Lead with Levity

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Do you ever feel like life is getting more and more complicated?

As the world revs back up to "normal" speed, we are still straddling what was and what may be. I don't know about you, but I long for simpler times. Today's guest, Neal Schambra Stevens helps us reconnect with age-old wisdom--K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid). Living life to the fullest doesn't have to be a complicated endeavor.

In this episode, we cover:

• How a good old fashioned to-do list saves the day
• How strategy is just a choice between what we will do vs. what we won't do
• Energy management vs. time management
• How to practice energy management

About Our Guest: Neil Schambra Stevens
“My mission is to enable people to be seen, to be heard and to be valued. The founding principles of Mercury Jam are kindness, gratitude, resilience and momentum. My focus is inspiring “Next Gen Leaders’ to excel through these principles to create a legacy mindset and a groundswell of positivity in business. And it starts with you, yourself. Celebrating little moments of daily joy helps create a way to live your life and combine your passions and your work every day.”  

About the Podcast
The Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

Send us a text

Have you ever wondered what it's like to work as a nurse? It takes a special mix of qualities to care for others when they are most vulnerable, and I admire the work that nurses do to help us all get back to good health. I feel this way about healthcare in general, but nursing specifically--how do they make it through the day? There is so much pressure to perform in healthcare. Let's talk about it!

I interviewed the Lead with Levity podcast's first major fan and supporter, Marcylle Combs. She's fun, wise, and a no-nonsense entrepreneur who cares deeply about the future of healthcare.

In today's episode, we cover:

• Marcylle's entrepreneurial journey through running a $60+ million dollar real estate, home hospice, and other healthcare services businesses
• What it was like for me living in the dry (no alcohol!) county of Denton, Texas
• Marcylle's leadership philosophy
• How to maintain friendships with coworkers without the drama
• What it's like building a business as a female entrepreneur and mother of 5
• And more!

About Our Guest: Marcylle Combs, MS, RN, BS, CHCE
Marcylle Combs has spent her over 30 years of her adult life working as a nurse, director, administrator and ultimately as owner/president leading a large healthcare organization which she owned and operated until August of 2018 when she decided to embark on new adventures. She has since founded 3 companies, serving as President over MAC Legacy, The Marcylle Combs Company, and MAC Legacy Investments.  Through dedication to growing a successful company, Marcylle discovered her real passion is working with humans to encourage and inspire each one to reach their potential.

Marcylle is well known in Texas and nationally for her leadership in both the home care and hospice community. She serves on the board of directors for The Home Care and Hospice Financial Managers Association (HHFMA); a professional organization bringing together CFOs, CEOs, COOs and other financial positions who are employed by the nation’s 25,000 home care and hospice agencies.  She also chairs the Women in Leadership Committee for HHFMA. 

She enjoys speaking on a national level and has also spoken in Belize, Italy, China and Spain regarding various leadership subjects such as mentoring, recruitment and retention, communication and conflict management. Ten years ago she founded TwentySix: Twelve.org, a non-profit that is dedicated to helping businesses provide support for their employees to serve others through mission trips, disaster relief, and in their local communities.  As a wife, mother of 5 adult children and a female in the workplace she aspires to grow and lead others until her last breath on this earth.

• www.marcyllecombs.com
• Instagram
• Facebook

About the Podcast
The Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

Send us a text

Can you believe that we've endured lockdown-style living for almost a year now? Do you remember what you were doing in March of 2020? This time last year, a lot of us were scrambling for toilet paper and snacks! That seemed like an appropriate combo at the time.

Still, others were trying to figure out how to still get work done while at home. JJ Caffey created a company called Order In to help us navigate our schedules in a supportive environment even when we work from home. Order In is designed to give procrastinators and high performers alike, an ecosystem of activities and a support network to help us continue to maintain productivity.

It sounds pretty cool. Let's learn more about this together.

