A new episode

Do you have the right mindset to be a sales leader? Do you sometimes sabotage your own success as a salesperson, sales leader or entrepreneur? If so, you will want to listen to Merit Kahn discuss what she has learned in her journey. Today she works with sales driven companies that are committed to being open for business in action and attitude.

She is the creator The Merit Method for Sales Mastery. Her knowledge of emotional intelligence and advice on helping other succeed is a must listen. For more information go to www.MeritBasedBusiness.com

David Nason (HireBrain.com) Hiring the right person is almost always overshadowed by bias and fraught with uncertainty. Our unconscious biases guide us to hire someone who sounds like, looks like, reminds you of you. Change this by listening to David Nason (www.hairbrain.com) and learn a better way to hire with confidence, diversity and excellence. Increase your retention by as much as 100%! This is a substantiated claim because David has done it before.

Ever heard “That’s a Hair Brained idea!” Well this guest is the founder of HireBrain (almost the same - HireBrain.com)…a firm that helps improve the predictability of hiring. I think everyone could use that! David Nason tags himself as a temporal scientist. It’s in his blood to do research (find out why) and that’s what he has done to significantly improve the hiring process for many businesses. Learn how he has taken this art and turned it into science to hire people that are a better fit for the organization. Following his processes and advice companies have doubled and tripled their retention rates by reducing the ‘friction’ of the hiring process.

Have you ever taken on a role where you have NO experience in the functional jobs of the people reporting to you? As a change catalyst, Kathryn Robinson found herself seeking out these positions and often in industries that lacked gender diversity such as Turner Broadcasting and Cisco Systems. She predictably faced a tremendous amount of resistance as many leaders do when catalyzing change. Her response? Be an authentic listener…

In one vulnerable disclosure Kathryn explains a time when her greatest strength became an overbearing liability. Painful at times, the experiences molded Kathryn throughout her career to become an expert at translating across teams and getting them to work well together.

She learned that sometimes we have to choose, “Do I need to be RIGHT or do I want to be EFFECTIVE”. In leadership, context matters.

How many of you have worked for an organization for over 28 years, started at the bottom and eventually led over 400 people? How many of you had two tours in Viet Nam and went MIA (Missing In Action) for 30 days? Who has achieved a PhD in life? I am talking about my brother John who started in the Navy as an E-1 and retired 28 years later as a Lieutenant Commander (O-4). Hear how he first had to learn to be a follower then listened to the advice of a few mentors that changed his life decisions with a few simple questions. There's a lot of wisdom in the words of my brother...please listen up!

SPECIAL EDITION: The recent pandemic is causing deaths, confusion and economic disruption for every organization in America and globally. Matt Rocco, President & CEO of Etech Global Services (https://www.etechgs.com/) One wrote a blog last month to prepare the leadership team for the chaos he could see on the horizon. Hear the message he offered to help face this challenge through these principles: 1) Lead with facts, not fear 2) Surface and dispel rumors 3) Don’t forget about the human connection 4) Focus on self-care 5) Make plans for recovery.

Imagine being a parent, owning a business and without discussion selling the business without asking your children if there is any interest in running the business. That's NOT what happened here. It is what motivated this father to ask his sons if there is interest. Ryan Murphy is Bill Murphy's son and when asked he expressed an interest. Ryan developed his business savvy by working elsewhere, then for his father in sales, sales management, general management now owner of Rodeco. The journey to owning his father's company is a model for how a family business transition should happen. Listen and hear the story of mutual respect, hard work and love between this father and son. This is a true story of leadership by both men.

Listen to this football fanatic describes the importance of ‘playing your position’ on the team and how she grew into her present executive role of a 3000 person multi-national company. Everyone can’t be the quarterback, wide receiver or the guard! It takes 11 players on the field to fill the team…AND…One person CAN NOT do it alone!!! It takes a team, playing together, executing their roles, and working towards common goals.

Kaylene Eckels, COO Etech Global Service started at the call center answering phones and has held every position along the way - Director of Operations, AVP Global Operations, Vice President of Global Operations, and since February 2017, has served as Chief Operations Officer of Etech Global.

Her call room experience taught her the power of listening at a very young age and then ask questions to become a coach.

Kaylene sets BIG GOALS! Hear how she does this with the company vision – To make a remarkable difference for each other, our customers, and within our communities.

Her advice is to engage coaches and mentors all around you to create your ‘success team’ to help you along the way - the power of relationships. Learn to be vulnerable, open, focus on strengths, and personal while you achieve results.

As a leader, learn to ‘do life together’, be a servant leader, hold accountable, and add value. ENJOY THE JOURNEY!!!

How can a mentor help you in your career? Do you NEED a mentor? If you are considering looking for a mentor or coach, you'll want to listen to this podcast...it might help with your decision. Bill explains how his mentor made a significant difference in his career and life. With 26 years experience in corporate America, starting at Hewlett Packard, Bill lead teams in supply chain management, production planning and control, materials management, global transportation & distribution, human resources, international business development, marketing and customer program management. Whew!! That’s a lot!! Bill holds a B.A. degree in business from Michigan State University and is a certified business coach through Resource Associates Corporation’s Coaching Academy.

Bill lives in Belmont, NC and has two adult children. His hobbies and interests include: reading, golfing, hiking, exercising, watching movies, music, and all sports.