Podcast appearances and mentions of washington speakers bureau

Insights from the World's Largest Bureau (ft. Ryan Heil)What we can learn from an industry powerhouse with a startup attitude run by a philosopherOPENING QUOTE:“So, I think that's our job, is to help speakers identify those nuggets, and the speaker's job's to take the complex and make it super applicable.”-Ryan HeilGUEST BIO:Ryan Heil is the president of Washington Speakers Bureau, the largest and quite possibly the single most respected bureau on the planet. But if you dive into his resume, you'll find a whole bunch of unexpected treasures. A former player for the New York Mets and a D1 college baseball coach, Ryan also holds a doctor of philosophy. He co-authored a book entitled Choose Love Not Fear, and has served in numerous leadership positions at Clemson University.Links:BioLinkedInXCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[7:44] - Finding the Fun in FuturismWhy Ryan Heil doesn't fear what's nextNot only is Ryan not concerned about the future of speaking in a rapidly changing marketplace — he's excited by it. He's brought a startup attitude to WSB, ensuring that nothing is sacred and no business strategy goes forward simply because “that's the way it's always been done.” His mantra, “Is there a better way to do this?” has helped WSB look toward the future, when many other long-established bureaus might be tempted to look only to their past. While Ryan acknowledges the company's history has many lessons to teach, he believes those lessons revolve around how to evolve — and what happens when you don't.[13:41] - Helping Speakers Reinvent ThemselvesHow WSB helps guide speakers into new frontiersWhen helping coach speakers to make themselves more marketable — and when selecting new speakers to go exclusive at WSB — Ryan focuses on a set of core questions.Who is going to pay to hear these people speak and their message? What question is the speaker answering that the customer knows they need to answer? How do we help connect that dot? What is your simple message that you repeat over and over again? Do you have platform skills, and how good are those platform skills?Emerging speakers should write these questions down somewhere, then set about answering each of them as they develop their brand.[22:40] - When Not to Go ExclusiveExclusive feels special, but it isn't always rightWhen it comes to going exclusive, Ryan advises putting it off early on. When you're figuring out who you are, making a name for yourself, carving out a space in the market — that's the time to work with as many different groups of people as possible. Keep developing your content, building your product, and finding customer bases. When it comes to the point where you need to either hire a back office or get with a bureau, then you know it's time to start thinking seriously about going exclusive.[28:39] - Ryan's Realistic OptimismThe speaking industry will change. But it will also endure.Ryan doesn't beat around the bush when it comes to potential upheaval in the speaking industry. “What budgets start to look like, what honorariums shift to, how contracts are done, I think all that's going to change. The inclusion of technology and AI into a lot of things, it's all going to change.”And yet, Ryan says, “I do believe that the core of this is going to be around the relationships. Regardless of where people work, who they work with, the structure they work in, people are going to hold meetings. They've been holding meetings and having speakers since the beginning of time, and I think that's going to continue.”RESOURCES:[1:29] About Washington Speakers Bureau[1:50] Choose Love Not Fear, by Ryan HeilFollow Ryan Heil:LinkedInXFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramXYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

An Insider's Look (ft. Ivy Gustafson & Jenny DeRosse)Insights from two amazing experts right here at Impact ElevenOPENING QUOTE:“If you really open yourself up and show who you are and you're not afraid to show your weaknesses and your flaws, the audience really relates to you because we're all human.”-Jenny DeRosseGUEST BIO:Ivy Gustafson spent over 20 years in the bureau world, first as an agent for the Washington Speakers Bureau, and then as an agent for Gotham Artists. When she realized she wanted to dive headfirst into coaching speakers, she joined the Impact Eleven team as director of client development and coaching. Today, she coaches some of the world's most prolific keynote speakers.Links:LinkedInJenny DeRosse first entered the speaking industry as an agent for Toronto-based Speakers Spotlight. After moving to the States, she joined BigSpeak managing exclusive speakers and co-brokering. After a decade on the bureau side, she joined the Impact Eleven team, where she now manages the team of founding partners, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Ryan Estis, and little old me, booking approximately $8 million of keynotes per year for the four of us. She also heads up our bureau relations, which gives her a unique perspective into the industry.Links:LinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[13:54] - It's Not About Content or QualitySuccessful speakers are simply great peopleFrom highlighting what makes them fall in love with speakers to sharing their “speaker pet peeves,” the picture painted by Ivy and Jenny is that the speakers they love aren't the most successful, or the most popular, or the ones that can captivate a crowd. They're the ones who are kind, who answer emails on time, who show up to meetings with the bureau. They're the speakers who understand that this is a human business, and treat everyone as human beings.So if you want to impress a bureau — or anyone in this industry — it's even more important to be a good person than a good speaker.[39:25] - The Bureau is On Your SideBelieve it or not, bureaus want you to succeedThroughout the conversation, Ivy and Jenny make it apparent that bureau professionals want one thing more than anything else — to help speakers succeed. New and emerging speakers often become frustrated with bureaus, either because they can't get their attention or because they can't keep it. “Why don't they care about me?” they think. But the truth is that bureaus care deeply about their speakers — it's why they do what they do. Sometimes they simply have to balance all the competing demands on their time to the best of their ability.[36:35] - Advice for the Next GenerationWhat would our guests say to rising speakers?Both Ivy and Jenny joined Impact Eleven because they believed in the power of learning from people who have been there before. Their advice to young speakers is to seek out opportunities to learn from other speakers, other bureau experts, and established voices within the industry. Whether this comes through Impact Eleven or elsewhere, the power of learning from mistakes, missteps, and masteries of other speakers is absolutely essential.[34:49] - A Category of OneHow to hone your message and speaker brandIvy shares one of Impact Eleven's go-to mantras: what is your “category of one?” It applies to the idea that every speaker should try to pinpoint what they can talk about that no one else can with the same level of authority. It's about taking a broad category and turning it into something where you're the only authoritative voice.What's your category of one? The time to start looking is right now.RESOURCES:[2:10] About Gotham Artists[2:33] About BigSpeakFollow Ivy Gustafson:LinkedInFollow Jenny DeRosse:LinkedInFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

On today's show, Brian Crimmins and our host, Jim Friend, discuss the recent Giving USA 2023 report. The two discuss why philanthropy and the number of donors in 2022 is down from the previous year and what can be done about it. Join this discussion for insights on how religious and nonprofit leaders can take action to be successful in fundraising in 2023. Brian and Jim discuss relationship building, some macroeconomic factors, and even how Ai is currently being used in Development Offices. Brian Crimmins is the Chief Executive Officer at Changing Our World, Inc. and the Global Managing Partner of ONE HUNDRED. He is a frequent contributor to publications covering the nonprofit sector. Brian has been invited to speak around the world on Catholic Philanthropy, Catholic Education and social impact. Brian is a global leader in social impact. He is a popular public speaker with the world's foremost speaking agency, the Washington Speakers Bureau. Brian is also the author of The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity's Greatest Challenges. Many thanks to our Sponsor: Changing Our World Watch the full video presentation of this conversation. https://youtu.be/pgzd8M7f3Fg Recorded: July 17, 2023 Don't miss our sponsor's podcast: Changing Our World's FORGING FORWARD Don't miss the webinar series FORGING FORWARD, a virtual philanthropic conference designed to bring you, nonprofit experts from around the country. Daily Spiritual Reflection and Prayers on “Kristin's Crosses” Join Jim and Kristin Friend and their family on Kristin's Crosses YouTube Channel for “Today's Catholic Prayers.” Jim and Kristin offer the daily Gospel and Reflection along with the Rosary and Catholic Prayers of the day. Click here to visit the YouTube Page and subscribe. If you would like to join the Kristin's Crosses prayer group on Facebook, click here to request to join.

