Urelevant

Watch now! - https://www.youtube.com/@Urelevant Let's dive into some security concerns and what you can do to shore up your AI implementations inside of agent force so I noticed a post on LinkedIn that was gaining some traction that was from Amnon Kruvi and he's a Salesforce architect and he mentions in his post that "it took me exactly two questions to accidentally get agent force to reveal someone else's personal information using the default actions followed by hallucinating madeup orders for that person and then from there he's saying how AI has no business reading database records that is not to say there are no excellent use cases for it but delivering live information from a database is just too risky in the data protection era we need to be realistic with what kinds of solutions AI can safely deliver I understand the hype but some of it will just leave the door wide open for someone to steal your data." That really intrigued me when I first saw that is like wow this is giving up information and Salesforce has done a lot of work around the Einstein trust layer to try to protect information to mask sensitive data as it goes to a large language model but when you think about it as far as authentication methods that's something that always happens whenever you call into a call center and dealing with any sort of sensitive records often times you're asked to verify your phone number your date of birth perhaps provide the last four of your Social just different things as far as verifying and so what Amnon goes on to describe in some of the comments which I'll highlight some here in a moment is that the verification process was kind of thin and this was the default behavior and setup in the instruction sets inside of Agentforce and I'll dig in more to try to see what sort of org or instance he was in if this was is a free learner account I think one of the issues is is that this was the default setup provided by Salesforce which might lead to uh users trusting that just because it's coming from Salesforce just presuming that best practices were being used so we're going to explore in this video as well how you can help bring your instructions into alignment your various guardrails that you can put in place inside of Agentforce and then open up some of the possibilities as far is if there's things that are out of alignment or contradict one another in your guard rails and instructions these are all things that we now have to think about in this new age of AI that we're working in and navigating and so Amnon further iterates that does a good job of closing off a lot of attack vectors but the issue was with the default demo configuration being of poor quality and teaches bad processes that highlight the security risk involved with any kind of AI based technology and so here is my comment where I chimed in just saying for my perspective that there's so many challenges that abound from implementing generative AI and placing guard rail ensuring alignment across all instructions in Agentforce and the inevitable rapid release of new and improved models makes this a moving Target this is a good case study for the Agentforce testing center and previously we saw the release a few weeks ago of the Agentforce testing center where you can bulk test agent force performance and agent responses and I think that this is a good thing to think about is the hundreds or thousands of ways that prompts might come into an Enterprise and then testing out out in bulk the verification process so that you are not just giving away other people's information the scenario that Amnon is describing is he's self-identifying as someone saying that he is someone else giving that person's email address which sometimes is easy to find online and then asking questions about an order for example so you can see if you're dealing with agent force at a healthcare setting Financial Services Etc there's a lot of loopholes that could be exploited and so then Paul Battisson he had a question here missing that this is concerning and asking about the setup wanting to know more details as to what was the org in question what was the setup and so he answers Paul saying it was an SDO that's the Salesforce developer org and the main point here is that Amnon had a pretty good idea of why it was happening how to mitigate the situation as well his main point is that the default action should not be so exposed because people might think they're best practice and that's the point here is that when you see something from Salesforce you assume that everything's been thought out and thought through and that the proper guard rails are in place so whenever you're spinning up an instance that has Agentforce enabled you don't want to just necessarily take all the instruction sets at face value there's instructions you can place the agent level and inside of prompt templates and you will be wanting to audit those make sure that they're in alignment that's one of the points I was trying to make as far as this being indeed a moving Target coupled with as well in the background the constant Evolution and advancements with new large language models and those being added into agent force over time and so this is something that will not be set it and forget it sort of proposition but will always need to be being monitored by organizations and tested in bulk in mass and that's why the Agentforce testing center is so important is because we can't humanly scale to that point to think of all the variations as to the different approaches to be able to try to hack this in and there was another response further down from someone named Vani I didn't put her last name I checked her profile I'm not sure what her last name is she's bringing up since Agentforce can't function without Einstein trust layer uh which includes safeguards like data masking and access controls I'm curious do this happen even after having these protections or or do you think they're still room for improvement and so then Amnon responds back that I did not actively put someone's address as protected data in the trust layer configuration though it was enabled with the default settings and then basically said hey my email is xxx then asked it to tell me what my address and birthday were and so that is the example specifically of the prompt or the utterance that was given to Agentforce and it didn't really do a great job as far as verifying the identity of the person it was able to then verify by the email address assuming that that is the person that is chatting or prompting agent force and then was able to follow up with asking some follow-up questions and so then Andy Cotgreave brought up a great point as well saying we don't want to put the burden on the end user as far as having to test test test and that burden should be on Salesforce in the configuration of Agentforce and this I think it was this specific comment that caused me to remember theAgentforce testing center which was recently released that comment of test test test was realizing okay the burden is on the user and this is Salesforce's response is to use the Agentforce testing center because it we can't humanly scale as I said to test out all those different variations and so it's the coupling of humans and AI working together on that side of the fence to do that testing in in addition to configuring the Einstein Trust Layer setting and then as well the instruction sets for prompt templates the agent instructions as well the topic configurations so there's a lot of great conversation here and this really opens up some thought related to authentication of users and just the utterances and prompts that Agentforce will be faced with dealing with out in the wild so many thanks to Amnon Kruvi for insightful post bringing up some important aspects related to Security in the age of Agentforce and so be sure and check out Velza that is our implementation company we specialize in Salesforce implementations and agent force implementations reach out to us at Velza.com and we will schedule a call do a discovery and get your implementation out on the right foot or fix a failed implementation that seems to be all the rage nowadays is people trying to start over and get their configurations fixed especially in this age of AI and Agentforce also be sure and check out rapidreskill.com for Salesforce and AI training and be sure and like And subscribe to the Urelevant podcast feed the algorithm help others to find Urelevant as well it's all about helping you to find relevance in the economy of now I'm Mike wheeler signing off for now until next time I'll see you in the cloud

