Mads Singers Management Podcast

Welcome to another episode of the Mads Singers Management Podcast! Today's guest is Karena Calhoun. Karena is a mindset, life, and purpose coach whose passion is to help people find their purpose in life and live out their dreams.

Like many people, Karena started in the corporate world, but she decided to take a different path later on and help people.  I begin my talk with Karena by asking her how one finds their passion, what steps to find one's passion in life, and how they should see it. 

Karena shares that one can take a look back into their childhood to rediscover what excites them; this is important for those who don't have the means to get a personal coach or have a support system at hand. She then adds that people shouldn't rely on one's passion while one's passion can be their purpose. Instead, people should look at things they are good at, things that make them excited, things in society or in the world that make you angry, things that make you want to make a change in the world - these are basic steps that will help you jumpstart the process in finding out your passion. 

Karena then shares her experience discovering her passion while still working in the corporate world; however, she liked what she was doing. It wasn't impacting her and the people around her because she was hitting wall after wall. 

This then led her to sit down and think about what she's good at and where she shines, and because of this, Karena eventually found her way to being a life and mindset coach.

When we find our authentic selves and help others along the way, there is no goal that we cannot achieve or dream that cannot be fulfilled.

Key Learning Points:

1. Karena shares that one can take a look back into their childhood to find out and rediscover what they are passionate about.- 3:12
2. Karena says you shouldn't depend on your passion alone- 3:44
3. Mads shares what he calls his "excitement meter."- 6:52
4. Karena shares what for her is the secret to life - 9:55
5. Karena says that it doesn't take much to attain your goals as long as you have that line of sight and know what tasks you should do every day. -11:28
6. Karena reveals that she doesn't let being an introvert gets in the way of her purpose.- 12:13
7. Mads says that people are motivated differently. - 13:19
8. Karena adds that business owners should be able to identify the trigger points of their staff. - 13:34
9. Mads says that when you help your employees identify what motivates and satisfies them, even if it's not related to your business, your employees will present themselves in a much better way and be better employees - 14:55
10. Karena says, "a leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be" - 17:13 

Connect with Karena:

Website

Email

Facebook

LinkTree

Welcome to another episode of the Mads Singers Management Podcast. Joining us today is none other than the bubbly business psychic, Carrie Cardozo!

Like most of my guests, Carrie had her start in the corporate world until she decided to start her own business. Now unlike most people, Carrie is a psychic. While this may make some people uneasy, Carrie uses her gift to help businesses and business owners gain the clarity they need in their business to propel them forward, break boundaries, or understand their staff a little better.

Carrie and I share a trait where we allow flexibility once we give them a task or delegate something. Although at the same time, this may seem counterproductive to some, Carrie and I believe that it’s essential for business owners and managers to be open to their staff regardless of whether the company is doing good or bad. 

Being open to your staff allows them to make better decisions, but business owners should be mindful of whom they share because some people are not very good when it comes to receiving negative news. 

Carrie shares an anecdote where she implemented a project management system on a whim and caused her employees to question her if she was happy with what the employee was working on. While Carrie’s intentions were good, the lack of communication made her employee feel unappreciated. Because of this, Carrie stresses the importance of having an open stream of communication with your staff because it will benefit both sides.

I then asked Carrie to share how she reads people, and this is where Carrie’s gift comes into play. Carrie can read people’s energy even if they don’t talk too much or share what’s going on during their first meeting. 

We both agree that many people don’t know themselves very well and sometimes project this logical persona to please others and deny their desires.