Gen. Petraeus served over 37 years in the U.S. military, culminating his career with six consecutive commands as a general officer, five of which were in combat, including command of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and NATO/US Forces in Afghanistan. Following his military service, and after confirmation by the Senate by a vote of 94-0, Gen. Petraeus served as Director of the CIA during a period of significant achievements in the Global War on Terror. David Petraeus is a Partner in the global investment firm KKR. David is also a Visiting Fellow/Lecturer at Yale University, a speaker with the Washington Speakers Bureau, and co-author with Andrew Roberts of the forthcoming book, “Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine.” #GeneralPetraeus #DavidPetraeus #nato #vilnius #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #zelensky #putin #counteroffensive #war #hybridwarfare #foreignpolicy #communism #kyiv #ussr ---------- LINKS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Petraeus https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpetraeus/ https://www.kkr.com/our-firm/leadership/david-h-petraeus https://rusi.org/people/petraeus https://politics.exeter.ac.uk/research/centres/strategy/members/petraeus/ https://jackson.yale.edu/person/david-h-petraeus/ ---------- ARTICLES: https://unherd.com/thepost/david-petraeus-ukrainians-will-out-suffer-vladimir-putin/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live/2023/01/30/transcript-politics-war-leadership-with-gen-david-petraeus/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/02/us-russia-putin-ukraine-war-david-petraeus https://thehill.com/policy/international/4066757-petraeus-prigozhin-lost-his-nerve-in-calling-off-rebellion/ ----------

Life Is Tough, But So Are You with Simon T. BaileyOur guest on the podcast today is Simon T Bailey, Success Magazine calls him, one of the top 25 people that will help you reach your business and life goals. He is a best-selling author and a “Hall of Fame” Keynote speaker. Washington Speakers Bureau recognized him as one of the 12 business speakers who emboldened audiences to think big and lead with purpose.Simon was the first Black American sales director for the Disney Institute based at Walt Disney World Resort. Since leaving Disney, he has served 2,100 organizations in 50 countries by providing practical leadership strategies to accelerate results. His three LinkedIn Learning courses have been viewed by 250,000 individuals in 100 countries. He's also written 10 books and has one of the 100 most-read motivational and successful blogs.He is a certified Caritas Executive Coach that leads with Heart-Centered Intelligence and authored several books. His latest one is Ignite the Power of Women in Your Life - A Guide for Men. His greatest joy is spending time with his wife, their four children, and their new granddaughter. He roots for the Buffalo Bills, collects rare postage stamps, loves Gospel concerts, and enjoys watching reruns of Coming to America and James Bond movies.In today's conversation, we take a deep dive behind the scenes with Simon to explore what has shaped his work, the challenges he has overcome and the struggles he has broken through, and how these have shaped his beingness in the world. He emphasizes the importance of open conversations, feeling connected, and having the resilience and courage within to face life's challenges and keep getting back up to ride the wave when you get knocked off center. Simon shares his own practices in open and vulnerable ways. These concepts, when worked on together, can lead to a better emotional state, stronger relationships, and create positive changes in the world.Simon shares how there is value in learning to help others and tapping into the deep sense of fulfillment that can come from acts of kindness; even the smallest acts can have a great impact. In order to fully thrive in life and in an AI world, we must remember to stay true to ourselves and pursue what we love and value.If your life or work feels hard, if you could benefit from a little more resilience and courage to keep stepping forward, then I encourage you to listen to this deeply resonant dialogue for insights. I suspect you'll enjoy Simon's perspective on what we can do to embrace our wholeness and simply come home to ourselves, to rest in our truth.Key TakeawaysHow Simon's unique life journey shaped his life and work, the struggles and the breakthroughsHow the stories we tell ourselves shape our livesLeadership and the relational fieldBecoming whole and forgiving oneself and others is critical to your well-beingThe 3 principles of great leadership in today's AI worldMemorable Quote“When I am intentionally choosing to serve someone who can do nothing for me, it is in that beingness that we become a healing presence. They are healing, but we are also healing. And coming to that wholeness I'm helping somebody. And it doesn't have to appear on social media. I don't need a like a comment, or reshare. I am doing this because of who we become in the process.” — Simon T. BaileyEpisode Resources:Simon's WebsiteSimon's Linkedin ProfileBOOK: Ignite The Power of Women In Your Life by Simon T. Bailey

211: Is Philanthropy in a State of Crisis? (Nathan Chappell & Brain Crimmins)SUMMARYIs philanthropy in a state of crisis? In episode #211 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Nathan Chappell and Brian Crimmins, co-authors of the book, The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity's Greatest Challenges, offer a wake-up call to nonprofit leaders everywhere, but also suggest solutions to the downturn they see, and will help you re-establish the interconnection that drives generosity. Learn from the fascinating research they did, and implement their recommendations to spark the generosity of your organization's donors.  ABOUT BRIANBrian Crimmins is a global leader in social impact, a popular public speaker with the world's foremost speaking agency, the Washington Speakers Bureau, and Chief Executive Officer of Changing Our World. He is a frequent contributor to publications covering the sector and has been invited to speak around the world on topics touching corporate social responsibility, purpose, and social impact, emphasizing not just what mission-driven organizations can and should do in the nonprofit and CSR spaces, but how leaders might organize their inner and personal lives to expand the edges of their own potential. His expertise is tapped in service to some of the world's largest and most influential corporations as they define their core reason for being and translate theory into action. Brian holds a Bachelor of Science from St. John's University and an MBA in Marketing Management from St. John's Tobin School of Business.ABOUT NATHANNathan Chappell, MBA, MNA, CFRE is an entrepreneur, inventor, thought leader, author, and considered one of the world's foremost experts on the intersection between Artificial Intelligence and philanthropy. As a pioneer in the philanthropy sector, he has launched multiple start-ups that have revolutionized fundraising practices. Nathan's subject expertise has been nationally recognized by organizations including Fast Company, Forbes, Citi Bank Global Insights, AWS, Microsoft, SalesForce, The Chronicle of Philanthropy and the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy. Nathan is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and holds a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame, an MBA from the University of Redlands, a certificate in International Economics from the University of Cambridge and a certificate in Artificial Intelligence from MIT.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESTrillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell by Eric SchmidtPower and Prediction: The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence by Ajay Agarwal

On this episode of The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast, I'm so excited to be talking with Nathan Chappell and Brian Crimmins, two brilliant minds in the nonprofit space, respectively.As a thought leader, public speaker, author and inventor, Nathan is one of the world's foremost experts on the intersection between Artificial Intelligence and philanthropy. Nathan is Senior Vice President of DonorSearch AI, leading artificial Intelligence deployments for some of the nation's largest nonprofit organizations.Nathan is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and holds a Master's in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame, an MBA from the University of Redlands, a certificate in International Economics from the University of Cambridge and a certificate in Artificial Intelligence from MIT.Brian is a global leader in social impact, a popular public speaker with the world's foremost speaking agency, the Washington Speakers Bureau, and CEO of Changing Our World. Through service lines that include strategic planning, fundraising, corporate social engagement (CSR & ESG), research and analytics, and communications, Changing Our World raises billions in support of client causes.And counseling leading companies and brands to design and implement strategic corporate responsibility programs that deliver social impact while driving business strategy.Together, they (along with Michael Ashley) are co-authors of The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity's Greatest Challenges, a thought-provoking exploration of the generosity decline in the U.S. and its impact on nonprofits, individuals and communities.Through their insightful analysis, Brian and Nathan present a compelling case for adopting a Radical Connection approach, which emphasizes building lasting connections rather than transactional interactions, to reverse this trend.Take a listen.RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEThe Generosity Crisis WebsiteChanging Our World, Inc.DonorSearch AIGiving USAPower and Prediction: The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence by Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans, and Avi GoldfarbStart with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon SinekCONNECT WITH OUR GUESTS ONLINEConnect with Nathan Chappell onlineLinkedin / Website / Email Connect with Brian Crimmins onlineTwitter / Linkedin / EmailTHANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORThank you to our friends at Bloomerang for being a sponsor...

Jim Stengel is the President and CEO of The Jim Stengel Company, which works to build brands and companies by activating their purpose. He has authored the books ‘Grow: How Ideals Power Growth and Profit at the World's Greatest Companies' as well as ‘Unleashing the Innovators: How Mature Companies Find New Life with Startups.' He is also a speaker with the Washington Speakers Bureau, the host of The CMO Podcast, and serves as Dean of the Young Marketers Academy at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.Jim is the former Global Marketing Officer of Procter & Gamble, the largest marketer in the world, and is known for having personally led the transformation that has firmly established P&G as one of the most admired brand-building companies in the world under the mantra that an activated purpose is what inspires, motivates, and retains employees and customers.In this conversation with Chief Growth Officer at Deloitte, Stacy Janiak, and Thinkers50 co-founder, Des Dearlove, Jim dives into activating purpose, staying curious, asking the right questions, and understanding implicit biases in the room. This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives' participation in this podcast are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.