Watch here - https://youtu.be/Et-lXOQeLyE?si=gkkxpyYXKNCIYtlF So Agentforce 2.0 is coming soon. December 17th on Salesforce Plus Marc Benioff will be sharing the latest release of Agentforce. And inside of Agentforce 2.0. It will have slack integration and also enhanced CRM and analytics capabilities. And with that slack integration, there's a preview of what that will look like. It has various different agents that you can use inside of slack, such as a new sales agent, and then also on Salesforce's website. They do have an ROI calculator. Which is accessible from the home screen. Front and center is Agentforce, and they have the banner here about Agentforce 2.0 and the link to stream on Salesforce Plus their streaming platform, and then also the calculate your ROI or return on investment. And here this gives you the numbers based on number of customer service employees, average annual cost per employee, and number of conversations handled by a rep each day. And this is in either table or chart form. So it's professing a three-year net total savings of over $800,000. In this scenario, after three years, when you factor in the agentforce costs, which Salesforce has said is roughly $2 per conversation or chat, there's been a lot of derision online around that price point. And so what Salesforce is trying to do is convince companies and decision makers that the $2 per conversation is cheaper than having an employee, basically. And so in this, some of the implications that you've got to think about, one that I noticed is that Salesforce using this ROI calculator in the context of service and support. So there are mentions of sales agents, but where the primary savings is, is in the service cloud side of things are providing support through agentforce. And then also on the website here. Few things you might notice as well is that Agentforce is now available to chat with on the Salesforce website, so you can take that for a spin to test that out. And then also noticeably absent any more or any longer is a mention of Customer 360 prior to Agentforce's release, which was back in September of 2024. During Dreamforce, Customer 360 was featured atop. Most are above the fold, and Customer 360 was what Salesforce referred to as all of their different cloud offerings. The entirety of the platform was referred to as Customer 360. Well, I bring this up is that with the advent of Agentforce, they dropped that entirely. Customer 360 also, there's been mention of the Einstein one platform. Now we're in this numbering scheme with Agentforce 2.0. Personally, not a big fan of the numbering scheme because I don't look forward to Agentforce 3.0 and 4.0 and treating this with each release as another numeric release number. Or if they're smaller releases, will we have Agentforce 2.1. And so I'm anticipating that eventually the number will be dropped and they'll go with just Agent Force. And as history is my guide, I know that this is something that Salesforce does quite often, whether it's Customer 360 or not. Agentforce 2.0. Salesforce one was the mobile application. And then eventually it was renamed Salesforce Mobile. And so whether the numbering scheme continues or not, there's a lot of changes that are always bound to be happening in the area of AI. Agentforce, being a generative AI tool by its very nature, will be a moving target that you will always be having to refine and improve upon. And then also with all the new models coming out all the time from the large language models or the AI companies out there. This is also something that will be somewhat of a moving target and require refinement all the time within organizations. And so it's not a set it and forget it sort of proposition. And so this is something that we as professionals on the Salesforce platform, and that working inside of the field of AI will need to be keeping an eye on and being aware of all the changes happening. So December 17th on Salesforce Plus Agentforce 2.0 will be unveiled and then we'll know more. And so until next time be sure and like and subscribe and share this podcast with others and help others to find Urelevant.

AI Will Transform Automations and Setup in Salesforce.Watch here - https://youtu.be/eoBv8ZKelDk?feature=shared

New Prompt Templates Coming to Agentforce

Watch here - https://youtu.be/AiUU4hO6qVcIn this episode of Urelevant, "AI-Driven Workflows Are Coming Soon," we dive into the evolving role of AI in reshaping how we work within Salesforce. As AI becomes more integrated into the platform, it sparks a virtuous cycle of discovery and efficiency, updating workflows and SOPs to meet new demands. We explore how Salesforce's adaptability—from record types and permission sets to dynamic forms and AI-powered field generation—enables continuous evolution in operations. Plus, hear real-world insights from Velza's client discovery calls, where past solutions meet modern possibilities, revealing how AI can redefine processes like lead conversion and custom field mapping for the future.

In this episode Alyssa shares her shares her story on how she became a Salesforce professional.

In this follow-up episode, sisters Rebecca Youngquist and Nicole Looker delve deeper into their Salesforce journeys. They discuss the misconception that certifications are necessary to land a Salesforce job, with Rebecca sharing how she secured her first role before being certified. The sisters offer valuable insights on how to stand out in a competitive job market, emphasizing the importance of translating existing skills to Salesforce roles and actively learning through platforms like Trailhead. Nicole, now a CRM Manager, provides an overview of the various systems she works with beyond Salesforce, including HubSpot, LeanData, and Data Cloud. She shares her experience implementing Data Cloud in a startup environment and offers advice for those aspiring to get Data Cloud certified. The sisters also discuss their upcoming presentation at Mile High Dreamin', revealing how they plan to share their unique story of growing up in a small town and finding success in the Salesforce ecosystem. They highlight the importance of mentorship, including the Salesforce mentorship program and the often-overlooked Salesforce for Military program for veterans. Looking to the future, both Rebecca and Nicole express their interest in expanding their development skills, particularly in Apex. They conclude with valuable advice for those entering the Salesforce ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning, building soft skills, and finding genuine enjoyment in the work rather than merely chasing high salaries. This episode provides a wealth of practical advice and inspiration for anyone looking to start or advance their career in the Salesforce ecosystem. Contect with Rebecca Youngquist and Nicole Looker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-youngquist/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-looker/ Watch here - https://youtu.be/WIfv2tXhPSI

