This connected life

Leanne Hughes is an international facilitator, speaker and coach who loves creating unpredictable workshop experiences, that predictably work.  She combines her experience in marketing with her education in human resources and psychology, to help leaders create engaging everyday experiences – that are so contagious they scale across teams, functions and regions. Leanne has facilitated leadership, onboarding and team-development workshops across Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea and Singapore and believes in a strengths-centred approach to learning and development. She has over 13 years' experience across a range of industries including mining, government and tourism sectors. She's the host of the First Time Facilitator podcast and popular Facebook group The Flipchart. You can connect with Leanne via her website and on LinkedIn. Listen to this episode via the link above, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone.   What Leanne Hughes and I talked about Bias and judgement when you meet someone Brené Brown True connection – how you turn up Having a QLC – Quarter Life Crisis Working for Wicked Campers Pat Flynn and his DeLorean Creating engagement over Zoom Books It's the Manager by Jim Clifton and Jim Harter Pivot by Jenny Blake Million Dollar Consulting by Alan Weiss.  

Dr Jenine Beekhuyzen OAM, is the Founder and CEO of the Tech Girls Movement Foundation and the CEO of Adroit Research. She is a futurist with international recognition for her advocacy and leadership, her research, and her university teaching through which she has impacted tens of thousands of students over the past 18 years.  Jenine's vision is to empower others to embrace technology, and to use it to their advantage. She is committed to creating a workforce capable of building the technology of the future and she doing this by mobilising a tribe of next generation leaders who are committed to solving real world problems with technology. In the past six years at the helm of the Tech Girls Movement Foundation, she has engaged over 8,000 schoolgirls in STEM entrepreneurship across more than 1,000 schools, matched with 1,000+ mentors who have volunteered 7,500+ hours of their time. She has also distributed 80,000+ free Tech Girls Are Superhero books to Australian schools. You can connect with Jenine on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and through her websites Tech Girls Movement Foundation and Adroit Research. Listen to this episode via the link above, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. What Dr Jenine Beekhuyzen and I talked about: STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Community – helping each other  working to our strengths  being one of few women studying IT  Giving girls choices in life  Tech Girls Movement Foundation  Encouraging all girls to find their superpower / strengths –  Being awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM)  Jenine's latest book – 5 Things you can do to engage girls in STEM  (A) Autonomy (E) Ethos (I) Involvement (O) Otherness (U) Usness  Experiment vs Pilot Program  digital literacy  homeless women over 55 years of age Books – The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle. You can connect with me on  LinkedIn  or  Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle. I'm always happy to hear from listeners, and if you have a guest you would like to nominate or would like to nominate yourself, you can apply here.  Also, if you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. 

John Cahill is a barrister from Brisbane. He works primarily in the areas of criminal law, family law and regulatory law.    Prior to going to the Bar, he worked as a solicitor for the Aboriginal Legal Service in Sydney, for the state government in child protection and in corporate regulation at the federal government level.    In his spare time, he's a writer, primarily of poorly thought out Facebook updates and Instagram posts but every so often the odd column and web series. He lives in Brisbane and has one child, a 50 kg Labrador called Fred.   You can connect with John on LinkedIn.    Listen to this episode via the link above, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone.   What John Cahill and I talked about: Criminal, Family and Administrative / Regulatory Law  Meeting on ABC Brisbane with Kelly Higgins-Devine  lawyers are trained to doubt everything  lawyers are paid to worry and to think the worst  looking for inconsistencies in your opponent's case  a jury is like a small theatre – people can smell blood when things are not going right  An interesting start to law – via the Conservatorium of Music How journalism and law are similar  adrenalin keeps you going when you're terrified anxiety means you have a greater level of care  Mentors and imposter syndrome  Tik Tok videos during Covid. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle. I'm always happy to hear from listeners, and if you have a guest you would like to nominate or would like to nominate yourself, you can apply here.   Also, if you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.   

Associate Professor Catherine Ball is a scientific futurist, speaker, advisor, author, founder, executive producer, executive director, company director and charity patron working across global projects where emerging technologies meet humanitarian, education and environmental needs.  Catherine also likes to create businesses and champion movements, collaborate with peers, and advise game-changers. A sought-after voice across the start-up, futurist and tech world, Catherine works globally across a wide range of projects from creating documentaries and world leading conferences and events, to advising on the use of novel approaches (e.g. drones) across environmental and humanitarian projects.  Catherine is a proponent of community engagement with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), likes to demystify emerging tech and has recently been named as the official 2020 Patron of the Tech Girls Movement Foundation.  Catherine lives in Queensland with her husband and two sons. You can connect with Catherine through her website, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.  Listen to this episode via the link above, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone.    What Dr Catherine Ball and I talked about: Zoom throat – too many zoom calls and meetings  Self-care  Our mutual love of and obsession with Suncoast Fresh fruit and vegetable boxes  Australian Survivor's Tarzan and his lime farm on the Sunshine Coast  Your network is your net worth Connection is everything  Dr Genevieve Bell at the Australian National University  2020 for World of Drones and Robotics Conference in Brisbane  Science communication, science engagement and science empowerment  TED Talk – Talk Nerdy to Me by Melissa Marshall Feeding our bodies and our brains Currently writing 5 books  We choose how we consume  Girl Geek Academy and Sarah Moran  2020 Patron for Tech Girls Movement Foundation, founded by Dr Jenine Beekhuyzen.   You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle. I'm always happy to hear from listeners, and if you have a guest you would like to nominate or would like to nominate yourself, you can apply here.  Also, if you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. 

One of the biggest challenges we face in society today is loneliness.  Even before we were locked down due to coronavirus, loneliness was at epidemic levels, with 1 in 2 Australians saying they are lonely at least once a week. Feeling disconnected and lonely has the same health risks as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, obesity and high blood pressure. Loneliness also leads to depression and anxiety, which are now the leading cause of long-term sickness absence at work as well as a major cause of presenteeism in the workplace.  Dr Vivek Murthy, (19th Surgeon General of the United States, from 2014-2017) in his new book Together, describes loneliness as “running like a dark thread through many of the more obvious health issues such as anxiety, depression, violence and addiction”.  Loneliness isn't only a problem in our community. It's also a growing issue in the workplace, at all levels.  Loneliness at work is something I've previously experienced, and I know it's not only me who has – or is – going through this.    In this episode I talk about: New research from Cigna that shows a clear connection between work and loneliness How many CEOs feel lonely in their job and how it hinders their performance The correlation between work exhaustion and feeling lonely  The impact of loneliness on our cognitive performance, executive function, health and general wellbeing  Why leaders need to pay attention to loneliness in the workplace  Suggestions to reduce loneliness at work.   Loneliness is one of the most horrible feelings we can have. What can you do today to reach out to someone who might be feeling lonely? Or, if you're lonely, what can you do to connect with someone in your world?  Finally, if you or someone you know needs help, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit Beyond Blue's website. For crisis assistance, call 000.

Sharon Natoli is an optimist who believes in the power of food to connect humanity to a better future. She speaks and writes about building human connection through the humble, yet surprisingly powerful, act of eating together. An Accredited Practising Dietitian who has spent three decades advising individuals and organisations about connecting the nutritional benefits of food to their vision for a healthier future, Sharon's expertise lies in communication, connection and the future of food and food culture. She is a visionary thinker who strongly believes that while what we eat plays a central role in the health of people and the planet, it's the ability of food to bring people together where its true power lies. Through her speaking and programs, Sharon demonstrates that by eating together, organisations can prepare for the shift to a more human-centred future by aligning values, people and culture in a way that brings joy and connection while increasing retention, engagement and stimulating revenue growth.  Sharon's new book, Eating Together – build team connection and workplace culture through the power of food is due out in July 2020. You can connect with Sharon at sharonnatoli.com, and on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Listen to this episode via the link above, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. What Sharon Natoli and I talked about The power of food to connect  Brené Brown  Being seen, heard and valued Tips and advice for workplaces and leaders sharing food at work  How Canva and Carmen's Foods incorporate food and eating together at work into their organisations Sharing meals with clients  Virtual lunches during COVID-19 Increasing social isolation and loneliness 40% of people feel lonely at work  Simon Sinek – Leaders Eat Last  Our favourite foods to cook and eat  Butter makes everything better  Match the oil with the cuisine – peanut oil for Thai cooking and ghee for Indian cooking  You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle. I'm always happy to hear from listeners, and if you have a guest you would like to nominate or would like to nominate yourself, you can apply here.  Also, if you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.

Rose Herceg is the Chief Strategy Officer at WPP Australia & New Zealand and one of Australia's most respected social forecasters. Rose's first business, Pophouse launched in 1998, became known as Australia's best-regarded company for innovation, social trends and business strategy. BRW Magazine named Rose the number one innovative thinker in the country and Pophouse the country's best place to go for new business models and emerging trends data. In 2002 Rose was recognised with the Small Businesswoman of the Year Award. Rose is also the author of three books – her latest ‘The Power Book' has been translated into several languages. You can connect with Rose at WPPaunz.com and on LinkedIn.   What Rose Herceg and I talked about: Finding balance during COVID-19 Working from home Finding little moments of joy and pleasure Finding solutions for clients Taking mental breaks through the day and sleep at night Crazy TV shows, movies and books we love Telling the truth Feeling real connections with social media How our current hyper-reality is forcing a level of clarity in our lives Monumental change and being awakened to the possibility of who you want to be WPP Report busting some myths about ageing Turning 50 and figuring out who you want to be Ageist stereotypes Marketing is for youth but people over 50 have 46% of the disposable income in Australia Unconscious bias to ageing – death awaits us all! We fear what we do not know Do you feel like you have had a day well lived?   You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle. I'm always happy to hear from listeners, and if you have a guest you would like to nominate or would like to nominate yourself, you can apply here. Also, if you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.

