One New Person

From Relationships Rule! show notes:Talking is easy, connecting is hard – and according to Brian Miller it can be learned!A magician turned author, speaker, and consultant on human connection – Brian Miller is here to help us understand what human connection really is, and how to magically connect to anyone.Brian believes everyone deserves to feel heard, understood, and valued.In this episode you will learn:Why strangers are the easiest people to ask questions.Why Brian spent an hour talking about human connection on stage but never talked about empathy.Why the most interesting people are always the most interested people.How connection always starts with understanding.The art and importance of remembering names – Why names matter?Listen to the full conversation: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/relationships-rule-podcast/

Cait is a Forbes-featured 7-figure Business Coach for women and, in her words, your excuse's worst nightmare.But back when we met in 2019, she was in distress.She'd been invited to deliver a TEDx talk, and suddenly found herself in unfamiliar territory. Cait was a master at riffing on livestreams. She had attracted a sizable social media following and went from quitting the 9-5 to multiple six figures as a business coach in just a few years, leaning hard on her magnetism and charisma, grounded in sharp intellect.But a TED talk? That's a whole different ball game, requiring precision and rehearsal.In just 2 months we clarified her Big Idea, structured the talk, and wrote the script. I had the honor of traveling to upstate New York to watch her deliver the talk live and in-person on the Red Dot.And within 10 minutes of that night, she transformed her business into a 7-figure global empire.Today she's a millionaire CEO, mom to the most adorable little girl - born just a week after my son - and has another on the way.In this conversation, Cait and I pull back the curtain on the coaching industry: What is a business coach, when do you know you need one, and what should you expect from a coaching relationship?She also explains the difference between 1-1 and group coaching, both for those thinking of joining a coaching program, and for coaches deciding which type of program to offer their clients.And of course, Cait shares her story of a chance encounter with lasting impact.Plus, she gives a super inspirational piece of advice to young professionals trying to make it in this increasingly chaotic and isolated world.RELATED LINKS:Website: https://Cait.coInstagram: https://instagram.com/caitscudderTEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU_SDcn5XGA

Do you want to become more interesting than Netflix? Francisco is a storytelling expert and one of my favorite professional friends.We met a couple years ago when he invited me to be one of the first guests on his podcast, of which I am also the first repeat guest. It only seemed right that after hours of talking about my work on his show, he should have a chance to talk about his work on mine. And let me tell you, this is one of the most practical episodes in seasons.We discussed the difference between motivational speaking and being a content matter expert, what a story really is and why you should be telling them in business, and where to find stories to tell. Then we did a deep dive on story structure, the different types and when they work, or don't. And of course, Francisco shares his story of a chance encounter with lasting impact.Plus, he gives a very practical piece of advice to young professionals trying to make it in this increasingly chaotic and isolated world.RELATED LINKS:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fmahfuz/Bare: A Guide to Brutally Honest Public Speaking (book): https://amzn.to/3CFL5mBStorypowers Bootcamp (course): https://storypowers.thinkific.com/courses/storypowers-online-bootcamp"The Secret of a Magical TEDx Talk" - My recent guest appearance on the Storypowers Podcast: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/storypowers-tedx-episode/ 

Julia Freeland is a passionate educator and change engineer, who has spent most of her life working to help people break through limiting beliefs and seemingly impenetrable barriers to become better versions of themselves.She is also the author of Take Your Shoes Off First, a parable book with a message near and dear to my heart - perspective-taking.Julia and I discussed that weird head nod teenage boys do, and why it might be more important than you think, the role of language in human connection, how to become undisruptable in your life and career, why today's world is more like open sea swimming than laps in a pool, the one question that triggers empathy in any conversation, and how to get your kids to eat vegetables.And of course, Julia shares her story of a chance encounter with lasting impact.Plus, she gives a lovely piece of advice to young professionals trying to make it in this increasingly chaotic and isolated world.RELATED LINKSJulia's website: https://RevolveYou.comLinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-freeland-revolveyou/Take Your Shoes Off First (book): https://amzn.to/3vX9By2My episode on Julia's podcast: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/take-your-shoes-off-first

Mark Metry is an entrepreneur, a Forbes featured TEDx and keynote speaker, and a podcast host who has interviewed billionaires, New York Times bestselling authors and world-class human beings on his Global Top 100 podcast.But once upon a time he couldn't make direct eye contact with anyone. Mark suffered from social anxiety.And boy can I relate to that.In this conversation we discussed the seeming contradiction of running a group program for people with social anxiety, his background as an immigrant who overcame bullying, racial discrimination, and health issues to become a success entrepreneur in his teens, how he pushed through social anxiety to become a global top 100 podcaster, and crucially, how to know when to quit a project or task. And of course, Mark shares his story of a chance encounter with lasting impact.Plus, he gives a critical piece of advice to young professionals trying to make it in this increasingly chaotic and isolated world.Connect with Mark: Website: https://MarkMetry.comScrew Being Shy (book): https://amzn.to/3vcUZdJSocial Anxiety Society (podcast): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-anxiety-society/id1270828712 

