Say No walks listeners through how, why, and when to respectfully decline opportunities both personally and professionally.

Say No: Points Discussed

• First, thoughts from one of Brent's favorite authors, Bob Goff.
• Second, why it's important to say no.
• Third, start by establishing your priorities.
• In addition, align your priorities with your chain of command.
• Moreover, the value of understanding where you are spending your time.
• Fourth, why keep priorities visual?
• In addition, don't quit just because you're bored or lazy.
• Sixth, be clear and up-front about your no.
• In addition, a tip Brent learned from working with Japan.
• Seventh, what if you really want to take on a project but don't have time?
• Eighth, when do you explain why you're saying no?
• Ninth, priorities are seasonal.

Hybrid Work Schedule focuses on what it looks like to return to the office. The BMP host, Brent Richardson, shares the pros and cons of remote work and how companies can use a hybrid model.

Hybrid Work Model Points Discussed

• Brent shares his experience returning to the office after working from home for a year.
• Firstly, how going back to work is like cardio.
• Secondly, the good and bad of returning to the office from an efficiency perspective.
• Thirdly, the structural differences between working from home and going to the office.
• Fourthly, battling the sense of entitlement after a year of working from home.
• Fifthly, what role does community play in working remotely versus working from the office?
• Sixthly, the difficulty of interacting with others after isolation.
• Seventhly, the challenge of what to talk about post-pandemic.
• Eighthly, the equity challenges of people returning to the office.
• Ninthly, what is a hybrid schedule?
• Tenthly, balancing in-office hours with co-workers.
• Eleventhly, how workers can start the hybrid conversation with their boss.
• Finally, why it's essential for managers to focus on the mental health of their reports.

Elevator Pitch walks listeners through why, how, and when to develop a corporate elevator pitch. The episode includes pointers to keep in mind and pitfalls to be aware of.

Elevator Pitch Points Discussed

• Firstly, what is an elevator pitch?
• Secondly, how the pitch can become a coffee pot pitch.
• Thirdly, why it is essential to know the listener's agenda.
• Fourthly, what goes into the pitch?
• Fifthly, Brent and Jamie share how these ideas can help you beyond the actual pitch.
• Sixthly, how visual cues in your workspace can help you practice.
• Seventhly, how to use a question to start your pitch.
• Eighthly, how a shocking fact can start your pitch.
• Ninthly, how a relatable question and shocking fact can work together.
• Tenthly, how the front page of the newspaper idea can help you develop your pitch.
• Eleventhly, make sure you leave a thread to pull.
• Twelfthly, how the rule of three works with elevator pitches.
• Next, the five things that can go wrong and how to address each.

Email Etiquette brings tips and tricks from Jamie Richardson's journalism background into the corporate office. She works with Brent to explain how to make emails to executives stand out in their overflowing inboxes.

Email Etiquette Points Discussed

• First, how journalism strategies help with emailing executives.
• Second, why conciseness is essential when emailing up your chain of command.
• Third, how and when to write the subject line.
• Fourth, how to decide what to include in the email and what to cut.
• Fifth, the value of knowing your audience.
• Sixth, why using language the recipient understands is essential.
• Seventh, know the 1-2 things the email is actually about before you start.
• Eighth, be careful of manipulation in the title.
• Ninth, the role colons can play in an email subject line.
• Tenth, what is the inverted pyramid and what does it have to do with emails?
• Eleventh, what if you have more than 1-2 things to communicate?
• Twelfth, the summary at the top must be clear, concise, and correct.
• Pro tip: read your email out loud.
• In addition, when to hit send on the email.

Small Business Toolbox walks through the top five lessons shared by entrepreneurs in the Business Minutia Podcast's first 50 episodes.

Small Business Toolbox Topics Discussed

• First, the mindset of small business owners.
• Second, why time management is essential for entrepreneurs.
• In addition, listen to interviews with Brett Boyd, Kris Hochart, Kathy Fielder.
• Third, why coaching and mentoring are essential for small business owners.
• In addition, listen to the interviews with Bob Barrese, Andrea Anderson, and Brett Boyd.
• Fourth, what we learned about the necessity for great customer service.
• In addition, listen to the interviews with Colby Gardner, Walter Boyd, and Dave Borski.
• Fifth, why an innovative mindset is essential for small business owners.
• In addition, listen to the interviews with Aaron Fletcher, Kathy Fielder, and Andrea Anderson.
• Sixth, the value of self-awareness to small business owners.
• In addition, listen to interviews with Jessica Vittorio, Mary Ann Connor, and Ken Janke.

