Join Joyce Johnson and Guest Speaker Cheryl Mays as they talk about the reciprocity of exceptional customer service, and the "Freedom of Calendar". 

Join Joyce Johnson and Guest Speaker Vanessa Cortez as they talk about on how business owners should be examples for up and coming entrepreneurs about the importance of authenticity, real vs trends and reels.

About the Speaker:
Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, Vanessa is a Business Operations Consultant and VA Agency Owner who provides complete operation services helping business owners identify areas of opportunities for efficiency and organization for long term growth.

There is a change of direction on this series #Reel2Real!  Vanessa asked if she could interview me to discuss Authenticity in business marketing and sharing.  

I had to keep it #real sometimes I wake up tired that's true Entrepreneurship!

Knowing who you are and as Oprah would say "knowing where you want to go" is important.  Sometimes we get distracted but stay the course.   Believe in something greater than oneself - whatever "it" is!

Fast forward to 5:00 to hear about my experience with a company leader not thinking I was authentic enough.  For who?  What he was looking for vs what he received.  

7:36 Define what authentic means to you.

13:17 Sometimes we ask what are we teaching at home.  Truth is often, we need to remember what we were taught at home.  Stand on your foundation to lift you. 

15:17 Leave things better than you found them.

18:06 Play Happy!

21:00 Family and entrepreneurship!

25:10 Get up, Show up, Follow up!  Why - Great things take time...

We hope you enjoy this three-part series with two intro questions / sessions before diving in.  We keep it Real!

Please comment and share!  

Thank you for listening.  

Resources Mentioned

Joyce Johnson's Website

Joyce Johnson's Facebook

Joyce Johnson's Instagram

Joyce Johnson's Twitter

Joyce Johnson's LinkedIn

Joyce Johnson's YouTube

Join Joyce Johnson and Guest Speaker Vanessa Cortez as they talk about why other entrepreneurs are not transparent about what it takes to be successful.

About the Speaker:
Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, Vanessa is a Business Operations Consultant and VA Agency Owner who provides complete operation services helping business owners identify areas of opportunities for efficiency and organization for long term growth.

There is a change of direction on this series #Reel2Real!  Vanessa asked if she could interview me to discuss Authenticity in business marketing and sharing.  

I had to keep it #real sometimes I wake up tired that's true Entrepreneurship!

Fast forward to 3:45 to hear my response to "Why  entrepreneurs not transparent about their success?  Why the #reel to get rich but not keeping it #real on how to get there?"

5:40 Defining expectations of oneself - #sucess looks different for everyone.

We hope you enjoy this three-part series with two intro questions / sessions before diving in.  We keep it Real!

Please comment and share!  

Thank you for listening.  

Resources Mentioned

Joyce Johnson's Website

Joyce Johnson's Facebook

Joyce Johnson's Instagram

Joyce Johnson's Twitter

Joyce Johnson's LinkedIn

Joyce Johnson's YouTube

Join Joyce Johnson and Guest Speaker Vanessa Cortez as they talk about why do social media lacks authenticity especially in the business space. 

About the Speaker:
Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, Vanessa is a Business Operations Consultant and VA Agency Owner who provides complete operation services helping business owners identify areas of opportunities for efficiency and organization for long term growth.

There is a change of direction on this series #Reel2Real!  Vanessa asked if she could interview me to discuss Authenticity in business marketing and sharing.  

I had to keep it #real sometimes I wake up tired that's true Entrepreneurship!

Cultivating relationships is key in Entrepreneurship. 

We hope you enjoy this three-part series with two intro questions / sessions before diving in.  We keep it Real!

Please comment and share!  

Thank you for listening.  

Resources Mentioned

Joyce Johnson's Website

Joyce Johnson's Facebook

Joyce Johnson's Instagram

Joyce Johnson's Twitter

Joyce Johnson's LinkedIn

Joyce Johnson's YouTube

Let’s Talk About It with Joyce Johnson with Guest Speaker Darrick Gardner #CollegeLife

You’ll meet a lot of people throughout your life. If you stay prepared and play your cards right, you can build some valuable connections that can help you further your career and get to where you want to be. That’s the strategy Darrick Gardner follows, and it’s safe to say that things have worked out well for him.