Corey McComb is a writer based in San Diego. Through blog posts, essays, and the occasional short story, Corey examines the human condition and new ways of thinking.He also works with people and companies who need to tell their stories to launch products and spread ideas.And speaking of spreading ideas, that's how I came across Corey's work: his brand new TEDx talk.It's called, “Productivity Is For Robots! Here's How to Stay Human.” And it quickly became one of my all-time favorite TEDx talks.As someone who has both given a viral TEDx talk myself, and coached dozens of speakers to spread their big idea on the red dot, I was absolutely blown away by Corey's content, delivery, structure, and of course, writing.In this conversation we discuss many things, but it all centers on being a professional creative. How do you get ideas, balancing business with creativity, why you should be a collector of stories, what he did when he went completely blank during his TEDx talk, how comedian John Mulaney changed his life…And of course, Corey shares his story of a chance encounter with lasting impact.Plus, he gives a terrific piece of advice to young professionals trying to build their career in an increasingly unpredictable world, so be sure to stick around to the end of this longer episode. It's worth it.Connect With CoreyWebsite: https://coreymccomb.com/Substack: https://substack.com/profile/22777129-corey-mccombTEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm4mFfIlwdUBook: https://amzn.to/3oY5tKa

Today's guest Tamsen Webster, and she's just as cool as her name suggests.Tamsen is a message strategist. In a sentence, she helps experts make their ideas irresistible.She's the former executive producer of TEDx Cambridge, one of the legacy TEDx conferences and before that spent 13 years as a Weight Watchers leader.But those of us in the industry know her as The Idea Whisperer.I'm a huge fan of Tamsen and her work, and last year she finally released a book detailing her proprietary method for crafting ideas into irresistible messages. It's called Find Your Red Thread.I bought it, read it in one day, and immediately implemented it in my work as a speaker AND in my own coaching practice working with TEDx speakers and leaders.The episode you're about to hear is less an interview and more a conversation between two geeks over ideas, storytelling, and messaging.Some topics we covered:What is a red thread? Why are ideas so important? Behind-the-scenes look at the TEDx process. How to differentiate your idea from everyone else's, when it seems like there are no new ideas left in the universe.Tamsen explains the persuader's paradox, which I thought would make a great name for an indie rock band. She also dives deep into why typical story structures just don't work for normal, everyday situations and what we can do instead.And of course, Tamsen shares her story of a chance encounter with lasting impact.This episode is dense and absolutely jam-packed. Connect with Tamsen:Website: https://TamsenWebster.comFind Your Red Thread: https://amzn.to/3qVY0va

Today's guest Helen G. Sneed.Helen is a career coach, HR consultant, and speaker.She also founded Drive The Goal, a consulting firm that helps people and organizations take charge of their lives and career, and navigate change, where she is the Principal Partner.Helen and I met when she hired me to speak at a fundraising event for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Foundation. At the time, she was the President of the foundation.She has an Associate's degree, a Bachelor's Degree, and an MBA.And, most notably, she was recently named one of Connecticut and Massachusetts 100 Women of Color.So basically, she knows a lot. She's done a lot. And we talked about a lot.In this conversation Helen and I discussed how to fix your elevator speech, what philanthropy really is and how anyone can do it, even if you don't have money, how to navigate health issues when the world is falling apart, diversity and inclusion in the modern workplace, her saxophone playing husband, and of course, Helen Shares her story of a chance encounter with lasting impact.The kicker? She didn't even know that's the story she was telling.Connect with Helen:Drive The Goal: https://drivethegoal.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-g-sneeddrivethegoal/

Today's guest is Zoe Chance.Zoe is one of the world's foremost researchers and speakers on ethical influence and persuasion. She's a beloved Yale professor who teaches the most popular course at the School of Management: Mastering Influence and Persuasion.Her new book, Influence Is Your Superpower: The Science of Winning Hearts, Sparking Change, and Making Good Things Happen, is based on that course.Zoe is also a dear friend and collaborator who helped me craft my now famous TEDx talk back in 2015. She is the first ever repeat guest on this podcast, having joined me way back in Season 1 when this show was called One New Person.Interestingly, that interview came at a time when Zoe was at the very crossroads that eventually led to this book. And that's where this conversation picks up.We spoke about doing what you love, how to write an academic book that feels conversational and friendly, and why the book had to change completely in response to COVID. Diving into the book itself we focused largely on the power of framing as a tool of influence, which includes a discussion of mind readers, magicians, and gorillas. We also touched on how timing can be used to positively influence someone, and offer advice on how to stop turning people off by asking to “pick their brain” or “buy them a cup of coffee.”Finally, Zoe offers one critical piece of advice to young professionals trying to navigate this crazy, ever-changing world.I had the honor of reading Influence Is Your Superpower cover to cover as an advance publisher's copy, and my one-sentence review is:This book is Robert Cialdini for the kindness generation.Grab your copy of Influence Is Your Superpower here: https://amzn.to/3qX4WrU Connect with Zoe:https://ZoeChance.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/zoebchance/