Key Learning Points:

1. Carrie encourages business owners to communicate with their staff, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic - 3:45
2. Mads says that most employees can sense and feel that something is not right in the company - 4:22
3. Carrie says that respect has to go both ways.- 6:45
4. Mads shares his concept in which he identifies the opinion makers in a team before making significant changes - 7:21
5. Carrie shares her rule of thumb with her meeting dynamics - 10:58
6. Mads says it’s essential to get to know your staff and their strengths and weaknesses - 12:50
7. Carrie thinks we shouldn’t be quick to judge people because people have strengths and weaknesses that are often not displayed or talked about- 13:24
8. Carrie says that although an employee may seem quiet, business owners and managers should allow their employees to show you what they can do. - 15:10
9. Carrie teaches people to connect to their “heart space” when working with people - 18:45
10. Mads says that people should go after what they want, which emphasizes their willpower.- 21:41 

Connect with Carrie:

Facebook 

Instagram

LinkedIn

Website

Welcome to another episode of the Mads Singers Management Podcast!Joining us today is Ceri Hurford-Jones. Ceri has had humble beginnings by working on a farm but eventually made his way up and worked by being the managing director of Spire FM and finally starting his own business. 

Ceri and I share the same passion for helping businesses develop, grow, and succeed. So today, Ceri and I sat down to talk about management and how to hire the right people. 

Being open, honest, fair, fun, professional, and unconventional are Ceri's values; however, he shares that, while we can share or influence others to follow our values, these won't work or impact if we do not follow our values. And although change doesn't happen overnight, you will eventually see many positive changes (and close more deals) in yourself and your staff. However, simply writing down your values and making stuff up along the way to prop up a company or brand quickly won't help it survive in the long run. 

Like most business owners, Ceri also had his share of difficulties in his career where another group tried to do their job, and although this led to the radio being bought, Ceri was able to bounce back. 

Ceri stresses the importance of being open with your staff by sharing whatever profit or loss you've made because this allows your staff to help gain an insight into the business or company and make them steer the business in the right direction. An informed team is also good at making decisions that will help you and everyone else involved in the industry.

Key Learning Points:

1. Ceri says that you can't share your values if you don't live or follow your values in life - 3:44
2. Although it sounds cliche, Ceri shares how a staff that makes you (the business owner) look good can work wonders for your company and/or brand. - 5:38
3. Mads shares how businesses, especially the small ones, are helping people by offering jobs because this allows people to have something to look up to. - 07:21
4. Ceri says that good people (employees) stay longer because they take pride in their business. - 08:24 
5. Mads says that when it comes to hiring people, one should start with their staff because people like working with like-minded people.- 10:39
6. Ceri encourages business owners and managers to be open with their team by sharing updates about its projects.- 12:44
7. Ceri says that business owners should not be scared to make their staff "mini-owners" in their business or schemes. - 19:15
8. Ceri shares that one shouldn't start something if they're not going to see it through seriously- 20:47
9. Ceri adds that business owners should hire slowly and fire quickly - 21:18
10. Mads says that managers shouldn't sit around and focus on the stats and numbers but instead focus on their team members well-being.- 27:00

Connect with Ceri:

LinkedIn

Welcome to another episode of the Mads Singers Management Podcast! Today, we are joined by Navin Jaitly! Navin is an expert in a field where I don’t make well - sales! 

Navin works with business owners, business executives, and even business leaders. A firm believer in seeing the good inside of people rather than the outside, Navin has a passion for changing the way business leaders and their teams think.  Navin also believes in changing the relationship dynamics in a team to know that they are valued and appreciated. Like many of us, Navin also had his “dark days,” where he shares that he also struggled to work; however, Navin was able to turn it around and even start his own business. 

Navin and I noted that many entrepreneurs suck at making sales or hate making sales with a passion, thus leaving many of them lagging or performing poorly, which causes them to miss out on clients and opportunities. 

But all hope is not lost as Navin is on a mission to change and impact the lives of at least a million people globally.

Navin then adds that business owners and managers shouldn’t immediately judge a potential employee by looking at their CV. Instead, ask them important questions like goals and plans after five years. 

An excellent way to approach this is by applying DiSC. DiSC theory was developed by Dr. William Martson and has become an essential tool in the workplace because it can help business owners gauge how their employees will perform. 