Who makes the laws that impact Americans? Politicians! We all know that every story has multiple sides. So, in this episode of Off the Wall, hosts David Armstrong and Jessica Gibbs welcome Reince Priebus, former White House Chief of Staff for President Donald Trump and chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), to give a Republican viewpoint on what is happening in American politics.   Reince shares his take on the recent midterm elections, the future of the Republican party, and how these will impact the average American.  You'll hear Reince speak about the role of media in the intense political division in America, why it's so hard to fix the immigration problem, what's on the Republican legislative agenda for the next two years, and much more.    Episode Timeline/Key Highlights:  [00:09] Introducing Reince Priebus & The topics of today's episode.  [05:41] What happened in the 2022 midterms?  [10:26] Why wasn't there the “red wave” that people talked about coming into the midterms?  [12:16] How can the Republican Party change their messaging to capture the attention of the 9% of Americans who are Independent?  [16:00] Could a non-partisan, middle-centrist presidential candidate get elected?  [18:55] Where is the Republican Party headed, especially with Donald Trump announcing his candidacy to rerun for president? Is the Republican Party moving away from Trump?  [22:30] In Reince's view, what kept Joe Biden from supporting a strong border? What drives us to vote against people who stand up for movements we believe in?   [24:40] Why you shouldn't let your personal opinions about politics drive your investing decisions. + What is on the Republican legislative agenda for the next two years?  [27:35] Realistically, what issues could President Joe Biden tackle in the next two years?  [29:30] Why is it so hard to fix immigration?  [34:38] Why are Democrats getting elected in border states if illegal immigration is such a problem in those states?  Please see important podcast disclosure information at https://monumentwealthmanagement.com/disclosures.      About Reince Priebus:  Reince Priebus currently serves as the President of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, a nationwide law firm with more than 260 attorneys. Prior to joining Michael Best, Reince was named White House Chief of Staff shortly after the 2016 Presidential campaign.  Prior to managing the White House staff, Reince served as chairman of the Republican National Committee. Before serving as RNC Chairman, Reince served as chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.   He was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in both 2016 and 2017.  Reince previously served as a visiting Fellow at Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School and is currently an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Additionally, he is also an exclusive speaker with the world-wide speaking company, The Washington Speakers Bureau.  Reince received his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law. He practiced as a corporate litigator at Michael Best's Milwaukee office for many years before moving to the D.C. area. He was raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin and is a die-hard Packers fan.     Connect with Reince:  Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Reince  Read his full bio at https://michaelbest.com    Connect with Monument Wealth Management: Visit our website: https://bit.ly/monumentwealthwebsite Follow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/MonumentWealthIG Follow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/MonumentWealthTW Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/MonumentWealthLI Connect with us on Facebook: https://bit.ly/MonumentWealthFB   About “Off the Wall”: Off the Wall is a podcast aimed at helping you answer the questions: What is the point of my wealth, and what actions can I take to accomplish that purpose? Your answers to those questions will be different from everyone else's. As Wealth Managers, we're skilled at helping our clients think through these challenging, but important, questions.  Learn more about our hosts, Dave and Jessica on our website at https://monumentwealthmanagement.com.

Time Schedule:  140 minutesSummary of Topics Covered:Lesson and stories from six decades practicing lawProsecutorial discretionSmall town problem solving for lawyersLearning from MistakesSeizing opportunitiesInstructor Hon. Alan K. Simpson, Esq. BioHon. Alan Simpson served in the U.S. Senate (R-Wyoming) from January 1979 to 1997, where he was the Assistant Republican Leader, 1984-1994; Chairman of the Subcommittee of Immigration and Refugee Policy of the Senate Judiciary Committee, 1980-1984; Nuclear Regulation Subcommittee of Environmental and Public Works, 1980-1984; Chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security and member of the Committee on Aging; Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, 1980-1984. From 1994-1996, he was a member of the Finance Committee; 1965-1977, Wyoming State Legislature, 1965-1978, Assistant Majority Leader, Majority Leader, and Speaker Pro Tem.Mr. Simpson served as Assistant Attorney General, State of Wyoming in 1959, and was City Attorney of Cody, Wyoming, from 1959-1969. Partner: Simpson & Simpson (with father Milward L. Simpson who also served as Governor and U.S. Senator for Wyoming ); Simpson Kepler & Simpson, 1960-1978. Additionally, Mr. Simpson served in the U.S. Army, 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Armored Division “Hell on the Wheels” and the 5th Division, U.S. Armed Forces, Germany.Alan Simpson is currently with the Washington Speakers Bureau in Washington, D.C. He is a very popular speaker and travels the country and abroad to speak to a wide variety of groups and associations regarding current affairs and politics in remarks entitled “Politics is a Contact Sport”.Mr. Alan Simpson is Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming.Mr. Simpson was a member of the Board of Visitors for the Folger-Shakespeare Library and the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. 1994-1996. From 1998 to 2000 Mr. Simpson was the Director of the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; and he was a Visiting Lecturer at the Shorenstein Center on Press, Politics and Public Policy, 1997-2000.Mr. Simpson served on the Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 1996 and he has been a member of the Screen Actor's Guild since 1994. He served on the Board of Directors for the Biogen Corporation (now BiogenIDEC Corporation), Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1997-2004 and he was a member of the Board of Directors of American Express Funds, now RiverSource Funds, a subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1997 through 2006.In March 2010, Mr. Simpson was appointed by the President as the Co-Chairman of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and he also served on the ten-member Iraq Study Group formed under the auspices of the congressionally chartered U.S. Institute of Peace in 2006.J.D., University of Wyoming, 1958B.S., University of Wyoming, 1954

Guest: Shelley Zalis is an internationally renowned thought leader, movement maker, and champion of equality. She is a pioneer for online research, becoming the first female chief executive ranked in the research industry's top 25. She has devoted her career to elevating women, connecting leaders for change, and advancing equality across industries. Today, as CEO of The Female Quotient, Zalis works with Fortune 500 companies and impact organizations to advance equality in the workplace. She has fostered a multi-generational, international community of women rising to catalyze change. Through The Female Quotient's signature pop-up experience, the Equality Lounge®, Shelley creates a “home of equality” at conferences worldwide, such as the World Economic Forum, Cannes Lions, and SXSW. She also leads initiatives within corporations, creating tools for equality and activating solutions for change. Shelley is an admired speaker and member of the Washington Speakers Bureau and a skilled moderator who has interviewed influencers such as Katie Couric, Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sheryl Sandberg, and Arianna Huffington and more on topics related to equality and leadership. Shelley authors a Forbes column that provides inspiration and advice for women in the “messy middle,” middle management, looking to grow into leadership positions. She is co-founder of #SeeHer, a movement led by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) to increase the percentage of accurate portrayals of women and girls in advertising and media. In 2020, she was named on the Worth Groundbreakers list of 50 Women Changing the World. She is on the board of directors for MAKERS. Episode in a Tweet: Be your own Chief Troublemaker; don't be afraid to break some rules, create boundaries, push boundaries, and create more inclusive and equitable companies. Quick Background: I met Shelly through her son, Jake Fleshner, the executive producer for all of David Meltzer's programming. He prepped me for going on Meltzer's show “Office Hours” and introduced me to Shelley. Shelley and I hit it off instantly, and I was intrigued by her work at The Female Quotient (FQ). During the interview, Shelley shares the story of how the Female Quotient came to be, and we discuss why we need to break certain rules and shake things up—describing why she calls herself the Chief Troublemaker. I love that she unapologetically herself and pushes boundaries to create a life she loves and a company helping other women do the same. I appreciate Shelley's insight on the need to use new language to shape the way we think about the workplace, and others agree. FQ is becoming the expert on what women want in the workplace, being sought out by Fortune 500 companies looking to attract and retain talent, especially female talent. Shelley has so much fun sharing her insight into what women want and what leaders need to do to rethink how we work. You can find Shelley here: https://www.thefemalequotient.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyzalis/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/femalequotient/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/shelleyzalis/?sh=57be7d511719

