Thoughts That Rock

Our guest this week to share 3 thoughts on this topic is keynote speaker and author, Cara Brookins, who is best known as the woman who built a house with her four kids using YouTube tutorials. After sharing her story in a best-selling memoir, it became an overnight viral media sensation. Cara now delivers unconventional advice to global audiences that inspires action and leadership in even the most challenging circumstances. 

TOPIC:  How to Get Unstuck

GUEST: Cara Brookins

THOUGHT #1 - Have a Clearly-Defined Goal - Avoid Things that will Pull from That

THOUGHT #2 - Don't Over Plan - Move Fast

THOUGHT #3 - Ask: If You Were the :Last Person on Each, Could You Figure it Out?

BONUS THOUGHT - Think: What's the Worst Case Scenario?

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CARA BROOKINS' BIO:

Cara Brookins is best known as the woman who built a house with her four kids using YouTube tutorials. After sharing her story in a best-selling memoir, it became an overnight viral media sensation. 

Now, Brookins is a sought-after keynote speaker trusted by global brands to deliver unconventional advice that inspires action and leadership in even the most challenging circumstances. 

You can find her latest strategies to master productivity, stop procrastinating, and reach your biggest goals at CaraBrookins.com.

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Our guest this week to share 3 thoughts on this topic is Dirk Donahue, who is a former middle school music teacher and currently a university music director and full time singer for the famous “Dapper Dans of Main Street” Barbershop Quartet at Walt Disney World' Magic Kingdom Park. As a leader in many performing groups, especially during his time with the Voices of Liberty, Dirk has had to hold others accountable...which is not always an easy thing to do.

TOPIC: How to Hold Others Accountable

GUEST: Dirk Donahue

THOUGHT #1 - Give Appropriate Correction in a Positive Way - The Note Sandwich

THOUGHT #2 - Know When to Let it Slide, but Address it Later

THOUGHT #3 - Hold Yourself Accountable for Credibility with Others

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DIRK DONAHUE'S BIO:

Dirk performed as a full-time singer and vocal captain in the world renowned a capella group, “Voices of Liberty” at The Walt Disney World Resort’s EPCOT theme park. Currently Dirk can be seen performing with the “Dapper Dans of Main Street” Barbershop Quartet at Magic Kingdom Park. He is also a clinician for Disney’s Imagination Campus’ Sings Workshops, as well as a rehearsal director for Disney’s Cast Choir for the Candlelight Processional Christmas celebration at EPCOT.

Dirk also serves as Performing Arts Director at Johnson University Florida in Kissimmee. Along with Teaching private voice, Dirk is the Director of Johnson’s “Campus Choir and Choral Society” as well as co-Director of the university’s select ensemble, “New Creation.” Dirk also directs theater pieces at JUFL that have included many original Christmas Productions along with the musical, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Dirk was born and raised in Kissimmee, FL.  He has an Associate of Arts degree in Music (percussion/voice) from Seminole State College (where received the 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award) and has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Central Florida.  Dirk taught Choral music at Denn John Middle School in Kissimmee from 1990-1995. 

Dirk has conducted vocal workshops for performing groups at Seminole State College and the A.R.T.S. Camp of the Florida Keys to name a few.  He enjoys the honor of being an adjudicator and member of the Florida Vocal Association, judging at the State and District level as well as for National Performing Arts Festival and has been a guest conductor for several All-County High School and Middle School Choirs.

Dirk is the recipient of the highest honors one can receive as a Disney Cast member: The Walt Disney Partners in Excellence Award, a Walt Disney World “Mousecar” which is Disney’s version of the Oscar, and the highest award given to a cast member, becoming a member of the inaugural class of the Walt Disney Legacy Award.

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Our guest this week to share 3 thoughts on this topic is Graham Cohen, who is the owner of ARTEPMEDIA, a small independent training and video production company and is the Manager of Learning Technologies at one of the American Automobile Associations largest clubs. As the former eLearning Manager for Hard Rock International and now managing a team at AAA, Graham shares his thoughts on how to develop team members.

