Practical application of marketing in organizations
POPULARITY
63 episodes with Marketing management
8 episodes with Marketing management
5 episodes with Marketing management
4 episodes with Marketing management
4 episodes with Marketing management
3 episodes with Marketing management
4 episodes with Marketing management
2 episodes with Marketing management
2 episodes with Marketing management
Every once in a while, I meet someone whose story reminds me why inclusion and communication go hand in hand. My guest this week, Shabnam Asthana, is one of those people. She's a global PR leader, entrepreneur, and author who has spent her life turning words into bridges that connect people and purpose. We talk about her journey from teaching and lecturing at India's National Defence Academy to leading global communications for major brands—and what it taught her about empathy, leadership, and real inclusion. Shabnam shares how storytelling can turn data into emotion, and why true diversity is less about representation and more about respect. Her message is powerful and deeply human: being unstoppable begins with an open heart, quiet courage, and the willingness to rise again. If you're ready to lead with empathy and communicate with purpose, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. Highlights: 00:43 – Hear how early role models and a working mother raised ambitions and set a path toward leadership. 03:39 – Learn why strong communication skills pointed her toward PR and how debates built confidence. 05:24 – See why teaching became the first step when women in PR roles were rare in smaller cities. 08:12 – Discover what it took to lecture at India's National Defence Academy and earn respect in a rigid setting. 12:09 – Understand the leap from academia to corporate PR after being scouted for communication excellence. 15:50 – Learn how serving as a spokesperson shaped internal and external messaging at a Swedish-Indian firm. 17:01 – Gain a humble view of global work and why inclusion means moving from tokenism to listening. 21:08 – Compare India and Sweden and see how representation differs from real inclusion in practice. 24:18 – Learn how small, specific acts like adding sign to slides can make people feel genuinely seen. 34:24 – Find out how storytelling turns CSR spreadsheets into human change that inspires action. 43:22 – Explore the choice to found Empowered Solutions and why entrepreneurship kept growth alive. 53:06 – Take a fresh definition of an unstoppable mindset rooted in resilience and an open heart. About the Guest: A multi-faceted Professional, who has fast tracked from being a reputed National name to a well-respected and emulated global one! Shabnam Asthana has added new dimensions to Global PR and Communications. She has to her credit, post graduate degrees in English Literature, Public Relations and Advertising, an MBA in Marketing Management & several International certifications including a prestigious Hon. Doctorate in Business Administration from the National American University USA (NAU). She has over 25 years of rich professional experience. She started her career in the educational field as a high school teacher and then moved on to the role of a Lecturer at the prestigious National Defence Academy, Khadkwasla. She was the only civilian who compered for the Passing out parades, PT & Equestrian display and the Graduation ceremony of the NDA for 3 consecutive years. This was covered live on Doordarshan. It was after one of the Passing out Parades that she was compering at the NDA, that a senior position in a reputed company was offered to her and thus began her foray into the corporate world. After her successful corporate stint in senior positions with reputed companies including Multinationals in India and abroad and reputed real estate businesses, she started her own PR and communications firm, Empowered Solutions in 2005 which has been running successfully since then. Adding offices in USA and Canada as part of its international expansion. Ways to connect with Jan: Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabnam_Asthana Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shabnamasthana/?hl=en Linked in - https://in.linkedin.com/in/dr-shabnam-asthana-7b174a5 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ShabnamAsthana/ X - https://x.com/shabnamasthana VyaapaarNiti Expert Profile - https://www.vyaapaarniti.com/expert/dr-shabnam-asthana- Tring Celebrity Platform - https://www.tring.co.in/shabnam-asthana About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Michael Hingson ** 01:20 Well, Hi again, everyone. I am your host, Michael Hingson, and you are here listening to or watching or both, unstoppable mindset today, our guest is a person of many talents, and I think you're going to be as amazed about her as I am. Shabnam Asthana is a person who has been involved in she was a teacher for a while. She's been very heavily involved in a variety of things at the corporate level. She started her own marketing firm in 2005 and I don't know what all my gosh, she's got so many things, it's really hard to keep up, but I'm sure she's going to tell us all about it, and I am looking forward to that. And I really appreciate all of you being here with us. So Shabnam, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. And thank you for being here. Shabnam Asthana ** 02:15 Thank you, Michael, truly wonderful to be with here, and thank you for that amazing introduction. You make me feel as if I've worn a professional cape of so many accolades and so many things. It's wonderful to be here with you. Michael Hingson ** 02:32 Michael, well, you do have lots of awards and lots of accolades. Shabnam Asthana ** 02:38 That's just one part of the journey. The true reward is in the, you know, work that I do, these stories, that I shape, the narratives that spring in that is the true reward. And of course, accolades are always welcome, and they are a way of encouragement, which do ensure that, yes, I continue doing the good work. Michael Hingson ** 03:00 Well, why don't we start back at the beginning, which is always fun to do. Why don't you tell us about the early Shabnam growing up? Shabnam Asthana ** 03:08 Okay, that's something which is very close to my heart. I was born in India in a small city called Bokaro, Steel City. It was a Steel City. It was an industrial town, and we were a very close knit community, and we had lots of, you know, interaction with people. I came from a background where both my parents, my mother and my father were working, and at that point of time, a working woman was sort of seen as a novelty, not something I'm talking way, way back. And now the people will also guess my age, I guess because it's pretty way back. And that was the time when we weren't India was still developing, and women were still not seen as the working class, you know, especially in senior corporate positions. And my mother was a senior officer in the steel plant, so that set my aspirations and ambitions very high. And I wanted to emulate her. I wanted to be someone who was working now what I would do I was not very sure of, but yes, I wanted to be working. And then later on, my sister, my both my sisters, were also working, my older siblings, and of course, that set the tone for me to also hop into the professional shoes, and, you know, chart out a career path for myself. So, Michael Hingson ** 04:44 so what? What did you do? As far as schooling? Did you go to college? Shabnam Asthana ** 04:51 Yes, I went to the local school there, which was an English medium good school called sin Xavier School. And that was some. Thing which really groomed me for the future, that set the foundations for my career. And after that, I did my schooling in the my college, sorry, in the capital city of India, which is Delhi. And then on, I moved to a place which is close to Mumbai, which is Pune, and I continued my education there. And of course, my career started in Pune. That is when I got into academics, and then henceforth, Michael Hingson ** 05:34 so when you were in college, and as you were coming out of it, what did you want to do with your life? What was your plan? Or did you have one? Shabnam Asthana ** 05:43 Yes, I did have one. Like I said, I was always good in communications, and people used to tell me that you are a good communicator. I used to win all the debates. I used to win elocution competitions. And I said, Well, yes, communication does seem to be my forte, so why don't I build on that? And then I saw my father, he was in the public relations industry, and I somehow at the back of my mind, I said, Yes, that is something I would surely want to do. So why not try my hand at PR? And that's how the seeds of my career was planted in my mind, and then it developed there on. Michael Hingson ** 06:30 But you started out in education and in teaching. Shabnam Asthana ** 06:34 Yes, that's very interesting. I'll tell you. I wanted to start my career in PR, but I was in a place which was a small city, and it was a place called Jamshedpur, before I moved on to Pune, and there, the career scope was very limited. We didn't have women in the PR. In fact, it was unheard of. So the best thing, or the easiest thing that a woman could do was to hop on the bandwagon of academics. And not saying that it was something you know, that was not looked up to. But yes, I did enjoy my role as a school teacher. That was my first job in Jamshedpur, a small it was, again, a steel city in India, and I became a high school teacher, and quite enjoyed it, because that was also communication. It was the way you communicated with your students, and, you know, sort of got them into, got them interested in what they were learning. So that was, again a stepping stone, and it was the area of communications which expanded later on. Michael Hingson ** 07:47 So how long did you stay in teaching? Shabnam Asthana ** 07:51 I was there for about two years in Jamshedpur, and then I moved on to Pune. And guess what the next opportunity I got was as a lecturer in the National Defense Academy. That was a place where the future generals were being groomed, and I was a civilian who, sort of, I was the only civilian, probably, who got into the teaching profession there and there I spent a good four years truly memorable. Worth remembering recounting. There was so many incidents, and I loved teaching. That was something which I did at the National Defense Academy too. Although that was at a higher level, it was very different from the school teaching which I had done. This was more, you know, on a national level, where you had to be more, and there was a lot of discipline which came in, because it was the future, you know, Army personnel, Navy personnel, so all that, there was a lot of discipline that came in and that groomed me better. I understood what the world of discipline meant in the true sense, because I lived Michael Hingson ** 09:10 it right. What? How did you discover the job at the defense Academy? Though that's certainly a whole lot different than teaching high school students or maybe not. Shabnam Asthana ** 09:23 It is a whole lot intimidating. Let me tell you that it's very intimidating to walk into a room full of, you know, future generals, army people you don't know who you know who you are, I mean, who they are, and you sort of get very intimidated by the kind the aura is very, very intimidating. Michael Hingson ** 09:46 How did you discover that job? Yes, Shabnam Asthana ** 09:49 that was done. We in India, we have something which is called the employment exchange. So you register there and you give your qualify. You list down your qualifications, and you know whatever you are planning to do, and they invite you for certain vacancies. So one fine day, I was just sitting and having my lunch at home when I received a letter, and the letter was an interview call for the National Defense Academy. I literally jumped out of my skin because I was a school teacher, and then being asked to appear for an interview in the National Defense Academy itself was a big leap for me. Whether I got it or not was a different thing. But then to sort of come on board and go and sort of appear for an interview was also something very exciting. And when I went there, I was like, I said, the only civilian The rest were army officers, wives and daughters, you know, related to the working personnel there. So when I went, I was interviewed by the three representatives from all the three wings, that is the Navy, the Air Force and Army. And that was a very good experience. They asked me a lot of questions, and I believe it was later on I was told that it was my confidence that got me in. So thanks to that, I Michael Hingson ** 11:23 was going to ask you why you why you got in, or why you think you got in. And yes, Shabnam Asthana ** 11:30 yeah, I did ask them that later, and unofficially, I was told that. Well, it was the way you carried yourself, the confidence and, you know, the excitement and enthusiasm that you shared, which was very, very refreshing. Michael Hingson ** 11:48 So what exactly did you do at the academy? Shabnam Asthana ** 11:53 I was teaching them English, and I was teaching them literature. I don't know how interested they were in literature, but then the feedback that I got, which was, you know, the it was a routine feedback, which we have the teachers get. So I used to get good marks, and people used to say, yes, that, you know, your classes are engrossing. It's good. And then, apart from that, there was something very interesting I did, which was I compared for their passing out parades, and I compared for all their shows. And that was something which was covered on television, and that gave me a different kind of foothold in my profession, where I was being seen, where I was being heard, and my confidence grew by leaps and bounds. I was being accepted as a woman. I was being accepted as a civilian. And that was something which was very, very heartwarming for me, Michael Hingson ** 13:01 and I would assume, very difficult to achieve, Shabnam Asthana ** 13:05 I think so I do yes, in retrospect, yes. Michael Hingson ** 13:09 So you did that for roughly four years. Yes. And why did you leave that? What was your? Was your thought about that, Shabnam Asthana ** 13:21 okay, I would have gone on. It was such a glorious part of my career. But, you know, change, they say, is constant, and that is something which happened. I was comparing for a passing out parade when the chairman of a corporate company which was doing rather well, heard me, and he was impressed by my communication, my speaking abilities, my, you know, the way I was presenting things. And he said he offered me a job, and he said, Why don't you come and join my office and come in as a PR person for my company, and that's exactly I was actually, you know, not very sure whether I wanted to leave this an industry and career where I was already established, where people knew me, and just hop on to the corporate world. But if you remember, that was my ambition. That was what I had always won right at the start. So the moment it came, it almost felt as if it fell into my laps. And I said, Why don't I do that? Yes, and this is a good opportunity, and I must take it up. My I spoke to my family, and they too, felt that it was a good stepping stone to move on. And so I accepted it, and that was my entry into the world of PR, in the corporate Michael Hingson ** 14:48 world. So what year was that this Shabnam Asthana ** 14:53 was way back on now you are prompting me to give away my age, which is like. Like ancient, I'd be a fossil. Okay, yes, this was way back in the 90s, Michael Hingson ** 15:06 okay, and that was kind of what I was curious about. So at that time, industry was a little bit more stable than it was later on, but, but still, you You did it, and you so you stepped into that goal, into that role, and so you became part of the PR world, which is, as you said, what you wanted to do initially, anyway. So, so how long did you stay at that company? I Shabnam Asthana ** 15:39 stayed there for about four years, and then the chairman of the company passed away. Unfortunately, he was on a trip to China, and he suffered a massive cardiac arrest, so I was working very closely with him in his office, and as is the norm of the industry, once the leader is not there things you know, sort of crumble, and you know, there's reorganization. New faces come in, and normally the new people bring their own teams. So I felt as if, you know, before they told me to sort of move out or something. I don't know why I pre empted that. I said, Why don't I myself make a shift and join some other industry? I mean, join some other company, which I did. Again, I applied. It was a Swedish company, and again, it was one of the best moves that I could have made. I spent a good 12 years in that company, which Hogan is India Limited, I must name them. They were brilliant. And I spent a very, very good part of my career with that company. Michael Hingson ** 16:56 And so again, you did primarily PR, or what did you Yes, it was Shabnam Asthana ** 17:02 PR and it was handling the chairman and managing director's office. So the entire communication was handled through me, the internal as well as the external communication. I was a spokesperson, yes, Michael Hingson ** 17:18 so you became so in a sense, sort of the face of the company. Shabnam Asthana ** 17:21 Yes, I did. It's nice to feel that yes, that it was a good many years that I was the face of the company in terms of communication, yes, Michael Hingson ** 17:33 right, right. And, and where were you doing this? Shabnam Asthana ** 17:38 This was in Pune, and their head office was in Sweden. I used to sort of move between the two. It was a very global company. The subsidiary was an Indian subsidiary, but the parent company was Swedish. So we had a lot of global travel 17:56 that kept you busy. That did so Shabnam Asthana ** 17:59 there were conferences, and there were so many meetings which were happening, Michael Hingson ** 18:03 yes, right? So what did, what did you? What did you learn from all of that? Do you think Shabnam Asthana ** 18:12 it was a very humbling experience? You know, more than the excitement, I was armed with a lot of excitement, because that would have been one of my first trips outside India. I was I had a lot of excitement, lots of things were on my mind, but then ultimately, when one does travel and work in a global company, it's a very humbling experience, because you are exposed to your strengths and also your blind spots, your strengths, your weaknesses, everything comes to you and then you feel that diversity is not always about representation. It's about respect and inclusion is moving from tokenism to listening. That is what I felt, you know, adapting various voices to your workplace, working in unison, trying to empathize with people from different cultures, different streams, different