Negotiating when you feel the other person is more powerful seems impossible sometimes.  How do you turn it around when it seems like there is no way to win?   Shelley Zalis is a master at this.  In this episode she discusses:  - what to do when you feel like the other side holds all the cards  - how to create rapport with difficult people  - how to get them to see your value  - how to get them to respect you  - finding your voice even when you don't have any confidence  and so much more.   If you are negotiating with narcissists or high conflict or difficult people, this episode is a must listen for you.  Grab your pad and pen and get ready to take notes from one of the masters!    More About Shelley Zalis CEO, The Female Quotient Shelley Zalis, known as the “chief troublemaker,” is a pioneer for online research, movement leader, and champion of gender equality. She is an internationally renowned entrepreneur, speaker, mentor, mother, and founder and CEO of The Female Quotient. Zalis rewrites the rules and innovates solutions to impact real change. In 2000, she left the corporate world to found OTX (Online Testing Exchange), which became one of the fastest growing research companies in the world. She sold OTX to Ipsos in 2010, and then led global innovation in more than 80 countries at Ipsos OTX. Today, as CEO of The Female Quotient, Zalis works with Fortune 500 companies to advance gender equality across industries. The FQ’s signature pop-up experience, the FQ Lounge (formerly the Girls’ Lounge), brings a Home of Equality to major conferences, companies, and college campuses around the world. The FQ Lounge is the gathering place for leaders of all levels at events such as the World Economic Forum, Cannes Lions, Consumer Electronics Show and the Milken Institute Global Conference. Through the destination-turned-movement, Zalis has connected more than 18,000 women in business and created the largest female-led community to transform workplace culture. Zalis is an acclaimed speaker and member of the Washington Speakers Bureau. She is also a dynamic moderator who has interviewed influencers and leaders such as Katie Couric, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Arianna Huffington, Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, Reese Witherspoon, and David Schwimmer. Zalis authors a Forbes column that provides advice for women in the messy middle (middle management). She is the co-founder of #SeeHer, a movement led by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) to increase the accurate portrayal of women and girls in advertising and media. Zalis is also on the Board of Directors for MAKERS, ColorComm and Dress for Success. A firm believer in giving back with generosity, Zalis is not only a mentor to women around the world, but also provides time and resources to educating girls in countries such as Rwanda. She has been awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Global Marketing Leadership Award, ARF Great Minds in Innovation Award, AWNY’s Game Changer Award, and the Matrix Award. You can follow Zalis on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.  _______________________________________________________________________________________ THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR INFORMATION:   Soberlink is a comprehensive alcohol monitoring system. Combining a breathalyzer with wireless connectivity, Soberlink automatically documents proof of sobriety in real-time, which gives clients a sense of accomplishment while rebuilding trust with others. Features Adaptive Facial Recognition technology Technology to detect physical tampers Real-time text message reminders and Alerts Customizable scheduling Automated reporting options Get an exclusive $50 off your device by emailing info@soberlink.com and mentioning Negotiate Your Best Life ____________________________________________________________________ For more information on REBECCA ZUNG, ESQ. visit her website www.rebeccazung.com and follow her on Instagram: @rebeccazung and YouTube! GRAB YOUR FREE CRUSH MY NEGOTIATION PREP WORKSHEET RIGHT HERE!  SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL RIGHT HERE.  Grab a copy of Rebecca's book, Negotiate Like You M.A.T.T.E.R.: The Sure Fire Method to Step Up and Win (foreword written by Robert Shapiro).   It went straight to being a #1 bestseller the first day it was launched!  Find out what everyone is so excited about - get the book RIGHT HERE!  To get your copy of Rebecca's bestselling book, Breaking Free: A Step by Step Guide to Achieving Emotional, Physical and Spiritual Freedom, please visit the Amazon website to order it RIGHT HERE.   ........................................................................................................................ Remember to follow THE NEGOTIATE YOUR BEST LIFE PODCAST on social media for updates and inside tips and information: Instagram Finally, we'd really appreciate it if you would visit iTunes and give us a 5 Star Rating and tell us what you like about the show - your feedback really matters  DISCLAIMER:  THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE.  YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

Real Good Company is a show where we talk with real people building good companies that are making a real impact. We’re so excited to welcome today’s guest, Brant Menswar, a speaker, author, core values activist, and author of “Black Sheep.” The book was inspired by his son, Theo, who was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer at the age of 14. After 263 straight days in the hospital, the family was told to say their goodbyes. Unbeknownst to Brant, his brother posted a Youtube video pleading for help for Theo. The video went viral overnight, and doctors around the country reached out offering to help. They found a solution to an impossible situation, and Theo survived.After the jarring experience, Brant was motivated to live with more intention and to figure out his nonnegotiable values, aka his “Black Sheep Values” or the things that make him 100 percent, original, and unique. He went on a years-long journey of doing the work to figure out his “Flock of Five,” his nonnegotiable values that can be honored on a daily basis.Today, Brant’s values are clearly established and unchanging. His Flock of Five (plus an additional bonus value) include: hope, creativity, impact, empathy, family, and authenticity. Every decision he makes gets filtered through these six things. Previously, before finding his non-negotiables, Brant was speaking about 25 to 30 times a year. After he did the work to find his values and to live with intention, by July of 2019, Brant was speaking 70 times a year, his speaking fee tripled, and Washington Speakers’ Bureau named him one of the Top 10 Speakers in the country.On today’s podcast, we focus on values-driven leadership and how discovering our nonnegotiable values leads to success. Brant says that people who know their Black Sheep Values have a competitive edge in life versus those who don’t know their non-negotiables and are just winging it. Brant shares how to bring your values to work and how to create values-driven leadership and values-driven organizations. Without these “organizational Black Sheep Values,” a company’s success is based on pure luck or chance. He shares how connecting the head and the heart helps establish those values. Brant also explains how organizations have to be deliberate about how their values are going to be experienced and creating bridges between employees’ personal values and organizational values.You can find out more about Brant and everything mentioned on today’s show here. Also, you can find Brant on Instagram @brantmenswar and on Facebook here. Get to know our hosts on Instagram @CaitlinCrosby and @AllieBridge. Please be sure to rate, review, and subscribe so that we can stay in Real Good Company!

Another part of Jess B's life is that as a working professional speaker. She has spent the last several years traveling the country working the speaker's circuit, and through her work, she has had the opportunity to create so many new connections, and the following conversation is a result of those relationships.Annette Brechbill, founder of Brechbill Group Speaker Management andConsultancy, shares her unique working collaboration with fellow speaker management agent, Mirjana Novkovic about pushing each other out of their comfort zones and asking for what they are worth. Through the work they do together, and separately, they can attest to their experience of helping each other, and supporting one another and using it as their superpower to build their business into a flourishing, thriving company that helps speakers share their vital stories- because words matter, and stories will change the world. A bit about the business of the speaker's world, but mostly about what it means to be a woman in the working world, and what it could look like to combine forces, this episode is truly inspiring for women who are looking for a positive example of working with other women, supporting other women, going into business with other women. Practical advice from these two power house women on how to coordinate and ultimately succeed!Meet Annette!Annette Brechbill is a Keynote Speakers Agent, Virtual Event Content Creator, TEDx Executive Producer, and member of the International Association of Speakers Bureaus (IASB.) Like many military spouses, Annette has an eclectic background. Originally from Australia, she has lived in 6 countries and visited 60 more. Annette has worked wholesale travel agent in Australia, a flight attendant in Bahrain, and as a diplomat at US Embassy London.  Annette’s passion for the power of storytelling lead her to join Washington Speakers Bureau as a Speaker Relationship Manager. There she oversaw a portfolio of 40 Exclusive speakers who generated 25 million dollars in revenue annually. Her portfolio included names such as Madeline Albright, Arianna Huffington, and former British Prime Minister, David Cameron, and your very own Jessica Buchanan!  Annette’s company, Brechbill Group Speaker Management and Consultancy, leverages skills and knowledge she gained by closing deals for world leaders to share the wisdom of her speakers with organizations across the globe.   On the consultancy side of her work, she combines forces with the amazing Mirjana Novkovic to create video and written marketing assets that help speakers reach their customers and close more deals.    Annette is mumma to 3 young children and Navy wife. She is a lover of good wine, trashy tv, and 90’s music. Meet Mirjana!Mirjana Novkovic brings more than 20 years of experience within the global speaking industry. She is the Founder and Principal of Evoke Invoke Speaker Consultancy,  working with global speakers who Evoke Emotion and Invoke Action.Mirjana is a leading relationship manager focused on developing and championing her speaker clients by being deeply committed and emotionally invested in their message and purpose and by positioning them within the speaker bureau marketplace, Mirjana previously spent 16 years with the Harry Walker Agency (HWA) in New York, where she held primary responsibilities within their Client Relations division as a liaison between some of the world’s leading speakers and Fortune 100 clients and she served as Vice President of Marketing for over 12 years. During her time at HWA, Mirjana oversaw the marketing strategies for more than 150 iconic exclusive speakers, including many of the most globally sought-after and high-profile World Leaders, C-Support the show (http://www.paypal.com)

