We've all been guilty of trying to be perfect. We run around our house making it look like a museum. We run our meetings with the proper agenda. We have this constant anxiety that goes along with trying to make the inevitably imperfect, perfect. But what if instead of focusing on perfection, we instead focus on creating a vibe? A feeling, an aura, an environment that is more focused on the feeling we want people to have than the façade. Well, Erin and Nicole have tested this out and holy schnikies, it changes everything! Because here's the thing–people are sick of going through the motions, both at work and (especially) in life. When you focus on creating a vibe instead of the perfect charcuterie board or board meeting, people think and feel "Ahhhh, I was so sick of everyone's perfection. This is the vibe I've been craving instead and didn't even know it!" Tune to hear how just this small shift in mindset has changed work and life for both Erin and Nicole, and to start thinking about where you can replace perfection with creating a vibe. Click here to shop b Authentic Inc merchandise! If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole) Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)" Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice Work with Us Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "Other than the national tragedies and the fact that I caught both COVID and poison ivy, it was a great weekend." "Poison ivy is like jury duty. Once you have it, you seem to just keep getting it." "If you're putting it out there, I'm getting your vibe. I'm here to support you. I'll work with what you give me. That's a recipe for your success." "Criminal law, sexy. Civil law is lucrative. Administrative law? I don't know that people know that exists. That's what we need!'" "Apparently my pasta salad was the talk of the town at the company picnic." "The vibe is to take myself where I feel like I can make a difference, but don't feel like I own all these outcomes because that's not authentic. That's not the vibe."

In this episode, Erin sits down with Anton Gunn, a former state legislator, federal policymaker, and Harvard Professor and now the founder of the 937 Strategy Group for discussion on, well, everything. Anton is sure to inspire you as he shares his passion for great leadership and how it was formed from a unique combination of being part of a family dedicated to service, the five U.S. Presidents he met, his many mentors, his college football coaches (what not to do) and hip hop. If you're looking to truly become a great leader, you don't want to miss this episode. You'll be incredibly moved by his authentic perspective on how to move forward in life, take on incredible challenges and be the kind of leader that leaves a legacy for many people including, most importantly, your family. Connect with Anton on Linkedin Connect with Anton on Instagram Connect with Anton on Facebook Connect with Anton on Twitter Visit Anton's Website If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole) Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)" Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice Work with Us Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "You're never too big to help someone out, because there's always someone out there in the universe who needs to hear from you." "Who am I to deny someone of their opportunity? It's not a rivalry, it's authentic." "I teach leaders not to be transactional, but to be relational." "To focus on relationships, regardless of status, is really important." "When you don't have a good environment, where people feel valued or respected, you can't get people to optimally perform." "I wasn't appreciated as a person, so I did the bare minimum, and you see the same in the workplace. You mentally quit long before you physically quit." "If you're disabled, if you have limited English proficiency if you're just poor, the system is fragmented for you and it's hard to live out your potential." "When you get into a new leadership position...you're only entitled to the respect and value of a leader for one day. The next day you have to begin earning that title and earning that respect of the team you lead." "You need to interview the people on your team for their expertise on how you should be doing a great job." "All of us at some point get told what we can't do, what we can't have, and that we don't have all the tools in the toolbox that other people have." "How do you encounter the person at the store, doing your laundry, the person washing your car. You can act a certain way with everyone, and that attitude reflects in your leadership."

Employee burnout has become a hot topic in recent years, as more and more workers report feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. There are several reasons why this may be the case, but some of the most common include unrealistic expectations, a lack of work/life balance, and a feeling of being unappreciated. Oh, and a global pandemic. And we probably don't have to tell you the impact. But we will. For employees, burnout can lead to physical and mental health problems, as well as job dissatisfaction and motivation. For employers, it can mean increased absenteeism, decreased productivity, and turnover. Whatever the cause or repercussions, burnout can have serious consequences for both employees and employers. And too often we talk about what a person can do for THEMSELVES to reduce burnout. But the reality is they need help from their leadership more than anything. In this episode, Erin shares 10 practical tips for leaders to reduce employee burnout that are so easy to implement you can literally start tomorrow. Purchase You Do You(ish) Want podcast updates and other tips? Join our email list. We promise the emails aren't slimy! If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole) Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)" Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice Work with Us Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "Instead of asking somebody, 'How are you doing?' change that to 'How are you doing on a scale of 1-10?'" "Take a real vacation and do not log in." "Share your experiment with others and let it grow like wildfire." "What one thing, if you could get rid of it would allow you to focus more on the big work?" "Take a real vacation. You could talk about the importance of taking a vacation all day long, but then if you go on a vacation and you're constantly checking in and you're the martyr that's taking meetings, that trumps everything you said."

