Impact Makers

Whether you're thrilled or terrified to talk about your story, it's important to remember that everyone has something unique to share with the world - one that's meaningful and inspiring. But how do you tell your story without compromising your authenticity? Today's guest is Jennifer's good friend and host of Camera Ready, Val Brown. Their conversation unravels the effect our voice and story play in business and the people around us, and why it takes more than talking in front of a camera to get your story across.

• Val Brown is an Emmy Award winner and the founder of Visual Bridge Communication. VBC helps leaders and businesses tell their stories and become more fluid in front of the camera. Val's passion and excellence in journalism and communication has led her to an award-winning career.
• What are some expert tips when it comes to being an effective host/communicator? Read and practice your material. Take care of your voice: drink water and get enough sleep. Own your voice and don't forget to breathe. Val explains that our voice is like a muscle, and warming up is vital for delivering a successful presentation. Just as athletes don't skip their warm-up routines for a big event, we shouldn't either.
• After shifting from corporate to the public sector, Val saw the power of articulate messaging. How changing the organizational language changes people's quality of life. She learned that by changing the language, they changed the conversation. And by changing the conversation, they changed the company culture.
• She eventually joined a consulting group, which later inspired her to start her own business. Val saw the huge training demand that leaders and entrepreneurs had in the communications sector. She found great delight in helping people gain skills and move past their limiting beliefs - this was obviously her calling.

Val shares her best practice broken down to 3Ps: Purpose, Plan, and Presence. (Get the Camera Ready Guide download!)

• Understand your purpose. What is this video for? What do you want it to do for you? Why did you invest time and effort into creating this?
• Create a plan to support your purpose. The plan involves laying out your message, how and where you're going to deliver your message. Your plan must fit your purpose.
• Align your mind, heart, and gut to establish your presence. People know when we're not being authentic. By aligning the mind, heart, and gut, we come across as genuine - people are more receptive to messages that come from an honest source. Our audience needs to feel our enthusiasm when we share our message. Before we can get them to believe our story, we have to believe in it first.
• What are some of the foundations when it comes to speaking in front of the camera? Because people are on this journey at different levels, part of Val's process is to meet them where they are. They work through the client's self-limiting beliefs first. Once they know that they can do it, they become more comfortable with the idea of being in front of the camera. After they've established their confidence in telling their story, then they move on to polishing techniques and existing skills.
• "Audio without video is radio." - Val Brown, Jennifer and Val talk about other investments and guidelines to consider when doing video such as lighting, wardrobe, makeup, and audio quality, and how it affects audience engagement.

As with anything in business, it all must serve a purpose - your story is no different. Tell your story, but do so with the genuine intent to connect with your audience all while staying true to your brand's core values. Your story tells more about you and your brand than you think, so make it work for you. Remember: Purpose, Plan, and Presence - and match it with other presentation guidelines like colors, lighting, and audio quality.

Want a little help creating your personal brand?

Jennifer has a free resource for you. The Personal Brand Workbook will help you figure out what your personal brand is today and what you want to be known for in the future, as well as how you want to impact the world. Download it today!

Val Brown

Free Download: Camera Ready Guide

Visual Bridge Communication

Camera Ready with Val Brown - iTunes

LinkedIn

Facebook

Twitter

What if we were all given an unlimited amount of grace despite our shortcomings? Adam Martin is the Founder of F5 Project, an organization that provides job and housing opportunities to felons leaving the prison system so they can have a sense of purpose and the confidence to re-enter their communities. Today, Jennifer and Adam dive deep into how the social stigma that surrounds felons effects their successful reentry into society and how we can do better in providing equal job opportunities to this untapped yet promising workforce.