Today's guest is Thomas Heaton.Thomas is a landscape photographer and YouTuber. His YouTube channel has attracted over half a million subscribers and features   weekly video blogs of his photo shoots in some of the most stunning locations on earth.I'm neither a photographer nor into nature. But there's something magical about the way he films the process of spending hours and sometimes days in pursuit of a single photo.I've been a subscriber and huge fan of Thomas since the early days of his channel, and it was such a treat to spend an hour discussing creativity as a serious pursuit.Our conversation ranged from the power of publicly admitting your mistakes, to the battle against repetition in pursuit of expertise, how he approaches storytelling, getting into a flow state, the role of intentionality in creativity, loneliness, and the role of luck in success.And of course, Thomas shares his story of a chance encounter with lasting impact, and gives one critical piece of advice to young professionals trying to make it in this crazy world.Connect with Thomashttps://ThomasHeaton.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThomasHeatonPhoto

When you ask for feedback, you reinforce any existing power dynamic. When you ask for advice, you eliminate the power dynamic completely. People feel more comfortable giving advice, and you'll receive it better.Blog version: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/stop-asking-for-feedback/ Video version: https://youtu.be/VkqVdbCeThg

Empathy isn't all that it's cracked up to be. It leads to burnout and irrational decisions. Plus, it's nearly impossible to teach. But instead you can learn perspective-taking, a skill that leads to understanding, connection, and yes, even empathy.Watch the video version instead: https://youtu.be/DQZKlzlczOQRead the blog version instead: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/perspective-taking-vs-empathy-2/Free resource - "Stop Cringing, Start Connection: 7 Ways to Talk to Anyone Without Looking Like an Idiot" - https://SoftSkillsAreHard.com

In 2019 I had the privilege and honor of chatting with legend Seth Godin for an hour. We spoke about marketing, work-life balance, and human connection. But when I asked him for a story of a chance encounter with lasting impact, the story he told me was absolutely insane. And exclusive - it's the first and only time he's ever told it in public. Listen to the full episode: https://www.beyondnetworkingpodcast.com/where-you-are-and-what-you-do-with-seth-godin/

Connection is not about agreement, but understanding- by being grateful, being humble, setting the tone, and seeking common ground.Read the blog or watch the video instead: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/how-to-respectfully-disagree-respectfully/

From the vault, serial social entrepreneur Getrude Matshe teaches us the African philosophy of Ubuntu. Getrude was my guest back in Season 2 when the show was still called One New Person.Listen to or watch her entire episode here: https://beyondnetworkingpodcast.com/the-magic-of-ubuntu-with-getrude-matshe/

Life is sometimes unbearably difficult and unreasonably cruel. Let's all give each other a break. Here's a lesson I learned from my grandmother.Read or watch instead of listening: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/i-havent-bought-a-sponge-in-15-years/

People aren't going to do what you consider respectful, or fair. They're going to do what they believe serves the audience, which is not you.Read or watch instead of listening: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/youre-not-special-an-open-letter-to-artists/

Being an artist is hard. People aren't going to do what you consider respectful, or fair. They're going to do what they believe serves the audience, which is not you. How do you stand out as an artist? What can you do if people don't respect your work?The War of Art: https://amzn.to/2UuWQKq 2 More Tools:Article: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/how-to-be-seen-as-a-professional/Video: https://youtu.be/FzmHm6Q19YY

Now that we have 18 months of practice in virtual experiences, let's not have our excitement get away from us. “In-person” is finally an option again, but it's only one option. Ask yourself these 3 questions before planning or attending your next in-person event, or going back to the office.Read instead: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/the-pivot-back-to-in-person-events/Watch instead: 

Kelly Leonard spent most of the 90s and 2000s as an executive producer at the world famous Second City improv theater in Chicago. He is personally responsible for hiring Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Amy Poehler, and Steve Carell. He also wrote the book Yes, And…, a book on creativity and collaboration in the workplace, based on lessons from improv comedy and Second City.In this conversation, Kelly talks us through Second City's Pivot into virtual improv performances during the 2020 pandemic. We learn about the difference between improv and spontaneity, how to gain agency over our emotions, a brilliant exercise you can do to achieve clarity and mental calmness in difficult times, why he describes COVID as a period of “sway,”  and of course, he teaches us the “yes, and…” principle.This was a blast, and a perfect way to close out an absolutely wild year of Pivot stories.Connect with Kelly:Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/klsecondcity/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-leonard-he-him-his-b8495047/Podcast: https://www.secondcityworks.com/podcastWatch instead of listen: https://beyondnetworkingpodcast.com/kelly-leonard/

Kay Reeve speaks and writes about emotional awareness. She is the author of Brain Unchained, a book created to help teenagers, young adults, and parents understand the four core emotions and build a strategy for positive emotional change. (continued below) MENTAL HEALTH DISCLAIMER: None of the participants in this video are doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, or medical practitioners of any kind. The content of this video is presented solely for the purpose of creating awareness and conversation. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your condition.⚠️ If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. ⚠️ If you're having suicidal thoughts, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). ⚠️ If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately. Kay and I met years ago when she included a reference to my TEDx talk in her TEDx talk. We were connected via social media and have stayed in touch ever since. But this was the first time we ever spoke face-to-face, albeit via video conference.In this conversation, Kay helps us understand what she believes are the four core emotions, and a clear system for navigating them.We also spoke at length about her own Pivots - in her career and personal life. Kay was thrown one devastating curveball after another these past few years, and this episode is really a testament to resilience and creative adaptation.In particular, pay attention how Kay actively and intentionally learned from each setback, and used those lessons to inform her next move. What may have seemed like failures at the time laid the path for achieving her lifelong dream of becoming an author and a voice for positive change.Connect with Kay: Watch instead of listen: https://beyondnetworkingpodcast.com/key-reeve/