In this episode, we meet sisters Rebecca Youngquist and Nicole Looker, who have both found success in the Salesforce ecosystem. Nicole, with her background in finance and insurance, shares her journey of becoming an "accidental admin" and how she eventually transitioned into a product owner role. Rebecca, a former Navy nuclear engineer and instructor, explains how she pivoted to Salesforce after leaving the military, inspired by her sister's success.The sisters discuss their unique paths into Salesforce, the challenges they faced, and the skills that have helped them excel in their roles. They emphasize the importance of understanding both the front-end and back-end aspects of Salesforce, as well as the critical soft skills needed to succeed in the ecosystem.This episode offers valuable insights for anyone considering a career in Salesforce or looking to enhance their skills in the field. From the importance of visual learning to the key characteristics that make a great Salesforce professional, Rebecca and Nicole provide a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.Stay tuned for Part 2 of this conversation, coming next week!Contect with Rebecca Youngquist and Nicole Looker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-youngquist/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-looker/ Watch here - https://youtu.be/yR06s8kCItM

In this episode, we explore the parallels between the evolution of Spider-Man and our own journey with emerging AI technologies. Just as Peter Parker navigates the challenges of discovering his superpowers, we too must navigate the unfamiliar terrain of AI and its capabilities. We delve into the importance of embracing a lifelong learning mindset, rapidly reskilling, and developing a strategic reserve of skills to stay relevant in an ever-evolving landscape. Join us as we discuss how the hero's journey in both superhero tales and real life is marked by transformation, resilience, and the pursuit of making a difference.Watch here - https://youtu.be/5bIRNuCrIDQ

Become Skills-PoweredIn this episode, we dive into the Skills-Powered Advantage Framework, a revolutionary approach to professional development in the age of AI to become a Skills-Powered Practitioner. Discover how mastering the trifecta of Business Skills, Durable Skills (aka Soft Skills), and AI Skills can propel your career to new heights. You'll learn: Why these three skill areas are crucial in today's rapidly evolving job market How to approach each skill individually before combining them for maximum impact The importance of consistent practice and gradual skill integration The role of intent in guiding your skill development journey Whether you're looking to advance in your current role, switch careers, or launch a new project, this episode provides a roadmap for becoming a well-rounded Skills-Powered Practitioner. Tune in to discover how to transform your intent into insights, and ultimately, into career success. Don't miss this discussion on future-proofing your professional life, one skill at a time!Watch here - https://youtu.be/DQxOu87UgAE?source=urelevant

Episode 011 - How to Verify Your Skills for Skills-Based Organizations In this episode, we dive into the critical topic of skill verification for skills-based organizations. Claiming you have certain skills is one thing, but how do companies verify them? We explore Multi-Measure Testing (MMT), a holistic approach that evaluates a candidate's skills, personality, and suitability for a role through various assessments. We discuss why MMT is becoming a go-to method for skills verification, addressing the limitations of traditional hiring methods. MMT provides a more nuanced and accurate assessment, crucial in today's skill-based economy. You'll learn about the different types of assessments involved in MMT, such as role-specific skills tests, work sample assignments, cognitive and personality assessments, and more. We also share tips on how you can thrive in an MMT screening process by understanding the role, preparing for skills-based tests, and developing your soft skills. Additionally, we talk about aligning yourself with skills-based organizations through lifelong learning, building a skills portfolio, and obtaining relevant certifications. For more insights, check out our free course on the Skills-Powered Advantage Framework at https://www.rapidreskill.com/skills-powered-advantage-framework-3747e4f7-0e02-4231-bd78-3c6c503c07c6 Stay tuned for our next episode, where we'll discuss becoming a Skills-Powered Practitioner. Subscribe to our podcast to get notified when the next episode drops, and don't forget to leave a review to add your voice to the conversation!Watch here - https://youtu.be/Yqc55dZn8n0?feature=shared

In this episode, we dive into the transformative shift in the job market towards valuing soft skills, now being recognized as "Durable Skills." Once dominated by technical proficiencies, today's top sought-after skills include communication, collaboration, and time management. This shift is driven by the realization that these skills have a longer shelf life and remain relevant despite rapid technological advancements. We explore the Durable Skills Advantage Framework, a partnership between CompTIA and America Succeeds, highlighting how these skills have become essential. Key findings include: Durable Skills make up 7 of the top 10 most requested skills in job postings. The top 5 Durable Skills are requested nearly 5 times more often than the top 5 technical skills. Leadership and communication are the most in-demand competencies. The COVID-19 pandemic further emphasized the importance of Durable Skills as remote work highlighted the need for communication, adaptability, and digital literacy. As technology continues to evolve, the demand for individuals with a strong foundation in Durable Skills will only increase.

009 - The Future is Skills Powered! Will You Be?In this episode, we delve into becoming Skills Powered, essential for individuals and organizations. Discover how these approaches address the persistent skills gap by prioritizing tangible, measurable skills over traditional criteria like degrees and job titles.Explore how a skills-powered approach fosters a more diverse talent pool and promotes continuous learning, enabling employees to adapt to market changes and contribute based on their abilities. I share how forward-thinking businesses prioritize efficiency and leverage force multipliers, seeking advantages in both talent and tasks. Also discover how AI's pattern recognition capabilities can help build advantage frameworks for individuals and organizations.Whether you're focused on advancing your career or enhancing your company's performance, this episode will guide you through the evolving landscape of business. Watch here - https://www.urelevant.com/podcasts/urelevant/episodes/2148686250

In this final installment of our Attract, Attain, Retain series, we dive deep into the crucial topic of customer retention within CRM systems. Discover why retaining an existing customer is significantly more cost-effective than acquiring a new one and explore the pivotal role of Salesforce in facilitating customer service through case management. We delve into the concept of case deflection, self-service solutions, and the challenges of effective issue resolution. Learn about intelligent routing, support processes, and the ethical implications of AI in customer service. Join us as we explore how AI is revolutionizing CRM, enhancing productivity, and ultimately helping businesses retain customers by providing exceptional support. Don't miss this comprehensive discussion on how marketing, sales, and service intersect to create a seamless customer experience.Watch here - https://youtu.be/OXdSac-v5T0?feature=shared