• Adam Martin is dedicated to helping others overcome the things he has in his life: alcoholism, drug abuse, and a criminal background that includes 5 felonies. His work on the F5 Project has been a game-changer for many lives.
• Most felons are left with jobs that barely get their bills paid. They are given lower wages, higher expectations, and not enough room to succeed. With social stigmas holding back several socio-demographics, especially the vulnerable ones, Adam has one question: "What if we weren't so quick to judge and brand people as unworthy?"
• If you want a story about reform, then Adam has one for us. After leaving the prison system, he had worked at a car wash, served and waited tables at restaurants - jobs that weren't enough to support his family. Despite the setbacks, he knew that wasn't what he wanted to do the rest of his life. Instead, he was going to find purpose and end the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.
• He eventually got a job at an information technology company as an outside sales representative. They hired Adam even after knowing about his past, but he didn't have the same advantages as the other employees. He didn't have a license, he didn't have a car - the things that would enable him to do his job efficiently. But that didn't stop him from bringing in the sales needed to get him noticed by the higher-ups. He took the bus, he rode his bike, and he did everything he could to earn his keep. His dedication paid off. By his first year, he had made the company a million in revenue - an astonishing feat, even for non-felons.
• This brings us to how social stigma against felons hurt their opportunity for reform and successful reentry into society. Hiring people always comes with risks, but people aren't just data. They are not just their standardized test results and their previous life choices. These individuals have hopes and dreams too.
• Most of the time, it's because we've marked them as failures that they have ended up identifying themselves as such - this is not okay. Adam isn't trying to get every felon hired, but he does want to advocate for those who are actually a good fit for businesses.
• Bad things can happen to anyone and that can push people into making hasty decisions, but that shouldn't dictate that person's opportunity to live a decent and fulfilling life. Nobody is perfect, and people should be allowed to grow and change for the better.
• Jennifer probes into how employers can overcome their fear of hiring felons, so Adam shares the 2 things he looks for in a potential hire: First, he wants complete transparency from the applicant and to know what their crime was, and second, what the applicant is doing every day to ensure that they don't go back to prison and how they give back to the community. A shift in perspective is all it takes to make the workplace a better place.

Want a little help creating your personal brand?

Jennifer has a free resource for you. The Personal Brand Workbook will help you figure out what your personal brand is today and what you want to be known for in the future, as well as how you want to impact the world. Download it today!

Where to find Adam:

Adam Martin LinkedIn

Adam Martin Twitter

Adam Martin F5 Website

F5 Project Facebook

Other resources:

Rich Roll Podcast - John McAvoy

Joe Gerstandt isn't just a straight white dad with tons of tattoos. He's also an expert on diversity and inclusion who has trained leaders at Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, the government, and more. He also speaks on how each of us can become conscious champions for diversity and inclusion in our work and in our lives. Jennifer and Joe talk about his journey from small-town America to where he is today, and what he teaches that changes so many people.

• Joe grew up on a farm in a small town in a class of 26 kids. From there he went into the Marine Corps for four years, a transformational experience in terms of diversity. Then Joe went from sales to working in a non-profit, and finally into corporate life before becoming the thought leader he is today. But when Joe talks about how he got from there to here, his guiding principle was that he was a person who made mistakes and LEARNED from them. As a young adult, Joe didn't believe things like racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination really existed. Joe shares how those feelings changed radically over his professional career.
• One of the things that 'lit him on fire' in the Marine Corps was, despite the terrible pay and living conditions, Joe believed in what he was doing. He had strong leadership and a chance to advance through meritocracy. Why does this matter? Because Joe believes in bringing the same passion to get people to rally around becoming champions for diversity and inclusion. He explains the lessons he learned in the Marines and how he's applied them to his current endeavors.
• After he worked in a sales job – a very dark time in his life – Joe became part of a non-profit for AIDS. He had long since left his homophobic beliefs behind, but he didn't leave behind the need for purpose like he felt in the military. Joe shares the shocking revelations he had while working for the non-profit that reshaped the way he looked at the world and his place in it.
• The next stop in Joe's journey landed him as the Diversity Director at a healthcare facility, where he built the diversity program from the ground up. Neither the company nor Joe had a clear idea of what he should be doing, and Joe reveals the worst thing the company did when it came to its attitude about diversity and inclusion: they considered themselves 'good people.'
• After that last work experience, Joe finally found his purpose, and he decided to work for himself. But the way it happened wasn't what he expected, nor did he expect to be as such peace about it. Joe had some rough times as he stepped out as a speaker and consultant, and he shares one of the most pivotal moments in his early days of self-employment. From that experience, Joe gained the confidence to have a Fortune 500 client within months. Joe didn't always make enough to pay the bills in the beginning, but he shares how he leverages social media, the Internet, his network, and even local Chambers of Commerce to grow his speaking career. He also shares one of the biggest mistake new speaker make with their plans and dreams.
• You might wonder what kind of reception a straight white guy from Omaha gets when his topic is diversity and inclusion when he doesn't necessarily have the same insights as others. Surprisingly, Joe only dealt with a little of that early on, and here's why: Joe will be the first to admit that he still benefits from gender and racial privilege. He explains what it's like working from a place of privilege in a field like diversity and inclusion.
• What makes Joe's diversity and inclusion message different? For one, his message is jarring. It's not 'kumbaya.' He talks about how the corporate culture has taken control of the words and made them mean something else, and Joe explains why that keeps us 'behind the times.' He shares what diversity and inclusion really mean, and it's not the number of different people you have in a department. Joe likens diversity to gravity: it exists. Will you work with it or against it?