Like a fine wine that's aged, Erin is finally busting out an interview with her favorite boss, Martha Temple, and she's sharing all her thoughts on how to have a big career by not conforming. Earning an executive title and the corner office isn't exactly easy. So, what's the secret sauce to making it as a big time executive while maintaining your sanity and self? Well, here's what Martha will tell you it's not: fitting in. Martha is an experienced CEO and P&L owner who led several major subsidiary companies within Fortune 50 companies and is now a Board Member of six companies. An Actuary only by certification (not by stereotyped personality), Martha has spent her career bucking the norm and leading with authenticity and passion. She's a big believer that people have way more talent and great ideas than they give themselves credit for, and she's passionate about helping people see that success only really comes when you commit to standing out and doing the things that aren't necessarily popular or normal. In this episode, you'll hear Martha share what's shaped her throughout her corporate career, dish out advice for others who want to make it to the top, and also share some funny stories along the way. If you're interested in climbing the ladder while maintaining your sanity and self, this episode is for you. Connect with Martha on LinkedIn If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole) Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)" Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice Work with Us Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "Being a woman in the roles I was in, I wanted to make sure that I was remembered." "It's sitting in their office and saying, 'I love that picture of your family.' Because all of a sudden you have a personal connection and too many people don't work that personal connection." "If you have somebody that'll support you and who knows you're not going to be perfect, all you have to do is figure out the first step." "You've got to trust your gut. If you don't trust your gut, you're never going to succeed." "I see too many people that sit in the background and have great ideas but aren't willing to be the one to put it out there." "If you do what you want to do and you love what you're going to do, you're going to be successful at it and enjoy life." "Stop apologizing and start being true to yourself."

Break out the bubbly and put your party pants on because NICOLE. GOT. A. NEW. JOB! And to help her put her best foot forward, Erin's sharing her top tips with Nicole (and you, dear listener) on how to make that fancy new job better than the last. People mentioned in the episode: ">Jackie Brubaker's Podcast Renée Bauer If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole) Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)" Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice Work with Us Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "Your text afterward was frameable. It was so well thought out. So poignant. I think it said something like, 'That was fucking, fucking, fucking awesome.'" "You don't have an appointment with me right now, Nicole does. Check my calendar. You need to exit stage left and go work on your homework."- Erin to her son Mick "An open door was created that I never would have had because of this moment of familiarity connection. It had nothing to do with professional clout." "Don't go into a new job trying to prove yourself based on hard work. If you go in and have this mentality that 'I'll do whatever it takes', you are essentially indicating to them that you were an employee earlier in your career." "How do you demonstrate your value and show that you're not just a do-er, that you're actually a leader?"

We all want to be successful, but sometimes it can be hard to define what success looks like. Is it having a big house and a nice car? Is it being able to travel and see the world? Or is it simply being happy and content with your life? The truth is, that success means different things to different people. But if you're having trouble defining what success looks like for you, our guest, Tim Schurrer, is here to help. Tim knows what it takes to build a winning team. He spent almost a decade of his career-launching two brands— StoryBrand and Business Made Simple—as COO alongside New York Times bestselling author Donald Miller. Before that Tim worked at TOMS as well as Apple Inc. He is the host of the Build a Winning Team podcast, where he offers listeners actionable advice as he interviews some of the top leaders in business. Ready to redefine what success looks like for you? Tune into this episode to find out how to get started. The Secret Society of Success: Stop Chasing the Spotlight and Learn to Enjoy Your Work (and Life) Again http://SecretSocietyBook.com https://instagram.com/timschurrer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/timschurrer/ If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole) Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)" Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice Work with Us Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "If you're chasing after the wrong definition of success, it usually leaves you feeling worse or the same as you felt before you had that thing that you thought you wanted." "The momentum started to happen for me in my career when I stopped trying to be the guy on the stage and started helping other people." "Does your calendar, does your schedule, do your behaviors match up with how it is that you would say you define success?" "Success is in the assist." "We have to learn to identify what success looks like for each of us and keep our eyes on our own scorecard rather than constantly being influenced by everything else around us." "Our lack of defining success is used as a filter that is then causing us to behave and make decisions in a particular way."

