Which creative idea would you pursue if you knew you couldn't fail?

Today we kick off the third and final section of our Summer Strategy Sessions: Creativity. And what does every creative need to achieve their goals?

A strategic plan.

I know that sounds counterintuitive, but hear me out. Done correctly, a strategic plan isn't the restrictive dream-killer you're probably imagining. Done right, a strategic plan is a flexible, evolving companion on your journey to the life you want.

This episode is a fast and furious overview of flexible strategic planning. I'll introduce you to four essential elements you need to implement to set yourself up for success:

1. Rethink the way you set up your SMART goals by focusing on process, not outcome.
2. Use the Trinity Principle to mitigate risks in marketing.
3. Be willing to realign your goals when things change.
4. Remember the Bouncy Floor rule and its five keys we discussed in Episode 29.

And one more thing:

I want to hear from you.

Now that we're in the last few weeks of the Summer Strategy Sessions, let me know how it's going for you. Has anything really stuck with you or helped to realign your business in this strange new world we find ourselves in?

Send me an email, or leave a review on whichever platform you're using to listen to this podcast. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

In episode 30 of Small Stage, Big Impact we discuss:

• [4:05] The major challenge every strategic plan faces and how to overcome it
• [5:57] The importance of rethinking your SMART goals by focusing on process, not outcome
• [12:00] How the Trinity Principle helps to mitigate risks in marketing while allowing for creativity
• [16:28] Why you should follow what lights you up and realign your goals as needed
• [20:13] The importance of remembering the bouncy floor rule and its five keys from Episode 29

Resources mentioned by Renia in the episode:

• Discover what SCRUM is and if it might be helpful for your business
• Read about The Desire Map by Danielle Laporte
• Sign up for our Summer Strategy Workshop to download your worksheet
• Listen to Episode 29 to review The Bouncy Floor Rule and the 5 Keys

Nothing opens the door for spectacular success like taking a risk.

But taking a risk also opens the door for spectacular failure. So how do we ensure we go through the right door?

In our final Summer Strategy Session on courage, we take on the common adage credited to John Burroughs:

"Jump, and a net will appear."

How many of us have learned the hard way that if we don't build the net first, we will only fall flat on our faces?

What if I told you that there was a way to mitigate the risks that are necessary to grow your business? Failure happens to the best of us. But failure doesn't have to capsize us, taking our business and personal finances relationships down with it.

The 5 Keys to Effective Risk-Taking can help you mitigate risks and the potential for failure.

Did you know many of the entrepreneurs who are known for taking risks - and having them pay off - were really just skilled at risk mitigation?

Today I break down the key components to effective risk-mitigation so that you can give yourself the best chance at achieving your dreams.

Are you ready to change your mindset, budget your time and money, and walk through that door to success? If so, this episode is for you. Listen now.

In episode 29 of Small Stage, Big Impact we discuss:

• [8:54] How and why to build your own net, because no one else will do it for you.
• [13:25] What the sunk-cost fallacy is and how to avoid it in your business.
• [21:33] The importance of betting smart so you don't over-leverage yourself.
• [24:17] Going second so you don't have to seed a new audience.
• [26:57] Learning how to break down your timelines to better budget your time
• [31:17] The importance of noticing the gaps where new ideas and businesses are most needed.

Resources mentioned by Renia in the episode:

• Don't miss a single episode of our Summer Strategy Sessions

Sometimes our biggest act of courage is getting to know ourselves.

Are you scared to be still and just sit with yourself?

Have you ever thought about why that is?

Have you considered that knowing yourself is essential to growing your business?

In today's episode, I talk once again with my longtime friend and coach, Lori Bainum. Lori's extensive career in the media industry has taught her that understanding our personal values is key to a leading successful organization. In the Courage section of our Summer Strategy Sessions, we're exploring how you can't grow your business without taking risks.

But how do we know when to be courageous - when to take risks - when we don't know what's important to us?

Lori shares with us that:

"Leadership begins with being centered in ourselves."

If we want to succeed in business, we must take the time to figure out our values. This exercise has the added benefit of strengthening your messaging to your target audience. As Lori states, "People won't understand what you're about if you don't understand what you're about."

Empathy is essential to effective leadership.

People naturally follow leaders who understand them, their fears, their desires, and their values. Empathy is understanding what it is like to be in another's shoes. Lori challenges us to consider, "How are you going to be able to put yourself in somebody else's shoes if you're not willing to be in your own shoes?"

In today's episode, we discuss what courage looks like when we choose to lead from our values. Listen now!