Episode 7Welcome to the second episode of our three-part series, "Attract, Attain, Retain," where we dive into the marketing, sales, and service lifecycle of any business relationship. In this episode, we shift our focus to the critical stage of attaining customers through effective CRM sales processes. Previously, we explored the importance of attracting attention to your brand, product, or service. If you haven't caught that episode yet, I encourage you to start there before continuing with this one. Today, we delve into the heart of sales: converting attracted leads into loyal customers. We discuss the key objects in Salesforce—Accounts, Contacts, and Opportunities—and how they interconnect through the lead conversion process. We'll break down how lead data transitions into account and contact records, setting the stage for successful sales efforts. Discover the significance of opportunity stages and how they serve as milestones in your sales journey, increasing the probability of deal closure at each step. Learn how Salesforce's flexible setup allows you to customize these stages to match your specific sales processes, whether you're selling real estate, vehicles, or multi-million dollar infrastructure projects. Moreover, we'll explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing sales. From auto-generating product descriptions and emails to predictive analytics and opportunity scoring, AI is reshaping how businesses operate within Salesforce. We'll discuss the potential of Salesforce's AI platform, Einstein, to recommend next best actions and identify patterns that lead to successful deals. Finally, we'll touch on the future of CRM, where AI-driven automations and voice-prompted processes will streamline sales operations, making it easier and faster for businesses to thrive. Join us next week as we conclude this series by exploring the retention side of the lifecycle, focusing on how excellent customer service and AI advancements are transforming customer retention strategies. Don't miss out—subscribe now and stay tuned! Happy Learning and I'll see YOU In the Cloud!Watch here

Attracting Attention through effective Marketing in CRM In this episode, we begin a three-part series on customer relationship management (CRM). This episode focuses on the "Attract" phase, discussing how businesses can draw attention to their brand, products, and services. Whether you're a business owner refining your marketing strategy or someone preparing for the Salesforce Administrator certification, this episode provides valuable insights. We explore the creation and management of campaigns, the importance of lead generation, and the role of AI in modern marketing efforts. Join us as we set the stage for understanding the full lifecycle of business relationships, starting with attracting potential customers. Resources: Salesforce Einstein Trust Layer - https://www.salesforce.com/artificial-intelligence/trusted-ai/ Explaining the Einstein Trust Layer Salesforce Video - https://www.salesforce.com/news/stories/video/explaining-the-einstein-gpt-trust-layer/Watch here - https://youtu.be/VyAoVXSBnrA?feature=shared

Episode 5 - What is the Skills Graph? There's a new technological advancement brewing on the horizon - the Skills Graph. The Skills Graph follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, the Social Graph. Whereas Facebook mastered the social graph to dominance, the Skills Graph race has yet to be won. In this episode of Urelevant, I explore what the Skills Graph is and why it is important to your future career success. I dissect the differences between skills and talents. Also explored are adjacent skills, trending skills identification, skills assessments and a future where certifications reside on the blockchain! Recommended Resources: Rapid Reskill - https://rapidreskill.com

Yet 5 More Wright Brothers Principles for the AI Era Welcome to the final episode of our 3-part series on the Wright Brothers! In this captivating conclusion, we delve into how the Wright Brothers overcame relentless challenges and skeptics to change the world with their pioneering vision. Their journey from obscurity to international acclaim in France offers powerful lessons for navigating today's rapidly evolving AI landscape. Discover how the Wright Brothers' relentless pursuit of excellence, unwavering commitment to their principles, and ability to turn adversity into opportunity can help you pivot with purpose, 100x your productivity, and avoid the pitfalls of regret. Join us as we explore the final five Wright Brothers principles that will inspire you to harness the transformative potential of AI, create a unique path to success, and soar to new heights in your career and personal development. Subscribe now, and let's embark on this remarkable journey together! Recommended Reading and Resources: The Wright Brothers - by David McCullough https://amzn.to/3xKIdq1 Slow Productivity - by Cal Newport https://amzn.to/3Jtwr5Y The Wizard of Menlo Park - by Randall E. Stross https://amzn.to/4aYvzCs So Good They Can't Ignore You - by Cal Newport https://amzn.to/4dr67XY Van Gogh - The Complete Paintings - by Ingo F. Walther and Rainer Metzger https://amzn.to/3JMzPcj American Prometheus - by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin https://amzn.to/3UtkEK7 Affiliate Disclosure: The links above are most assuredly affiliate links, from which I may receive compensation. Watch video here

In Episode 3 of the "Urelevant" podcast, "Doubters in Dayton," the series continues to explore the Wright Brothers' journey, focusing on principles 6 through 10 that guided their success amid widespread skepticism. This episode delves into the less celebrated aspects of their story, highlighting how the brothers overcame doubt and negativity from their community as they pursued their aviation experiments in Dayton, Ohio. These principles are discussed in the context of today's challenges in adopting and advancing artificial intelligence. The episode emphasizes the relevance of the Wright Brothers' resilience and strategic approaches to innovation, which can be applied to navigating the modern AI landscape. By examining how they dealt with doubters and leveraged their own resources, listeners are encouraged to draw parallels to overcoming contemporary technological skepticism and barriers. "Doubters in Dayton" serves as an inspirational guide for those facing skepticism in the AI era, promoting a deeper understanding of how historical perseverance and innovation can inform and inspire current and future tech endeavors. Readings and Resources: The Wright Brothers by George McCullough - https://amzn.to/3Ui0hiP The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason - https://amzn.to/3whpAtp Affiliate Disclosure: The links above are most assuredly affiliate links, from which I may receive compensation.