In today’s insightful episode, Darrick narrates his experiences in college, networking, and working in athletics. He also shares some tips for making valuable career connections, as well as the importance of accepting your journey.

About the Guest

Born and raised in Chicago, Darrick Gardner attended West Illinois University and got his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, minoring in Accounting. During that time, he played for and worked closely with his school’s baseball club, which gave him his first taste of how athletic organizations work and are managed. This inspired him to study the business side of sports, and eventually earn his Master’s degree in Sports Management. He is currently an intern at the University of Minnesota and continues to pursue a career in his chosen field.

In This Episode

• Who is Darrick Gardner? [1:37] 
• How did you introduce yourself and build a network with the people from your school? [6:14]
• How did you decide on your next role? [11:33]
• …and many more

Quotes

“Making connections can, a lot of times, make or break your career because, those connections, you never know when you’re going to need them. And it can help you either right now or later down the road.” [3:10]

“Instead of trying to say ‘I gotta introduce myself to as many people as possible,’ it’s not like that. You first figure out what you want to do, and then you reach out to the necessary people so you can help yourself out.” [18:05]

“You may not like specifically the avenue that you’re going in with the company. But find what avenue works for you within that company, especially if you like the culture and the environment, and you know what they have to offer for you.” [27:38]

“Your journey isn’t gonna be the same as no one else’s because it’s your journey. And with it being your journey, everything you go through specifically is really for you to get to where you need to get to. If you don’t go through certain things, you won’t reach certain levels in your journey. Everyone has a journey, but your journey is not the same as no one else’s.” [37:55]

Resources Mentioned

Joyce Johnson's Website

Joyce Johnson's Facebook

Joyce Johnson's Instagram

Joyce Johnson's Twitter

Joyce Johnson's LinkedIn

Joyce Johnson's YouTube

Let’s Talk About It with Joyce Johnson with Guest Speaker Tobenna Okeke #CollegeLife

It’s been said that the most successful people are those who have a Plan B—and I must say that our guest for today’s #CollegeLife podcast is a living testament to that! Today, our guest is Tobenna Okeke, a former collegiate-level football player turned sales professional. Tobenna is the Director of Dialogue and Intrigue and is a millennial podcaster.

Tobenna always dreamed of becoming a football star. But in his 3-year tenure on his college football team, he couldn’t get what he referred to as that “23-year Tom Brady time frame.” That’s when he decided to pivot and enact his Plan B.

In this episode, Tobenna shares his journey from the football field to the corporate world—two wildly different pursuits. Listen to the episode to find out how Tobenna managed to succeed using his backup plan! 

About the Guest

Tobenna Okeke went cross-country from Missouri City, Texas to the West Coast to pursue his football dreams at California State University in Fresno. He played for his college football team for 3 years, granting him the opportunity to play in a professional game and sign an athlete’s contract. Although his circumstances did not lead him to reach the level of success that he wanted in that field, he was smart and proactive enough to create a Plan B that would allow him to achieve success in a different avenue.

Today, Tobenna is a problem-solving sales professional at Total Quality Logistics. He also worked as a football analyst and played various corporate roles over the past few years. Aside from that, he hosts his own podcast called “Everything About Nothing” where he brings on people from different backgrounds and tackles millennial issues and mental health.

In This Episode

• Who is Tobenna Okeke? [1:19]
• What was his Plan B? [2:39]
• About his podcast, “Everything About Nothing” [3:14]
• Tobenna’s journey as a student-athlete [5:05]
• How he decided to move out from his family [7:50] 
• His college life and experiences as an athlete [10:19]
• His first official football game experience and what he learned [16:30]
• Contract signing and money management [19:50]
• What skills as an athlete were helpful in the corporate environment? [28:50]…and many more