I have learned over the years that conventional thinking is often WRONG. We tend to fall into the groove that if other businesses are doing something and if there are hundreds of consultants and authors talking about it, the ideas that are being discussed must be effective. Contrary thinkers and writers are often a minority and therefore may not reach the audience that needs to hear their message. Gary Heil, a Washington Speakers Bureau exclusive speaker and co-author of Choose Love Not Fear, joins me in this edition of the Business Builders Show to speak with Alfie Kohn. Kohn's criticisms of competition and rewards have been widely discussed and debated. His books include No Contest: The Case Against Competition, Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes, and School Beyond Measure & Other Unorthodox Essays About Education.. I hope you will step away from conventional thinking for a few minutes and allow yourself to be a student. Someone who listens and possibly changes "the way we have always done things around here."Learn more about Alfie Kohn at alfie kohn.org. You can connect with Gary Heil on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-heil-b46b98/Thank you for listening to this edition of the Business Builders Show with Marty Wolff. Our show is a production of Business Builders Media LLC, where we give entrepreneurs and business leaders the tools they need to have their voices heard. Learn more at businessbuildersmedia.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode is packed full of quotes that I love from Shelley such as “It's not going to fix itself, we have to actively close one door and open another. If we keep talking about things and admiring the problems we will continuously widen the gaps.” We discuss the zig zag path that got Shelley to where she is today. The things that made her who she is, her parents who she describes as incredible role models. From a father, the adventurer who encouraged Shelley and her sisters to live in the moment and experience everyday with wonder and curiosity. To a mother who taught all of the girls to believe in themselves and to have confidence. Shelley describes her upbringing as being ‘remarkable' and all about ‘values'. The result of which being she lives her life with a no regret policy to life – no should of, would of, could of. Believing in saying yes or no to things but never saying you don't care about something. “Do everything you do with purpose and passion.”  Zalis is an admired speaker and member of the Washington Speakers Bureau. She is a skilled moderator who has interviewed influencers such as Katie Couric, Halle Berry, Sheryl Sandberg, Gabrielle Union, and Arianna Huffington on the subject of equality and leadership. Zalis authors a Forbes column that mentors women in the “messy middle” and helps them reach the next level in their careers. She is co-founder of #SeeHer, a movement led by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) to increase the percentage of accurate portrayals of women and girls in advertising and media, and sits on the board of directors for MAKERS and ColorComm. For more about the Female Quotient and the amazing work they do go to:https://www.thefemalequotient.comIf you are curious about who you are, your brain and the influences in your life then please dip into my most recent book Mirror Thinking – How Role Models Make Us Human. https://bit.ly/MirrorUSACanhttps://bit.ly/MirrThinkOr my award winning first book Defining You – How to Profile Yourself and Unlock Your Full Potential https://amzn.to/2lFMwOrhttp://bit.ly/DefiningYou  Follow on:Instagram: www.instagram.com/fiona_murdenTwitter: https://twitter.com/fionamurdenFacebook: https://facebook.com/fionamurden  

I first heard of Gary Heil and Ryan Heil PhD, through a Washington Speakers Bureau program called "Leadership Lessons from the Fast Lane". Gary is the host of several programs there and I was impressed with Gary's interview skills. Here is a link to one of those interviews Gary did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQyfWOy3d6I&t=2632s.I also learned that along with Ryan, Gary had written a book CHOOSE LOVE Not Fear: How The Best Leaders Build Cultures of Engagement and Innovation That Unleash Human Potential. I bought and read the book, and now they are on the Business Builders Show. I highly recommend the book. .Few discussion points from our conversation:Tell me more about Alan Mullaly's "Love em' up before you coach em' up".Should we become less tolerant of bad leaders?"Smart" goals may not be that smart.Performance vs PotentialConnect with Ryan on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanmheil/ and Gary Heil at https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-heil-b46b98/Thank you for listening to the Business Builders Show with Marty Wolff on the Business Builders Media Network: businessbuildersmedia.com. If you want to comment or ask a question, call or text me (Marty Wolff) at 570 815 1626. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Leadership is a reflection of who you are. Do you want to be a leader who leads out of fear to manipulate, or do you want to lead out of love?"  Today, leaders need new tools in their bags to be successful. Leadership development up until now has been very much focused on the leader and not focused on the TEAM PLAYERS. Let's get rid of behavior modification, incentives and punishments, and learn to lead out of LOVE instead of fear.  What is a leader? How can you unleash the potential of those around you? How do we STOP trying to create motivation, and instead create a culture where people make powerful choices and feel empowered? How can you help ordinary people do extraordinary things?  How do we stop wasting the potential of others, and bring out their Picasso? How do we create an environment where people voluntarily sacrifice for something bigger than themselves, out of their own motivation and desire? If we think something is wrong with those we are leading, is it them, or do we need to look at how we are creating culture and leading? Leadership of old limits our potential, tells people what to do and limits how we act. How can we create a culture and practices that brings out what's really inside of everyone on the team and let's them shine? Gary Heil, author, leadership coach and consultant, in a vulnerable and real episode, shared how he has deep dived into what leaders need to embody in order to bring out who people really are, use all their capabilities and potentials and create an unstoppable movement. Listen to this episode to learn how to create a better environment that brings the extraordinary out of those around you through leading with LOVE.  Do the uncommon. Learn more at garyheil.com Find Gary at the Washington Speakers Bureau @garyheil  Book: Choose love not fear: how the best leaders build cultures of engagement and innovation that unleash human potential Ready to finally live your purpose and make a real impact? It's time for your voice to be heard. Make a real difference! To start your journey, email tsippi@tsippigross.com for 1-1 and group programs. Follow me on instagram @tsippigross and @havahtribe  For more information, visit tsippigross.com  

In this episode, we talk with SIMON T. BAILEY, breakthrough strategist, keynote speaker, innovator and author.THOUGHT #1Love and Respect Have No Color.THOUGHT #2A Man Can't Ride Your Back, Unless It's Bent - Martin Luther King Jr.CONNECT:Website: SimonTBailey.comBook: Be the Spark: Five Platinum Service Principles for Creating Customers for LifeBook: Brilliant Living: 31 Insights to Creating an Awesome Life (Brilliant Living Series)Book: Releasing Leadership Brilliance: Breaking Sound Barriers in EducationFacebook: Simon T. BaileyInstagram: @Simon T. BaileyLinkedin: Simon T. BaileyTwitter: @SimonTBaileyYouTube: Simon T. BaileyBRAND & RESOURCE MENTIONS:"My Generation" (The Who) - YouTubeKilla Thug Tooth Jeweler - KillaThug.comWoke - WikipediaJersey Shore - TripAdvisor.com"Hey Jude" (The Beatles) - YouTubeWalt Disney World - DisneyWorld.Disney.Go.comLinkedin Learning - Lynda.com Disney Institute - DisneyInstitute.comSan Diego Zoo - Zoo.SanDiegoZoo.orgGeorge Floyd - WikipediaMartin Luther King Jr. - Wikipedia"Just A Man" (Big Kettle Drum) - YouTube"Not For Sale" campaign - NotForSaleCampaign.org"The Dark Side of Chocolate" (Documentary) - YouTubeHard Rock International – HardRock.comThoughts That Rock – ThoughtsThatRock.comBig Kettle Drum - BigKettleDrum.comBlack Sheep: Unleash the Extraordinary, Awe-Inspiring, Undiscovered You (Brant Menswar) - FindYourBlackSheep.comRock ‘n Roll With It: Overcoming the Challenge of Change (Brant Menswar) – RocknRollWithIt.comCulture That Rocks: How to Revolutionize Your Company’s Culture (Jim Knight) – CultureThatRocks.comCannonball Kids’ cancer – CannonballKidscancer.orgKeppler Speakers - KepplerSpeakers.comCertified Rock Star - CertifiedRockStar.comSpectacle Photography (Show/Website Photos) – SpectaclePhoto.comJeffrey Todd “JT” Keel (Show Music) - JT KeelSIMON T. BAILEY'S BIO:Success magazine calls Simon T. Bailey one of the Top 25 people that will help you reach your business and life goals. He is in a list that includes Oprah Winfrey & Dr. Brene Brown. His viral video posted by Goalcast to Facebook has over 87 million views.Washington Speakers Bureau recently selected him as one of the top 1 2 Business Speakers and Big Speak Speakers Bureau selected as one of the Top Sales Kick-Off Speakers for 2020Today, Simon is a Breakthrough Strategist who goes beyond feel-good content and provides real-life deliverables that impact lives. His wisdom and expertise enabled an Orlando-based healthcare system to be acquired and a division of a hospitality company to be ranked No. 1 for customer service by Expedia.com.He has worked with 1800 organizations in 49 countries. A few of his clients include Google, Microsoft, MasterCard, Hilton Hotels, American Nurses Association, and the NSA (National Security Association).Simon has more than 30 years’ experience in the hospitality industry including serving as sales director for Disney Institute, based at Walt Disney World Resort.He is the author of ten books including the HarperCollins-published book, Release Your Brilliance, Releasing Leadership Brilliance published by Corwin Press (a division of Sage Publishing), and Shift Your Brilliance, published by SoundWisdom. His three online courses on Linked In Learning (Lynda.com) have been viewed by people in 100 countries.Simon currently serves as a board member of the U.S. Dream Academy, a twenty-year old organization whose mission is to increase high school graduation rates for children whose parent(s) are incarcerated. He also serves on the board for the Orlando Health Foundation Board, a $4 Billion 100-year old non-profit hospital with 20,000 employees based in Orlando, Florida.Simon is a Summa Cum Laude master’s degree graduate of Faith Christian University and was inducted as an honorary member of the University of Central Florida Golden Key Honor Society. He has also served on the advisory council for Management and Executive Education for the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College, one of the top 25 best private graduate business schools in the U.S.Recently he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Humanities from Kayiwa International University/United Graduate College and Seminary International in Kampala, Uganda for his global impact. Furthermore, he has received the World Civility Award from iChange Nations and is acknowledged as a World Civility Ambassador.When Simon is not busy advancing professionals’ and organizations’ development, he roots for the Buffalo Bills, collects limited edition stamps, and is an avid movie goer. Simon is the proud father of two young adult children and currently resides in Orlando, Florida. 