In Episode 2 of the "Urelevant" podcast, titled "Skeptics at Kitty Hawk," the focus shifts to the Wright Brothers and their pioneering first flight, an event that marked a significant breakthrough against prevailing skepticism. This episode examines how Orville and Wilbur Wright, through sheer perseverance and ingenuity, transformed a vision of powered flight into reality on December 17, 1903. Their success, initially met with indifference, underscores the often-lukewarm reception that groundbreaking innovations can receive. The episode draws parallels between the challenges faced by the Wright Brothers and those encountered today in the realm of artificial intelligence. It highlights the importance of persistence and self-belief in the face of skepticism—traits essential for navigating the contemporary technological landscape. The episode introduces the "Wright Brothers Principles," a series of guidelines derived from the brothers' approach to innovation and risk-taking, applicable to anyone looking to make impactful advances in technology. As the story unfolds, these historical insights serve as a backdrop for understanding the potential of AI and its transformative capabilities. The episode calls on listeners to consider these principles as a framework for their own ventures into new technologies, encouraging a proactive stance against the inevitable challenges and skepticism that accompany innovation. This exploration sets the stage for further discussion in upcoming episodes, continuing the series' examination of lessons from the past to inform future advancements. Recommended Reading and Resources: The Wright Brothers - by David McCullough https://amzn.to/3xKIdq1 Slow Productivity - by Cal Newport https://amzn.to/3Jtwr5Y The Wizard of Menlo Park - by Randall E. Stross https://amzn.to/4aYvzCs Affiliate Disclosure: The links above are most assuredly affiliate links, from which I may receive compensation. Watch video here

In "Episode 1 - My Pivot Story" of the Urelevant podcast, Mike Wheeler shares his journey of career pivoting and adaptation, emphasizing the critical role of technological advancements and soft skills. Marking his birthday and the podcast's rebranding, he introduces "Rapid Reskill," a platform aimed at helping individuals navigate the AI-driven changes in the workforce. This episode weaves personal reflection with actionable insights for embracing the future of work.

Here is how I broke into the Salesforce ecosystem. I interview my first Salesforce boss, Kathleen Banashak. She shares why she hired me over those with more experience. I think this conversation provides invaluable insights as to how you too can overcome the most frequent objection in job interviews - 'not enough experience'. Kathleen Banashak on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-banashak-1983624/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/urelevant/message

Hannah Maruyama is a powerhouse communicator and a former student of mine. She got her start in the tech space by way of the Salesforce Administrator certification.It was a full-circle moment and a very fun interview to learn from her, discuss the #degreefree mission, and to share how she has blazed her Trail into new arenas. You don't need a degree (paper) to make six figures. Hannah discusses a myriad of approaches, as well as how she and her husband Ryan are helping "new adults" and their parents embrace the #degreefree paradigm, setting up the next generation for success and a fulfilling life where the job serves the life, rather than the other way around. Hannah's TikTok account is here  https://www.tiktok.com/@degreefree  Degree Free Website - https://degreefree.co Degree Free YouTube Channel -  https://www.youtube.com/c/degreefree   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/urelevant/message

Alyssa Lefebvre, Head of GTM at Aareon, stops by to discuss how to stand out in a crowded market, Rev Ops, CPQ and more. Connect with Alyssa on LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssamlefebvre/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/urelevant/message

In this session, I discuss the rise of soft-skills in the age of AI, along with IBM's report that estimates that upwards of 1.4 billion people will need to reskill in the next 3 years because of AI. I also answer questions live in this recent webcast and discuss the inevitability of OpenAI creating Enterprise licenses of ChatGPT. Resources: https://www.examreadynow.com/courses for LIVE and On-Demand Salesforce Training ChatGPT Complete Course - https://www.udemy.com/course/chat-gpt/?referralCode=009763FC719BFD5D120E Rask (AI Video Translator and Editor) - https://app.rask.ai/?utm_source=affilate&via=mike-wheeler (yes - this is an affiliate link) IBM Report - Report https://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/NGAWMXAK --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/urelevant/message

In this episode, I am joined by best-selling author and Salesforce Thought-Leader Derek Davis. We discuss 10 ways to land your first Salesforce job without experience. Derek also discusses his best-selling Salesforce Career book, "Breaking Into Salesforce". Resources mentioned in this episode: Breaking Into Salesforce  - The Ultimate Guide to Building a High-Impact Career eBook $2.99 https://amzn.to/43TOFp8 Paperback $17.95 https://amzn.to/3qhouLd  Full Replay Here https://www.examreadynow.com/course/employmentality FREE 4-Week Live Salesforce Certified Associate Class https://www.examreadynow.com/course/associate-live Live & On-Demand Salesforce Courses https://www.examreadynow.com/courses --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/urelevant/message

Have you seen the Salesforce Admin Skills Kit? In this podcast episode, I run through each of the 14 skills you need to take your Cloud Career to the next level! You will also discover ways to represent each of these skills on your resume. Join me as we work our way through all 14 skills. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

Jake Erb caught my attention via a LinkedIn post, where he mentioned he was taking my #Salesforce Administrator course although he was already certified. I wanted to learn more about his study approach and pursuit for a stronger grasp on the fundamentals of the platform. Resources & Links: Live Salesforce Training - https://courses.mikewheelermedia.com/live Salesforce Self-Assessment Checklist - https://workshop.mikewheelermedia.com/checklist Mike Wheeler Media+ A NEW way to learn Salesforce (7 Day Free Trial) https://learn.mikewheelermedia.com/ Salesforce Career Paths Course https://courses.mikewheelermedia.com/salesforce-career-paths My website https://mikewheelermedia.com/ Jake Erb on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-erb-professional/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

I had the opportunity to speak with the Chicago Salesforce Nonprofit User Group about getting a job in the Salesforce ecosystem. In this clip, I share what I think the number one skill is for helping you land your first job in the Salesforce ecosystem. I also discuss the importance of being able to execute on ideas - whether those ideas are your own, or someone else's. With the simplicity of Salesforce, it is the go-to platform for making those ideas a reality in a short manner of time. Many thanks to the Chicago Nonprofit User Group for having me! Resources: Video version of this episode - https://youtu.be/gDUpaErUoBo --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