Want a little help creating your personal brand?

Jennifer has a free resource for you. The Personal Brand Workbook will help you figure out what your personal brand is today and what you want to be known for in the future, as well as how you want to impact the world. Download it today!

Where To Find Joe: Joe Gerstandt Website

Joe Gerstandt LinkedIn

Joe Gerstandt Twitter

Written by Joe Gerstandt:

Social Gravity: Harnessing the Natural Laws of Relationships by Joe Gerstandt & Jason Lauritsen

Joe Gerstandt Medium blog post – I Am 21 A by Joe Gerstandt

Joe Gerstandt Videos:

Joe Gerstandt YouTube

Inclusion. You Keep Using That Word. I Don't Think It Means What You Think It Means. | Joe Gerstandt | DisruptHR Talks [video]

Joe Gerstandt: freak flag-flying (what, why and how) [video]

Other Resources:

Joe Gerstandt & Jason Lauritsen – Talent Anarchy

Jason Lauritsen

Communicating your personal brand doesn't have to be complicated. Your next step is often right under your nose! This episode concludes Jennifer's three-part series on personal branding, and she shares 6 ways that you can do to begin sharing your personal brand and how to get the opportunities that you're looking for.

• Over the last three weeks, Jennifer and her guests have dissected what a personal brand is, how you can define it, as well as how you can continue to develop your brand throughout your career and your life.
• Although your personal brand is always evolving, there are guidelines that will help in effectively communicating who you are, who you help, the solutions you deliver, and how it impacts the people involved.
• Your personal brand helps people determine whether you're a good fit for their needs. "Are you authentic enough? Are you expert enough? Are relatable enough?" Your personal brand is what defines you, whether you like it or not and whether you're aware of it or not - so make it work FOR you and not against you.

So, what can you do to get your personal brand out into the world? Here are 6 action steps that you can take to share your personal brand with the World:

• #1 Online Activity. The internet is one of the best ways to build your reputation, so it's your responsibility to take charge of your online activity and understand the importance of having and keeping a positive online presence.Fact: Information about you that's found online is used by others to assess your credibility, knowledge, and experience.
• In the book, Career Distinction by William Arruda & Kirsten Dixon, they suggest that you do a Google search of yourself and answer an online distinction survey to help you assess your current online identity.
• Jennifer notes that a great way to boost your online presence to your favor is by creating a 100% complete account on LinkedIn, pay attention to that platform, and find ways to be active.
• If I search for you online, I should see your personal brand statement right away and examples of how you're growing in your career, volunteer activities, or just some way I get a positive first impression about you enough to take the first step: hire, recruit, collaborate, etc.
• #2 Share your expertise through writing and curating content. Writing allows you to spread your knowledge that can help people and make an impact in their lives. Share your thoughts unique to you, write about what you do, what you think about the future, what you think is going on with the world now.
• If you don't want to create a website or start your own blog, then offer to write for or curate other thought leaders' content.
• #3 Helping others by mentoring and coaching. Helping other people actually helps you! Being THE helpful expert builds your online presence as someone who is knowledgeable enough and sought out enough that makes people want to follow you.
• Great coaches, great mentors, are GREAT LISTENERS. These people ask: "Tell me what's going on in your world, how do you feel about that, and what do you think you should do next?" They listen, ask, and then give advice -- more often than not, they help the person work through the problem themselves.
• #4 Being active on at least one social media platform to share your expertise. "If content is the fuel for your personal brand, then social media is the engine." - Jason DeMers, AudienceBloom CEO.
• Create things that climb higher on search results, something that social media platforms can help you achieve. Choose one social media platform that you're going to invest your time and effort on. Post thoughts, connect and interact to build meaningful relationships - use that site to its best advantage. You can join all the social media channels IF you have the capacity to, but at minimum start with one.
• #5 Speak, moderate, and be a panelist. Not everyone needs or want to be a speaker, but even if you don't want to stand up and be the keynote speaker with a thousand people in the room, you can be on a panel and share your expertise. Challenge yourself to stand up and share your expertise, just being a speaker at an event, elevates their perception of your credibility as a leader.