John Barton is the CEO of MGD, a Brisbane based wealth management company. What struck me when we first met, many years ago, was his generosity in sharing his knowledge and his time.  John is driven by an absolute focus on values, quality, teamwork and corporate citizenship, and while this is apparent in his work, it also comes across in his volunteer community work. He is currently the Chair of Business South Bank and sits on the board of the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation.  He has almost 30 years experience in banking, financial services and wealth management roles, and, unsurprisingly, a strong focus on the charitable and not-for-profit sector as part of MGD's Philanthropic Advisory team. He is also fascinated by the area of behavioural economics – the study of emotions and psychology and how they influence real-world finance and investment decisions. Away from the office, John is a regular cyclist and is frequently seen riding his bike in and around Brisbane. He also enjoys golf and sharing a good cabernet. You can connect with John at www.mgdwealth.com.au and on LinkedIn or Twitter. You can listen to this episode via the link below, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone.  What John Barton and I talked about: We are social beings Sharing experiences and helping others where we can  How we can thrive and find purpose in life  Checking in on people during COVID-19 – who has been automatic and who has surprised you Natural positives of COVID-19 How we can manage our personal finances – what is the reality of where you are right now and where you may be in the months ahead  Creating a personal budget of where income is coming from but also where the expenses are going to  What are we spending money on in our personal lives? Marie Kondo your finances – “does this subscription bring me joy in my life?”  Peter Cook – “everyone is dysfunctional with money” – how do we hasten slowly? Cycling, Zoom coffee and Zoom beer with friends  Staying connected with your workforce  Start with Why by Simon Sinek Seamless by Anders Sörman-Nilsson.  You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle.   Mel Kettle is all about connection, communication and collaboration. She works with CEOs, leaders and teams to help them better communicate and collaborate (online AND offline) to achieve better relationships, revenue and results. Mel is a facilitator, trainer, speaker, author and mentor who provides practical advice that achieves results while having some fun! Download her latest whitepaper, The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer or order a signed copy of her book, The Social Association. To inquire about working with Mel, please email mel@melkettle.com or call her on 0404 600 889.

How do you ask, listen and observe? It's been an interesting week with the government announcing the lifting of some of the COVID restrictions. I have to admit, I'm a little anxious about it all, but I am looking forward to being able to see a few more family and friends.  In this podcast episode, I talk about how we ask, listen and observe. There's nothing like having to run much of your life through a video screen to realise that you need to brush up on your asking, listening and observational skills! Can you relate?  One of the most challenging aspects of our COVID-19 normal is that we are no longer able to connect and engage with our people in many of the same ways we have previously. There are no more face-to-face meetings. No more in-person events. No more quick conversations in the corridors or lunch-rooms or as you pass by a colleague's desk.  Our primary form of communication now is either over the phone or, more likely, using some sort of video-conferencing technology. Whether you are using FaceTime, Zoom, MS Teams, BlueJeans, or even Houseparty, many of our usual non-verbal communication cues are more difficult to identify, if not completely absent.  This is why it's even more critical that we are aware of how and when we ask questions. Whether we are truly listening, and what, and how much, we are observing of the other person or people we are connecting with.  In this episode you will learn: Why we need to ask questions What questions we should be asking our people How to ask personal questions Why listening is important How to improve your listening skills A few things we can do to become better listeners Observation through a video screen – and how hard it is!!  The importance of observation in communication  Non-verbal cues – what are they?  More than ever it's critical that we combine observing with asking and listening. If we observe something that seems a bit off-kilter, it's important we kindly ask why.  What are you asking? How are you listening? And what are you observing about your people? (And, what do you think they are observing about you?!) You can connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle.

I feel like I say this ALL THE TIME, but I loved this conversation with Zoë Routh. We met about three years ago when I joined Thought Leaders Business School, and I liked her immediately! We have loads of things in common – a love of food and travel, pet chickens, and we both have close ties with Canada. Professionally, Zoë is a leadership expert specialising in the people stuff. She shows leaders and teams struggling with office politics and silos how to work better together. She is also the author of three books, with her fourth book, People Stuff - the power of perspective for better leadership, due out mid-2020. Zoë is also the producer of the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast, dedicated to exploring perspective in people stuff so we can live and lead better. Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run 6 marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is mother to a few garden-wrecking chooks. You can connect with Zoe at www.zoerouth.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. You can listen to this episode via the link above, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. What Zoë Routh and I talked about Having chickens at pets connection is currency and having a trust bank account building rapport through hugs Brene Brown and Maya Angelou Zoe's fourth book, People Stuff – The Power of Perspective for Better Leadership how we see the world and how we be in the world how we make the best of a situation is an exercise in perspective deep humility and deep curiosity things that shape perspective how values shape your world view Survivor Against Empathy Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery The Authenticity Accelerator by Robert Rabbin Lance Secretan Ken Wilber The Last Lecture by Jeffrey Zaslow and Randy Pausch You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle

Are we all sick of Zoom yet? I've been averaging about 20 hours a week on Zoom, and last week was closer to 30 as I was on an online course for four days. Let me tell you, it's been an energy KILLER. Which is fitting as this episode is about managing your energy. A critical component of leadership is knowing and managing your own energy levels. Albert Einstein said everything is about energy. And he is completely right. Because if we don't have energy, we don't have the ability to do what we want to do or what we need to do in life.  In this episode I talk about: The types of energy – physical, emotional and spiritual Where we get our energy Things that sap our energy How we can get a quick energy boost What saps our energy What gives you energy? And what saps it? Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe if you haven't, so you don't miss an episode.  You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle

Michelle Cox and I met in May 2019 at the space series event and immediately bonded. Previously a global CEO, COO and currently a non-executive director, Michelle has owned, founded and headed up many companies in her twenty-five years in the corporate world. An elite athlete in her youth, she's won awards in sport as well as business and personally overcome cervical cancer. Michelle is the founder and author of the Wabi Sabi Series which includes a number of books that focus on topics we don't often talk about. Wabi Sabi is a traditional Japanese philosophy that focuses on finding beauty within imperfections in our lives and gracefully accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay. The first three books in the series are available now at wabisabiseries.com or your favourite online stores: Doctors are not gods It's okay not to have kids Death doesn't have to be morbid You can connect with Michelle on LinkedIn. Michelle's website is wabisabiseries.com. What Michelle Cox and I talked about: Space Conference, Byron Bay taking a creative break it's okay for us not to have children being harshly judged for not having children living a life that is absolutely right for you support vs judgement becoming a writer death challenges in life being an eternal optimist Regression Therapy Many Lives Many Masters Brené Brown books Gut by Julia Elders Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Iwasaki Future Fit by Andrea Clarke Michelle Obama – Becoming Melinda Gates – A Moment of Lift Super Soul Sunday– Oprah Winfrey Rich Roll interview with Dr Zach Bush You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle

Last week I spoke about how to work from home. This time I'm speaking about how you, as a manager or leader, can stay connected with your teams when you are all working in different locations. There are three main things we need to consider when we work from home – ourselves, our people and our space. In this episode I talk about: · Show self-compassion· Being more effective communicators· Curiosity· Your culture – what can stay the same, what will change?· Staying connected· Clarity· Change· Creating the space – your new work space, the online space and giving yourself enough mental and emotional space· Consistency How are you coping with leading a team remotely? Is this the first time you have had to? What is surprising you about it?

Blog copy #34 Staying connected when working from home In this episode Mel talks about: Coping with changing routines Hope and opportunity Needing to work from home The benefits of working from home 7 tips to make working from home easier Set clear boundaries around the hours you work. Try and set clear boundaries around WHERE you work. Create some rituals around working from home. Make time to talk to real people every day Make time to exercise and move Structure you day as you would in the office Get some fresh air and natural light What about you? Do you work from home? What's your favourite part? What ideas do you have to make it easier? Next week when I'll share some advice on how you can stay connected with your team working remotely. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle

Dr Justin Coulson is one of Australia's most respected and popular parenting authors and speakers. He is sought after for his expertise in family life, relationships, and wellbeing and resilience; and he is the founder of ‘Happy Families'. Justin has a PhD in Positive Psychology, is the father of six daughters (!!!), has written five books, and is a three-time bestselling author. Justin's latest book, Miss-Connection: Why your teenage daughter hates you, expects the world, and needs to talk, is available now at all good bookstores and online. You can connect with Justin on LinkedIn and you can follow him on Facebook at Happy Families. Justin's website is www.happyfamilies.com.au. Justin has generously offered listers of this podcast access to his Happy Families Kickstart program for FREE! (Saving $97). It's 3 weeks, 3 easy ways to make positive changes in your family starting now. THANK YOU JUSTIN! What Dr Justin Coulson and I talked aboutBrené Brown acknowledge the humanity in people how do we show empathy and what do we say to people? How do we connect in a meaningful way and show vulnerability? Justin's new book – Miss Connection being a father of 6 daughters most pain is a wonderful friend and an incredible teacher Teenage girls vs teenage boys – what to be aware of Connection is the currency of our relationships Stephen Covey – 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Listening, laughter and lightness The Happiness Hypothesis – Jonathon Haidt The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathon Haidt Dark Horse – Achieving Success through the Pursuit of Fulfillment by Ogi Ogas and Todd Rose The Happiness Lab Podcast with Dr Laurie Santos The Art of Manliness Hidden Brain Podcast – NPR 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman and Nan Silver The Jesus Wars by John Jenkins You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle

This episode is about morning routines. I talk about: · the many benefits to having a morning routine and how it can help set our day up for success.· Steve Jobs used to ask himself every morning “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?”, while looking in the mirror. If he said no on too many consecutive days then he made some changes. This was one of his morning rituals that helped set his mindset for the day ahead.· Author and podcaster Tim Ferris says that having a morning routine can help you “win the day”. If you accomplish one good thing in your morning routine, you've accomplished one good thing for that day, and you're much more likely to have a good rest of the day.· My lack of a great morning routine. Although I do include exercise into my mornings at least a few days a week these days!· Morning pages· Exercise· Meditation· James Clear and his excellent book Atomic Habits· My proposed morning routine and a 30 day challenge Do you have a morning routine? What does it look like?I'd love to know. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle Or you can email me – mel@melkettle.com I'm always happy to hear from listeners, and if you have a guest you would like to nominate or would like to nominate yourself, you can apply via my website, www.melkettle.com

Kim Stockham and I first met about 14 years ago through our local chamber of commerce. We bonded over the challenges of working from home and staying sane! We also bonded over our shared love of travel. Today Kim is based in Singapore, heading up Corporate Communications for the Expedia Group in the Asia Pacific. Her role is dedicated to communications which help elevate the Expedia Group brand and team in APAC, and which recognises the value of travel to the world. She works across global and local corporate communications projects, as well as supporting Corporate Development (M&A) and Public Policy/Government Relations teams. In 2019 Kim was recognised as in the global ‘Top Women in PR 2019 Awards', acknowledging and celebrating her global leadership in communications. You can connect with Kim on LinkedIn. What Kim Stockham and I talked aboutbeing a Super-Connector having a strong love of meeting people, friends and travelling the kindest thing you can do is share your friends Janine Garner - It's Who You Know Karen Morley - Lead Like a Coach Staying connected with a remote team How corporate communications has changed saying now eloquently kindness and compassion in business - don't run over anyone in your race Living overseas A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles Financial Times Wall Street Journal You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle

I turn 50 next week - eek! Where have the last ten years gone??? Obviously I'm older, hopefully wiser, and I have definitely learned A LOT. I thought I would share my top ten learnings of the last ten years to commemorate the end of my 40s. Which, let's face it, has been pretty damn good, which a few fairly awful exceptions! Top ten things I learned over the last ten years Fill your own cup first - if you don't look after yourself, how can you serve others? Being kind, positive and happy are all choices. And yes, some days it can be really hard. Go with your gut – if it doesn't feel right it's probably not! Whether it's a relationship, your health, a job, a situation. If you don't love what you do then do something else. Focus on what you can control, not what you can't. Be you. Don't try and be someone you're not because people will sense something is off. Everyone is scared of messing up and everyone has moments of self-doubt. If you want to succeed you need to get out of your own way. Comparison is the thief of joy, so if you need to compare yourself to something, compare yourself to what you were like a month, year, decade ago. Change is constant so learn how to deal with it. True friends will stick by you in bad times and be genuinely happy for your success in good times. So make time to see them and call them and don't rely on social media to find out how they really are Life is short, live it. For me, this means take opportunities, travel, say yes more than I say no. What do the next 10 years hold? Who knows! Hopefully a lot of great experiences, opportunities and more travel.What have you learned in the last ten years?I'd love to know.You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle. I'm always happy to hear from listeners, and if you have a guest you would like to nominate or would like to nominate yourself, you can apply here.If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe

I first met this week's guest, Tony Ryan, about 12 years ago when I joined Professional Speakers Australia. Back then Tony was a bit of a legend in Australia's speaking community, and today is no different. He is a lifelong educator, parent, and futurist, and has worked with over 1000 education, business and parent groups in 10 different countries throughout his career. Tony is also an international best-selling author of 8 books, an Australian ambassador for School Aid, and a former national president of Professional Speakers Australia. Tony's latest book, Next Generation – Preparing today's kids for an extraordinary future, is a must-read for all parents and educators, as it will help you identify what's ahead for our children, the capabilities they will need and some actions to help them in their future. You can connect with Tony at tonyryan.com.au. You can also connect with Tony on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. What Tony Ryan and I talked about:Conversation is connection the words we use – real life versus the online life future technology challenges with conversation and connection the need to reframe the mindset of kids today so there is more optimism we are capable of coping with the dramatic change up ahead – the ability to think critically and creatively – regardless of behaviour hope – the best four-letter word that you can talk about 70% of all articles on the news are negative we need to teach children how to think not what to think – critical thinking and creative thinking are essential being a professional speaker Hans Rosling – Factfulness book of the year lists for Bill Gates and Barack Obama Melinda Gates – The Moment of Lift Steve Biddulp – The New Manhood Michelle Obama – Becoming You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle

In this episode I talk about · self-awareness and how as leaders, most of us can improve this element of ourselves· Being self-aware is about understanding what motivates you, the impact you have on others, what you do well and where you struggle.· Stephen Covey says that self-awareness involves deep personal honesty and that it comes from asking and answering hard questions.· What self-awareness isn't is self-judgement.· Research tells us that when we have greater self-awareness we are more effective at communicating, we have increased confidence and we are more creative. This enables us to have stronger relationships, be more effective and impactful leaders, have more productive and satisfied employees and run more profitable companies.· My friend Kate Billing, who I spoke to on episode 9 says that increasing self-awareness and the capacity for inner self management should be a foundational part of our development agenda.· self-talk – that little voice in your head that tells you how great you are or, in many cases, how great you aren't.· naming the voices in your head· how we become more self aware· CliftonStrengths assessment· be open – to new experiences, new people, new ideas· be curious – ask questions, show an interest· question our assumptions. How are you going to become more self aware? Do you think you might name that nasty voice in your head that tells you you're not good enough? And how will you be more open, more curious and question your assumptions? I'd love to know. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle. I'm always happy to hear from listeners, and if you have a guest you would like to nominate or would like to nominate yourself, you can apply here. If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe. If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.

Andrew Short AFSM is the Assistant Commissioner for the State Emergency Services for Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES). Andrew is no stranger to the challenges associated with providing effective emergency management, having worked for QFES for over 20 years. He is passionate about lifelong learning, especially when it comes to investigating how organisations can improve how they lead, manage and train to achieve the outcome of operational excellence. In 2007 he was acknowledged for his achievements when he was awarded an Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) for significant contribution to QFRS Operational and Business processes. including iZone, wildfire preparedness (WAL, LAP, RAM), Functional Management and Absenteeism Management improvements. This medal is the highest national award for fire service officers in Australia. He is also a life member of the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland. Andrew is married with two teenage children, and with his family enjoys travelling within (and outside of) Australia. He is also an avid shipwreck scuba diver, and uses this sport as a means of gaining respite from work and from his phone! You can connect with Andrew on LinkedIn. What Andrew Short and I talked aboutwhat connection means to him preparing for the worst – management of a large emergency helping communities understand risk in emergencies and that they can be impacted by an emergency at any time during the year working with volunteers communication challenges with paid staff and volunteers the notion of learning throughout life accepting responsibility and what you could do differently to get a better outcome having critical friends who are brave enough to challenge you Dominick Quartuccio – episode 17 Books – John Carlin, Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation Malcolm Gladwell Bill Bryson Victor Frankel, Man's Search for Meaning Craig Ferguson, Riding the Elephant You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe and if you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.

When you know your purpose, it's easier to plan, to set goals and then take relevant action to achieve them. In the past I've found that when my goals are connected to my purpose, I'm far more likely to achieve them. In this episode I talk about: · Simon Sinek Start with why· Stephen Covey – begin with the end in mind· How knowing our purpose can help us in life· The Japanese concept of Ikigai· Four questions to help you find your purpose· Creating goals Do you know your purpose? I'd love to know. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle

Christmas and the holiday season can be a really difficult time for a lot of people. And even for those who love it, there can be pockets of stress and overwhelm. One of the things I've learned from life, and from horribly fraught Christmases, is that it's so important to look after yourself. While it's not always possible to avoid stressful times – at Christmas and at other times of the year, it is always possible to build in some tactics to make it easier for yourself. 6 tactics for dealing with overwhelm 1. Get help2. Have a digital detox3. Step away4. Relinquish control and delegate5. Set some boundaries6. Set some rituals How do you cope when you are feeling overwhelmed? What steps are you going to put in place to help you cope when you are feeling overwhelmed? Finally, if you or someone you know needs help, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.There is also an anonymous online chat service available between 8pm and 4am AEST at Lifeline.org.au, or visit Beyond Blue's website. For crisis assistance, call 000. How do you deal with overwhelm? What are your tactics for surviving Christmas? I'd love to know. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettleOr you can email me – mel@melkettle.com This is my last episode for a few weeks as I'll be taking a break over Christmas. I'll be back late January for season 2, and I have some great guests to introduce you to! I'm always happy to hear from listeners, and if you have a guest you would like to nominate or would like to nominate yourself, you can apply via my website, www.melkettle.com Merry Christmas, and I'll see you in 2020!