Key Learning Points:
1. Mads says that most businesses don’t grow because business owners lack delegating or the skills but rather because they don’t have the right mindset. - 3:50
2. Mads points out that many companies and brands are doing many bad business practices. - 4:09
3. Navin says that business owners should find out the “why” of a potential employee, especially if you’re hiring salespeople - 6:53
4. Navin says that sales are the lifeblood of businesses; he then adds that the relationship with how business owners make sales and treat their sales team should change - 06:08
5. Navin talks about the Dilts Logical Level by the psychologist, Robert Dilts, and how can it be used to find your why and your purpose- 7:57
6. Navin likens sales to gaining weight. - 12:10
7. Navin believes that sales are like education because you get to educate your customers on what they need.- 15:30
8. Navin points out that while external skills are essential, finding out a person’s why can help you fix problems quickly... - 20:00
9. Mads shares the importance of DiSC and how it can be used to sell to your potential clients and/or customers immediately. - 26:14
10.Navin points out that managers should never forget the human aspect when managing their staff. - 32:29

Connect with Navin:

Navinjaitlycoaching.com

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

Email

Twitter

Welcome to another episode of the Mads Singers Management Podcast. Today, Pablo Gonzalez joins us.

Pablo is the host of the Chief Executive Connector Podcast, an expert and specialist in networking, and a good friend of mine. Pablo and I sat down together to discuss how many business owners and managers don’t utilize networking a lot which causes them to miss out on meeting incredible people. Today, Pablo and I will pave the way for business owners and managers to learn how to use networking to their advantage and make the right connections for their business or companies to flourish. 

While entrepreneurship is hard, it can become easier along the way when you have the right people who share the same energy and vision as you. It’s not something where you can do certain things and wake up as a millionaire or billionaire (now that would be the dream!) because even if you have a plan in place, things don’t always go their way which can distract you from your goals if you get sidetracked or fail.

As we talked further, Pablo and I discussed some strategies on networking and how business owners can leverage. One of the essential aspects we discussed is the importance of living in the present - meaning that one should show interest when showing up in an event or meeting people; put your phone in silent or set it to Do Not Disturb and enjoy the moment. Then, go around and talk to people! 

Another thing Pablo shared is, although meeting new people may seem daunting at first, especially if you are new to a particular place or country, it can be beneficial for you later on because that person can change your life. That person can call you up later on and still remember that you made them feel valued.

Key Learning Points:
1. Pablo shares that the best way to build relationships and networks is by adding value and being genuine to the people you meet. - 4:24
2. Pablo shares his secret when it comes to connecting with people. - 6:00
3. Pablo then adds that people will remember how you made them feel. - 9:05
4. Mads shares his tactic of approaching people in a crowded venue: Approach the person who is always looking at their phone. - 16:21
5. Mads shares that he keeps his phone on silent because he believes in living at present. - 17:35
6. Pablo says that it’s essential to ask questions whenever you’re having conversations with people. This gives you ammunition whenever you meet and talk to another person in that same field or career. This also allows you to know what motivates them. - 27:00
7. Pablo shares that the best way to recruit someone is when you hear them talk about something else or care about something else other than themselves. - 32:04
8. Pablo says that the most influential people in your town are usually board members of many non-profit organizations, which Pablo cheekily adds, can be used as a backdoor for influence, which allows you to have a direct line to them for events such as fundraisings or donation drives. - 32:27
9. Mads says that the advice you give should also be the advice that you are taking or following. - 36:24
10. Pablo says that one right introduction can forever change your life but you need to be open to it. - 41:05

Resources Mentioned:

The Black Swan: 
The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Connect with Pablo:

The Chief Connector Podcast

Email

LinkedIn

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Welcome to the 100th episode of the Mads Singers Management Podcast! It’s been quite a journey, and I couldn’t have gotten here without your support! 

Joining us today for our 100th episode is none other than Jeremy Lunnen. Jeremy is the global leadership development programs manager of Qualfon that runs contact centers around the world. Jeremy has been with Qualfon since 2006 and leads the efforts of Qualfon University by training and developing people who are moving up their first supervisory positions.