• #6 Volunteer: Help organizations, help places you support, help connect people. There's a reason why business executives, gurus, and other thought leaders commit to volunteering efforts. Aside from the obvious positive impact it has on your image, it's effective in building solid relationships as well as getting things done. Being a leader who volunteers is a win-win-win situation for the cause you support, your connections, and your personal brand.

The most powerful word in branding is 'the.' When people say you are, "THE something," then your personal brand is working for you. If you want your personal brand to continue working for you, then you have to define it, develop it and have it communicate WHO YOU ARE and WHAT YOU STAND FOR.

Want a little help creating your personal brand?

Jennifer has a free resource for you. The Personal Brand Workbook will help you figure out what your personal brand is today and what you want to be known for in the future, as well as how you want to impact the world. Download it today!

Resources & Links:

Impact Makers Episode 23

Impact Makers Episode 24

Impact Makers Episode 5

Let's Fix Work with Laurie Ruettimann Episode 24

Career Distinction by William Arruda & Kirsten Dixson

Jason DeMers

In the words of Sally Hogshead, "Different is better than better." In the second part of a 3-part series on personal branding, Jennifer shares some tools, strategies and exercises from her Personal Brand Worksheet that you can use to discover where you're at and help to get to where you want to be. In next week's episode, we'll be taking what you'll learn today out in the world.

• In today's episode, Jennifer will talk through some of the steps of her Personal Brand Worksheet. This week's episode is the second part of a 3-part series on personal branding. If you missed last week's episode, please listen here before continuing with episode 24!
• What is a personal brand? Jennifer defines the personal brand as "the perception that people have of you compared to others in similar positions". So in order to secure those opportunities that you want, you'll have to stand out from a crowd in a big way.
• So where does one start? One of the best personal brand assessments that Jennifer has found was created by Sally Hogshead. You can find it in her book called Fascinate: How to Make Your Brand Impossible to Resist or online at com
• Today's world is noisier than ever and career success no longer hinges on securing a quality job. To really move up, get noticed by the right people at the right time is the name of the game. But how can you stand out when everyone else trying to do the same thing at the same time on the same platforms?
• You might be happy with your job today but if the 2008 recession has taught us anything, it's that ironclad job security is a thing of the past. Rather than focusing on employment security, the new reality of work is all about employability. And that's where your personal branding comes in.
• Do you have Jennifer's Personal Branding Worksheet in front of you? Let's get started! Feel free to pause the podcast and take your time on each section.
• Forget your job title. Don't let it pigeonhole you when you're looking to make an impression. Instead, consider: how does what you do add value? What are you most proud of? And what gets you excited? These are things that will help you stand out.
• Identify your skills and strengths. What do you bring to the table? What comes naturally to you? Narrow these down to 3 to 5 thing that you truly excel at. You can use the words on the worksheet for inspiration!
• Let's take a look at the bigger picture. How people view you is an integral part of your personal brand. Think about how your colleagues or friends would describe you.
• What do you aspire to be? How do you want to make an impact in this world?
• We all have a personal brand whether we want to or not. So now it's time for the hard part: ask the people around you about their perception of you to find out what your existing brand looks like. What three words would they use to describe you?
• Take these words and type them up into a document. No skipping allowed! Upload them to net to create a word map and find the words most commonly used to describe you. This can help you identify what people do – and don't – associate with you, and help you figure what you need to do to get the words you want to show up on your map.
• So you've taken stock of where you are but where do you want to go? One exercise that can help you shape your personal brand is creating a Personal Branding Statement.
• Jennifer uses the BRAND acronym to break down this exercise. B for bold, R for relevant, A for authentic, N for notable, and D for differentiated. Jennifer also talks about some notable personal branding statements she's come across and why they stood out to her.
• Ready for some homework? Start thinking about your own personal brand statement. Jennifer suggests using Kary Oberbrunner's formula to develop your statement. Fill in the blanks!
  • I am (your professional identity) who helps (your audience) do or understand (your unique solution) so that (transformation/benefit).
• Share your personal brand statement with us! You can send Jennifer an email or LinkedIn message or share it on social media with the hashtag #impactmakerspodcast.

Resources & Links:

Personal Brand Worksheet

Impact Makers Episode 30 - Your Personal Brand

Sally Hogshead

Fascinate: How to Make Your Brand Impossible to Resist

Howtofascinate.com

Impact Makers Episode 4 - Quit the Cubicle with Mike Kim

Meg Guiseppi

Impact Makers Episode 7 - How I Became A Speaker And Entrepreneur

Check out another trailblazing HR powerhouse!

