Lead. Travel. Pray.

Lead. Travel. Pray.

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Lead. Travel. Pray. episodes

  • Episode 28: Visiting St. Louis
    https://ltppodcast.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/STL+travel.mp3
    • Museums
      • Cahokia Mounds
      • Arch Grounds and Museum
      • St. Louis Art Museum– in beautiful Forest Park.
      • City Museum– hands on for kids and those who are kids at heart. Downtown. Giant climbing structures and lots of small caverns for little ones to play…and get lost.
    • Concerts and Theatre
      • Fox Theater– concerts and Broadway theater series
      • St Louis Repertory Theater on the campus of Webster University. Multiple stages. Smaller venue. No bad seat in the house.
    • Cardinals
      • Go early, grab a drink and eat something before going into the game.
      • Discounted day-of tickets for St. Louis Cardinals – First Pitch Tickets
      • St Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame museum in Ballpark Village.
    • Brewery tours – Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Schlafly Bottleworks, 4 Hands Brewery, and lots of local microbreweries. There’s even a local brewery tour where they transport you to 4 microbreweries – BrewHop STL

    What else have you done that’s entertaining while in STL?

    • Union Station – restaurants, new giant ferris wheel, aquarium, hotel
    • Cathedral Basilica
    • Magic House – children’s museum in Kirkwood, MO, not far from downtown
    • Outdoors
    • Forest Park – what do you recommend people do there?
      • Art Museum, mentioned already above, has a nice restaurant
      • The Boathouse Restaurant and ride the paddleboats.
      • The Muny for summer time musicals
      • The Zoo – one of the best in the US and it’s free
    • MO Botanical Garden, Laumeier Sculpture Park, the Arch
    • The Arch is a must see!  It is now designated as a National Park and was recently completely renovated with a fantastic museum below ground.  You should definitely take a ride up in the Arch, however, things to know before you do:
      • The “elevator” is the same that was initially installed.
      • It is small.  We are big.  It is a cramped and a bit of a confined space.
      • You will be up high!  The windows are small.
    • Local wineries –
      • Try the MO wine.  There are some good ones, but you may have to try a few first.
      • Augusta/Defiance wineries: all good!  Go in the fall (Sept/Oct) and enjoy outdoor drinking and live music.
      • Hermann, MO– great wineries (Hermanhoff and Stone Hill) with wonderful bed and breakfast options

         Foodie recommendations –

    • Iconic STL must do’s for food and drink – the Hill, Ted Drews, Imo’s, Crown Candy Kitchen if you have time to stand in line.
      • St. Louis Pizza and Toasted Ravioli
      • Gooey Butter Cake- Park Avenue Coffee Shop in Lafayette Square
      • Delmar Loop – Fitz’s

    • The Hill: Favazza’s, Zia’s, Charlie Gittos, Rigazzi’s
    • Best view: 360
    • Another rooftop option: Vin de Set
    • Cinder House rooftop restaurant at The Four Seasons
    • Lafayette Square: 1111 Mississippi
    • Dessert: Bailey’s Chocolate Bar
    • Fountains on Locust
    • Walking food tours –
      • Savor St Louis Food Tours– 3 available (Downtown, Central West End and Delmar Loop).  Lots of food.  Great history of the area. Eclectic bites and well-known stops.
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  • Episode 26: Tips for Job Candidates
    https://ltppodcast.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/recruiting+candiate+combined.mp3

    Special Guest: Michelle King

    Tips:

