Gratitude Through Hard Times

If you haven’t been part of the conversation about Human Resources and its impacts on workplace cultures and society at large, then you need to check out Hacking HR, a global community of 350k+ members invested in transforming the way we live. Founder Enrique Rubio joins Host Chris Schembra on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times for a blunt exploration of what it means to demonstrate human-centered core values and how that translates into critical business ROI in the form of retention, productivity and positivity that uplifts not only enterprises but the lives of everyone we touch. Enrique challenges us to look in the mirror and ask: Are you practicing kindness, compassion and empathy in your daily transactions and – if not – why not? Is your ego or a sense of entitlement keeping you from meaningful connection in the workplace or on the elevator, at the grocery store or over the course of transacting business? A vocal advocate for giving remote work a chance, Enrique shares thoughts on leveraging our roles – whether as leaders or individual contributors – for social change in the workplace and beyond. You’ll also learn about why mental health is a critical component of overall corporate health and how we can find in gratitude the baseline for starting important conversations. “There are so many things we can do in HR to leave an incredible legacy of transforming work for good,” says our guest. “We know that it’s not fluffy and doesn’t make you weak.” Join us for a fascinating no-holds-barred discussion that will challenge you to bring your best self to work and every other area of your life. And don’t forget those words of affirmation, an investment in positivity you’ll never regret!To hear more of Enrique’s groundbreaking insights, tune in to his Hacking HR Podcast, featuring a range of leading innovators in the human relations space. You can also join his huge and growing Hacking HR community by clicking this link.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a fellow trailblazer! Click here to hear all the fascinating conversations Chris has had with Fortune 500 CEOs, professional athletes and entertainerswho have shared their human stories on Gratitude Through Hard Times.If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience or subscribe to our newsletter, please visit this link. KEY TOPICS:Meeting of the Minds: Why Enrique is energized by the vision he and Chris share of workplaces (and a world) informed by values like empathy, gratitude and authenticity. If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or thanks to – that you’ve never thought to thank – who would that be? Mom and Dad – whose radically different (but complementary) views of the world shaped Enrique’s approach to life. He can never offer enough thanks!The Power of Modeling: About the positive energy Enrique very consciously puts out into the world in all his everyday interactions, even when it’s not reciprocal.Hacking HR: How Enrique has built a community by offering an umbrella to 350k+ members interested in the full spectrum of human resources issues – from mental health to technology to making cultural change in the workplace.Trailblazing Ambitions: About closing gaps by using HR as a leader in creating community and connections with transformational impacts on workplace cultures.Understanding the Gap: Chris and Enrique take a closer look at the new technologies and social mandates that HR must learn to balance against the traditional admin. and other corporate services they provide.The Role of Gratitude: Why it’s important to acknowledge that progress – especially of the proactive variety – doesn’t magically happen.Enrique’s Two-Pronged Gratitude and Appreciation:For the journey and lessons learned along the way.For the community – including those who challenge or push back on assumptions.Operationalizing Empathy: Why it’s so important to provide the framework for a variety of points of view, building bridges among competing interests and blending core values.Two Sides of the Same Coin: How business success hinges on “people” success and vice versa. They are mutually reinforcing and transformational.Regarding Retention: About appreciation as a valuable source of engagement that bonds employees to their jobs and each other – far more than any product or mission.Epidemic of Entitlement: How ego-based demands for recognition and empathy erode gratitude, which requires an atmosphere of mutuality. It’s a ‘give in order to get’ thing!The Language of Gratitude: Enrique reflects on the words of affirmation that his parents deserve in recognition of the example they set – and he never wants to take for granted!Parting Thoughts:Whatever your role, you can make things happen. You can create a better workplace and world just by being compassionate and kind.Don’t let ego divert or block your best intentions. You can transcend! QUOTABLE“There are so many people

Are you tired of constantly comparing yourself to others? Do you feel like you're not measuring up to society's standards of success? In this episode of "Gratitude Through Hard Times," host Chris Schembra interviews Shauna Schwartz, author of "How to Stop Caring What Others Think for Real," about the concept of internal success. Shauna explains how internal success differs from external success factors such as grades, money, and career achievement, and emphasizes the importance of recognizing internal growth and development. She also discusses the negative impact of the hoax of self-esteem on children and encourages people to embrace failure as a path to personal success and growth.Shauna's book focuses on bringing acceptance to the reality in front of us and shifting our focus from external factors of success to our internal essence. She emphasizes that leaders cannot see themselves as puppeteers who control everything and everyone around them. Instead, they need to recognize that the people they lead are not puppets and cannot be controlled. The desire for control can create unhealthy anxiety and lead to unhealthy behavior from leaders. Chris and Shauna discuss the importance of emotional regulation in leadership and how it relates to dialectical behavioral therapy.If you're ready to shift your focus from external success factors to your internal essence, this episode is for you. Join Chris and Shauna as they discuss the importance of recognizing internal growth and development, embracing failure, and letting go of the need for control.💭 What does success mean to you? Is it all about external factors like money and career achievement or is there more to it?💬 Do you think the hoax of self-esteem can have negative effects on children? How can we encourage them to embrace failure and personal growth?💥 The desire for control can create unhealthy anxiety and lead to unhealthy behavior from leaders. It's time to shift our focus from external factors of success to our internal essence.🌟 Embracing the three C's - complaints, criticism, and compliments - can lead to personal success and growth. Let's focus on balancing acceptance and change to achieve internal success.