HR expert Laurie Ruettiman hosts a podcast called Let's Fix Work where she speaks with a diverse array of people about how to change the way we think and work for the better.

Give us a hand getting the word out!

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 people love? Subscribe today and we will bring you new ways to change the world every single week.

In his Fast Company article, Tom Peters wrote that this is 'The Age of the Individual,' and that everyone, from the receptionist to the CEO, must take charge of their own careers by becoming the CEO of The Brand Called You. That was back in 1987, and many people have already caught on, creating a very noisy space. But that means that it's more important than ever to have your own personal brand as strong as possible.

• How do you determine your own personal brand? You answer the following questions: Who are you, who do you help, and how do you do it? This is the basis for people understanding if they're interested in you, if they want to do business with you, or hire you. What is your brand telling them right now?
• There are a lot of people who don't believe in personal branding. They believe that people shouldn't be treated like 'tubes of toothpaste,' shouldn't be packaged and neat and pretty, because it's inauthentic. Yes, some people try to brand themselves in a way that isn't authentic, but you might also consider personal branding as 'reputation management.' In fact, you already have a brand – or a reputation – whether you like it or not.
• Let's dive into what a brand really is, and the definition is pretty simple. When someone says the name of a person or company, brand is the first thing that comes to mind. For example, saying Starbucks evokes the green goddess logo, along with coffee. Maybe for you, it's 'comfortable,' 'meeting place,' or even 'my reason for living.' That is brand. Think about Apple – it evokes certain feelings for you, one way or another. Those feelings might not all be positive, and that's important.
• In terms of people, Oprah is a brand and a person. She evokes both positive and negative thoughts. But here's the important part: she communicates the positive aspects through her work. It's the message she chooses to share, and it's what makes her so incredibly successful. Martha Steward is another great example. Jailbird might come to mind, but below that, you have a woman who is a master at home and in the kitchen, and she shares it with the world.
• So what does all this mean for you and your personal brand? People want to be involved with others they like, have positive associations with, or promise something they want. That is true when you're a job seeker, entrepreneur, author, or already employed and looking to rise within the company. Building authority and influence – and communicating it through your personal brand – helps you succeed with that.
• We mentioned that there's a lot of noise and the professional and online world is very crowded. Which means that people, more than ever, are looking for others they resonate with. If you haven't tended your brand, you're setting yourself up for mediocrity. As Kary Oberbrunner said, "clarity attracts, and confusion repels." If you don't know who you are, what you have to offer, and how you can help others, neither will anyone else.
• You don't need to ignore this lesson because of semantics. You can call it whatever you want: brand, reputation, story. Names aren't important, but how you communicate with the world is. At the end of the day, people will have impressions about you, just like they do with Starbucks, Apple, and Oprah Winfrey. Would you rather have some degree of control over what those impressions are?

Want a little help creating your personal brand?

Jennifer has a free resource for you. The Personal Brand Workbook will help you figure out what your personal brand is today and what you want to be known for in the future, as well as how you want to impact the world. Download it today!

The Brand Called You – Fast Company

Impact Makers Episode 7 - How I Became A Speaker And Entrepreneur

SHRM Annual Conference

Society for Human Resource Management

Sheryl Sandberg

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy

Adam Grant

Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World

Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success

WorkLife with Adam Grant: A TED original podcast

Talent Magnet Institute podcast

Jennifer McClure – Personal Brand Workbook

Are you ready to meet the Oprah of HR? On today's episode of Impact Makers, Jennifer sits down with the infamous HR wizard, Kris Dunn. He is the founder of two popular blogs The HR Capitalist and Fistful of Talent and is also the CHRO of Kinetix, an Atlanta-based recruiting, RPO and HR consulting firm.

