Becoming Preferred

SEASON: 1 EPISODE: 31

Episode Overview:

Branding is more than just your logo, slogan, product or service. It's more than just a business card or a resume. So what is it then? To learn more about personal and professional branding and how to do it right, is my guest, Joe Whitbread.

Guest Bio: 

Joe Whitbread started his career in broadcast journalism and took his first gig as an on-air personality in Grande Prairie, Alberta shortly after graduating from SAIT. Joe moved through the radio industry as a producer, and salesperson, before transitioning to social media when it became apparent this was where businesses would have to be, to be seen. 

As a professional emcee, PA announcer, and voiceover artist, he’s hosted thousands of events in his 30+ year career in the public. Joe is a Dad, an artist, a Calgary Flames hockey fan, and can most often be found on summer days swinging a club on the golf course. “Do what you love, love what you do.”

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.joewhitbread.com/
• Product Link: https://www.joesocialmedia.com/training

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:12 What is personal branding

07:23 Your personal brand exists whether you need it to or want it to

10:19 There are things that can damage your brand

12:08 It’s a human conversation

15:01 You cannot get it right with everybody

17:20 Brand Pillars

25:00 How do I evolve?

26:02 R + C = P (Reality + Communication = Perception) 

31:50 The five senses

33:16 Understand the empathy of the audience

38:45 We are a visual culture

42:38 We've been marketed a false reality our whole lives

43:18 CCR - Consistency, Creativity and Relevance

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joewhitbread/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.whitbread/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeWhitbread

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joesocialmediainc/

Email: [email protected]

Sponsors: 

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Mindset and Sales Success with Dave Conway!

SEASON: 1 EPISODE: 30

Episode Overview:

If you're looking for ways to empower your sales and service teams to exceed goals, develop a positive mindset, maximize their effectiveness and hold them accountable for their productivity, you're going to enjoy my conversation with coach, trainer, and personal leadership expert, Steve Hillis.

Guest Bio: 

Steve is a dedicated business professional specializing in business coaching and sales strategy development. He has been a driving force behind sales increases for Fortune 500 companies since 1980.

His early beginnings began with building a commercial flooring company called Metro Flooring Companies. Then leading the marketing for Tandus in the Healthcare market, working for Mohawk Commercial Group as Sr. VP of Marketing and then a business turnaround at Durkan Hospitality. Steve led a major business turn-around for Beaulieu Commercial Flooring and has consulted with over 25 firms.

Steve is today leading the Empower Partners team of professional coaches, trainers, recruiters and consultants.

Resource Links:

• Website:  www.empowerpartners.net

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:39 Servant leadership

07:44 Our mind is not our friend…

08:19 Motivational accountability

13:14 Breaking belief barriers

17:43 Barriers for empowering a team

21:10 Empower your salesperson to build relationships and

23:16 Moving them from a bureaucracy to empowerment

25:31 Manufacturing a better bottom line

27:02 Companies get caught up in selling on price

28:30 Superior customer service

29:01 CARE - Customers Are Really Everything

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-hillis-a3241422/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShillisSteve

Email: [email protected]

Sponsors: 

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Personal Branding: Maximize Your Social Media with Joe Whitbread!

SEASON: 1 EPISODE: 29

Episode Overview:

If you're currently a leader in your organization or want to be a leader or a business owner, developing your leadership skills and focusing on what is important and how to prosper is always a priority. 

My guest, author, speaker, and corporate consultant, Denise Galloni, is here to talk about how to find your voice, and the five keys to lead and empower others.

Guest Bio: 

Denise Galloni started her own training consulting company called DG Training Solutions, Inc. Her company specializes in: Instructional Design, Facilitation, Instructor Led Training, Evaluations, and more. Denise has previous experience in the following industries: Healthcare (including EHR), Direct Sales, Retail, Non-Profit, Utility and Finance (including banking). 

She is honored to be the creator, producer and host of a television show currently on BPTV called Empowering Women. In this show, Denise interviews women that share relative and important information to the audience to help empower and inspire them.

As the Education Representative for Advantage Credit Counseling, Denise was the instructor for over 175 financial management classes taught in 5 different counties. She conducted over 40 financial presentations for local non-profit organizations and assisted dislocated workers from over 12 companies through the agency's Surviving Unemployment presentation.

Resource Links:

• Website:  https://deniseanngalloni.com

Insight Gold Timestamps:

06:47 The problem does stem from communication 

08:00 V is for Vision

11:40 How do you create a vision?

13:11 O is for Overcoming Obstacles

16:44 I is for Inspire

19:44 Why should I do this?

