a provider of fulfillment. Families and friends are treasuring the time they have together more. Indeed, the tragedies of our time have inspired a renewed appreciation for the people we choose.     Connect with Joyce Gioia: Website: https://www.hermangroup.com/joyce_bio.html Twitter: https://twitter.com/joycegioia?lang=en Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

Joyce Giola has consistently taken the long view of both her professional and personal life. A management consultant and keynote speaker by trade, she takes a focus on tomorrow's challenges in her work. With a number of ongoing crises still shaping the landscape of our times, the value of Giola's forward-looking insights are being demonstrated like never before. Today, the futurist sits down for a two-part conversation on the societal shifts that are inevitable for our times, and how they have impacted her outlook for the years ahead.   1:22 Concrete in a Crystal Ball Between the COVID pandemic itself and its economic shockwaves, organizations across industries are scrambling to find answers to entirely new questions. Gioia opens the discussion by highlighting the importance of a progressive approach to establishing a foothold on what is shaky ground for many. Moving past conventional perceptions of a business futurist as a baseless speculator, she delves into the science behind her beliefs.    2:15 Knowledge is Profit Asked to share the spark that illuminated her path into futurism, Gioia reaches back to her time in marketing. Here, she quickly discovered that the ability to reliably predict trends had substantial tangible value in the boardroom. Rapid advancement in mind, she would scour publications and periodicals for data that she could translate into actionable advice. Armed with this hard-earned knowledge, she was able to double her advertising revenue 5 years in a row. It became clear that educated guesses could prove a profitable commodity.   3:12 Childlike Enthusiasm The unfiltered curiosity of youth can never be satisfied, and Gioia identifies this trait as the one from her childhood that has served her best in her adult life.  Describing herself as “curious about everything,” the information she absorbed in her spare time frequently found use in the Herman Trend Alert. This weekly report is distributed to a regular audience of nearly 30,000, and translated into multiple languages. Interacting with such a diverse array of influences gives her perceptual radar broad reach, driving a collective vision of the future.     7:03 Balancing Proof and Projection On the topic of futurism, it can be easy to get lost in flights of airy speculation. The celebrity futurist emphasizes a grounded perspective on assessing the trends of tomorrow. For example, it's easy to see the immediate ways in which COVID and its related crises have forced us to reimagine our modern lives. However, Gioia always evaluates the process of change with both trends and outlook in mind. With so many factors at play, she views looking to the future more as generating a spectrum of possibilities than yielding a hard prediction.    10:53  Among other social shortcomings, the COVID era has exposed critical weaknesses in American systems and infrastructure. From first responders to the labor force, federal support as well as local initiatives have been woefully inadequate in the world's wealthiest country. The meager action plan at all levels of government bodes poorly for any future crisis that American citizens will face. For this progressive thinker, any lasting recovery for the nation will center on how well it responds to being weighed, measured, and found wanting.     Connect with Joyce Gioia: Website: https://www.hermangroup.com/joyce_bio.html Twitter: https://twitter.com/joycegioia?lang=en Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

Part I of this conversation featuring media maven Robyn Hatcher examined the everyday realities that translate from the screen to the days of our lives. Her 9 “Actor Types” draw on her years in the entertainment industry to create a field guide to navigating the interpersonal world each day. In the compelling conclusion of this session with host Sylvia Henderson, the author of “Standing Ovation Presentations” outlines her perspective in further detail.  0:34 People and Personas With nearly 8 billion human beings riding the planet at any given moment, we are bound to come into contact with dizzying diversities in thought and action. However, Hatcher contends that from a wider view, people can generally be organized into 9 basic personality types. Among these are the charming, charismatic Hero who wins the day with wit and guile along with the Whiz Kid, who relies on a logical, data driven approach. Socially focused individuals are classified as Buddy types, achieving their aims through popularity and collaboration. Each of these Actor Types have clear strengths and deficiencies as team members. 4:01 The Ultimate Performer Asked to expand on which of her Actor Types is overall best suited to fulfill a leadership role, Hatcher illustrates the idea at their root by pointing directly to the big screen. Legendary film star Meryl Streep serves as a template for effective communication, memorably portraying a number of iconic characters over a long, successful career. The lesson here is that tailoring your approach to a given audience or set of circumstances is a phenomenally powerful skill set. Particularly in an organization’s uncertain moments, the best ability is adaptability. 6:10 Building a Brand Of course, the characters in our favorite media are defined to a great extent by the person in the role. The career of William Shatner stands as a prime example of a personality making indelible marks on every endeavour. Acknowledging the impact of individuality, Hatcher speaks on leveraging what makes a person unique into what makes them successful. In her view, branding starts with learning who her clients are as human beings, then emphasizing their strengths. The challenge is to find a balance between authenticity and utilitarianism. 8:36 Your Breakout Role We will all inevitably be forced to reshape our preferred strategies from time to time, but the communications specialist believes that there are certain roles that generally suit us best. These are the roles we feel most comfortable and competent within. Her website includes an interactive assessment where visitors can discover their main Actor Type by answering just a few targeted questions. The completed assessment also includes secondary and tertiary Actor Types, enabling the development of qualities that may be less immediately apparent. 9:40 Make it Memorable Understanding ourselves is the first step, but knowing how to make a positive impression on an audience is key to the success of any presentation. Hatcher’s book uses her experience in the film industry to draw this idea into focus. In these pages, she offers advice on how to maximize the characteristics of each Actor Type along with movie quotes and Hollywood history in a strong supporting role. Whether at the climax of a summer blockbuster, at a job interview, or on a first date, the actionable advice is always to make an impact.      Connect with Robyn Hatcher: Website- https://robynhatcher.com/ Blog- https://robynhatcher.blog/ LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynhatcher/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/SpeakEtc/ Twitter- https://twitter.com/speaketc YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzqRRfv-pjD2MbT-3wYP9FQ Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/robyn_speaketc/ Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

Communications specialist Robyn Hatcher has built a thriving career on the dissemination of ideas. Her natural attraction to the entertainment industry led to a series of onscreen roles, which flowed into her time writing for television, an experience which continues to inform her work today. Indeed, the author of “Standing Ovation Presentations” could be said to have been writing her book for decades. In the first segment of this two-part conversation with host Sylvia Henderson,explores the broad spectrum of everyday human communication.  2:41 Initiative and Intersectionality Hatcher’s career has been defined by serendipity. Taking the first steps on her professional journey in New York City made advancing her career as much a function of luck as talent. Audition after audition passed, with callbacks few and far between. Often finding herself in a room with many equally qualified candidates, she quickly developed a high tolerance for rejection. Undeterred, she decided to supplement her communications skillset by teaching English as a second language as well as continuing to follow her dreams. 3:16 Applied Language An enthusiast at heart, Hatcher grew bored of poring over the technical aspects of language learning. However, she still saw a world of potential in demonstrating the effects of expertly utilized communication skills. After a period of frustration, she realized that her passion of acting and her profession of linguistics were much more closely related than commonly acknowledged. In both of these pursuits, the goal is transmitting ideas and concepts to an audience. Armed with this insight, she shifted her teachings toward practical communication.   6:17 Genre Savvy Living The Bard himself once wrote “all the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players.” The enduring relevance of Shakespeare’s social commentary is nowhere more clear than in the media world. Hatcher’s years in show business have shown her a range of personalities she refers to as “Actor Types,” a framing which personally resonates with her. Standard archetypes of storytelling find clear real-world parallels in her work, with timeless characters such as “the hero” and “the curmudgeon” making regular cameos in our lives. 10:02 Action! Although personality evaluations can be entertaining--particularly with the fantastic framings of Hollywood--Hatcher underscores the utility of her assessment method. She delves into the pragmatic aspects of understanding our personality types for both personal and professional growth. As a leader, it is important that we maintain a realistic grasp of our strengths and weaknesses. Just as the heroes of the big screen have sources of conflict that make their stories compelling, we too must adapt to the challenges that face us...and ideally, overcome.     Connect with Robyn Hatcher: Website- https://robynhatcher.com/ Blog- https://robynhatcher.blog/ LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynhatcher/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/SpeakEtc/ Twitter- https://twitter.com/speaketc YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzqRRfv-pjD2MbT-3wYP9FQ Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/robyn_speaketc/ Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

In Part II of this extended conversation with Lori Saitz, the CEO and founder of Zen Rabbit recounts her decision to define success on her terms. Preferring to prioritize her mental health and emotional investment over financial gain, she closed the doors to her thriving commercial kitchen business at the height of its popularity. In the compelling conclusion to this three-part interview, Saitz opens up about the process of seeing a business through the end of its life cycle. As part of the process, she also acknowledges the difficulty of forgiving herself for not living up to the expectations of others.   00:07 On Her Own Terms To understand what gives Saitz the confidence to claim victory in her commercial kitchen endeavour, we first must appreciate the nature of external pressure. External pressure can cause us to make choices we would never otherwise make, to endure conditions that no longer serve us. Instead, she was able to rationally devise an independent cost-benefit evaluation. By setting defined benchmarks and evaluating each parameter over a defined period, she could weigh the success garnered against the sacrifices made. After extensive meditation, she was able to arrive at peace with a final decision.   4:34 Grand Closure Once she decided to leave the business behind, she considered selling the company as well as ending production. In deciding to cut her losses, Saitz notes that the deciding factor in shutting down the kitchen for good was a required investment of her own personal funds. One of the most unexpectedly difficult aspects of saying goodbye to the clients who had fallen in love with her cookies. She also mentions taking time to pay her final month of sales and settle with her suppliers. The cookie chapter of her life at a close, Saitz took a sabbatical to evaluate her emotions and reset her ambitions.   4:51 Education is Not Failure Although she had no reason to be ashamed for following her desires, she admits struggling with feelings of failure in the wake of the closing. She eventually was able to get enough distance from the immediate outcome to understand that she had learned and grown as a result of the experience. There was no failure in having tried an experience to find that it does not fit. With this perspective behind her, she made the bittersweet experience of closing her commercial cookie kitchen much more palatable.   8:57 New Beginnings in Endings  When she had settled into the finality of ending her involvement in the bakery marketplace, she found that the most onerous aspect of moving on was the reaction. Instead of providing her with the support she needed for a successful transition, too often the conversation turned to “what’s next?” With this in mind, she quickly found work in the niche she helped create. In her new role, she is able to reach many more potential clients than she ever could from the kitchen. Her new career path in consulting is informed by the life lessons she learned along the way, and it took a dose of “failure” to find the path.   Connect with Lori Saitz: Website- https://zenrabbit.com/ LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorisaitz Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/LoriSaitz   Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

In the first installment of this three-part conversation with Lori Saitz, the CEO and Founder of Zen Rabbit outlined how a group effort contributed to her individual success. Part II delves into detail about her evolution into a business owner, from bringing her product to market to the everyday challenges even established entrepreneurs face. She also speaks on her decision to voluntarily shutter what had proven a viable and well-received business. Through her recollections of this challenging period, we can explore and appreciate the uncomfortable transition from dream to reality.  00:01 Delegation is Freedom  In the beginning stages of running her business, Saitz personally handled every aspect of running her business, from baking and packaging to marketing and shipping. Selling more cookies was a matter of remaining focused on only those aspects of her business that only she could manage.  As time passed and cookies sold, she hired staff members to perform processing and a fulfillment company to take care of logistics. She describes the feeling of watching her personal endeavor slowly grow into a “real business.” The tale she tells is tinged with loss, however,  she also describes the unexpected death of her first contract baker.   The ensuing personal and professional challenges shaped the path of career in baking. 5:04 The Process of Presentation Asked by Sylvia to expand on her formula for success, Saitz marks her experience working in outreach as indispensable. Even before she was a marketer of cookies specifically, she was a marketer of ideas. With this in mind, she encourages entrepreneurs to devote some dedicated study to marketing. Hiring professionals is necessary, and even a sign of growth in an organization, but no one knows a business like the mind behind it. A more complete understanding of the marketing principles can clarify the best methods of translating that vision to a target audience and the wider public. 9:36 The Heart of the Matter Entrepreneurs go into the pursuit with full knowledge that not every moment of the journey will be fun. Sometimes dealing with clients will prove trickier than expected. Other entrepreneurs may experience frustration with building and maintaining the right team. Part of the process for Saitz was a realistic talk with herself about how much she enjoyed the day-to-day reality of staying in the cookie business.  Without the direct motivation of making money, what began as a passion project simply became a project. Well supported by her previous career in marketing, she chose to value her emotional and mental health. In the end, if you’re not having fun, it’s time to consider doing something else.   Connect with Lori Saitz: Website- https://zenrabbit.com/ LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorisaitz Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/LoriSaitz   Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

