Strategic Momentum

In this season of Strategic Momentum, we heard from a range of guests who had overcome a variety of business and career challenges... and then took on the additional challenges of driving momentum in a pandemic. We’ve heard stories of triumph and tribulation, while also gaining valuable advice on how to navigate the uncertainty we’re living in.

In this episode, Connie Steele is joined by Strategic Momentum’s Marketing Manager, Alexis Anthony, and Production and Operations Manager, Alan Corcoran, to look back on the season’s podcourses. They synthesize the advice guests have shared over the past few months and highlight the key trends and takeaways that stood out, especially those that are particularly salient in today’s virtual working world. 

Learn more, and find the complete show notes, at https://www.strategicmomentum.co/episodes/84

Resources:

• Connect with Connie: Email | LinkedIn
• Connect with Alexis: Email | LinkedIn
• Connect with Alan: Email | LinkedIn 
• Share Your Feedback and Suggestions

Subscribe to the Strategic Momentum podcast:

• On Apple Podcasts
• On the Google Play Store
• On Stitcher Radio
• On Spotify

Strategic Momentum is produced by Crate Media

In recent episodes, we’ve seen examples of unique career paths — those that involve mashing up various skills and experiences to achieve career fulfillment and success. But how can you create this personal mashup while also delivering impact in wider society?

Annette Grotheer is a doctor, healthcare advocate, Forbes 30 under 30 Class of 2020 recipient, and the founder of The Shop Docs, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing preventative care back to the minority community. 

Doctor Grotheer believes that parallel pathing of passion and purpose, with both traditional employment and entrepreneurial ventures, is how people can make the most impact possible in and out of the workplace.

Learn more, and find the complete show notes, at https://www.strategicmomentum.co/episodes/83

Resources:

• Instagram: instagram.com/oohsonatural/
• Twitter: twitter.com/oohSoNatural
• Visit The Shop Docs

Subscribe to the Strategic Momentum podcast:

• On Apple Podcasts
• On the Google Play Store
• On Stitcher Radio
• On Spotify

Strategic Momentum is produced by Crate Media

In today’s world, the only constant is change. And now, in light of COVID-19, so is uncertainty. It’s forced all us to think and operate differently and restructure the way we work. 

Enter the Start Ugly philosophy.

Chris Krimitsos is an author, entrepreneur, documentary producer, and the Chief Creative Officer of Podfest Multimedia Expo, the world’s #1 interactive event for entrepreneurs, podcasters, and professionals. Recently, PodFest broke the Guinness World Record for the most attendees at a virtual conference — an idea and accomplishment that stems from Chris’s own Start Ugly philosophy, which is outlined in his new book, "Start Ugly: A Timeless Tale About Innovation & Change."

The philosophy and book have inspired thousands of readers to embrace change and uncertainty, release themselves from the chains of perfectionism, and take action on their ideas and creations.

Learn more, and find the complete show notes, at https://www.strategicmomentum.co/episodes/82

Resources:

• Chris’s website
• Podfest Multimedia Expo
• Start Ugly: A Timeless Tale About Innovation & Change
• Connect with Chris @chriskrimitsos on FB, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn 

Subscribe to the Strategic Momentum podcast:

• On Apple Podcasts
• On the Google Play Store
• On Stitcher Radio
• On Spotify

Strategic Momentum is produced by Crate Media

The world of work has fundamentally changed, with many becoming responsible for their own professional development. Career interests and goals are no longer singular, but rather broad and dynamic. There’s a desire to continually learn, improve and grow — and even make a pivot into a different role or industry in order to create that career which reflects one’s expansive capabilities and abilities.

That’s something that Joshua Lisec knows all too well. He’s the founder of The Entrepreneur’s Wordsmith and a Certified Professional Ghostwriter.  Since 2011, he has ghostwritten more than fifty books and has become a leading authority on author voice authenticity. 

In fact, he’s the only award-winning certified professional ghostwriter of number one international bestselling books on the planet. 