Jeremy and I had a fascinating discussion regarding management and how to train people in becoming leaders. With most job roles requiring some form of training, many people are promoted as managers get little to no movement and struggle in their new position to manage their team. Regardless if a person is a natural-born leader or has the potential to be a leader, they cannot unlock their full potential if they do not receive the proper guidance and training.

We then continued how some managers and business owners become cautious when working with other people from different cultures because there are differences in cultures and how some may get culture-shocked because they get exposed to something unpleasant.  However, because of advances in technology and the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more companies are starting to adjust and get used to working with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Key Learning Points:

1. Mads points out that many capable people who get promoted as managers lack the essential training to be efficient.- 4:31
2. Mads says that having a company culture is essential, and all successful business is built on solid culture..- 9:33
3. Jeremy likens company culture to growing a garden: having a good place, removing rocks and weeds, tilling the soil, etc. Doing nothing or not taking action in creating your company culture allows negative things to grow and take their place. - 10:00
4. Jeremy says that your company will have its culture, whether it’s the culture that you carefully cared for and cultivated or the culture that popped out of nowhere because you didn’t pay attention. - 11:00
5. Jeremy says that being a manager isn’t all about numbers. Managers need to focus on their soft skills. He then adds that managers need to know their people and what motivates them.- 14:16
6. Mads says, while a great salesperson can’t be a great manager, a person can be trained to be a great manager. However, it doesn’t happen automatically. - 16:28
7. Jeremy stresses that managers shouldn’t focus on gaps or the things that people lack. - 19:22
8. Jeremy quotes Marcus Buckingham: “Focus on strengths, manage around weaknesses.” - 19:48
9. Mads shares that when people don’t see it coming and get fired, you have done a horrible job as a manager because if people aren’t performing well, they need to know. - 27:49
10. Jeremy encourages people to travel to experience and learn about other cultures and meet different people. - 33:24
11. While there are some negatives in working with other cultures, Jeremy and Mads point out that it’s crucial to unlearn some things to grow your staff or team. - 39:06

Connect with Jeremy:

Email: [email protected]

Podcasts: 

Mission Qualfon Podcast

Leading From The Basement Podcast

Today’s guest in the Mads Singers Management Podcast is none other than Lindsay (Hauptman) Sutherland! 

Like myself, Lindsay had an early headstart in her career (she had her start in the automotive industry) but also had to learn many things the hard way, but because of this, Lindsay was able to have and live the life she wanted however, to achieve this, Lindsay had to make some drastic changes like relocating from another state (some people have commended her, while others called her crazy because relocating meant moving at a slower pace in life) and giving up a lovely house.

Lindsay also shared how her parents died at a much younger age and weren’t able to retire, and because of this, Lindsay didn’t see herself working all her life, thus prompting her to follow her desire in life. 

Starting young in management, Lindsay shares how she struggled at first because she didn’t have a mentor to guide her; however, Lindsay was eventually able to find her niche and live the life she always wanted. We also touched on minimalism and how freeing it is not to own so many material things; you can simply pack your stuff in your backpack and be on your way to the beach or another country.  

Lindsay and I shared some insights into how business owners can be friends, colleagues, and bosses with their staff while maintaining professionalism.

Key Learning Points:

1. Lindsay says it’s important to follow your burning desire - 3:34
2. Lindsay stresses the importance of being able to express yourself - 9:40
3. Lindsay shares an anecdote where she was helping a colleague who unexpectedly got pregnant; while Lindsay gave her grace, her colleague filed for unemployment and said terrible things about her. This experience led Lindsay to put up boundaries. - 7:52
4. As a manager, Lindsay saw herself more of a servant for the people rather than the “end-all, be-all” or the “big kahuna” - 10:32
5. Mads says that it’s essential for business owners and managers to figure out who you are as a person and find out what works for you when dealing with people.. - 13-51
6. Mads would instead take the risk of people, especially when making new connections, friends, or relationships, rather than avoiding getting hurt. - 19:53
7. Mads says that people should let go of the fear of things not working out.- 22:05
8. Lindsay likens the relationship between a manager and an employee to a one-sided relationship because managers need to be “on” all the time. You’re being watched all the time, and sometimes you don’t even feel human. After all, it would be best if you were positive most times because the people around you can feel a sudden shift in your energy. - 23:19
9. Mads adds that managers should always put their best foot forward and be their best selves because their energy can affect their staff; however, it’s okay to take some time off to refresh yourself. - 25:35
10. Lindsay says that it’s essential that we manage our expectations so that we wouldn’t end up disappointed or upset in the event things fail. - 30:11