In the first half of this extended conversation with SJ Scott, the author outlines his journey from an obscure desk at Kindle Publishing to his successes of today. His newest book “Habit-Stack for Humanity” is a master class in forming sustainable everyday processes, and after several successful books, the results speak for themselves. In Part II of this interview with MindTeam Solutions, Scott elaborates on his blueprint for leveraging gains. 0:22 Found in Translation One key element of Scott’s skyrocketing sales in the eBook marketplace is his uncommon focus on foreign publishing. Releasing work in various languages is an obvious way to expand a base of readers around the world, and in his view not enough authors take advantage. He opens the conversation by detailing the process step by step, starting with working out a relationship with a translator. Once the profit potential of an author’s work is established, publishing companies may begin to reach out on their own.   2:52 Guaranteed Performance Although Scott has entrenched himself as a thought leader in the eBook space, he still points to his earliest habits as a driver of his continuing success. Asked to comment on those he finds most effective on a daily basis, he emphasizes the importance of daily nonfiction reading to sharpen the mind. He also commits a few concrete concepts for improving his professional or personal life to paper each morning. Another regular practice he encourages is taking weekends off to allow his mind to recharge and prevent burnout.   4:59 The First Straw Most people desire to establish the habits that define the most successful versions of ourselves, but many of us fall short. Asked to distill what keeps him so committed to his process, Scott reaches into his personal experience. Like many of us, he set arbitrary target dates for his new improved self like “after New Years’” and “next Monday” only to delay his debut time after time. He eventually arrived at the conclusion that his issue was one of focus. It was much more effective to focus on one or two everyday habits needing improvement.   7:03 A Work in Progress Running contrary to popular belief, Scott derides the merit of the drastic life overhaul. In his experience, he has rarely seen an attempt to totally transform one’s lifestyle in a relatively short period succeed. Bringing the concept of “ego depletion” into the discussion, he highlights the reality that as human beings we have only a finite measure of willpower. Every action that runs counter to our desires proportionately saps that willpower. Only by making reasonable demands of that willpower reserve over time, we can achieve lasting results.   11:37 Never Plan on Plan A The words of 19th Century Prussian General Moltke the Elder filter down to us through history as “no plan survives contact with the enemy.” Recalling this enduring truism, the conversation turns to maintaining our focus on improvement even during life’s inevitable challenges. Balancing his career with his young children has cemented the value of adaptability in SJ Scott’s mind. He emphasizes the importance of having plans to work around consistent hiccups...and of course, staying within our boundaries with a simple “no.”   Connect with SJ Scott: Website- https://www.developgoodhabits.com/my-books/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/groups/182058985596545/ Twitter- https://twitter.com/habitsguy Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

SJ Scott has built himself into a master of flow, one good habit at a time. Scott is the author of a series of books on Amazon examining the miracle of consistent productivity. His newest work, “Habit-Stack for Humanity” goes into the finer points of creating a lifestyle that is turned for achievement. His meticulous methods have delivered remarkable success, and he sits down to share his perspective in Part 1 of this compelling chat with MindTeam Solutions.   3:00 Sparked by Kindle Scott’s journey to high-profile platforms started with his time at Kindle Publishing, where he was tasked with shaping the lofty ideas of contributors into approachable reading material. After exposing himself to an array of insight, he came to the conclusion that habits were a central subject in these schools of thought. He made a fateful decision to expand his focus to the principles of consistent behavior rather than focus on Internet business. His first book soon followed, detailing his most successful strategies for professional and personal life.   3:56 Under Construction Writing eBooks may have offered him a clear path to influence, but Scott found his journey leading away from the 9-5 world long before the advent of smart devices. As early as 1999, a stint in the military demonstrated to him the true value of independence. When his enlistment was complete, he floundered in entry-level jobs for a few years until 2004, when the Internet began to transform the way we live. From blogging to affiliate marketing, the budding entrepreneur explored every avenue until he nailed down a sustainable model. 6:29 Brick by Brick Asked to elaborate on his process, Scott offers some helpful guidance for individuals looking to find their freedom from the workaday world. He underlines the importance of recording our thoughts, as the right seed of an idea can quickly flourish into a blooming reality. Note-taking apps as well as pencil and paper are considered some of his most indispensable office supplies, as he is constantly recording every thought. Leading by example, Scott recalls these countless little jots slowly forming themselves into a marketable product over time.   10:07 Killer Instinct Although even the most seemingly insignificant notion can evolve into a game-changing concept, Scott cautions against becoming overly attached to our ideas. Reminding us of Stephen King’s famous advice to “kill your darlings,” he advises us always to sharpen our thought to their finest point before presenting them to the public. For him--and Stephen King--this can mean chopping up to 20 percent of a book out of the final draft. Although the process is always painful, doing so ensures that only the strongest ideas are nourished.   16:24 Walking the Tightrope As anyone who has embarked on an intensive solo project can attest, staying engaged can prove a difficult balancing act. Here, Scott speaks on working through some of the difficulties involved in doing big things with the smallest possible team. He likens the process to training for a marathon, a pursuit for which consistent performance is indispensable. Rather than expecting an entire project to come to fruition overnight, Scott espouses steady emotional investment. Setting a series of attainable goals makes balancing against burnout simple.  Connect with SJ Scott: Website- https://www.developgoodhabits.com/my-books/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/groups/182058985596545/ Twitter- https://twitter.com/habitsguy Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

In the first half of our chat with Katharine Giancalone, the hands-on career counselor offered insights on understanding what makes each of your team members tick. What her book calls “playground personalities” are in fact forms of shorthand describing various types of thought process that commonly contribute to organizational outcomes. For Part II of today’s sti-down with Sylvia, The Corporate Nanny™ shares more of her signature perspective on leadership.   0:43 Personalized Messaging What immediately resonates with one personality would never stand the faintest chance of swaying another given individual’s opinion. This means that we can conserve untold ex-positional effort simply by tailoring our messages to the listener. Giancalone expands on her initial contention by underlining the necessity of identifying the type of individual we are attempting to convince to support us in our actions. For example, identifying herself as a an organizer at heart, she is most receptive to tightly controlled, well-considered action plans.   4:43 Practical Application Obviously, our personality profiles have a wide-ranging effect on our personal lives as well as our career prospects. As an illustration, Giancalone gives us a window into her everyday experiences with her husband, a research scientist. Identifying him as a “steamroller” type, she describes watching him ruminate on an issue for hours. For these high-functioning, heavily regimented minds, the formation of ideas is a process to be approached in solitude. Only then, when comprehensive constructs are created, does any collaboration become possible.   9:26 Found in Translation Perception is reality in many cases, and so most often it is not an idea that matters as much as  listener’s idea of the idea. Giancalone animates this concept by considering the mindset of a “peacemaker” personality type. Where more pragmatic thinkers may primarily value the end, a peacemaker gives added weight to the means. They may have concerns such as “Will this action negatively impact anyone on the team, despite any advantages it may offer?” It can be helpful to ask ourselves some of the questions that we can foresee from our collaborators.   12:51 Your Personality is Showing Whether we are aware of it or not, our personality comes through in every communication, verbal and nonverbal. This includes digital correspondence such as email, texting, and social media...areas where there may be no defined rules of engagement. This is where coexisting can become more of a challenge for groups made of vastly different personality types. Peacemakers will not respond well to communications that are less than perfectly courteous, and revolutionary types will be loath to get bogged down in the minutiae of constant contact.   14:55 Demographic Content Asked to comment on whether certain demographics may be over-represented among personality types, Giancalone navigates perilous waters with aplomb. She prescribes an organizational view of the matter, with different industries and even different companies attracting certain types. Looking back at her time working for a major hotel chain, she recalls a very organizer-focused culture. In her work assisting educators, she encounters more peacemaker types. In the end, the goal is to offer the right person the right opportunities.       Connect with Katharine Giancalone: Website -https://thecorporatenanny.net/ LinkedIn -kathy@kgworks.com Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Corporate-Nanny/106698357976 Twitter- https://twitter.com/corporatenanny LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharinegiacalone/ Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

Katharine Giancalone of The Corporate Nanny has honed a keen eye for human nature over a long and successful career. Taking a talent-focused view of organizational management, she has long extolled the virtue of understanding each team member on a personal level. In Part 1 of today’s chat with MindTeam Solutions, the playground pathologist delves into her strategies for sublimating her most potent ideas into actionable advice.   1:03 Borrowing Time In a world seemingly tilted toward maximum momentum, it can be easy to forget that time is by far our most valuable resource. The onus then falls on you to present your ideas in a memorable and relatable fashion when a person gives you of their time. What specific effect do you hope to achieve? What resources will you need to work toward these goals? What incentives are there for the individual to assist you in your endeavor? Knowing how to package and present this information is often the deciding factor in garnering the support you need.   2:52 Playground Personalities Personality tests such as the Meyers-Briggs Personality Indicator have become popular metrics by which to evaluate team members, and for good reason. These classification devices can yield important information about an individual's strengths, and more importantly, their self-perception. With this in mind, Giancalone has streamlined this concept into what she calls “ playground personalities,” essentially descriptors of an individual’s core operating system. This inner child forms the basis for our adult selves, consistently dictating our course of action.   7:36 Nanny Statement Asked to shed more light on the origins of her consulting firm’s name, Giancalone credits a client in Arizona with drawing the parallel. She points to the traditional duties of a nanny, which involve caretaking as much as supervising, linking the spirit of nurturing to the corporate world. In her work, she works to become part of the company culture, frequently earning invitations to parties and events by fostering relationships in every workplace. Her unique style of guidance not only endears her to the organizations she works with, but has been proven to deliver results.   9:48 Equipped to Excel A leader is only as effective as the enthusiasm they can elicit from team members. In many cases, individuals who may be perceived as underperforming have never been given the best chance to succeed. The hidden costs of turnover are well documented, and practically everyone who has worked in a team setting can attest the intangible toll of organizational instability. For these reasons, Giancalone emphasizes the importance of attracting valuable contributors and valuing their contributions in her book “Oops, I’m the Manager. ”    12:23 Self-Awareness and Beyond The reality that looking outward starts with looking inward can often be underappreciated. Here, Giancalone highlights the importance of self-awareness in guiding others to mutually beneficial outcomes. Do we see situations as opportunities to benefit or opportunities to contribute? Are our apparent goals our actual goals, or does our theory differ greatly from our work in practice. Effecting positive change in the world around us begins with a more comprehensive view of ourselves, our abilities, and our motivations. Indeed, great leaders understand themselves first.   Connect with Katharine Giancalone: Website -https://thecorporatenanny.net/ LinkedIn -kathy@kgworks.com Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Corporate-Nanny/106698357976 Twitter- https://twitter.com/corporatenanny LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharinegiacalone/ Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

Shelley Row is committed to organizations, businesses, and individuals. In this episode Shelley talks about how she aims to improve decision-making by not overthinking.  This may seem controversial to those who tend to plan a lot before making a decision, but Shelley is not discarding the idea of putting in some thought into making decisions. It is the issue of overthinking that she goes against. For this episode, she talks about roadblocks and how it sometimes takes a long time to overcome them. Her personal example involves her and her husband’s dream of visiting France. Four years into saving money, her husband was diagnosed with stage one cancer. Understandably, it would hold them up from their plan, but they decided to hang on to their goals. The situation could be a very frustrating one, especially if one dwelt on the negativity. However, they still had faith in their end goal.  They kept on saving. The money went into lung surgery and subsequent chemotherapy treatments. However, things were also looking up. Shelley’s husband made a full recovery, and they even managed to move to France the following year. She sees this as a confirmation that people should continue seeing the end game clearly, even if the path is not that clear. Sometimes, you must perceive the situation from a different angle – to know that it is okay to keep on going even when there is an obstacle in the way.  Rationalizing is a sign that something is off. For Shelley, rationalizing is a signal that something is not quite right. It means that she is overthinking the situation, which will put a damper on her decision-making. For her, when you notice that you are overthinking, you should give yourself a chance to slow down a little.  The host, Silvia, prompts Shelley to leave her final message to the listeners.  Shelley responds by giving the following thoughts: Think about how to look at the stumbling block in another way, but you must give yourself the freedom to do so. She wants the listeners to latch on to the idea that the best decisions should be the right balance between thinking and feeling. You must trust that both of these are relevant in decision-making.  Silvia invites the listeners to buy Shelley’s book and to think less and live more. She also encourages them to visit ShelleyRow.com, and she thanks Shelley for being on the program. The host appreciates how so much has been covered.    Connect with Shelley Row Website - www.shelleyrow.com/thinkless LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyrow/ Blog - www.shelleyrow.com/thinkless/blog/ Twitter - Shelley Row Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

Overthinking, despite the anxiety it causes us, can be addictive because it gives us a false sense of control. But if we’re honest with ourselves, we know that it uses up a lot of our energy. Your brain is redirecting energy to the part of it that is overthinking, making you inefficient and tired. As an over-thinker, you’re prone to depression, inability to concentrate, headaches and other debilitating conditions.  Lessons from a Recovering Over-Thinker One of the ways to dis-empower the negative feelings a bad habit like overthinking has over you is knowing that you’re not alone and if other people have overcome it then so can you. Shelley doesn’t talk about overcoming overthinking from the perspective of a spectator, she is one. In fact her latest book is titled, Think Less, Live More: Lessons from a Recovering Over-Thinker. During the show, Shelley shared four steps that marry our intuition and cognitive process to help us handle overthinking. The 4 Steps to Stop Overthinking and Take Action For most of us, when we want to change, we tend to think that change has to be hard. If you want to lose weight, you think that you will have to starve yourself, walk around with a calculator to determine your calories and run 15km every day to achieve your goal. It’s overwhelming and will make you stop before you even finish. It doesn’t have to be that way. You can make easy and gradual changes that are sustainable such as drinking more water, eating a big salad with one of your meals, choosing healthier snacks, walking for 15 minutes every day. The same concept applies to Shelley Row’s 4 steps to overcome overthinking; they’re easy to follow and anyone can do it. You don’t have to meditate for 5 hours to tackle overthinking.  As an over-thinker who is used to making all thought processes difficult, catch yourself if feel the urge to dismiss these steps because they don’t seem hard enough. Pay Attention The first step to overcoming overthinking is to pay attention to the fact that something is nagging you; recognize that you’re overthinking.  Name the Overthinking Once you’re aware of the nagging, then give it a name. Describe what is nagging you. If you’re worried then explore what it is that you’re worried about – Are you worried that your boss won’t support your new idea? This is a very powerful part of the process and it’s something that you can do now. Take a pause now and ask yourself what it is that is nagging you. Dig In Now that you have identified what is nagging you, dig further to figure out why you feel and think the way that you do. Why do believe that your boss won’t support your new idea? Is it because he/ she never supports your ideas? Is it because you don’t think that your idea is good enough? Is it because you know your idea is good but your presentations are weak? Combine Your Feelings and Thoughts “You need to value what you think about it, as well as what you feel about it. And recognize that both of those are relevant and combine both of those. You're looking for that decision that just feels right. And that's where that gut instinct helps.” Connect with Shelley Row Website - www.shelleyrow.com/thinkless LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyrow/ Blog - www.shelleyrow.com/thinkless/blog/ Twitter - Shelley Row Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