• Where does the story of Kris Dunn start? Kris talks about his rural Missouri roots, the value of his basketball coaching experience, and the general arc of his career that led him to the HR world.
• For Kris, working in HR was where everything finally clicked into place. Jennifer asks Kris about how and why he knew that HR was the place for him. He shares with the audience the importance of mentorship that helped him find his path, and provides some practical advice on how to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.
• At this point in his career, the Monday-to-Friday thoughts of Kris Dunn are read far and wide. But it wasn't always so: Kris shares what spurred him to enter the world of blogging and what the early days were like before The HR Capitalist and Fistful of Talent started gaining traction.
• As one of the first well-known HR bloggers, Kris is known for his conversational tone, fun references, and an impressive 5-day-a-week schedule. Jennifer asks him how this consistency has played into the success of his blogging and writing endeavors.
• If you can manage to build and maintain a following of readers like Kris has, the potential for meeting new people and finding new opportunities skyrockets. Jennifer and Kris talk about the various relationships – both personal and professional – that have come about through blogging, as well as opportunities for career advancement. Kris talks about how his blogging fit into his career at different points in his life.
• Is being an entrepreneur all it's cracked up to be? Jennifer asks Kris about his feelings around entrepreneurship as someone who might not have founded a company, but had invested his family's future in an existing business.
• No one starts or becomes a partner in a company just for the hell of it. Kris talks about a couple of the items on his entrepreneurial bucket list that he has been able to cross off while working at Kinetix.
• With all the blogging that Kris has done over the years, it seems like there is a collection of books just waiting to be written. Jennifer asks Kris about the possibility of writing a book in the future, his Boss Leadership Training materials notwithstanding. Jennifer and Kris also talk about their experiences as facilitators of the Boss Leadership Training.
• As an HR, recruiting and training professional, Kris has met all kinds of people in all kinds of fields. He passes on some advice for how to make an impression and build up your career in today's working world. Here's one for the road: Keep detailed records of your project work – professional or otherwise – and always be ready to bring it to the table to make a lasting impression.

Resources & Links:

Kris Dunn / The HR Capitalist

Kris Dunn LinkedIn

Kris Dunn Twitter

Kris Dunn Instagram

Kris Dunn Facebook

Fistful of Talent blog

Kinetix

Shannon Russo

Boss Leadership Training

Laurie Ruettimann

Impact Makers Episode 2 - The Thriving Contrarian With Laurie Ruettimann

William Tincup

Impact Makers Episode 5 - Radical Candor In Marketing With William Tincup

Tim Sackett

The Talent Fix: A Leader's Guide To Recruiting Great Talent

Impact Makers Episode 15 - Rewire Yourself For Growth With Tim Sackett

Are you struggling with developing your personal brand?

You can now download Jennifer McClure's Personal Branding Worksheet to help you ask and answer the right questions so you're making the best impression.

Check out another trailblazing HR powerhouse!

HR expert Laurie Ruettiman hosts a podcast called Let's Fix Work where she speaks with a diverse array of people about how to change the way we think and work for the better.

Give us a hand getting the word out!

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 people love? Subscribe today and we will bring you new ways to change the world every single week.

The old adage that preaches "to follow your dreams" might seem outdated in today's precarious working world but get ready to meet a visionary that's turning fantasy into reality. In this episode, Jennifer talks with Mary Miller, the CEO of a Cincinnati-based janitorial services company called Jancoa, and about their pioneering Dream Manager Program — and how to create a genuine culture of caring is a serious game changer for both employees and employers.

• First things first: Who is Mary Miller and what brought her to where she is today? The short answer? Herself! Tune in to hear more about how Mary went from being a bankrupt twice-divorced single mom with two kids to being the CEO and primary shareholder of Jancoa.
• When it comes to living a journey like Mary's, there are lessons around every corner. Mary talks about what she learned from her past and how she applied it to her future.
• Here's a taste of Mary's philosophy of work: instead of keeping a laser focus on the task at hand and the money, making space for recognizing opportunities will take you to the next step.
• Mary brings her wealth of experience to her coaching with Strategic Coach, where she works with business owners and entrepreneurs. When talking to her clients about keeping an eye out for opportunity and growth, she uses a question developed by one of Strategic Coach's founders Dan Sullivan: "If we were sitting here a year from now, what would have to happen for you to be really happy with your progress?"
• For Mary, intentionality in not only goal-setting but reflection that can give you the breathing room to check in with yourself and your efforts — and adjust if necessary. Mary sets aside one day per quarter to reflect on the last 90 days, specifically to track down lessons that can be applied in the future.
• How did The Dream Manager Program start at Jancoa? Mary talks about how the idea for the program sprouted out of their efforts to retain employees after chronic turnover problems.
• After meeting the best-selling author Matthew Kelly, Mary and her husband Tony – the founder of Jancoa – told him their story. Their program served as the backbone of the business fable featured in The Dream Manager book.
• For many of Jancoa's employees, their dreams were about uplifting their family and future generations to come. Mary talks about how enabling this kind of success amounts to a culture-shifting endeavor.
• Let's talk metrics: with their Dream Manager Program, Mary and Tony set out to create a workplace that makes people want to stick around. Mary discusses the results of those efforts from a business perspective.
• Thanks to the Dream Manager Program, there are countless success stories that come out of Jancoa. Mary shares some of the highlights with us and talks about how as the business grew, the formal Program has transformed into a broader culture of caring that consistently attracts quality employees.
• Now that the second generation is overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company, Mary now travels for speaking engagements and coaching workshops. She talks about how her role as a CEO has her more occupied with questions of long-term vision and workplace philosophy than ever before.
• Mary recently published a book about the backstory of The Dream Manager Program called Changing Direction: 10 Choices that Impact Your Dreams by Mary Miller. She talks about the first point: you'll never get anywhere if you can't learn to embrace change.
• So what's next for Mary Miller? She talks about her speaking work and her own dreams to transform the lives of others and make an even bigger positive impact in the world. Mary also gives us some tips and links for resources to follow.