Quotes

“Each step that you take in your process in life, you have to level up. You have to be able to step up 'cause you can't take old habits into such a new environment.” [11:28]
“I say it’s a learning moment because something happens and you either can let it fold you or you can learn from it.” [18:42]
"I'm more than an athlete, essentially. Even when I was playing, sometimes I would start looking at other ventures because you just never know and for a lot of guys that time, when the time comes, they’re left high and dry. And I never wanted to be that guy and I kind of wanted to see myself in a different avenue.” [24:52]

Resources Mentioned

Tobenna Okeke's Instagram
Joyce Johnson's Website
Joyce Johnson's Facebook
Joyce Johnson's Instagram
Joyce Johnson's Twitter
Joyce Johnson's LinkedIn
Joyce Johnson's YouTube
Joyce Johnson's Amazon Page
Why Sales Network's Web

Let’s Talk About It with Joyce Johnson with Guest Speaker Jasmine Waring #AuthorLife

People often avoid or delay making decisions for themselves by having someone else do it for them. But if you want to become the best version of yourself, you need to be willing and humble enough to look at where you are now, and bold enough to steer your life in the direction that feels right. And if things don’t turn out as you’d hoped, take accountability and make the necessary changes. According to Jasmine Waring, this is how you can live in alignment with your life’s purpose.

In today’s insightful episode, Jasmine talks about how people often get stuck in their comfort zone. She emphasizes the importance of being intentional in all your decisions, so you can move into a space of growth while also making a positive impact on others.

About the Guest

Jasmine Waring is currently an Enterprise Relationship Manager at LinkedIn, where she helps organizations achieve their revenue goals through innovative sales strategies. She is also the president of the National Sales Network's DC Baltimore chapter and co-author of Color Outside the Lines – Stories of Extraordinary Leadership, where she talks about the many roles and responsibilities of a salesperson.

In This Episode

• Who is Jasmine Waring? [0:43] 
• How does Jasmine stay centered? [1:33]
• How can you make a decision and move forward in your journey? [9:25]
• What empowered Jasmine to share her story with others? [19:27]
• …and many more

Quotes

“I was talking about how do I find alignment, and I think...the biggest thing is to understand the value of it in your life and not feel like you have to go and go and go and continue to do everything for everybody else, including making decisions.” [2:13]

“I work in a space that is about advancing careers of people who are in sales, and some of the people I speak with have been in the same industry for 10, 15, 20 years and are just afraid to ever consider something else, even if they’re in a space that’s dying, you know? They’re just so stuck in the way that it’s been because that’s all they know, that they’re willing to go down with it rather than spreading their wings and trying something new or moving into a space that makes better sense for them as it relates to their goals.” [7:10]

“Enjoy the experience for what it is, but also know that sometimes things need to change. And you gotta be willing to make those changes for the alignment of your life and to be in the best space.” [14:32]

“When you’re in a space of flow, your career takes off, your life takes off, you start to glow a little bit more…when you move yourself to that space, the people around you start to feel that and benefit, as well, and so I’m hoping that y’all see that and feel that and get that when you need [sic] it, but just know that it goes deeper than what you see on the surface.” [17:16]

Resources Mentioned

Jasmine Waring's Facebook

Jasmine Waring's LinkedIn

Color Outside the Lines, Stories of Extraordinary Leaders

Joyce Johnson's Website

Joyce Johnson's Facebook

Joyce Johnson's LinkedIn

Joyce Johnson's Linktree

Joyce Johnson's YouTube

Key Words

Leadership, Personal Development, Sales, Growth, Leaders, Author, Career Growth 

Let’s Talk About It with Jheryn Kenney #AuthorLife

Jheryn Kenney believes that authorship is a way to put yourself out there, to not only push against personal barriers but also to help other people learn from your journey. That’s why she decided to share her story in Color Outside the Lines – Stories of Extraordinary Leadership.

Jheryn is a powerhouse entrepreneur at the top of her sales career. In today’s insightful episode, she discusses how she stays motivated and inspired. She also talks about the importance of knowing who you are, what makes you unique, and the value of your contributions.

About the Guest

Jheryn Kenney is a woman on a mission. Ever since she was old enough to work, her goal has been to redefine what’s possible in life and set an example. Aside from being a wife and mother, she has 20 years of sales experience under her belt and is currently the Key Account Manager at LinkedIn, where she handles their sales solutions. She is also the co-author of Color Outside the Lines – Stories of Extraordinary Leadership.