TOPIC: How to Develop the Team

GUEST: Graham Cohen

THOUGHT #1 - Build the Band - Everyone on a Personal Development Team

THOUGHT #2 - Select Your Instruments - Make Sure Each Person is Well-Suited for Each Position

THOUGHT #3 - Tune Your Instruments - Give People the Time to Practice

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GRAHAM COHEN'S BIO:

With over 35 years of experience in the training and media industry, there’s not much that Graham Cohen hasn’t seen or done.  

Graham is owner of ARTEPMEDIA, a small independent training and video production company and is the Manager of Learning Technologies at one of the American Automobile Associations largest clubs, where and his fantastic team of five highly-skilled individuals crank out engaging and educational content each and every day.  

Born and raised in the south of London, Graham immigrated to British Columbia, Canada in 1988 and quickly adapted to the North American lifestyle.  

Graham now lives in Lake Mary, Florida with his wife, Petra of 25 years, has a wonderful daughter Courtney, two fabulous stepchildren Benny and Jessie, and their incredible grandkids, Nina, Lylah and Luca.

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Our guest this week to share 3 thoughts on this topic is Rachel Sheerin, who is a Certified Professional Behavior Analyst and an award-winning keynote speaker, emcee and employee engagement consultant on a mission to help people feel better, think better and do better - together!

TOPIC: How to Feel Better (as you Live, Lead and Succeed)

GUEST: Rachel Sheerin

THOUGHT #1 - Take Stock

THOUGHT #2 - "If Then" Correlation - Use This Format for Life Strategies

THOUGHT #3 - Free Refills - Understand Your Unique Sources to Energize Yourself

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RACHEL SHEERIN'S BIO:

Rachel Sheerin, CPBA is an award-winning keynote speaker, emcee and employee engagement consultant on a mission to help people feel better, think better and do better - together!

A Certified Professional Behavior Analyst, Rachel knows what makes people trust, connect and move to action, weaving that knowledge and strategies into her programs and performances to engage and energize audiences. Part of what makes Rachel connect with every attendee is the fact that she has been on all sides of business - sales, operations and executive leadership.. She's built multi-million dollar sales teams for organizations that want to grow profits and boost happiness and delivered organization-wide training for different vocations from machinists to executive directors, SVPs and beyond.

She's also burned out, failed and ruined her career a couple of times - which makes her messages of burnout prevention, happiness and success sincere, impactful and hilarious. With a strong dash of vulnerability, Rachel meets audiences where they are and with her background in meetings and events, gives planners and executives the 5-star surveys they want most.

With Fortune 500 clients such as The Ritz Carlton, WAL-MART, National Associations in Healthcare and Banking, Hilton, Berkshire Hathaway and many more, Rachel is also Co-Founder of MAGNET METHOD, an employee engagement and retention consulting firm for growing cultures.

Rachel's continued research and motivational content around burnout, happiness and success can be seen regularly on her LinkedIn, featured in The Washington Post and USA Today, and read in her upcoming book, BETTER: How to Feel Good as You Live, Lead and Succeed (Q3 2023, Hawthorn Road Press).

Currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Association for Women in Events (AWE), Rachel is a proud member of Meeting Planners International (MPI), supporter of the Appalachian Bear Foundation and can often be found playing ping pong badly with her husband, Jeff.

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Our guest this week to share 3 thoughts on this topic is Brian Fanzo, who is a digital futurist keynote speaker, podcaster, and Founder of iSocialFanz where he translates the trends of tomorrow to inspire change today. In addition to his extensive knowledge of NFTs, Brian has serious street red...having been recognized as a Top 20 Digital Transformation Influencer, a Top 50 Most-Mentioned User by CMOs on Twitter, and a Top 25 Social Business Leader of the Future by The Economist. 

TOPIC:  How to Understand & Invest in NFTs

GUEST: Brian Fanzo

THOUGHT #1 - The Future of Trust will be Built on Transparency

THOUGHT #2 - Remove the "Starving" from Starving Creator

THOUGHT #3 - Shared Ownership Create Loyalty

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BRIAN FANZO'S BIO:

At age 14, Brian won a speed typing contest and his love for computers and technology was born. After years of playing The Oregon Trail, creating his highschool newspaper in Adobe Pagemaker, and using Napster, Brian pursued a Business Information Systems Degree. 

Prior to speaking, he worked for nine years at the Department of Defense where he managed a global team who deployed collaboration and cybersecurity solutions across all branches of the military – which required him to maintain the highest civilian security clearance. He then pursued his dream job as a technology evangelist for a booming cloud-computing startup, helping companies embrace the rate of change and new ways to innovate. 