departments, all that really broadened my horizon. So that was something which I learned. Michael Hingson ** 19:30 So what was the culture like, in terms of since you were at a global company, as it were, how was it different when you were dealing with Sweden, as opposed to when you were dealing with India. Shabnam Asthana ** 19:45 In India, we don't have diversity as a choice. In India, we are served diversity on a platter because you are born with being diverse. You have. Are numerous religions, you have culture. So we are adaptable people in that sense. But strangely enough, it's a paradox. If I would tell you that inclusion is still a work in progress. Inclusion isn't automatic. It doesn't come to you like that. You have to work for it. Now there is a big change, but I'm talking of the days, way back in the 90s when women in boardrooms were a novelty. So sometimes it was just purely for ornamental value. Sad to say that. But gradually you had to open up, you have to open the doors, and you have to say, look, we are here for a reason. And please listen to our voices too. And that's how we started. I started sort of, I remember once when I was moving in India. I mean, not in Sweden, but once when I was in India, and I was in a strategic board meeting. I was the only woman in the room, and the people were sort of, I could sense the expressions. People were curious, people were dismissing. People were sort of, you know, not sort of prepared to take or listen to me, that was a little bit of a setback. But then gradually, when I started moving abroad, and I started seeing more women, and then gradually, when I was moving so were the others, and they too saw the kind of change that was happening. And so it was pretty difficult in India, initially, if I were to be very honest, Sweden was more inclusive. I could see a lot of women in the workforce. And gradually, since we were sort of interacting with each other, we absorbed each other's cultures and values, and the company became very, very inclusive. So it was a pleasure to work there. Michael Hingson ** 22:08 Okay, so in a sense, there were, there are parts of Sweden that made you happier than what you were in the East initially experiencing in India. Shabnam Asthana ** 22:19 Absolutely, absolutely, and I have no hesitation in saying that, because they were welcoming. They were welcoming. And the not necessarily my company, but any company in India, the representation of women, especially in PR, was very, very limited. Now we have evolved, and it's a world of difference, and I'm so happy to see that. Michael Hingson ** 22:48 How about you, may or may not have a lot of expertise in this, but how about if we're going to talk about inclusion and so on, people with disabilities, both in India and in Sweden and so on and again. I don't know whether you really had much experience or exposure to that. I Shabnam Asthana ** 23:06 do. I did have my share of exposure, maybe not extensive, but yes, I do. I remember there's this one incident I'd like to talk to you about. It was in Paris. I was in a conference, and there was a deaf girl in the conference room. I could see people making presentations and knowing fully well, because we had the list of participants, and we had their intros, their introductions with us, my team. And you know, of course, I headed that team. We made a special endeavor to include sign in our presentation. And she was so happy because she said, you know, she came to me and she expressed to me that although I have participated so many times in meetings, and especially corporate meetings, I am so happy to see. It was the first time that I felt I was seen and I was not just a presence. So she was very happy with the kind of, you know, preparation that we did for her especially. So I believe it's very nice if people learn to respect each other and learn to believe that not everybody is similar. You may have so many strengths which I don't have. I do not see any physical disability as a handicap. I'm very, very sure about that, I do not see anybody who appears different or who doesn't have the same listening capacity, hearing capacity, to be different from me. They have their own strengths. So I truly believe that, you know, disability. In that sense, is something which does not put a person in the back seat. How. Michael Hingson ** 25:09 How was that attitude received? Well, both at the company, when you were when you were in the room with her, and you were signing and so on. How did other people receive that? And how was that kind of attitude received initially in India? Shabnam Asthana ** 25:29 Well, to be very honest, Michael, it wasn't something that is the done thing. People do not accept that. They are like, well, it's a general presentation. We really don't have to make specific I do remember a person who came up to me and said, Shabnam, why did you make a very specific presentation? It was a very general presentation by you doing that, you have set a precedent for others to sort of make them feel small, you know. So he took it in a very negative way. Said, you've made us feel very small. I said, no, please do not look at it that way. It is something where we have made her feel a part of us. It is not trying to belittle anybody, trying not to, you know, get a an edge over others. All of us are the same. It's just that I made it a little easier for her. That's what I just told him, and probably he did, walk away with a smile. I don't know whether it was a sarcastic one or whether it was a smile of acceptance, but then I got my Michael Hingson ** 26:38 point. I took was this was this in Sweden or India. This was in Paris. In Paris, okay, yes, Shabnam Asthana ** 26:46 okay, this was a conference, which was Michael Hingson ** 26:49 she said that, right? Well, you know, the reality is that's all part of the inclusive mindset and the inclusion mindset, and it is so true that most people don't tend to realize it Yes. So I hear what you're saying, Shabnam Asthana ** 27:10 yes, and realization and sort of acceptance has evolved. People are more accepting. People are more flexible. You know, the rigidity earlier, people were very rigid. Now there is a lot of flexibility. I believe that, right? Michael Hingson ** 27:32 Well, I think it's better. I'm I think there are still all too many people who tend not to really have an overly inclusive mindset. And it is, it is something that that will be with us for a while, and hopefully over time, people will become more open and realize the value of inclusion. In this country, we have, well and around the world, we have a significant number of people who have these so called physical disabilities, and the reality is that the disability is more caused by inaction mostly than it is by real action. Shabnam Asthana ** 28:12 Absolutely yes. And I also seriously believe that diversity enriches the outcomes. I have some I have practical experience, and I've seen that. So inclusion enriches outcomes in many ways, right? Michael Hingson ** 28:35 How has all of your traveling and all of your exposure in various places around the world. How has that tended to shape your understanding of diversity and inclusion? Shabnam Asthana ** 28:50 Okay, yes, that's a very interesting question. I have seen that challenges are real, biases, stereotypes and expectations that women need to prove themselves twice as much also exists in many, many parts of the world. So they have been. I mean, there have been certain cultures, certain countries, which are very easy to breeze through when you are at work meetings or you're talking to people. But there are certain countries in the let's say in the Middle East, the Far East, which are still not very open to, you know, women taking on lead roles, women strategizing, women talking things that would influence decisions. So sometimes there's also a word I'd like to put in here that sometimes it is not country specific. Specific. It is very individual, specific. So there, like you said, you know, there are certain mindsets which still exist. There are people who may be residing in countries that are very open and very receptive, but their own mindset is limiting. And it is a mindset which is closed, it is rigid. So that stops and that prevents any inclusion. You know that, if I were to put it that way, so I would say it's not merely, not always country specific. Yes, individuals have to evolve themselves and change their mindsets. So it's sometimes I've seen it's countries are good, but some individuals are rigid. I've seen some individuals that are good, but the countries that are rigid. So it sort of works both ways. Michael Hingson ** 30:54 And it's not just about women, it is about anybody who is different. Yes, then the so called norm, whatever that happens to be, absolutely Shabnam Asthana ** 31:03 inclusion is not limited to women. So again, I'd like to clarify that it's inclusion is a broad spectrum. So yes, of course, we are a small part of it. But yes, Michael Hingson ** 31:17 you have written a book, yes, romancing your career and and also you've done a lot of mentoring, obviously, and so on. But what do you mean when you talk about women? And I would say anybody who's different need to define success on their own terms. Tell me more about that. Shabnam Asthana ** 31:41 So women, or anybody, let's not be very specific about women, because then it would be detracting from the main subject of inclusion. Anybody who wants to be heard has to believe in one thing, that silence is not the answer. Courage is so you have to move from silence to courage. Try and portray your point of view. Speak to people if they listen to you good enough if they don't, it's not as if the doors are closed. If the doors are closed, you can surely open a window for yourself, and it works. So just being silent or being very subdued or being very you know sad that your point of view, or being upset, for that matter, that your point of view is not being listened to is not the answer. You have to show courage. You have to do your homework, right? Remember that value is something that takes anybody places. It's not about being a woman, it's not about being any nationality, any ethnicity. It's just that you have to carry value in whatever you are trying to bring to the table. Once people see value, they will forget whether you are of XYZ nationality or you're an Indian, or you are of any other you're any other gender, if I may say that. So it's the value that a person should work towards. Everybody should work towards bringing value to the table. That is what will get you noticed, and that is what will see you going places. Yes, it did. Michael Hingson ** 33:43 And again, I think one of the important things is that, from my standpoint, and I keep pushing it, but it's there is that it also is the same for for so called disabilities. One of the things that I maintain is that everybody on the planet has a disability, and the disability for most people is that you depend on light in order to function, and when suddenly light disappears, you have a big problem, unless you have a way to get light back on demand. But we are. We're not ready to accept that as a as a race yet, so people think that's cute, but, but they're not ready to accept it. It doesn't change the fact that it's really there. But the fact of the matter is that that people do have to speak up for themselves, and there are ways to do that, and there are ways not to do that. It isn't a matter of being obnoxious and demanding, but it is all about, as you expressed it earlier, being confident and showing that confidence and showing your knowledge and showing what you bring to the table absolutely well. You've been involved in PR for a long time, and I'm sure that you would agree, one of the main tools that people in the public relations world and elsewhere have to offer is storytelling. I believe the best salespeople are people who can tell stories and can help relate. But my question would be to ask you, how can storytelling bridge communities and bring people together? Shabnam Asthana ** 35:31 Storytelling is a very, very strong element of PR. Storytelling humanizes everything. It brings in a lot of connection. So people connect automatically, if your storytelling is good, so like I keep telling all my juniors as well or new interns who join in corporate fact sheets can be informative. They can give you facts, but storytelling will transform everything. So you move from information to transformation. Storytelling is the human angle to everything. All of us love you a human angle. For example, let me tell you I was in a meeting which was quite a few years ago, and the CEO of the company was telling me they've done a lot of work in corporate social responsibility. So he wanted to tell me about all the expenditure that they've done. They've uplifted so many schools. They've done so much. They've spent so much on education, they've spent so much on water, on sanitation and so many other things, which has improved the lives of the citizens there. I told him, could you tell me one story of one life that has been affected. So he was at a loss because he had not he did not dive deep into that. He didn't look beyond the numbers and the figures. So his HR person stepped in and he told me a story of a girl. She was an Indian girl. Her name was Aarti. How they had transformed her life, and she had moved on to studying in Howard, and she was being employed in one of the top American companies there. So that was something, a story of transformation. So that is so you know, I believe the power of storytelling and that connected everybody, even his own people, were not aware. The employees were not aware. They were just sort of working like robos, putting in their number of hours, doing their work, not going beyond their call of duty to actually see what was happening to the effects, the efforts of their activities. This was something which we brought out in all their corporate brochures, in all the marketing that they were doing, in all the marketing collaterals that worked wonders. We had lots of inquiries for people who wanted to support them in many ways. We had an interview of the girl, and it was something which was very we added a human angle. So like I said, storytelling humanizes the entire concept, and that is something which connects people. So, yes, it's very Michael Hingson ** 38:42 interesting. Did he learn to tell stories after that? Shabnam Asthana ** 38:46 I believe so, because he was so he was really taken aback. And he said, Wow, I never really thought about it. And you told me, You changed my perspective. You made me see it differently. And if I were to say we got a good retainership After that, because he was very happy and my contract was renewed. So that was something which sort of affected the contract too well. Speaker 1 ** 39:19 The reality is that when you tell a story, it is telling stories is something that most everyone can truly relate to, and when you tell a story that someone listens to or hears and reacts to it, Michael Hingson ** 39:40 there's nothing better than that, and it's really important that that kind of thing happens. So I'm really glad to hear that you like storytelling. I think it is so important that we have that 39:51 absolutely, Michael Hingson ** 39:54 yeah, it's so important to be able to do that. Well, you've told us a little bit. About inclusion and diversity and so on in India and in other countries. Do you think it's changing, both in India and in other countries? And how is it changing? Shabnam Asthana ** 40:15 It is changing. If you go back to the 90s to the present day, you will see that people have become I think it has a lot to do with travel. It has a lot to do with interaction. So people are interacting with each other. I speak to you, you speak to me, you tell me something about you, and I say, Hey, is that worth listening to? Yes, it is. And I try and change my mindset. I become more receptive. I try and tell you my viewpoint. You listen to me. You hear me out. So I have seen companies that have moved beyond check boxes of how many women, how many people with disabilities they've, you know, inducted in the employment stream, in their jobs, and it's become more of the CEOs or the top management asking their people, how many voices have we listened to? How many decisions have been made by these people whom we have taken in. You know, how have we evolved as a company? So that has made me see in boardrooms, in various meetings, that the top management is also very aware of what kind of decisions, what policies, are being framed with people as a diverse group. And it's not funneled or restricted to just the top few. It trickles down and it goes to the people they've hired from diverse groups, and it becomes like a voice of the company. So I have seen that changing, and I have seen that diversion is now diversity sort of is moving more towards the corporate DNA. So it is not a demand anymore. It's not a checkbox. It's more as if it is flowing in naturally, and people are more aware of it. So that's what I've seen. Michael Hingson ** 42:32 It's a mindset, it is, and people are starting to adopt that. How is it changing in India? You said that in India there's a lot more diversity. But you said inclusion isn't so much there. Shabnam Asthana ** 42:46 Yes, it is in see in India, it was globally, I saw that diversion was backed by policies, and there was a certain framework which had a set of rules. It had a set of code of conduct. But in India, it was more based on individual goodwill. So we had people, if the CEO or the top management was pro diversity, it would happen automatically, because the ones at the junior level had no choice. They had to naturally comply. But here now in India, it's become more organized, more structured, and people, there are departments now which look into issues of diversity and inclusion, and they try and make the organization work towards that. So they are big companies. They are small companies in India, all are trying to absorb this in the corporate DNA, like I said. So people are conscious. And there are conscious. There are seminars which are happening. People are being spoken to. There is workplace, you know sensitization that follows. People talk about it, people discuss it, and there is a lot of exchange of dialog which happens. So people talk, people learn, people adapt Michael Hingson ** 44:15 well. So you you work for the Swedish company, for you said, like, 12 years, and then what did you Shabnam Asthana ** 44:25 do after that? I moved on to, you know, start my own company, which was empowered solutions. That's my brain child, and it's a communications PR and communications company, and I, sort of, I'm the founder director for that the Empowered solutions is my company now, and we are completed. It was set up in 2005 October. Michael Hingson ** 44:50 2005 what? What made you decide to leave the bigger corporate world and take on all