In my last solo episode I spoke about the importance of sleep. Today I want to talk about rest.Our brains thrive when they have time to rest. We make over 30,000 decisions a day, so the cognitive load on our mind is immense. If we don't take some time during the day to rest our brains, our performance, moods and physical and mental health all suffer.The risk of fatigue is well known. When we are over-tired our brain switches off and we have micro-sleeps. These can last from a fraction of a second to thirty seconds. Long enough to have a car accident if you're driving.Our brain has the same reaction to serious sleep deprivation as it does to excessive alcohol consumption. In fact, being awake for 17 hours has the same impact on our cognition and our bodies as having a blood alcohol content of .05. And 21 hours awake is the equivalent of a blood alcohol content of .08.Our brains have two modes of processing and are designed to have regular rest periods:The first mode is when we are focused and concentrating on tasks, solving problems and processing incoming information – this includes when we scroll through Instagram or Facebook, do work that requires us to think and when we are watching TV. The second mode is the default mode network, which switches on when our minds start to wander – such as when we are in the shower or out for a walk. It's when our brain is in default mode that we get some of our best ideas. Our brains work best when we give them the opportunity to switch between these two modes. Something that happens with less frequency when we are glued to our phones…Ferris Jabr writes in Scientific American “downtime replenishes the brain's stores of attention and motivation, encourages productivity and creativity, and is essential to both achieve our highest levels of performance and simply form stable memories in everyday life”.So how can we rest?Personally, I love a good power nap. Research has shown that a 20 minute power nap can increase cognitive performance by up to 40%, with the benefit lasting two to three hours.If napping isn't for you, or you don't have an opportunity to nap during the day, there are plenty of other things you can do:Use a productivity technique such as 52:17 or Pomodoro Go for a walk or do some other sort of physical exercise Meditate for a few minutes close your eyes and taking some deep breaths to help relax your mind and body Unplug and enjoy the silence Go outside and get some fresh air Do something creative with your hands such as draw, knit, make some origami Get into the garden The consistent pattern here is that you step away from your desk to do a different type of activity that doesn't require a lot of thought.Getting enough rest isn't only about enough sleep. We need to make sure we give our brains time to rest during the day.How do you rest your brain during the day? Or do you go flat out and fade at 3pm? Or sooner?You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettleIf you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone.If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.

Lisa O'Neill is feisty, funny and fabulous. She has been described as a human version of Berocca and is one of my favourite people for her energy, her positivity and her ability to cut the shit and tell it as it is – always with love. Lisa wants us all to live big lives and to become the best version of ourselves. She is the former fashion editor of NZ Women's Weekly and today is the author of three books, a highly sought after conference speaker and MC, and a mentor to loads of very fortunate women, including me! You can connect with Lisa at www.lisaoneill.co.nz. You can also connect with Lisa on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. What Lisa O'Neill and I talked aboutHow connection means everything and without connection we have nothing Meeting her husband when she was 14 year and knowing immediately he was the one how many underestimate the power of an instant connection be “on purpose” make people better with comfort and love don't let your life live you women get stuck in the various stages of life and tend to lead other people's lives being conditioned to service never too old to chase your dreams unashamed pleasure being your own best friend give yourself permission to be you Life is hard and what are your strategies for it Book – The Lickable Third Being a funeral celebrant Russell Brand's podcast Under the Skin Perform Under Pressure by Dr Ceri Evans Faster Than Normal by Peter Shankman You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.

There are four ways we need to look after ourselves physically - we need to get enough of the right food, water, exercise and sleep. Sleep is often the one that is ignored. This episode is is part 1 of a 2-parter – talking about sleep and rest. Rest is more than just sleep at night. Most of us are aware that we need enough sleep (which doesn't mean we get enough!), but too many of us go hell for leather during the day, without giving in to our body's need for rest. And I don't mean a quick nap – although I'm certainly not averse to that! A lack of sleep is debilitating to our mental and physical health, and in most cases, poor sleep behaviour is an individual choice. Not getting enough sleep is like being in a permanent state of jetlag, and those of us who travel know how awful that feels! Four out of ten Australian's don't get enough sleep (on average we get 6.5 hours a night, with 12 per cent of us having 5.5 hours or less) and 20 per cent of us suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness. The costs of this lack of sleep are high – it significantly reduces workplace productivity, costs the Australian economy $66.3 billion per year and can lead directly to work-related accidents and fatalities. What causes our lack of sleep? Our inability to manage our time with technology is partly to blame – Netflix is a biggie. If you're tired all the time but believe you're getting enough sleep, then see your doctor, as you could have a serious sleep disorder such as sleep apnoea. A lot of people have a morning routine, but do you also have a night-time routine? The benefits of a night-time routine are that it can help you wind down from the day so you fall asleep more quickly and have a more restful and better quality sleep. Tips to help you get more sleep – suggestions for a night-time routine · Go to bed earlier so you can aim for 7-8 hours a night· Set consistent times for going to bed and getting up · Don't drink caffeine in the afternoon or immediately before going to bed – try herbal tea instead· Try and limit the amount of alcohol you consume · Reduce the blue light exposure from screens in the evening · Turn off the TV an hour or two before going to bed · Have a warm bath or shower· Make sure your mattress and pillow is comfortable· Make sure your bedroom had adequate ventilation and is a comfortable temperature· Be organised for the following day · Encourage your partner not to snore! Getting enough rest isn't only about enough sleep. We need to make sure we give our brains time to rest during the day. However I'm going to talk more about this in my next solo episode! What does your night time routine look like? Do you even have one? I'd love to know. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle If you would like to be more connectable, or have a more connectable team, please get in touch.

I first heard of Lara Bourguignon when we received an email she sent to all SuperConcepts clients, introducing herself as the new CEO, and inviting us to get in touch via her direct email if we had any concerns or otherwise. I was incredibly impressed so reached out to her on LinkedIn to say so. I loved how she was so keen to connect, as well as to listen to clients in her early days in the role. Lara was appointed into the position of CEO, SuperConcepts in April 2019. Prior to that, she was in the role of Director, Strategic Marketing and Customer Experience within SuperConcepts parent company AMP. You can connect with Lara at SuperConcepts. You can also connect with Lara on LinkedIn. What Lara Bourguignon and I talked aboutA connection is more than a transaction Checkout attendants at her local Coles supermarket Differentiation in a very digital world Bring your ‘whole self' to work Personal email connection as a new CEO Undertaking a listening tour in the first months of a new role Stealing “Jack Welch-isms” – respect the past and what has happened in the past Leadership is not done in isolation Heightened sensitivity to past decisions Very serious responsibility to stakeholders Women and money through Superannuation Financial fitness is the same as physical fitness Understanding your superannuation Becoming Financially Fit Females Rachel Griffiths Ride Like a Girl (movie) Extreme Trust – Don Peppers and Martha Rogers The Power – Naomi Alderman Steph Clarke's Podcast – Steph's business books If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle.If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.

I've been thinking a lot about kindness lately. And how a small, kind gesture can make such a mammoth difference to someone's life.Kind is possibly my favourite four letter word. Being kind is one of easiest things we can do, and it can have life‑changing consequences. Kindness doesn't need to be difficult or expensive or time consuming. I feel as we become “busier” we are becoming less kind. If you're wondering, busy is my least favourite four letter word! I'm so very grateful to have been the recipient of many acts of kindness throughout my life so far: When my parents died, when I was housebound after melanoma surgery, when we're away and our neighbours look after our chickens, when a stranger offers me a seat on the train, when door is held open for me and so many more small and large gestures. Kindness is so prevalent in the personal worlds of so many of us, that it makes me wonder why it's not as common in the business world. Don't businesses and their leaders realise that when you are kind to people, they want to do more for you? Whether it's your workforce, customers or investors. The number one quality of a connectable leader has is kindness. What would happen if we started to measure the number of kind deeds transacted? How many of us would be able to say, hand on heart, that we are a success? And think about the flow-on impact. I know I seek out the businesses that have shown me kindness. I WANT them to have my money. And I tell people about them. Their kindnesses show they value me. It's not rocket science! It shouldn't surprise you to know that research shows leaders and organisations that are kind to their employees have employees who stay longer, work harder and are more committed to the organisation. It also shouldn't surprise you, that when you are kind to your staff that kindness flows out and onto their colleagues, their families, your customers, suppliers and other stakeholders. What would happen if you included a kindness metric in your key performance indicators or your strategic goals? What impact do you think that might have on your people and your business? Kindness at work isn't only about the warm fuzzies it generates. Kindness at work can improve job performance, lengthen employee tenure and reduce absences. According to Emma Seppala, associate director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford University, “when organisations promote an ethic of compassion rather than a culture of stress, they may not only see a happier workplace (since a lack of bonding within the workplace has been shown to increase psychological distress, while positive social interactions at work have been shown to boost employee health), but also an improved bottom line.” How can you start a kindness revolution at work? A few things you can do are: Ask people how they are and actually listen to their reply Say good morning and / or good night when you arrive and leave each day Bring in baked goods to share Have a kindness board – where people can share kind things others have done for them Say thank you – to your team, colleagues, suppliers and customers Help out a colleague when they are stuck on a piece of work Spend time getting to know new staff members Buy a coffee or make a cup of tea for a co-worker Don't yell at people when they make a mistake Give a compliment to a co-worker Focus on the strengths your colleagues bring to work, not their weaknesses What are you doing to be kind? And what are some of the small meaningful ways people have been kind to you? I'd love to know. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe. If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.