In episode 28 of Small Stage, Big Impact we discuss:

• [4:15] Lori's definition of courage and how it may be counter to what we've been taught
• [8:53] How we can figure out who we are during chaotic times
• [15:30] The connection between being rooted in your values and being rooted in your sense of self
• [19:04] The two types of procrastination, and how one type can help you make the right decisions
• [22:40] How leaders need to be empathetic in order to connect with the people they are leading
• [28:00] How we can keep our workplaces from being toxic by remembering each other's humanity
• [44:30] Why embracing positive conflict is essential to becoming a high-functioning team
• [54:28] How the focus on productivity can be like dieting (and true productivity requires self-awareness)
• [1:00:10] The type of courage that is required of leaders who want to have truly productive meetings
• [1:08:00] Tips for handling anxiety over feeling like you don't have enough time left to live the life you want
• [1:18:00] What you can do now to courageously transform how you lead your team and your business

Resources mentioned by Lori and Renia in the episode:

• Patrick Lencioni's book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• Don't miss a single episode on courage during our Summer Strategy Sessions

What does it mean to have courage?

Even thinking about taking a risk, especially a business risk, can leave us feeling apprehensive. And while a single act of bravery can be difficult, repeatedly taking risks can be downright scary.

But what if I told you that sustaining courageous action is exactly what your business needs?

Sustainable courage is essential for maintaining forward progress.

Businesses must change and adapt to remain relevant to their target market. Change requires risks. In this kick-off episode for the Courage section of our Summer Strategy Sessions, we discuss how to develop intentional, sustainable courage.

What exactly does this kind of courage look like? No matter the times we live in, taking appropriate risks with our companies requires three things:

• Leading from our values
• Understanding risks
• Asking for help when necessary

In Episode 27, we're looking ahead at the second leg of our strategy framework. In today's climate, we are being asked to be more courageous than ever. How do we do that? Listen now to learn what you can expect over the next few weeks as we explore courage in the world of business.

In episode 27 of Small Stage, Big Impact we discuss:

• [3:35] How understanding your values as a business is central to developing courage
• [4:42] Why we must revisit what our top values are as we learn and grow as individuals and with our businesses
• [6:12] What our business values are and how they help guide our company
• [9:25] How mitigating risk helps make risks less risky
• [12:19] Why timing is critical to your courageous action being successful and accepted
• [14:24] Why we have a responsibility to make sure our risks are sustainable
• [18:15] The importance of asking for help when you need it

Resources mentioned by Renia in the episode:

• Sign up for the Courage kick-off call

How do we show up to serve others, when showing up is dangerous?

In our final episode on care, we discuss the unique challenges businesses are facing right now with customer care. Health, safety, and social issues dominate our news feeds. Our daily routines have been restructured. Anxiety is spiking for everyone and impacting our relationships.

In today's tense environment, customer service is more vital than ever. We could unintentionally erode customer trust and loyalty without ever speaking to a customer in person. How do we avoid losing customers when our usual methods of communication have changed?

The way you serve your customers must evolve to fit this moment.

Consider the way that you are currently interacting with your customers. If you are still able to engage with them in person, are you:

• Being purposeful with your body language
• Finding ways to greet them while maintaining social distance
• Learning to accommodate customers who are hard of hearing

If you speak with customers on the phone, are you:

• Giving them your full, enthusiastic attention
• Being clear in your speech to reduce misunderstandings

If you interact with customers online, are you:

• Using available resources to ensure quick responses
• Making it clear how you want customers to contact you

We address each of these issues with action items you can put in place today to improve customer retention and loyalty.

In episode 26 of Small Stage, Big Impact we discuss:

• [5:28] Why your customer care needs to evolve to retain clients in 2020
• [9:15] How mask-wearing impacts in-person customer care and solutions for building rapport
• [13:11] How 30 seconds can change your demeanor and positively affect customer interactions
• [16:23] Training on ways to communicate with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community when mask-wearing provides an obstacle
• [19:35] The need to develop new habits in our body language when greeting or welcoming customers
• [22:11] The vital importance of empathy right now when everyone is stressed
• [25:00] The transformative power of the "mirror trick" to help your team be enthusiastic and engaged on the phone
• [27:20] Training your team to speak slowly and clearly to avoid misunderstandings on the phone
• [30:04] How a quick response is the most important part of online service
• [33:20] The importance of cultivating trust with your customers by making it clear how they can get service from you

Resources mentioned by Renia in the episode:

• Sign up for the live sessions and get the worksheet.

Does writing thank-you notes seem like a waste of time in today's rapidly changing world?

What if doing so could help you become more resilient and successful?

In today's episode, we'll hear from author and speaker, Elena Anguita, about her movement, Spread Thanks. This simple practice encourages people to spread gratitude by writing and sending daily thank-you notes. With just 10 minutes a day, you can transform your life.