About Our Guest: JJ Caffey
JJ Caffey is an entrepreneur specializing in the future of work. With a focus on community, connectedness, and efficiency, JJ’s mission is to revolutionize American work culture. JJ is also Co-Founder of Venture Foragers, a venture capital research firm enabling student teams to explore frontier tech sectors. JJ earned her MBA from Wharton in 2019, and also holds degrees in anthropology and luxury brand management.

• Order In Club (website)
• LinkedIn 
• Twitter

About the Podcast
The Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

Send us a text

"Don't dictate fun."
Tune in today for some advice on common missteps that leaders make when they try to improve the culture. Join us today for a conversation about:

• getting through the pandemic with your sanity intact
• advice on how to be your authentic self at work
• building a fun work environment (without a potluck)
• why following "best practices" can get you in trouble

About Our Guest: Carla D. BaileyI'm happy to share the message of today's guest with you. Her name is Carla D. Bailey. Carla serves as the head of Human Resources, Learning and Organizational Development at Washington University. Carla is the CEO as well of Carla D. Bailey Worldwide, which is a firm that helps leaders unleash their inner greatness and be unstoppable in business and life. She's a professional speaker and executive coach.
About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

Send us a text

Is 2021 looking like 2020 on steroids for you? Find out how you can go from crisis management to levity so you can pick up your cape and continue to be the strategic leader you were meant to be.
Join me in this conversation with Jenn Thornton about:

• how to speak to your team to get them to open up
• how leading with levity at work can help you have a stronger home life
• the art and science of conversational intelligence

About Our Guest: Jenn ThorntonJennifer has developed her expertise in Talent Strategy & Leadership Development over her exciting 20+ year career as an HR Professional. She’s led international teams across Greater China, Mexico, the U.K., and the U.S. to expand into new markets, managing brands and franchise businesses.
About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

Send us a text

Get prepared for the kindness revolution!What does it look like? Being present for others. Connecting with others in an authentic way. Taking the mask off.
Doing no harm.
I had a fascinating conversation with Cool Audrey founder, Cole Baker Bagwell. She helps organizations build connections by focusing on kindness and the principle of "do no harm."
About Our Guest: Cole Baker Bagwell"I'm a full on kindness nerd. I research it, write about it, talk about it, and seek it out in unexpected places. I live it, share it and look for ways we can put kindness into motion to make the big world we share- even better.
As the Founder of Cool Audrey®, I consult with companies on kindness. I teach them how put kindness to work as a core business competency that runs through every fiber of the organization.
Kindness is essential because it makes us happier and healthier. Kindness helps us foster trust and that helps us collaborate and work together to innovate and create business outcomes like productivity, stability and growth."
About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

Send us a text

Have you taken the time to consider how to get the most out of the things that bring you joy? Ryan Greene is a passionpreneur on a mission to help others get paid for their passions. Ryan Greene is an entrepreneur, author coach, bestselling author, and professional speaker. He is the Founder of GreeneHouse Media LLC, a media company whose goal is to provide “Media With A Purpose” via radio, television, film, and books.
In this episode, we cover:

• How Ryan went from "I don't read for fun" to writing multiple books and starting his own publishing company
• Debunking common myths about authorship
• How to use passion to get buy-in from others and bring out the best in your team when you know what they're passionate about
• Why it's so important to take the time to transfer what you know into book form
• What it means to be a passionpreneur
• How to shed the stigma of answering the question "What do you do?" when following your passion
• How to avoid being seen as rough around the edges when you're really just passionate

About Our Guest: Ryan GreeneRyan C. Greene is an entrepreneur, author coach, bestselling author, and professional speaker. He is the Founder of GreeneHouse Media LLC, a media company whose goal is to provide “Media With A Purpose” via radio, television, film, and books. Ryan is the author of ten books, hosts and executive produces several podcasts and web shows, and founded Indie Author PRO, an author development company specializing in teaching authors how to monetize their content, automate their business and become top-revenue authors.