I think I first "met" Dani Valent on Twitter about ten years ago, around the time I first bought a Thermomix. #bestkitchengadgetever Dani describes herself as a writer, eater, traveller and cook. Everything she does is linked by a simple idea: leading people to great food experiences. Like me, Dani is passionate about food because she loves connecting with people, and especially connect with people through food. She believes good food is central to a life well-lived. It's nourishment and energy. It's a way to gather – in the field, the market, in the kitchen and at the table. It's culture, ritual, history and future. It's art, craft and science. It's sensual and it can get emotional. With over 20 years' experience as a food journalist, travel author, recipe developer and authorised Thermomix cookbook writer, she was my first pick for someone to share stories with about food. The only disappointment is that we were unable to find a time to record this over a meal, instead recording from our respective offices in Brisbane and Melbourne. Grab a cuppa and some delicious food, and settle in to listen to Dani Valent. You can connect with Dani via her websites www.danivalent.com. You can also connect with Dani on Twitter and Instagram @danivalent. What Dani Valent and I talked abouther unique skill being a restaurant critic one of her favourite stories - talking to a young gay Turkish chef how food is love the culture, the history and connection with traditions around the world across cultures and countries Tinder for restaurants Travelling alone when you are by yourself travelling so that you can try different foods and dishes Paulie Gee's pizza in Brooklyn Danny Myer – Setting the Table Ruth Reichl – Garlic and Sapphires Hosting a successful event Celebrity interviews Upcoming food trends Building meals around one particular ingredient Writing for Lonely Planet If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle. If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.

Today I'm talking about marketing to women. A lot of people don't realise that women are responsible for 90% of consumer purchases. Which equates to over $20 TRILLION in global spending. In Australia, women own just over one third of all businesses, and this number is rising. Australian women are also becoming more educated – in 2014 almost 45,000 more women graduated with tertiary qualifications than men. Also, in many households, women are increasingly becoming the main income earners, often earning 2, 3 or 10x what their male partners earn. Women are the biggest contributor to GDP, making purchasing decisions for themselves, and often also for the children and the men in their lives. Yet despite this, many women feel they are misunderstood when it comes to marketing undertaken by many brands and businesses. Don't assume we're all the same, don't assume we're stupid and please don't assume we all do all the housework! In this episode I talk about:· A real estate agent who assumed I did the laundry (I don't)· My excellent experience buying a Weber BBQ· Other assumptions people make when marketing to women· Bic pens for women and Ellen's takedown – and you can read a few Amazon reviews!· Current trends when marketing to women· Women and social media· eSports and the Fortnite World Cup· a shift from TV to streaming and YouTube· an increase in voice technology· Generating and demonstrating social proof What are you doing when it comes to marketing to women? You can connect with me on LinkedIn or twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettleOr you can email me – mel@melkettle.comIf you want to talk about how you can collaborate more in your organisation, or you need some support to develop a collaborative team, please get in touch.

Dominick Quartuccio is a NYC based international speaker, author, mentor who focuses on Elevating Performance and Short-Circuiting Burnout. He is also the co- host of his own podcast, Man Amongst Men. You can connect with Dominick via his websites www.DominickQ.com and Do Inner Work. You can also:Watch his TedX Talk: The Bold Journey Women Want Men to Take Buy his excellent book: Design Your Future Connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram Listen to his podcast Man Amongst Men What Dominick Quartuccio and I talked aboutConnection depends on age and stage of life Connecting with yourself – doing inner-work and self-reflection Working out what is important in your life Catching people before they end up in the ambulance Escaping and numbing mechanisms – wine, emotional eating, Netflix binge, longer work hours Suffering in silence Loneliness Being part of a Mastermind The Way of the Superior Man - David Deida The 4-hour Workweek by Tim Ferris Levelling up Outwitting the Devil - Napolean Hill ADD – Awakening – Disrupting – Design Concept of temporary abstinence Atomic Habits by James Clear Think and Grow Rich – Napolean Hill Toni Morrison – Beloved Dominick's book list of books every man must read Pancakes vs Burritos vs Coffee If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle.

In this minisode I talk about the health checks we should be having on a regular basis. I recorded this episode about an hour after having my biannual mammogram and ultrasound, and it prompted me to have a chat about looking after our health. A big part of being connected with self is knowing what's going on with our bodies and looking after ourselves from a medical perspective. Did you know that while most women see a doctor at least once a year, men tend to go far less frequently, have shorter visits and often only to go when their illness is in its later stages. Presumably because by then the symptoms are too bad to continue ignoring!As we get older, we should all be having an annual health check to help stay on top of things. Having an annual check-up can identify early if you have symptoms that might lead to diabetes, some cancers, osteoporosis, glaucoma and many more. Finding out early can often save your life. What to get checkedBlood pressure Blood tests for cholesterol, triglicerides and a fasting blood sugar test for diabetes. Urine tests for kidney health Sexual health A complete skin check every year Breast checks Mammogram and breast ultrasounds Pap smears Testicular and prostate checks Stool samples for bowel cancer Bone density Hormone checks Eye examination Dental check-ups. You also need to monitor your weight, as being overweight is also a significant risk factor for heart disease and diabetes. Let's not forget mental health.Your GP or physician is an excellent person to see first when seeking professional mental health support. They can make a diagnosis, prescribe medication, draw up a Mental Health Care Plan so you can get a Medicare rebate for psychological treatment and refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist if you need further support. What to do after your health checksOnce you have had your health checks it's important you understand the results and what they mean both short term and long term. Questions you should be asking are:What do the results mean? Do I need follow-up tests? When? How often? Make a diary note so you don't forget Do I need to be taking medication? What will happen if I don't? Do I need to see a specialist? What for? How quickly? When was the last time you had a complete check up? If it's been a while why not make an appointment today? And if it's been a while, you might want to ask for an extended consultation time so you can get through the list. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettleOr you can email me – mel@melkettle.comIf you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe.If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.

Julie Trell tells me she is a human API. Of course, I'm immediately curious! Of course, once she explains to me what that is, it all makes total sense. And no, I'm not giving a spoiler alert – you can listen to this episode I first heard of Julie when I became involved with SheEO last year, and we met earlier this year and the fabulous s p a c e event at Byron Bay. Julie is Head of Telstra's startup accelerator, muru-D. She has a vast and varied background spanning both startup and corporate environments, previously working as the Founder & Chief Life Officer of Playful Purpose, helping companies integrate meaningful philanthropy programs in their business. She was also an advisor to startups Ideator and the Gratitude Network. Julie was one of the US leads in launching SheEO Radical Generosity in the US, a global initiative to transform how we support, finance and celebrate female entrepreneurs.She tells me she is also skilled at juggling balls while herding cats, wearing multiple hats, and putting out small fires, and she uses the principles of improv in work, life and play. You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn and Twitter. What Julie Trell and I talked aboutBeing a human API Early stage start-ups and the challenges Moving to a new country Abundance versus scarcity mindsets Start-up accelerator programs Amanda Palmer, The art of asking – TED talk and book SheEO We all bleed red Improv and connecting with others Monster Baby – Podcast with Lisa Rowland and Ted DesMaisons Masters of Scale Podcast – Reid Hoffman Coffee Pods – Holly Ransom Barefoot Investor books by Scott Pape Everything is F*cked – Mark Manson If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle. If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.

We know that creating collaborative teams, whether in your organisation or more broadly across your industry, can increase ideas, save money and result in better project outcomes. And yet, too often we sit independently within our siloes, frantically working on projects with looming deadlines, wondering if we're doing the right thing. I've been really fortunate to have worked on a number of collaborative projects over my career. Those that have been the most successful, and have given me the most joy, are those that have had a clear purpose, strong leadership and a solid strategy. Those that have been hideous are the ones where there was a distinct lack of trust, poorly formed timeframes, and little regard for the skills and attributes each team member had to offer. Generally these projects only paid lip service to the word collaboration, which meant there were always tears, and often tantrums! The collaborations that were successful were due to us, as a team, having a mutual respect for each other, we usually trusted each other, and we were all committed to the project and the collective goal or outcome. We definitely didn't always agreed, but we always came to an agreement – with varying amounts of compromise! I see a lot of potential for collaboration and a lot of organisations that seem scared of it. The main reasons I see for organisations not collaborating are:· don't see understand the benefits of collaborating,· they don't want to seem silly or wrong· when they have previously collaborated it's been with someone who has taken all the glory· they are so entrenched in their silo they don't know how – or they don't even think to collaborate· they work for leaders who are creating their own kingdom and don't want to share what they know as they are worried it will be used to undermine their authority. This is crazy because there is so much research that show successful collaboration increases productivity, lowers costs and improves the health of your people. The next time you think about not collaborating, think about this: Collaboration brings teams closer together, it helps you problem solve, it can save money, it helps people get to know each other, it opens up channels of communication and conversation and it leads to higher retention rates. When was the last time you instigated a collaboration and how did it turn out? I'd love to know! You can connect with me on LinkedIn or twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle Or you can email me – mel@melkettle.com If you want to talk about how you can collaborate more in your organisation, or you need some support to develop a collaborative team, please get in touch.

Cameron Schwab is mostly known for being a former CEO of the Richmond, Melbourne and Fremantle AFL Clubs, and for being the youngest CEO in the history of AFL when he was appointed CEO of the Richmond Football Club at age 24. Today Cam is a leadership coach and strategist, working with CEOs and emerging leaders to achieve high levels of trust – personally, culturally, strategically and organisationally – as the basis of high performance. He is also an incredibly talented artist and illustrator, having studied Fine Art at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). You can find Cameron through his website DesignCEO and connect with him on LinkedIn. What Cam Schwab and I talked about:Batman connecting with teams 3 questions Cam asked himself as a leader and CEO Having a sense of belonging and sense of connection being the kid in the class who could draw a bit Art - interpretation and ambiguity connecting through art and writing Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway Legacy – James Kerr Atomic Habits – James Clear Cal Newport - Deep Work You can also connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle.