Brian is currently the Founder of iSocialFanz, which has helped launch digital and influencer strategies with the world’s most iconic brands like Dell, EMC, Adobe, IBM, UFC, Applebee’s, and SAP.

Brian has been recognized as a Top 20 Digital Transformation Influencer; a Top 50 Most-Mentioned User by CMOs on Twitter, and a Top 25 Social Business Leader of the Future by The Economist. His followers on social media and podcast downloads rank in the hundreds of thousands, resulting in Brian being hired an influencer for 19 of the Fortune 50 companies.

Brian is a proud dad of three girls under the age of 10, a Pittsburgh loving sports fan,a digital futurist keynote speaker who translates the trends of tomorrow to inspire change today. 

His customized and personalized programs showcase real-world stories and examples of forward-thinking people and businesses. He teaches companies of all sizes how to leverage technology in real time in order to engage their customers at the right time. Brian has a gift for bringing people together online and offline. He has worked in 76 countries, highlighting his passion for change, collaboration, and technology.

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It's our 150th episode, people!!! And to celebrate, our guest this week to share 3 thoughts on "How to Create Team Chemistry" is our good friend Shannon McKain. Shannon is a former NFL cheerleader (Kansas City Chiefs) and executive recruiter, who is now a keynote speaker focusing on building teams, improving culture and creating better experiences. She was the perfect match for this topic.

TOPIC:  How to Create Team Chemistry

GUEST: Shannon McKain

THOUGHT #1 - Change Our Mindset About Who We Hire

THOUGHT #2 - Foster a Psychologically-Safe Environment

THOUGHT #3 - Create an Evaluation Process to Check In with Each Employee Regularly

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SHANNON'S BIO:

For more than a decade, keynote motivational speaker Shannon McKain has been empowering audiences to attract, engage and retain talent in today's hyper-competitive marketplace. An expert on organizational culture, leadership and employee engagement, Shannon’s inspiring talks are designed to help teams build more effective leaders, improve workplace culture and create better employee experiences.

A former NFL cheerleader and executive recruiter, she has been featured on ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC and Nickelodeon. She is frequently called on by organizations and corporations to bring clarity and actionable insights to the complex issues that stand between employees, teams, and their shared success.

Shannon earned a B.A. in communications and political science from William Jewell College, is a proud 4-H alum, and (fun fact) once lived on a canoe in the Florida Everglades.

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Our guest this week to share 3 thoughts on this topic is TJ Schier, who is a 40-year veteran of the restaurant and franchise industries. TJ is also an author (of multiple books), a leading speaker and consultant in a variety of areas. He is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Big Shots Golf.

TOPIC:  How to Motivate Frontline Workers

GUEST: TJ Schier

THOUGHT #1 - No Weeds in the Garden - Get Rid of Those That Don't Fit the Culture

THOUGHT #2 - Train Until They Can't Get it Wrong

THOUGHT #3 - Performance Drives Morale, not the Other Way Around

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TJ'S BIO:

Like you, leadership expert and operator, TJ Schier has walked many miles in operators and owners’ shoes.  TJ has cracked the code on what it takes to ignite a team of top performers focused on delivering amazing guest service. 

TJ is the Chief Operating Officer of BigShots Golf owned by ClubCorp. BigShots Golf is the second largest player in the golf-entertainment venue space and growing quickly. The venues feature 40-64 hitting bays and up to 40,000 square feet of dining and event space. The brand provides an elevated sports bar menu and large outdoor putting courses and outdoor yard games. 

Prior to that, he spent two decades as a leading speaker and consultant in the guest service, employee retention and franchise space, delivering hundreds of speeches to operators, owners, GMs and industry associations. TJ also built hundreds of guest service and training programs for quick-service, contract feeder, casual and fine dining brands. 

During that time, he was also a multi-unit franchise owner Which Wich Superior Sandwiches for over a dozen years. His franchise company, SMART Restaurant Group, won numerous industry awards and recognition for their unique approach to hiring and training. Prior to starting his speaking and consulting business, he spent 18 years at Chuck E Cheese’s, leaving as VP of Field Support. 