When we are stuck in a rut and can’t make a meaningful decision, we do too much thinking and not enough feeling. For this episode, we had Shelley Row discussing how important it is to combine both feeling and thinking when it comes to decision-making and moving up the career ladder. Nowadays, we’ve been raised or primed to think that emotions have no place in success; that the only thing that matters is what goes on in our brains. However, when we exert all our resources into just thinking instead of feeling, we tend to go in circles. We spend hours and hours each day trying to think of an answer to our problems, and we get nowhere because we are too focused on what we are thinking and ignoring what we are feeling. 04:10 Combine Intuition and Cognition In most of our careers, we have always been taught that there is no room for emotions if we want to succeed; the only thing that matters is what is going on in our heads, cognition. We are told that we must not let our feelings — our intuition — cloud our cognition. But those feelings, that intuition, are just as important as cognition. As humans, we are emotional beings; it’s who we are, and it’s how we are built. We can’t ignore our feelings. So to go try and shut off our own emotions is a bad idea. People in leadership positions — people whom you would assume are very logically inclined — believe that intuition is absolutely essential to their leadership success. Neuroscience books also say the same thing; intuition is just as important as cognition when it comes to success. 10:42 What Happens in Our Brains When We Overthink The best decision making happens in that middle ground between thinking and feeling. When we’re overthinking, we’re out of balance; we use too much thinking and not enough feeling. When we use logic to make decisions, the part of our brain that works is the working memory part. It is just a very small part of our brain that can hold very little information and is very slow in processing information. Using this part of the brain takes a lot of energy. Have you been in a situation where you’ve just been thinking and sitting all day, and you get so tired when you come home even if you just sat all day? That’s because you’ve been using your working memory part of your brain more than it can handle, and that uses up plenty of energy. When we overthink, we overuse that part of our brain which can only handle so much information. That’s also why we can’t make meaningful decisions when we only use logic; the logical part of our brain is limited to what it can process. 12:37 How to Stop Overthinking The first step is to recognize what’s happening to you — you’re out of balance, and you’re thinking too much. You have to bring back the balance and put a little more feeling into the picture. 13:35 The Brain Can Only Handle So Much At Any Given Time When you find yourself thinking for so long, your brain will start to hurt, and you will find that you are no longer as productive as you were when you first started. That’s because neuroscience tells us that it is better to break huge tasks into bite-sized, more manageable chunks. After finishing each chunk, take a break, walk around, maybe grab a bite to replenish some of your blood sugar, and get your brain refueled and working again. 14:46 Understand Your Brain’s Natural Energy Patterns Some people work best in the morning, some people work best at night. One of the first things you should also be doing is find out when your brain is at its peak and hit the tasks that take a lot of concentration or take a lot of creativity and tackle them at that time. More basic tasks like checking your emails, following up on phone calls can be done in your “downtimes,” at small breaks when your brain is not at its peak. That’s because these tasks do not require much concentration; they can be left to the other parts of your day. Connect with Shelley Row Website - www.shelleyrow.com/thinkless

Richard “Trigger” Bontrager, author of “Rock the Virtual Stage Show,” has made serving as center of attention into a science. The longtime TV host has been addressing the public for over 30 years, making our dramatic recent shift to screen time just another day at the office for him. Today, he continues his conversation with Sylvia Henderson, uncovering the secrets of making an impact during your next virtual presentation or conference.   0:48 TV Magic 101 Particularly with public-facing platforms such as live streaming, vlogs, and video conferencing, presentation can be as important as content. Bontrager underscores that basic knowledge of TV presentation principles can totally transform the look and feel of your video content. He dives into specifics about the finer points of lighting, such as how a background image can impact the overall transmission quality of a video. He also advises content creators to keep their backgrounds simple to draw a viewer’s primary focus to the presenter.   3:42 To Spend or Not to Spend? Few factors immediately detract from the outreach potential of multimedia content like poor quality audio. Whether it’s a podcast, a virtual conference, or a live streaming channel, lacking suitable audio equipment can severely limit engagement. While Bontrager acknowledges that there are benefits to having the best audio equipment available, even a small investment in this area pays big dividends. An inexpensive clip on camera eliminates much of the characteristic hollow sound in content commonly found the least listenable.   5:37 Speeches that Stick Even the most experienced public speakers on Earth make use of notes and speech tools like the TelePrompTer to give their oratory a smooth, fluid feel. Bontrager stresses that there is no reason you should handcuff yourself by making presentations without these valuable resources. To avoid the droning, unnatural cadence that can come with reciting prepared words from a screen, the veteran presenter encourages the use of sticky notes. These should contain short key phrases and be arranged around the screen for natural reading.   7:34 Clear Competency A professional appearance is one that gives the beholder confidence in the presenter’s abilities. Individuals in leadership positions should display poise and presence of mind. Entertainers should be immediately engaging and consistently looking to create memories. Those who speak on behalf of companies or institutions should project stability and conviction. For Bontrager, here is no one-size-fits-all formula for a professional appearance, but the common thread is a clear display of competency in a relevant field.   9:22 A Polished Presentation A firm grasp on the basics will almost certainly get your foot in the door, but some attention to detail can ensure you arrive as intended. With over three decades in media production, Bontrager has ample aesthetic wisdom to impart. For instance, those who wear glasses should consider the position of their lighting to avoid distracting refractions. Still, the inveterate master of ceremonies makes a point to remind presenters that accidents will always happen. Perhaps his most important advice is to smile, have fun, and enjoy the ride.     Connect with Rich Bontrager: Website- https://www.richbontrager.net/ LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-trigger-bontrager-virtualstage-presentationcoach/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/RichTriggerBontrager/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/c/RichBontrager Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

One of the stranger effects of the Covid lockdown is the rapid rise of the Zoom meeting.  Almost overnight, all of us became the hosts of our own little TV shows.  But is there anything more painful than being trapped in a Zoom meeting with a deadly boring presenter? Broadcaster Rich “Trigger” Bontrager has years of experience in the art of engagement. The author of “How to Rock the Virtual Stage Show,” he helps everyday people to become better presenters.  In a year where we are all forced to expand our skill-sets, Bontrager sits down with Sylvia Henderson to impart his keen insights on making your moment count. 1:20 The Show Must Go On Bontrager starts by describing the journey that led him into living rooms worldwide. After 30 years in the broadcast industry, the COVID crisis arrived as an entirely new challenge to content creation. More than most, the veteran TV host understood how to make the most of a less than ideal situation. He leverages this practical experience into a career optimizing online presentations as a production consultant, forming a brand new career in just a few months. 3:10 Virtual Realities On-screen or offline, every outreach effort merits meticulous consideration.  For Bontrager, the common perception of virtual meetings is what can often hold them back from reaching their productive potential. Because of its novelty and accessibility, many prospective presenters--and the audiences they aspire to attract--can subconsciously downplay the importance of these presentations. The accomplished master of ceremonies draws this fallacy into focus while emphasizing the development of skills unique to online presentation. 4:37 First Impressions First Anyone who has ever applied for a job or even been on a first date understands the importance of appearances. When a viewer’s primary experience with you is through connected channels, every aspect of the presentation becomes even more crucial. In Bontrager’s view, a successful online presentation is one that exudes confidence and the presenter’s comfort with the subject matter. At its core, a professional presentation is one of competency, which can foster instant trust between you and your audience.  6:18 Connected and Unplugged In years past, the phrase “ content is king” defined outreach efforts of all kinds. Today, in the advent of virtual presentation tools, the manner in which that content is presented may be even more important. Here, Bontrager elaborates on connecting with our virtual audiences at an emotional level, drawing them in for a stimulating conversation. For instance, when the lights are on, the camera represents a person or people instead of a machine. Speakers should always direct their words to the camera, never the monitor, to simulate eye contact.  9:53 Conversational Communication Presentation is the key difference between a boring lecture and a compelling conversation. A proficient presenter, Bontrager takes time and care to underline the factors that separate them. Virtual presentations can get bogged down with an overload of on-screen text, and so visual aids such as graphics encourage engagement. Think of each virtual meeting as a TV broadcast, and the best ways to keep all eyes on your channel will start to come naturally. 11:33 Watch Your Language Some professionals who are less inclined to appear on camera wonder if the video element of a virtual meeting or presentation is even necessary. Decades as a TV host and keynote speaker have left Bontrager with the indisputable knowledge that body language speaks louder than any other. Seeing the people with whom you are interacting, as well as their mannerisms and reactions, is a central factor in establishing trust. In a time where being present isn’t always possible, presenting well could make or break your professional path.   Connect with Rich Bontrager: Website- https://www.richbontrager.net/ LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.

In the years between her first job at a small town shop to majority owner of A Few Cool Hardware Stores, she has successfully navigated a world of challenges. In the first installment of this conversation with host Sylvia Henderson, entrepreneur Gina Schaefer outlined her path to transcending tradition in a ¨male-dominated field.¨ Part II of this chat highlights the importance of leadership in a time where the questions can change as quickly as the answers. [1:03] Trusting the Process Schaefer identifies trust as a core element of success in business. Whether the trust between client and company or the trust between management and associates, without trust there cannot be progress. Part of this is trusting that both she and those she hires are making the best possible decisions every day. The entrepreneur places a premium on the positives, working to move past everyday inconvenience as smoothly as possible in order to reach a better shared tomorrow. The communication and respect she requires from her team are based in trust.  [4:02] Engendering Engagement Ensuring employees are fully engaged while at work is another time-tested marker of organizational success. To promote employee engagement, Schaefer places management in the closest possible proximity with associates. Managers and assistant managers from each store are promoted from the in-house employee pool, and they hold full autonomy HR operations. Stock selections, hiring, firing, promotion, pay, and bonuses are all determined by onsite staff, drawing a clear line between everyday contributions and the career arc of each employee. [6:43] Failure as a Lesson Any road to sustained success is paved with the costs of education. Asked to recall a failure that she credits with expanding her corporate consciousness, Schaefer looks back at the lessons learned operating her 5th location. After 4 successful grand openings, she took the effectiveness of her model as a given, discarding some conventional wisdom along the way. The location was never destined for success, and siphoned the revenue of the others for the life of the 10-year lease. Although it was an expensive experience, the impression left was indelible. [9:37] You Oughta Know The conversation closes with the question of what Schaefer wishes her clientele would ask more often, and the entrepreneur´s response can give us reason to reflect. Highlighting the role of the customer in determining the marketplace´s winners and losers, she calls on her customers to both patronize her business and advertise it through word of mouth. Not only does this help draw in new customers, it also helps attract new talent that help distinguish her store from its big box competitors. In an industry dominated by billion-dollar businesses, local dollars remain king.   About Gina Schaefer: Website: afewcoolhardwarestores.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-schaefer-56380a8/ Email: info@acehardwaredc.com Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

Should we focus on developing skills for professional purposes or personal fulfillment? For Gina Schaefer, majority owner of A Few Cool Hardware Stores, our resumé and our lifestyles can be one and the same. The entrepreneur emphasizes the importance of her experiences, drawing parallels between her success in business and skills she has developed in other aspects of her life. In the first half of this conversation with Sylvia, Schaefer challenges us to see our own potential demonstrated in what we ourselves choose to do. [1:06] No Girls Allowed Although she didn't realize it at the time, Schaefer's journey to entrepreneurship had roots at her very first job. A teenage girl employed at a Northeast Ohio hardware store, she was quick to notice gender-based divisions in job responsibilities. Other discrepancies, such as those in pay and integration into company culture, made themselves apparent from there. Her time at the small town hardware store gave her valuable insight on what the world could look like for women in male-dominated spaces. This early experience was her catalyst to create change. [1:37] Building Her Own Place As economic turmoil reshaped the town around her, Schaefer identified an opportunity to manifest her vision of a more equitable employment environment. The financial crisis of late 90s brought a wave of foreclosures and construction projects to the area, and so she worked to fill a niche by opening up her first hardware store in town. By doing this, she was able to both provide well-paying jobs for her neighbors and highlight the credibility of women as craftsmen.. [2:30] Old Ideas, Deconstructed Outdated notions of gender roles can be particularly restrictive for a woman in a ¨traditionally male industry.¨ As a female hardware store owner, Schaefer encountered casual sexism on a daily basis. Customers frequently came into the shop asking for a man, dismissing female team members on the basis of their gender. These attitudes have real impact on the careers of women and minorities. She has worked to counteract this perception by curating a workforce that reflects the general population, with splits close to 50-50 from associates to management.  [5:13] Traditionally Human On the subject of ¨traditionally male fields,¨ Schaefer frames the concept in an especially incisive fashion, pointing out that most jobs began under this description. ¨What is not a traditionally male job?¨ she asks while highlighting entrenched ideas of provider role against domestic role. Instead, the entrepreneur encourages us to look at the individual skill set of a person. Every aspect of being human involves some set of skills, from maintenance to team coordination. These skills translate into every industry, as business skills are most often life skills as well. [7:57] Experience and Expertise Operating a brick-and-mortar store is a challenge in the best of times, but in difficult moment leadership skill can be a matter of survival. Schaefer has done her best throughout the COVID crisis to devise solutions that work for her team members, her customers, and her business. Expressing gratitude for being named an essential service during the global health crisis, she places an emphasis on maintaining knowledgeable, fairly compensated staff. In a marketplace dominated by faceless big box stores, the talent of individuals is her most valuable resource. [11:09] A Talent-Centric Approach In a homogenized world, connection is a commodity in and of itself. With a constant eye on the position of her business in society, Schaefer places a great value on the human element. Personal relationships and community building are at the core of her business model, as she works to employ dedicated associates with specific knowledge instead of generalized employees. Services like stocking items by customer request and actively seeking out specialty products based on local needs are hallmarks of her strategy to compete with indust...