My guest for this special extended episode is Bernie Swain. He is the co-founder with Paula Swain and Harry Rhoads Jr. of Washington Speakers Bureau, a lecture agency which represents many prestigious authors, politicians, journalists, athletes, and business leaders. He is author of the book What Made Me Who I Am. He talks about his humble beginnings, starting the company, exceptional clients, leadership, character and honesty.

As a researcher and leadership coach Dr. Ryan Heil has spent more than a decade helping organizations develop cultures that support higher levels of engagement and creative contribution. His research focus has led him to develop a new and unique methodology to assess an organization's culture. Choosing to lead from love and not feard does not guarantee that a team will become highly engaged and innovative. It is, however as he notes, the inescapable first step in unleashing human potential.Ryan presently serves as the Chief People and Culture Officer at the Washington Speakers Bureau.In this exclusive interview Dr. Heil shares with Daria his evidence-based, proven strategies and approach to leadership in our offices, classrooms, and playing fields.  

In this episode, I speak with Bernie Swain, co-founder of the Washington Speakers Bureau, who give me a wakeup call as he causes me to think of them as "turning points" by discussing all of the ones that changed his life.

Read the complete transcript on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. JOHN'S FINAL TIP TO EMERGING SALES LEADERS: "I have never regretted thinking Big. Thinking of these goals that far surpass where I was last year, where I'd like to be and never been daunted by what I need to do to get there. Just believe in yourself and ask others and constantly improve, focus on winning and I guarantee you will." John Ryder is the VP of Global Sales at the Washington Speakers Bureau, also known as WSB. Prior to coming to WSB, he held sales leadership positions in the telecom space at AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. We also interviewed Sandy Lutton, the former Chief Revenue Officer at WSB. You  can find her show here. Find John on LinkedIn!

Bernie Swain – Washington Speakers Bureau a Handshake Deal Bernie Swain, his wife and Harry Rhodes Jr co-founded the Washington Speakers Bureau. It took 8 years of working, gathering speakers, building their business to get to the moment when they truly arrived. They'd met with a speaker they wanted to sign. Everyone in DC wanted him, Swain's company wasn't a front-runner; there were bigger more established firms. Fred Ryan, President Reagan's Chief of Staff from 1989 to 1995 called Bernie. Braced for bad news, Ryan let Swain know, President Reagan selected the Washington Speakers Bureau to represent him. In this moment, his company graduated to the top of the industry.  

Bernie Swain had started his dream job as athletic director at a major university, when he and his wife discovered a major opportunity in an entirely new field. His wife convinced him to quit his dream job and start a lecture agency, with their headquarters being a friend’s large office closet. Nine years later their Washington Speakers Bureau lecture agency became the largest in the world.

When you’ve grown to be the largest lecture agency in the world who represents prime ministers, presidents and secretaries of state, you have to understand that this value of work womes from a turning point in life that defines who you are. Author of “What Made Me Who I Am” Bernie Swain used to work in a closet before he got to represent 3 of the last 4 presidents of the United States. He shares that with Washington Speakers Bureau, your speech should aim to make a difference and make people go in a direction of change. AirBnB has proven that there are people who would choose to rent rather than own. Co-founder and CEO of Boataffair Adrian Walker applied this idea to renting boats. He and his wife thought they liked sharing the boating experience but a lot of people don’t own one because of money and maintenance factors. He now helps people enjoy a fantastic day in the water and he earns extra income on the side. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join the Take The Lead community today: Dr. DianeHamilton.com Dr. Diane Hamilton Facebook Dr. Diane Hamilton Twitter Dr. Diane Hamilton LinkedIn Dr. Diane Hamilton YouTube Dr. Diane Hamilton Instagram

Read the transcript from Sandy Lutton's podcast on The Sales Game Changers Podcast website. Sandy Lutton is the Chief Revenue Officer at the Washington Speakers Bureau. Sandy's responsible for developing the company's revenue strategy and ensuring the strategy aligns with the corporate vision. In addition, she's responsible for all revenue generating processes in the organization and focuses on driving strategic alignment across all corporate function. Her key focus areas include sales and marketing as well as customer and speaker relations and logistics. Prior to the Washington Speakers Bureau, Sandy held the position of National Director of Sales and Operations at Grant Thornton. In her life-long sales career, she has held just about everything you can imagine. Her clients have ranged from early stage startups to Fortune 500 and everything in between. Find Sandy on LinkedIN!

Bernie Swain is the founder of the Washington Speakers Bureau, a lecture agency which represents many prestigious authors, politicians, journalists, athletes, and business leaders. At the firm’s start back in 1980, he began signing every speaker with a handshake -- this proved to be the hallmark of trust that helped accelerate the company’s growth. Years later, Bernie’s roster of speakers would be the greatest in history and the firm still continues its practice of signing speakers on the strength of a handshake. Today, the best of Bernie's fortunes turned out to be the speakers themselves because these remarkable leaders had become his friends and he captured many of their most personal, powerful influences and defining moments in his book, “What Made Me Who I Am.” What you’ll learn about in this episode: How an error became a defining moment in Bernie’s career Why passion is so much more important than talent when you’re starting a company on your own Why there are no shortcuts to long term success How a handshake can create an environment of trust and honesty Why Bernie felt compelled to write the book, “What Made Me Who I Am” How turning points in our life define our successes and accomplishments How you earn opportunities by making wise decisions The importance in taking your time to make life decisions Why you need to remember that no matter what you do, you are your brand How best to connect with Bernie: Website: bernieswain.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/BernieSwainAuthor LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bernie-swain-0a704b4

Bernie Swain had started his dream job as athletic director at a major university, when he and his wife discovered a major opportunity in an entirely new field. His wife convinced him to quit his dream job and start a lecture agency, with their headquarters being a friend’s large office closet. Nine years later The Washington Speakers Bureau lecture agency became the largest in the world.

Entrepreneurial, passionate Bernie Swain is an American businessman and author. Chairman of the Washington Speakers Bureau and foremost authority on the lecture industry.    Bernie Swain, Co-founder of the Washington Speakers Bureau and author of What Made Me Who I Am and founder of The Washington Speakers Bureau, in 1980… in a closet, became the largest lecture agency in the world represent American and world leaders; 3 U.S. Presidents, 5 Prime Ministers of Great Britain, 6 Secretaries of State, journalists, authors, Business leaders, sports legends and great achievers of all kinds.   Quote: Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." -- Winston S. Churchill     Website:: bernieswain.com Facebook:: FB: https://www.facebook.com/BernieSwainAuthor/ LinkedIn:: LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernie-swain-0a704b4/    Premium binge worthy content. Up or Out with Connie is reaching over 2.5m listeners per episode. And we’re not done  yet…  We can be heard on… ·       C-Suite Network ·       iTunes ·       iHeartRadio ·       Stitcher ·       Multiple online networks, and ·       1,900 analog stations in 145 Countries. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, because you don’t want to miss any of the good stuff.   Let us know what you would like and need to hear on a future episode. We are here to mentor leaders who are ready to develop high-performance habits, achieve excellence and Be Unstoppable Together.   Register to be a guest at www.uporout.com   Book Connie to speak at your next event: UnstoppableSpeaker.LA Are you an executive looking for a mentor to help you develop High-performance Habits and achieve excellence? Give Connie a call at 570.906.4395, she just may be what you’re looking for!    Now to get your copy of the Be Unstoppable Freedom journal, simply send an email to TEAMPHEIFF@pheiffgroup.com. In the subject line include Be Unstoppable Freedom Journal.   I will send you to link where you can enter your information. I’ve ordered 2,000 books for you… my listeners. This journal retails for $97.00.  It’s yours for free, but I do ask that you help by paying for the shipping. That’s it, only pay for the shopping and I will send you and autographed copy.   It’s easy, send an email now to TEAMPHEIFF@pheiffgroup.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bernie Swain shares one of the biggest factors in starting and maintaining his business; having empathy for his clients. Trust grew his business to represent the biggest names in politics and the entertainment world.  Presidents, Prime Ministers, Authors, Big Thinkers and TV and Acting celebrities.     Bernie Swain is the Founder of the Washington Speakers Bureau and author of What Made Me Who I Am. The original idea was encouraged after Alex Haley told Bernie to think of our lives as being libraries and how sometimes they are overflowing with volumes and experiences and they need to be shared. In his book he shares the experiences of different celebrities and cultural icons and how they overcame what was holding them back and had trust in the process and were able to become successful.   More info about the Washington Speakers Bureau: Founded in 1980 by Bernie, his wife Paula Swain and Harry Rhoads Jr. created a bureau that changed how the lecture industry operated. They set new standards and upon making his first deal with a client Bernie never used a signed contract.  All deals were based on trust. Since 1980 Washington Speakers Bureau has represented three presidents and has been a part of over 50,000 events.   You’ll discover:   The importance of trust between yourself and your client. Why you need to find people that are good examples in your life. How empathy can open your business up to greater success. That there is a pathway for all of us to find. What makes passion more important than talent. Interview Links & Other Resources   Visit BernieSwain.com Visit the Washington Speakers Bureau Check out Bernie Swain’s book What Made Me Who I am Follow Bernie Swain on Facebook Connect with Bernie Swain on LinkedInFollow Bernie Swain on Twitter Mere Mortals Unite on C-Suite Radio iTunes - Subscribe, Rate and Review  

Bernie Swain’s wife, Paula, convinced him to quit his dream job and start a lecture agency with her. With no experience, plan or money, they did. Nine years later, their agency, The Washington Speakers Bureau, became the largest in the world. Clients included President Reagan, Alex Haley, Tom Brokaw, Condoleezza Rice, General Colin Powell and Doris Kearns Goodwin. “Through the successful, accomplished people I represented, I came to understand what turning points are all about.”

