DesuckifyWork®

If you could totally rethink work, what would it look like? 

You would start by paying attention to Wes Adams, today’s guest on the DesuckifyWork™ podcast. 

Wes has quite a few thoughts on this subject. As founder and CEO of SV Consulting Group, his mission is to transform organizations into hubs of human thriving. 

Bold?Absolutely. And he’s got the chops to back it up, with more than two decades of experience as a successful entrepreneur and strategic partner for Fortune 500s, startups, and NGOs.

His insights?

*  Rethink the old command-and-control model. It’s done. Leaders need to be open to new ideas from younger workers and give up some power/control. 

* Rethink Hybrid. We need to leverage the best parts of remote and in-office to benefit everyone. And give teams autonomy to determine what's best for them. You know, the exact opposite of what we’re doing now. 

* Rethink what work means to each of us. By creating more meaning at work. Wes is working with previous podcast guest Tamara Myles on a book that tells us how to do it. Look for Meaning at Work: How Exceptional Leaders Combine Community, Contribution, and Challenge to Unleash Potential and Inspire Greatness early next year. 

No need to wait for Wes’ brilliant POV on work. You can listen right now. 

You can follow Wes on LinkedIn and check out his site at SVCG.co for more details on the amazing work he’s doing. 

It would also be amazing if you checked out my site and my Substack newsletter. And if you could like and subscribe to the podcast, that would be stupendous. Want to bring some desuckification to your workplace? Let’s set up a half hour discovery call, my treat. 

Bye, everyone!

#desuckifyworkpodcast #desuckifywork #leadership #coaching #meaningfulwork #hybridwork

What does it mean to be authentic at work? 

And more importantly, what difference does it make? 

Turns out, it makes a huge difference. It reduces turnover. People at companies where authenticity is always practiced are over 2x more likely to stay at their company vs. those where it's never practiced.

It builds trust. People at authentic companies are 4x more likely to say there's a high level of trust.

It travels with you. Employees under authentic leadership are 6x more likely to follow them if they went elsewhere.

These are the results from research led by today’s DesuckifyWork™ Podcast guest, Erin Hatzikostas. Erin is a failed actuary turned CEO turned founder of b Authentic inc. She’s the best-selling author of You Do You(ish), with a new book—The 50% Rule—coming later this year. 

Oh, and she’s authentic af, as the kids say. Funny, quirky and smart as hell. And her POV on authenticity is one we all need to hear:

Authenticity matters when it’s in the service of others. To lift them up. So we can do what’s needed vs. what’s normal. 

Authenticity can be bite sized. Experiment with it in lower risk situations. You’ll be surprised how much impact it has. 

Authenticity is contagious. A few experiments and you may just shift an entire culture. 

That’s what Erin did as CEO. And what she’s helping clients do every day in her own business. 

Let’s join her, shall we?

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You can follow Erin on LinkedIn. And check out her site at bauthenticinc.com. If you spend 30 seconds soaking in her story and don’t feel lighter, more confident and ready to shake things up, then you should spend at least 30 more until it really clicks. 

While we’re on the subject, how about clicking on the links to my site and my substack newsletter? We’ve got the content you need to start shaking things up in your creative career or at your agency. If you’d like to get taste, let’s set up a free half-hour desuckified discovery call. 

Bye, everyone!

#desuckifyworkpodcast #desuckifywork #coaching #authenticity #authenticityatwork #leadership 

Dear agency leaders,

AI is not the holy grail you think it is.

It won’t fix your current problems.It won’t create massive new opportunities. It won’t save your agency.

Unless.

Unless you change your relationship with the people who do the work, day to day.

They’re the holy grail. And they’re the ones who can help you take advantage of AI or any other tool that comes along promising advertising nirvana.

Today’s guest on the DesuckifyWork™ Podcast, Mark Redgrave has created a framework for agencies to get the most out their teams by embracing all that each individual brings to the table.

Their skills, hobbies, loves, passions and potential. Their “whole selves” in the best sense of those words.

We barely scratch the surface of this in most agencies. So much goodness, locked away, that could be solving the massive problems we face.

We need to rethink how we work.