Authenticity isn't fluffy unicorn doo-doo and we've got the proof to back it up. In this episode, Erin and Nicole share highlights of b Authentic Inc's new study, "Authenticity in the Workplace." At first glance, it may seem like a tall order to prove that authenticity works in the workplace. After all, how can you measure something as subjective and intangible as trust or respect? But rest assured – we have the data to back up our claim. Curious to see how much of a difference authenticity really makes in a company? You won't want to miss this one (or its mind-blowing results!) The Impact of Authenticity in the Workplace National Study If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole) Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)" Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice Work with Us Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "People that worked at authentic companies were four times more likely to say there's a high level of trust with them." "People that work for authentic managers were six times more likely, 600% more likely to follow them." "You just put on chapstick and now you look glowy and nice. And I'm trying to secretly get half off camera so I can shove a Cadbury creme egg in my mouth." "Authentic culture is more important than the diversity in a company. Intuitively it makes sense because if I go work for a company that has all the right numbers, you know, 50% of women in leadership roles. It has 30% people of color…But if those people can't be themselves or if it feels contrived or controlled or tokenized in some way it can actually go backwards."

Despite the fact that he grew up in the free lunch program at school, our guest, Brandon Fong, became a published author, traveled to 23 countries with his wife, ran the marketing operations for a 7-figure online education company with 250,000+ students, was featured on TV, and launched his podcast to a top 2% global ranking in less than a year… all by the age of 25. Brandon is on his own path to build his first 7+ figure business and share what he learns along the way. Brandon believes that one of the most effective solutions to some of the world's biggest problems is to create a movement of people dedicated to pursuing self-expansion and doing big things in the world - not just for the outcome, but for what it makes of them in the process. In this episode, Brandon shares with us a 3-step method for creating engaging and genuine connections that provide massive value, but also lay the groundwork for future opportunities. Download a summary of Brandon's Magic Connection Method process If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole) Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)" Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice Work with Us Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will control your life and you will call it fate."- Carl Young "As I look back on that experience now, I really view that as one of the greatest things that ever happened to me. It really inspired me to pursue and think about things differently and to be more resourceful." "The number one thing in a mentee/mentor relationship is, "Is this person actually going to execute on what I'm teaching them?" "Open up your inbox and you want to be the exact opposite of everything that's in your inbox." "Value- it's not complimenting because the other person has a big ego you're complimenting because you'll know what's important to them."

It's always a bit of a shock when life throws us a curve ball. We think we have everything under control and then something happens to remind us that we're not actually in charge of anything. It can be a really difficult thing to deal with, especially if it feels like everything is crumbling down around us. But when sh*t starts to go off the rails, it might be the perfect opportunity to reevaluate our lives and see if what we are currently doing is aligned with who we truly are. Feeling stuck, unhappy with your current situation, or living in unalignment with your values? This just might be the episode you need to make a change. Know Your Why I Michael Jr If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: [email protected] If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow b Cause on Twitter (really it's mostly Nicole) Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram Join the b Cause Podcast Facebook Group Take our simple, fun and insightful"What's your workplace superhero name?"quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book,"You Do You (ish)" Check out our blog for more no-BS career advice Work with Us Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "I gave up all pretenses and was like, "yeah, I'm just the drunk friend sitting at the table." "Baby Ruth is the worst candy bar, and I can think of two movies it starred in." "I feel like I won the dad lottery. I really do." "It's hard to live in a world where your biggest fan is not there." "We shall never speak of this again." -Aurelio Licata, Nicole's father "It's fucking weird in here."-Aurelio Licata, Nicole's father "It's useful to spend some time thinking about whether you're operating in 'what' or 'why' to maximize your energy, your efficiency, your impact. Do what you need to do. Survive, thrive, whatever the fuck it is. Knowing the difference between those two things and where you stand is the difference between standing still and moving forward."