of the challenges of entrepreneur? Leadership and starting your own company, because that certainly is a major change. Shabnam Asthana ** 45:04 It is I was in the top management. I had a set job, I had the name, the recognition, everything that comes with that. But somehow there was still that kind of, I would say, curiosity, to experiment and to try on newer things. And I am a person who gets a little bored of stagnation, and I had almost reached the height of my career in these companies, and there was nothing more I could do unless I bought over those companies and sort of, you know, became the president and the chairman, which I would I could not do. So I said, Why don't I sort of diversify and take all this learning that I have, all the goodwill that I've earned over the years with the people that have been my clients, with my colleagues, with the people I've met in my business conferences. Why don't I take all this and try and set up something on of my own where I am at liberty to do whatever I want to do without the time pressure, you know, without a pressure of morning meetings and you know, things which have to be a nine to five kind of a role here, I do agree that it is a 24 by seven job that I'm doing at present, because I'm always available. And, you know, I believe that accessibility is very important if you have to be successful, you can't sort of close off and say, no, no, I'm, you know, if somebody needs you, you can't say, Okay, I'm just closing my door and my office. So that was the the, you know, the excitement of experimenting once again and seeing, of course, entrepreneurship is something which is very exciting, and that was something which I wanted to experiment and try and see how I could change that. And, you know, get it into my career. And, you know, get off the normal nine to five job. So that's what I did. I wanted to experiment. Michael Hingson ** 47:21 So tell me a little bit more about if you would what your company does and how you serve clients and so on. And where are your clients? Shabnam Asthana ** 47:29 Okay, so basically, it is a PR and communications company, and we have clients now globally. I have primarily in India, because that is where my office is. But I do have clients in Europe, in us, in Canada, where I am currently. And yes, it is more about public relations and communications, and that's what we do. So it's essentially a diversification of I have also taken on writing as part of one of my services. So I do a lot of book writing. I take on people who want to be either who want to tell a story, and who don't have either the time or the expertise. I write for them. I ghost right for them. We also do events. So we have done a couple of events globally, not on a very large scale, but yes, we do have. So it's events, it's public relations, it's communications, it's training, and it's writing. Michael Hingson ** 48:39 So that's it, right? Well, so you have written one book. Are you looking at doing any more books? By any chance? Shabnam Asthana ** 48:49 Now I have ghost written about 16 books. So they're all ghost written and under a contract where I don't disclose the names of the books. But yes, I've authored three books, and the first one was romancing your career, a very interesting and fascinating book. That was my first book, and later on, I went on to do two biographies, and yes, I'm doing a couple more correctly, where they are being authored by me. So I'm writing the biographies. Michael Hingson ** 49:26 So today, in all the work that that you're, that you're doing, do you, do you get involved with many international projects? Shabnam Asthana ** 49:39 Yes, not many, but yes, we are doing a slow and steady progress there. And we do, I do, keep getting a lot of inquiries. And I must say that I have got a couple of inquiries recently which are very interesting. And I. Working on those. Maybe it's a little premature to tell you that, but yes, there is one big project that has come my way, and we're planning to expand from there. Well. Michael Hingson ** 50:12 So you have experienced a lot of different countries and so on, and India is certainly becoming more of an economic and a world power in the in terms of what all is happening. Do you think that that the attitudes of India and the way India deals with inclusion and so on is making a difference, and Will that continue to happen? Shabnam Asthana ** 50:43 Well, Michael, it will, because we are moving out of our country, and we have, you know, taken spots in so many other countries. So if we want to be included, it's high time we practice the same. So we have to welcome other cultures. We have to welcome other nationalities if we hope to be welcomed in other countries as well. So that is something which has really influenced the thinking of people, because we can't be rigid. We can't be, you know, thinking in our own way. And say, Well, let's not do it, because we have to welcome other countries if we have to work and move out of India. So yes, Michael, I will say that very hard. It's very heartening to note that it is changing, and it will continue to do so. In fact, you know, India is moving from being seen as an outsourced to something which people sort of welcome with open arms. But then, yes, things are changing. There are things which are happening which may limit the movement of people, or it may increase the flow of people. But then, well, we have to adopt, adapt and move on. Michael Hingson ** 52:04 Yeah, well, there's always going to be some of that which makes which makes sense. Yes. What kind of advice would you give to someone, especially young professionals, women and others who are different? What advice would you give to someone who may feel excluded or undervalued in their careers. Shabnam Asthana ** 52:25 The best thing that I would like to say is that if you hear a no, don't let it bog you down, because be sure that tomorrow you will hear a better yes, it will be something that is shaping the way for your future. So you must not let any naysayers or any projects that fail bog you down just because you're a woman or because you're different or anybody you know. You have to show your courage, you have to be resilient, and you have to lean on your inner strengths. The best magic, the you know, time tried and tested formula, which I would advocate, is leaning on your inner strengths. All of us have a lot of strengths, believe you me, we may not know it, but all of us have a lot of strengths. So when you see a situation that is not to your liking, just lean on your inner strengths. Take a deep breath and say today's no will be a yes tomorrow, and that is the courage that you must move ahead with anybody, irrespective of whether you are a woman or you are any person who is stepping into the corporate world. Just value yourself. Always Be confident. Wear the confidence. And that's the best accessory that you would have. Michael Hingson ** 54:03 How would you define unstoppable mindset? Shabnam Asthana ** 54:08 Unstoppable mindset is not something which is something which rises beyond limitations. And by limitations, I don't mean only individual limitations. It may be the limitations of the other people. Let that not define your limitation. Your the term unstoppable, to me, is a term which shows resilience. It shows something where you can fumble. It's very natural to fumble, to stumble, to fall down, to face challenges, to face, you know, rejections. It's very normal, but unstoppable is. Being able to get up again with greater strength, with a better mindset, more courageously, and more importantly, with an open heart, which says, Yes, I will do it. You cannot say you cannot. You know, sort of put me down in any way. My courage is there, my inner strength is there. I am unstoppable in that sense. Michael Hingson ** 55:28 I think the most important thing that you just said is that you have to do it with an open heart. I think everyone should do that you may learn that your idea may not be the best solution, and it might be the best solution, but you won't know that until you truly have an open heart and an open mind. Shabnam Asthana ** 55:46 Truly, yes, absolutely, an open heart, I would say, is really, really key. It's very, very important. Michael Hingson ** 55:56 What keeps you motivated as you continue to advocate for adverse diversity and inclusion and equity and so on. Shabnam Asthana ** 56:04 What keeps me motivated? Michael, are many things, but then what i If I could just zero down on a couple of them, I would say that what keeps me motivated is the trust that people had in me, and, you know, to give me certain jobs, roles, the trust that they had to sort of say, okay, you can do it. And then I did it. And the people, what keeps me motivated is something also very nice, which somebody came up to me at a recent conference in Germany, and they said, you know, the reason why I didn't give up is because of you. That is me, because I motivated them to do something, and that was your motivation for me, I was like, Okay, if I can motivate you, I too can stay motivated for a long, long time to come. And that's something which I do. I try to inspire and I try to inspire myself as well in the process. Michael Hingson ** 57:07 Well, if you could leave everyone who is involved in hearing this podcast and so on today, if you could leave them with one powerful message about embracing diversity and so on. What would that message be? Shabnam Asthana ** 57:23 Well, that message would be that whatever is happening today, if you feel that there is even a little bit of acceptability, that is because somebody else has worked towards it, so now it is your chance to give it back to society, to keep working, to keep opening doors for people, for a better tomorrow, for a more inclusive tomorrow. And diversity doesn't and inclusivity doesn't happen overnight. You have to work towards it. There is a it's the whole process, and you have to work towards it relentlessly. Continue working. Somebody else has worked. They have pushed you forward. They have done a whole lot of things. Now it's your turn to do your bit and ensure that the people who are coming after you come to a better tomorrow, a more inclusive tomorrow. Michael Hingson ** 58:27 It also, by definition, means that we need to learn how to work with each other and support and help each other, Shabnam Asthana ** 58:34 of course. And empathy. Empathy is the key, empathy, sensitivity, all that. Michael Hingson ** 58:41 So if people would like to reach out to you, maybe use your company services or talk with you. How can they do that? Shabnam Asthana ** 58:48 They could contact me. You can write to me at my email id, which is Shabnam, S, H, A, B n, a m, at empowered solutions, my company name, E, M, P, O, W, E, R, E, D, S, o, l, U, T, I O, N, S, dot, I n, that's my name. The emails will reach me. That's an inbox which you know I'm monitoring myself, and be sure that you will receive a reply. I'd love to hear from people, and I love to communicate. I love to write back. So very welcome. Michael Hingson ** 59:30 And I would ask, just sort of on principle, if anyone reaches out to Shabnam, who has heard this podcast, please mention that, just so that she knows where you where you discovered her, and I think that would be a good thing to do. Well, I want to thank you for being here. I think this has been absolutely wonderful. I think we've learned a lot I have and I value the insights that you bring. So I hope that other people will take the. Those same insights away, there's there's a lot to learn here, and there's a lot to gain from this. So I want to thank you again for being here, and maybe we'll have to do this again in the future. Shabnam Asthana ** 1:00:12 I'd love to do that. And Michael, I'd like to thank you for hosting this wonderful, wonderful show. I have seen your episodes. They are brilliant, and it's really nice. I was so looking forward to this. It's been an absolute pleasure to interact with you, and I hope that we'll be doing more of this in the near future. Michael Hingson ** 1:00:35 Well, we'll have to explore that, and I want to thank all of you who are out there watching and listening. I want to thank you for being here. We appreciate you very much. Wherever you're listening or watching. Please give us a five star review. We value that very highly. We really would appreciate you saying good things about us. A five star review is always a wonderful thing. I'd like to hear from you as well. I'd like to hear what your thoughts are about this podcast. Feel free to email me at Michael M, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, i, b, e.com, love to hear from you. Love to hear your thoughts. We value them, and we take all the comments that we get from people very much to heart. So we appreciate you doing that. And if you know anyone else who ought to be a guest on our podcast, who you think ought to be a guest, let us know. Introduce us. Shabnam, that's also true for you, please. If you know anyone who ought to be a guest, we'd love to meet people and have them come on the podcast and also help us show how we're all more unstoppable than we think we are, or we thought we were. So once again, though, I want to thank you for being here. Shabnam, this has been wonderful. Thank you very much. Shabnam Asthana ** 1:01:51 Thank you, Michael, thank you to all the listeners. **Michael Hingson ** 1:01:59 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.
Traditionally, a college degree has been seen as a ticket to a secure future.But not today. Thanks to soaring tuition costs and weighty student loans, many people are questioning the value of college. A 2025 Pew Research poll found that only one in four U.S. adults says it's “extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree” to get a well-paying job. And many young Americans — including Black, Latino and Indigenous students — contend they can build solid careers without seeking further education. In a 2025 survey by New America, a majority of young Americans agreed “there are lots of well-paying, stable jobs that people can find with only a high school diploma or GED.”So is college still worth it — especially when it comes to low-income or first-generation students? Is college still worth it? MPR News' North Star Journey Live project teamed up with Sahan Journal Community Conversations in October to host a panel discussing the pros and cons of higher education. They also discussed other burgeoning post-secondary options, like trade schools, apprenticeships and becoming an entrepreneur. Guests: Frida Torres Macal is the founder of That Social Invite, an independent social media marketer focused on helping women-owned businesses and professionals grow.Marquan Harper is a sophomore at the University of St. Thomas, where he is double majoring in Digital Media Arts and Marketing Management. He's also the founder of Ador Hospitality, a Midwest-based hospitality group dedicated to enhancing the nightlife experience for young adults aged 18-24. Jalayah Johnson is enrolled at the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest as a second-year glazer apprentice for the Empire House.Ali Osman is a high school counselor at South High School in Minneapolis. Jessica Yang is the senior implementation manager at the Get Ready GEAR UP Minnesota program administered through the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.
Traditionally, a college degree has been seen as a ticket to a secure future.But not today. Thanks to soaring tuition costs and weighty student loans, many people are questioning the value of college. A 2025 Pew Research poll found that only one in four U.S. adults says it's “extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree” to get a well-paying job. And many young Americans — including Black, Latino and Indigenous students — contend they can build solid careers without seeking further education. In a 2025 survey by New America, a majority of young Americans agreed “there are lots of well-paying, stable jobs that people can find with only a high school diploma or GED.”So is college still worth it — especially when it comes to low-income or first-generation students? Is college still worth it? MPR News' North Star Journey Live project teamed up with Sahan Journal Community Conversations in October to host a panel discussing the pros and cons of higher education. They also discussed other burgeoning post-secondary options, like trade schools, apprenticeships and becoming an entrepreneur. Guests: Frida Torres Macal is the founder of That Social Invite, an independent social media marketer focused on helping women-owned businesses and professionals grow.Marquan Harper is a sophomore at the University of St. Thomas, where he is double majoring in Digital Media Arts and Marketing Management. He's also the founder of Ador Hospitality, a Midwest-based hospitality group dedicated to enhancing the nightlife experience for young adults aged 18-24. Jalayah Johnson is enrolled at the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest as a second-year glazer apprentice for the Empire House.Ali Osman is a high school counselor at South High School in Minneapolis. Jessica Yang is the senior implementation manager at the Get Ready GEAR UP Minnesota program administered through the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.
In dieser Episode spreche ich mit Marianne Hochstrasser.Marianne ist Coach, Trainerin, langjährige Vertriebsexpertin und Gründerin von Hochstrasser Consulting – success & joy. Nach über 15 Jahren im internationalen Sales- & Marketing-Management begleitet sie heute Menschen und Teams dabei, ihre Verkaufskompetenz aus einer neuen Tiefe heraus zu entwickeln.Und was wäre, wenn Verkaufen keine Technik, sondern ein Weg zu dir selbst wäre?Wenn es weniger um Taktik und mehr um innere Souveränität ginge?In dieser Folge sprechen wir darüber:Warum sich Verkaufen grundlegend verändert hat.Wie du innere Stärke zur Basis deines Verkaufserfolgs machst und warum persönliches Wachstum im Verkauf untrennbar mit dem Businesserfolg verbunden ist.Ausserdem stellt Marianne ihr aktuelles Buch vor:„Entfessle dein Potenzial! Mit innerer Souveränität erfolgreich verkaufen.“ - Ein Plädoyer für ein neues Verkaufsverständnis.Folge Marianne, um mehr von ihrer wertvollen Arbeit und ihrer inspirierenden Reise zu erfahren:Webseite: http://www.successandjoy.chLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-hochstrasser/-----Mehr über Christina & ihre Arbeit findest du hier:
Nestlé steht vor mehreren Herausforderungen: Während die Marke schon länger von Konsumentenkreisen kritisiert wird, erhöht sich nach einem Knall in der Führungsetage auch der Druck von Investorenseite. Wie geht man mit einer solchen Krise auf mehreren Ebenen um? Das erzählt Frank Hannich der Moderatorin Sina Albisetti in dieser Folge von «Durchblick». Er ist Professor am Institut für Marketing Management der ZHAW School of Management and Law.