We need to embrace a mindset that goes beyond “creative” to think creatively about the most challenging business problems.

We need to tap into the unique genius of every person to maximize the greatness the entire agency is capable of.

And we need to provide autonomy and accountability, allowing small teams to collaborate and own the work, free from micromanaging.

Mark and I dig into all of this and more during our conversation. I came away with a lot of hope for this industry. I hope you do too.

You can follow Mark on LinkedIn. And check out his site at shift-transform.com, where he does a brilliant job of identifying the core challenges agency face and providing solutions that set us up to thrive for the long haul.

I think you should haul your butt over to my site and my Substack newsletter. They’re both packed with desuckifying goodness for creatives, agencies and folks who think enjoying the way we spend nearly half our waking hours is a reasonable expectation. Want to start that enjoying now? Let’s set up a free half-hour desuckified discovery session.

Bye, everyone!

#desuckifyworkpodcast #desuckifywork #advertising #adagencies #creativity #people #ai

It’s a no for me, dog. 

Sadly, that’s about the extent of feedback many of us have received (or delivered) in the ad industry. 

It’s okay. Most humans suck at giving feedback. The good news? We can get better. And today’s guest on The DesuckifyWork™ Podcast has some great ideas on how to do it. 

Cecilia Gorman is a coach and trainer, who runs a Manager Boot Camp that helps managers go from good to amazing. 

We talk about how to deliver challenging feedback directly and kindly. And how if we can do just that one thing, the impact will be massive. 

We discuss how to receive tough feedback, calmly and respectfully, in a way that allows our perspective to be heard and valued.

And we explore the value of being real and vulnerable as a manager. Don’t listen to that pesky voice in your head—vulnerability is a sign of strength. And it creates trust with your team. 

I trust that you’ll get a ton of value out of this episode. Cecilia rocks. So let’s roll. 

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You can follow Cecilia on LinkedIn. And check out her site at ceciliagorman.com, where you’ll find a ton of helpful content and learn more about her Manager Boot Camp. 

My website and substack newsletter are pretty helpful too. Check ‘em out if you’d like to get creative with your creative career or learn more about making the leap from creative maker to creative leader. We can dive deeper into any of that during a free half hour desuckified discovery session. 

Bye, everyone!

#desuckifyworkpodcast #desuckifywork #leadership #managing #feedback #coaching 

Why is it so hard to be a leader? 

Besides constant technological change, economic uncertainty, post-pandemic turmoil, dramatic shifts in generational expectations, global unrest, distributed workforces and 27 other unexpected things that will show up in your inbox by the morning, it’s a piece of cake, really. 

The good news? One thing remains constant throughout all of that. Our need for human connection. And we can do great things when we embrace that need and create workplaces rooted in empathy and resilience. 

Today’s guest on The DesuckifyWork™ Podcast has a few (okay a ton) of ideas on just how to do that. 

Josiah Pledl is a former school principal, business executive and the founder of 45 Degrees Leadership Consulting. 

We talk about the crisis in leadership and how we can solve it if more of us connect our minds to our hearts and lead with emotional intelligence.

We explore generational differences at work and learn why Gen Z may not be so fond of sarcasm. Whatever. 

And we blow up the established wisdom that “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” According to Josiah, they should sit down for a nice meal together and respect each other’s contributions. 

All this talk of food has me pretty hungry… good thing Josiah’s serving up some tasty morsels during our conversation. So let’s dig in. 

You can follow Josiah on LinkedIn, where he shares his views on leadership and life. You should also check out his site at 45degreesleadership.com which is packed full of goodness and hope. 

I hope you check out my website and my substack newsletter. They’re packed full of snark and substance in equal measure for creatives who want more from work. If that kind of thing floats your boat, let’s talk more during a free half hour desuckified discovery session. 

Bye, everyone!

#desuckifyworkpodcast #desuckifywork #leadership #leadershipcrisis #emotionalintelligence #coaching 

There’s no text book for working in advertising. At least not officially.

Unofficially, as far as I’m concerned, there are two. Soon to be three. All written by today’s guest on the DesuckifyWork™ podcast, Cameron Day.