Resources Mentioned:

• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
• The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

Connect with Lindsay Sutherland:

Website

Podcast

Today's guest on the Mads Singers Management Podcast is Dr. Heather Williamson, an executive coach and the owner of Transformation Group LLC.

Dr. Heather has been around the business for quite some time and, like myself, has helped many people establish businesses of their dreams. 

Dr. Heather and I tackled many topics during our talk, and one of our core topics was about trusting your employees so that they can help you grow your business faster.

As discussed in our previous episode with Nicolene Elhadad, it’s not always about having a big brand, being in a prominent location, or having a massive team but instead having a supergroup that can lighten your workload so that you can focus on what’s important.

Many business owners tend to make themselves busy with mundane tasks that take up too much of their time because they believe that the only way to grow their business to take care of everything and work long hours, leaving them exhausted and burnt out. Doing this for too long can hamper your company’s growth and even cause a power imbalance among your company and your staff.

Key Learning Points:

1. Trust is the foundation of any relationships - 4:14
2. Managers and business owners should not be playing favorites with their staff because your staff - 4:25 
3. Mads points out the dangers of not developing your staff; if neglected for too long, it becomes harder to delegate, making your team unprepared to take on any task. - 8:05
4. Dr. Heather mentions the importance of taking accountability and shares an anecdote where a client of hers had employees who were not doing any work, and the owner let them get away with it. - 12:34
5. Dr. Heather advises that the best way to hold your staff accountable is to address issues immediately instead of beating around the bush and waiting for the problems to get worse. - 13:02
6. Dr. Heather adds that it’s essential to do a follow up on your staff after having a one-on-one talk with them.- 14:20
7. Business owners should not do it all; they cannot be the expert at everything. Trying to be busy with everything will hinder the growth of your business. - 18:10
8. Dr. Heather talks about the importance of attitude when it comes to hiring; while skills are essential, especially in specific jobs, a person’s mood can impact your team and your business.- 21:53
9. Dr. Heather says that businesses and companies should learn to be flexible, especially during the COVID pandemic, meaning they should know how to do business differently or think outside the box and open-minded to keep their business afloat.- 25:20

Resources Mentioned:

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t
Author: Jim Collins

Connect with Heather:

Website

YouTube

Email 

LinkedIn

Joining us from Cape Town, South Africa, today’s guest on the Mads Singers Management Podcast is none other than self-made millionaire, franchise business coach, and entrepreneur Nicolene Elhadad!

Nicolene and her husband started from their garage and have worked their way up to several franchises and businesses all over South Africa.

However, it’s not all about earning money. Nicolene and her husband believe in helping people and changing their lives; they even encourage their former employees to go beyond their abilities and never go backward in life.

Nicolene and I then talked about delegation and how important it is in a business. Many business owners are often afraid to let go of the reins and hand over tasks and responsibilities to their employees because of the fear of failure; however, many business owners struggle to grow their business and waste a lot of time and resources. Instead of feeling busy or looking busy, entrepreneurs and business owners should spend their energy elsewhere to grow their business.  And while it’s essential to have the right kind of people in your business, a good mindset is also necessary so that you can move your business forward faster. Recruiting people is easy, especially if you’re a known brand or company, but getting them to work with you is difficult.