In the world of marketing, customer advocacy has moved in recent years from a piecemeal hit-or-miss effort to a scalable discipline and Ari Hoffman is at the forefront. Vice President of Customer Marketing & Advocacy at Influitive, he shares his powerful framework on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times with Host Chris Schembra. It’s all about building authentic community and loyalty to your brand, product or service not by soliciting the same customer testimony over and over again but by engaging fans as part of a growing, dynamic ecosystem. You’ll learn what makes this marketing approach so powerful, how Ari rolls out programs that generate customer obsession across sectors and why defaulting to ad-based lead generation is not the way to go in times of recession. If you’ve been trying to figure out how to connect with customers in meaningful ways and turn them into spontaneous evangelists for your company, then here’s your starting place. Ari is a thought leader with the set of tools (like his DRIVE methodology) you’ll need on the journey!Learn more about Influitive’s Fearless 50 Elite 18 Awards and how to nominate, vote for or otherwise celebrate the customer-led marketers whose work you appreciate most!If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience or subscribe to our newsletter, please visit this link.Click here to hear more fascinating conversations with Fortune 500 CEOs, professional athletes and entertainerswho have shared their human stories on Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:Freeze and Squeeze: Ari spells out some of the sales-centric, demand-gen defaults, like emphasis on advertising, that companies mistakenly fall back on in times of recession.Customer Obsession: Why companies oriented towards user experience see 2.5 times faster growth and 1.7 times better retention.Fearless 50 and Elite 18: How Influitive is inspiring a customer-first approach through awards that exemplify it.Moving Messages: Ari highlights the importance of creating ecosystems that engage customers and inspire them to proactively speak up on behalf of your product or service.Stepping Stones for Moving Towards Customer Engagement:Start an advocacy “well,” documenting customers who are already in your corner.Identify customers you’ve gone back to for testimony too often – burning them out and generating a stale message.Create a mini-advocacy program that invites customers to connect.Map out a handful of things to ask of your customers, including:Committing to connect with other customers.Writing a review.Providing 30 minutes of product or messaging feedback.Incentivize customer advocacy by offering in exchange things like:Early access to your new lines of business or free use for a limited time.Swag bags.Free attendance at dinner gatherings.An honorary jacket.Scaling requires an engagement engine to nurture customers and help them see the value-add in advocacy. Giving versus Taking: How customer advocacy programs can turn on generosity and other benefits in the long run.Why Customer Obsession is a can’t-lose campaign because it’s all about:Being thankful.Celebrating people who are doing things right.Leveling up the skill sets of others.Inspiring others while creating demand generation for your company.Spreading the Love: How to nominate, vote or otherwise tee up gratitude by participating in Influitive’s Fearless 50 customer-led marketing awards.Uncovering Marketing Gold: How Ari connects with customers and helps them see their importance by providing connections, resources and words of affirmation.DRIVE Advocacy: Deliver value first.Refine what people are good at.Iterate the Value.Expand the delivery.Leveling Up: How Influitive trains people to become internal and public advocates for – and champions of – their own customer success and achievement.The Hero’s (and Heroine’s) Journey: About gratitude as a tool that taps into powerful emotions that create a symbiotic customer narrative and outcomes.Value Realization: You can deliver value all day long, but if the person receiving it doesn’t realize it then did you actually do anything?If It’s Just Transactional, It Won’t Work! The gratitude you’re giving has to:#1 Be of value to the recipient.#2 Be inconvenient or cost you something in some way. #3 Be genuinely something you’re glad to be offering.Don’t forget to check out Fearless 50 and if you’ve missed the nominating or voting window, bookmark it for next year! QUOTABLE“We are the biggest of the big in customer marketing … but the reality is that the customer marketing world is a fractional sliver of the entire marketing world.” (Ari) “The more collective value our industry and each individual contributor and thought leader in our space has, the more that rubs off on the larger marketing community and the way that we think about leveraging our customers.” (Ari) “It’s about creating a community and ecosystem where customers are literally raising their hands because they want t