In this episode I meet Bernie Swain - co-founder and Chairman of Washington Speakers Bureau and today's foremost authority on the lecture industry. Over the past 35 years, he has represented former US Presidents, American and world leaders, journalists, authors, business visionaries, and sports legends In this fascinating conversation with Bernie we talk about his experiences working shoulder to shoulder with the world’s leaders. We talk about passion, determination and defining moments, and how that passion can be unlocked in the turning points of your life. Find out how Bernie risked everything, starting in the stationery cupboard in a friends office, and how, with dedication, passion and pure dogged determination, he built his business to be the best and most respected agency in the country. 1:12 - Introducing Bernie Swain, the co-founder and CEO of the Washington Speakers Bureau.   2:25 - The difficulty of breaking through the public personas of world class interviewees.   5:00 - How he approached the interviews for his book and his expectations.   6:34 - Bernie’s focus on turning points and the big turning points in his life.   8:51 - The process of leaving his dream job to start a speakers bureau with no experience at all.   11:08 - The 14 months of failing in starting the business and recognizing your turning points.   13:43 - How important it can be to fully commit and burn the bridges.   15:15 - The importance of both passion and dogged determination.   17:09 - Starting a speakers bureau with no experience and the role of the small wins.   19:50 - Connecting authentically with clients through identifying with their challenges to tell their stories.   21:56 - Starting the process of his interviews by having a trusting relationship between the interviewee and himself.   23:05 - Advice for recognizing your turning points when they’re presented to you.   24:51 - How important it can be to trust your intuition.   27:40 - Challenges from early on in Bernie’s experience with the speakers bureau.   29:09 - Dangers of being derailed from your goals by outside voices.   31:23 - Advice for people feeling buried in social media.   33:16 - Breaking down the stories of world class people into relatable paths.   34:47 - How Bernie sees his business changing - or not - in the near future.   36:30 - What the people Bernie works with are like, on a personal level, and the role of trust in all relationships today.   39:12 - Living with abundance versus scarcity and how that has affected people Bernie has worked with.   41:36 - The simplicity and interconnectedness of the traits that create great people.   42:42 - The questionnaire.   46:32 - Getting in touch with Bernie and finding his book, What Made Me Who I Am.         Resources and Links Mentioned:   Washington Speakers Bureau   What Made Me Who I Am by Bernie Swain   Bob Woodward   Fortune Magazine   Lou Holtz   Yogi Berra   Liz Murray   BernieSwain.com   Facebook   LinkedIn          

Today's guest on The Successful Pitch is Bernie Swain, the author of “What Made Me Who I Am”. He's the founder of the Washington Speakers Bureau, which represents famous presidents, Tony Blair, Condoleezza Rice, athletes, Tom Brokaw, and he talks about how he started his agency, how long he had to wait while working out of a closet to get his first client, and the resilience it takes to become an entrepreneur. He said, “Passion is much more important than talent, and a pitch works when it's real and authentic. Really, there's no short-term path to long-term success.” He said, “You'll never be happy until you control your own destiny.”

Bernie—founder of the pre-eminent lecture agency in the world, Washington Speakers Bureau—comes from simple, humble, and resilient stock.     His mother, Patricia, grew up in central Virginia with her family who were farmers and lived off the land. She worked on her parents’ farm, hunted, fished and yet loved to fly; she befriended Charles Lindbergh and other aviators of her time.  Bernie’s ... Read More

 Bernie Swain founded the Washington Speakers Bureau. Hear the whole story on The Nice Guys today. Reach Us Here: Doug- @DJDoug Strickland- @NiceGuyonBiz Bernie- @Swain_Bernie On Facebook: The Nice Guys Community page Become a patron and support the podcast at www.Patreon.com/NiceGuys   Show Notes by Production Assistant - Anna Nygren   Intro Go ahead Patreon, make my day   “A friend's half-serious note spurred us to abandon our careers and risk our family's fortune on a preposterous idea.”   –Bernie   The most successful people are driven by their defining moments. So says our guest today Bernie Swain. He is co-founder and chairman of one of the most powerful agencies in the world, The Washington Speaker's Bureau. His client list includes presidents, dignitaries, celebs and sports heros. Sometimes behind the scenes but always leading the pack. Welcome Bernie to the Nice Guys. What a cool collection of awesome you have put together...you've got to be happy with this? You originally called the Agency a preposterous idea. So crazy in fact, it had to work or you would lose everything. Tell me more. 3 presidents, 4 prime ministers 5 secretaries of state...but Bernie, no Nice Guys podcast hosts, I must have missed the invitation to contribute. Can you share some of your why for a moment. You are one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our day. It's not about the money, at least I don't think it is, your credit score is looking pretty good. What is it about? Share with our community a story in your book that inspires you most. I know there are many, but is there one that stands out for you? What's it like to sign a president, did you keep the pen? Who was your first president, Reagan right? That must have changed your life. Talk about instant fame. What do you want people to remember your for Bernie? What Made Me Who I Am    Contact: Get Bernie's Book- What Made Me Who I Am BernieSwain.com bswain@washingtonspeakers.com   Text “NiceGuys” to 31996 for bonus material and to be entered to win a FunkNfans T-Shirt every week.   Proud to be affiliated with the C-Suite Radio Network and the Greatness Podcast Network   Doug and Strickland's Stuff: Amazon #1 Best selling book Nice Guys Finish First. Business Building Bootcamp (10 Module Course) Need Podcast Production? www.podcastproduction4you.com   Partner Links: Amazon.com: Click before buying anything. Help support the podcast. Sign up for Sanebox free and get a $10.00 credit on us: The best way to get a handle on your E-Mail. Interview Valet:  Get interviewed on top podcasts and share your message. Acuity Scheduling: Stop wasting time going back and forth scheduling appointments   Survey: Take our short survey so The Nice Guys know what you like.   Nice Guys Links Subscribe to the Podcast Niceguysonbusiness.com   You can text Doug anytime at 410-340-6861, of if you just want to leave us a message or record an intro to the show, call 4242 DJ DOUG (1-424-253-3684)   Promise Statement: To provide a learning experience that adds value to your life.   Don't underestimate the Power of Nice.

This episode features Christine Rowe, the Vice President of Human Resources for the Washington Speakers Bureau and Pierre Franco, the Director of People Operations and Culture for Freshly. They share their insights on talent, leadership and the importance of creating an award winning culture.This show is brought to you by Talk 4 Radio (http://www.talk4radio.com/) on the Talk 4 Media Network (http://www.talk4media.com/).

This episode features Christine Rowe, the Vice President of Human Resources for the Washington Speakers Bureau and Pierre Franco, the Director of People Operations and Culture for Freshly.  They share their insights on talent, leadership and the importance of creating an award winning culture.

In the early 1980s, Bernie Swain left his dream job at a young age to work in a closet with his wife. Their goal was to create the Washington Speakers Bureau. The agency has since represented several presidents, prime ministers, and bold-faced names -- clients he signed with a handshake. Bernie Swain’s new book is “What Made Me Who I Am”. Show Notes: https://whitneyjohnson.com/bernie-swain-disrupt-yourself/  

Co-founder and Chairman of the Washington Speakers Bureau, Bernie Swain joins Moe Abdou to discuss why the turning points in your life often define your destiny.

