The Alchemist Lounge

The workspace is constantly evolving, so having a company culture in place is key to staying authentic, healthy, and profitable as an organization. In this episode, Felix Van de Sand talks about an Ayahuasca retreat in Costa Rica he went to, together with a couple of employees, and how that impacted them on both work and personal levels.

EPISODE NOTES

• The process of setting a company culture
• The evolution of work-life
• Why you shouldn't be hard on yourself
• The future of leadership

RESOURCE/LINK MENTIONED

• Stealing Fire by Steven Kotler

ABOUT FELIX VAN DE SAND

Felix is the CEO and co-founder of COBE, a Munich-based digital agency that specializes in customer experience design, UI/UX, and software development. He also co-founded a fantasy football app called Kickbase.

CONNECT WITH FELIX

• Website: www.cobeisfresh.com

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• Website: Gravy Work | Hire Staff On-Demand
• Podcast: Off The Clock
• Facebook: @GravyWork

Until Next Time.. Be Kind and Thrive!

Focusing on only one industry is always the safest bet. However, that may not be the right path for everyone. Dive into this episode as Alejandro Laplana talks about the challenges of managing people from different parts of the world and across multiple industries, and gives tips on raising capital for new entrepreneurs.

EPISODE NOTES

• The challenges of managing people from countries with political issues
• Qualities of some mentors that are worth noting
• The importance of surrounding yourself with smart people1
• Why you should support your team members as a leader

ABOUT ALEJANDRO LAPLANA

Alejandro Laplana is a guru of gaming technology, and with his company Shokworks, he develops apps and games which allow clients to engage and immerse their audiences. His notable clients include Fox Sports, Real Madrid, Telemundo, and the United Kingdom government.

CONNECT WITH ALEJANDRO

• Website: www.shokworks.io
• LinkedIn: Alejandro Laplana

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• Website: Gravy Work | Hire Staff On-Demand
• Podcast: Off The Clock
• Facebook: @GravyWork

Until Next Time.. Be Kind and Thrive!

The concept of team collaboration changes a lot depending on the company type. In this episode, Rich Mendis explains the differences between managing teams in a Start-up vs. a Larger company and shares the keys to setting a good marketing strategy.

EPISODE NOTES

• Skills that are important to foster in your new business
• Team collaboration: start-up vs. larger companies
• Are start-ups more effective than larger companies?
• How to get the most of your teams
• Challenges faced when managing teams
• What to look for in job candidates
• First steps in marketing for small businesses

RESOURCE/LINK MENTIONED

• Marketrise

ABOUT RICH MENDIS

Rich Mendis is a software executive, entrepreneur & marketing guru. He co-founded & exited two software startups, one to SAP and the other to TIBCO. He's now working on a new marketing platform to help small businesses by consolidating all the tools they need for marketing & KPI measurement in one place.

CONNECT WITH US

• Website: Gravy Work | Hire Staff On-Demand
• Podcast: Off The Clock
• Facebook: @GravyWork

Until Next Time.. Be Kind and Thrive!

Expressing gratitude to your employees and expanding their possibilities can increase the productivity of your business exponentially. Listen in as David Grillot shares some insights into being an inspirational leader and an effective conflict-solving strategy for all types of organizations.

EPISODE NOTES

• What it's like to shut down your own business
• How limitations of a leader can affect the entire organization
• Violent vs. Nonviolent communication
• Why you shouldn't label people
• The benefits of getting to know your employees
• Strategies to improve your company culture

RESOURCES/LINKS/BOOKS MENTIONED

• The 21 irrefutable laws of leadership by John C. Maxwell
• Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD
• Leading without authority by Keith Ferrazzi
• Thank You Plant Medicine

ABOUT DAVID GRILLOT

David is a co-creator of Thank You Plant Medicine, which is an annual global campaign designed to encourage people whose lives have been changed by plant medicine to share their stories of transformation and gratitude and to help end the stigma around the use of psychedelics.

CONNECT WITH US

• Website: Gravy Work | Hire Staff On-Demand
• Podcast: Off The Clock
• Facebook: @GravyWork

Until Next Time.. Be Kind and Thrive!

Food won't get our way out of hunger, but we can use food as a tool to empower minds, strengthen bodies and build communities. Today, Mike Curtin shares his fight against poverty and hunger through DC Central Kitchen and about a hunger strike he did against the district. Tune in and find out how that 8-days hunger strike turned out and how his leadership contributed to the growth of the organization.

EPISODE NOTES

• How food can empower people
• Instilling the company's mission to the team
• The most important qualities that leaders should have
• Fighting for the value of nonprofit organizations
• The struggles of doing the right thing

ABOUT MIKE CURTIN

After graduating from Williams College in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in religion, Mike lived and worked in Osaka, Japan as a teacher, copywriter, and bartender at his neighborhood pub. Upon returning to the United States, he began a 20-year career in the hospitality business, including owning and operating his own restaurant, The Broad Street Grill, in Falls Church, Virginia. Mike joined DC Central Kitchen (DCCK) in 2004. He has spent significant time expanding the Kitchen's revenue-generating social enterprise initiatives. Under his leadership, DC Central Kitchen's Fresh Start Catering has expanded from traditional catering opportunities to include contracts to provide locally sourced, scratched-cooked meals to schools across Washington, DC.

CONNECT WITH MIKE

• Twitter: @Mike Curtin

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• Website: Gravy Work | Hire Staff On Demand
• Podcast: Off The Clock
• Facebook: @GravyWork

Until Next Time.. Be Kind and Thrive!