In this milestone episode of The Time Management Podcast, we're talking about four types of procrastination and how to recognise which one is keeping you stuck. Discover how hidden habits, unconscious beliefs, and past experiences shape your productivity, and learn practical strategies to reclaim your time, boost success, and finally break free from procrastination patterns. It's your time to have the success you've been waiting for. 7 Key Takeaways: Celebrating 100 episodes and embracing the reality of imperfection in productivity. The four procrastinator types A, B, C, D and how to recognise your own patterns. How unconscious beliefs and stories keep you stuck in procrastination cycles. Why claiming your own success does not limit others, it's waiting for you. The power of time audits to uncover hidden productivity leaks. How past trauma may trigger procrastination behaviours. Exciting announcements: exclusive offers, challenges, and the podcast's return in October 2025 with a new mission. Timestamps: * 00:03 – Celebrating 100 episodes and embracing imperfection * 02:32 – Identifying procrastination types to boost productivity * 04:52 – Claiming success and understanding abundance * 07:13 – The four types of procrastinators (A, B, C, D) * 09:58 – Unconscious beliefs holding back change * 12:31 – Time audits and productivity breakthroughs * 15:01 – Procrastination, trauma, and your productivity * 17:16 – Closing reflections and podcast relaunch in October 2025 “At the end of your life your scorecard will be what you did versus what you let fear stop you from doing” “Your brain makes the comfort zone feel so safe that you don't see the prison walls.” “If you don't claim your success, no one else can claim it, it goes unclaimed.” Abigail Barnes ...................... ⭐️ Links for the Episode: ➜ All the offers announced in the episode: https://bit.ly/EP100OFFERS - Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com - Free chapter: https://bit.ly/downloadfreechapternow - Podcast Updates: https://bit.ly/PODCASTEMAILS ⭐️SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining ...................... ABOUT ABIGAIL BARNES: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 5 million people how to achieve Productive Wellbeing using The 888 Formula by 2030. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare ...................... ⭐️ ABIGAIL BARNES SOCIAL MEDIA: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamabigailbarnes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamabigailbarnes Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability
Parapsychology's Influence in Marketing with Mark Tadajewski Mark Tadajewski is the Editor of the Journal of Marketing Management. He is an honorary professor of marketing at the University of York in the UK, as well as the Open University, and Royal Holloway, University of London. Here he points out that the history of advertising and … Continue reading "Parapsychology's Influence in Marketing with Mark Tadajewski"
In this episode of The Time Management Podcast, we meet Ru-tee Block, a menopause fitness coach who shares how the Find Your Missing Hour 7-day Time Audit Challenge completely transformed her approach to time management, energy management, and self-care. Living in Costa Rica with the unpredictability of sloths crossing the road, power outages, and life in the jungle, Ru-tee discovered how a personalised Time Management plan that accounted for her ADHD and dyslexia could create freedom, balance and joy. She also opens up about the unique challenges of menopause, why multitasking is draining, and how discipline in time management became the ultimate act of self-love. “Small changes made a big difference. The Find Your Missing Hour 7-Day Challenge has been a total game changer for me.” Ru-tee Block What you'll learn in this episode: How a 7-day time audit revealed leaks in Ru-tee's schedule Shifting from vague to-do lists to structured, scheduled days Why creating buffer time is essential for life's unpredictability How multitasking drains energy during menopause Tailoring productivity systems to suit ADHD and dyslexia Why time audits are acts of self-love and discipline The myth of “no time” and how it damages health and joy 5 Ways the Find Your Missing Hour 7-Day Challenge made Ru-tee more Productive: From lists to structure – She stopped relying on vague to-do lists and began scheduling tasks into specific time slots. Master planning – A weekly “master sheet” kept everything in one place and made priorities clear. Buffer time built in – Adding extra time for travel and delays meant fewer disruptions and less stress. Content batching – Creating and editing on set days made social media posting consistent and effortless. No more abandoned tasks – Missed items were rescheduled instead of forgotten, preventing backlogs and overwhelm. ⏰ It's your Time! About Ru-tee Block: Ru-tee Block is a powerhouse of health and wellness with over 30 years in fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle coaching. Based in the lush jungles of Costa Rica, she helps people, especially women navigating the rollercoaster of menopause, ditch the overwhelm, balance their hormones, reduce inches and body fat, and feel fabulous in their bodies again. She's not your average coach, Ru-tee blends her expertise as a certified personal trainer, nutrition and lifestyle coach, kinesiologist, and sound healer into a truly holistic approach. From sweaty functional workouts to cacao ceremonies and sound healing sessions, she knows how to shift energy on every level, body, mind, and soul. Through her signature 8-week Feel Fabulous with Ru-tee program and transformational retreats in Costa Rica, Ru-tee's mission is simple: to help you feel stronger, lighter, more confident, and ready to sparkle at any age. Links for Ru-tee: Website www.Ru-tee.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruteefitnesscoach/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ruthrutee.block Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@ruteefitnesscoach 8 Week Feel Fabulous with Ru-tee (Starts 25 October) https://bit.ly/FEELFABULOUS_OCT …………………………………………………………………. ⭐️ LINKS FOR ABIGAIL || SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING: - Find Your Missing Hour (7 Day Challenge) ➜ https://bit.ly/FYMHWAITLIST - Buy the book: https://bit.ly/TMFEAPBOOK - Free chapter: https://bit.ly/downloadfreechapternow - Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com ⭐️SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successbydesigntraining About Abigail Barnes: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 5 million people how to achieve Productive Wellbeing using The 888 Formula by 2030. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare ……………………….. ⭐️ ABIGAIL BARNES SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: instagram.com/iamabigailbarnes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamabigailbarnes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamabigailbarnes Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability.
In this episode of The Time Management Podcast, Organisational Psychologist Sonia Jewers shares how attending my keynote Master Your Time, Boost Your Success and investing in the Find Your Missing Hour 7-Day Challenge transformed her time management. Sonia went from unstructured “busyness” to living with clarity, intention, and focus, reclaiming an extra hour a day with one simple change. Discover the neuroscience-backed strategies, micro-habits, and mindset shifts that helped her: - Uncover the illusion of busyness and focus on priorities - Apply the 888 Formula for balance between sleep, work, and personal time - Use environmental cues and time blocking to sustain productivity - Remove distractions, quit Instagram, and schedule strategic recovery - Align actions with core values for greater fulfilment and efficiency If you're feeling constantly busy but not making real progress, then this episode will inspire you to take action starting with a simple one-day time audit. “Your talk was transformational. When you spoke about the illusion of busyness… I had a little lightbulb moment. I thought: I know someone who that might relate to… me!” Sonia Jewers ⏰ It's your Time! About Sonia Jewers I coach leaders in high-demand industries who are managing career ambition and personal responsibility. They often come to me at a tipping point: stretched thin, navigating complex challenges, and unsure how to keep performing without losing themselves in the process. Most don't have time for vague advice. They don't want short term 'hacks'. They want practical, evidence-based support that respects their intelligence and works in the real world. Quickly and sustainably. With 20+ years experience in organisational psychology and executive coaching, Sonia brings a grounded, science-informed approach to help leaders regain clarity, energy and focus. Her client's work in sectors like biotech, finance, tech, and insurance industries, where performance is high-stakes and emotional bandwidth is often low. It's not about pausing your ambition. It's about learning how to lead in a way that feels more focused, sustainable and human. Links for Sonia: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/soniajewers Website: www.soniajewers.com …………………………………………………………………. ⭐️ LINKS FOR ABIGAIL || SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING: - Buy the book: https://bit.ly/TMFEAPBOOK - Free chapter: https://bit.ly/downloadfreechapternow - Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com - Work with Abigail: https://bit.ly/NEWENQUIRY - Find Your Missing Hour 7 Day Challenge ➜ https://bit.ly/FYMHWAITLIST ⭐️ SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successbydesigntraining ABOUT ABIGAIL BARNES: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 5 million people how to achieve Productive Wellbeing using The 888 Formula by 2030. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare ……………………….. ⭐️ ABIGAIL BARNES SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: instagram.com/iamabigailbarnes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamabigailbarnes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamabigailbarnes Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability.
In this episode of The Time Management Podcast, we meet entrepreneur Gerard Francis, who was drowning in a river of busyness before attending my keynote training, Master Your Time, Boost Your Success. That talk and the Find Your Missing Hour 7-day Challenge he invested in became the turning point that radically improved his time management, personal productivity, and work-life balance. Discover how small, consistent changes helped Gerard reclaim control of his schedule, transform his leadership, deepen family connections, and achieve more with less stress. "Your talk was transformational. I was in a fast-flowing river with no control, now I'm starting to take the reins." Gerard Francis Key takeaways from the Episode: Why most entrepreneurs confuse motion with progress—and how Gerard broke that cycle How the 7-day time audit revealed hidden time and helped restructure his day The impact of implementing the 888 formula (8 hours work, 8 hours sleep, 8 hours for you) Simple tools to reduce distractions, including phone habits and energy rituals The ripple effect of slowing down on leadership, family dynamics, and productivity How Gerard redefined success—without sacrificing performance or growth Tips to personalise your own time audit without overcomplicating the process Testimonial: "The journey that started at your talk inspired me to think, 'I've got to change things.' It lit a fire that's still burning." "It's not just been me, my family, my colleagues, even my kids have all felt the positive ripple effects from the changes I made after your talk." "I feel so much better. I'm more present at home, more focused at work, and the quality of what I'm doing has improved across the board." "I've actually got more roles on now than before but I'm calmer, more effective, and producing better-quality work since slowing down." About Gerard Francis Gerard Francis is the Lighthouse Keeper (Managing Director) of the Colchester based professional services recruitment agency; Lighthouse Personnel Ltd. A busy, father of three family man, Gerard is an active churchgoer who keeps busy on weekend volunteering as a football coach for his son's football team and with a local youth group. Passionate about helping individuals on their career journey, Gerard can also be found during the week giving job-seeking talks and workshops at schools, charities and other local organisations. Resources & Links: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerardfrancislhp Website: https://lighthousepersonnel.co.uk …………………………………………………………………. ⭐️ LINKS FOR ABIGAIL || SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING: - Find Your Missing Hour Challenge ➜ https://bit.ly/FYMHWAITLIST (on demand version coming soon, join the waitlist to get notified) - Work with Abigail: https://bit.ly/NEWENQUIRY - Subscribe for Podcast Emails: https://bit.ly/PODCASTEMAILS - Useful Links: https://bit.ly/EPISODELINKS ⭐️ SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successbydesigntraining ABOUT ABIGAIL BARNES: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 5 million people how to achieve Productive Wellbeing using The 888 Formula by 2030. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare ……………………….. ⭐️ ABIGAIL BARNES SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: instagram.com/iamabigailbarnes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamabigailbarnes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamabigailbarnes Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability.
In this episode of The Time Management Podcast, we're talking about 5 ways you might be wasting your time every day without realising and what that means over a lifetime. “When you change the way you look at your time, the time you have will change.” Abigail Barnes In this episode we talked about: * We all get the same 24 hours everyday * But we don't have the same circumstances, responsibilities, education, privilege and health * 5 ways you like them might be wasting your time without realising: * 1. Is your time optimised? * 2. Is your time management efficient? * 3. Is your time management draining your energy? * 4. Is your calendar supporting your results * 5. Is your mental chatter sabotaging your success? * Ready to do your Time Audit you'll find links below
In this episode of The Time Management Podcast, we meet Matthew Theijssen to discuss the transformative impact of completing a 7-day time audit inspired by Time Management for Entrepreneurs and Professionals. Matthew shares candidly how, after financial and personal setbacks during the pandemic, a renewed focus on time management helped him reclaim control over his work and life. If you think you don't have time for a time audit, the irony is that's exactly why you need to do one and like Matthew get control of your calendar back. In this episode we talk about: How Matthew discovered the importance of time auditing through Abigail's book His step-by-step process of auditing time and transitioning to digital tools The mindset shift from reactive to proactive time management Lessons learned from batching tasks, avoiding “doom scrolling,” and maximising energy Insights on using time audits in professional and personal settings A motivational message for anyone feeling too busy to stop and reflect ⏰ It's your Time! Matthew Theijssen Between being a Corporate Consultant and Online business owner, Matthew needs to keep his time in check. Not just for his process-driven mind, but also to ensure he doesn't drop the ball on either. With huge goals and dreams on the wall, Matthew has to ensure he keeps a keen eye on his diary to be productive, not busy. Instagram https://www.instagram.com/matthewtheijssen/ ⭐️ Links for the Episode: - Find Your Missing Hour | 7-Day Challenge Join the Waitlist ➜ https://bit.ly/FYMHWAITLIST - Work with Abigail this year, start here: https://bit.ly/NEWENQUIRY - Subscribe for Podcast Emails: https://bit.ly/PODCASTEMAILS - Useful Links: https://bit.ly/EPISODELINKS ………………………….. ⭐️ Buy Time Management for Entrepreneurs & Professionals, by Abigail Barnes - Buy the book: https://bit.ly/TMFEAPBOOK - Free chapter: https://bit.ly/downloadfreechapternow (Available on Amazon Worldwide) ⭐️SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining ABOUT ABIGAIL BARNES: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 5 million people how to achieve Productive Wellbeing using The 888 Formula by 2030. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare ……………………….. ⭐️ ABIGAIL BARNES SOCIAL MEDIA: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamabigailbarnes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamabigailbarnes Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability
In this episode of The Time Management Podcast, we meet Jason Graystone entrepreneur, investor, top-ranked Always Free podcast host, YouTuber with nearly half a million subscribers, and author of the new book Always Free. He shares how he went from a South London council estate to achieving financial freedom by the age of 29. Jason breaks down the three freedoms he believes are available to all of us mental, mobility, and financial and explains how tracking your time, knowing your values, and managing your money wisely can help you design a life that's truly “always free.” 8 Key Highlights from the Episode: Jason's Early Money Mindset: How a childhood on a council estate shaped his lifelong philosophy on money, time, and freedom. The Three Freedoms Framework: Understanding and balancing mental freedom, mobility freedom, and financial freedom. The Financial Freedom Score: A practical formula to measure how much future time your finances can buy. Delegation & Time Optimisation: Why tracking your time and outsourcing low-value tasks is crucial to reclaiming your day. High-Value vs. Low-Value Tasks: How identifying and focusing on high-value, energising work unlocks time, income, and fulfilment. Calculated Risks: Embracing risk as a gateway to personal growth and new opportunities. Purpose & Identity: Why knowing who you are and aligning your actions to that truth is the foundation of a fulfilling life. Living Your Dream Now: Jason's rejection of hustle culture in favour of simplicity, presence, and doing only what energises him. ⏰ It's your Time! About Jason Graystone: Jason helps people achieve true financial independence and live their most inspired life. He has become one of the most influential voices in the world of personal finance, trading, and wealth creation, sharing his journey from a council estate to financial freedom by 29. Achieved through a powerful combination of active income, smart investing, and scalable business systems. He's since gone on to build multiple 7-figure businesses and helped thousands of others pursue true financial independence through his industry-leading education programs. Jason has spoken on some of the world's most respected stages—from TEDx and leading universities to global investment summits and major corporations including the Metropolitan Police. He's also featured in Forbes for his innovative work in trader development, alongside renowned trading psychologist Dr. Brett Steenbarger. Beyond business, Jason is a committed philanthropist, having helped raise nearly half a million pounds for charitable causes. Jason believes that everyone deserves to live an inspired life—free to focus on meaningful work, creativity, and contribution. Resources & Links: ➜ Buy his New Book: Always Free https://www.alwaysfree.com/ Always Free Podcast: https://www.alwaysfreepodcast.com Website: http://www.jasongraystone.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/j_graystone Useful Links: http://learn.tiersoffreedom.com/share …………………………………………………………………. ⭐️ LINKS FOR ABIGAIL || SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING: - Work with Abigail this year, start here: https://bit.ly/NEWENQUIRY - Subscribe for Podcast Emails: https://bit.ly/PODCASTEMAILS - Useful Links: https://bit.ly/EPISODELINKS ⭐️SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successbydesigntraining ABOUT ABIGAIL BARNES: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 5 million people how to achieve Productive Wellbeing using The 888 Formula by 2030. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare ……………………….. ⭐️ ABIGAIL BARNES SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: instagram.com/iamabigailbarnes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamabigailbarnes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamabigailbarnes Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability.