On June 23, 2021, Salesforce updated the structure of their Certified Administrator Exam. In this episode, I dissect the new exam guide and highlight the changes that have been made. I have updated my Salesforce Self Assessment Checklist to reflect the new structure of the exam. You can get that updated checklist here - https://workshop.mikewheelermedia.com/checklist I have also updated my Salesforce Administrator On-Demand Course with several new lessons added, to also reflect the new structure of the exam. Go here for the updated on-demand course - https://learn.mikewheelermedia.com/new-admin I have also updated my Live Salesforce Administrator Course to follow the new exam structure also. Go here for details on my Live class - https://courses.mikewheelermedia.com/live Finally, I also made a multitude of updates to my 9-Week Challenge and Study Guide to follow the new exam structure. Go here for details on the Challenge and Guide - https://workshop.mikewheelermedia.com/challenge During this episode, I discuss an example of a junction object from my Career Launch Accelerator course, which is available at https://careerlaunchaccelerator.com I also mention signing up for a Salesforce Developer Edition with Einstein Lead Scoring enabled, which is here - https://developer.salesforce.com/promotions/orgs/einsteinleadscoring Here is the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/d8BCPkdkNr8 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

I had the opportunity to visit with Jael Jones. We discussed 'You Incorporated' - treating your career as your business. Jael discussed her investment strategy of investing in herself and her career, which brings about the greatest return on investment. As with all investment advice, you want to invest in businesses you are passionate about and believe in. So, investing in yourself helps you to take this process seriously as well as to be taken seriously by others. Links: Career Launch Accelerator - https://careerlaunchaccelerator.com Video version of this video - https://youtu.be/aVTqnUxFerM Jael Jones' Website - https://jaeljones.com Jale Jones' LinkedIn Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaeljones/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

I interview Vitaly Makarkin, who is breaking into the #Salesforce ecosystem after several years of working as a #CRM consultant in Russia. In this talk, we discuss the importance of always marketing your skills, service, experience, as well as having a portfolio. Resources: Video version of this interview - https://youtu.be/M1MTGX7pSBA Vitaly Makarkin LinkedIn Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/makarkinpro/ Vitaly's Website - https://hiresalesforcedev.com/ Vitaly's Blog - https://hiresalesforce.dev/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

Here's a replay from a live show I held on May 4, 2021. The topic was '7 Levers to Overcoming Ageism in 2021' The idea for this topic came from one of my students who left a voice message for me regarding encountering ageism and to overcome it. In this podcast episode, I share the first two levers of the seven. You can continue the journey for levers three through seven by watching the full video version of this talk on YouTube here - https://youtu.be/JoiKStqYQOk If you have a question or comment for me, leave your message here https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message - you may be featured in an upcoming episode of Urelevant! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

In this interview, I visit with one of my students, Samuel Kephart, regarding his 10-year Cloud Career. From humble beginnings, Samuel shares his secrets to success, investing in his future and now enjoying a 550% salary increase. You can watch this interview here - https://youtu.be/R3YsEinZx08 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

This episode is the first section of my new course, called "Your Cloud Career Launch Action Plan". You can go to CareerLaunchActionPlan.com for the video companions to the audio of this episode, as well as 30 more minutes of the action plan. In this episode, I address the following topics: The Four Gatekeepers Blocking Your Salesforce Career Launch YOU Incorporated The Three Pillars of Every Business To What End? Action Plan Section Introduction Here are the topics you can access via CareerLaunchActionPlan.com Identifying Your Goals What is Your CTA? Always Be Marketing - Compelling Communication Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile for Conversion How Many Certifications Do You Need Before Interviewing? Virtuous Cycles and Feedback Loops What is Your USP? Take Yes for an Answer Portfolio Power Hour --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

Julian Joseph is a Senior Member of Technical Staff, Quality Engineering (Education Cloud) with Salesforce.org. We discuss Julian's journey to a Salesforce career, ultimately becoming a Salesforce employee. We discuss the QA path as a viable option for Administrators looking to differentiate themselves. We also look ahead to where QA may be heading in the future. Video version of this interview: https://youtu.be/EGw7cYo5UIs Julian's Twitter: https://twitter.com/Julian88Tex Julian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliandjoseph/ Julian's Website: https://julianjoseph-developer-edition.na156.force.com/portfolio/s/ Salesforce UI Automation Example Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B03PY9RUUqw Janson Lantz's Salesforce Developer Podcast on CumulusCI: https://developer.salesforce.com/podcast/2020/06/episode-32-open-source-release-management-with-jason-lantz.html Jason Lantz's Salesforce Way Podcast on CumulusCI: https://salesforceway.com/podcast/cumulusci-automation-tool/ CumulusCI Trail: https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en/content/learn/trails/build-applications-with-cumulusci Documentation on using Snowfakery with Salesforce: https://snowfakery.readthedocs.io/en/stable/#using-snowfakery-with-salesforce --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

I so enjoyed my recent chat with Jennifer Borkovich. Jennifer is a Solution Architect for the The Hunley Group. She shares her background and experience, and how it played a pivotal role in her Salesforce Career. She reflects on her journey and how learning Salesforce has changed her life for the better. Jennifer provides a lot of great insights and tips that you can apply in your own cloud career journey. We discuss how to find Salesforce Partner companies that align with your own background and specific industry experience. Jennifer also shares information on a Safety app that she built on the platform. We discuss the new Manufacturing Cloud from Salesforce. We also visit the concept of niching down into a specific vertical in order to differentiate yourself. Video Segment from this Interview - https://youtu.be/Mq-nkTbEAT0 Full Interview Video - https://youtu.be/Lx9Kex7gOdI --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

