Impact Makers

Sarah was given the nickname 'Buzz' when she was 3 because she was always buzzing around and getting into things. So when she decided to begin a blog, Buzz was a natural pen name for her. Sarah's work on 'The Buzz on HR' blog has been challenging not just the HR community to be better, but also bringing a healthy dose of racial awareness and proactive problem-solving to the table.

• Sarah has spent 20 years in the HR departments of many companies. Her latest has been one of the most fast-paced, dramatic jobs she's ever had. Sarah's company installs home security systems, and she shares some of major things she has learned in doing it. First among those are the soft skills that are often overlooked.
• Sarah a blog called 'The Buzz on HR' but her employer at the time refused to let her use her real name, and she shares the story of trying to hide her identity. She also brings a unique insight into how HR has changed over the years, from when she first started her blog to current day.
• As a person of color, Sarah has struggled with how much she should advocate on racial issues as a black woman in HR. How much should she say, what should she say, and how often should she say it - that won't cause her HR audience to abandon her? Sarah shares the experience of the first post she wrote about a racial issue and how it became one of her most popular articles. The WAY she wrote it made the difference.
• Despite the success, Sarah found that it was harder and harder to write in her blog. She almost considered abandoning it, but her friends encouraged her to do a blog-writing challenge, promising that it would break her out of her block and help her 'get her mojo back.' She ended up doing the challenge her own way, one that did more than revive her blog. It shifted Sarah's entire writing life.
• It would be easy to write about race issues from a safe, lukewarm perspective, but Sarah doesn't. She writes from her own perspective, and her reasons will make you appreciate what she does even more. The most important part is the practical advice that's part of everything she writes. Sarah is in it to improve problems, not just complain about them.
• It's not just racial issues that Sarah covers; she also talks about women's issues. Her thoughts on 'educating' women on how to be assertive are refreshing. She believes that women are already educated enough; it's on those with privilege and in positions of power to educate themselves about how better to behave.
• Sarah has a profound impact on so many lives, and there are many who have had a profound effect on her. She shares stories of how she went to her mother's grad school class during the 80s. Another positive force in Sarah's life was her acting teacher, but the reason she took the class to begin with will make you smile. Finally, Sarah's first boss was the one who modeled how a modern professional woman operates.
• True to form, Sarah leaves us with some very practical advice, both for HR and for educating ourselves to be better people as we go about our business. It's this type of small, daily impact that can change the world.

People/Resources/Links Mentioned:

Sarah Morgan LinkedIn

The Buzz on HR website

Sarah Morgan Twitter

The Buzz on HR Facebook

#BlackBlogsMatter on Twitter

Janine N. Truitt

Keirsten Greggs

Ben Eubanks

2017 #BlackBlogsMatter Challenge initial post:

Are You Up for the #BlackBlogsMatter Challenge?

2018 #BlackBlogsMatter Challenge initial post:

#BlackBlogsMatter Challenge – Week 1 – Black Blogs STILL Matter

Learn more about the Let's Fix Work podcast with Laurie Ruettimann!

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Jennifer gets a LOT of questions from many different types of people. Chief among those questions is how she got to where she is in her career. People want to know how she's managed to make such an impact through her entrepreneurship and her speaking career, so Jennifer has dedicated an episode to the answers of those questions and more.