Xabier Marshall is a personal trainer and the owner of Multiply Performance in the UK.I discovered Xabier while reading a BBC article about gyms in a COVID and post-COVID world. I’ve never been to a gym in my life, so I couldn’t tell you why I was reading that article. But Xabier was quoted about successfully Pivoting his personal training to an app-based plan.I had to know more. So I sent him a cold message on LinkedIn and 3 days later we recorded this episode.In this conversation we discussed people’s perceptions of personal trainers, Xabier’s initial emotional response to the 2020 lockdowns, how being marketing-minded allowed him to see what was next and what was needed, his new app-based training program, and his predictions about the future of the gym and fitness industry.It’s a deeply insightful conversation, and a lot of fun.Connect with Xabier:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/multiplyperformance/Website: http://www.multiplyperformance.com/ Watch instead of listen: https://beyondnetworkingpodcast.com/xabier-marshall/

Ken Davenport is a two-time Tony award-winning Broadway producer. He is best known for Spring Awakening, Kinky Boots, and the revival of Godspell.Ken is renowned in the theater community as an innovative marketer. In 2008 he started a blog called The Producer’s Perspective, dedicated to making the business of Broadway accessible and understandable.He also created Be a Broadway Star, the only Broadway-themed board game.Ken and I met when we were both panelists on the same livestream. He spoke so passionately about theater’s resilience, I knew I had to invite him to our little corner of the Internet.In this conversation, Ken helps us understand where Broadway is and where it’s likely going. In particular, he answered the burning question: Did Hamilton’s streaming success open the doors to an entirely new revenue stream for theater?My wife Lindsey and I are Broadway fanatics, as you know, so this was a huge treat. Also, a last-minute update. Ken and I recorded this conversation in January of 2021, but as I’m releasing it in May, after months of successful vaccine rollouts, it has just been announced that Broadway will be allowed to reopen at 100% capacity in September. Great news!Connect with Ken:Blog:  https://www.theproducersperspective.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KenDavenportBwayFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/KenDavenport/Twitter: https://twitter.com/kendavenporthttps://twitter.com/kendavenport Watch instead of listen: https://beyondnetworkingpodcast.com/ken-davenport/

Dr. Caitlin O'Connell is a scientist, author, and storyteller. She holds a PhD in ecology, holds positions at both Harvard and Stanford, is an award-winning author of non-fiction, children’s books, and graphic novels, AND is a renowned expert on elephants.What’s that got to do with Pivoting, resilience, adaptability, human connection, or even just networking, for that matter?I had no idea. We were connected through a mutual acquaintance and, if I’m being honest, I only agreed out of politeness. I’m so glad that I did. This was the most unexpected, dare I say wild, conversation of the season, and quite possibly my favorite.Dr. O’Connell was just gearing up for a huge fundraising effort for her nonprofit organization, Utopia Scientific when the pandemic wiped out all possible fundraising events for the foreseeable future.In her words, she was forced with a decision: Implode, or explode?And boy did she explode, in the most creative way possible.In this conversation, Caitlin and I discuss everything from the bone conduction properties of elephants, to how hard it is to take our own advice, to the value of pressing pause, and how critical travel is in developing empathy, perspective, and understanding of both ourselves and our place in the world.And of course, we talked about Dr. O’Connell’s new book “Wild Rituals: 10 Lessons Animals Can Teach Us About Connection, Community, and Ourselves.” I’ve just started it, and it’s wonderful.Now an asterisk.Upon listening back to our conversation, I noticed that Caitlin and I both advocated passionately for some things that are only afforded to people of privilege. Pausing during a pandemic, to think critically about the future, was not an option for people who didn’t have savings or financial security. Travel has always been prohibitively expensive - particularly the kind of air travel we discussed, to far off lands and foreign cultures.So, I wanted to underscore once again the critical role of luck, in this case the luck of privilege, in the ability to Pivot success during a pandemic. With that said, this conversation is truly magical and I know you’re going to love it.Connect with Caitlin: Website: https://www.caitlinoconnell.com/Non-profit Website: https://www.utopiascientific.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elephant_skinny/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElephantSkinnyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/caitlineoconnellWatch instead of listening: https://beyondnetworkingpodcast.com/caitlin-oconnell