From employee to co-owner to sole proprietor, Marsha Lindquist has seen entrepreneurship from practically every angle over her 30 year career. In her view, the shortcoming of many organizational leaders is that they fail to form a picture of success that sustainably balances personal and professional goals. She sifts through her experiences to pose an important question: what does success look like? [0:58] Streamlined for Success It's natural for organizations to look at raw revenue as a definitive measure of success. However, in Lindquist's view this is a fundamentally flawed perspective. Revenue is doubtless extremely important to the financial viability of a business, but a more reliable indicator of overall health is the cost of doing business. Even if profits do not measurably increase as a result, any opportunity to reduce cost should be carefully considered. As the financial strategist points out, revenues cannot be predicted, but costs typically can. [1:23] Know Your Role While she has experienced a level of personal success in entrepreneurship, Lindquist also acknowledges that taking the lead in an entrepreneurial effort is not for everyone. She advises prospective proprietors to perform an honest self-evaluation before leaping into the endeavor. Understanding whether your temperament and inclinations are compatible with entrepreneurship can save you untold time and money on an ill-advised initiative. Are you willing to deal with the positive and negative aspects of taking an outcome into your hands? [4:31] The Buck Stops Here Many aspiring entrepreneurs find themselves unprepared for the actuality of having all responsibility laid directly at their feet. Whether your company becomes an international titan, a neighborhood institution, or just another dream deferred, all credit and blame belong to you. For this reason, entrepreneurs should form a clear picture of what success looks like for them and the process it will take to get there. Whether professional, personal, or financial, an entrepreneur's life is most often one lived under constant pressure. [6:29] Boundaries Setting up boundaries between your days in the office and the rest of your life from the very beginning is imperative. At first it may be easy to carry through challenges on pure enthusiasm, but as the grind wears on finding motivation can prove more difficult. Many new business owners make the mistake of allowing job duties to consume every moment of their time, detracting from their overall quality of life. For Lindquist, entrepreneurship is only part of the person you are...deeply unhappy business owners are rarely considered successes. [8:16] To Partner or Not to Partner In some serendipitous scenarios, two compatible minds meet and share a vision of a mutually beneficial outcome. Like any interpersonal relationship, a business partnership can offer immense benefits...but also create new challenges. In Lindquist's words, most business owners would never take on every piece of business to come their way. Similarly, it is wise to consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of a partnership beforehand. [17:18] Adding Value to the World Speaking as an individual that grew up loving her job, the author and accountant underlines the importance of purpose in deciding to start a business. It is purpose that pulls us, that guides us, that drives us. It is purpose that defines and binds us to our pursuits, and so purpose is indispensable to the success of your business. Who do you serve? What are your motivations? What value can you add to the world around you? The entrepreneurs that ask themselves these questions are those that tend to make the most enduring mark.   About Marsha Lindquist: Website: https://graniteleadershipstrategies.com/marsha-lindquist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshalindquist1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/marshagovcon?lang=en Connect with MindTeam Solutions:

 In this engaging episode, veteran financial strategist Marsha Lindquist gets personal.  She shares the effect entrepreneurship has had on her personal life. She also talks about what it means for an entrepreneur to appropriately value their own contributions to the success of a company. [2:05] Breaking Free For Lindquist, doing the job she loved was only part of the equation. Equally important were the feelings of fulfillment and ownership she could take in her work. After cutting her teeth in the industry under an established employer, she took a leap of faith into what was at the time her husband´s counseling practice. Undaunted by the challenge, Lundquist instead focused on the excitement of having a hand in her own fate. Indeed, a challenging part of the transition to entrepreneurship was learning to let go of the little things and take the long view. [5:43] Learning to Let Go After the death of her husband, Lindquist found herself at the helm of an organization for the very first time. Her tendency toward taking control manifested itself during this time, as she believed every aspect of her business to be equally worthy of her undivided attention. Of course, no one can be everywhere at once, which is why micromanagement is one of the most toxic traits of an office environment. The entrepreneur credits her bookkeeper with giving her clarity on the subject, helping her realize that free time was a resource all its own. [8:10] Diversifying Your Talent Base The idea that every second spent doing something is a second not spent doing another thing seems intuitive enough in theory. In practice, where to draw the line is often less clear. For Lindquist, the key lies in understanding our strengths, interests, and overall skill set. By taking on only the tasks that appeal to our passion, we maximize our resources by making confident decisions. In turn, the people we employ to assist us in our areas of weakness or disinterest are fully engaged in their work, and more effective than we could ever be alone. [11:04] Spending Time Wisely Entrepreneurs having trouble moving to the next stage of growth usually do fine managing money, but could make better use of time.  In many cases, organizational leaders spend far too much time bogged down in everyday challenges.  Tasks that might take a business owner hours to perform could be accomplished in minutes with competent assistance. The tradeoff is in the amount of time being saved against the amount of money being spent. These opportunity costs can represent some of the biggest hidden losses for businesses. [14:34] Don't Cheat Yourself Along with presenting a realistic image of the expense of running your business, the effect of drawing a salary from your own organization is also psychological. Collecting income from your efforts is a reminder that your time and expertise have tangible value. Starting low and increasing your salary over time is sensible, but forgoing a salary sends the message that you cannot afford to pay yourself. This message can also have tangible impact with lending institutions, with unsalaried leadership speaking poorly to the stability of a business. [18:37] Financial Flexibility Lindquist also drawing a salary as an entrepreneur can even offer you added access to capital. Cashflow issues and unexpected expenditures are common in the early stages of an organization's development, and these can create stress in your life outside of work. Even in single employee operations, collecting a salary is useful for substantiating the legitimacy of your business venture to lending institutions. This added financial flexibility minimizes the risk to your personal finances, underscoring the investment potential of putting yourself first.   About Marsha Lindquist: Website: https://graniteleadershipstrategies.com/marsha-lindquist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshalindquist1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/marshagovcon?lang=en

In the first part of our conversation with Marsha Lindquist she highlighted the less romantic realities of entrepreneurship. She also revealed why paying close attention to your finances is paramount to your success.  Today the author and financial strategist, takes an even more granular approach to examining an organization's financial health. [0:45] A Hands-On Process Acknowledging the trepidation on the part of many entrepreneurs to dive into the finer points of finance, Lindquist reemphasizes the power this knowledge can hold. Moving beyond basic P&L sheets to full financial literacy may require a sharpening of skills, and even additional education. Nevertheless, the consultant underlines the value this investment can yield, as a few months of training can make your business more profitable overall. The importance of an organization's decision makers developing a reliable sense for finance cannot be overstated. [3:01] The Complexion of Commerce More important than the raw numbers on a company's balance sheet are the circumstances under which the money is moving through the business. For example, entrepreneurs forgoing a salary early in a company's growth cycle can be harmful in the long run, as it does not allow a full picture of expected expenses. Does your business have the resources to expand its capabilities as well as simply maintaining its standing? If not, the complexion of your commerce may not be what it appears, regardless of what the ledger may tell you. [5:10] Is the Price Right? One of the trickiest aspects of entrepreneurship--indeed, one that has been the demise of many promising organizations--is defining the cost of the product or service. Too high, and the prospective base of consumers will bypass you for a cheaper option. Too low, and your business will never recoup your investment. A thorough understanding of your company's finances removes a lot of the guesswork from the equation. By understanding how much a project costs you to produce, you can have a more concrete idea of its final price. [7:50] Virtual Realities Pricing can prove even more problematic for service providers, particularly for those in the virtual space. A flawed perception persists that virtual services are somehow worth less than their onsite counterparts. However, any savings on travel and accommodations must typically be applied to setting up Internet-based infrastructure such as content management systems and subscription services. In the end, time and expertise are the most profitable products of a service provider, and these should always garner fair compensation. [9:53] Paying a Proper Premium While there are a wealth of free services designed for online commerce, there is almost no avoiding the wisdom of the old adage: "You get what you pay for." Free versions of popular team coordination and communication tools usually lack the full suite of features you will rely on most. Free service hallmarks like limited functionality and watermarks can also make your brand feel less professional...and in turn, less competent. In the majority of cases, the finished product will clearly reflect the investment you make in your product or service.   About Marsha Lindquist: Website: https://graniteleadershipstrategies.com/marsha-lindquist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshalindquist1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/marshagovcon?lang=en Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

Marsha Lindquist of Granite Leadership Strategies believes certain realities of the business world are carved in stone. Her book, "Why Are You Still Working Your A** Off", distills her 3 decades of experience into a compendium of knowledge on the subject of employing resources more effectively. Today, the longtime financial strategist brings her unique point of view to the table, issuing some much-needed straight talk into the do-it-all leadership culture. [1:27] Born to Calculate Marsha Lindquist proudly proclaims herself as a lifelong cruncher of numbers. Although her aptitude for organizational leadership was developed later in life, the question of how she got into finance has its answer in the formative years of her childhood. In her words, she was born into the industry, developing an early fascination with the concept of money that she parlayed into a career in accounting. The thrills in Lundquist's professional life come when she is able to turn a profit for her clients' companies as well as in her own organization. [2:01]  Names and Numbers While her natural inclination for enumeration gave her career plenty of momentum from the outset, she considers her most marketable skill making the abstract tangible. Her focus is on making ideas such as efficiency and productivity into actionable advice for the clients she serves. For Lindquist, every effect is measurable by the resources dedicated to it. By promoting a more complete understanding of resource management, she is able to provide real value for clients by lowering their cost of doing business.  [2:59] Inspiration vs Implementation Leadership demands limitless challenges be addressed with limited resources. The veteran consultant finds coordination among the team leaders tasked with the groundwork for change to be an essential ingredient for success. Department heads, from HR and finance to management and outreach, should come away from a consultation with a common sense of their shared goals. To Lindquist, it is essential that decision makers at every organizational level understand not only what their team wants to accomplish, but why. [4:02] Brass Tacks and Hard Facts Lindquist points to intimate understanding of an organization's finances as a core factor in its success. While surface level metrics such as a positive profit-loss report or a healthy supply of cash on hand can present a picture of health, they can also obscure larger issues. For this accountant at heart, a rudimentary understanding of finance is not enough for the leader with an eye on the future. A decision maker who lacks a thorough familiarity with the finances of a business may suffer unwitting losses in both immediate profits and opportunity cost. [5:14] Monthly Metric Maintenance In order to attain a comprehensive view of the way money moves through your business, Lindquist recommends keeping regular tabs on certain key metrics. Profit/loss statements, balance sheets, and general ledgers should always be reviewed on a monthly basis, but some businesses benefit from even more in-depth examination. Complex organizations that rely on consistent innovation should be keeping careful track of each project's costs to help keep investment levels and profit potential proportionate.  [8:58] Delegation is Growth Keeping a constant eye on the financial health of a business can prove overwhelming for small business owners. To Lindquist, this highlights the importance of hiring the right person to do each job, and holding them accountable for their performance. In her own organization, she employs a dedicated bookkeeper along with an accountant to organize data into easily digestible forms. By employing a big picture perspective instead of getting mired in minutiae, she is better able to identify potential problems and make more confident decisions.   About Marsha Lindquist: Website: https://graniteleadershipstrategies.com/marsha-lindquist/ LinkedIn: https://www.

In Part I of this conversation with branding expert Melody Belotte of Melody Belotte Media, the significance of an organization's "personality" took center stage. The idea gets a in-depth treatment in this compelling continuation, including a meticulous breakdown of the traits that define brands in the mind of consumers. [1:31] Would You be Friends with Your Organization?As outlined in Part I, the result of a successfully managed branding strategy is to connect with your clientele on a personal level. In order to do this, customers and prospects should be able to clearly recognize themselves in the persona of your brand. Building a personality archetype such as "explorer" or "caregiver" in the public mind ascribes an element of emotion to what would otherwise be just another company. The easiest way to do this is to understand what your company offers, and decide what type of person would offer it.[3:02] Not So EasyHowever, some of the most successful instances of brand building extend beyond the core competencies of an organization. Belotte points to insurance titan GEICO as a prominent example, with their lighthearted, comedic outreach defining the company as much as the product it markets. This represents an especially inspired departure from the expected, as a issues such as car accident and home repair rarely inspire positive emotions. However, by standing as a separate entity, the cheeky GEICO brand has earned ample public goodwill.[8:28] Selling DreamsAs the old saying goes, "we don't buy the steak, we buy the sizzle." At the marketing level, companies do not sell their products, but the pleasing benefits of using them. A soap manufacturer does not market a combination of ingredients, but ideas such as beauty and freshness. Good health, popularity, and memories are other commonly marketed concepts, as people who value these will purchase them at any price. As a public facing organization, your most coveted product is always the opportunity for customers to indulge themselves.[9:56] Brand DefinitionThe hallmark of a well-considered branding initiative is the ability to build on a central idea. When you understand your brand and your market, your logo, your colors, and other distinguishing elements begin to make themselves apparent. Every element of a branding campaign should speak to what your business offers and who they hope to serve. Although this is certainly simpler for larger, more established businesses with loyal client bases, it offers wide latitude for uniqueness in developing businesses.[12:48] Melody Belotte, HerselfThe branding guru's approach to creating an image that sticks in the mind of prospects may be best expressed on her own website. Her About page speaks on her belief in the duality of her organizational brand and her personal brand, both of which have their own appeal. For example, although her company does not sell motorcycles, riding is a huge part of her life and customers can find commonality with her through her interest. In the end, branding is a way to stand out in a marketplace with ever more options...there are no small differences. About Melody Belotte:Website: http://melodybelotte.com/about-me/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodybelotte/Twitter: https://twitter.com/melodybelotte?lang=enInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/melodybelotte/?hl=enConnect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutionsEmail: Info@MindTeamSolutions.comLinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