• The real reason that Jennifer got to where she is now is because of the others who made an impact on her over the years. She starts at the beginning: how her early life was shaped by growing up in a literal log cabin. From there she ended up in a career that wasn't quite HR – back then it was called Personnel.
• Jennifer shares the story of her first job out of college. Her manager told her where her office was, let her know there was a pile of books there, and that she'd have to figure out the Personnel department alone because he had no idea what it was. Jennifer was overjoyed at the prospect.
• When Jennifer decided to be a stay-at-home mom, her 2-year-old son quickly let her know that it wasn't a good idea. He ASKED to go to daycare, and Jennifer recalls how it felt to be fired by her own son. She also shares the interesting opportunity at a Japanese automotive company that came her way a few months later.
• Jennifer decided she wanted to be a speaker and consultant but gave herself an arbitrary limit of having at least 20 years in her professional career first. In the meantime, she joined an old, broken company to help turn it around. It was after she accepted the job that she learned she would most likely be replacing herself if she did well.
• Long story short, it did go well and Jennifer found herself out of a job. She took several months off and started, after 18 years, seriously considering entrepreneurship and speaking, so she hired a coach. The first thing he had her do was write a marketing plan for herself. From that point on, his advice shaped Jennifer's future, including the 'remedial' networking plan for introverts.
• As Jennifer began to test the waters of entrepreneurship, her new network pointed out some of the flaws in her plans. These issues were the kind that would sink new businesses before they start, including not knowing what she was selling. They told her to learn it, so she ended up going into executive recruiting at the very place where she began building her network.
• In early 2016, Jennifer took what she learned and finally made the step into entrepreneurship and speaking. It happened organically. She was an early LinkedIn adopter and was asked by the executives she knew to speak on how to build a network using the platform. It wasn't easy, though. For the first year, Jennifer struggled despite the help and support of her peers.
• It was when Mike Sipple, Jr., gave her a book called Just Do Something, and it changed everything from page 1. At least, it removed the mental block that Jennifer had that was preventing her from succeeding. Jennifer is a person of faith, so it was exactly what she needed to take the next step personally and professionally.
• While Jennifer still struggled a bit, she began making real progress, and she wraps up with the lessons she learned. What was it that finally made everything click? What were the steps she took once that happened? And how has it turned out for her? And how YOU can take when Jennifer learned and apply it to your own story?

People/Resources/Links Mentioned:

Centennial, Inc.

Mike Lynch - President - Mike Lynch Career Consulting

Mike Sipple, Sr. - CEO of Centennial, Inc.

Mike Sipple Jr. - President of Centennial, Inc.

Bonita Martin - Sr. HR Business Partner at Harmon

Sharlyn Lauby - Author & Publisher at HR Bartender

Robin Schooling - VP Human Resources at Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge

Book: "Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach To Finding God's Will" by Kevin DeYoung SCORE - Free small business advice

Freshbooks.com

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Mike Kim is one of those guys who doesn't need much of an introduction. He's been an online force with his blog and podcast, and the wisdom he freely shares about his experience in leaving corporate America to become an entrepreneur. Today, Jennifer and Mike talk about that journey and what you can learn from it, whether you're just starting a business or you're well into it.

• Mike shares the story of how he escaped the cubicle. It started with a simple question: is this the life I want in 15 years? He didn't quit his job cold turkey like many others have done. Instead, he had a strategy to gently sidestep from the corporate life into one where he could do what he enjoys.
• Mike had a unique opportunity to grow his brand while growing his employer's brand – even though he wasn't educated in marketing. He hustled and read all he could, and what he learned from his own blog, he applied to his employer's strategy – and vice versa. This opened the door for Mike to step away from the cubicle.
• Have you ever heard of Mike's 'sadistic selfie?' It's an antidote to the kool-aid that corporations serve at parties and quarterly meetings, where everything is viewed through rose-colored glasses. Even though he was paid well and did good work, it just wasn't fulfilling. Mike explains how a dose of truth is what finally pushed him to do something else with his life.
• If you want to get out of cubicle nation and you want to share your ideas, this is what makes you a thought leader. It's also where a lot of really brilliant people get stuck. Mike shares exactly what you need to do to make the step that will take you from brilliant to brilliant and successful.
• Mike didn't just quit his 6 figure job cold turkey. Instead, he created a plan that required a small amount of sacrifice. He would continue with his day job until his side business income hit a certain level. Mike also had a plan for how to learn to make money from his audience. Could Mike's strategy also work for you?
• As an entrepreneur, you have four freedoms: time, money, people, purpose. These four freedoms enable you to do amazing work. If you aren't sure what you want to be doing, Mike has three questions for you: what ticks you off, what breaks your heart, and what's the big problem you're trying to solve? Understanding the freedoms and the questions is essentially mapping your path as an entrepreneur.
• Jennifer and Mike are both plugged into the world around them in terms of how they can learn and grow. Mike shares his best secret, one that he still uses to this day. Look for someone who is living the way you want to live. Then follow them, learn from them, and while you won't become them, you'll become a better version of you.
• Like Mike's Influence and Impact event? He shares what the future of the event will be – or what he hopes it will be. He admits to dreaming big but if anyone can make it happen, it's Mike Kim.