• RyanGreene.com
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

Send us a text

Happy New Year! Today's guest, Ira Wolfe, is going to talk to us a little bit about pivoting in life, and we're going to have such a wonderful conversation. I'm looking forward to it. Ira Wolfe is a TedX speaker and the host of Geeks, Geezers, and Googlization.
Find out what happened when this successful six-figure dentist walked away from his practice to live the entrepreneur life. As a self-proclaimed millennial in a baby boomer’s body, Ira shares lessons and business experiences.
In this episode, we cover:

• How Ira finds top performers
• Ira’s creative marketing tips to get people’s attention
• Ira’s take on the use of AI chats to replace pre-employment testing as we know it
• How to find the courage to walk away from a career that doesn’t make you happy
• How to use growth mindset principles to free yourself to try new things
• The reality of prepping for a TedTalk

About Ira WolfeDescribed as a “Millennial trapped in a Baby Boomer body, the World’s 1st Chief Googlization Officer, a “hire authority,” and “certified prophet” of workforce trends, Ira S. Wolfe has emerged as one of HR’s most visionary thinkers. Ira personifies the passion and mindset required to manage the convergence of the tired, the wired, and technology. His enthusiasm and engaging approach inspires his audience to challenge preconceptions about what it takes to attract, select, manage, and retain top talent and take the initiative to make change for them.
About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

Send us a text

I don't know a better way to end this year's lineup than interviewing someone who is a self-proclaimed levity evangelist. This should be good! Today's guest is Philip Argy, CEO of Argy Star, and a member of the Law Council of Australia. That's right. We're going to talk about levity in law, and I want to know if lawyers are allowed to practice levity.
In this episode, we cover:

• What’s the climate in Australia right now?
• What you can do to get prickly people to lighten up?
• How Argy practices levity in the courtroom
• Silly Zoom moments
• How Argy uses levity to maintain his own vitality and positive spirit
• An insider's perspective--Are lawyers allowed to have fun at work? What does that look like?

About Argy StarOur focus is always on salvaging and delivering as much as possible of the original business case when the day to day participants in your implementation team have long since forgotten what they were. More usually, we intercept at their incipient stage any developments that could move your project off course in time or budget terms and nip them in the bud, thus saving you time money and minimising the risk that your business case will be delivered late or not at all. These are the basics of the ADRoIT Principles.Website: https://argystar.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/philipargyEmail: [email protected]Twitter: https://twitter.com/philipargy
About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com

Send us a text

Join me in this fantastic interview with Eileen McDargh, a best selling author and speaker on the topic of burnout and resilience. Eileen gets real and shares exactly why we need balance, levity, and love in our lives. You'll love this upbeat conversation and healthy dose of career advice.
About Eileen McDarghEileen McDargh is the Chief Energy Officer (CEO) of The Resiliency Group. Eileen McDargh started her career as an award-winning teacher and to this day loves telling stories while educating audiences as a professional speaker, coach and consultant. Eileen is the founder and CEO of the consulting firm, The Resiliency Group. She teaches organizations like Cisco, Novartis, Oracle, and Procter & Gamble ways of building resilient leadership teams and workplaces. Along with her work as an organizational resiliency consultant, Eileen speaks and writes about resiliency.

• https://www.EileenMcDargh.com
• Burnout to Breakthrough: Building Resilience to Refuel, Recharge, and Reclaim What Matters
• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

About the PodcastThe Lead with Levity podcast is a show for leaders who care deeply about what makes/breaks the employee experience. Our guests are dynamic researchers, practitioners, consultants, and business leaders. We cover foundational elements that are needed to avoid forcing the fun. We also invite lively managers who lead with levity to show us how it’s done. Thanks for joining us on this journey.

Support the show

Did you have any lightbulb moments while listening? Share it with us on Instagram @leadwithlevity or visit our website leadwithlevity.com so we can talk about it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadwithlevity.substack.com