23:06 C is for Confidence

28:52 Negative language and negative self-talk

33:03 E is for Enthusiasm

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

Facebook Business: https://www.facebook.com/empoweringyoubptv

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc7d1KUEIqZTUBlSzMSm9eA

Email: [email protected]

Sponsors: 

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Empower Your Team to Exceed Sales Goals and Maximize Profitability with Steve Hillis!

SEASON: 1 EPISODE: 28

Episode Overview:

If you really want to hire the 'best person for the job' you need to make sure you’re attracting the largest pool of candidates for the right reasons and evaluating their skills, competencies and experience independent of bias. 

To create or build an organization centered around inclusivity, where employees can show up authentically, access opportunities equally, and be empowered to realize their potential in a safe and respectful environment, diversity, equity and inclusion should be a priority.

To help us understand how a DEI strategy can give us a competitive advantage is my guest, Jillian Kruschell.

Guest Bio: 

A seasoned female leader, Jillian has extensive experience working with a full spectrum of organizations from small businesses to internationally-recognized brands. At Inclusion by Libra, Jillian leads a team who work with organizations to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging into business strategy. Libra specializes in working with young companies, and brings a DEI lens to the professionalization of small business by creating policies and procedures rooted in employee well being. 

Drawing on a Bachelor’s in Management alongside 13 years of experience in fast-growing companies, Jillian combines a nimble approach to strategy, process design and project management with a passion for delivering excellent customer service. 

As founder and CEO, Jillian brings a personalized touch to business. She works closely with clients to tailor solutions to their unique needs and ensure the consistent and dependable provision of high quality results.

Resource Links:

• Website:  https://inclusionbylibra.com/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:41 Diversity is a fact of the world we live in

09:37 If your staff feels safe and valued

12:22 Focus on the business case

18:34 Three phases you can consider

19:24 It’s something you can’t just do once

24:16 Anonymizing the screening process

28:36 You need to take an empathetic lens

30:30 Four step framework: Evaluate, Execute, Educate, Empower

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilliankruschell/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inclusionbylibra/

Email: [email protected]

Sponsors: 

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Overcoming Obstacles to Find Your Voice with Denise Galloni!

SEASON: 1 EPISODE: 27

Episode Overview:

The future of sales is radically transparent. Are you ready for it? Today, anyone buying anything relies on reviews and feedback shared by strangers and often trust those anonymously posted experiences more than the claims made by the providers of the products or services themselves. They expect to see the full picture and find out all of the pros and cons before making any purchase. And the larger the purchase, the greater the demand for transparency.

As it turns out, it also leads better, retains better, grows better, and creates advocates better. To understand how transparency can become your revenue superpower, Join me now for my conversation with Author, Speaker, and Coach, Todd Caponi.

Guest Bio: 

A multi time successful sales leadership professional. An inspiring teacher / trainer. A sought after board member. A trusted mentor. A popular sales and behavioral/decision science commentator, writer and speaker.

Todd Caponi could be described as any of the above. But what makes him unique is that he is all of the above.

Now, he spends his time as a speaker & workshop leader, also CEO & Founder of Sales Melon LLC. teaching (primarily tech) company’s salespeople and leaders how to provide quick, easy-to-implement ways to thrive in any environment!

Resource Links:

• Website: https://toddcaponi.com/
• Product Link: https://toddcaponi.com/the-transparency-sales-book/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

06:11 Buyers know more nowadays (since 1911)

08:28 Consensual selling and consensual buying

15:15 We all read reviews

18:42 Why you might not be a good choice

20:18 Would you rather they find out from you or your competitor?

24:23 The five F’s

27:46 Four elements that lead to your results

29:34 Why change? Why you? And why now?

30:57 A.I.D.A. Attention, Interest, Desire, Action

35:03 Transparency sells better than perfection

39:28 In sales we start everybody over at zero

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddcaponi/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/todd.caponi.1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tcaponi

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xnCFZkxm1Y

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tcaponi/

Email: [email protected]

Sponsors: 

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Get the Edge with Diversity, Equity & Inclusion with Jillian Kruschell!

SEASON: 1 EPISODE: 26

Episode Overview:

Emotional intelligence or EI needs little introduction. It's no secret that EI is critical to your success, but knowing what EI is and knowing how to use it to improve your life are two very different things. 

To help us understand what we can do to improve and develop our emotional intelligence as individuals and employ these strategies in the workplace is author, speaker, and professional actor, John Brennan.