Resources/Links Mentioned:

Mike Kim website

Mike Kim LinkedIn

Mike Kim Facebook

Mike Kim Twitter

Mike Kim Instagram

The Brand You Podcast with Mike Kim

Influence & Impact Conference

Michael Hyatt

Ray Edwards

Eric Peoples

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Do you want to spend your personal and professional time making a lasting impact on others? Do you want to be the kind of leader that people love? Subscribe today and we will bring you new ways to change the world every single week.

William Tincup isn't normal. Neither was his marketing agency, who used its eccentricity to shake up an industry that had become boring and stale. You either loved them or hated them. When Tincup stepped away from the agency, he continued marching to the beat of his own drum, with great success. Today Tincup shares some career and life advice from someone who has never followed the rules and has an unconventional way of doing things. Are you ready to shake up your life?

• Believe it or not, Tincup really is William's last name. He talks about the interesting Native American origins of the surname and the huge advantage it gives him in organic searches. It's also a really good whiskey, and the company that makes it has been trying to buy the domain for years. William shares the funny story behind the Super Bowl ad.
• Tincup has a wide portfolio of college-educated skills including art history. He shares the funny story of how he got his in-state tuition be complimenting a woman's earrings. But her advice for how he should proceed with choosing a major is one of the most honest takes on what happens after college. It's even more relevant today.
• When he realized that an art curator doesn't make a lot of money, Tincup decided to get an MBA. He talks about the paths that were available to him: consulting, Wall Street, or entrepreneurship. To begin, he chose consulting, but that changed when he learned about the shortcomings of the services they offer. Tincup shares what inspired him to get into true entrepreneurship.
• Tincup's agency was daring. They weren't the 'sweater vest' type. They were stripper glitter and cocaine references were normal, but there was a very calculated reason why. Their Led Zepplin lifestyle to a book that served as a manifesto and a way of business that was guaranteed to blow up what was boring. He'll be the first to tell you that he lost business doing it. But his clients will tell you Tincup would walk through walls to help them succeed.
• It was a very simple interaction with the CEO of a business he helped succeed that ended Tincup's desire to do what he was doing: the lack of a thank you. After 10 years of it, he couldn't take it any longer. He left the marketing agency and went out on his own, continuing to be his abnormal self, until he landed at Recruiting Daily. What started as a consultancy ended up as a career.
• Though leadership is about actually being a leader. Tincup shares his thoughts on what it takes to be a thought leader. If you're one who asks the question 'why' and aren't interested in looking at other peoples' stuff, then you might be a real thought leader. Find out why Tincup thinks it's important.

Find William Tincup:

LinkedIn

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Recruiting Daily

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Do you want to spend your personal and professional time making a lasting impact on others? Do you want to be the kind of leader that people love? Subscribe today and we will bring you new ways to change the world every single week.

Not long ago, Jennifer went to a conference in Australia, where she was a chairperson and keynote speaker. During the event, two young women approached Jennifer with the desire to improve their careers, but they didn't know where to go to get the support they needed. This inspired today's episode. If you're stuck where you are in your career, you don't want to miss this one.

• Jennifer shares the story of the two young women. One referred to herself as 'just the payroll person.' The other wasn't sure how to approach older, more successful people in order to learn from them. During her 25 hour journey back to the US, Jennifer reflected on those issues and the root of what caused them. Do you also feel this way?
• Before you consider the following actions, think about the people who have had an impact on your life. They don't wait for others to create a plan. They also give time, money, or attention, especially when it's about a challenge they've faced that you're experiencing, too.
• Action 1: Send random calls, texts, or tweets of random kindness. It's a small thing but it's something you can accomplish in little time, and it can change the course of a person's entire day. Not sure what to say? Jennifer shares some great ideas, so get in the habit of doing this!
• Action 2: Create systems for success and automate them! There's a great little app called IFTTT (If This Then That). There's virtually no limit on what you can do with it. Jennifer shares a few 'recipes' to use that will help you make an impact, almost on autopilot.
• Action 3: Jennifer shares a personal tip, something she learned to do when she was first growing her network. She identified people she wanted a relationship and started studying their work: books, blogs, podcasts, videos, even their websites. Essentially, she got to know them through their work. What she did next is a prime example of how to have a meaningful impact on others with a simple, daily routine.