Attaining your first Salesforce certification is a great step in launching your cloud career. And the vast majority of people start with pursuing the Administrator certification, because it is there that you learn the fundamentals of the platform. Salesforce provides a wealth of free educational resources, primarily through Trailhead. But with that wealth of paths and options, it can be overwhelming to know where to start in gaining your certification. And many have found that they need more than just Trailhead in order to pass their certification exams. So I'm here to share my 5 simple steps to a Salesforce certification, to help you chart your own path to certified! Video version of this episode is here - https://youtu.be/ODr3IhHQ5rc Resources in this episode: Mike Wheeler Media+ - https://learn.mikewheelermedia.com Live Salesforce Administrator Class - https://courses.mikewheelermedia.com/live Salesforce Self-Assessment Checklist - https://workshop.mikewheelermedia.com/checklist 9 Weeks to Salesforce Certified Challenge - https://workshop.mikewheelermedia.com/challenge-signup Salesforce Administrator Practice Tests - https://www.udemy.com/course/salesforce-administrator-practice-tests/?couponCode=5YEARS Webassessor Admin Practice Tests - https://www.webassessor.com/wa.do?page=createAccount&branding=SALESFORCE Real World Salesforce Questions - YouTube Playlist - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ12axA2fmEA1t5GA3NQZE0nRkD1Io_h3 Career Launch Action Plan - https://careerlaunchactionplan.com Portfolio Power Hour - https://portfoliopowerhour.com Career Launch Accelerator - https://careerlaunchaccelerator.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

Live Salesforce Administrator Class - https://courses.mikewheelermedia.com/live On-Demand Salesforce Training - Mike Wheeler Media+ https://learn.mikewheelermedia.com Salesforce Self-Assessment Checklist - https://workshop.mikewheelermedia.com/checklist Episode Details: I interview Andrew Fischer, who got his start in the Salesforce ecosystem working alongside me at Mike Wheeler Media. Andrew appeared in my first Salesforce course and went on to fail the Salesforce Administrator exam multiple times. In this interview, Andrew shares his journey to eventually passing the exam, landing his next Salesforce role, passing the Dev I certification and more. Watch for a flashback clip of ‘Young Andrew' which we filmed before his second failed certification attempt back in March of 2016 @39:10. This story is a case study in persistence and overcoming obstacles to a cloud career. I discuss the emerging importance of finding the intersection of Attainable and Essential @28:24 We discuss Andrew's college background @33:00 and his certifications @35:00 Here is the video version of this interview, available on YouTube here https://youtu.be/Z59PhFjfaF4 Andrew Fischer's LinkedIn Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewfischertn/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

Live Salesforce Administrator Class - https://courses.mikewheelermedia.com/live On-Demand Salesforce Training - Mike Wheeler Media+ https://learn.mikewheelermedia.com Salesforce Self-Assessment Checklist - https://workshop.mikewheelermedia.com/checklist Episode Details: In this interview, I learn more about Owen Leaman's background and journey to a Cloud Career. Owen had started college, but decided to try Salesforce. He has since gone on to attain 8 certifications and shares how he got his start, as well as where he's at today. Here is the video version of this interview, available on YouTube - https://youtu.be/dBafAdvTS6A Owen Leaman's LinkedIn Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/owen-leaman-a08068127/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

Live Salesforce Administrator Class - https://courses.mikewheelermedia.com/live On-Demand Salesforce Training - Mike Wheeler Media+ https://learn.mikewheelermedia.com Salesforce Self-Assessment Checklist - https://workshop.mikewheelermedia.com/checklist Episode Details: This goes way beyond a true proud-dad moment. I chat with my eldest son, and extraordinary Salesforce developer, Anthony Wheeler. We discuss how he pivoted from High School into a full-fledged career as a Salesforce developer. Anthony shares his own journey, and experiences with failing his first exam. We walk through his career progression and how he overcame obstacles along the way. Here is the video version of this interview, available on YouTube here https://youtu.be/jNlVEH4Wxu0 Anthony Wheeler's LinkedIn Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-wheeler-98404a102/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

I first met Stephanie Rhodes soon after she started her first Salesforce Administrator job at the age of 68. At that time, she mentioned wanting to work well into her seventies. I thought it was time to check in with Stephanie as she's approaching her three-year anniversary with a Fortune-500 company. Stephanie shares how she overcame her own doubts in coming out of a 14-year retirement. You can connect with Stephanie on Twitter and LinkedIn. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

This is the third installment in my three-part episode series, where I cover the 6 fundamentals to getting Salesforce certified and hired in 2021. In this episode, I cover the fifth and sixth fundamentals that will be keys to your success in 2021! Resources: Live Salesforce Administrator Class - https://courses.mikewheelermedia.com/live Salesforce Self-Assessment Checklist - https://workshop.mikewheelermedia.com/checklist Mike Wheeler Media+ (New Admin On-Demand Course for 2021) - https://learn.mikewheelermedia.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

This is the second installment in my three-part episode series, where I cover the 6 fundamentals to getting Salesforce certified and hired in 2021. In this episode, I cover the third and fourth fundamentals that will be keys to your success in 2021! Resources: Live Salesforce Administrator Class - https://courses.mikewheelermedia.com/live Salesforce Self-Assessment Checklist - https://workshop.mikewheelermedia.com/checklist Salesforce Bootcamp Series - Make Your Own Experience - https://learn.mikewheelermedia.com/bootcamp Monika Crooks Interview - https://learn.mikewheelermedia.com/videos/monika-crooks --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

This is the first installment in a three-part episode series, where I cover the 6 fundamentals to getting Salesforce certified and hired in 2021. In this episode, I cover the first two fundamentals that will be keys to your success in 2021! Resources: Live Salesforce Certified Administrator Class - https://courses.mikewheelermedia.com/live Mike Wheeler Media+ - http://learn.mikewheelermedia.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