Melody Belotte of Melody Belotte Media has a strong belief in the power of branding. From branding as an arm of organizational marketing to personal branding, the inescapable reality is that image matters. In Part 1 of this illuminating chat, the marketing expert goes into detail about what makes our connections with the brands in our lives so personal.[1:42] Imagination: The Gift that Keeps GivingAs her website makes clear, Belotte takes a focus on "Marketing, creativity, and everyday lightbulb moments" in her professional life. Regarding the latter, the branding expert considers it her most valuable product. Over 15 years in the industry, she has developed an array of practical insights that are not only viable, but adaptable. These are the seeds of best practices, and help create replicable success for organizations. In the end, the best ideas are not only the most ambitious, but the ones that can be most effectively implemented.[4:20] Simple SolutionsAs an organizational lead, simply keeping your operation running from day to day can require Olympian effort. Most developing businesses are in short supply of resources such as funding, equipment, personnel, and even time. For these reasons, Belotte emphasizes the impact of small steps: tangible actions that make measurable improvements, no matter how small. With a steady stream of incremental progress in place, team leaders can devote more of their time on answering tough questions and delving into areas of interest.[5:21] More than the BoxIt's easy to assume that branding is little more than devising a snappy logo in the right colors, but that's only part of the equation. For Belotte, branding is much more closely related to the feelings evoked when consumers hear your name.  This reality is underlined by concepts such as brand loyalty. Brand loyalty virtually guarantees that one option is chosen over another, regardless of other factors. In her view, branding is a complicated blend of logic and emotion, and there are reliable ways of shaping this overall perception.[7:47] Face ValueThe prominence of personal branding as a marketing strategy has never been higher. In many cases, the way people feel about a product reflects the way they feel about products associated with it. This is especially true of developing businesses with limited personnel as every interaction is in the immediate reach of the organization's leader. As companies expand, their employees, their marketing, and even their customers have an influence on public perceptions. Typically, perception of a brand evolves into an entity all its own.[9:14] Persona ProfileA branding consultation at Melody Belotte Media begins with the process of discovering what an organization wants to represent. By working with clients to understand their individual visions, a framework of ideas describing the company and its relationship to the consumer can be developed. The idea of 'fleshing out' organizational ideas is commonplace in today's world, but the ideas involved have grown tremendously complex. Indeed, brands no longer appeal to specific personalities, but can be classified into personality archetypes. About Melody Belotte:Website: http://melodybelotte.com/about-me/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodybelotte/Twitter: https://twitter.com/melodybelotte?lang=enInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/melodybelotte/?hl=enConnect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutionsEmail: Info@MindTeamSolutions.comLinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

Across industries, the organizations of today are facing all manner of unprecedented challenges that threaten the viability of their business models. In Part I of this sit-down with Sylvia, business development expert Russell Teter discussed facing these new and unpredictable challenges with proven methods. In the conclusion of this compelling conversation, Teter goes into detail about how to devise a system for all seasons. [1:05] From Carnegie to COVIDNapoleon Hill's seminal "Think and Grow Rich" is a formative influence in Russell Teter's life. Inspired by a prompt from 19th Century industrialist Andrew Carnegie, the book was the first of its kind. In these pages are generations of knowledge on building and maintaining wealth committed to a single source for the first time in modern history. The book was composed in the depths of the Great Depression, giving its lessons new relevance in today´s marketplace. In Teter's view, times change but the principles of success are timeless.[2:38] Three Master KeysFor this organizational specialist, the pillars of progress stand through the ages. Teter's takeaway from "Grow Rich" can be distilled to three central principles. The first essential for anyone in the decision making process of an organization is to understand who is spending money at the moment. The second step is to find a way to solve their problem faster, more inexpensively, or in an objectively superior fashion. Finally, it is essential to communicate clearly with your clientele, so they understand that you can meet their needs most effectively.[5:04] Shoot for the MoonWhen identifying benchmarks for success, it is important to distinguish ideal outcomes from positive outcomes. Teter illustrated this point using the saga of Apollo 13, the NASA mission that nearly left 3 astronauts stranded in space. At first glance, the mission may seem like a failure, falling short of the ideal outcome of landing on the lunar surface. However, the program met its goal as outlined by President Kennedy: returning the astronauts safely to Earth. This is a positive outcome, as the methods may have changed but the goal did not.[7:07] What Have You Done for Me Lately?In business, Russell Teter has never been one to rest on his laurels. This master of adaptation emphasizes that what a system was designed to do is irrelevant; it is what it can deliver under its current circumstances that matters. This idea is self-evident in a post-COVID world, as only those businesses who devise workable answers to the new questions they face will survive and thrive. While plans fail, and conditions constantly change, your general goals should remain constant and clearly identifiable.11:43 Enumerating EvolutionAs a keen analyst, Teter applies a number of mathematical concepts to quantifying the success of organizations at all levels. In summation, these various metrics measure the refinement of a system. These meticulous methods are aimed at creating companies built to become steadily better, faster, and less costly to operate over time. The overall process, the unique viewpoint that defines a business, remains constant...it falls to us to fill in the blanks. About Russell Teter:Website: https://synergybwi.com/russell-teter/SBDC Website: http://www.mdsbdc.umd.edu/locations/lead-centerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russellteterConnect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutionsEmail: Info@MindTeamSolutions.comLinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

Moving forward through the continuing COVID crisis may create unprecedented problems, but for this corporate developmental specialist, executives are problem-solvers first and foremost. Executive coach Russell Teter has survived more than one surprise in his 25 years in the business, making him uniquely suited to steer a ship through a storm. Fittingly, his last 14 years have been spent in service of the Maryland SBDC. Learning to navigate the unknown can be a powerful tool, and Part I of this conversation focuses on finding the way. [2:17] A Library of Practical Knowledge It is said that Rome was not built in a day, and the old adage reflects Russell Teter's career path. His respected voice in organizational leadership was developed over a career spanning three decades and thousands of clients. Drawing contrast with the meteoric rises of today's business world, Teter points to insights gained through those he has worked alongside as his greatest assets. By meticulously gathering time-tested information from a diverse array of dedicated individuals, he gets the most out of every connection he makes. [3:27] The Constant is Change "Adapt or perish" more than has earned its place as a truism in the business world and in life at large. For Teter, an added benefit of a slow build to sustainable success is developing a tolerance for uncertainty. Regardless of how long your business model has existed or how successful it may have been, the time will come when it must be reimagined. The COVID crisis underscores this reality. Whether a one-man operation or a titan like Disney, organizations only thrive when they employ methods suited to the atmosphere around them. [5:19] Beyond Your Barriers Drawing an unconventional parallel, the experienced entrepreneur holds Dr. Martin Luther King up as an ultimate exponent of modeling growth. From his Alabama jail cell, the civil rights leader was inspired to envision a future beyond his immediate circumstances, composing his iconic ¨Letter from Birmingham Jail¨ during his imprisonment. While he was eventually able to rally resources to his cause, the catalyst was a decision made by a single man. Such decisions formed a concrete plan, and that plan garnered the support of a nation. [8:21] Are We There Yet? Human beings are hardwired to seek fulfillment, and so visualizing a successful future is a common motivational technique. However, in uncertain times, finding true fulfillment may prove difficult. Here, Teter uses the analogy of a road trip: we have to have a destination in mind before we set out on our journey. Why are we engaging in this pursuit? What is our ideal outcome? Seen from this perspective, directing our path toward success becomes a matter of understanding our vehicle, its current condition, and the conditions of travel. [12:17] On Reading Road Maps At best, advice can only help you get to where another person once arrived. The difficulty of the journey or even the existence of the identified destination may have changed, as times and circumstances inevitably do. Teter draws focus to this reality, reminding us to always consider how the knowledge we gain can be applied to our specific situation. Lasting change in outcome requires fundamental changes in our own lives. We are all made of our exposures and experiences, and so it is imperative to align them with our expectations.   About Russell Teter: Website: https://synergybwi.com/russell-teter/ SBDC Website: http://www.mdsbdc.umd.edu/locations/lead-center LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russellteter Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

More than anything else, professional guidance is a matter of understanding personalities. Phyllis Levinson understands this idea better than most, finding her career path through inclination rather than introduction. The final installment of this 3-part conversation with this author and life coach takes a focus on her influences and personal experience in the field. [0:49] A False Dichotomy  As human beings, it is natural for us to try and simplify things. An overarching theme among Levinson´s clients who are dissatisfied with their careers is a false choice between work and life. As her ¨Tree of Life¨ metaphor shows, our personal and professional aims comprise an expansive and interconnected system of pursuits. The decisions we make are often not as clear-cut as they seem, and we usually have more choices than we immediately consider. Through careful consideration, we can devise systems tailored to us as individuals. [2:35] The Power of Prioritization Most people have a diverse array of goals and desires, all of which require dedicated effort. With a finite time frame in which to find fulfillment, it can be difficult to be sure which direction makes the right first step on a long journey. In Levinson's view, this is where we can turn our tendency to simplify things into an advantage. She points to Steven Covey's famous ¨4 Quadrants¨ concept as a reliable guideline. By separating the tasks before us into immediate and eventual, urgent and optional, we can draw reliable roadmaps to our destination. [9:56] Empathic Leadership Although she emphasizes that human nature is never set in stone, Levinson notes a marked difference in the management styles of women she works with. In her experience, women in leadership positions tend toward a more people-focused strategy. These leaders are inclined to make more use of "soft skills", such as compassion and communication, rather than hard metrics. Empathic leaders consider how each decision will affect the people they trust, and so they find tremendous value in the authentic human feedback she provides. [13:50] Behind a Mastermind Mastermind groups represent another core element of Levinson's development as a life and career coach. These groups are made up of senior executives as well as team members of various organizations, and are designed to examine issues from multiple angles. For Levinson, the value of these groups is in the candid discussions that take place during each session. The practical input of ground level support staff combined with the grand visions of team leaders can result in surprisingly innovative solutions to everyday issues. [16:34] Good Followers Make Great Leaders No one is an expert at everything, and so micromanagement is often the mark of an incompetent leader. Although Levinson specializes in leading mastermind groups, she also finds consistent value in attending them as well. She highlights the inherent merit of variety in perspective, as practically everyone has something to teach...and something to learn.   About Phyllis Levinson: Website: https://www.phyllislevinson.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhyllisLevinsonCoaching/ Blog: https://www.phyllislevinson.com/phyllislevinsoncom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyllis-levinson-mcrp-pcc-45a81218 Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions Email: Info@MindTeamSolutions.com LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

In the first installment of this three-part chat, Phyllis Levinson introduced her intuitive outline of modern life lived in balance: the "Tree of Life". Today, the author of Life-Ku: 101 Life Coaching Tips, 17 Syllables at a Time expands on her powerful metaphor for personal fulfillment. She also sheds light on how time management is a flawed goal and the limiting power of the word "should" in Part II of this inspiring interview.[1:00] Levinson's "Tree of Life" in Full Bloom  Levinson opens the second segment of this conversation by expanding on her "Tree of Life" analogy illustrating a life in sustainable balance. The driving visual behind the metaphor is a complex system of interdependent elements, the interests that we all attempt to fit into our everyday routines. She also discusses the struggles that women in executive positions can have in fully assuming their roles in an organization. These difficulties are directly connected, as unresolved issues in one aspect of their life can greatly impact other aspects.[3:36] Transcending "Should"Levinson identifies the word "should" as one that most greatly restrict us from unlocking our potential. In her experience, an idealized image of what "the perfect life" SHOULD look like can cause undue anxiety. While acknowledging the difficulty of achieving a well-rounded life, she encourages us to concentrate on what most fulfills us without guilt. At times, sacrifices must be made...and there is nothing wrong with that. In the end, we have the power to look beyond what we "should" be doing and choose the roles that define us to ourselves.[6:58] The Time Management TrapThere's no getting around it: there are only so many hours in a day. As a result, we all want to make the most of every waking hour. Still, Levinson cautions against compartmentalizing our time too rigorously. Efficiency is a virtue, but too much of a focus on efficiency alone can rob us of the time to enjoy what we accomplish. For these reasons, it important to measure awareness of the time we spend against an appreciation for the way we spend it.[8:00] Contextualizing CoachingThere is a common misconception that the services of a life coach decrease in value as your career path moves forward. On the contrary, many of Levinson's most regular clients are women in leadership positions who simply want a credible outside perspective on their process. She sees her role as helping these women refine their decision-making process through organic conversation, leading them to the best version of themselves. Assembling the big picture from the puzzle pieces of professional and personal pursuits is her passion.[10:07] Confidence in a NutshellA dedicated minimalist, Sylvia Levinson wrote her latest book "Life-Ku" with an eye on making the formula for personal success easy to digest. By rendering some of her most potent guidance into a collection of haikus, she hopes to make self-improvement more approachable. Encapsulating her perspective on a life well-lived, she exemplifies her penchant for brevity: "You only get one chance, live it your way."About Phyllis Levinson:Website: https://www.phyllislevinson.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhyllisLevinsonCoaching/Blog: https://www.phyllislevinson.com/phyllislevinsoncomLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyllis-levinson-mcrp-pcc-45a81218Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutionsEmail: Info@MindTeamSolutions.comLinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