Guest Bio: 

Born in Montreal, Canada, John Brennan is a dual citizen (US) and speaks fluent French. After receiving his bachelor's degree in business and communication, he co-founded a small production company that produced live shows, events, and videos.

An acting opportunity led to a twenty-year journey, including fifty-plus commercials, travel throughout North America doing business theatre, and hosting Fortune 500 events. He has also been in multiple movies, guest starred on celebrated television shows, and had his own television series playing the lead character on Bordertown. John carried the valuable experiences and lessons learned, and transitioned them into his years of speaking, facilitating, and coaching. 

The experiences of his life have enhanced his Emotional Intelligence (E.I.) and given him a broader range and better understanding of the connection between E.I. and success. The "World Economic Forum" identifies Emotional Intelligence as one of the essential skills for the future. 

With John’s book, The E.I. Connection, he has taken established and researched insights, in combination with his training, best practices, and useful exercises and tactics, to develop a simple, practical, and effective system that can be put to use immediately and will become a go-to reference. John Brennan has seen, taught, and experienced what works.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://johnhbrennan.com/
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/John-H.-Brennan/e/B08K2DC62Q%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Insight Gold Timestamps:

05:02 If you’re interested, you will become more interesting

07:52 Applied emotional intelligence

12:15 It’s the little stuff

12:34 It’s not about me

16:15 You can change your mindset with just a quick decision

19:44 The E.I. Mix

22:09 It matters how you make people feel

23:40 Listening with all of your senses

26:37 Become aware, and become more aware

30:58 How E.I. fits into our customer service experience

34:49 ABC - Always Be Curious

35:19 SPP model - Simple, Personal and Proactive

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-h-brennan/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCidH6h1857xMtlX4iZ154MA

Email: [email protected]

Sponsors: 

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Transparency Sells Better Than Perfection with Todd Caponi!

SEASON: 1 EPISODE: 25

Episode Overview: 

Looking to grow your influence and your visibility, whether you’re an entrepreneur, small business, association, or corporation. If you are looking to attract leads, build your brand, and click with crowds using social media, content marketing, and PR, then you are going to enjoy my conversation with an international trends speaker, coach, and host of the podcast “Growing Social Now”, Barbara Rozgonyi!

Guest Bio: 

Barbara Rozgonyi leads CoryWest Media, a creative marketing communication consultancy that attracts attention, builds brands, and connects communities. Named after Barbara’s mother and grandmother, CoryWest Media inspires innovation as it fuels growth. Barbara is an international trends speaker with a Hungarian heritage, digital marketing advisor since 2002, and sales leadership guide for all types of teams. With future vision, Barbara began publishing her top-ranked blog, wiredPRworks, in 2006. An early social media advocate, Barbara founded Social Media Club Chicago in 2008. Her podcast, Growing Social Now, launched in 2021. She serves on the National Speaker Association Carolinas Chapter’s board of directors as Vice President of Membership and lives in Charlotte, North Carolina right between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic ocean.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://barbararozgonyi.com 

Insight Gold Timestamps:

05:30 Video has really changed our lives

09:29 There are influencers everywhere

14:32 Look at the different types of clients you’re trying to reach

18:30 What is the customer experience?

19:00 4D: Digital, Direct, Dynamic, Data

22:49 CPR: Challenge, Process, Result

31:57 Personalized as possible

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/barbararozgonyi

Facebook: https://facebook.com/rozgonyi

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wiredprworks

YouTube: https://youtube.com/barbararozgonyi

Instagram: https://instagram.com/barbararozgonyi

Podcast: http://www.growingsocialnow.com

Email: [email protected] 

Sponsors: 

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Emotional Intelligence - The Key to the Customer Experience with John Brennan!

SEASON: 1 EPISODE: 24

Episode Overview:

As business professionals, the pressures, stress, and expectations we face can take a toll on our resilience and drain our sense of resourcefulness, leaving us stressed with motivational fatigue. We can combat this fatigue when we use humor to be more resilient, enhance productivity and team enthusiasm. To help us understand how to develop and employ humor in our businesses and profession is author, speaker, and humorist coach, Tim Gard.

Guest Bio: 

Tim Gard is a motivational, funny keynote speaker, corporate entertainer, and emcee. Tim is known for bringing tears of laughter to audiences worldwide. More than an insightful and funny guy, Tim teaches people to be more resilient and resourceful using their own comedic style. He also coaches businesses on how to enhance productivity through employee enthusiasm by using appropriate workplace humor.