Do you want to spend your personal and professional time making a lasting impact on others? Do you want to be the kind of leader that people love? Subscribe today and we will bring you new ways to change the world every single week.

Steve Browne is a connector in every sense of the word. From a young age, he's always felt at home 'swimming in people.' Today, Jennifer and Steve discuss what makes him a connector, and some of the unique insights he has as a leader and impact maker, including his involvement with the Society for Human Resource Management. Do you want to be the type of leader whose employees love them, and whose businesses thrive because of it? Find out how in today's episode.

• Steve talks about how his mother's suggestion took him from studying engineering into a more people-centric profession. When he's with people, Steve feels like he's home, right where he needs to be. He shares a funny story about college, where his classmates voted that he should be… you'll never guess.
• You know how some people have 'rules' before they let you into their lives? Steve doesn't, and he shares his philosophy on being an open book, and how it's helped him make an impact on others.
• One of the big obstacles to leadership is when a person is an introvert. Jennifer asks the tough question: how can an introvert lead other people? Can they do it effectively? Steve believes so, and his ideas about introverts being stronger leaders might surprise you.
• Steve shares a harsh truth about being in the people management sector. However, if you've ever been an employee with a bad manager, you'll be nodding your head along with him. He explains what it takes to be a great leader. Part of it has to do with understanding that 'a tiger never changes his stripes' and learning to work with those stripes.
• Kathy Coleman impacted Steve in a very deep way. She taught Steve that valuing the whole person matters more than only valuing what they bring to work. How do you allow your employees to grow personally, and how does that make them better employees?
• Years ago, one of Steve's peers gave him a bit of advice that hasn't left him, and it was delivered with a pointed finger to the chest. It began with Steve complaining endlessly about an organization. It ended with him leading that organization and creating a legacy that fulfills him to this day. The story will inspire you.
• Steve's final lesson comes from his daughter's basketball coach. What she did when his daughter didn't make the team impacted Steve and changed his entire thought process for making people feel valued in all types of organizations. It's a lesson that you can take with you, too.

Get in touch with Steve:

LinkedIn

Twitter: @sbrownehr

http://sbrownehr.com/

Book: HR on Purpose: Developing Deliberate People Passion

Do you want to spend your personal and professional time making a lasting impact on others? Do you want to be the kind of leader that people love? Subscribe today and we will bring you new ways to change the world every single week.

Jennifer and Laurie have been friends for years, traveling the world together. But Laurie is more than just a friend. She made an incredible impact on Jennifer's life and set her on the path to where she is today. Are you stuck or unsure of what to do? Then Laurie will make an impact on YOUR life as well. Will it change the course of your career like it did Jennifer's? We certainly hope so!