In this episode, we merge two rising frameworks—energy-aware scheduling and human design—to help you master your calendar and improve your cognitive performance. Understand how your unique Human Design type affects your energy patterns, decision-making rhythms, and optimal work cadence. Explore the tools, time blocks, and methods that high performing Entrepreneurs and Professionals are using to get more done—with less overwhelm In this episode, you'll learn: What energy-aware scheduling is and why it's trending in 2025 How your Human Design type influences your energy cycles When to plan deep work, meetings, and rest based on your energy profile How AI tools and wearables can track your rhythms How high performing entrepreneurs and professionals like you are designing their schedules around alignment, not effort HOMEWORK If this episode gave you clarity, share it with a friend or on social media and tag me, all the links are in the show notes. Check out our 7-Day Time Tracking Challenge Find Your Missing Hour | Join the waitlist to get notified when we run it again (the on demand version is coming soon) Take your Free Human Design Test Experiment with one energy-aligned adjustment to your calendar. Let me know what shifts for you. Don't forget to subscribe for more episodes like this and guest interviews. If you'd like to work with me 1:1, book me to speak at your next event, deliver training for your team email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com ⏰ It's your Time! ⭐️ Links for the Episode: - Find Your Missing Hour | 7-Day Group Challenge Join the Waitlist ➜ https://bit.ly/FYMHWAITLIST - Work with Abigail this year, start here: https://bit.ly/NEWENQUIRY - Subscribe for Podcast Emails: https://bit.ly/PODCASTEMAILS - Useful Links: https://bit.ly/EPISODELINKS ………………………….. ⭐️ Buy Time Management for Entrepreneurs & Professionals, by Abigail Barnes - Buy the book: https://bit.ly/TMFEAPBOOK - Free chapter: https://bit.ly/downloadfreechapternow (Available on Amazon Worldwide) ⭐️SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining ABOUT ABIGAIL BARNES: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 5 million people how to achieve Productive Wellbeing using The 888 Formula by 2030. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare ……………………….. ⭐️ ABIGAIL BARNES SOCIAL MEDIA: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamabigailbarnes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamabigailbarnes Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability
Featuring: Sarah Howson & Marianne Whitlock | Recorded LIVE at The PA Show London What does it really take to grow a business, raise a family, stay fit—and still be kind? In this inspiring live-recorded episode of The Time Management Podcast, host Abigail Barnes interviews Sarah Howson and Marianne Whitlock, Co-Founders of Strategic PA Recruitment and Strategic PA Network. These two former Executive Assistants turned powerhouse entrepreneurs share the real-life realities of building two businesses while managing six children, marriages, homes, and a packed events calendar. From black belt kickboxing to soccer mum duties, they reveal how they've mastered time management for working mums, built a thriving community for EAs, PAs, and business support professionals, and still make space for movement, mindset, and meaning. What You'll Learn: Time blocking strategies for busy professionals Letting go of perfectionism and embracing “good enough” The underestimated power of emotional intelligence and confidence Behind the scenes of running events, mentorship programs & annual awards How to stay well and thrive—even at full capacity Whether you're scaling a business, managing a household, or leading from behind the scenes, this episode will leave you motivated, inspired, and ready to take back control of your time.
In this episode of The Time Management Podcast, we're talking about whether you're losing an hour of your time every day, what that means for your past, for your future and for your success. Many people feel “busy" but lack clarity on where their time is actually going, let's talk about it. “When you change the way you look at your time, the time you have will change.” Abigail Barnes In this episode we talked about: The Cost of Lost Time: Most people are unintentionally wasting up to an hour (or more) every day, which equates to 365 hours or 15 days per year. Success requires suspending disbelief, trying new approaches, silencing inner criticism, focusing on desired outcomes, and embracing the growth phase. Time Audit Process: A life-changing 7-day time audit can reveal where time is genuinely being spent and uncover hidden inefficiencies. Time is more valuable than money—it's possible to reclaim wasted time and use it to improve health, relationships, and business success. Real-Life Case Studies: Caroline Milne: Believed she was optimising her time but uncovered over an hour of wasted time daily. (Episode 31) Simon Bergenroth: Improved efficiency 10x by simplifying his calendar and consolidating his schedule. (Episode 70) Dee Beverford: Learned that when tasks are completed impacts energy levels and productivity the next day. (Episode 78) Time vs. Value: Linking time directly to personal, business, and relationship goals can create profound lifestyle transformations. Join the Upcoming Challenge: "Find Your Missing Hour" – A 7-day group challenge (July 7–13) includes resources, a workbook, accountability group, and 20% off with promo code: MORETIME If you'd like to work with Abigail Barnes 1:1, book her to speak at your next event, deliver training for your team, buy a copy of her book or download a free chapter then all the links you need are in the show notes. You can also email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com ⏰ It's your Time! ⭐️ Links for the Episode: - JOIN THE CHALLENGE: https://bit.ly/FINDYOURMISSINGHOUR use promo code MORETIME to save 20% (limited time) - Work with Abigail this year, start here: https://bit.ly/NEWENQUIRY - Subscribe for Podcast Emails: https://bit.ly/PODCASTEMAILS - Useful Links: https://bit.ly/EPISODELINKS ………………………….. ⭐️ Buy Time Management for Entrepreneurs & Professionals, by Abigail Barnes - Buy the book: https://bit.ly/TMFEAPBOOK - Free chapter: https://bit.ly/downloadfreechapternow (Available on Amazon Worldwide) ⭐️SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successbydesigntraining ABOUT ABIGAIL BARNES: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 5 million people how to achieve Productive Wellbeing using The 888 Formula by 2030. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare ……………………….. ⭐️ ABIGAIL BARNES SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: instagram.com/iamabigailbarnes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamabigailbarnes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamabigailbarnes Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability
In this episode of The Time Management Podcast, I share my personal story of being diagnosed with scoliosis age 16, undergoing two major spinal surgeries age 19, and what this journey has taught me about time, resilience, and the pressure to be "normal." Since June is Scoliosis Awareness Month, it felt like the right time to finally share this story. In this episode we talked about: The mindset shift from diagnosis to decision. How scoliosis shaped my life, career, and daily routines. The impact of societal expectations around "fitting in." The hidden costs of trying to be “normal.” Neurodivergence, inclusion, and the importance of self-advocacy. Practical tips for advocating for your health and your needs. Homework for You: What have you overcome that shaped who you are today? What are you not appreciating about yourself right now? Who are you not appreciating for their role in your journey? ➜ If you'd like to work with me one-to-one, book me to speak, or get a copy of my book, all the links are in the show notes.
In this episode of The Time Management Podcast, we're doing something different. We're exploring something called Colour Healing with special guests Marcia O'Regan, a Colour Therapist with 10+ Years experience, and learning what June being the Indigo Colour Month means for us. This episode is an introduction to the ancient secret power behind colour for career/business success as well health and well-being and it includes a short guided meditation exercise. In this episode we talked about: June is the Indigo Colour Month A time to slow down, reflect, and connect to deeper intuition Indigo = Third-Eye Chakra Energy Linked to intuition, inner wisdom, and seeing beyond surface-level life It's About Self-Responsibility This month calls us to own our truth, stop outsourcing our power, and trust our gut Practical Actions Wear indigo or surround yourself with the colour. Meditate, journal, or spend quiet time tuning in. Ask: What feels right for me? What am I avoiding? Powerful Reminder: June is about choosing what's aligned for you—not what the outside world expects. If you'd like to work with me 1:1, book me to speak at your next event, deliver training for your team, buy a copy of my book or download a free chapter then all the links you need are in the show notes. You can also email me at: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com ⏰ It's your Time! Links for Marcia O'Regan: - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Glowyourtruecolours - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcia_oregan/ - Website: https://glowyourtruecolours.com/ About Marcia O'Regan Marcia O'Regan is a spiritual mentor and colour alchemist devoted to guiding conscious men and women into soul-led prosperity, sacred leadership, and energetic mastery for over 20 years. Rooted in ancient wisdom and the divine feminine, her work activates deep remembrance, awakening the frequency, clarity, and courage to claim one's Divine right to thrive. She supports those who are here to lead with heart, live in alignment with their soul, and co-create a new earth where power, purpose, and prosperity are sacred and sovereign. ⭐️ Links for the Episode: - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successbydesigntraining - Instagram: instagram.com/iamabigailbarnes - Work with Abigail this year, start here: https://bit.ly/NEWENQUIRY - Subscribe for Podcast Emails: https://bit.ly/PODCASTEMAILS - Useful Links: https://bit.ly/EPISODELINKS ………………………….. ⭐️ Buy Time Management for Entrepreneurs & Professionals, by Abigail Barnes - Buy the book: https://bit.ly/TMFEAPBOOK - Free chapter: https://bit.ly/downloadfreechapternow (Available on Amazon Worldwide) ⭐️SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining ABOUT ABIGAIL BARNES: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 5 million people how to achieve Productive Wellbeing using The 888 Formula by 2030. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare ……………………….. ⭐️ ABIGAIL BARNES SOCIAL MEDIA: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamabigailbarnes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamabigailbarnes Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability. Do not do the meditation exercises while driving or operating heavy machinery.
In this episode of The Time Management Podcast we're talking about burnout, overwhelm and work/life balance. What busy Entrepreneurs & Professionals can do to create their Life by Design. As well as addressing things that make this seem like an impossible dream such as that never ending to do list, expectations, targets and limited resources. In a world that's not slowing down, where expectations are sky high and life feels like groundhog day, let this episode be a fresh perspective. “The 888 Formula is not a prescription it's a perspective” In this episode we talked about: Work/Life Balance - Why it matters? If we all get the same 24 hours, why don't we all have the same life experience? The 888 Formula a simple framework to understand the parameters If someone else is living the life you want - don't hate the results, ask how they got them Know your data, you can ball part it right now? Reset Your Success Story | Use the code PODCAST20 (exclusive 20% discount) “5 Ways Your Human Design Might Be Hindering You—Not Helping You.” Masterclass coming soon You were born with a roadmap, this Masterclass will show you how you can best use it Details about how you can join the Masterclass will be announced soon. Share The 888 Formula with your friends ⏰ It's your Time! ………………………….. Self Coaching Questions from the Episode Q. How many hours are you working? Q. How much sleep are you getting? Q. Do you have time to exercise? Q. Do you have time for your relationships/family/hobbies? Q. Are you on top of your life admin? Q. Do you want to have more money, but no idea how many subscriptions you have or how much they add up to monthly? Q. When was the last time you cleaned your house? Q. Are you cooking from scratch or eating from the convenience aisle? Q. Are you ready to do something different? Q. Are you ready to step outside your comfort zone? Q. Are you ready to up level your life experience? Self Study - Home Work from the Episode Episode 015 Where's all my time going Step 1: Track your time for 24 hours Or Track your time for 7 days Episode 031 "I found an extra hour & 15 mins a day." Caroline Milne Step 2: Analyse your Audit Step 3: Accept your Results Step 4: Make an Agreement Step 5: Turn your Time into Productivity ………………………….. ⭐️ LINKS FOR THE EPISODE: How to Time Audit: https://bit.ly/howtotimeaudit RESET YOUR SUCCESS STORY: 2025 https://bit.ly/RYSS2025 ➜ Use the code: PODCAST20 at the checkout to get the 20% discount (limited time) Work with Abigail this year, start here: https://bit.ly/NEWENQUIRY - Subscribe for Podcast Emails: https://bit.ly/PODCASTEMAILS - Useful Links: https://bit.ly/EPISODELINKS ………………………….. ⭐️ Buy Time Management for Entrepreneurs & Professionals, by Abigail Barnes - Buy the book: https://bit.ly/TMFEAPBOOK - Free chapter: https://bit.ly/downloadfreechapternow (Available on Amazon Worldwide) ⭐️SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successbydesigntraining ABOUT ABIGAIL BARNES: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 5 million people how to achieve Productive Wellbeing using The 888 Formula by 2030. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare ……………………….. ⭐️ ABIGAIL BARNES SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: instagram.com/iamabigailbarnes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamabigailbarnes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamabigailbarnes Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability.