Allen Williams is an audio professional in the TV and film industry. He’s worked on projects like The Vampire Diaries, Spider-Man Homecoming, Creed, The Founder, Stranger Things, Cobra Kai, Avengers Infinity War… and some big name projects, too.Like everyone else in the entertainment industry, when COVID hit Allen found himself suddenly without income, prospects, or even hope that work would come back. But that was only the beginning of his 2020 nightmare.Two months before the pandemic, in January 2020, a contractor discovered an outdated part of their house that was no longer up to code. It was exorbitantly expensive to fix, but Allen and his wife decided to empty their savings rather than take out a loan, because he had plenty of work lined up.Then the TV and film industry collapsed, leaving him without an income for what would become 9 months.To make matters worse, his wife got COVID almost immediately, putting her on bedrest for nearly 2 months while fighting alternating fever and near-hypothermia episodes.During which Allen had to spend even more money getting his older daughters set up for remote learning.When his wife finally recovered, they discovered many friends and family had also been hit hard by the virus, some in critical condition.In this conversation Allen walks us through everything.For the nerds like me, he also teaches us exactly what a boom operator is, and how the TV and film industry economy works and why its shutdown was so destructive to local businesses across America, not just the actors and immediate crew, and how the industry changed in order to safely return to work.Plus, we learn about Allen’s personal pivot, driven by generosity and charity, which is something we’ve hardly heard at all this season on the podcast.Connect with Allen: Website: http://SoundSpeeds.usYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/SoundSpeedsTwitter: https://twitter.com/SoundSpeedsYTWatch instead of listen: https://beyondnetworkingpodcast.com/allen-williams/

Elisse Glennon is the founder and Executive Director of the New Jersey Sharing Network Foundation. The NJ Sharing Network is a non-profit organization for the recovery and placement of donated organs and tissues. The foundation, where Elisse presides, is dedicated to increasing the numbers of lives saved through research, family support, public awareness, and education.4000 New Jersey residents alone are waiting on the transplant list. So when COVID threatened the entire national healthcare system, Elisse and her team of 180 committed professionals plus volunteers had to navigate incredibly shaky seas.The big question was, would donations plummet, devastating the chances of everyone on that list, desperately in need of a transplant?Not on Elisse’s watch. Instead, the NJ Sharing Network had a record year. And in this conversation, Elisse teaches us precisely how they did it.Now, you might be tired of hearing about “mindset shifts” from the self-help community. But Elisse and her team are proof that it’s often mindset, not tactics, that carry the day.In particular, pay close attention to how she describes the process of asking grieving families for a donation, and the shift from viewing it as a burden to recognizing it as a gift.Connect with Elisse: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NJSharingNetworkWebsite: http://www.njsharingnetwork.org/Watch instead of listen: https://beyondnetworkingpodcast.com/elisse-glennon/

Dan Cockerell started his Disney career directing cars in the parking lot. But when he left 26 years later to pursue an entrepreneurial journey of his own, he was in charge of the entire daily operations of the happiest place on earth.I invited Dan on the podcast to help us understand how the hospitality industry has responded to Covid overall. You’re going to learn about the power of staying on message, the secret to hiring and training a world class team, when attitude trumps skills, the No. 1 mistake most companies make that lead to their downfall, how to handle an increasingly competitive marketplace, and the value of trust.Plus, stick around to the very end, when I asked Dan to tell me ONE thing that even Disney superfans wouldn’t know about the Magic Kingdom. And boy did he deliver.This was a huge honor. As you know, my wife Lindsey and I are Disney superfans. Getting to spend an hour chatting with one of the most senior people at our favorite place on earth was truly surreal. Dan was super gracious and very generous, which made it even better.Connect with Dan: Website: https://dancockerell.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dancockerellFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielpaynecockerellInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancockerell/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanCockerellWatch instead of listen: https://beyondnetworkingpodcast.com/dan-cockerell/

Jesse Cole is the owner of the Savannah Bananas, a collegiate summer league baseball team based in Georgia.Here’s a few facts about the Bananas:They only sell one ticket and it’s all inclusive.Their players perform choreographed dances every game.They are the only baseball team to play in kilts.Their coaching staff includes a 9-year-old and a grandma.They have a senior citizen dance team called the Banana Nanas.Their stadium is the first ever ad-free ballpack.They have sold out every game since their first season.And Jesse is known as the “man in the yellow tux,” because, well, he wears a yellow tux. Not just sometimes, but always.I’ve been following Jesse’s journey for years. We were originally connected through Ron Holt, the founder and CEO of national franchise Two Maids & a Mop, who appeared on the podcast back in Season 2.Jesse speaks and writes about leadership and service. He hosts the Business Done Differently podcast. And he wrote the book “Find Your Yellow Tux.”In this conversation, Jesse takes me through the absolute devastation of taking a 7-figure loss in response to COVID, back in March of 2020. Not only did the Bananas’ survive the hit… not only did they keep every single staff member employed... but they literally reinvented the sport of baseball in the process.This interview is hilarious, enlightening, moving, and inspiring. You’ll learn how Jesse’s “fans first” philosophy inspired the most innovative period of his entrepreneurial journey, how he and his wife Emily’s history of crushing setbacks prepared him for this historic moment, and how you can lead your business, community, or family with selflessness and generosity.Connect with Jesse: Website: https://thesavannahbananas.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YellowTuxJesse/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yellowtuxjesse/Watch instead of listen: https://beyondnetworkingpodcast.com/jesse-cole/

I've had the pleasure of being a guest on some wonderful podcasts lately. Here's a "best of" compilation from the first quarter of 2021. Featuring: Donato G Poet, The Art of Relationships, The Storypowers Podcast, Bulletproof Cashflow, and Marketing as a Foreign Language. Topics include: My 2020 pivot Loneliness in the pandemic Story telling tips for life and business How to connect with sales prospects The most difficult speech I ever gave Watch this episode instead of listening: https://youtu.be/ZD8qKlnbOQ8Catch the full episodes of each featured clip: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/podcast-guest/