An internationally recognized authority on stress reduction and conflict resolution, Tim’s easy- to-implement techniques demonstrate ways to diffuse, deal with, and ultimately avoid stressful encounters. Tim does not make light of serious issues; rather, he shines a light on previously unseen possibilities to overcome challenging situations.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://timgard.com/
• Product Link: https://timgard.com/shop

Insight Gold Timestamps:

08:39 It’s only stupid if you do it twice

10:42 You change your perception, you create a different reality

12:52 It’s important that we learn to laugh at ourselves

16:54 When in doubt, leave it out

21:38 If we exaggerate too much, it invalidates everything

23:31 Sniglets

32:49 We really need to recharge

36:20 We all smile and laugh in the same language

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timgard/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/funwithtim 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/funwithtim

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TimGard

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funwithtim/

Email: [email protected]

Sponsors: 

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Growing Your Business Socially with Barbara Rozgonyi!

SEASON: 1 EPISODE: 23

Episode Overview:

Our Voice is the most important tool to live a passionate, fulfilled, and authentic life. There’s a beautiful, complex, and deeply psychological connection between one’s nature, one’s voice, and one’s community. Our words, the way we share them, and the very sound of our voice can change minds, move mountains, convey important messages, bring audiences to tears, and transform the existence of others. 

The way we communicate is a direct tool for leadership and change. Once we learn how to use our voice - without fear, hesitation, or the belief that we must fit into a mold - that’s when the magic happens. To help us understand the power of voice and speak authentically is author, speaker and coach Laura Handke.

Guest Bio: 

Laura Handke is an inspirational and energetic facilitator, writer, speaker and certified Transformational Voice® teacher, committed to helping others express themselves fully in the world.

Laura helps new and experienced speakers and performers feel comfortable, confident and personally expressive speaking in front of people or on camera.

It’s never too late, or too early, to learn to express your inner voice in the outer world.

Resource Links:

• Website:  https://laurahandke.com/
• Product Link: https://laurahandke.com/shop/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

06:33 It’s a disconnection between the head and the heart

06:59 How important is confidence

09:08 The inner voice and the outer voice

16:13 Being in the moment

19:17 The more you use your authentic voice 

21:14 The emotional impact

25:54 Your breath is the river that is carrying the sound of your voice

30:11 The cadence of your voice

38:48 What you should avoid

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-handke-47267b8/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurahj

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFCsuEmvnslIQ4S0UAnawWw

Email: [email protected]

Link to Book: Breath by James Nester

Sponsors: 

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Using Humor as a Professional Skill with Tim Gard!

SEASON: 1 EPISODE: 22

Episode Overview:

Are you a leader that is focused on building a stronger culture with long-term retention in mind? Looking for new strategies to increase your team’s productivity and results?

If you are looking for ways to develop environments that help your people bring their best selves to the work they do, then you are going to enjoy my conversation with Leadership expert, speaker, coach and advisor Shawna Schuh.

Guest Bio: 

A lifetime adventurer, entertainer, and leadership expert, Shawna Schuh is an innovative thought-leader who can help you unpack the pesky problems you encounter when you lead people.

With a curious mind, herself, and a Master’s Certificate in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Shawna is exceptionally skilled in the art of uncovering leadership blind spots through coaching, facilitating leadership groups, and catapulting leaders out of the leadership weeds and into leading teams effectively.

Having worked with organizations like Nike and Columbia Sportswear to associations such as Fashion Group International and the National Speakers Association, Shawna shares a unique perspective so that the information and ideas she promotes stick and work.

Shawna addresses any and all issues relating to people skills. Her presentations are humorous, overflowing with energy and packed with practical results driven information that will positively maximize profits.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.ShawnaSchuh.com
• Product Link: https://www.ShawnaSchuh.com

Insight Gold Timestamps:

04:42 3% of people in the world are continuously educating themselves

04:52 Teams are tired of being told and sold

06:12 Do you know what your next step is?

07:34 The quality of the answers are really in direct proportion to how masterful your questions are

08:35 Are you in your own way?

09:10 What is that I really want from the exchange?

12:18 Pick up your get-up-and-go

18:00 it's not the word. It's the intent behind the word

23:43 The ones that are the most hurtful humans are probably the ones hurting the most

27:41 What did you get done today? What are you most proud of?

28:50 Win Wednesdays

29:54 If you invest in you, no market can take it from you

34:58 In closing….

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnaschuh/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawna.schuh/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shawnaschuh

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=shawna+schuh

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnaschuh/

Email: [email protected]

Sponsors: 

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/

Resources: https://becomingpreferred-podcast.com/resources/

Next Episode: Free Your Authentic Voice and Find Your Power with Laura Handke!