We don't always find our calling on the first try and Phyllis Levinson is living proof. This self described "serial career changer" eventually found her most enduring fulfillment in helping others along their search. Today, she mentors women in various industries as they strive toward their career aspirations. An inspired individual above all else, she has collected her wisdom into a book of poems called Life-Ku: 101 Life Coaching Tips, 17 Syllables at a Time.  In this three-part special, the goal oriented guru goes into detail on her process.[1:37] To Scale a SkillCharting a reliable course for others to follow requires a deep enthusiasm for understanding systems. This inclination toward organization is the common thread in Levinson's career choices, as she first pursued a path toward city planning. Although she never made professional use of her Master's Degree in the discipline, she regularly employs the knowledge she gained in its study. Understanding systems helps her to understand people, as effective management of her clients' career path requires a clear view of the big picture.[3:02] Finding BalanceAs the remote work revolution continues to progress, it is common to question what constitutes a good balance between our personal and professional interests. With much of the modern workforce at home, factors such as location or investment of time can make unreliable measurements. To fully understand what a healthy work-life balance is, Levinson finds it essential to understand what it is not. A healthy work-life balance is not only time management or productivity, but allows all the parts of our lives to fit together seamlessly.[4:52] Imperfect, but IdealThe self-help specialist spells out the reality: it is impossible to be perfectly balanced at every moment of every day. The unexpected is always to be expected...sick days and sudden delays are simply part of life on Earth. There will be moments where you feel less capable of facing a new challenge. We all make mistakes from time to time, but allowing perfection to be the enemy of functionality can be the source of our most costly errors. [6:14] Tree of LifeLevinson's ¨Tree of Life¨ metaphor has delivered some of her clients' most profound breakthroughs. She imagines herself as a tree requiring a strong root system to grow and thrive. These roots may not all be equally deep, but each of them plays an indispensable role in ensuring that the tree is properly nurtured. The exterior factors may change, a storm may tear at weak branches, but a well established root system keeps the tree itself strong.[9:01] Roots to LeavesDelving into the "Tree of Life" metaphor with more detail, Levinson touches on the issues that most commonly prevent us from leading fuller lives. The roles we choose in our communities and the activities we pursue for enjoyment give us an image of ourselves. In her view, much of the difficulty we face today stems from a struggle to reconcile old images with a new reality. Where are our roots? Which leaves fly off in a breeze? Understanding what we value about our lives can be a source of both motivation and inner peace.About Phyllis Levinson:Website: https://www.phyllislevinson.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhyllisLevinsonCoaching/Blog: https://www.phyllislevinson.com/phyllislevinsoncomLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyllis-levinson-mcrp-pcc-45a81218Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutionsEmail: Info@MindTeamSolutions.comLinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

As a rule, everyone in an organization is talented in some form or fashion, but fully extracting that talent is a separate matter. Getting the best version of the people around you means facilitating a group effort to build a healthy relationship with every member of the team...which is easier said than done, and so this sit-down with MindTeam Solutions explores strategies for bridging the gap between team members.[0:20] Get Real About Social MediaSocial media reflects society, but the resulting image can sometimes be compared to the experience of looking into a funhouse mirror. Behaviors and interactions that seem perfectly reasonable online--informing neighbors and work associates of your everyday activities, regularly sharing pictures of meals--would be perceived as bizarre in a real world context. With social media forming such a central element in our modern social lives, it can be instructive to ask ourselves how our online and offline lives shape one another.[1:22] Emotional IntelligenceFor Generation Z, individuals born after Y2K and just entering the workforce, there has never been a world without social media. This unique position in history has demanded of them a set of social skills unlike that of any other generation, with abilities formerly considered innate, such as reading body language, de-emphasized in favor of the emotional intelligence required to navigate public forums effectively. This means many members of Generation Z are extraverted in online forums, but more subdued and apprehensive in everyday spaces.[3:36] Tangible TimeHuman beings are social animals at the core, and so thousands of years of evolutionary history suggests there is no true substitute for in-person bonding. This makes dedicated one-on-one or small group meetings essential to fostering a sense of camaraderie among team members, particularly those who may not have worked together for long. Something as simple as a cup of coffee or casual lunch between people slated to work closely together can make the office a more productive and enjoyable environment overall.[6:28] Break the Walls DownMost people instinctively gravitate towards those with the most apparent similarities in any environment, but in a team dynamic incorporating individuals with vastly different backgrounds and areas of expertise, this can greatly impact the group's cohesiveness. It is important to ensure that all members of an organization feel comfort with and respect for their colleagues, even those unlike them, and for team leaders that means encouraging free exchange of ideas, and open lines of communication among the people you trust most.[10:31] What is Diversity?There is a common misconception of diversity as chiefly driven by factors such as race, gender, or nationality, but the most powerful form of diversity involves individuals with vastly different ideas coming together in the name of a common interest. The challenges of today cut across our self-definitions to affect each of us uniquely, and our experiences overcoming them can be valuable in unexpected ways. Seeing a problem from many angles as possible offers the best chance of devising the right plan of action in practically any scenario.[12:03] Experience: The Gift that Keeps on GivingA formal or informal mentorship program in your organization can help more members of your team unlock their full potential. Seasoned employees should be encouraged to reach out to newer faces finding their way, giving them the comfort and confidence to make everyone's job easier by using the skills that brought them in the door to their fullest effect. About the Shuler Group: Dawn and Mark ShulerThe Shuler Group, LLC, is a 100% woman-owned consulting and training business specializing in strengths-based workplace and culture, communication, employee engagement, leadership and team development programs, as well as training to improve communication, sales,

They say it's not how you start, it's how you finish, and the wrong frame of mind can makes it feel impossible to finish at all. That's why Part II of this conversation with MindTeam solutions breaks down burnout, it's potential effects, and why it could be one of the most expensive issues your organization could face.[0:29] Burnout Can Begin Day OneA recent piece in the Washington Post delved into the realities of burnout in the workplace, and some of the revelations were surprising. Burnout is not necessarily the result of a heavy workload or long hours, but an unsatisfactory work environment. It is nearly impossible to get the most out of ourselves when we consistently struggle with our motives for showing up for work and so encouraging engagement and preventing burnout has to be an organizational focus that starts at the top and permeates down to every interview with a potential new hire.[3:11] Know Your RoleEveryone in your organization has a role, one which they have worked to cultivate and that adds to the overall capability of your team. This means that regularly showing appreciation for the people that power your organization is key to making them feel as though their efforts are being rewarded. While management must strive to create and maintain open lines of communication, your talent has a role to play in strengthening this connection as well, and should clearly communicate their specific needs from a workplace environment.[4:30] Cultural ChainsSome of the responsibility for the lack of attention to mental health and professional fulfillment in the past stems from larger social themes. For generations, men in particular faced heavy pressure to ignore any personal issues for the safe of job performance, and shadows of this cultural indoctrination show even in the enlightened environments of today. For these reasons, it is imperative that organizations work to deliver emotional support resources, empowering employees to speak up when they face difficult moments.[8:31] A Matter of Life and DeathWith the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing an 11 percent increase in occupational fatalities due to suicide, the sobering reality is clear: there are few things more incompatible with overall life satisfaction than a difficult work environment. This is an especially tragic side effect of a society where individuals are expected to ignore their emotional pain for professional purposes. Burnout may not be as visible as other afflictions, but the impact on the people in your organization can be just as severe.[11:24] Leading by ExampleAlthough awareness of mental health has certainly come a long way in a relatively short period of time, some old stigmas still persist and so getting buy-in for a workplace mental health initiative can prove to be a tricky prospect. One tried and true technique for getting your program off to a successful start is to have leadership demonstrate the merit of participation by offering their own stories. Opening dialogues in this way can put groups on equal footing, and make your team feel more secure in sharing their challenges.[12:51] None of Your Business HoursWith the proliferation of tools that allow us to stay in contact with the people in our lives at virtually any time, the lines between our professional and personal lives can easily begin to blur. Team leaders who expect 24-hour availability from the people they rely on often do both themselves and their talent a disservice, denying them an opportunity to engage with other areas of their life and increasing the likelihood of burnout for a valued team member. Your employees should always feel free to enjoy some time removed from office responsibilities. About the Shuler Group: Dawn and Mark ShulerThe Shuler Group, LLC, is a 100% woman-owned consulting and training business specializing in strengths-based workplace and culture, communication,

Our titles and job descriptions can contain any number of grandiose phases, but in the end our foremost job is being a person. Only when we perform this complicated system of tasks effectively can we take on any more responsibility, such as a role within an organization, and authenticity is a key part of the puzzle. Part II of the conversation within this MindTeam Solutions episode goes into detail about why being successful starts with being human.[1:11] Peak of the Week?In the sweet spot between early week doldrums and anticipation of the weekend lies Wednesday, seemingly with an energy all its own. Of course, this is all in our minds, but few would argue that feeling fully engaged with the work we do makes us more effective at doing it. Therefore, reverse-engineering "the Wednesday connection" can be a helpful idea to keep in mind when struggling with issues such as workplace burnout. How do we feel during our best days at the office? What concrete factors contributed to our positive frame of mind?[3:49] Remember the PersonIn the course of the less exciting everyday efforts that drive any successful organization, it can be easy to forget that your colleagues are complete human beings with emotions and desires instead of office equipment with a friendly face. This means that a measure of transparency can be an essential tool between team members...if someone is struggling through a tough day, addressing the issue as appropriate can help alleviate emotional stress to some degree and foster the greatest possible sense of focus on the task at hand.[5:08] The Merits of Mental MaintenanceThe benefits to company culture are far from the only reason to provide your team members with as much space as possible to be complete human beings. Numerous studies have shown that addressing the mental health and overall happiness of employees is a measurable factor in the success of leading organizations. In fact, besides being the right thing to do, every dollar spent on mental health can translate into as much as $4 in profits..[7:53] A Personal PerspectiveMental health initiatives can seem abstract in nature, but have concrete effects on the performance of your staff. Repressing emotion is not only unhealthy, but unsustainable. Sylvia shares an anecdote from her career teaching photography in which she suffered tremendous anxiety after witnessing an incident that left a treasured pet dead minutes before class. Instead of suffering silently, she took a moment to share her experience with the students before continuing, which re-centered her in her role, enabling her to do her job.[11:01] Okay DaysMargins of error are part of life, and expecting your team members to have their best day every day is an ideal recipe for failure. The people we rely on face challenges that have nothing to do with what we expect from them in our professional roles, and although consistent performance is a valuable attribute in an employee, it is also important to recognize the value in working around a less-than-ideal situation to create a satisfactory outcome...sometimes avoiding the worst-case scenario has to be good enough.Connect with MindTeam Solutions: Website: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutionsEmail: Info@MindTeamSolutions.comLinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/mindteamsolutions

High-profile corporate consultant Susan Trivers has developed a keen eye for pinpointing patterns that keep companies stuck at a limited level of success. One of the most consistent patterns she has documented among businesses struggling to find their way is that many otherwise viable organizations have wildly variable finances, which restricts their ability to make effective decisions. She calls this phenomenon the¨Revenue Roller Coaster¨, and Part IV of this conversation with Susan Trivers explores finding a ticket off this wild ride.[0:35] Ups and DownsAlthough seasonal businesses are especially susceptible to these fluctuations, the fact is that companies of all kinds struggle with consistency throughout the year. These businesses manage to do fairly well despite their boom-or-bust stream of income, but it's easy to imagine the same organizations—demonstrably well-run in their best times—performing at a consistently remarkable level. Trivers frames the "Revenue Roller Coaster" as a scenario requiring a finely tuned internal strategy aimed at delivering value to your most valued customers year-round.[6:24] Resilience and ReinventionFailing to adequately respond to change is a sure way to see your company relegated to the dustbin of history. Of course, this is a general truism of business, but the consequences of a lacking imagination have been drawn into focus like never before in 2020. Many service providers have had to find (or invent!) entirely new ways of doing business in order to remain viable in a constantly shifting consumer atmosphere, and it is only those company leaders and entrepreneurs who can re-imagine their offerings to suit current demand that will flourish.[8:24] Creating CommitmentsThe most lucrative industries are typically those that can demonstrate their usefulness at any given moment. If your company can offer consistent value to its most loyal customers, there are practically no limits on its growth, and one way that businesses with inconsistent seasonal income can work to stabilize their revenue streams is by creating client commitments. Through products such as gift cards, subscriptions, off-season discounts, and annual retainer packages, companies can expand their earning potential and build a more stable platform for growth.[9:06] Flexibility as a ProductA product you are unable to use the moment you need it is no product at all, and so many businesses have transitioned to an on-demand model to guarantee responsiveness for clients and revenue for your organization. There are a surprising number of professions that can flourish under such an arrangement, from auto mechanic and administrative assistants. In all of these cases, the appeal of the service is the ability to reserve your services in advance and use only what is needed while you collect a steadier stream of income.[14:01] Objective PerspectiveNo matter how experienced or confident we are, we can only think our own individual thoughts, and so at times we all get too close to things to evaluate them properly. Company leaders who find themselves scrambling to adapt to the challenges of today should look to other industries for workable models and seek out various viewpoints on what their business could be rather than what it currently is. We tend to only ask the questions that reflect our own expertise, and so a fresh set of eyes may view your business and its prospects from an entirely new angle. About Susan Trivers, President, Trivers Consulting GroupSusan Trivers has been providing strategic business consulting to low mid-market and small services companies since 1999. Trivers Consulting Group has helped 500 client companies to increase profitable revenue by more than 2 billion dollars. When asked what her one piece of advice to business owners is, she immediately says: “Accumulate more cash.” Cash enables the company to achieve its biggest goals and helps the owner grow their person...