    • Always attach your resume to the applicant
    tracking system – don’t just fill out the job history information.
  • Make sure you have an email and phone number
    • listed on your resume.
  • In North America, LinkedIn is a critical tool
    • for getting noticed.
    • List more than your job and title – also list
    what you have accomplished.
    • Don’t use this platform for things beyond
    business. It’s not the place for political posts, etc.
  • Go beyond stating responsibilities on your
    • resume (e.g.  Performs full cycle talent
    acquisition duties) and state accomplishments (e.g. Has placed job candidates
    in 40 days on average with a 95% retention rate at year 1) so you can
    demonstrate growth and value.
  • Do a spell and grammar check. Have someone take
    • a look at it with fresh eyes. You won’t be best at editing your own document.
  • Be specific and tailor the resume for the job.
    • Don’t make it difficult for the recruiter or hiring leader to find your
    relevant experience and expertise.
  • Highlight job competencies and skills in a
    • summary section near the top of your resume.
  • Showing up early to an interview is key. “To be
    • early is on time. To be on time is late.” 15 minutes early is a good rule of
    thumb.
  • Remember everyone you encounter onsite is
    • important for making a good impression. Most hiring leaders and recruiters will
    ask the receptionists how they were treated by a candidate.
  • Focus on the question being asked and be as
    • specific as possible versus a canned response that talks about the topic more
    generally. Don’t hesitate to ask “Did that give you enough detail?” to the
    interviewer if you think your answer might have been too vague.
  • Be authentic.
  • For video interviews…
    • Test
    • your technology before. Most companies will provide a test opportunity for you.
    • Look
    in to the camera.
    • Look
    professional.
    • Be
    in a quiet space.
    • Alert
    family members and keep those distractions to a minimum.
  • When answering interview questions…
    • Practice with a friend so you don’t sound
    • rehearsed but are increasingly comfortable with answering standard/expected
    question.
    • Work to keep your responses brief. Aim to tell
    each story in less than 1-2 minutes.
  • After the interview…
    • Follow up within 24 hours with a short thank you
    • including sharing that you are still interested in the job and what value you
    think you’ll bring to it.
    • Don’t follow up excessively.
    • Consider a creative follow up, where applicable.
    Like a pizza box for a food-related job.
  • Top must do
    • Be kind to everyone you come in contact with
    • Candidly share your development areas and what
    • you are doing about them
    • Talk to everyone in your network who knows
    someone who works there
  • Top don’t do
    • Don’t “cuss like a sailor”; carefully chose your
    • words if you have a habit of using swear words. It might not be appropriate in
    this culture.
    • Fail to articulate a development area – not an
    overplayed strength
    • Venting about your current job or situation.
    Victim mentalities are off-putting.
  • Best advice you were ever given
    • Interview is a 2-way process. Take time to ask
    • thoughtful questions of your interviewee to learn if this job and organization
    is a good fit.
    • Don’t be too humble. Find a balance between
    selling yourself and being honest about how you contributed to a project.
    • Run towards something…not from something.
    Otherwise you’ll risk settling for a new role that is not best long term just
    to get away from a current situation.
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  • Episode 25: Tips for Hiring Leaders
    https://ltppodcast.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/Recruiting+hiring+leader+combined.mp3

    Special Guest: Michelle King

    Tips:

    • Aim to ask specific questions to candidates so
    you get a real-life example of what actually happened and not a theoretical
    reply to how the candidate might handle the situation
  • Use follow up questions to probe on responses
    • that are too vague to give you the level of detail you need
  • Assessments can help sort out some cultural elements
    • but should be factored as only one of many data points in selection
  • In order to have legally defensible assessments
    • in selection, there are a couple things to consider:
    • You have to use questionnaires that have been
    validated for selection. Most personality assessments are not a fit for selection
    assessment.
    • You have to show the characteristics you are measuring
    are job-specific.
  • Talk to everyone who has had contact with the
    • candidate during the process. You might learn a lot from how the candidate has treated
    the receptionist.
  • Consider flexibility and remote options for the
    • open role. Today’s workforce and talent supply requires us to be more creative
    in our thinking.
  • It’s now illegal in many states (e.g.
    • California, Colorado, Illinois, etc.) to ask what a person is currently making
    in order to form your offer. You can ask the candidate’s expectations, but you
    should have knowledge of what the position is worth in the market in order to make
    the best compensation and total rewards strategy.
  • Pay transparency is a new trend but needs a lot
    • of consideration around your culture and legal implications. There are many
    factors that influence pay and most often people are not informed on them.
  • Market data is worth investing in. Some websites
    • also have credible salary information for free, but you have to use judgement
    on which to use.
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  • Episode 24: Sightseeing in Japan
    https://ltppodcast.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/japan+pt+2.mp3
    • Hiroshima Peace Museum– Photo below is of the one building left partially standing after the explosion.  It has been reinforced and now serves as a visual reminder of the devastation caused by an atomic bomb.
    • Kabuki Performance– Kabuki is a classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.
    • Kamogawa Odori Performance Kyoto– No photos can be taken during the show.  This photo is of the advertisement hanging outside the venue.
    • Nippon Professional Baseball- In Japan they have “beer girls” who run up and down the stadium offering beer for purchase. 
    • Beautiful Buddhist Temple Photos- 
      • Todaiji Temple in Nara- includes the largest indoor Buddha statueKoyasan- mountain top with 117 Buddhist Temples.  We stayed overnight at Fudouin.
    • Peaceful Shinto Shrine Photos-
      • Photo- Small Shinto Shrine tucked into a downtown Tokyo street in the Ginza DistrictPhoto- Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto is one of the most well known Japanese shrines due to its many red torii gates.
    • My favorite food- souffle pancakes at A Happy Pancake (Tokyo and Osaka
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  • Episode 23: Travel to Japan
    https://ltppodcast.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/japan+pt+1.mp3
    • Sandy’s Itinerary
      • Princess Cruise– Kobe, Beppu, Kagoshima, Busan (South Korea)
      • Tokyo
      • Kyoto
      • Nara
      • Koyasan
      • Hiroshima
      • Osaka
    • Japan Rail Pass is an economical way to travel on multiple train trips in Japan (including bullet trains).  Must be purchased in advance of your trip and can be done online. A voucher will be sent to your U.S. home and then is exchanged for the actual Rail Pass in Japan.  With a Rail Pass, seat reservations can be made on specific trains. Visitors can also purchase one-way/roundtrip train tickets at the train station.
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  • Ep 22. Spiritual Disciplines: Getting Involved
    https://ltppodcast.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/Spiritual_disciplines_ep3.mp3
    • You can get involved to share a talent, such as
    on a church committee like Finance or Staff Relations, or to learn through book
    and Bible studies.
  • Examples ways and places to volunteer:
    • Bookstore
    • Nursery
    • Mowing
    • Taking treats to local service people &
    • first responders
    • Teaching
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  • Ep 21. Spiritual Disciplines: Reading the Bible
    https://ltppodcast.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/Spiritual_disciplines_ep2.mp3