Tyler Anderson is a chef and owner of multiple high-end restaurants. He’s also a James Beard award-nominee and appeared on both The Food Network and Top Chef on Bravo.If you’re thinking, didn’t you recently interview a restaurant owner? I did. This is a companion episode to my conversation with Pam Paydos. In fact, Pam connected me with Tyler in the first place many years ago.Pam’s restaurant Popover and Tyler’s flagship restaurant Millwrights are in the same small Connecticut town. And, like Pam, Tyler has not only stayed in business, but remained a pillar of the community through all the insanity of the last year.But that’s where the similarities stop.See, while Pam’s restaurant is a tiny breakfast and lunch bakery nestled in a quaint shopping plaza, Tyler’s Millwrights is a massive fine dining dinner establishment overlooking a waterfall.While Pam’s Pivot was to remodel, nurture the relationship with loyal customers,  and make the most of her petite square footage… Tyler built dine-in greenhouses. Honestly, this episode is wild. And I don’t want to spoil it. CONNECT WITH TYLER▸ Websites:https://millwrightsrestaurant.comhttps://cheftyleranderson.comhttps://tylerandersoncatering.comhttps://roomserviceatthegoodwin.comhttps://ta-que.com 

Today we’ve got one of our featured experts for the season. Stefanie Faye Frank is a neuroscience researcher.She specializes in translating complex scientific concepts into real-world language to help people find new ways to use their talents, discomforts, failures, and challenges as pathways to growth and evolution.In other words, she helps people Pivot by transforming negatives into positives.I invited Stefanie to chat specifically about education’s response to COVID over the past year. How did the field of education respond, and how did individual teachers respond?This turned into an enlightening conversation on the nature of change itself, at both the individual level and the systemic level.In particular, pay close attention to what Stefanie calls “survival of the busiest,” and how we can leverage that principle to create the change we actually want.CONNECT WITH STEFANIE▸ Website: https://stefaniefaye.com/ ▸ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindsetneuroscience ▸ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefanieffaye

Pam Paydos is a beloved Connecticut-based entrepreneur and restaurateur who long-time listeners of this podcast will remember. In fact, Pam was the very first guest ever on this show, back when it was called One New Person. When everything shut down, restaurants were the first and most visible industry to pivot, shifting to take-out only and building the foundation of curbside pickup, now a mainstay in our culture. Can you remember a time without curbside pickup?In Pam’s case, it was even trickier. Her current restaurant is a bistro and bakery, designed around a small-town ambience and community tables in a very tight space. She didn’t have the systems or staff to do take-out.But almost a year later, Popover Bistro and Bakery remains a pillar of the community. In this conversation Pam walks us through the nightmare of her Pivot. Pay attention to how her unwavering commitment to staying alive kept her going, even in the darkest of times.A word before you listen: In true COVID fashion, we had a lot of Internet difficulties during this particular recording. Due to an intermittent Internet connection, I had to ask Pam to repeat her stories many times, which was frustrating for both of us. I was already asking her to relive incredibly difficult and emotional moments that were still fresh. I felt awful asking her to repeat them. As such, this episode will feel a little pieced together. I did the best I could to take the highest quality pieces of the recording and splice them into a coherent conversation.Still, there’s SO much good stuff here. Thank you Pam, for being so understanding in the midst of chaos.Connect with PamPopover Bistro & Bakery website: https://www.popoversimsbury.com/

Hana Jung is the founder of Re:Boot Experiences, a set of programs designed to help people stop being machines, and start being human, again.We were connected through a mutual friend David Nebinski who runs the Career Portfolio podcast, on which we’ve both appeared.When COVID hit Hana was already in the midst of personal tragedy and family emergencies. As you’ll hear her describe, COVID was basically secondary to the devastating unfolding in her personal life.So she called upon her own inner strength, the same strength she teaches and facilitates with Re:Boot, to create her Pivot.In this conversation you’ll hear how being a first generation child of immigrant parents shaped Hana’s philosophy on life, how she previously Pivoted away from a miserable career in corporate America, and what it means to Re:Boot your life.By the end, this episode is truly more than the sum of its parts.Connect with HanaWebsite: https://rebootexperiences.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebootexperiences/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReBootExperiencesRegister for a free workshop "Clarify Your Life Path + Confidently Step Into Your Next Chapter" : https://smarturl.it/workshopReboot 

Sandra is the Director of Drama for the College of the Albemarle in North Carolina. But that’s not what she was doing in March 2020 when the world fell apart.Back then, Sandra was the Associate Director for Music off Main, a studio that specialized in early childhood music education. But when Covid shut down the ability to safely sing in-person, the studio space they rented was no longer a financially viable option. Suddenly Sandra’s work in music education, and her personal career in opera, were ripped away.In the fall she took on a new role as Director of Drama for a community college in rural North Carolina. Within days she faced a dilemma: How do you safely put on a theatrical production in the middle of a pandemic that even shut down Broadway?Her answer?Puppets.You are in for a real treat this episode. Sandra’s story is completely bonkers, as is the way our paths intersected. Connect with SandraFacebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/sandra.aganskruegerTheatre Program at The College of The Albemarle: https://www.albemarle.edu/programs-classes/credit/programs-of-study/associate-fine-arts-theatre/; https://www.facebook.com/coastplayersCollective Euphonia: https://www.facebook.com/CollectiveEuphonia/