Less is not always more. Among other compelling topics, Part III of our chat with Susan Trivers works to debunk a particularly insidious misconception that has caused many an entrepreneur to stumble: that cutting expenses automatically saves a company money. While entrepreneurs may see some short term benefits with a cost-cutting strategy, in the end it results in reduced flexibility and the potential opportunity costs can dwarf the investment. [1:46] Pump Up the VolumeIf a company's most valuable attribute is their output—the ability to deliver the best version of their products and services to each client—then the most profitable thing a company can do is invest in their ability to increase their output. Of course, this requires a substantial commitment of resources, and so the first step that Trivers advises companies looking to rise above an early plateau take is to examine their financials to free up cash for investment in the business, such as additional executive-level staff and specialized personnel to handle technical tasks.[5:43] Cutting Expenses: Fools' GoldThough it might seem like intuitively correct, reducing the expenses for a business is often one of the worst possible decisions a company leader can make. She speaks at length about her experience with cash-conscious companies that came to her eager to slash expenditure by cutting payroll, typically to disastrous effect. An organization's human resources, its talent, lies at the heart of every potential success, and cutting staff essentially means cutting innovation.[6:33] The Human ElementThe individual people that power a company can be underrated in their effect on its overall culture. Trevor highlights the oft-belittled role of customer service in the overall perception of a company; something as simple as being available to answer an email in a timely fashion can drastically affect the end user's experience and create customer loyalty. Any investment you make in ensuring the people that turn to your business are met with competent, helpful human beings will typically come back tenfold in customer perception.[8:36] Same Approach, Same ResultsA common response to the proactive approach Susan Trivers endorses centers around that old chestnut: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." While sound advice in some scenarios, businesses who want to make the great leap forward will never be able to do it by applying the same old approach year after year. The previous year's revenue should be easy to attain for a sound business...the true test of innovation is the ability to grow and adapt each year in the face of more and more capable competitors as well as a constantly changing marketplace.[12:45] "Tinker" or Tank?In her book "Tinker," Trivers delves into the creative process of successful, growth-oriented organizations. Rather than relying on sudden, radical changes, she advises company leadership to view development as a constant process, to identify issues each day that may prevent the company from performing at its absolute best. She tells the story of how a series of experiments helped her minimize waste and maximize profits at a restaurant she owned by employing a strategic soup serving schedule...small changes can make a big difference.[19:23] Engineering Exponential ExpectationsMany companies are able to maintain their foothold or even make meager gains of 1 or 2 percentage points annually, but the most ambitious entrepreneurs set their sights much higher. Transcending your plateau could mean multiplying your yearly revenue, but will require an unwavering commitment to establishing momentum and maximizing growth. If you're fairly satisfied with your pace, small changes will serve you well...advancing to an appreciable extent is a full time project involving the full talents of your team….and following a hunch or two! About Susan Trivers, President, Trivers Consulting Group

In Part II of this engaging conversation with Susan Trivers, the growth guru details her proven perspectives on unlocking the full potential of an organization as well as the role of leadership in balancing personal and professional goals. Getting her clients to understand their own value is only part of the puzzle...her most successful students learn to maximize the value of every resource at their disposal, and so this episode continues to explore her expertise.[0:54] Do You Value Your Value?A value-driven pricing structure is key to the sustained growth of a business. When considering the consumer cost of a product or service, everything from labor and material costs to speed of delivery and development time should be accounted for in the total price, as in the end any company is in the business of selling solutions. Outcome, not input, is the central factor to consider when determining a pricing structure that works for you...how does what your company offers affect the results your clients can expect when compared with the available alternatives?[4:51] The GO CurveSusan Trivers' GO Curve is one of her signature visual tools for helping companies turn client data into actionable information. Her breakdown of the instructive graphic separates buyers into three main categories: testers, regulars, and enthusiastic fans. These categories of client all have different levels of engagement with your brand. Optimally, a company can move "testers" into "regulars" and translate their regular clientele into dedicated support, and so a key to growth lies in offering products and services that appeal to each of them.[9:12]  Building a MachineAdding to your arsenal is indispensable to expanding your reach and scope. For example, developing a new product or service is an investment in and of itself. You need people dedicated to not only giving the concept a concrete shape, but devising a comprehensive plan for presenting it to the people most likely to buy it. Nationally, hiring this additional personnel requires cash, and organizations can both bolster their ability to compete and lower their taxable earnings by investing in development of a new product or service.[13:48] The Long GameWhile minimizing tax liability for your company through consistent R&D and drawing a comfortable salary for retirement are both equally valid goals, they can often work at cross purposes. It is important for your organization's financial advisor to understand what your goals are. Trivers advises a yearly consultation with your CPA or CFO to review your current strategy and decide whether to aim for rapid growth or reliable returns.Through savvy resource management, companies can break through the plateau and consistently achieve new heights. About Susan Trivers, President, Trivers Consulting GroupSusan Trivers has been providing strategic business consulting to low mid-market and small services companies since 1999. Trivers Consulting Group has helped 500 client companies to increase profitable revenue by more than 2 billion dollars. When asked what her one piece of advice to business owners is, she immediately says: “Accumulate more cash.” Cash enables the company to achieve its biggest goals and helps the owner grow their personal wealth. Susan offers a wealth of insightful strategic and tactical information on her website.“Helping business owners have wealth and a life, not just a job.” -Susan TriversConnect with SusanWebsite: http://susantrivers.com/Trivers Consulting Group Phone: 703-801-0345About: https://www.susantrivers.com/about-susan/meet-susan/Book: Author of Tinker: How Smart Business Owners Develop Creative Ideas for True Growth. Available on Amazon

Susan Trivers is practically peerless as a corporate communicator. Her consulting agency, Trivers Consulting Group, has led nearly 500 client companies to additional revenue totaling 2 billion dollars, demonstrating the undeniable success of her approach. Here, she shares some perspective on how creators can undervalue and misunderstand the services they provide.[2:34] That Elusive Next StepFor companies that endure through the early challenges to establish themselves as stable, the challenge becomes building on that initial success. The veteran consultant defines stagnation as generating essentially the same level of revenue year after year, and while this is a generally positive development for a once-aspiring entrepreneur, few are those organizations that move beyond this stage. Transforming the overall potential of your business involves transforming your everyday habits, as only a refined approach can lead to improved results.[4:05] Three KeysWhile Trivers specializes in the big picture, it is of course the details that make all the difference for her client companies. A common obstacle toward growth is a pricing model that no longer reflects the cost of operation, and business owners should work to understand why every product is priced as it is to determine whether the structure still makes sense. Other factors in the success of an organization include delivering value as opposed to delivering products and a taxation strategy designed to maximize the resources available to a company.[8:47] Reclaiming Your TimeMany entrepreneurs fail to adequately account for the time they will invest in producing products or providing services. In many cases, hourly rates can have the effect of penalizing a contractor for their expertise, speed, and skill by placing a hard limit on the price of well-done, expediently performed work. With skilled work, knowledge and expertise are part of the product, and outside of a few specialized industries such as litigation and medical treatment, a fixed rate pricing structure is usually much more beneficial to the individual performing the work.[15:46] Efficiency as a VirtueIn Trivers’ view, the link between productivity and hourly rates is questionable at best. If productivity is a measure of how well resources are used, performing high quality work in a short period of time is the best possible expression of the idea. The amount of time it takes to perform a task correctly is a function of skill, not dedication, and so if a task requires an uncommon knowledge and expertise, the only way to get the most possible reward in the shortest possible time frame is by employing a fixed rate or value based fee.[18:14] Valuing Intellectual PropertyAt the heart of any service based industry is the individual vision and talents of the person performing the task: their intellectual property. Whether you are a painter, a mechanic, a tailor, a carpenter, or a landscaper, any time your mental energies must be applied to addressing the concerns of an individual client, you have engaged in selling your intellectual property. This means that every idea you have can generate revenue for your business, and when your mind is your product you can scarcely afford to sell off its contents at a flat hourly rate. About Susan Trivers, President, Trivers Consulting GroupSusan Trivers has been providing strategic business consulting to low mid-market and small services companies since 1999. Trivers Consulting Group has helped 500 client companies to increase profitable revenue by more than 2 billion dollars. When asked what her one piece of advice to business owners is, she immediately says: “Accumulate more cash.” Cash enables the company to achieve its biggest goals and helps the owner grow their personal wealth. Susan offers a wealth of insightful strategic and tactical information on her website.“Helping business owners have wealth and a life, not just a job.

In Part III of this compelling conversation, Melissa Doman, M.A. takes the time to examine the hidden roadblocks between individuals and the mental health resources that people often require to function at their best each day. Deconstructing the stigma that can surround mental health initiatives in the workplace is central to ensuring these programs are properly implemented, and more importantly, appeal to those who can most benefit from them.[0:34] The Mind as a MachineThe ongoing crisis has highlighted the fact that personal fulfillment and professional success are intertwined at a more fundamental level than commonly understood in the corporate world. While it is possible to work around, for example, depression or ADHD in much the same way one would compensate for a chronic disease, the undeniable fact is that people function best under ideal conditions, and this requires taking the whole person into account.[3:05] Modeling the ProcessNaturally, the wellness of an organization and the people that push it forward starts at the top, with leadership and management. An environment of openness can make your team members feel more secure in addressing their own issues, and so it is important to approach any mental health initiatives undertaken by your organization with a sense of engagement and authenticity. In many cases, team leaders speaking candidly about their own struggles with everyday challenges can humanize them, deepening the connection with the team.[4:35] The Stakes of Mental HealthFostering an environment that champions the wellness of the whole person is not just a profitable initiative, but one that could seal your competitive edge by guaranteeing the investment of key players on your team. There’s the business case, and the human-to-human case. When individuals in your organization feel free to address issues that limit their ability to function at the highest level, they make more enduring commitments both to the process and themselves. For these reasons, any successful group dynamic must account for the mental health of those involved. [7:41] Opportunity vs. ObligationNo matter how well considered an initiative may be, its chances of success are minimal to nonexistent if the people it is intended to serve do not immediately perceive the benefit. Cornering your team members and demanding they share personal information is not only an unsustainable approach, but will likely drive your most vulnerable team members further into isolation. In order to create the best possible outcomes for your organization, your mental health program should be designed as a resource, never a requirement.[10:33] Mental Health as the FoundationDuring the day to day grind at a thriving company, it can sometimes be easy to forget that the capable and tireless people powering your organization are not at their best every day, and that’s ok. We all have days where the demands of being human overwhelm our professional drive, and accounting for the fact that your people are people is indispensable to any wellness-focused strategy. Options such as built-in mental health days and a culture centered on feeling your best to perform your best will usually create teams that are happier at work.[14:00] A Common ConcernThe most important thing for individuals that may be struggling with mental health concerns is to remember that they are far from alone. Mental illness is nothing to feel guilty or ashamed about...just as the body can be injured through no fault of one's own, billions among our current population will experience some form of mental health concern at some point during their lives. This means that individuals must be just as proactive about seeking out resources and care for these afflictions as organizations must be about providing them...in the words of Cincinnati´s former mayor, ¨take care of yourselves, and each other.¨ About Melissa Doman, M.A.

It can seem like the answers are changing as quickly as the questions these days.  Although we all wonder about the future, just keeping up with everyday life can feel like a daunting task. Part II of this engaging chat with Melissa Doman, M.A. centers on maintaining a resilient mindset through the huge challenges of our brave new world.[0:31] A Constant State of EmergencyFrom concerns about the ongoing pandemic to the economic crises that present a tangible threat to our ways of life, it can seem like there is always a puzzle of some sort to solve in these troubled times. Good physical health along with economic and social stability form a dominant share of our overall wellness, and when these are placed into uncertainty by our everyday circumstances, finding a moment's peace can prove a challenge in and of itself.[4:15] Programmed to PanicWe think of ourselves as highly advanced creatures, but on a fundamental level we process the world around us in a very basic way. Lifestyle stressors such as economic and social concerns affect our bodies in many of the same ways that immediate physical danger affected our ancestors; your brain makes very little distinction between an eviction notice and a crouching tiger from a physiological perspective. However, this means the solutions can be equally rudimentary...something as simple as proper breathing can enhance calm and focus.[5:47] Give it a RestConstant connection to the digital tools that power our personal and professional lives is a consistent contributor to our stress levels. The effects of dedicated relaxation on the body and mind have been repeatedly borne out by clinical study, and so taking frequent breaks from technology is absolutely imperative to maintaining a mindset centered on the present instead of always seeking out the next problem to solve.[8:23]  Perfection as a DistractionAn important thing to understand about life on Planet Earth is that ¨perfect¨ is a myth. Melissa holds this social construct of perfection up as one of the most harmful ideas we accept, as we all have our finest moments, and others where we struggle. For this reason, in her view, a key piece of the mental health puzzle involves creating moments for check-in on all of these states of being. By regularly taking time with friends and colleagues to examine what´s going well and what may need attention, we can create moments to practice more self-acceptance.[10:28] The Harmful Myth of ColorblindnessWhile there are very few individuals in the world having an easy time of it at the moment, these unpredictable hours have a disproportionate impact on people of color. Systemic racism creates a vast array of added difficulties for many members of society, from marginalization in COVID treatment and lack of proportionate access to stimulus programs to more visible concerns like police brutality. Failure to account for how these factors affect the experience of the impacted creates incomplete solutions that may even be detrimental.[17:48] Uncomfortable ConversationsThese topics may represent unfamiliar territory for your group or organization, but these discussions represent a necessary part of the process. Though exploring the realities of mental health in the modern world may lead to more than a few uncomfortable moments, it can be encouraging to realize that even opening a forum for discourse represents a tremendous leap forward that will helps create better mental health outcomes among your team members, and in turn a more fulfilled, productive, and confident base of talent.[19:50] Emphasizing the ¨Health¨ in Mental HealthIn the end, inclusion is the goal of any viable health-focused program. Mental health involves afflictions of the mind as much as cardiovascular health involves afflictions of the heart, and in that regard, ensuring that these afflictions are appropriately addressed is non-negotiable for organizations looking for a competitive e...