    Spiritual Disciplines: Reading the Bible

    • There are many different versions of the Bible. This might help you chose the right one for your current needs.
    • We suggest you visit a Christian Bookstore or your church’s library/book store for help picking one if this is your first time reading and studying the Bible.
    • Most churches offer classes and studies to help you learn the Bible in a more focused, useful way. They are usually free and you typically don’t need to be a member of the church to join in the education.
    • Recommendations:
      • Beth Moore Bible Studies
      • Culture version of the Bible – example on Amazon
      • YouVersion app – can switch through multiple versions of the Bible without spending money to buy each
        • Daily reminder verse
      • First 5
      • BibleGateway.com – sends email every night
      • Matthew Kelly’s Best Lent ever – free daily email messages during Lent
      • She reads Truth – very low cost plans tied to Christian calendar?
      • Devotionals..
        • Jesus Calling
        • 100 Days to Brave by Annie Downs
          • Annie’s podcast
        • Jesus Always – focused on joy
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  • Episode 20: Spiritual Gifts – Part 1
    https://ltppodcast.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/Spiritual_disciplines_1st+epis.mp3

    In this episode, the Lead.Travel.Pray. team discusses ways

    to create habits around prayer, gratitude and attending church. We offer
    suggestion based on what we have tried…and are often still failing to do. Ultimately
    we believe each person can and will find the spiritual discipline that fits
    them.

    Helpful apps for prayers and devotions:

    • First 5
    • YouVersion
    0 min
  • Episode 19: In Transit – High Flying
    https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/ltppodcast/episode_18.mp3
    • Booking:
      • Discount flight notifications for deals from your nearest airport delivered to your email nearly daily for  $25/year – NextVacay.com
      • Join frequent flyer programs and look for ways to double dip
      • Prices often change late Monday nights so Tuesday is the best time to shop. Some advice suggests 3pm EST is the best time to shop for a fare on Tuesdays.
    • At the airport:
      • Research baggage prices and buy ahead – find out if the prices will increase if you wait to purchase at the airport
      • Also research size requirements as weight and dimension can differ by airline
      • Container store has nice small bottles for carry-on fluids
      • TSA Pre-check or  Global Entry are nice options for reducing your wait and streamlining your security experience; your credit company may reimburse this – look into it
      • Clear is a new option in a few airports
      • Global Entry is also a nice option which helps you clear customs faster when returning from out of the county; it includes TSA pre-check benefits
    0 min

About Lead. Travel. Pray.

From the publisher's feed

Lead. Travel. Pray. is the brain child of Michelle, Rebecca and Sandy who were fortunate to land on the same work team about a decade ago. We have remained great friends and are excited for this…