Resources & Links:

Mary Miller LinkedIn

Mary Miller Twitter

Mary Miller - Speaking

Strategic Coach – Mary Miller

Jancoa

The Dream Manager Program at Jancoa (Program)

Floyd Consulting

The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly (Book)

Changing Direction: 10 Choices that Impact Your Dreams by Mary Miller

Mike Sipple, Sr.

BucketList.org

Impact Makers Episode 1 - What Does It Mean To Be An Impact Maker?

Are you struggling with developing your personal brand?

You can now download Jennifer McClure's Personal Branding Worksheet to help you ask and answer the right questions so you're making the best impression.

Check out another trailblazing HR powerhouse!

HR expert Laurie Ruettiman hosts a podcast called Let's Fix Work where she speaks with a diverse array of people about how to change the way we think and work for the better.

Give us a hand getting the word out!

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 people love? Subscribe today and we will bring you new ways to change the world every single week.

We all need other people in order to help us grow! Whether you're looking for a job, a contact, promoting a service or looking to collaborate, there are many ways to go about it. In today's episode, Jennifer shares some thoughts and pointers on how to network by building and maintaining relationships with generosity and respect.

• Back in May, Jennifer tweeted about requests that she had received to work for free, which prompted her to synthesize some thoughts on the do's and don'ts of networking. She talks about these communications and their underlying flawed assumptions about the value of one's time and energy, and she lays out the following common situations that can benefit from her pointers:
  • Job Hunting. Whether you're a recent graduate or looking to make a change, tapping your network for opportunities means reaching out to key individuals. Jennifer talks about some of her early missteps on her journey to becoming a speaker and entrepreneur back in episode 7 of the Impact Makers Podcast as well some of the lessons she learned in the process.
  • Questions and Curiosity. You may be looking for advice, tips, or leads from established professionals or individuals that you think might help you along in your journey. In our digital age, we are often both the sender and receiver of sales communications. Whether it be through a job, a startup or personal businesses, reaching out to individuals is part of the game.
  • Audience Appreciation. Many people reach out to creators to let them know that the content they are producing is enjoyed and valued. Creating a connection this way can be difficult, as creators often receive many messages from a wide range of people.
• With these situations in mind, here are Jennifer's 5 tips for reaching out and making connections:
  • #1: Do Your Homework FIRST. Before you reach out, make sure you know exactly why you're sending a message in the first place. What are your goals, what is your purpose and what specifically are you working on? Including this in your initial communication will streamline your exchange to get down to it.
  • Ask yourself: "why am I reaching out to X or Y person?" Make sure that they understand why you think that they can help. Being specific in your request also simplifies things. The easier it is for them to say yes, the more likely they will do so. Jennifer tells a couple of stories about what catches her attention when people reach out to her.
  • #2: Referrals from a Mutual Contact. Review your network to see if you know anyone who has a legitimate existing relationship (not just a LinkedIn connection) with the person you want to connect with. If your mutual contact is amenable to a name drop – or is willing to personally introduce you, all the better.
  • #3: Emails, Voicemails and In-Person Requests. Regardless of communication medium, be clear with your question and provide very easy options for follow-up. Be flexible, willing to travel and be thankful! Show your appreciation from them taking time out their day to meet or talk with you.
  • #4 Persistent and friendly follow-up. We all have busy lives. If you reach out and don't get a response, err on the side of understanding. Who knows why they didn't respond? For Jennifer, the maximum number of follow-up communications is 3. After that, it's time to move on.
  • #5 The Best Way to Get is to Give. Everyone wants to know that their work matters. One of the best ways to create connections is to champion the work of others. Sharing their work with your network and genuinely engaging with their content over time will help you stand out as someone who truly appreciates their efforts. You can also recommend them in a business context.
• Remember, these folks have to eat too! If you're reaching out to someone with a service or resource you want to access, offer to buy it! Expecting someone to offer for free what they regularly get paid to do isn't very respectful of their time and energy.
• There are no rules about who can learn from who. Another way to get noticed is to share what you've learned and what you're working on, whether that be in a blog, on social media or in a publication.