He has written numerous books used by thousands of business leaders and over 100 articles on guest service and motivating today’s generation and has a BBA and MBA from the University of Texas.

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Our guest this week to share 3 thoughts on this topic is Kristi H. Turner, who is a speaker, C-level executive, leadership consultant and bestselling author of ReThink Everything.

TOPIC:  ReThink Everything - In Business & Life

GUEST: Kristi H. Turner

THOUGHT #1 - Pause...Assume the Status Quo May Be Wrong

THOUGHT #2 - Ask Questions - Why and What If

THOUGHT #3 - Have the Courage to Challenge, Reinvent and Lead Yourself and Others with a Different Way

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KRISTI H. TURNER'S BIO:

Kristi Turner is a bestselling author, speaker, Clevel executive, and leadership consultant.

Turner provides counsel to executive teams, investment firms, and boards on leadership, marketing, operations, and organizational culture. Turner guides leaders and individuals through her Rethink Everything process in each unique season of life and business. She has worked with some of the top retail, telecom and financial brands including Target, Walmart, Apple, T-Mobile, AT&T, American Express, and Visa.

Turner has managed multiple companies through high growth, mergers, acquisitions, and crisis management.

Turner has won multiple inter-company management awards in her career and is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award for Top Women in Restaurant Technology and Bronze Winner of Women in Business Stevie Award for promoting diversity.

Her radical simplicity and contagious energy inspire companies and individuals to adopt a different kind of leadership—one that delivers improved bottomline results while making a difference in their community, and in their sphere of influence.

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Our guest this week to share 3 thoughts on this topic is John Hughes, who is a 40+ year quick casual restaurant industry veteran and currently a podcast host and SVP Brand Ambassador of Leadership, Coaching, and Culture for Jersey Mike's Subs.

TOPIC:  How to Develop New Leaders

GUEST: John Hughes

THOUGHT #1 - Communicate that Leadership is NOT a Position; It's a Responsibility

THOUGHT #2 - Work Smarter, not Harder is NOT Always the Best Advice...You Need to Do Both; And "Learning" to Work Smarter is On YOU.

THOUGHT #3 - Don't Teach or Coach the Way YOU Learn - Design a Plan for THEM

CONNECT:

• Podcast: Be Best You Podcast

JOHN HUGHES' BIO:

John Hughes, AKA “Coach” Hughes, is a 40+ year Quick Casual Restaurant Industry veteran.  

Starting at 19 years old as a manager of the original Mike’s Subs, now the 2500+ unit Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Coach Hughes has served many roles with the growing and award-winning franchise. From store GM to the Franchise Systems Director of Training, Director of Operations, and now in his current role as SVP Brand Ambassador of Leadership, Coaching, and Culture, John continues to change lives and develop our future leaders. 

Coach Hughes is the son of teachers and has a passion for learning, teaching, and coaching. As a child, John persevered through adversity, overcame a learning disorder, and his learning challenges to be a better teacher and coach. As a father of a son with Autism, he is a passionate advocate for Special Needs opportunities in the workplace. His experiences have given him extraordinary insight and a unique skill set to teach and coach others who aspire to teach, coach, and be the best versions of themselves.  He has learned and believes that by putting other people first, you will prosper in business and life. 

John designed and created the Training Curriculum that has propelled Jersey Mike’s to the status of #3 Franchise with the goal of #1 in the next few years. He is a member of CHART (Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers) and NSA (National Speakers Association) and is a sought-after expert in Culture and Leadership Development.  

Most recently, John discovered his “Passion Project” and founded a Podcast and Personal Development platform called BeBestYou, where he interviews Authors, Thought-Leaders, and other like-minded individuals who believe that to lead others, you need to be the best version of yourself, because no one will follow a mess. He is working on his first book and hopes to have it released in 2024. 

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This episode's topic is "How to Find Your Niche as a Speaker". No guest this week, since we have extensive experience in this topic. 

TOPIC:  How to Find Your Niche as a Speaker

GUEST: NA - Jim & Brant

THOUGHT #1 - Do Your Research - What Else/Who Else is in the Market?

THOUGHT #2 - Identify Your Angle - Your Unique Viewpoint

THOUGHT #3 - Pick Your Style - Teacher, Storyteller, Tactical, Inspirational, etc

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