Have you ever found yourself wondering why everyone else seems to have the results you want and what you're doing wrong?
In this episode, Melissa my guest shares her journey from global corporate consultancy to founding a values-driven business that puts people before processes. We dive deep into her Emotioneering™ model, the “Skillionaire” mindset, and practical tools you can use to save time, reduce burnout, as well as lead with clarity and compassion. This conversation is packed with insights for business owners, team leaders, HR professionals, and anyone wanting to build a more emotionally intelligent, productive workplace. 5 Key Highlights from this episode: 1. How emotional intelligence improves leadership, saves time, and increases team productivity → Learn how to manage performance through empathy and emotional awareness. 2. The Emotioneering™ Triangle: Moving from fear to confidence in the workplace → A practical mindset model that transforms how you coach and develop staff. 3. Time-blocking, reflection days, and boundaries: The real tools behind sustainable success → Melissa's go-to strategies to avoid burnout and reclaim your calendar. 4. The Skillionaire Mindset: Why growing your skills will grow your business → Shift your focus from chasing income to building capability and value. 5. How to build people-first company cultures that retain talent and boost morale → Proven ways to keep your team motivated and emotionally supported. ⏰ It's your Time! About Melissa Curran: Melissa Curran CEO and founder of Modern Mind Group has delivered over 15,000 hours of Coaching and over 1,000 Training Workshops - from frontline employees to board level executives. A trusted, global learning and performance consultant, working with high profile organisations, for over 12 years in leadership, operational excellence, and culture transformation. Over 10 years' experience in service, sales and performance management spanning across frontline service within contact centres, retail, hospitality, events, leisure, media, automotive and real estate. Helping companies achieve record breaking results with her Emotioneering Business Blueprint. With a true passion for people development, this has been Melissa's driving motivation for the last 20 years to make an impact and help unlock potential. Melissa, also a qualified Counsellor, runs training courses in Emotional Intelligence, Mental Health, Leadership, Business and Communication. Educating listeners on these important topics on the Emotioneering Podcast which is listened to in over 80 countries and is in the top 5% of podcasts in the world. Links for Melissa: Website: https://www.modernmindgroup.co.uk Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-curran The Emotioneering Podcast: https://emotioneering.podbean.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissacurran_ ……………………………………………………………………………. ⭐️ OTHER LINKS: - Work with Abigail: https://bit.ly/NEWENQUIRY - Useful Links for the Podcast: https://bit.ly/EPISODELINKS - Subscribe for Podcast Weekly emails: https://bit.ly/PODCASTEMAILS ⭐️ SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successbydesigntraining ABOUT HOST ABIGAIL BARNES: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 5 million people how to achieve Productive Wellbeing using The 888 Formula by 2030. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare ……………………….. ⭐️ ABIGAIL BARNES SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: instagram.com/iamabigailbarnes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamabigailbarnes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamabigailbarnes Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability.
Welcome to The Time Management Podcast! It's you and me and we're diving deep into why you're procrastinating and exactly how to stop—immediately. I share ONE practical strategy you can try today, that I guarantee (if you apply it correctly) will work straight away. You'll discover: Why procrastination isn't your problem—motivation, clarity, and fear are. How to use time blocking for productivity and focus. The difference between cheap dopamine vs. high-quality dopamine and how to use that knowledge to fuel your momentum. How to design your calendar for to-do list success—starting today. This is the ultimate procrastination cure for busy professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone tired of feeling stuck.
Guest: Dr. Tony Vercillo Guest Bio: Dr. Tony Vercillo is a 30-year veteran in the Product Marketing and Distribution industry. He has a Doctorate in Marketing Management, with special emphasis on Global Marketing Strategies (Summa Cum Laude). He also received his MBA in Leadership and Human Behavior. He is a highly sought-after public speaker known for his “infectious enthusiasm.” Dr. Vercillo has been an Author for more than 30 years in the non-fiction arena. He always dreamt of dabbling in the fiction world, and this work is his first foray into the exciting world of novels. Dr. Vercillo has served as a Senior-Level Manager and Vice President for PepsiCo and a third-party supply-chain firm. He is currently the CEO of a major kosher food service company in New Jersey. He also recently retired from teaching Global Marketing Strategy and Supply Chain Theory at California State University. His passion in life is teaching and coaching, and he has spent the last 20 years fulfilling that dream. Key Points: Sales Strategy: · Cross-Training: Salespeople are trained across all segments (e.g., healthcare, schools, caterers) to improve adaptability and pricing knowledge. · Hunter-Farmer Hybrid: All reps are expected to both acquire new clients and manage existing relationships. Change Management: · Data-Driven Approach: Used financials, industry benchmarks, and logic to explain changes. · Persistence: Faced resistance but stood firm while showing empathy. · Ongoing Communication: Holds regular sales meetings (e.g., upcoming board meeting) to address concerns. Operational Improvements: · Customer Visit Push: Implemented Salesforce (embedded in new ERP) and assigned a champion to ensure usage. · ERP Integration: New system launching May 1 improves visibility and report generation. · Coaching Culture: Monthly check-ins, product-level reviews, and data-backed feedback by the sales VP. Onboarding & Training: · Hands-On Process: All new hires must work in order entry, warehouse, and ride with drivers. · Holistic Understanding: Training ensures reps grasp the entire business, not just selling. Financial Results: · Sustained Growth: Double-digit revenue growth and increasing profitability every year since he joined. · Cash Flow Focus: Reduced cash gap from 70+ days to ~37 days through disciplined collections and vendor management. · Customer Retention: 99% retention rate, even with stricter payment terms. Guest Links: Connect on LinkedIn https://www.youtube.com/@s.bertram https://doclifelessons.com/episodes About Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders Download your free gift, The Salesology® Vault. The vault is packed full of free gifts from sales leaders, sales experts, marketing gurus, and revenue generation experts. Download your free gift, 81 Tools to Grow Your Sales & Your Business Faster, More Easily & More Profitably. Save hours of work tracking down the right prospecting and sales resources and/or digital tools that every business owner and salesperson needs. If you are a business owner or sales manager with an underperforming sales team, let's talk. Click here to schedule a time. Please subscribe to Salesology®: Conversations with Sales Leaders so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! To learn more about our previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to https://podcast.gosalesology.com/ and connect on LinkedIn and follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and check out our website at https://gosalesology.com/.
Big John Leacock, a passionate community advocate and successful realtor, was born in Tobago and spent his formative years immersed in a diverse cultural and athletic environment. He attended Bishops High School in Tobago, where he was the most outstanding Player Basketball Award 1982, on the Basketball Championship team, a Cadet Force Drill Sergeant for the top platoon in country AND excelled In Ball Room Dancing in high School Dance Competitions!His higher education began at Dawson College in Montreal, earning a Diploma in Health and Social Sciences (1984-1987), excelling on the basketball court as a member of the Dawson College Blues, the number one ranked college team in Canada for two consecutive years (1986 and 1987). John continued his education at the University of Guelph, obtaining a Diploma in Agriculture with a focus on General Farm Management from 1987 to 1990, while also contributing to the university as a power forward for the Varsity Basketball Team. He earned a General Bachelor's degree in Marketing Management. Upon completing his diploma in Agriculture, he gained hands-on experience at the University of Guelph's Research Farms, working extensively with large animals and managing a feed mill. In 1992, John founded Big John Entertainment, promoting local club events and growing his email list of fans to over 350 by 1993, then served as a music director and radio announcer at CFRU 93.3FM from 1997 to 2001, where he increased advertising revenue as the Advertising Sales Manager. In 2001, Big John moved back to Tobago with his family and operated a bed and breakfast while promoting local cultural events, including jazz and writer's festivals, while creating Mr. Fiddla's Cafe, a popular light meal café and social spot.Returning to Canada in late 2002, Big John embarked on a career as a realtor on January 1, 2006, with Coldwell Banker Neumann Real Estate. Since then, he has consistently positioned himself among the top 5% of sales associates within the Guelph and District Association of Realtors in both commercial and residential real estate sectors. He holds a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation, enabling him to handle a wide array of real estate transactions, both locally and internationally. Mr. Leacock has served in various leadership capacities within the Guelph and District Association of Realtors, including as a past board member and chair of the Marketing, Public Relations, and Publicity Committees. He was instrumental in the creation of the independent real estate publication, "Real Estate Update," and actively participated in the rebranding efforts of the Association, with the view of: "Real Estate is not about houses – it's about people." He became involved with the Hillside Festival and served on the Hillside Board. A founding member of the Guelph Black Heritage Society, he has contributed to the Downtown Guelph Renewal Committee. For 8 eight years, Big John has played a significant role in Guelph's Downtown Advisory Committee, which works closely with City Council to enhance the downtown area's vibrancy. He is also on the Village Finding Committee. He regularly sponsors events such as: the Guelph Jazz Festival, the Gospel Festival, and Guelph Pride. Contact Mr. Leacock at: https://www.bigjohnleacock.com
Think being busy means you're successful? Think again. In this episode, we're exposing the toxic myth that busyness = value and breaking down how it's silently sabotaging your career growth, productivity, and wellbeing. You'll learn the neuroscience behind why your brain clings to busyness, how to shift from reactive to strategic thinking, and how to reclaim your time using the Eisenhower Matrix and the 888 Time Management Formula. This is your roadmap to working smarter, building career capital, and avoiding burnout. We'll also walk you through a 5-day time audit challenge that helps turn your daily grind into measurable data you can use to prove your value in performance reviews and 1:1s. ✅ If you're ready to stop spinning your wheels and start moving with purpose, this episode is for you.
How Experts, Entrepreneurs & Professionals Get Paid well to Deliver Transformational Talks If you're an expert, entrepreneur, or professional ready to ignite the stage, stay fully booked, and get paid what you're truly worth, then this episode of The Time Management Podcast is for you. We're joined by Elliot Kay, an award-winning speaker, author, and CEO of the Speaker Awards & Summit, for an insightful conversation about what it really takes to become a highly paid, in-demand speaker without selling out. Elliot shares the time-saving strategies, mindset shifts, and message clarity required to move from free talks to £5K - £10K+ keynotes — while staying grounded in your purpose and values. Whether you're just starting your speaking journey or are already landing regular gigs, this episode will show you how to optimise your time, refine your message, stop selling your story and start selling the transformation. Key Highlights from this episode: Why your personal story isn't enough — and what truly gets you booked and paid How to master Einstein Time and stop letting your calendar control your success The 3 essential questions to ask before saying yes to any speaking opportunity The mindset shift from “motivating” to delivering measurable value How to structure your talks for maximum audience impact and business growth Why understanding the Speaker Archetype is crucial to owning any stage How elite speakers leverage both emotional intelligence and strategic positioning Why speaking bureaus and agents are optional and not essential for success Simple frameworks to protect your time and scale your influence as a transformational speaker Connect with me on Linkedin or Instagram so we can continue the conversation there! ⏰ It's your Time! About Elliot Kay: As Chief Executive Officer of the Speaker Awards and Summit, Elliot Kay is a recognised voice in the world of professional speaking and leadership communication. With a career dedicated to raising the standards of influence, authenticity, and impact, Elliot has become a trusted guide for professional speakers and leaders who want to communicate with real power. Drawing on extensive experience in impactful leadership communications, Elliot helps individuals and organisations bridge the gap between speaking and true influence. His approach centres on using the spoken word not just to inform, but to connect, to lead, and to inspire lasting change. Through the Speaker Awards and Summit, he champions professional speakers who set new benchmarks for excellence, integrity, and service to their audiences. He believes that speaking is one of the most powerful leadership tools available when used with purpose, clarity, and heart. Across his career, Elliot has worked with a wide range of leaders, executives, and speaking professionals to help them master the art of influential communication. His work is rooted in a simple but powerful philosophy: speaking isn't about performance - it's about connection, leadership, and legacy. Whether on stage, in workshops, or through his leadership at the Summit, Elliot continues to build a movement that recognises professional speakers that truly make a difference Resources & Links: Webinar: Unlock Better Earnings and Bookings As A Speaker | 22 May | 12:00 BST https://zoom.us/meeting/register/W0yUJSWlTfSVhLC8MgBsLA Speaker Influencer Test: https://speakerexpressscorecard.co.uk/ Website: www.elliotkay.com ……………………………………………………………………………. ⭐️ Podcast Links: - Work with Abigail: https://bit.ly/NEWENQUIRY - Useful Links for the Podcast: https://bit.ly/EPISODELINKS - Subscribe for Podcast Weekly emails: https://bit.ly/PODCASTEMAILS ⭐️ SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successbydesigntraining ABOUT ABIGAIL BARNES: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 5 million people how to achieve Productive Wellbeing using The 888 Formula by 2030. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare ……………………….. ⭐️ ABIGAIL BARNES SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: instagram.com/iamabigailbarnes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamabigailbarnes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamabigailbarnes Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability.
Welcome to the grand finale of our 3-Part Main Character Energy series! In this episode, we're diving headfirst into what it actually means to embody your true identity—and spoiler alert: it's way simpler, than you think If you're tired of playing small, living in your head, or second-guessing every move then this one's for you. It's time to stop operating from force and start living from power. Say goodbye to those ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts) and hello to emotional clarity, aligned action, and unapologetic self-belief. This episode is for you if: → You're ready to write your next chapter → You know life doesn't have to be this hard → You're done playing it safe and ready to see what happens when you go all in What We Cover in This Episode: 3 3 SIMPLE Ways to Embody Your True Identity ✅ 1. Mirror Theory – Your life reflects who you think you are. Time to upgrade the story ✅ 2. Thought Tracking – Catch the inner dialogue keeping you stuck in “I can't” ✅ 3. The ‘I Am' Shift – Stop defaulting to “I don't have” and start affirming: I am abundant I am enough I am loved I am capable I am safe, guided, and supported PLUS: Why knowledge isn't power (action is), how to build habits that align with your next-level identity, and the emotional rewiring it takes to stop self-sabotaging and finally trust yourself. Missed Part 1 & 2, Catch up here:
In this episode of the Time Management Podcast, we're unlocking the power of emotions – not just to "feel better" but to create serious momentum and become the main character of your life. This is Part 2 of our three-part Main Character Energy series, and we're tackling the truth about emotions head-on. You'll learn how to stop doubting yourself, how to recognise emotional triggers, and how to use your emotions as a compass. This episode is for you if: You're stuck in self-doubt or self-sabotage You want to develop a deeper emotional vocabulary You're ready to finally feel your way into the life you want “Just because the science isn't there yet doesn't mean something isn't real. Wi-Fi would've sounded insane once too.” Abigail Barnes In This Episode we discuss: The history and science of emotions: from Aristotle to neuroscience and facial micro expressions Understanding the difference between emotions and feelings – and why it matters Look at tool like the Feeling's Wheel and Wheel of Emotions to expand your emotional vocabulary How to spot emotional triggers, and the role of somatic healing in processing trauma Why we can get stuck in emotional habit loops (and how to break them) I also share simple practices to build emotional awareness and momentum in your daily life ✅ 3-Step Exercise you can Start Using This Today: Name the emotion you're experiencing (use the Feelings Wheel!). Reflect on what triggered it and the possible deeper causes. Take action – move, shake, phone a friend, or do something to shift your emotional state.