Keynote speaker and corporate consultant Melissa Doman, M.A. helps companies understand that the people who power their companies are the true foundation for their enduring success.[1:51] Individuals Power GroupsAs a former clinical mental health therapist, Melissa's work brought her into close contact with people in practically every walk of life. Her service in this role made for a natural transition to shaping the culture of organizations, and her sustainable approach to the health and well being of the individuals that power groups has consistently created better personal and professional outcomes in her sphere of influence over the following years.[6:00] Definition of Mental HealthThe definition of mental health is complex, but can generally be understood as a healthy baseline of social, emotional, and cognitive function. This  impacts how we think, feel, and behave. How we view ourselves, others, and the world. Emotions such as frustration and worry are part of life—as are issues with digestion or skin irritation—but when our reactions to everyday challenges disrupt our enjoyment of life on a regular basis, there may be an underlying mental health concern that needs to be addressed.[8:08] Transcending a TabooThe UK, where Melissa worked most recently before returning to her native United States in the global shuffle of 2020, is widely perceived to be more progressive in mental health matters. In her words, mental health issues in the US have historically been demonized in a way that, for example, an issue with the liver or lungs may not have been, and this has had a devastating effect on the availability and scope of mental health resources in the nation.[12:05] Demystifying Mental MaintenanceEven with her years of on-the-ground service in the field of mental health, Melissa considers some of her most important work to be normalizing the concept of attention to mental health. Debunking stigmas, demystifying topics that may seem abstract, and promoting a general understanding of the factors that contribute to an individual's mental health is a core component of what she does in her organizational consultation work. Through facilitating practices such as practical stress management and open discussion forums, Melissa is able to take her ability to connect with people and deliver it to our shared future on a larger scale. About Melissa Doman, M.A.Melissa is an organizational psychologist, former mental health therapist, and mental health at work specialist.Following years of clinical work as a licensed mental health therapist in universities, EAPs, and private practice, Melissa left the clinical sector and turned her focus to consulting, advising, and speaking in the worlds of organizational psychology and mental health awareness for international, national, and local organizations and Fortune 500 companies. She is currently writing a book that will be published by Trigger Publishing, about changing perceptions and how to have practical conversations about mental health at work.Melissa has consulted and spoken in many sectors including technology, law, finance, high fashion, automotive, higher education, insurance, and more. She has been featured as a speaker and subject matter expert at national conferences, summits, digital publications, local television shows, international mentoring programs, and as a panelist at Google U.K. discussing practical and inclusive conversations around mental health. Having lived on 4 continents and traveled to more than 45 countries, Melissa calls upon her experiences working with professionals from around the world, all the way from South Korea to Australia, in creating an open-minded and practical approach to discussing mental health, mental illness, and stress management at work. She is also a prominent thought leader on mental health at work in the United Kingdom and dedicated 3 years of her career to this space while living in Lon...

Rachel Pisani wants to show you a different way to market your business. In an era obsessed with SEO and click-throughs she focuses much more on human rather than technological solutions. In the second part of her conversation with us she reveals the importance of the authentic. Too often the focus is on flashy marketing materials rather than communicating honestly with the public. Today Rachel will show you the importance of being vulnerable. [2:12] Authentic Action You need to actually care about what you're saying. It doesn’t matter if you’re a politician, a corporate CEO or a thought leader. Be intentional and be authentic. You can see the unrest in our country. People are not asking for more words, they're asking for change. So I think our actions have to do that talking. Authenticity is what this next generation is really seeking on all levels. If you really do real marketing, you're authentic and you're telling the truth. Marketing is not just flamboyant or exaggerated or persuasive. If it's the real thing, people are going to come to it. They're going to be drawn to it.  [7:00] Vulnerable Communication You have to actually communicate something real. If you're not vulnerable, people don't understand the decisions you're making. They don't understand why they're being made. And so it causes frustration, sometimes anger, sometimes retaliation. Understanding comes from learning. Learning comes from communicating. So you have to start by communicating. Whether it's email, text, voicemail - you've got to communicate.  [14:14] Positive Mindset Surround yourself with people that think positively. When you look around, there's always something positive. Even with the riots, there are positive things that are coming out. There are people coming together to clean-up. There are people that are coming together that have never talked to each other before. You look at Covid-19, people are caring about someone else's health, not just themselves. So even though they're healthy, they're still wearing a mask. They don't happen to hurt someone else. Those kinds of human things that are coming out of this is what makes our country great. It makes us great as individuals. [18:58] Sustainability through Learning  You have to evaluate your friendships and your relationships in business. There some vendors that you're not going to do business with anymore because of how they handled certain situations. There’s a useful analogy about the mouse in the cockpit. For a while it will be able to survive. But when you reach a certain altitude, it can't survive. It’s the same with your business. After a while, some people are just going to bring you down, despite their best intentions. If you want to do better, you have to go from a know-it-all to a learn-it-all. You're never too old to grow, never too old to learn. [23:15] Seize the Day Procrastination is your worst enemy. And it's your biggest dream-crusher. Fear keeps us from doing a lot of that right. You can't wait for everything to be perfect. There's no perfect time for you to go for your dreams. If you've never taken a risk, you've probably never tried anything. If you aren't willing to take a risk, you probably haven't accomplished anything. About Rachel Pisani Rachel Pisani, Founder of Rachel Pisani Marketing, is an accomplished marketing, analytics, and business development executive with more than 20 years of experience in the Non-Profit, Technology, and International Trade organizations. She has a wealth of experience in strategic branding and cohesive marketing. With her background, Rachel is uniquely equipped to help clients achieve their marketing goals. Rachel Pisani Marketing is recognized as the leader in Branding and Strategy for organizations looking to increase their brand recognition, creating a social media presence, and implementing specific marketing campaigns that will increase revenue for its clients.

Rachel Pisani has built a reputation as a visionary in outreach, implementing successful campaigns for multiple Fortune 500 companies during her stellar career in marketing. Today, Rachel takes the time to meticulously outline her process and shed light on her strategies for ensuring her clients are adequately prepared to respond to the challenges brands face during one of the most unpredictable years in recent memory. Sylvia and Rachel discuss marketing strategies and how to pivot in order to be successful and sustainable now and in the future.  [2:19] Looking Ahead As a strategist, the ability to look beyond immediate circumstances is an indispensable trait even at the best of times. In more unpredictable hours, such as during the COVID-19 crisis, foresight is an existential necessity for both individuals and organizations. Rachel emphasizes the importance of the long view with her clients, encouraging them to better understand their present needs, and in turn, better anticipate their future needs. [6:00] Success as a Process In both professional and personal pursuits, a positive long-term outcome typically involves a long list of good decisions. Achievement begins with passion, a desire to see your vision impact the world. From passion stems a defined goal or goals, which are accomplished through a series of initiatives. Initiatives must then be structured into tasks, which can be addressed using the resources and tools available to you. Less than ideal outcomes can therefore be attributed to a correctable flaw in the process as opposed to intangible factors. [13:00] Agile Adaptation ¨Adapt or perish¨ goes the old nugget of wisdom, and it has become especially relevant in our turbulent 2020. Those individuals and organizations who devise creative methods of making their core competencies available to the public will be in a greatly advantaged position as some semblance of normalcy returns. Whether it be through switching to a home delivery model, tweaking your offerings to suit changing lifestyles, or leveraging connective tools to reach your audience, adaptability will prove to be your best ability in these times. [22:47] What Now? If you find yourself questioning every aspect of the way you operate during these days of crisis, you are taking a solid first step...but it is only a first step. The next step is to minimize any trepidation involved with making the necessary changes. Fear is a natural result of uncertainty, but it should never paralyze your willingness to take action. Keep in mind that the most difficult element of change is not the result, but the transition. Gather inspiration from outside your industry, learn what approaches can be adapted to your business, and strategize accordingly. About Rachel Pisani Rachel Pisani, Founder of Rachel Pisani Marketing, is an accomplished marketing, analytics and business development executive with more than 20 years of experience in the Non-Profit, Technology and International Trade organizations. She has a wealth of experience in strategic branding and cohesive marketing.  With her background, Rachel is uniquely equipped to help clients achieve their marketing goals. Rachel Pisani Marketing is recognized as the leader in Branding and Strategy for organizations looking to increase their brand recognition, creating a social media presence and implementing specific marketing campaigns that will increase revenue for its clients. Rachel serves on Boards for several non-profit organizations and is a member of Koinonia Bible College, ICPA, NAFTZ, and AAEI. In addition, she is the spokesperson for the Kristen Renee Foundation, fighting for cancer victims, where she has been an advocate for cancer victims and liaison between federal and state regulators. She has been a regular guest on FOX News and NBC, and has testified before the Senate Finance Committee regarding the proposed addendum she wrote to Senate Bill 574. Connect with Rachel

Working from home has become a primary option for organizations of today, and the effects on the modern workplace will far be far-reaching. Tammy Bjelland of Workplaceless is among those leading the transition from office spaces to a remote work model, but her journey to the forefront of the work from home movement began in a typical cubicle decades ago. Sylvia is joined by Tammy who reveals the secrets to being successful remotely. ***Spoiler alert, it's an intentional business decision that needs to be approached strategically. 

Some of our greatest challenges can involve overcoming our own limitations.  When every element of your career is determined by your own performance, what seems like a simple task can sometimes become an insurmountable obstacle.   In this episode we are joined once again by Jeff Miller, the founder and CEO of the Jeff Miller Consulting Alliance. Jeff reveals why it sometimes seems impossible to get out of our own way. He reflects on how to consistently get the best out of ourselves.  Unlocking that can be a powerful tool for achieving the outcome you want. [0:39] Focused Freedom Even in the best of times, the hours in a day can seem short. However, the paradox of today is not a lack of time, but a lack of time management. Many of us have received an invaluable gift of time, from reduced or eliminated commutes. How are we using it? Consider using the time you once used for driving to the office, visiting clients, or making other work related preparations for targeted self-improvement. Schedules are still important, even when you make them yourself. [2:58] Paralysis by Analysis Sometimes having an abundance of choices can feel as restricted as not having as many as we would like. When we have become so accustomed to a particular routine, such a fundamental interruption can seem to throw things into chaos. It is important to keep track of your own productivity with tools such as calendars while allowing room for unexpected changes of plan. Focused flexibility allows you to target a goal without being locked into a process. [6:53] Inspired Independence Reconciling our goals with our reality takes a different form for everyone. Understanding yourself and the way you work is vital to creating a routine that works for you. In the end, it is impossible to control every factor in a given situation, but maximizing your own skill set gives you the best chance of success. Independence comes with a high degree of responsibility for self-management, as in the end you are accountable to yourself. [14:03] The Importance of Failure The greatest weakness you can exhibit is a fear of failure. There is no success without failure, but your response to failure means everything. How you react to adversity is critical in shaping your success, as no one reaches their goal without facing their shortcomings. Failure not only informs, but helps to refine our processes. Facing the hard truths of failure with an optimistic mindset is the healthiest and most realistic approach in practically all walks of life. [15:06] Essential Inspiration This crisis highlights that mental health is as important as physical health, and medical professionals can provide an especially relevant example of what it takes to succeed in a challenging time. It is a sense of groundedness and resilience that brings the best out of them, and in turn can bring more out of us. Of course, unlocking our potential requires careful attention to self-care. Self-care includes managing your media intake to maintain a positive frame of mind as well as looking for opportunities to be kind...both to others and ourselves.  About Jeff Miller  As president and CEO of Jeff Miller Consulting Alliance (JMCA), Jeff has more than 30 years of entrepreneurial, sales and philanthropic experience. He has served as Board Chair for Manna Food Center, the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, the Corporate Volunteer Council of Montgomery County, and serves on several local non-profits. Additionally, he is a 2014 graduate of Leadership Montgomery, and has received community recognition by the CVC as Sole Proprietor of the year in 2015, the Rockville Public Safety Committee for Community Service in 2016, the Rockville Chamber’s Citizen of the Year in 2017, and a Manna Food Hunger Hero in 2018. Connect with Jeff https://jmconsultingalliance.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/jeff-miller-consulting-alliance/ https://www.facebook.com/JeffMillerConsultingAlliance/

Good people can run great businesses. Discovering the true value in an interpersonal relationship can be one of the most valuable skills you can exercise both in business and in life.  That’s the guiding principle behind everything Jeff Miller has achieved in his long career.   As founder and CEO of Jeff Miller Consulting Alliance, Jeff brings to his clients unparalleled passion and expertise honed by more than 30 years of entrepreneurial and sales experience. He has helped business owners and corporate executives implement systems for accountability, building better teams, and hiring and evaluating the right talent. Jeff Miller Consulting Alliance provides coaching, strategic counsel and tactical support to businesses, corporations and nonprofits in the Washington, D.C. area and beyond.  In the first part of our conversation Jeff reveals the importance of every connection you make.  Each one can have an impossible to replicate effect on the arc of your career, and increases your overall engagement with the world around you. [0:51] Engaging authentically Although it is possible to achieve a level of success with a purely transactional strategy, connecting with a community truly unlocks your organization´s potential. Understanding the everyday workings and personal politics of a business community can establish your firm as a good citizen and cornerstone of local life. Business owners are leaders, and should work to foster greater connections among themselves and the people they serve. [3:32] Asserting your vision While it may be advisable to find common ground with a client whenever possible, it is important to understand that a particular client may not be fully committed to implementing your insight. Failing to adequately assert your vision in the process of guiding your client can lead to flawed implementation of sensible concepts. A client´s failure to implement your advice properly can have negative effect for all parties involved. [Speaker] acknowledges the difficulty of developing the confidence to be direct with clients, even at the possible expense of a business relationship.  [5:25] Standing on Results As a professional provider of insight, you are only as successful as your client is. Demonstrating value to the people you serve is central to both transactional and relationship-based approaches, and while either is acceptable, understanding your own intent is indispensable. A high turnover strategy is no more valuable than a loyalty driven business plan, but it is important to direct your efforts toward achieving a particular result with each client. [7:46] Managing Crisis Challenges are an inherent part of the business environment, and a proactive attitude is essential. Your chain of communication is everything as an organization, and it is important to ensure it can endure even when conditions are less than ideal. A practical approach involves having teams focus on each individual item on a client´s wish list, so there is always someone on the case. Maintain a sense of realism about the possibilities, and prepare accordingly. Are you prepared to endure an extended loss of revenue or the unavailability of key personnel? [9:58] Consistent Connection  Executives and managers must remain in touch with the teams they coordinate as well as with clients and vendors. This enables them to be as responsive as possible to unexpected variables. While the end goal is still results-oriented, maintaining consistent contact with the people you rely on will become more important than ever in the new normal. [13:58] Navigating the New Normal There´s no getting around that things have changed. General Stockdale, who served with John McCain, tells a story of being imprisoned in Vietnam as a prisoner of war. He says the people who would suffer worst in his crisis shared a common mindset: they always thought help was on the way tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. In order to survive difficult times,