How to Connect With Anyone focuses on the keys to relating to anyone in less than 5 minutes. In this episode, Brent Richardson breaks down the tricks he's learned to gain authentic connections with people within just a few minutes of being with them.

How to Connect points discussed

• First, how much to listen versus speaking.
• Second, why it's essential to connect with people beyond the purpose of the meeting.
• Third, good small talk options.
• Fourth, how to know which threads to pull to get a person to talk.
• In addition, what happened when Brent pulled a thread he wished he hadn't.
• Fifth, how to use self-deprecation to connect with people.
• Sixth, when to share the areas in which you are an expert.
• Seventh, what Brent does when he fails to connect with someone.
• Eighth, how to get people off mute on a conference call.
• Ninth, the challenges of connecting with people when the meeting isn't yours.
• Tenth, how to read a person's avatar.
• Eleventh, the problem with using humor to connect with people.
• In addition, how to keep icebreakers fresh.
• Finally, the value of diversity within your network.

In Corporate Toolbox, the Business Minutia team shares the five skills needed for corporate success: communication, time management, self-awareness, people skills, and a willingness to learn. Each tool is linked to previous episodes.

Corporate Toolbox Keys Discussed

• Firstly, an overview of the five essential tools.
• Secondly, why communication is the first skill for the toolbox.
• Thirdly, communication episodes to consider: Emails, Meetings, and Presentations.
• Fourthly, the value of time management.
• Fifthly, adding relationship agility to your toolbox.
• Sixthly, episodes to sharpen this skill: Horrible Co-Workers 1 and 2, Bad Bosses, Networking for Introverts, Networking for Extroverts, Conflict Resolution, HR, and Systemic Racism.
• Seventhly, the value of adding self-awareness to your toolbox.
• Eighthly, episodes to sharpen this skill: Enneagrams, Navigating Career Changes, Pursuing Feedback,  Why am I Here, and When to Leave.
• Ninthly, you need to maintain a growth mindset.
• Tenthly, episodes to sharpen this skill: Continuing Education, How College Failed Me, and Incubating Ideas.

New Job Success focuses on the three key areas that will make or break you in your first year in a new job: learning, networking, and executing.

New Job Success Keys Discussed

• First, Brent reflects on what it means to not fluff up or cower down.
• Second, an intro to the three buckets of new job success: learning, networking, and executing.
• Third, the value of asking a lot of questions.
• Fourth, why it's essential to adjust your attitude.
• Fifth,  stretch your comfort zone and be willing to fail.
• Sixth, how and why to stretch your comfort zone.
• Seventh, the qualities to look for in a mentor.
• Eighth, why execution is important no matter how long-term the job is.
• Ninth, when and how to communicate that you don't like your job.
• Tenth, the value of getting other people's eyes on your work.
• Eleventh, have a monthly check-in with yourself.
• Twelfth, why quitting jobs too frequently can be a red flag.

In Conflict Resolution, podcast host Brent Richardson walks professionals through the three stages of resolving a dispute: gathering information, refocusing on the problem statement, and peaceful follow-up.

Conflict Resolution Points Discussed

• First, Brent shares what the goal of conflict resolution should be.
• Second, how to gather information to discover the root cause of the conflict.
• Third, to find the problem statement, it is essential to focus on isolation and an aligned goal.
• Fourth, ask clarifying questions.
• Fifth, Brent shares why it's important to take the high road.
• Sixth, both parties have to be ready to solve the problem.
• Seventh, refocus the conflicting parties on the aligned goal.
• Eighth, filter your thoughts before you speak.
• Ninth, find value in each person involved in the conflict.
• Tenth, acknowledge each person's thoughts.
• Eleventh, if you are a manager, don't neglect the who issues.
• Finally, continue to extend an olive branch.

How College Failed Me focuses on the pros and cons of university education. The discussion includes: what universities fail to teach, how to supplement your education, and what you miss out on if you skip the college experience.

College Failed Me Discussion Points

• First, how college teaches you to game the system.
• Second, how college helps with worldview.
• Third, the sense of community and diversity built through the university.
• Fourth, the value of process.
• Fifth, what Brent and Jamie teach their own kids about college.
• Sixth, Jamie's experience with women seeking an MRS Degree.
• Seventh, the value of a gap year.
• Eighth, how college prepares you to please a boss.
• Ninth, an introduction to Imposter Syndrome.
• Tenth, college doesn't teach you how to teach yourself.
• Eleventh, the best class Brent took in college.
• Twelfth, college fails to teach how to avoid or resolve conflict.
• Finally, college doesn't teach organizational savvy and office politics.