Get ready for fascinating and relevant insights on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, featuring Jim Harter, PhD, Gallup’s Chief Scientist of Workplace Management and Wellbeing. He’s sharing with Host Chris Schembra all the eye-opening research and analysis behind his latest book (co-authored with Jim Clifton of the Clifton Strengths Assessment),"Culture Shock: An unstoppable force has changed how we work and live. Gallup's solution to the biggest leadership issue of our time." The key takeaway? Nothing cements employee performance, satisfaction and retention more effectively than regular, meaningful conversations – especially when they include recognition for work well done. It costs leaders very little and, data indicate, pays off over and over again in bottom-line results. Dr. Jim explains the research and analysis that the Gallup organization has undertaken to address the biggest leadership challenges of our time, including the stresses of remote work, the limited wellbeing associated with four-day work weeks and the critical role that empathy plays in engaging with and bringing out the best in our workplace cultures. Dr. Jim’s new book is jam-packed with stats and evidence-backed solutions to align your company’s purpose with employee satisfaction – which ultimately translates into that all-important customer success!Want to hear much more from Dr. Jim Harter? Pick up a copy of his latest collaboration, "Culture Shock," check out his bestselling book, "12:The Elements of Great Managing" or click here to check out "Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements."If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience or subscribe to our newsletter, please visit this link.Click here to hear more fascinating conversations with Fortune 500 CEOs, professional athletes and entertainers who have shared their human stories on Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or thanks to – that you’ve never thought to thank – who would that be and why? Frank Schmidt, PhD, a research scientist and mentor who reshaped Dr. Jim’s approach to people, research and the role of gratitude in the context of employee engagement.Culture Shock: Co-authored with Jim Clifton, this latest collaboration uses Gallup data and qualitative snapshots to unpack the post-Covid workforce and workplace future.Important Findings:For workers, overall stress has continued on an upward trajectory but remote work has offered welcome freedom (from things like commuting).For leaders, there’s uncertainty about how to monitor remote worker productivity.Data suggest that there’s plenty of room for businesses to thrive.A Great Reset: Why leaders who clearly define (and communicate) workplace culture, customer experience and organizational values are most likely to ride out recession. Customer Success: About the importance of employee satisfaction and loyalty when it comes to quality service delivery and long-term, bottom-line corporate results.Managing Strengths: Understanding employee styles, aspirations and experiences is a key component for engagement, retention, job and customer satisfaction.Manager to Employee to Customer: How the interplay among all three elements determines corporate success. Changing the Dialogue: How empathy can open up the conversations that managers need to be having with employees to overcome workplace disconnects.Meaningful Conversations: Gallup research indicates that recognition and gratitude are among the most powerful tools we have to cultivate workplace community and loyalty.Components of Meaningful Conversations:Recognize specific, recent work efforts.Understand what motivates good work.Know the context of the employee’s particular work.Meet on an ongoing basis.Collaborate and coordinate remote compared with in-person hours.Wellbeing v. Engagement: Why stats indicate that the benefits of four-day work weeks are offset in many cases by the stress of compressed schedules and loss of autonomy.Blenders and Splitters: About the difference between people who prefer to compartmentalize work and family life and those who take a multi-task approach.Step. No. 1: Dr. Jim recommends managers adopt the coaching habit of one meaningful conversation every week grounded in empathy, understanding and accountability. QUOTABLE“A lot of people don’t know their impact on you until you tell them.” (Dr. Jim) “Gratitude is an inherently pro-social trait that feels good to give, to receive and to observe. But we have to take the first step.” (Chris) “Gratitude is contagious and creates a positive upward smile. It’s one of the most positive forces in the universe because it keeps on giving.” (Chris) “There’s plenty of data to show that great managing can make workplaces more productive than they’ve ever been before. If we combine autonomy with great performance management, we can reach all-time highs.” (Dr. Jim) “To get the