What does it mean to connect authentically? It can sometimes be confusing as authenticity is one of those words a lot of people use – and often overuse. I think it's one of those concepts we recognise when it's really obviously there – or not there! The Cambridge English Dictionary defines it as “the quality of being real or true”. Brené Brown tells us that “authenticity is a collection of choices we have to make every day. It's about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” How often do we truly do this? One of the side effects of being authentic is that it helps build trust. Why is trust important? My friend Jane Anderson, in her excellent book Trusted, reminds us that trust is essential to a cohesive society. It holds cultures together and it helps maintain order. According to the Edelman Trust Barometer, the level of trust Australian place in government, industry and our leaders right now is quite low. With disruption being a constant challenge for organisations today, trust is essential if leaders are to build and maintain strong relationships with their workforce and their customers. How we can connect authentically: Be real – show your true self, whether this is as an individual or as a brand. Know your values and what you stand for and share them In 1676 Sir Isaac Newton said “If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” We all get ideas from others. Two of my mentors, Matt Church and Peter Cook, regularly remind me that great leaders attribute their ideas with honour. And in if you're wondering, the earliest recorded reference is of this quote by 12th-century theologian John of Salisbury in his treatise on logic, Metalogicon (1159) in which he references philosopher Bernard of Chartres saying that, “we stand like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants.” And no, I've not read it, a google search told me. Which is part of my point. It's super easy these days to find the source of quotes and stories for attribution. Do what you promise – if you promise service excellence then respond to emails, tweets and Facebook and other social media mentions. Your customers expect this! Listen to your audience and be responsive – don't just talk at them. Engage with them on social media, encourage them to converse with you, acknowledge and act on criticisms – even if it's just a simple “thank you for your feedback”. Be honest about your products and services. If you're a service provider, don't accept a client if you don't have the time to do the work and do it well, if you have a product fail, let people know. In the news today I've read that The Volkswagen Group and Audi have settled two major Australian class actions relating to their global diesel emissions scandal. Friends I know who have been involved in this have said they will never trust Volkswagen again – despite it having been a trusted brand for years, and the reason they bought their VWs in the first place. If you make a mistake, OWN IT. If you don't know the answer to a question, admit it. Recently I undertook some professional development. Most of it was excellent, but the speaker came undone at the end when he opened up the floor to questions. There were two questions he obviously didn't know the answer to, but rather than admit it, or ask the room if anyone had any ideas, he tried to squeeze his IP into the answer. And it really didn't work. Unfortunately, this left a sour taste in my mouth, and significantly diminished the trust I had previously felt towards him. Don't use corporate jargon – use language your market understands. Check out Jargon Free Fridays, started by Gabrielle Dolan, which hopes to change the way we communicate in business. Ral says “We are drowning in a sea of corporate jargon, acronyms and bullet points. We are confused and bewildered by leaders who are not prepared to say it as it is and talk in a way that is more real. Every time we use jargon and acronyms we disconnect and isolate people.” Once you've had a good giggle at her jargon-filled videos, then buy her latest book, Real Communication! #notsponsored #fangirl Be consistent with your messaging – don't say one thing yet do another. I spend some time at a company that espoused integrity and trust, yet there was a rampant culture of bullying. Talk about a massive disconnect! Finally, be original – as Oscar Wilde said “Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken”. How are you showing up authentically in your business? I'd love to know. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle Or you can email me – mel@melkettle.com If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. Mel Kettle is all about connection, communication and collaboration. She works with CEOs, leaders and teams to help them better communicate and collaborate (online AND offline) to achieve better relationships, revenue and results. Mel is a facilitator, trainer, speaker, author and mentor who provides practical advice that achieves results while having some fun!Download her latest whitepaper, The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer or order a signed copy of her book, The Social Association. To inquire about working with Mel, please email mel@melkettle.com or call her on 0404 600 889.

Dr Kelly Windle is one of the smartest people I know, with five (!!) degrees. She is also very human, as she is a psychologist who is passionate about helping people and businesses evolve. Kelly works with people to align, curate, and accelerate their personal and organisational capability. Currently, she is the VP of Organisation Capability and Corporate HR for BlueScope, a top 100 ASX listed company. Here she is focusing her thought leadership to make great people at work. Her mission is to fundamentally shift the way industry thinks about people capabilities, changing current mindsets of people as commodities to people as purposeful contributors. A ‘pracademic', Kelly has bridged the practical and academic worlds with her internationally published research into psychological contracts and organisational socialisation. Kelly has a passion for reimagining what's possible. Her practice is built on the belief that anything is possible with clear vision and aligned capability, and on her unique scientific insights to the psychological drivers of an organisation's economic and social health. You can find Kelly through her website and connect with her on LinkedIn and Instagram.You can listen to this episode via the link above, on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. What Dr Kelly Windle and I talked aboutHow to answer the question “How are you?” without being annoying! Genuine care – and how to show it Virgin Flair making a difference in someone's day building rapport defining capability the impact of change social belonging starting out as a singer how musical theatre creates connection playing the cello Dan Norris – Create or Hate Episode 3 – Steph Clarke Cal Newport – Deep Work Cal Newport – Digital Minimalism Daniel Kahneman – Thinking, Fast and Slow Michelle Obama – Becoming The Forest of Wool and Steel – Natsu Miyashita If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle.If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. You might also like to:Attend one of my upcoming events Download my latest whitepaper The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer Signup to my newsletter Buy a copy of my book, The Social Association Book a time for a 15 minute chat Mel Kettle is all about connection, communication and collaboration. She works with CEOs, leaders and teams to help them better communicate and collaborate (online AND offline) to achieve better relationships, revenue and results. Mel is a facilitator, trainer, speaker, author and mentor who provides practical advice that achieves results while having some fun!Download her latest whitepaper, The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer or order a signed copy of her book, The Social Association. To inquire about working with Mel, please email mel@melkettle.com or call her on 0404 600 889.

Earlier this week my friend Emma put up a post on Facebook saying that when we are children we laugh 400x a day. And now as adults, we laugh an average of 15x a day. Quite simply, laughter makes us feel good. It also improves our physical health and it can definitely improve our mental health. Why do we need to laugh more at work and what can we do to encourage more laughter at work? According to research from Wharton, MIT, and London Business School, laughter relieves stress and boredom, boosts engagement and well-being, and spurs not only creativity and collaboration but also analytic precision and productivity. Laughter at work also enhances morale, resilience, and effectiveness—which leads to a happier, more productive work environment. Leaders who use laughter as a form of communication, are more connectable than those who don't. CEOs such as SouthWest Airlines Herb Kelleher and Virgin Group's Richard Branson are often seen laughing. They have also built highly successful and profitable companies based on laughter and humour.Basically we all need to laugh more at work.But how do we do this?We can start by smiling more. Smile at your colleagues, smile when you're talking on the phone. Do some fun activities togetherhave a lunchtime dance-off to cheesy 80s music have a hula hoop contest start team meetings with a dad-joke at lunchtime play short episodes of comedy tv series in the lunchroom On International Talk Like a Pirate Day (which is next week on 19 Sept) give everyone in the office a Pirate Name and only call them by that on that day Invite someone in to lead your team in Laughing Yoga – yes, it's a thing! There are loads of options – let me know what you choose. Executive Coach, author and podcaster Peter Bregman, reckons we're not laughing as much as we used to because we're distracted. And when we're distracted, we don't laugh. So we also need to think about that. In my last minisode, episode 8, I talked about how much our phones cause us to be distracted, and how we should create a tech plan so we use them less automatically and more intentionally. It seems that another reason we should put our phones down is so we can laugh more with the people we're with. Or even laugh more when we're watching something on Netflix – who else watches Netflix with a second screen in their hands. Peter suggests that we should create a laughter metric and set a personal challenge to increase the number of times we laugh in a day. Count how many times you genuinely laugh each day and then try and double that. And why not count each time you make someone else laugh and then try and increase that too. Mostly, however, we need to laugh more because laughter makes the world a better place. Maurice Chevalier said “you don't stop laughing because you grow older, you grow older because you stop laughing.” What are you going to do this week to increase your laughter? I'd love to know. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettleOr you can email me – mel@melkettle.comIf you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone.If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.