Dr. Deborah Gilboa, professionally known as Dr. G, is a practicing family physician. But I wanted to speak with her because she is also an expert on resilience.She teaches families, individuals, teams, and businesses to "do stress better.”In this conversation Dr. G teaches us: 1) What resilience actually is; 2) Why some people seem to go through many difficult situations but never get any more resilient; 3) How some individuals and organizations were able to successfully pivot in response to the stress of 2020 while others were not; 4) And a specific set of strategies and techniques you can use to become more resilient, starting today.Plus, she's an absolute riot, and you'll soon find out why. Connect with Dr. GWebsite: https://askdoctorg.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AskDoctorG/Twitter: https://twitter.com/askdocgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/askdoctorg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahgilboamd/

Today’s guest is Jason Tanner. Jason is the CEO and Co-Founder of Applied Frameworks, a consulting firm based in North Carolina. When the world shut down, Jason had 10 employees whose livelihoods and families’ security depended on his ability to pivot. Luckily, Jason served nine years in the Marine Corp, and knew that open, consistent, and efficient communication would be the key moving forward.As you’re about to find out, Jason has a direct, linear method of communicating. It actually caught me off-guard, as I’m used to having free-flowing conversations on this podcast, full of diversions and tangents. Instead, Jason is laser-focused.And as far as I can tell, that’s why he still has 10 employees today.Pay close attention not only to Jason’s content, but his method of delivery.Connect with Jasonhttps://appliedframeworks.com/

Today’s featured Pivoter is Stuart MacDonald. Stuart is a rare bird. He’s a magician, but he’s really a character actor who happens to be a magician. He's also won a  ton of prestigious awards in magic and fooled Penn & Teller on the CW's hit show Fool Us.You see, magicians, myself included, are typically just heightened versions of themselves. But Stuart creates characters with backstories, wants, and needs, and inhabits them fully. Why don’t more magicians do it? Because it’s really freakin’ hard.In March of 2020, Stuart was the very last person to step foot on stage at the famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, before they shut their doors and the world went into lockdown.Unlike most Pivoters this season, Stuart did not immediately turn to virtual in order to salvage his career. In fact, he hung up his magic act and started searching for a normal 9-5. But nearly a year later, Stuart is still a professional magician, delivering some of the most inventive virtual shows in the industry. How did he get here? This is his Pivot story.Connect with Stuarthttps://stuartmacdonaldmagic.comWatch him fool Penn & Teller: https://youtu.be/lnObtoan-0g

Today’s guest is Carolene Méli, who spent 10 years traveling the world with Cirque du Soleil as the Head of VIP Events and Concierge, until COVID wiped out the global live entertainment industry and Cirque declared bankruptcy, eliminating 3,500 jobs overnight. When the world went into lockdown she was stranded at an AirBnB in France with nothing but a backpack and her phone. Suddenly jobless, Carolene immediately got to work building a new career for herself.Now she's out on her own as an Experience Strategist, coach and consultant.You’re going to love Carolene’s pivot story and the unique way her background prepared her for the unthinkable. In particular, pay attention to the way she describes intentional action as the key to her success.Connect with Carolene:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolenemeli/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolenemeli/The Experience Creators podcast on YouTube

What pivot have you made in your life or career? How resilient are you? Do you have the capacity for existential flexibility? Here’s to your next Pivot. Join the Pivot Power newsletter: https://YearOfThePivot.com 

Show up with kindness and offer the gift of connection. How they choose to receive or reject that gift is not for us to predict.Read instead: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/the-baby-in-your-head/Watch instead: https://youtu.be/twFLSU-BavA

Here are four reasons it may be worth buying information you could otherwise find for free online, or learn how to do yourself. This is a guide for making better buying decisions.Read here: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/why-i-pay-for-free-stuff/Watch here: https://youtu.be/n39jGzUCN8I  

We know it’s not simple, and we really can’t change the world. Maybe everyone can’t change the world. But you can certainly change your world. Read the blog at: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/change-the-world-willy-wonka/Watch the video at: 

Attention can be bought, but trust cannot. Whether in your businesses dealings or in your personal relationships, get creative, sure. But in your quest for relevance, always be sure to honor the audience.Read this week's blog to see the viral meme discussed here: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/good-tension-vs-bad-tension/Join our community email and receive your free audio training "Connect with Anyone: Wisdom from Legends & Leaders" here: https://beyondnetworkingpodcast.com/start-hereConnect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Put kindness and generosity into the world and, even if no one ever writes back, recognize that you’re still making a connection. Not with everyone, but with someone.This year I lost my aunt, my grandmother, a kind magician who taught me when I was a teenager, and Eddie Van Halen.I grieved them all differently, of course... but I did grieve them all.Full blog post: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/loving-people-weve-never-met/Video: https://youtu.be/wWp4qLTxvOU