• One thing that Laurie learned early was that 'family' and 'home' aren't necessarily a permanent location. Her childhood was turbulent until they moved in with her grandmother, an opinionated, working class woman. Laurie's grandmother shaped who Laurie would become, and she shares the lessons from her pragmatic grandmother that she carries with her today.
• It was Michael Jackson who began Laurie's writing career. From that point on, Laurie was a writing machine: poetry, stories, term papers. Writing became central to who Laurie was, and she bloomed when blogging became a thing. You might be shocked to learn that Laurie started blogging out of spite when an ex-boyfriend emailed her and told her to look at his blog. From there, she went on to violate multiple terms and conditions of her HR job and not only got away with it but built a living on it.
• Laurie used to shave her head and wear Doc Martins. Oh, and she had facial piercings. Laurie shares the funny story of trying to get her first job in HR in all her 90's wild child glory. She had to remove her piercings and her co-workers talked about her behind her back. So it was a natural step for her to create Punk Rock HR.
• Not everyone would have the guts to kill something at the height of its success, but that's exactly what Laurie did with Punk Rock HR. Find out why she did it, what happened as a result, and why she chose Cynical Girl as her next brand identity. Laurie wasn't finished there, either. She created what she calls a career ladder. Find out how she did it!
• Laurie writes every day. Every. Single. Day. She shares some of the tools that she finds most helpful. First, Grammerly is an app that makes bad grammar a thing of the past. Do you abuse commas and semi-colons? What about your and you're, or there and their? This SaaS app will fix it. The second tool she uses is Pro Writing Aid. This little wizard focuses on style and flow. You still have to do the work, but these tools make it easier.
• It's not easy to put yourself out there when you have a contrarian view, and Laurie is no stranger to this. She tackles the difficult topics like #metoo, LGBT rights, and more, and she initiated the conversation long before it truly garnered public attention. She doesn't just share the struggles of being a woman online with contrarian views; she shares how she overcomes it at every turn.
• Should you write? Laurie has some strong opinions on whether or not you should. She has a few questions she asks herself before she ever hits publish on her blog. You should ask yourself the same questions and know that you might not always get it right, but that's okay.
• Laurie wanted to be a weather girl when she grew up. Now, she sometimes sees herself as a 'failed HR lady.' In fact, it wasn't until recently that she saw herself as an entrepreneur. But over the years, she realized that group isn't limited to 27-year-old white guys in hoodies who drink beer and play ping pong. Laurie shares what really defines an entrepreneur and why you might need to take stock of what you're doing and redefine your own life.
• Laurie wraps up the conversation today with some of the lessons she's learned along the way. It's okay to be first; it's not going to kill you. Break the taboo and be willing to demystify failure. Relationships are tough but worthwhile, and Laurie has a tough message on gaining them, OR turning them down.

Catch up with Laurie here:

Website/blog

LinkedIn

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

HR Book Club:

Website/blog

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

You've heard the term 'impact' from the mouths of CEOs and management from many different industries, applied in many different ways. But what does it mean to be an 'impact maker?' Today Jennifer shares some heart-touching stories that served as the inspiration for this podcast's name, and she talks about how to make the connection between changing the world and what we do in our everyday lives.

• One of the first movements Jennifer joined with the Game Change Campaign through her church. It allowed her to make a real difference in lives around the world through the International Justice Mission. Anjali's story about being forced into prostitution as a child and being rescued from it changed what Jennifer understood about making an impact. You can hear her story here, at 42:30.
• Has anyone ever told you that you changed their life? That's what making an impact truly is. Jennifer talks about how that moment was the start of a new purpose, or rather, honing in on it. Hear Jennifer's DisruptHR talk here.
• The goal of this podcast is to help you see opportunities to make an impact by sharing stories of people who are changing the world without asking for any credit for it. We'll help you uncover strategies to use and actions you can take in your daily lives that will help change the world.
• If you truly want to understand how making an impact changes lives, you need look no further than the story of Tererai Trent, who is also 'Oprah's favorite guest of all time.' She started as an 18 year-old mother of four in a small village in Zimbabwe. Tererai crossed continents and supported a family of 7 while ultimately earning a Ph.D. Yes, she did meet Oprah, but that's not the most amazing part of her story. You have to hear it to believe it, so listen to the full podcast: Lewis Howes interviews Tererai Trent. Understand the power of words.
• Today, Tererai Trent is a scholar, humanitarian, motivational speaker, educator, author, and founder of Tererai Trent International. She's become one of the most well know, and internationally recognized voices for quality education and women's empowerment. And she's also written a best-selling book, called The Awakened Woman – Remembering and Reigniting Our Sacred Dreams.
• Oprah was a defining person in Tererai's life, so Jennifer wraps up her show today with the woman who has impacted millions, every day. When she was asked what her legacy would be, she didn't give her own answer. Instead, she shared what Maya Angelou told Oprah what her legacy would be, and it's amazing. The most amazing part is, as a person who wants to influence and impact the world around you, you can have the same type of legacy.

What is YOUR dream? Are you ready to learn how to increase your impact and influence to make a real difference in the lives of others, like the stories you heard today? If so, you should subscribe and leave a review. We'll bring you weekly content that will help you be the Impact Maker you were meant to be.

The Impact Makers Podcast with Jennifer McClure is a weekly podcast for people who are interested in making a positive difference in the world not only through their work, but also through how they choose to live their lives.