Key Learning Points:

1. Nicole points out that once people figure out what your product is and how good it is, they don’t care how far or near you are located- 3:11
2. Nicole says you don’t need to be making millions, have a massive team, or have a famous brand before you can start franchising; you need a system that works. 
3. It would help if you found people who are like you. - 5:20
4. Mads says that if you want to develop fast, you want to get rid of everything you do in your business and have other people do it. - 8:02
5. Mads points out the importance of developing and growing your staff to be able and capable of doing the work they should be doing. - 10:00
6. Nicole says that business owners should try to have a coffee date with each of their staff once a month to understand them better. They may even have a hidden talent that can help you bring in more money or clients for the business. - 11:09
7. Mads points out that having a business doesn’t mean you should be running the business but rather hiring the right people to make the business work. - 11:44
8. People will buy from you in to your business because you’ve given them that safety net.
9. You’ve done all the hard work for them; now they get to partner with someone they can look up to. - 18:17
10. Nicole believes in having a super team, a better group than you that can take care of all the unnecessary and mundane tasks off your plate so that you can focus on growing the business. - 19:18
11. Mads shares how he gets surprised by his staff when pushed because they deliver more than you expected. - 21:57
12. Mads shares how people need to learn, and the only way to do that is by trying out things, failing, and making mistakes. 22:50

Connect with Nicolene:

LinkedIn

Website

Facebook Group 

The proliferation of podcasts in all spheres means that occasionally one of my guests also hosts a podcast.  My guest for this episode of the Mads Singers Management Podcast, Justin Varuzzo, hosts the Marketing and Service podcast.  Here he interviews guests who share, through different techniques and strategies, his focus on exceptional customer service.

Justin shared several stories that illustrated something we instinctively know but don’t often ponder: the bar for customer service is so low that even a minimal effort will impress people.  Justin shared that when asked, most people can’t even come up with three exceptional customer service experiences.  While that’s bad for our society as a whole, it’s a great opportunity for businesses to shine and to build strong long-term relationships with customers.

I really agreed with this and I shared the importance of adding 24-hour chat support to e-commerce websites in an increasingly globalized economy.  While some people mistakenly consider such chat support to be a luxury, the reality is that it’s often the difference between someone placing an order and someone not placing an order and we have often seen for ourselves the jump in sales after chat support was added.

Justin also noted the people sometimes miss the basics when looking for some special hack to promote their businesses.  One of those basics is making sure that you claim your Google My Business account and make sure that all of the information is correctly filled out.  This can make a difference to your SEO in general and local SEO in particular.

One of the maintenance tasks in Google My Business is responding to reviews and Justin noted that he’s seen far too many solopreneurs, in particular, take negative reviews personally.  As a result, they tend to respond inappropriately, for all the world to see.  I agreed, and added that a negative review can sometimes turn out to be a positive thing!  The whole world can see your response and if you do it right, people can and will still do business with you.  In fact, some of the biggest brand advocates we’ve seen once left a bad review...which takes us back to how we kicked off the episode: talking about the lifetime value of customers and doing what is necessary to keep customers happy rather than take the chance of losing them.

Some customers deserve more attention than others...these are the “whales” that keep your business afloat.  Justin advocates doing something nice for them on a regular basis.  It’s just one more way to stand out in a global marketplace.

I really appreciate Justin’s customer-oriented approach, and I think you will too!

Key Learning Points:

1. Justin explains his focus on the customer journey - 2:53

2. Justin talks about his goals in building a relationship with clients - 4:10

3. Justin shares a fascinating story about customer service experiences - 8:28

4. Mads discusses the rising importance of 24-hour chat support - 13:30

5. Justin notes the importance of warranty in a purchase decision - 18:30

6. Justin warns against the danger of taking negative reviews personally - 24:20

7. Mads explains what a great opportunity negative reviews can be - 25:10

8. Justin advocates doing something nice for the “whales” in your business - 27:40

9. Justin explains a mistake many make on employee evaluations - 30:33

Resources Mentioned:

Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink

Connect with Justin Varuzzo

Marketing and Service