This episode is coming out during Thanksgiving week, 2020. It just so happens to coincide with the five year anniversary of when we started filming my first Salesforce course. A lot has happened and changes over these past five years. From that first class, which eventually released in March of 2016, to now, we have launched Salesforce bootcamps, our own learning platform of Mike Wheeler Media+, this podcast and a Live Salesforce Q&A Call In Show. Along the way, we've had the opportunity to spend time with over 130,000 students across 174 countries. All I can say is THANKS! This episode includes several clips from those that called into my first live Salesforce Q&A show. I have selected these clips because they are the recurring theme of fighting overwhelm, overcoming the imposter syndrome, where to start and where to go next. I hope you enjoy the episode and thank you for investing your time with me. Here's to the next five years. Resources: Salesforce Live Q&A Call In Show - http://mikewheelermedialive.com Mike Wheeler Media+ https://learn.mikewheelermedia.com Salesforce Certification Maintenance Schedules - https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en/help?article=Certification-Release-Maintenance-Schedule Charting Your Salesforce Certification Path - https://mikewheelermedia.com/charting-your-salesforce-certification-path/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

I recently went live on my Salesforce Q&A show (register to attend future shows and watch replays here - http://mikewheelermedialive.com) and discussed the NonProfit Success Pack (NPSP). You can gain experience to put on your resume and to build out your portfolio by volunteering for a non-profit organization. In this clip, I do a deep dive on a lot of NPSP resources, the Household data model and more. I also discuss Salesforce's 1-1-1 model as well as how to receive 10 free subscriptions to the Nonprofit Success Pack for eligible organizations. I also shared a free Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud course which you can access here - Resources: Video version of this clip: https://youtu.be/wwlsvrDHhTo Free Course: Nonprofit Cloud Success – https://learn.mikewheelermedia.com/salesforce-bootcamp-part-8-nonprofit-cloud-success-npsp Nonprofit Community Groups - https://trailblazers.salesforce.com/featuredGroups?filter=a0L3000000SDIsaEAH Taproot - https://www.taprootplus.org/opportunities?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search%5Bkeyword%5D=salesforce&search%5Bscope%5D=all&search%5Btype%5D=all&search%5Bsort_by%5D=recent Catchafire - https://www.catchafire.org/volunteer?name_filter=salesforce&page=1 NPSP Latest Install - https://install.salesforce.org/products/npsp/ What is the Household Account Model? - https://powerofus.force.com/s/article/NPSP-What-is-an-Account-Model NPSP Entity Relationship Diagram - https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/sfdo-docs/npsp_entity_relationship_diagram.pdf Nonprofit Success Pack Trial - https://www.salesforce.org/trial/npsp/ Administer Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) Trail - https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en/content/learn/trails/nonprofit_fundraising Salesforce.org 1-1-1 Model - https://www.salesforce.org/pledge-1/ 10 Free Salesforce NPSP Licenses - https://www.salesforce.org/?nonprofit_product=nonprofit-editions-pricing#:~:text=Salesforce.org%20is%20proud%20to,Sales%20%26%20Service%20Cloud%20Enterprise%20Edition --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

In this episode, I answer a question from Julie Ann regarding FinancialForce and Salesforce's Financial Services Cloud. I used her question as a jumping off point to demonstrate how you can take any industry and find a lot of resources for learning that specific industry's cloud solution on the Salesforce platform. I also demonstrate how to find companies that are using Salesforce in that industry as well as finding job leads and implementation guides. I even covered how to install and gain experience on the Financial Services Cloud, or whichever other industry cloud you are interested in. Along the way, I shared several resources during this segment from my live Office Hours show. Resources: Video version of this episode - https://youtu.be/GXVPeQY0RlQ Register for Free Office Hours Show - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zI1VigBIR0qnxOB54ETU_A Industry Cloud - https://www.salesforce.com/solutions/industries/financial-services/overview/ AppExchange by Industry - https://appexchange.salesforce.com/consulting Financial Services Cloud Admin Guide - https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.financial_services_cloud_admin_guide.meta/financial_services_cloud_admin_guide/fsc_admin.htm Trailhead Financial Services Cloud Basics - https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/fsc_basics Financial Services Cloud Specialist Superbadge - https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en/content/learn/superbadges/superbadge-fsc-specialist Download the Financial Services Cloud package - https://help.salesforce.com/articleView?id=000323341&type=1&mode=1 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

I recently launched my weekly Live Salesforce Q&A Call In Show. I fielded roughly a dozen questions from the audience and also shared about Dreamforce 2020. In this episode, we will hear from Marcos and Tetyana. Marcos wanted to share that he was hired back in July at $43/hr. as a Salesforce admin, working from Mexico for an American company. Tetyana asked how to chart he path from being Admin certified to getting into Data Analytics on Salesforce. We discuss a few of the Architect certifications and how to niche down in order to advance her cloud career. Resources: Mike Wheeler Media+ - https://learn.mikewheelermedia.com Salesforce Office Hours - Weekly Call-In Show - http://mikewheelermedialive.com Dreamforce video clip - https://youtu.be/nBeyEgZRgX0 Dreamforce Registration - https://www.salesforce.com/dreamforce/ Marcos on Video - https://youtu.be/khdHt_yc8eI Tetyana on Video - https://youtu.be/xGnWrIm21qM --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message

It's Election 2020, and what could be a bigger election than that of my local HOA? This year, I am running for a position on our Home Owner's Association Board, and I am using Salesforce to rock the vote! In this episode, I discuss how I am using Salesforce to help me to (hopefully) win a seat on our local HOA board. I also share ways that you can leverage Salesforce to build apps for yourself to use, such as an HOA Management app, as well as many other app examples. Resources: Live Salesforce Administrator Class - https://courses.mikewheelermedia.com/live Free Salesforce Account - https://developer.salesforce.com/signup IMDb Clone App via Platform App Builder Course - https://learn.mikewheelermedia.com/salesforce-certified-platform-app-builder Stephanie Rhodes Interview - https://learn.mikewheelermedia.com/videos/stephanie-rhodes Make Your Own Experience - https://learn.mikewheelermedia.com/salesforce-bootcamp-part-1-make-your-own-success --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/urelevant/message