On this very special episode Gratitude Through Hard Times, Host Chris Schembra and his guest, Drahomíra Mandikova, celebrate meaningful connection and its power to generate profitable solutions not just for shareholders but the world at large. Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Asahi Europe & International, “Drahus” (as she is known to friends) shares with us the unique North Star principles that drive one of the world’s largest alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer companies, with 19 breweries exporting to 90 markets globally. You will be intrigued to learn about the meaning, power and intentionality behind Asahi’s emphasis on four simple words: “Let’s have a beer.” It’s about bringing awareness and building community – person to person – as the foundation to individual wellness and a sustainable “human-environmental ecosystem.” For Drahus, the first step is the critical one: Pause. Reflect on the talent, passion and ultimate purpose you bring, as well as the legacy you wish to leave. Her values-driven vision has shaped Prague-based Asahi’s workplace culture and brought clarity to the company’s mission statement. “We have all these goals,” says Drahus, “but to really bring them to life and enjoy the good feeling, we need to be in the present, work together and create connections to step-by-step bring about those long-term dreams.” We are on the road together, folks, and it starts with gratitude!If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience or subscribe to our newsletter, please visit this link.Click here to hear more fascinating conversations with Fortune 500 CEOs, professional athletes and entertainerswho have shared their human stories on Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:If you could thank someone who helped you through some of your darkest hours, who would that be and what were you going through? A mentor with an especially keen way of helping Drahus unhitch from unnecessary catastrophizing and impatience.A Moment of Reflection: About the importance of taking a pause to come into the present, then step into the past through reflection.2030 Legacy of Good: How Drahus and Asahi’s company culture have coalesced around a mission based on a multidimensional balance of past, present and future.A Mentor’s Advice: About Inner Child work and how it can reintegrate intuition and help return us to the essence of who we are and wish to be.Empathy is Everything: Why Drahus believes that the companies that actually care about the human-environmental ecosystem in which they function will bring profitable solutions to very real pain points. A win-win-win!Embracing Failure: False starts and falling short are part of a holistic learning process.Brand Purpose: About the Asahi brand’s commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and community for its tens of millions of consumers.Remarkable Marketing: How Asahi has mounted campaigns that bring people together, helping them feel connected and seen on a personal, human level.The Problem of Loneliness: About the creative ways Asahi’s multi-national team is trying to build bridges – old to young, left to right, across lifestyles and geographies.Asahi’s Legacy Mission Includes Being Bold:Speak directly and compassionately to tough issues, like mental health.Moving 20% of the corporate portfolio into nonalcoholic beverages.Beer as a vehicle for making meaningful connections.Drahus’s Personal Purpose: Making business and environmental growth sustainable.What She’s Up To:Coordinating breweries across Europe to build sustainability into their production.Creating a strategy to ensure Asahi becomes carbon neutral.Midwifing a new economic model driven by profitable solutions for all stakeholders – not exclusively profit for shareholders.Action Item: All purpose-filled journeys start with a pause to reflect and re-center on your personal talents, passion and the positive impact you wish to make.Remember: When we are clear about ourselves and our purpose, the work comes into focus – and it becomes easier to shed obligations and distractions that do not serve!Why Do We Do What We Do? From intentionality flows business success and ultimately a healthier, more sustainable world.Parting Thought:Focus on what you want to know say “no” to rather than what’s driving you to say “yes.”Resist the shiny things that distract your ego but don’t serve your greater purpose or desire to create impact.Meaningful connection is fueled by gratitude – and makes life much, much easier. QUOTABLE“We have all these goals … but to really bring them to life and enjoy the good feeling, we need to be in the present, work together and create connections to step-by-step bring about those long-term dreams.” (Drahus) “You have to have a long-term dream so that you know where you’re going.” (Drahus) “Be proud of the past so you can build the confidence and learning, but what is really important is how you bring everything to the present: Your ‘self,’ your actions, reflecting on the

You’ve got the business, the car, the boat, the house. You’re blessed with a great family, friends, access to more than your wildest dreams. But something is missing. Something is gnawing at you. If this sounds familiar, you may be in need of “soul fulfillment,” which is what Host Chris Schembra’s guest on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times has provided thousands of people. At his Rythmia Life Advancement Center in Costa Rica, Founder & CEO Gerry Powell offers comprehensive plant-based medicine retreats. The modalities work at a deep level to help remove shame, fear, trauma and the anger that fuels – and is a downfall for – so many hyper-successful people. You’ll learn about Gerry’s transformational journey and how he stepped away from the multimillion-dollar serial IPO lifestyle he thought would bring him happiness – but that instead left him profoundly empty and suicidal. Working with plant-based shamanic