In this episode, Joshua shares:

• The non-linear career journey that led him to being a ghostwriter
• How he has been able to develop his successful solopreneur business by developing his own unique career mashup. 
• What it takes to create the traction that you are looking for when venturing out on your own

Learn more, and find the complete show notes, at https://www.strategicmomentum.co/episodes/81

Resources:

• Joshua Lisec on YouTube
• The Entrepreneur’s Wordsmith 

Subscribe to the Strategic Momentum podcast:

• On Apple Podcasts
• On the Google Play Store
• On Stitcher Radio
• On Spotify

Strategic Momentum is produced by Crate Media

Amid a global pandemic, economic upheaval, and social distancing restrictions, many in the restaurant industry have experienced potentially irrevocable suffering. But Jon Krinn — Chef, marketer, and owner of the award-winning fine dining restaurant Clarity based in the Washington D.C. area — took this time as an opportunity for innovation. 

It’s because it’s not his first rodeo. In 2008, when the economic recession negatively impacted the livelihoods of many in the service industry, Jon was forced to shut down his restaurant and, subsequently, decided to make a change in his career path. But as an athlete and competitor at heart, he used this setback as a launchpad for learning and growth. Since then, he’s rebuilt his restaurant career, pivoting from the culinary industry to an 8-year stint at Booz Allen Hamilton as a marketing strategist and then back to being a restaurateur. 

He’s taken everything he’s learned from that experience in the corporate world to help adapt his current restaurant business to the climate we are in now with COVID. In this episode, Jon shares what he did to control the uncontrollable, the pivots he made and skillsets he’s learned along the way, as well as the value of creating a career mash-up that can help you thrive amid adversity. 

Learn more, and find the complete show notes, at https://www.strategicmomentum.co/episodes/80

Resources:

• Connect with Jon on Facebook | Instagram
• Send Jon an Email
• Visit Clarity’s Website

Subscribe to the Strategic Momentum podcast:

• On Apple Podcasts
• On the Google Play Store
• On Stitcher Radio
• On Spotify

Strategic Momentum is produced by Crate Media

In the midst of widespread isolation, physical distancing, and global stress and anxiety, fostering human connection is more important in this COVID world than ever before; we all have the innate need to create a social rapport with others.

Even before the pandemic, the desire for real relationships in business and the workplace had given way to a trend towards transactional relationships — and that trend is only picking up pace.

Marc Angelos is a relationship manager and former Wall Street trader who has made communication and relationship-building his primary focus. A self-described “people person,” Marc has always used his ability to truly connect with people and build trust to help him navigate the sales process in the finance industry. He’s spent the last 25 years managing senior business relationships on Wall Street, which have taken him around the world and back. In his time, Marc has authored more than 100 articles on connecting with business customers, and his writings have been featured in outlets such as Bloomberg and Traders Magazine. 

Presently, Marc helps professionals break down the barriers keeping them from developing meaningful relationships inside and outside of work through his communications firm Anvictus. In this episode, he offers advice for networking in the COVID climate and how you can cut through the digital noise, shares how to avoid the most common virtual networking mistakes, and helps us build meaningful connections through trust, transparency, vulnerability and authenticity.

Learn more, and find the complete show notes, at https://www.strategicmomentum.co/episodes/79

Resources:

• Connect with Marc on LinkedIn | Twitter
• Follow Marc’s videos on  Instagram
• Check out Anvictus

Subscribe to the Strategic Momentum podcast:

• On Apple Podcasts
• On the Google Play Store
• On Stitcher Radio
• On Spotify

Strategic Momentum is produced by Crate Media

Last season on Strategic Momentum, we started our series on understanding and navigating office politics. The last two episodes in the series featured a panel of guests sharing different advice and perspectives, but in this episode, we dive deep with Michael Wilkinson.

Michael is a veteran on the show and one of our favorite voices on leadership and management. He’s a Master Facilitator and Founder of Leadership Strategies, the #1 Facilitation Training Company in the US.

In Part One, Michael explained how political behavior in the office really comes down to two things: alignment and trust. In this episode, Michael walks us through exactly what those look like, and how to break down alignment and trust to find the root of political problems and then create your strategy for managing those dynamics effectively.  