Bernie Swain has had the most intimate conversations with some of the worlds most influential people. Presidents, Prime ministers, Colin Powell, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brokow, Allen Greenspan, CondoLeeza Rice, sports legends, andmany more. Bernie is the co-founder and Chairman of Washington Speakers Bureau. Which is the Largest Speaking agency in the world. Having represented the last 4 Prime Ministers of Great Britain, 3 of the last 4 presidents of the United States and very high profile speakers countless American and world leaders, business and economic visionaries, journalists, authors, and sports legends. Today, Swain remains Chairman of Washington Speakers Bureau, and he says: When you actually get to know, the way he did, the truly successful and accomplished people, you will often find a turning point. It may be a person in their life, a moment in time, or an unexpected event. It may be more intangible, such as the expectations set by others, or something that totally surprises you. Bernie Swain says: success and accomplishment don’t happen in a vacuum; they rise from experiences that have a profound and lasting influence. When you ask these successful and accomplished individuals about their turning points and listen carefully, you will often hear truly enlightening and inspirational stories—stories that can serve as a shining beacon of light to us all… and that’s what he’s hear to share with us today For more, visit BernieSwain.com.More on the Host Dov Baron: http://FullMontyLeadership.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bernie Swain has one of the more interesting people I've interviewed. He quit his job to start a speaker's bureau, signed his first deal on a handshake, represented President Ronald Reagan - and now he's written a terrific book.  In this conversation, we talk about taking the risk of starting an agency, how he was able to secure President Reagan as a client, and what's next in his world. We laughed, we shared stories, and Bernie gave us some terrific advice on how to become a success.   More about Bernie, from his about page: Bernie Swain - founder of the pre-eminent lecture agency in the world, Washington Speakers Bureau - comes from simple, humble, and resilient stock.     His mother, Patricia, grew up working on her parent’s farm, hunted, fished and yet loved to fly; she befriended Charles Lindbergh and other aviators of her time. Bernie’s father lived with his single mother, five sisters, one brother and numerous relatives in a tiny two-room house in one of the poorest mining towns in West Virginia; he spent part of his childhood in the local orphanage.  The couple married and settled down in Arlington, VA, where Bernie and his brother grew up listening to New York Yankees games on the radio and idolizing Bernie’s hero, Mickey Mantle.  Inspired by his high school football coach, Bernie planned on a career in college athletics.  He earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from George Washington University. In the last few months of graduate work, he met his lifelong partner, Paula, a special education teacher.  The two of them started a family during Bernie’s five-year tenure as GW’s Assistant Athletic Director.  At GW, Bernie created one of the first college athletic marketing programs in the country.  He also managed the baseball team; its performance was so strong that the team made it to the N.C.A.A tournament for the first time in 20 years.  By the time Bernie reached his early thirties, he was well-prepared to become GW’s Athletic Director upon his boss’s imminent retirement. The year was 1979. Jimmy Carter was President.  Headlines of the times consisted of the Iran hostage crisis, Three Mile Island’s nuclear accident, and Britain’s election of Margaret Thatcher as prime minister.  The Bee Gees were popular as was Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, Tom Wolfe’s bestseller The Right Stuff, and Sony’s Walkman.  “A friend’s half-serious note spurred us to abandon our careers and risk our family’s fortune on a preposterous idea.”   –Bernie This was also the time when Bernie and Paula’s friend, Harry Rhoads, sent them the note that inspired all three of them to turn their lives upside down.  They quit their jobs to start a lecture agency—without experience, without a plan, and without a single client.    “Bernie, you will never be truly happy until you control your own destiny.”  –Paula, 1979 The trio started Washington Speakers Bureau from a small supply closet belonging to Chuck Hagel, who would later become Secretary of Defense. For eighteen rocky months, they sat in that closet with their savings running out, unable to compete against the dozens of established agencies up and down the east coast. “What have I done?”  –Bernie, 1980 Just then, Bernie got his first exclusive speaker, sealing the deal with a handshake. That handshake became a “defining moment” for their company as word spread in the small town of Washington. Their roster of speakers started to grow and their market share increased. “You gain a certain confidence—and optimism—when you build a business yourself.” –Bernie, 1990 In just eight short years, WSB became the top agency in the world.  Then their growth and their reputation expanded. Over the last thirty-five years, WSB has represented three US Presidents, four prime ministers of Great Britain, countless American and world leaders, business and economic visionaries, authors, media personalities, and sports legends.  More from Bernie Swain Buy What Made Me Who I Am Visit Bernie's website Check out Washington Speaker's Bureau Follow Bernie on Twitter

In this episode, I talk to Bernie Swain about The Washington Speakers Bureau, his new book, passion, and much more. Here's our conversation: The post Ideas: Bernie Swain — The Washington Speakers Bureau  appeared first on Adam Kirk Smith.

Today I'm speaking with Bernie Swain, co-founder and Chairman of the Washington Speakers Bureau and author of http://bernieswain.com/book/ (What Made Me Who I Am). Bernie fell into this career by accident, but he developed a passion for meeting new people and forming relationships.  Bernie was prepared to pursue a career in college athletics but, as his boss was ready to retire and promote him, Swain quit to join his wife Paula and his friend Harry Rhoads to start a lecture agency without experience, without a plan, and without a single client. “We started out not knowing anything.” The three co-founders started Washington Speakers Bureau from a supply closet belonging to Chuck Hagel, who would later become Secretary of Defense. After a rough year, when their savings were running out, Swain secured their first speaker: Steve Bell, then the anchorman for Good Morning America. Eight years later, WSB was established as the top lecture agency in the world.  “Your brand is trust and honesty: being able to deliver what you say you're going to deliver, and deliver it well.” Over the last 35 years, WSB has represented three US Presidents, four prime ministers of Great Britain, countless American and world leaders, business and economic visionaries, journalists, authors, and sport legends. “The most important thing is relationships.” Bernie's career is built on networking and good relationships. Steve Bell reached out because of a positive experience with Bernie at his previous career working in the athletics department of GWU, and then Bernie and Steve made their deal based on a handshake – a sign of trust. What could have been a huge mistake (not signing a contract) became a huge boon for WSB. “A surprising number of speakers gave us a chance knowing they could walk away from us at any time if we didn't do a good job for them, or if they didn't trust us they could walk away from us. On the other hand, we knew because they could walk away from us that we had to work hard to make them happy.” WSB continues to represent everyone on a handshake, because that's the soul of their business. Good leaders build a strong foundation with solid character. With their solid foundation, WSB is still on top and they've made countless friends along the way. “No matter who you are, or what the decision is, you want to make decisions that you feel in your heart are the right things to do.” What Made Me Who I Am isn't the story of how Bernie became successful, they're the stories about how his life changed because of the relationships he has made. Bernie shares first-hand accounts of the powerful influences and defining moments from accomplished leaders like Doris Kearns Goodwin, Colin Powell and Terry Bradshaw. You can find an excerpt on Bernie's site. I appreciate Bernie coming by and sharing his story. He is a passionate, risk-taking leader who sets a great example by building a business with a soul and serving his clients well. -- Don't be a podcast junkie… Resources: Learn more about Bernie: Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter What Made Me Who I Am by Bernie Swain Washington Speakers Bureau -- This episode is brought to you by SY Partners and Unstuck, helping you make a change by identifying the things holding you up. Their new program “Life Courses” are based on decades of learning about what inspires people to change. It is created by SYPartners, a transformation company that helps individuals, teams, and organizations become the best version of themselves, so they can create massive positive impact in business and society. To start making your change, visit Life Courses by Unstuck on the web. -- We are also brought to you by the Lawton Marketing Group. A full service advertising and design agency serving companies and entrepreneurs at all levels. The are your one stop shop for all your web site, logo, social media, print, app design and reputable management needs. Visit LawtonMG.com for...

Erika's guest is Bernie Swain, the co-founder of the Washington Speakers Bureau and author of What Made Me Who I Am, the new book that captures leadership transformations of 34 of his company's most prominent speakers. Erika and Bernie focus on practical insights and tips to help you become a better leader and manager.

Do you find yourself at a turning point? A fork in the roads where your only choices are to either stay on your current trajectory or pursue a passion you can’t yet back with experience or expertise? Lucky for you, passion wins out over talent every day of the week, because having a natural talent is almost inconsequential if you’re not passionate about using it to achieve and make a difference. Bernie Swain joins us today to talk about his leap from steady career to entrepreneurship, how it almost failed, and what he did to turn his failing project into the thriving business we know today as The Washington Speakers Bureau. Tune in! In this episode, you will… Learn why passion is more valuable than talent Realize how important it is to discover your passion, and then incorporate it into your career Be reminded that relationships are integral to development, because success and accomplishment don’t happen in a vacuum Understand that people aren’t born great, but great qualities and traits can be developed Discover that a willingness to learn from others makes you stronger, wiser, and positions you for success “Our influences and defining moments add up to who we are.” – Bernie Swain CLICK TO TWEET SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST EPISODE RESOURCES Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best Podcast Becoming Your Best Blog Becoming Your Best iTunes The Washington Speakers Bureau What Made Me Who I Am by Bernie Swan See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.