In the face of hardships, you can be paralyzed and get discouraged, or you can take advantage of the opportunities given and keep moving. Tune in and listen to the powerful and heartfelt story of Thomas Penny, a man who went from working as a dishwasher to becoming the president of a hotel management company.

EPISODE NOTES

• The effect of having an inspirational figure in life
• Ways to avoid the pitfalls that others might have gone through
• Taking advantage of opportunities
• Overcoming the hurdles faced during the global pandemic
• What makes a leader inspirational to people?
• Working in a diverse environment

ABOUT THOMAS PENNY

Thomas's career has been shaped by his intense determination. After starting out as a dishwasher, he climbed through the ranks of the hospitality industry. Now, he operates eleven hotels in partnership with Marriott, Hilton, and InterContinental Hotels Group. He's also a passionate community activist and serves on the boards of DC Central Kitchen, Raise DC, Global Scholars Foundation, DC Public Education Fund, and more.

CONNECT WITH US

• Website: Gravy Work | Hire Staff On Demand
• Podcast: Off The Clock
• Facebook: @GravyWork

Until Next Time.. Be Kind and Thrive!

In today's show, our guest Duane Keller talks about how giving back can create a huge impact on your personal and business life. Listen to this episode and get some great insights not only about the food industry but into leadership as well.

EPISODE NOTES

• What it means to be a leader
• How do you define integrity?
• The motivation and drive behind giving back
• The importance of having a mentor

ABOUT DUANE KELLER

Duane is an award-winning chef and accomplished hockey player. He comes from a legacy of hockey players. His father, Ralph, is in the pro-hockey Hall of Fame, and Chef Keller played in an international Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, where his team was the first from America to win the Gold Medal. Duane is passionate about using his skills for charity, having created menus for the American Heart Association, fed the homeless in Sarasota, and donated his skills to disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and at the Pentagon during 9/11 recovery efforts in 2001.

CONNECT WITH DUANE

• Website: www.chefkeller.kitchen
• LinkedIn: Chef Duane Keller
• Facebook: Duane Keller

CONNECT WITH US

• Website: Gravy Work | Hire Staff On Demand
• Podcast: Off The Clock
• Facebook: @GravyWork

Until Next Time.. Be Kind and Thrive!

In order to keep employees motivated, they have to like, understand and respect who you are and what you're doing. Today, Ladd Richland talks about the importance of showing vulnerability as a leader and explains why having direction is a critical piece of running a business.

EPISODE NOTES

• What is RPO?
• Keep people happy and motivated
• The importance of Vision, Mission, and Values to your business
• How to retain your best employees?
• Knowing where you're going and leading from the heart
• Being prepared to spend the triple amount of time and money

RESOURCE/LINK MENTIONED

• Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't

ABOUT LADD RICHLAND

After success in the telecom industry, Ladd founded CRI, the first RPO, or "Recruitment Process Outsourcing" company. Ten years later, Ladd exited CRI to a fortune-500 staffing company. Now, Ladd spends his time coaching executives on how to better run their businesses and their lives. He specializes in setting them up to exit their businesses and preparing them for what comes next.

CONNECT WITH LADD

• LinkedIn: Ladd Richland
• E-mail: [email protected]

CONNECT WITH US

• Website: Gravy Work | Hire Staff On Demand
• Podcast: Off The Clock
• Facebook: @GravyWork

Until Next Time.. Be Kind and Thrive!

It's important to understand that what motivates you may not motivate others. You have to listen to your employees and learn about them to be able to build an A-team. If you want to learn about restaurants, managing teams, and entrepreneurship, tune in and be inspired to become a great leader.

EPISODE NOTES

• Knowing your why
• Creating a concrete vision, mission, and purpose
• Key learnings as a leader in the organization
• Listening to your employees
• Building connections and bonds with employees
• Earning time freedom

ABOUT TOM RACOSKY

Tom is a restaurant specialist. Currently, he works as a consultant at the Maryland Small Business Development Center. He has over 30 years of experience in managing, owning, and counseling restaurants. He helps his clients build incredible teams, drive revenue growth, and bring in customers even in challenging times. He's also an established chef and created recipes and menus for over 20 restaurants and events.

CONNECT WITH TOM

• E-mail: [email protected]
• Website: www.eatbigbuns.com
• LinkedIn: Tom Racosky

CONNECT WITH US

• Website: Gravy Work | Hire Staff On-Demand
• Podcast: Off The Clock
• Facebook: @GravyWork

Until Next Time.. Be Kind and Thrive!

Starting your own business is not for everyone: the highs are high and the lows are low. You must have honest conversations with yourself, understand how you're wired, and be able to recognize what makes you happy to realize if the entrepreneurial world is for you. In line with this, Leo explains today the importance of understanding what motivates your people, and how to better lead them to achieve your company's goals.

EPISODE NOTES

• The entrepreneurial journey
• Skill sets in leadership and management
• What motivates the people and the team?
• Challenges in managing a team
• How important is giving back and rewards to the people?
• Getting a mentor and prioritizing tasks
• The birth of the Pareja Family Foundation

RESOURCES/LINKS MENTIONED

• Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
• How to Win Friends & Influence People

ABOUT LEO PAREJA

Leo Pareja was a #1 agent with Keller Williams. His self-named firm was #5 in the Wall Street Journal. He was also named the top Latino Real Estate agent, and he served as president of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. He co-founded and currently serves as the President of ''Remine'' which is an MLS software company with over one million active users.

CONNECT WITH LEO PAREJA

• Website: Remine
• E-mail: [email protected]

CONNECT WITH US

• Website: Gravy Work | Hire Staff On Demand
• Podcast: Off The Clock
• Facebook: @GravyWork

Until Next Time.. Be Kind and Thrive!