Learn more, and find the complete show notes, at https://www.strategicmomentum.co/episodes/78

Resources:

• Connect with Michael via Email | Linkedin
• Learn more about Leadership Strategies
• Buy Michael’s Books on Facilitation

Subscribe to the Strategic Momentum podcast:

• On Apple Podcasts
• On the Google Play Store
• On Stitcher Radio
• On Spotify

Strategic Momentum is produced by Crate Media

In our last podcourse, Jenny Blake walked us through what a career pivot really is, answering questions about how to move forward and be more fluid in a non-linear career path. Today, we continue to explore this question with David Knies, the Chief Growth officer at Boston-based design firm Essential. 

While brand development is commonplace in business, many people struggle to define their personal brand in a way that represents their authentic selves and effectively differentiates them in the market. For David, a brand strategist and growth leader for high growth, design- and innovation-led businesses, the trick is to think of yourself as a business. 

His mission is to create opportunities that help businesses and leaders reach their next level - faster. In this episode, David gives us insight and advice into what it takes to define who you really are, what you do and the unique value you truly bring. 

Learn more, and find the complete show notes, at https://www.strategicmomentum.co/episodes/77

Resources:

• Connect with David on LinkedIn | Twitter
• Visit David’s website
• Learn more about Essential

Subscribe to the Strategic Momentum podcast:

• On Apple Podcasts
• On the Google Play Store
• On Stitcher Radio
• On Spotify

Strategic Momentum is produced by Crate Media

As we begin Season 4, we face a work landscape that has been drastically altered by the coronavirus pandemic. We’ve had to change how we work on a macro and micro level, and many people have also had to seek new jobs in new industries, changing the type of work they perform. In fact, this shift is so prevalent that 2020 has been deemed the year of the pivot by The New York Times. 

More people than ever are asking the question, “What’s next?”

Pre-COVID-19, a pivot occured when a worker hit a career plateau, usually, but pivoting has now become a necessity for countless people.  With that in mind, our first podcourse of this season is with Jenny Blake, a career and business strategist, international speaker, and the author of “Pivot,” a step-by-step method to help you map what's next. It’s a strengths-based approach that emphasizes doubling down on what is already working to shift into a new, related direction.

Jenny has pivoted many times, from studying political science, communications, and computer science at UCLA to becoming the first employee at a start-up in Silicon Valley.  She later worked at Google, where she spent over five years in Training and Career Development as the company skyrocketed from 6,000 to 36,000 employees, while also writing her first book, “Life After College.” Jenny left Google in 2011 to take her consulting business full-time. 

In this episode, she shares her strategies, advice, and insights on pivoting, which are more important than ever.

Learn more, and find the complete show notes, at https://www.strategicmomentum.co/episodes/76

Resources:

• Pivot with Jenny Blake
• Pivot Method Resources 
• Author Toolkit 

Subscribe to the Strategic Momentum podcast:

• On Apple Podcasts
• On Google Podcasts
• On Stitcher Radio
• On Spotify

Strategic Momentum is produced by Crate Media

This season, we’ve covered topics ranging from entrepreneurship and management, to understanding and building up your soft-skills like networking and navigating office politics — all of which are critical to being able to move dynamically upward in challenging times. For our 75th episode and season closer, we recap some of our favorite tips and advice from the last 11 episodes of 2020.

As a note — this show is geared toward providing actionable tips and practical advice with context so you can employ these words of wisdom in your day-to-day environment. So, we’ve decided to move toward the term “podcourse” to describe the listening experience.

So, in this episode, Connie is joined by Strategic Momentum Marketing Manager Alexis Anthony to discuss the key takeaways from the podcourses this season.

Learn more, and find the complete show notes, at strategicmomentum.co/podcast.

Resources:

• Take the Career Success Survey
• Connect with Connie: Email | LinkedIn
• Connect with Alexis: Email | LinkedIn
• Share Your Feedback and Suggestions

Strategic Momentum is produced by Crate Media