Elena has personally sent a thank-you note every day for the past five years. It has taken some creativity, but Elena found that:

"Being in a state of gratitude then attracted a reason to be grateful."

It's a self-perpetuating cycle.

Elena always struggled with practicing mindfulness despite knowing how beneficial it could be. By writing a thank-you note a day, she accidentally started using it! She also experiences benefits and "daily miracles" she never anticipated.

It's no secret that we are all trying to maintain balance in unprecedented times. Often, we're trying to care for ourselves and others while having to be physically distant from our support network.

The Spread Thanks movement provides a surprising solution.

We may have to be socially distant, but we can still focus on building connections.

We do that by intentionally changing our perspectives.

In Episode 25, Elena states, "People are there to make your life easier." What a life-altering perspective! Now more than ever, we should focus on what and who we have to be grateful for.

Learn how to transform your life by spreading thanks in today's episode.

In episode 25 of Small Stage, Big Impact we discuss

• [3:47] What the Spread Thanks movement is all about
• [5:39] How this practice impacts your life in unexpected ways
• [9:10] How intentional gratitude changes your perspective about life and other people
• [16:17] How this gratitude practice is different than others and makes a bigger impact
• [21:38] How to "inoculate" yourself against the hard things in life
• [23:34] How to implement this practice in your daily life in just 10 minutes a day
• [26:13] Tips on coming up with thank you note recipients and why it's important to get creative
• [29:26] How journaling helps you maximize the benefits of spreading thanks
• [31:13] How intentional gratitude can help anyone practice mindfulness even when they've struggled to before

Resources mentioned by Elena and Renia in the episode:

• Learn more about the Spread Thanks movement.
• Look for Elena's book, Spread Thanks: Create Miracles Through the Power of Ink.
• Follow Elena on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Prioritizing employee emotional safety should be at the forefront for all business leaders. Employees need to feel cared for and safe.

In this episode, I spoke with Lorraine Lane. Lorraine is the founder of Lane Business Consulting. She discussed how leaders can care for employees during "the new normal" that we're facing.

She explores how she became an expert in teaching others to lead. Lorraine goes over how remote working changes the way you lead and teach others to lead.

She shares red flags to watch for to ensure employees aren't overworked. Many employers haven't asked their staff what they need to do their work effectively. She talks about how leadership needs to put parameters in place to protect employees... Things like being aware that they aren't required to respond to emails within 5 minutes.

In most lines of work, everything isn't an emergency. Employees must be fully aware of that.

We talk about paying close attention to the words you use when communicating. She gives insight into leading remotely when employees still have to go into work.

Lorraine divulges so much wisdom from her career as a business consultant. If you've been struggling to lead your team during this time, this is the episode for you.

In episode 24 of Small Stage, Big Impact we discuss

• [4:13] How Lorraine became an expert in teaching people how to lead
• [8:32] How she and her team fixed the career trajectory options for individuals at her organization (and the retention rate)
• [10:22] Why moving technical employees into management isn't always the right decision
• [12:57] Why backing off of leadership training and mentorship during the pandemic is a bad idea
• [14:31] How working remotely changes the way you have to teach people to lead
• [17:34] Red flags to be on the lookout for as a leader to safeguard your employees
• [21:21] How we're behind the curve in asking employees what they need to be productive
• [23:19] Why you need to pay attention to the words you use in your communication
• [26:47] Ground rules to have in place and the importance of giving people space to respond
• [30:04] Why you have to identify what's critical and what can wait
• [32:46] How you lead differently while employees aren't able to work remotely and face a certain level of hazard
• [35:04] Her thoughts on how companies can preserve company culture while working from home
• [36:48] What leaders can do if they're struggling under the current circumstances
• [39:56] How you should take the time to enjoy the benefits of working from home

Resources mentioned by Lorraine and Renia in the episode:

• Business-Building Referrals: Play Your A-Game and Become a Networking SSuper Staruper Star
• Join us for our live Q & A call on July 2
• Connect with Lorraine:
• • Learn more about her company Lane Business Consulting: https://lanebc.com/
  • Email Lorraine: [email protected]

What is "the new normal" when it comes to your business strategy? As millions of people are heading back to work every day, keeping them safe is an essential consideration.

Now more than ever, you need to consider how you're protecting employees. What are you doing to cultivate a culture of safety in the workplace? If you haven't thought about it yet, now is the time.

To help you better understand workplace safety, I brought on Dave White. Dave is the co-owner and CFO of Quad City Safety, a midwestern based distributor of PPE and other safety equipment.

Dave speaks candidly on empowering employees to be safe.

He talks about why your people and their safety should be a top priority.