Kate Billing and I met when we both started at Thought Leaders Business School on the same day, about two and a half years ago. I immediately knew we would become firm friends, and we have. As well as being one of the smartest people I know, she is also kind, generous, funny and determined to make the world a better place. I can't tell you how delighted I am to share some of her wisdom with you. Kate is an edge thinker and path-maker on a mission to forge better leaders for New Zealand. She is a co-founder of Blacksmith, an Auckland-based boutique leadership development practice that uses fully human development approaches to evolve leadership at a personal and collective level. She is committed to a conscious approach to life, leadership and business and believes that ‘fully human development' is the best mechanism for unlocking the potential of individuals and organisations to thrive. She has worked in the people, culture and leadership space for over 20 years, and is known for her sharp insights, compassionate challenge, warmth and energy. Over that time she has worked within a range of industry sectors and organisations, with leaders from the boardroom to the front line, all of whom have demonstrated their capacity for personal and collective transformation. Kate believes New Zealand can be a leader in the new world; an example of what's possible when people commit to the highest levels of personal and collective responsibility. Blacksmith's recognition as one of the top 10% B Corp Companies globally suggests they are on the right track. You can find Kate through the Blacksmith website and connect with her on LinkedIn. You can listen to this episode via the link above, on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. What Kate Billing and I talked aboutConnecting to yourself Being diagnosed with alopecia areata at 24 Learning to meditate Otto Scharmer and his work on new theory Connecting to the land and our environment Being a humanist The recent Business Roundtable statement on the purpose of a corporation Kindness in business Saying thank you Working with our husbands Cal Newport – Deep Work Giving permission Building a movement around this more human-centred conscious approach to business and leadership Flexibility at work Tim Ferris podcast interview with Chip Conley Modern Elder Academy Orphan X books by Gregg Hurwitz B Corp and being recognised as one of the top 10% of B Corps globally If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle.If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.

We live in a digital world and people today expect CEOs and leaders to be seen and heard. Both within your organisation and within the broader community. This means you need to have an active presence on social media. In this minisode we talk about how you can become a Social CEO. Why is this important? It's important because people do business with people they know, like and trust. And if they can't see you or hear you then how will they get to know you? Let alone like and trust you. Research by recruitment firm DDI found CEO candidates with a social media presence were 46% more influential than CEO candidates without. Those without a social media presence miss opportunities but also risk looking out of touch. CEOs and leaders with an active digital presence also have greater influence than those without. They are seen as being more connected, more confident and more curious. Why is this important?Seriously though, there are a few reasons. The biggest of which is that it will help you solve a few of the challenges facing many organisational leaders today. You know the ones: finding and keeping good people; managing customer expectations; providing greater experiences for your people (including your workforce and your customers) so they want to do business with you; showing greater transparency and accountability. Having an active digital (and yes, this includes social media) presence, where you share your thoughts, ideas and knowledge will help you position yourself as an expert in your field, and your business as an industry leader. It will also help you become more known, both internally and externally.Mark Schaeffer in his book Known, says that being known is about having the proper authority, reputation and audience to realise your potential and achieve your goals. It's important to realise that having a digital presence isn't only about being active on social media. It also includes using other digital tools – writing a blog, sharing videos on YouTube, having an active presence on your company intranet or internal networking tool (such as Yammer or Facebook for Work), being a podcast guest (or hosting your own), sharing content on LinkedIn and Medium. CEOs and industry leaders such as Richard Branson from Virgin Group, Janine Allis from Boost and Sara Blakely founder of Spanx, are all leaders who regularly share their thoughts using digital media – whether it's blogging, video, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, internal networks or a combination.They share their experiences – the good, bad and sometimes ugly – of what it's like to live the life of a leader. They share professional wins and losses, personal stories, photos and video with their families, their thoughts on their industry's future and so much more. And if you're a fan of Survivor Australia then definitely read Janine's blog as she talks about what her experience was like! One of the most compelling posts I've ever read was when Rand Fishkin, the founder of Moz, wrote an extremely honest post about his struggle with depression. This was one of the first times I had read something so raw written by a CEO. This post made me want to know him a whole lot more. It also made me want to give him a hug. And yes, it made me want to know more about his business and how I could support it. If you're a CEO, Board Member, or want to be seen as a leader in your field, these are a few reasons why you need to be using digital and social media.To communicate To connect To share your expertise To demonstrate your purpose To attract better people To show your personality To fulfil your curiosity So now I want to ask you what does your digital presence look like?Do you consider yourself a social CEO?What's stopping you from doing more? I'd love to know. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettleOr you can email me – mel@melkettle.comIf you need help with this please get in touch. I run training, coaching and mentoring programs for CEOs, other leaders and teams to help them become raise their profiles and help them become more confident using digital and social media. If you would like info about this please get in touch.If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone.If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.You might also like to:Attend one of my upcoming events Download my latest whitepaper The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer Signup to my newsletter Buy a copy of my book, The Social Association Book a time for a 15 minute chat Mel Kettle is all about connection, communication and collaboration. She works with CEOs, leaders and teams to help them better communicate and collaborate (online AND offline) to achieve better relationships, revenue and results. Mel is a facilitator, trainer, speaker, author and mentor who provides practical advice that achieves results while having some fun!Download her latest whitepaper, The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer or order a signed copy of her book, The Social Association. To inquire about working with Mel, please email mel@melkettle.com or call her on 0404 600 889.

Jeremy Watkins (aka the Barefoot Leader) is one of my favourite peeps and so it was an absolute pleasure to chat with him when we were both in Melbourne last week. Jeremy works with Senior Leaders, Corporate Executives, Business Owners and their teams across Australia and internationally to help them develop new insights, that increase their influence and maximise their impact as leaders. He is on a mission to free leaders and emerging leaders from default patterns of thinking and behaving, so they refocus the attention of their energies and re-train themselves for the future of work. if you listen to this episode with Jeremy, you will realise why he says the future of leadership is not important, it's VITAL. And a word of warning - we go deep quickly in this episode as we talk about the death of our loved ones and the impact this has on life. You can find Jeremy through his website and connect with him on LinkedIn.You can listen to this episode via the link above, on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. What Jeremy Watkins and I talked aboutbeing deeply human lightbulb moments the impact of death on life - and how it helps you prioritise what's important making conscious decisions, decision fatigue and simplifying life tracking our physical, emotional and spiritual energy the importance of sleep and exercise addiction making big life changes creating habits Adam Alter - Irresistible James Clear - Atomic Habits Let my People go Surfing - Yvon Chouinard Born to Run - Christopher McDougal Close to the Wind - Pete Goss If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle. If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. You might also like to:Attend one of my upcoming events Download my latest whitepaper The Social CEO - from invisible to influencer Signup to my newsletter Buy a copy of my book, The Social Association Book a time for a 15 minute chat Mel Kettle is all about connection, communication and collaboration. She works with CEOs, leaders and teams to help them better communicate and collaborate (online AND offline) to achieve better relationships, revenue and results. Mel is a facilitator, trainer, speaker, author and mentor who provides practical advice that achieves results while having some fun! Download her latest whitepaper, The Social CEO - from invisible to influencer or order a signed copy of her book, The Social Association. To inquire about working with Mel, please email mel@melkettle.com or call her on 0404 600 889.

I've said many times recently that the irony of our increasingly connected world is that we – as individuals and as organisations – are becoming more disconnected than we ever have before. I can't remember where I first heard this analogy but I love it – we all carry around our smartphones as though they are epi-pens and we all have a fatal illness. Isn't it great? In this podcast minisode I question why this is. I ask what's stopping us from being connected, and I reflect on a few comments I made in the last minisode. So many of us struggle with nomophobia – that fear of not knowing where our phones are. I reflect on how social media and our phones are designed to be addictive. Adam Alter, in his excellent book Irresistible reminds us that addiction is produced largely by environment and circumstance. And the environment and circumstance this digital age places us in are far more conducive to addiction than anything we have experienced in our history. In this episode I talk about:how social media is shaping our brains, creators of smartphones and apps study user behaviour to determine which colours, fonts, audio tones maximise engagement and minimise frustration I ask how addicted are you – take the challenge! How can you become less addicted? What's your current screen time? Which apps do you use the most? Convert your phone to greyscale Create your personal tech policy What's one thing you can do now so you're in control over your device and it doesn't control you?Is there an app you can delete? Can you set a tech-free time during the day / week? At work can you talk to your colleagues rather than emailing them all the time? Do you really need your phone on the table in meetings? Or when eating dinner with your family? Are their parts of your home that can be device free? What about your bedroom? How often do you turn your phone onto flight mode? I'm certainly not advocating for no technology!! But what I am suggesting is that you create a tech policy so YOU are in charge. What are you going to do to manage your technology use? Are you going to create a tech policy for home or work? What's one thing you will do? I'd love to know. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.You might also like to:Attend one of my upcoming events Download my latest whitepaper The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer Signup to my newsletter Buy a copy of my book, The Social Association Book a time for a 15 minute chat Mel Kettle is all about connection, communication and collaboration. She works with CEOs, leaders and teams to help them better communicate and collaborate (online AND offline) to achieve better relationships, revenue and results. Mel is a facilitator, trainer, speaker, author and mentor who provides practical advice that achieves results while having some fun!Download her latest whitepaper, The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer or order a signed copy of her book, The Social Association. To inquire about working with Mel, please email mel@melkettle.com or call her on 0404 600 889.

Jen Dainer is a Brisbane based photographer and videographer. While she specialises in taking photos in dangerous places – such as hanging out of helicopters! – she is also great at getting reluctant victims clients to enjoy the whole photography experience. I should know, she has shot me three times. Jen and I met at a networking event about ten years ago and have been firm friends ever since. This conversation involves a lot of laughter after a delicious meal potato curry cooked by moi. When not in the potato section of her local greengrocer, you will find Jen at Industrial Photography & Video. You can connect with Jen on LinkedIn and check out some of her photos and videos on Instagram. You can listen to this episode via the link above, on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. What Jen Dainer and I talked aboutcooking and eating potatoes – Jen's favourite food feeling vulnerable in front of a camera and how to get comfortable starting life as a forensic scientist before becoming a professional photographer visual storytelling how photography shoots have changed over the last ten years finding a photographer who makes you feel comfortable being a “social commando” being safe on site making 500 cold calls in her first year of business being diagnosed with MS Good One Podcast Sex in the City The Bold Type (on Stan in Australia) All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle. If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. You might also like to:Attend one of my upcoming events Download my latest whitepaper The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer Signup to my newsletter Buy a copy of my book, The Social Association Book a time for a 15 minute chat Mel Kettle is all about connection, communication and collaboration. She works with CEOs, leaders and teams to help them better communicate and collaborate (online AND offline) to achieve better relationships, revenue and results. Mel is a facilitator, trainer, speaker, author and mentor who provides practical advice that achieves results while having some fun!Download her latest whitepaper, The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer or order a signed copy of her book, The Social Association. To inquire about working with Mel, please email mel@melkettle.com or call her on 0404 600 889.