Spend a few days digesting Chew With Your Mind Open and Spittin’ Chiclets and you’ll be armed and ready for just about anything this nutty business hurls at you.

We spend a good chunk of time diving into some of the highlights during our conversation.

We talk about the messy middle years in advertising. And the challenges of going from creative doer to creative leader. And why it’s not for everyone.

We touch on the need to keep some distance between you and your team. Cam believes can be friendly, but not friends. I tend to agree, mostly.

And we dive into the value of a great mentor, something our business could be much better at facilitating. And how, for Cam, his dad (Guy Day of Chiat/Day) was the source of a ton of great wisdom. Some of which he was smart enough to listen to.

You should listen to Cam. He’s smart and full of the kind of stories you laugh at and learn from.

You can follow Cameron on LinkedIn. And check out his site at iamcameronday.com, where you’ll find some amazing work and a bunch of great content. Oh, and if you want to get schooled on life in advertising, check out both of his books, Chew With Your Mind Open and Spittin’ Chiclets. And be sure to keep an eye out for his third book later this year.

You should also use your eyes to check out my site. And my Substack newsletter. Both are packed with a bunch of insights. Don’t take my word for it, just ask the Dalai Lama, who said “I’ve never been so focused. I finally understand my true purpose.”

Want to be like the his holiness and find your purpose? Let’s set up a free 30-minute Desuckified Discovery Session.

Bye, everyone!

#desuckifywork #desuckifyworkpodcast #advertising #leadership #creativity #coaching #coachingforcreatives

You’re not supposed to fit in everywhere. 

If you did, the world would be flat, boring and sad. A monotonous bubble with no escape. Like cable news. Or LinkedIn. Kidding. Am I?

So why do we expect every job to be a perfect fit? 

Let’s face it. You’re not everyone’s cup of tea. And most companies aren’t yours either. They don’t value what you value. They don’t work how you like to work. And they don’t appreciate the way you sign off every zoom call like Isaac from the Love Boat. 

Their loss. 

Finding the right fit at work is a topic André Martin—organizational psychologist, consultant, coach, speaker and author—knows all too well. He literally wrote the book on it—Wrong Fit, Right Fit. Why How We Work Matters More Than Ever. It’s a must read if you care about making work not suck. And we touch on a bunch of the book’s insights during today’s episode of The DesuckifyWork™ Podcast.

We talk about the 7.8 trillion dollars in lost productivity due to disengagement. 

We explore the glossy sheen of company career pages and how they’re the worst place to look if you’re trying to find a right fit job. 

And we talk about the key distinction between right fit and fitting in. Fitting in is about wearing a mask to avoid standing out. Right fit is about finding a company or team where your values and way of working are embraced so you can stand out. 

I think André stands out in this conversation. I know you will too. 

You can follow André on LinkedIn. Check out his site wrongfitrightfit.com, where you can learn more about the work he does, helping to chip away at the 8 trillion dollars in lost productivity due to disengagement. You should also sign up for his newsletter, Monday Matters. It’ll start your week off right and maybe even quiet the Sunday Scaries. 

You know what isn’t scary? My website and my Substack newsletter. You should totally check them out and see how you can suck the suck out your work life. If you really want to go crazy, let’s set up a free 30-minute Desuckified Discovery Session. 

I’m sure we can “fit” you in. See what I did there? Fit? Like the book? No? Okay, I’ll go now. Bye, everyone!

#desuckifyworkpodcast #desuckifywork #findyourrightfit #coaching #wrongfitrightfit #careercoaching

What happens if a company doesn’t pay attention to its culture? Chances are you’ve found out, the hard way. 

Companies who ignore culture create the worst kind of culture. One filled with chaos, politics and a general sense that no one knows what the hell is going on. 

Nicole Mahoney knows exactly what’s going on. Because she has carefully curated a culture based on shared values and purpose. One that provides support through coaching and mentoring. And one that celebrates people as individuals and as a team. 

Nicole is the founder and CEO of Break the Ice Media, a marketing agency focused on travel and tourism. She also hosts the Destination on the Left podcast, with over 370 episodes to date. 