In this episode of The Time Management Podcast (Part 1 of a powerful 3-part series), we dive deep into the thoughts keeping you stuck, the mental blocks, emotional baggage, and limiting beliefs that are sabotaging your success and talk about becoming main character energy and stepping into the next chapter of your life. It's your Time! “Nobody wants to hear they're sabotaging themselves, but the minute you accept it—you get your power back.” Abigail Barnes In this episode, we cover: The “ANT Killer” method (Automatic Negative Thoughts) inspired by Dr. Daniel Amen Thought tracking: A must-do 24-hour challenge taken from Episode 33 Understanding the Success-failure & procrastination-perfection habit loops (taken from Episode 2) The emotional payoff from staying small—and how to break the cycle Trauma responses like people-pleasing, catastrophising, and fear of success Byron Katie's 4 Liberating Questions Exercise (pen + paper required) The power of neuroplasticity and shifting your consciousness Mirror Theory: What your life is reflecting back to you & how to manifest what you want High-vibe mantras to rewire your inner narrative: “I approve of me. I love me. I lead me. It's my time.” Why knowledge isn't power—Action is Details about the Magic May 25-Day Challenge: two goals, 25 days, lasting change, use the link in the show notes—and grab 50% off this week only. ⏰ It's your Time! ……………………………………………………………………………. ⭐️ IMPORTANT LINKS: - Magic May 25 Day Group Challenge: https://bit.ly/MAGICMAY Super early bird discount | £50 off | Promo code MAGICMAY50 valid until 17 April (9am BST) - Work with Abigail, apply here: https://bit.ly/NEWENQUIRY - Subscribe for Podcast Weekly emails: https://bit.ly/PODCASTEMAILS - Useful Links: https://bit.ly/EPISODELINKS ⭐️SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successbydesigntraining ABOUT ABIGAIL BARNES: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 5 million people how to achieve Productive Wellbeing using The 888 Formula by 2030. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare ……………………….. ⭐️ ABIGAIL BARNES SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: instagram.com/iamabigailbarnes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamabigailbarnes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamabigailbarnes Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability.
Are you ready to unlock your intuition and find your life purpose? In this episode, we talk about the Akashic Records, spiritual awakening, and how to overcome fear and self-doubt with Marina Beech. Discover how these ancient records can help you gain clarity, break limiting patterns, and step into your highest potential. Key Takeaways from this episode: Akashic Records, Intuition & Soul Alignment What are the Akashic Records, and how do they work? Signs you're experiencing a spiritual awakening How to trust your intuition and inner guidance Breaking free from limiting beliefs and self-doubt How soul contracts influence your life's purpose Practical steps to access your Akashic Records How to align with your true purpose for a more fulfilling life Guided Akashic Oracle Card Reading (10 mins) And so much more Connect with me on Linkedin or Instagram so we can continue the conversation there! ⏰ It's your Time! About Marina Beech Marina Beech is a secret weapon for visionary entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and change-makers ready to break free from unseen limitations and unlock their most expansive success. Through her Akashic Records expertise, energy alchemy, and deep intuitive guidance, she helps conscious business owners clear karmic blocks, dissolve outdated contracts, and realign with their highest potential so they can create impact, wealth, and success with ease. Working with thousands of clients for over 30 years, she delivers profound energetic shifts and business breakthroughs that traditional coaching alone cannot access. Her work is not just about healing, it's about activating the codes of prosperity, clarity, and momentum that already exist within you. Resources & Links: Website - https://marinabeech.co.uk/ YouTube - https://youtube.com/c/MarinaTheSoulAlchemist Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/marinathesoulalchemist Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesoulalchemistcommunity Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/marina.thesoulalchemist/ Get your own Akashic Oracle Card Deck
If you work across time zones, borders, and cultures, this is the show for you. This is your host Leonardo Marra, welcome to the international business podcast. Today, we delve into international sales. From connecting SMEs across Australia, Latin America, and Spain to overcoming regulatory challenges and understanding cultural nuances, two expert guests share insights on what's changed in the industry and how to succeed in diverse markets. See below for further information about the two guests.Join Leonardo on Patreon for:Podcast Archive: 102 episodes (40+ hours).Podcast Bonus Episodes: New exclusive content.Early Access: Upcoming YouTube videos and newsletters.Thinking Process Journal: Insights into Leonardo's content preparation, including a curated reading list and personal reflections.Q&A: Submit questions for future episodes, and receive a shoutout when they are answered.With guests:Alex Baneres is a versatile and results-driven international marketing and sales leader with extensive experience across diverse sectors, including education, home care, travel, weight loss programs, drinkware, homeware, books, meal replacements, sports nutrition, and video games. Proven expertise in business development, P&L ownership, CRM implementation, and building long-term relationships with distributors, affiliates, and resellers in international markets such as Australia, Spain, and Latin America. Over the last two years, Alex has worked as a marketing and sales agent for several European businesses in Australia and is currently focused on growing an Australian company across Europe and Latin America. Fluent in Spanish and English, with a strong ability to manage complex projects, launch new products, optimize digital marketing strategies, and deliver measurable results.Zach Selch is a renowned global sales leader with over 30 years of experience driving international business growth. Zach's career achievements include generating over $1 billion in revenue across 150+ markets and onboarding more than 1,000 partners globally. He has been instrumental in transforming underperforming sales teams into high-performing powerhouses, achieving growth rates as high as 4,000%. His practical strategies for building international distributor networks and navigating cultural complexities have earned him recognition as a trusted mentor and advisor. Zach holds a certificate in Global Sales and Marketing Management from The Wharton School and a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Economics from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. If you work across time zones, borders, and cultures, come on the show to share your story. Connect with the host Leonardo Marra
In today's episode, recorded at the iconic Windhoek City Museum on Friday, March 21st, 2025, the VA Tourism Podcast sat down for an exclusive conversation with Sebulon Chicalu, the newly appointed CEO of the Namibia Tourism Board. Just hours after the historic inauguration of Namibia's first female president, Chicalu shared his thoughts on the exciting new chapter for the country, highlighting the boost to the destination's brand equity and the momentum it will bring to the board's renewed focus on MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions). In this chat, he outlined his vision for the organization, emphasizing the importance of consolidating core source markets, diversifying products, promoting domestic tourism, and ensuring high-quality standards, among other strategic priorities. A seasoned business strategist with extensive expertise in the travel and tourism sector, Mr Chicalu brings a wealth of experience in tourism product innovation and development. He is also a GALLUP-certified Strengths and Talent Development Coach, a mentor and an expert in employee engagement. His dynamic skill set spans roles as a moderator, negotiator, coordinator and public speaker. Before joining NTB, Mr Chicalu served as the Director of Tourism and Gaming at the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in developing and launching various hospitality and tourism services, spearheading major business events, and providing strategic leadership in executive management and board-level roles within the tourism and hospitality industries. Academically, he holds a Master of Business Administration (MsM), a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration, and a Diploma in Marketing Management. Additionally, he is certified in Corporate Governance and as a GALLUP Clifton-Strengths Coach.
In this episode of The Time Management Podcast we meet Caroline Adams Miller, one of the world's leading experts on the science of successful goal setting and author of the brand new book, Big Goals: The Science of Setting Them, Achieving Them, and Creating Your Best Life. This Episode is for you if: → You set goals but fail to achieve them → You're ready to set goals that inspire & motivate you → You're interested to find out more about the science of successful goal setting “Ask yourself what you will regret not pursuing when you look back in 10 or 20 years time. The worst thing you can do is live with regrets.” Caroline Adams Miller Timestamped key moments: 00:06 Caroline Adams Miller shares her unique relationship with time and its impact on her life. 02:36 Individualised approaches are essential for effective goal setting & time management. 07:02 Scientific goal-setting theories versus popular methods. 09:04 Goal setting theory is powerful yet often overlooked. 13:04 Research shows men and women achieve goals differently; relatable role models are crucial. 15:08 Effective goal setting involves utilising new tools, positive relationships, and strategic planning. 18:52 Sharing success highlights the importance of supportive responses. 20:55 Surround yourself with supportive people to achieve your goals. 24:34 Shift to evidence-based goal setting by discarding outdated methods. 26:23 Effective goal setting involves clarity, challenging oneself, and embracing feedback. 29:53 Accountability and strength training are key to maintaining fitness commitments. 31:38 Establishing habits and preparing ahead enhances goal achievement. 35:23 Cultural bias affects women's goal-setting and self-perception. 37:32 Take small steps to pursue goals without overwhelming yourself. ⏰ It's your Time! Caroline Adams Miller Caroline is one of the world's leading experts on the science behind successful goal setting and the use of ‘good grit' to achieve hard things. For over three decades, Caroline Adams Miller has been a pioneer with her groundbreaking work in the areas of the science of goal setting, grit, happiness, and success. She is recognized as one of the world's leading positive psychology experts on this research and how it can be applied to one's life and work for maximum transformation. She is the author of nine books, including My Name is Caroline, Getting Grit, Positively Caroline and Creating Your Best Life, which the "father of Positive Psychology," Dr. Martin Seligman, lauded in Flourish as "adding a major missing piece" to the world of goal setting. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard University and attained one of the first 32 degrees in the world in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Big Goals: https://biggoalsbook.com/ Website: https://www.carolinemiller.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineadamsmiller/ ……………………………………………………………………………. ⭐️ OTHER LINKS: - Reset Your Success Story, 2025: Start today https://bit.ly/RYSS2025 - Work with Abigail this year, start here: https://bit.ly/NEWENQUIRY - Subscribe for Podcast Weekly emails: https://bit.ly/PODCASTEMAILS - Useful Links: https://bit.ly/EPISODELINKS ⭐️SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successbydesigntraining ABIGAIL BARNES: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 1 million people how to Become the Productive Professional using The 888 Formula by 2025. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability.
Brian W. King joined ADS in September 2020 and serves as Executive Vice President, Product Management and Marketing. Mr. King came to the Company with over 25 years of product management and marketing experience in both consumer and commercial businesses. From 2013 to September 2020, Mr. King worked at Owens Corning, a Toledo, Ohio-based company that develops and produces insulation, roofing and fiberglass composites and related materials, serving as Vice President, Strategic Marketing from 2016 to 2020 and Director of Strategic Marketing from 2015 to 2016. Prior to Mr. King's role at Owens Corning, he held leadership positions at The Stanley Works, Elmer's Products Inc., and Avery Dennison Corporation. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University. He has received certifications in Marketing Management and Executive Education from York University and the University of North Carolina respectively. Brian Joins Sustainable Nation to Discuss: ADS' plastic recycling operations and achievements Strategic efforts at ADS to reduce GHG emissions and their recognition as one of America's climate leaders by USA Today Partnerships that advance recycling and sustainability initiatives Advice and recommendations for sustainability professionals Brian's Final Five Questions Responses: What is one piece of advice you would give other sustainability professionals that might help them in their careers? I think we tend to underestimate what change we can make over a decade, and so I think we need to look at change over a longer period. We overestimate what you can do in a year. We're always very aggressive about what you can do in a year, and then we underestimate what you can do over a decade. But if you look back, you find that we've made great change over decades. So I think we need to adjust how we look at how change. The change we make and the impact that we have needs to be longer term. What are you most excited about right now in the world of sustainability? I get really excited when people say plastics recycling doesn't work, because it does. Even though there's no silver bullet in solving the plastics problem. Because plastics in the environment is a problem, and we need to work together to solve that. I get pretty excited because a lot of people tell us that plastics recycling doesn't work, and ADS is an example that, yes, it does. We can actually effectively create circular economies for plastics and we can help to solve the plastic problem. That excites me because that is a big deal. What is one book you'd recommend sustainability leaders read? My favorite is Cradle to Cradle. It's remaking the way that we make things. As someone who's done product management for a lot of their career, sustainability is key to product management. We need to think about end of life. When you design a product, it shouldn't just be around the economic value or the features and benefits or the value proposition that the product's delivering. You need to think about what happens at the end of life. Cradle to Cradle is a great way to open your eyes to that. What are some of your favorite resources or tools that really help you in your work? We talked about one of them, being partners with groups like the Recycling Partnership. There's passionate individuals, people who are doing things across the country that you can hear from. The Ohio State Sustainability Institute being another one I talked about. Talking to those like minded companies, talking to those like minded people, people finding those like minded organizations out there that are aligned with what it is that you want to do from a sustainability perspective. Sustainability professionals listen to this. We have to make sure we make those connections because some of the best resources are talking to people about what they've learned, what failed, what worked. That gets me really excited. Where can our listeners go to learn more about you and the work being done at ADS? If anyone wants to email me here at ADS, it's brian.king@adspipe.com. I'm on LinkedIn, Brian W. King. LinkedIn is the way to find me. If you want to go to our website, adspipe.com/sustainability we have an interactive version of our 2024 sustainability report that allows you to dig into some of the good work that we're doing.
One of the biggest challenges teachers face is keeping students motivated. According to a 2023 survey by the EdWeek Research Center, more than 4 in 10 educators said students are not inspired to do their best in school. To help set your learners up for long-term success, it's crucial to create excitement and engagement in your classroom. In this week's episode, we sat down with Aaron Daenell to talk about how to get your students excited about learning. Aaron is a Marketing & Management, Business, and Information Technology educator at Cumberland County High School in Crossville, Tennessee. After leaving the business world in 2005, Aaron earned his alternative teaching certification in Manatee County, Florida and was hired to start a new middle school business program at a Title I school in his area. Within two years, they had the most successful industry certification program of all the middle schools in central Florida. He now works in Tennessee, working in a high school as well as managing the school's FBLA chapter. He strives each day to help his students break industry certification records in their county and region. Aaron shares his thoughts on student engagement, or lack thereof, as well as how he gets students excited to learn. We dive deeper into his classroom approach, and how he uses relationships to help students see the value in his course, their futures, and industry certification. If you feel like your students are lagging, or just want to infuse a little excitement into your everyday, Aaron's here to help. Get additional ideas for student engagement here: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2024/November/How-to-spark-motivation-in-your-students. Looking for more inspiration? Aaron recommends both Mel Robbins (https://www.melrobbins.com/) and Tony Robbins (https://www.tonyrobbins.com/) Connect with educators like Aaron in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/. Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here: https://certified.certiport.com/.