A stat I quote often is the one from Gallup that tells us that only 13% of people are engaged at work. This means that 87% aren't engaged. Imagine what this does to your performance, your productivity, and your profit? Think about how much opportunity is being missed. In this podcast episode, I talk about why people are less engaged at work. Spoiler alert: quite often it's because of a lack of connection in the workplace. It shouldn't be a surprise that people WANT to feel connected to those they work with, and yet it often is. It's about simple things like saying good morning, asking how your colleague's weekend was and asking how they are. Don't ask “How are you?” but instead ask: What are you working on? What are you reading right now? What podcast are you listening to? What can I help you with / how can I help you? Simple? Yes, it is. But I can tell you when I worked for a CEO who scurried in, head down, avoiding all eye contact each morning after morning, despite my best efforts to say hello, I did not feel valued. And my work reflected this. The way you connect with your team and your greater workforce plays a HUGE role in increasing your potential for engagement, productivity and growthResearch by EY reminds us that when people feel like they belong at work, and have a sense of connection to their colleagues, managers and the organisation they are more productive, motivated, engaged and 3.5 times more likely to contribute to their fullest potential.What's stopping us from being connected?Nomophobia – fear of not being able to put our phones down Technology – phone, Netflix etc – sleep is Netflix competitor Moving away from where we grew up Reliance on email / messaging apps rather than talking on the phone or face to face How can you help your people know their purpose?Something else that's stopping us from feeling connected at work is that often a lot of us don't know their purpose. Ask 10 people in your organisation what their purpose is and you'll probably get 10 answers. Many of which will be related to specific tasks they need to do as part of their job.What are somethings you can do to create a connection? And therefore more engagement?I believe there are three primary qualities that people who are connected have.The first is that they show empathy.The second is that they're kind.And the third is that they're authentic. They show their real and human side. At work. All the time.What are you going to do to connect with your team this week? I'd love to know. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle.If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone.If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.You might also like to:Attend one of my upcoming events in Brisbane or Melbourne Download my latest whitepaper The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer Signup to my newsletter Buy a copy of my book, The Social Association Book a time for a 15 minute chat Mel Kettle is all about connection, communication and collaboration. She works with CEOs, leaders and teams to help them better communicate and collaborate (online AND offline) to achieve better relationships, revenue and results. Mel is a facilitator, trainer, speaker, author and mentor who provides practical advice that achieves results while having some fun!Download her latest whitepaper, The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer or order a signed copy of her book, The Social Association. To inquire about working with Mel, please email mel@melkettle.com or call her on 0404 600 889.

Steph Clarke is an accountant turned facilitator and team coach and pommy (that's a Brit living in Australia for the uninitiated) based in Melbourne. We've not actually met yet, but have some very good mutual friends so I feel like we've been friends for AGES! Steph and I have bonded over our shared love of facilitation, but, more importantly, our love of Ottolenghi, Middle Eastern food and reading. I hope you enjoy this conversation! You can find Steph at stephclarke.com. You can connect with Steph on LinkedIn and listen to her podcast, Steph's Business Bookshelf on iTunes. You can listen to this episode via the link above, on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. What Steph Clarke and I talked aboutmoving to Australia being a recovering accountant becoming a facilitator LEGO (R) Serious Play (R) as a facilitation tool using LEGO (R) to connect Brené Brown James Clear – Atomic Habits Priya Parker – The Art of Gathering Tim Ferris podcast Yotam Ottolenghi Sabrina Ghayour – Persiana If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone.You can also connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle.If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes.You might also like to:Attend one of my upcoming events in Canberra, Brisbane or Melbourne Download my latest whitepaper The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer Signup to my newsletter Buy a copy of my book, The Social Association Book a time for a 15 minute chat Mel Kettle is all about connection, communication and collaboration. She works with CEOs, leaders and teams to help them better communicate and collaborate (online AND offline) to achieve better relationships, revenue and results. Mel is a facilitator, trainer, speaker, author and mentor who provides practical advice that achieves results while having some fun!Download her latest whitepaper, The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer or order a signed copy of her book, The Social Association. To inquire about working with Mel, please email mel@melkettle.com or call her on 0404 600 889.

Before we can connect with others we need to learn to connect with ourselves. What does this even mean? In this latest podcast mini-sode I share my thoughts around what it means to look after our bodies, minds, hearts and souls if we are to be truly connectable. People who haven't connected with themselves can be a bit like vacuum cleaners – they suck up all the love others have to give but never spit any back out. Yes, that's a bit harsh, but we all know people like that. Don't we? We live in a society filled with interruptions and distractions and demands for our time. Most of us need to make a conscious effort to connect with ourselves. So how do we connect with ourselves? We need to look after our bodies by making sure we get enough rest, the right food, some exercise. As I'm at the tail end of my 40s, I've been working on this a lot recently! Lack of sleep and a lack of veggies makes a very real – and not very pleasant – difference to how I feel. I make sure I'm in bed by 10pm at least five nights a week so I can get 7-8 hours sleep. Our minds can be tricky beasts. We have 40-80,000 thoughts a day and make an average of 30,000 decisions a day. The cognitive load on our mind is immense. It's not surprising Barak Obama only wore a blue or a black suit every day. And why Steve Jobs always wore jeans and a black turtleneck. And why many people have the same thing for breakfast and have a regular morning routine that doesn't require thought. We need to take time to be in the moment. For some people this is meditation. For me, it's cooking and baking. It's pretty obvious if you bake while distracted! In case you're wondering, cakes baked without the butter bounce! We also need to do things that fill our cup – and nurture our soul. Spend time with people you love. Do things you love – for me it's reading for pleasure in bed every night. And finally, we need to nurture our hearts. We can do this by being kind, grateful, showing love, allowing ourselves to be loved. Practice self-compassion and gratitude. Having a daily gratitude practice of writing down three good things that happened each day that we are grateful for can have a massive impact on our physical and mental health. Research shows that practicing gratitude for as little as 30 seconds a day can reduce your stress hormones, increase the flow of oxygen to your body and make you happier! What are you going to do to connect with you this week? I'd love to know. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #thisconnectedlife and tagging me @melkettle. If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone.If you REALLY loved it, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. You might also like to:Attend one of my upcoming events in Canberra, Brisbane or Melbourne Download my latest whitepaper The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer Signup to my newsletter Buy a copy of my book, The Social Association Book a time for a 15 minute chat Mel Kettle is all about connection, communication and collaboration. She works with CEOs, leaders and teams to help them better communicate and collaborate (online AND offline) to achieve better relationships, revenue and results. Mel is a facilitator, trainer, speaker, author and mentor who provides practical advice that achieves results while having some fun!Download her latest whitepaper, The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer or order a signed copy of her book, The Social Association. To inquire about working with Mel, please email mel@melkettle.com or call her on 0404 600 889.

Penny Locaso and I met at the fabulous s p a c e event we attended earlier this year. Penny is the world's first Happiness Hacker, on a mission to teach 10 million humans, by 2025, how to future-proof happiness. She advocates fear(less)ness and she definitely practices what she teaches!! In 2018 she went viral on LinkedIn (50,000+ views) and created a global movement after delivering a keynote in her bathing suit, to demonstrate the power of getting comfortable with discomfort. You can find Penny at BKindred. You can connect with Penny on LinkedIn and listen to her podcast on iTunes. You can listen to this episode via the link above, on iTunes or Spotify or via the podcast app on your smartphone. What Penny Locaso and I talked aboutHacking happiness and what that means What makes her happy Reading, books and creating habits Finding joy Accepting compliments and why some people find it so hard! Being the boss of our minds how technology is changing our world Podcast – How the iPhone is rewriting the teenage brain Facebook is funding brain experiments Deleting Facebook Presenting in her swim suit Cal Newport books – Deep Work and Digital Minimalism If you enjoyed this podcast, I would love you to subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher or via the podcast app on your smartphone. If you REALLY loved it, I would love you to leave me a rating and review on iTunes. You might also like to:Attend one of my upcoming events in Canberra, Brisbane or Melbourne Download my latest whitepaper The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer Signup to my newsletter Buy a copy of my book, The Social Association Book a time for a 15 minute chat Mel Kettle is all about connection, communication and collaboration. She works with CEOs, leaders and teams to help them better communicate and collaborate (online AND offline) to achieve better relationships, revenue and results. Mel is a facilitator, trainer, speaker, author and mentor who provides practical advice that achieves results while having some fun!Download her latest whitepaper, The Social CEO – from invisible to influencer or order a signed copy of her book, The Social Association. To inquire about working with Mel, please email mel@melkettle.com or call her on 0404 600 889.

Welcome to This Connected Life with Mel Kettle. The show where connected leaders share their experience, values and strategies that have helped them become more connected so they achieve success in life and business.