Cal Fussman is an award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author. He is the Writer at Larger for Esquire magazine where he interviews legends upon legends, including Mikhail Gorbachev, Jimmy Carter, Ted Kennedy, Jeff Bezos, Quincy Jones, Muhammad Ali, and Kobe Bryant.Cal now works as a speaker and consultant for organizations who need to tell their stories better.And he hosts Big Questions, one of my personal favorite podcasts and always in my Top 5, maybe even Top 3, most recommended no matter who I'm speaking to.Admittedly, I was nervous to interview one of the world's most legendary interviewers. I needn't have been. True to Cal's style, he made a connection with me before we'd even begun, and the conversation just rolled from there.As such, you won't hear any of my regular questions today. Instead, you get to eavesdrop on a very real, personal, and often hilarious conversation that I imagine isn't much different than the conversation we would have had off-camera.Cal and I chat about his fear of technology, the 2008 recession, how tennis and surfing taught him everything he needed to survive the current pandemic (even though he doesn't do either), and how to connect with anyone. Cal even shares The Magic Question you can ask anybody if you need to quickly make a connection. RELATED LINKSWork with Cal: https://CalFussman.comBig Questions podcast: https://www.calfussman.com/podcastConnect with Cal via Instagram and Twitter"Secrets of a Master Conversationalist: 5 Tricks I Learned from Cal Fussman's Podcast": https://brianmillerspeaks.com/secrets-master-conversationalist-cal-fussman-big-questions/ My Favorite Episodes of BIG QUESTIONSHeather Monahan on Creating ConfidenceJames Altucher: A Business MasterclassKoby Bryant RememberedSimon Sinek: The Infinite Game CONNECT WITH ANYONE: WISDOM FROM LEGENDS & LEADERSGet the brand new 16-page, beautifully designed ebook and companion audio training featuring the very best advice on human connection across 50+ episodes of this podcast. Download for free right now: https://beyondnetworkingpodcast.com/start-here

Far worse than failing at the finish is failing to start. There’s always going to be one more thing you need to learn, one more book to read, one more course to take, one more TED talk to watch, and then you’ll finally be ready.Read or watch at: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/when-to-say-yes/

This week's guest is Dominic Vogel. Dominic is a cybersecurity expert and an absolutely wonderful conversationalist. We talked about cybersecurity and who's most at risk these days, the value of mentors, entrepreneurship, how to prevent top talent from leaving or fleeing your organization, and of course his chance encounter story.Plus, Dominic gives us the top two things every individual and organization should be doing to protect themselves from cyber criminals.I don't think I've ever laughed this hard or often during a podcast recording. Dominic is a riot and you're going to love this conversation.Let's get to it. RELATED LINKSConnect with Dominic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/domvogel/Cyber.SC: https://cyber.sc/ WORK WITH MEVirtual workshops, TEDx coaching, business consulting: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/human-connection-virtual-programs/

Find something outside your job that sets your soul on fire. Then give it everything you’ve got, and share it with others. The world needs more generosity. And we all need a little more joy.Blog version: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/what-sets-your-soul-on-fire/Video version: https://youtu.be/JEDHEUXO6og"When the World" music video: https://youtu.be/oWqlYGC-eXY Reach out at https://beyondnetworkingpodcast.com/contact and let me know: What passion, hobby, or interest have you neglected, and what would it take to get it back in your life?

Today's guest is Matt Zinman. Matt is a personal success trainer, author of the new book Z-Isms, and founder of The Internship Institute, which bridges the gap between education and employment.Matt's studied internships more than nearly anyone in the world, from a practical standpoint.In this episode we discuss earned confidence, how to prove yourself to yourself, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Internships and what students can do now, recognizing the flow of energy during interactions, gratitude as a daily practice, how to turn difficulties into opportunities...And that's just the first 20 minutes!!!You'll also learn about Matt's favorite career-building technique for young professionals, which he calls the "Informational Interview." This episode contains tons of career tips for students and young professionals.There's so much good here. Please enjoy my conversation with Matt Zinman. RELATED LINKS-Matt's book "Z-Isms": https://amzn.to/2YCW5P4 PODCASTING ACCELERATORSign up at: https://brianmiller.podia.com/launch-your-podcast-in-7-days

Here's what I learned when Lord von Schmitt went on Shark Tank. How can you best your true self, or your best self, at work? What aspects of your work are immeasurable and irreplaceable?Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HPF61Yl7pUw;Read the blog with photos & video embedded: https://brianmillerspeaks.com/lord-von-schmitt-art-business/

Today's guest is Michael Kras. He's a Canadian playwright and actor who I met via the inter webs when we were just teens on magic forums.Yes, that's a real thing.Michael and I discuss the creative difference between acting for someone else and writing for actors, how to draw on inspiration from outside your own field, the role of luck in creative endeavors and how to increase your odds of being lucky, building empathy into your business, and of course, Michael shares his story of a chance encounter with lasting impact.This is a warm, wonderful conversation that I enjoyed just as much listening back as I did in the moment, and I think you will too. RELATED LINKSMichael's website: https://MichaelKrasWorks.comNorman Ng's episode of Beyond Networking: http://www.beyondnetworkingpodcast.com/adapting-to-anything-with-norman-ng