Send us a textWelcome back to the marketing freaks podcast!This week I'm joined by Julia Arenson and we talk all things creative operations, building in-house agencies, running creative at Specsavers, agency vs in-house and a whole heap more. Throughout the episode Julia talks through her extensive experience of running creative operations, and details many of the lessons learnt along the way. If you enjoy this episode please do subscribe on your favourite podcast player!
In this episode, we explore innovative marketing strategies and tackle AI's impact on business with Mark and Ilanit. Mark Fishman is a seasoned agricultural executive with over two decades of expertise in driving agri-tech innovations. As CEO of AgrIOT Ltd., he has led the development of mobile technology for advanced agricultural applications, particularly in nitrogen uptake detection. With a strong background in leading Israeli agricultural startups and managing global agricultural projects, Mark combines strategic leadership with deep industry knowledge, supported by an MBA from Natanya Academic College and a BSc in Agriculture from the Hebrew University. Website: https://www.agriot.group/en/home LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fishman-mark/ Ilanit Tseyrefman Parnas is a dynamic marketing leader with over a decade of experience driving GTM strategy, demand generation, and thought leadership. As VP of Marketing at 2bcloud, she leads social media, events, and demand generation efforts, shaping the company's market presence. Previously, she held key marketing roles at Glilot Capital Partners and KPMG Israel, leveraging her expertise in AI, big data, and cybersecurity, backed by an MBA in Marketing Management from Bar-Ilan University. Website: https://2bcloud.io/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanit-tseyrefman-parnas-ba692ba2/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2bcloud/ Apply to join our marketing mastermind group: https://notypicalmoments.typeform.com/to/hWLDNgjz Follow No Typical Moments at: Website: https://notypicalmoments.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-typical-moments-llc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4G7csw9j7zpjdASvpMzqUA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notypicalmoments Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NTMoments
In this episode, we explore innovative marketing strategies and tackle AI's impact on business with Mark and Ilanit. Mark Fishman is a seasoned agricultural executive with over two decades of expertise in driving agri-tech innovations. As CEO of AgrIOT Ltd., he has led the development of mobile technology for advanced agricultural applications, particularly in nitrogen uptake detection. With a strong background in leading Israeli agricultural startups and managing global agricultural projects, Mark combines strategic leadership with deep industry knowledge, supported by an MBA from Natanya Academic College and a BSc in Agriculture from the Hebrew University. Website: https://www.agriot.group/en/home LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fishman-mark/ Ilanit Tseyrefman Parnas is a dynamic marketing leader with over a decade of experience driving GTM strategy, demand generation, and thought leadership. As VP of Marketing at 2bcloud, she leads social media, events, and demand generation efforts, shaping the company's market presence. Previously, she held key marketing roles at Glilot Capital Partners and KPMG Israel, leveraging her expertise in AI, big data, and cybersecurity, backed by an MBA in Marketing Management from Bar-Ilan University. Website: https://2bcloud.io/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanit-tseyrefman-parnas-ba692ba2/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2bcloud/ Apply to join our marketing mastermind group: https://notypicalmoments.typeform.com/to/hWLDNgjz Follow No Typical Moments at: Website: https://notypicalmoments.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-typical-moments-llc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4G7csw9j7zpjdASvpMzqUA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notypicalmoments Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NTMoments
In this episode of The Time Management Podcast we meet Shawn Lemon, The Digital Organizer, who shares his tips, tricks and strategies for getting on top of your technology and simplifying your life. This Episode is for you if: → You're email inbox is out of control → You're ready to streamline your tech set up → You're interested to find out more about Digital Organisation “Declaring email bankruptcy will help you get back on track.” Shawn Lemon In this episode we also covered: From Apple to Entrepreneurship The Digital Organizer Email Bankruptcy Inbox Zero Digital Hoarding How to organise your digital files File Organisation Guide Software Switching Learning Curve Resisting the temptation to tech hop Consistency = Efficiency Handling 2 Step Verification within teams 1Password - 2FA And so much more ⏰ It's your Time! Sean Lemon | The Digital Organizer Shawn is the founder of The Digital Organizer and has spent the last 17 years helping individuals and businesses get better at using their technology. A teacher at heart, Shawn believes the biggest reason people struggle with their tech is because of a lack of understanding of the tools, which isn't surprising because they're constantly changing as technology advances. When not helping businesses operate more efficiently, Shawn loves making pottery, riding motorcycles, and spending time with his wife, Madeline and their 2 year old son, Nico. The Digital Organiser: https://thedigitalorganizer.com/tmpodcast Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnlemon/ ……………………………………………………………………………. ⭐️ OTHER LINKS FOR THE EPISODE: - RESET YOUR SUCCESS STORY: 2025 https://bit.ly/RYSS2025 - Work with Abigail this year, start here: https://bit.ly/NEWENQUIRY - Subscribe for Podcast Update Emails: https://bit.ly/PODCASTEMAILS - Useful Links: https://bit.ly/EPISODELINKS ⭐️ SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successbydesigntraining ABOUT ABIGAIL BARNES: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 1 million people how to Become the Productive Professional using The 888 Formula by 2025. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability.
In this episode of The Time Management Podcast we meet Sandra Dailidyte, a Portfolio Manager at Cazenove Capital who shares her approach to Time Management. It's fair to say that Sandra leads a busy life and is dedicated to continuous improvement. However, listen to this podcast to hear how she finds space for rest and deliberate time wasting. This Episode is for you if: → You're overwhelmed by all the hype around Time Management → You want to get back on top of your schedule and actually enjoy the life you have → You're ready to hear from someone unafraid to try, to fail and to try something different “It's ok to change your mind, I'm an adult I can give myself permission to change course.” Sandra Dailidyte In this episode we also covered: Evolving Relationship with Time Collective Obsession with Productivity Collective Obsession with Time Management Creating work/life Balance Goal Setting for Gardening Leave The Power of Manifestation Writing & Speaking your desires out loud Enjoying the Journey Prioritising my health & wellbeing Discipline & Presence Fitness: Enjoyment over Aesthetics Mental Health & Mindfulness The Concept of Active Rest Permission to ‘waste time' Reframing Productivity & Rest Henry Ford - Productivity Theory The Busy Badge of Honour The 888 Formula - Allocating your 24 Hours Energy Management Police Dog Training & Competitions Turning Failure into Fun Scheduling Priorities - Prioritising your Schedule Self Reflection & Honest Intentions Sandra's Top Time Management Tips Top Tips for managing your life admin Managing your mental chatter - The internal Committee The Importance of enjoying the Journey Fear of too much Time Telling a new Story - I have enough Time Enjoying your spare time & Hobbies Choosing Happiness Is this my belief or someone else's Living in alignment with your Human Design And so much more ⬇️ What did you take away from this episode, comment below ⬇️ ⏰ It's your Time! Sandra Dailidyte Sandra works as a Portfolio Manager at Cazenove Capital in Edinburgh, where she advises some of the most successful business leaders and entrepreneurs in Scotland. In her spare time, Sandra can often be found at the gym, lifting weights; she holds the title of British Weightlifting Masters Champion and was named Lithuania's Strongest Woman in 2020. An achiever at heart, her training sessions with her beloved German Shepherd, Zara, have also turned into competitions. Sandra joined Cazenove Capital in 2024 as a Portfolio Manager based in Edinburgh. With over 12 years of experience in financial services, Sandra has a keen interest in and experience of working with Entrepreneurs and Business Owners, as she has in previous roles at Brown Shipley and Seven Investment Management. She holds the Chartered Wealth Manager qualification and a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Edinburgh. Cazenove Capital is the high-net-worth wealth management business of Schroders in the UK and Channel Islands, and has been helping individuals, families and charities meet their objectives for many years. As a long-established wealth manager with an absolute focus on preserving and growing our clients' wealth, what matters most to our clients, matters most to us. Connect with Sandra on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-dailidyte-aba64179/ ……………………………………………………………………………. ⭐️ LINKS FOR THE EPISODE: - RESET YOUR SUCCESS STORY: 2025 https://bit.ly/RYSS2025 - Work with Abigail this year, start here: https://bit.ly/NEWENQUIRY - Subscribe for Podcast Update Emails: https://bit.ly/PODCASTEMAILS - Useful Links: https://bit.ly/EPISODELINKS ⭐️SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesigntraining/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successbydesigntraining ABOUT ABIGAIL BARNES: Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula. In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don't have any to waste! Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 1 million people how to Become the Productive Professional using The 888 Formula by 2025. Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time. She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School. Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com Audio Credit: Keith Hare Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability.
Marketing and technological expertise are critical not only for marketing students, but also for any student who dreams of building a business, growing an online audience, or sharing a message with the world. In this episode, we sat down with a panel of creative and marketing educators: Aaron Daenell, Marketing & Management, Business, and Information Technology Educator; Jenny Mohess, CTE Department Chair and Graphic Design Educator; and Jodi Pelini, Media Production & Digital Literacy Educator. Together we discussed strategies for nurturing the next generation of business leaders, creative thinkers, and storytellers. Aaron, Jenny, and Jodi talked about resources they love for teaching marketing and creative skills to their students, as well as the role AI is playing in their classroom today. They also shared ideas for projects that help prepare their students for the real world, plus valuable advice to help your students become the marketers, entrepreneurs, and creators of the future. Looking for more ideas for your creative classroom? We're here to help: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2023/July/Tips-for-Teaching-Graphic-Design. Empower your creative students with an Adobe Certified Professional certification. Learn more here: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Certifications/Adobe/ACP/Overview. Tomorrow's marketers are in your classroom today. Give them skills that matter with the Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate Certification. Learn more here: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Certifications/Meta/Certification/Overview. Connect with educators like Aaron, Jodi, and Jenny in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/. Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here: https://certified.certiport.com/.
Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I sit down with Elgie Bright, Chair at Northwood University, to discuss his game plan for the future of auto in a time of disruption, the importance of developing lifelong learners, building automotive retail curriculum to tackle tomorrow's technologies, and much more. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Ikon Technologies - Ikon Technologies was founded by dealers, for dealers, to solve the daily challenges your dealership faces. Our no-cost Lot Management Platform, with Find the Car, Find the Keys™ technology, makes finding inventory easy, while our patented Smart Marketing platform and Dealer-branded Connect app drives customer loyalty and drive revenue growth back to your dealership. Schedule a demo today to see how Ikon Technologies can help drive your dealership's success by visiting @ https://hubs.la/Q02WVYbV0 2. CDG Recruiting - Building on the success of my industry job board, I'm launching CDG Recruiting — a more hands-on, personalized automotive recruiting service. Our team has decades of experience and has successfully placed over 1,000 roles in the automotive industry. So if you're ready to find your next rockstar employee, try CDG Recruiting today by visiting @ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
In this episode of The Time Management Podcast we meet Simon Bergenroth, an ex-client who read Time Management for Entrepreneurs & Professionals, audited his Time for 7 days and booked a 1:1 Time Audit Review Session with me to get back on top of his Time. This Episode is for you if: → You're constantly running out of time → You're juggling deadlines, responsibilities & a never ending to do list → You're ready for things to be different and are open to trying something new “When you change the way you look at your time, the time you have will change.” Abigail Barnes In this episode we also covered: The ”I don't have time” habit The ‘I've found my Time' revelation Getting back on Track - “Fail to plan, plan to fail” Benjamin Franklin RESET Your Success Story: NEW 8 Week Program, starts 3 February (Pre Work), Sprint starts 3 March Simon Bergenroth: Realisations from a 7-Day Time Audit ❌ What shocked him the most ✅ What changes he's made off the back of it ✅ What they mean for his Business/Life ✅ What they mean for his Relationships/Wellbeing ⭐️ What TOP tips he'd like to share with us Productivity Gains from working 1:1 Abigail It's Your Time And so much more ⬇️ What did you take away from this episode, comment below ⬇️ ⏰ It's your Time! Simon Bergenroth Website: www.threehats.co.uk If you're a busy senior professional looking to take your career to the next level, either in your current role or a new one, then 3Hats… is for you. We offer executive career coaching, mentoring, and advising services to equip you with the knowledge, confidence and tools you need to achieve success and achieve your professional goals. The 3Hats… service offer is designed to adapt to the needs of each client. We don't offer ‘cookie cutter' solutions to what are often complex challenges that have caused you to become ‘stuck' in their career. This approach has been born out of our experience of working with well over 2,500+ senior executives and board members. ‘You can't coach knowledge', if you're looking for solutions and ways forward we'll be there to help you think things through and come up with ideas and solutions to meet your individual challenges. ……………………………………………………………………………. ⏰ 7 Day Time Audit | Data Drives Decisions → Do a Time Audit: https://bit.ly/AUDITYOURTIME → Buy Abigail's Book: https://bit.ly/BUYYOURCOPY (Available on Amazon Worldwide) → Download a free Chapter: https://bit.ly/YOURFREECHAPTER → Book your 1:1 Time Audit Review Session: https://bit.ly/SESSIONWITHABIGAIL "I've loved working with Abigail and Success by Design Training who without doubt have helped me to focus on what's important, organising the most valuable commodity we all have - time! Our strategy session was focused on helping me personally and professionally solve my time management challenges which came at the perfect time as areas of my life were in flux. The time audit I completed prior to the strategy session helped me to hold up a 'metaphorical mirror' to reflect on where I was spending and utilising my time. Talking this through in depth with Abigail made me realise that there were some immediate practical solutions I could put in place but more significantly I had a mindset shift in the way I treated the intentional planning and usage of my time to achieve a solid and achievable work/life balance. Thank you!" Simon Bergenroth …………………………………………………………………………….
This podcast interview features Marsha Tate, who introduces the concept of "business showers"—celebrations similar to baby or bridal showers, but designed to support new or evolving businesses. Marsha Tate explains her inspiration for creating business showers, discusses their various formats (virtual and in-person), and details how they can benefit entrepreneurs through marketing, networking, and fundraising. We also explore the potential for offering business shower planning services and considers how frequently businesses might host such events. "I help moms who dream of entrepreneurship reach their business goals." - Marsha Tate Listen to Marsha Tate's "Take Out the Guesswork Podcast >
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