Resources & Links:

Catalyst Sale Podcast #94 - Gender Pay Gap, Building Business Acumen, and Networking

Catalyst Sale Podcast #60 - Jennifer McClure - Disruption & Innovation in HR & Sales

Mike Simmons LinkedIn

The tweet about networking that started it all…

Impact Makers Episode 7 — How I Became A Speaker and Entrepreneur

Michael Hyatt

Amy Porterfield

Community Made podcast with Jayson Gaignard

Are you struggling with developing your personal brand?

You can now download Jennifer McClure's Personal Branding Worksheet to help you ask and answer the right questions so you're making the best impression.

Check out another trailblazing HR powerhouse!

HR expert Laurie Ruettiman hosts a podcast called Let's Fix Work where she speaks with a diverse array of people about how to change the way we think and work for the better.

Give us a hand getting the word out!

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 people love? Subscribe today and we will bring you new ways to change the world every single week.

When it comes to changing hearts and minds in the workplace, nothing will bring people to your podium like a powerful personal story. Today, Jennifer talks with her good friend and old colleague Mary Faulkner, the author of the widely read blog Surviving Leadership. She is currently the Director of Human Resources, Talent and Total Rewards at Denver Water.

• Can you guess what Mary wanted to be as a young woman? Mary tells us a little bit about her educational and business history and how she found herself in the world of HR.
• The two met in 2013 while Jennifer was working a consulting contract at the company Mary was a part of. Mary talks about the details of her career since 2013, Jennifer's influence on her development, and her blog HR-focused blog called Surviving Leadership.
• The focus of Mary's blog isn't just about the view from the top down; she also consistently approaches HR from an employee position and touches on a broad range of topics within the corporate landscape.
• One of the themes that Mary has been writing about is fear-based leadership in the workplace. For example, fears of innovation failure, fears of internal politics, or fear of speaking one's mind. She uses the example of the #MeToo movement and the cultures of fear that prevent people from speaking out.
• What can those in leadership roles do to make space for people to speak out? Mary offers some specific suggestions for those at the top.
• A deep understanding of the many idiosyncrasies of corporate leadership culture is bound to change the way one sees the workplace. Jennifer asks Mary about how her work and writing has changed her own leadership style and work relationships.
• Like thousands of other impact makers, Twitter changed the game for Mary Faulkner. Jennifer asks Mary about how being connected to a globally diverse range of people has impacted her perspective and working style.
• Through her social media coverage of HR conferences, Mary has been invited to cover, speak at and organize a range of events. Jennifer asks Mary about how these experiences have helped her grow her career and enhance her practice.
• When it comes to laying it out for the top brass, HR departments are often on the back foot when justifying their programs. So being an HR practitioner and a consistently travelling speaker isn't so common. Mary talks about how she balances these two parts of her career and offers some advice for conference organizers on how to get more HR practitioners on the stage.
• Stage fright is no joke but there are even greater challenges to building a quality conference presentation. Mary provides some pointers on how to work your way up to the podium and the value of presenting your story.
• Who are some the biggest impact makers in Mary Faulkner's life? Mary talks about some of her leadership mentors and about the future of career.

Resources & Links:

Mary Faulkner website

Mary Faulkner LinkedIn

Mary Faulkner Twitter

Mary Faulkner Instagram

DisruptHR

DisruptHR Denver

Carla Shull

Laurie Ruettimann

Paul Hebert

Matthew Stollak

Steve Browne

Are you struggling with developing your personal brand?

You can now download Jennifer McClure's Personal Branding Worksheet to help you ask and answer the right questions so you're making the best impression.

Check out another trailblazing HR powerhouse!

HR expert Laurie Ruettiman hosts a podcast called Let's Fix Work where she speaks with a diverse array of people about how to change the way we think and work for the better.

Give us a hand getting the word out!

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 people love? Subscribe today and we will bring you new ways to change the world every single week.