He shares how you can hone in on being a thought leader for your customers. A big way to do this is by giving them direction. You want to offer them clear safety guidelines as they begin to re-enter retail spaces.

This episode has a wealth of impactful tips so be sure to take notes!

In episode 23 of Small Stage, Big Impact we discuss

• [4:47] What it's been like to figure out how to manage safety during the Covid pandemic
• [8:43] The things you need to be aware of when providing protection for your employees
• [13:47] Why it's crucial to be a thought leader for your customers and give them direction for safety guidelines
• [15:14] What it means to create a culture of safety and how to start the process of creating it
• [22:20] How focusing on people and profit can have the same end goal
• [24:27] The tension between existential and long-term protection strategies
• [28:25] How to empower your employees to be safe
• [34:01] The argument that people have for investing in safety and the ROI of protecting your employees
• [38:27] Where to get help if you're unsure of what the right protection is for your employees
• [41:26] How your employees really want to know someone is looking out for their best interest
• [43:29] What Dave hopes you'll take away from his advice
• [47:12] How to know if a supplier you're looking at is apart of a safety network

Resources mentioned by Dave and Renia in the episode:

• Safety Network
• Connect with Dave:
• • Learn more about Dave's company Quad City Safety: https://www.quadcitysafety.com/
  • Get pandemic safety solutions for your workplace: https://www.quadcitysafety.com/pandemic-solutions

What might shift in your business if you think of this moment like a dance instead of a battle?

It's not a reaction to Covid, but instead a time to reflect on how you can get realigned with your goals.

In this episode, we're kicking off our discussion of Care, the first of the 3 C's for realigning your business strategy.

We're going to chat about the 3 types of caring to consider when rearranging the rest of 2020:

• Self-care
• Employee care
• Customer care.

Why does caring come first? I'll uncover that on this episode along with how it will help you to be fluid and move quickly in this different landscape. You'll see how caring will guide you to the place that you want to be and down the path you want to go.

Take notes and stick around to the end to hear a special bonus about community care!

In episode 22 of Small Stage, Big Impact we discuss

• [4:11] The 3 types of fo care to consider for rearranging the rest of 2020
• [4:38] Why you need to put self-care first, especially at this moment
• [5:52] What self-care means to me
• [6:36] The big 5 parts of self-care you can use to reset yourself
• [12:46] Sharing what you're doing to take care of yourself
• [13:20] What you can do to cultivate employee care
• [15:36] Two upcoming guests who are going to get real about physical and emotionally safe
• [17:57] Why you want to over-communicate and demonstrate empathy with your customers
• [19:25] Using these 3 areas to think about what you're doing, what you should be doing differently and what you want to do for the rest of 2020 to get where you want
• [22:56] The bonus care area that you can think about if you have the first three implemented

Resources mentioned by Renia in the episode:

• E6: Managing Your Energy & Mojo with Lori Bainum - Part 1
• E7: Managing Your Energy & Mojo with Lori Bainum - Part 2

If you've felt like 2020 has lasted for six years instead of six months, then this is the season for you.

For our fifth year of summer strategy sessions, we've made the choice to bring them online. They will be on the podcast and free to our entire community.

The world that we're living in is unlike anything we've dealt with before. That's why I chose to do this. I want to help you navigate the waters of doing business during and after this new sort of normal we're living through.

Inside this episode, you'll learn my 3 C's of doing business right now.

You could call this the summer of Covid, but I feel like it's so much more than that. It's an opportunity for us to reimagine how our businesses operate, communicate, lead, and thrive.

In this episode, I chat about how you can structure your focus in three key areas: Care, courage and creativity. This framework is helping me (and my clients) right now to make the best of 2020 and create the year you need.

In episode 21 of Small Stage, Big Impact we discuss

• [3:06] How we're doing summer strategy sessions differently this year
• [6:03] Why the halfway point of the year is a time to reflect and get real
• [9:13] How my 2020 has been up to this point
• [11:27] The biggest changes this year for a lot of businesses
• [13:47] Giving yourself time and space to grieve for the things you've lost this year
• [14:33] What things have remained the same for businesses over the course of the year
• [17:35] The beauty, generosity and values I've seen businesses uphold during this time
• [19:46] The 3 C's of the summer of COVID and what they mean to me
• [19:54] What care means to me and what it looks like for your business
• [21:33] Why now is the time that we're being called to courage
• [23:55] The magic that can be produced from creativity

Resources mentioned by Renia in the episode:

• Strategic Sessions
• Rachel Cargle
• Trudi Lebron
• E19: Business Remixed with Trudi Lebron
• That's Not How That Works Podcast
• Business Remixed w/ Trudi Lebron