During the show we talked about the agency’s core purpose—to support economic growth in the communities they serve—and how it inspires the team to 

We spoke about meetings.. everyone’s favorite topic… and their commitment to keeping them on topic and on schedule. 

And we explore all the ways Nicole helps foster connection among her remote team, including in-person company retreats, video lunch and learns and monthly wine time… that’s w-i-n-e not w-h-i-n-e in case you were wondering. 

As Tom Hanks once said, there’s no whining in podcasting. So sit back and enjoy the show. 

You can follow Nicole on LinkedIn. And check out her company’s site at breaktheicemedia.com. It’s chock full of awesome resources and helpful content. 

Speaking of helpful, my site and my Substack newsletter have helped a ton of people find more hope at work and lots of cat pics! Want to find more hope for yourself? Let’s set up a free 30-minute desuckified discovery session. 

Meow!

#desuckifyworkpodcast #desuckifywork #companyculture #coaching #purpose 

I hate sales. 

I hate selling. I hate being sold to. I even hated Soupy Sales back in the day. (Yes, I’m old).

So why would I choose to bring a person who’s spent his entire career in sales on my show?

Because, like it or not, selling is a part of almost any job. 

And because Larry Levine has a different take on sales. One that shows up loud and clear in his book Selling from the Heart. And one that we dive into during this episode of The DesuckifyWork™ Podcast. 

We talk about selling in a post-trust world. And how the best way to get more comfortable with the outward part of selling is to turn inward and work on yourself. 

We explore how both sales and coaching have a lot of folks out there making our professions look bad and how we’re both hoping to provide better examples. 

And we speak about the value of really getting to know the people you work with, the people you connect with, the people you may eventually “sell” to. This is how you can show up with real value when it counts. 

I think Larry provides a ton of value during our conversation. I hope you do too. 

You can follow Larry on LinkedIn. And check out his site, sellingfromtheheart.net. And please read his book, also called Selling from the Heart. It will change how you feel about sales. And how you act as a result. 

Speaking of feelings, I feel like you should take a look at my site and my Substack newsletter. They may change how you feel about coaching and quite possibly inspire you to set up a free 30-minute “what the heck is coaching all about” call with yours truly. 

Bye, everyone!

#desuckifyworkpodcast #desuckifywork #coaching #sales #sellingfromtheheart #soupysales

What can a Mad Man teach us about advertising? Quite a bit, if that Mad Man is Jerry Fletcher. 

Jerry helps consultants, coaches and independent professionals build their brand. He earned his spurs, to use his phrase, on Madison Avenue back in the day, working for some of the largest agencies in the world, like J. Walter Thompson and Campbell Mithun. 

Some of those agencies may have been gobbled up by the holding company behemoths, but many of the lessons learned in the age of Don Draper are still quite relevant today. 

In fact, we may need some of those lessons more than ever.

Take new business, for instance. We’ve complicated the hell out of a process that at its core is about relationships and helping people. Jerry has mastered that art and shares his perspective during the show. 

Or how about training? You know that thing where you take people who don’t know things and help them learn those things so they can be better at their jobs? Jerry remembers when that was baked into the culture of every agency. Now, the only training you get is how to work the printer that’s always out of ink and requires a 37 digit passcode just to get your faded comps. 

Oh, and we talked about trust. Yes, in advertising. Or in brand building more broadly. How critical it is. How lacking it seems to be. And how unsurprising that is in an industry where a third of the people turn over every year. It’s tough to trust people you barely know. 

We dug into all this and more during our conversation. Jerry has a knack from breaking stuff down in a way that makes it super clear and super actionable. 

Take a listen. You won’t be mad that you did. 

You can follow Jerry on LinkedIn. And check out his site at (link in comments), where he breaks down the keys to brand building in simple, concrete steps. 

Speaking of concrete, my website (link in comments) is also pretty solid. You should check it out. And if you want a more solid understanding your business or career, let’s set up a free 30-minute “what the heck is coaching all about” call. 

Do me a solid and have a great day, everyone!

#desuckifyworkpodcast #desuckifywork #coaching #branding #messaging #advertising #madmen #newbusiness