In This Episode

• Who is Jheryn Kenney? [1:16] 
• Why Jheryn decided to share her experiences in a book. [3:22] 
• Why she shares her challenges on the way to success. [5:27]
• …and many more

Quotes

“It’s always good to see the end result, the glitz and the glamor, on the stage when you’re receiving an award...but when you really start to tell the story, like what I’ve done in the book, you can just see the whole picture. Hopefully, it will encourage somebody just to know that your journey is your own and that you don’t have to be anybody else or look like anybody else or talk like anybody else. Even if there’s somebody that’s amazing who might intimidate you, let them inspire you because they are being their best self and you should do the same thing.” [4:18]

“There are times when you can be comfortable and there are times that you have to realize that comfort isn’t working anymore and you need to dig really deep and go make something happen.” [9:17]

“Achieving success at work, to me, it’s great, but I think there’s more responsibility that comes along with success...If you’ve got the big numbers and all that for a while and you’re getting recognition, that’s great, but after a while, it’s like ‘okay, what inspires me to keep doing this?’” [14:29]

“When I’m so busy and so tired, knowing that what I’m doing impacts others in a really meaningful way, it drives me. So, between that and you know, experiences for my family, it just keeps me going.” [15:22]

Resources Mentioned

Jheryn Kenney’s LinkedIn

Color Outside the Lines, Stories of Extraordinary Leaders

Joyce Johnson's Website

Joyce Johnson's Facebook

Joyce Johnson's Instagram

Joyce Johnson's Twitter

Joyce Johnson's LinkedIn

Joyce Johnson's YouTube

Why Sales Network Website

Key Words

Leadership, Personal Development, Sales, Growth, Leaders, Author 

Let’s Talk About It with Larry Long, Jr #Authorlife #Saleslife #Leadership

Little things are really the big things: this is what Larry Long, Jr. believes in, especially when it comes to leadership. The seemingly small gestures that we do for our team can have a profound and lasting impact on our work relationships.

In today’s exciting episode, Larry shares what it takes to unlock your ultimate potential as a leader and achieve leadership success through authenticity, active listening, and living intentionally. He also talks about how important it is to know the impression you leave on others.

About the Guest

Larry Long, Jr. is the founder and CEO of LLJR Enterprises. He is also the co-author of Color Outside the Lines, Stories of Extraordinary Leaders, a book on what it means to be a true leader, and will soon launch his own mastermind group. As a motivational speaker and one-on-one and team coach, Larry is on a mission to help individuals and organizations get themselves to the next level.

In This Episode

• Who is Larry Long, Jr.? [1:03]
• What does he mean by “the little things really are the big things”? [2:24]
• How important is it to be a good listener in sales and leadership? [4:01]
• …and many more

Quotes

“Just relax, open up your ears, open up your mind and really seek to understand, not just what are they saying, but what’s the meaning behind it.” [5:06]

“Sometimes leaders forget that it’s not about you. I call those folks “me monsters.” No, you can’t be a leader and it’s all about you—it’s about them!” [6:34]

“Real leadership is when you’ve got people engaged and they know, not just by your words, not just what you write, but how you act that you have their best interest in mind and everything that you’re doing is to serve them as well as to serve the organization.” [6:56]

“If you’re not willing to admit it, be vulnerable, be authentically you—all of you—then who are you leading? You’re fooling yourself...I encourage leaders to keep it real, as real as they can with the folks that they’re leading. Let them know, hey, just like you, I’ve got the ups and downs, the twists and turns. Life is life!” [12:35] 

Resources Mentioned

Larry Long Jr's Website

Larry Long Jr's LinkedIn

Color Outside the Lines, Stories of Extraordinary Leaders

Joyce Johnson's Website

Joyce Johnson's Facebook

Joyce Johnson's Instagram

Joyce Johnson's Twitter

Joyce Johnson's LinkedIn

Joyce Johnson's YouTube

Key Words

Leadership, career development, mentoring, group mentoring, leader, motivation, author