techniques opens up new pathways to self-acceptance and compassion. It’s a journey that 97% of Rythmia participants describe as nothing short of a “miracle,” a source of relief and revelation that transcends our ingratitude, confusion and old, unhealed wounding. Most of all, says Gerry, people leave his one-week retreats with an entirely new regard for life: “I made it out of sheer perseverance and brutality, but there are so many other ways to do it and feel different.” You’re invited to explore and see your soul’s fulfillment in a completely new way!More information about the medically licensed plant medicine and transformational retreat experience offered at Rythmia is available at this link, along with a video about Gerry’s very personal journey to wellness (here).If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience or subscribe to our newsletter, please visit this link.Click hereto hear more fascinating conversations with Fortune 500 CEOs, professional athletes and entertainerswho have shared their human stories on Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:When the Bucket Doesn’t Feel Full: Why Gerry wants to reach out to successful entrepreneurs who very often feel something missing and don’t understand what or why.If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or thanks to – or that you’ve never thought to thank – who would that be? So many people, but Shaman Gina was pivotal.The Gift of Perspective: How plant medicine can help reveal to us the ways in which even those who hurt us are of help in our lives – even when we don’t see it.Sections in Chris’s book that are relevant to plant medicine:Connect the Dots Backwards: About gratitude as a link to our past.Struggles into Benefits: About the science behind “grateful processing.”Feeling the Feelings: How a lifetime of numbing and other corrosive emotional coping mechanisms turned around only after Gerry was able to embrace a shamanic experience with plant-based medicine.Repairing the Fraction: Gerry turned his life over to healing, creating a unique retreat space at @Rythmia in Costa Rica, changing the lives of more than 14,000 seekers.Coming from Ingratitude: How a hypervigilant “brute” approach to the pursuit of goals yields only more anger, shame, guilt, regret.Plant Medicine: It’s a conduit to compassion, self-love, wisdom and generosity that enables us to be collaborative, empathetic, curious leaders.Knowing When You’re Ready: Plant medicine comes into focus when we are ready to put the pieces together and open ourselves to transformation.The Comeback Story: Rythmia is about taking people out of their hole, to the brink and back from despair to a “miracle.”Joining the Tribe: Why plant medicine work of the type Gerry practices offers hyper-achievers a place to reconnect, work through shame and guilt and find wholeness in a safe community environment. QUOTABLE“It’s the perfect time to be in this work as the world is waking up that there is a greater human potential out there.” (Chris) “There are people who help pull you towards your higher self and people who hurt you who keep pushing you towards your higher self.” (Gerry) “Gratitude is about looking into the past and being grateful for all the steps that took you to where you are today – the good and the bad.” (Chris) “Once you die you can actually live life without the fear of death, which makes you really want to be more than anything a beneficial presence here on earth.” (Gerry) “The secret to success and happiness is not necessarily a new go-to-market strategy, not a higher intellect or new network … It’s actually to look inside yourself and be at peace with who you are.” (Chris) “Very few of us who are hyper-successful were raised in the right way. There’s a reason those folks are in the one-tenth of one percent. And it’s not because everything was nice and tidy.” (Gerry) “Guilt and shame and regret are extremely lonely emotions and the thing you think you should do is not talk about it. But it’s actuall

These are bumpy times economically and for many of us it’s a period of professional redefinition. What path are we on and is it the career we truly desire? How can we best showcase our skill sets and the value-add we bring? Host Chris Schembra’s guest on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times has a methodology that focuses on these questions and much more. Loren Greiff, Founder & President at PortfolioRocket, has developed a framework that’s applicable across industry sectors as well as the many phases of our career development. It’s as much about defining our own core values and the expertise we offer as it is identifying the workplace culture best suited to our fundamental vision. Loren shares her proprietary four-step process for reimagining – and bringing to reality – a job that feels like exactly the right fit. You’ll come away inspired to redefine what you bring to the table and leverage your network – most especially those 2nd, 3rd and 4th degree contacts that hold far more promise than you might imagine! The market right now is fluid, but the one thing that remains consistent always, says Loren, is the importance of being fully ourselves and clear about what we have to contribute: “This is not about contorting yourself and playing Cirque du Soleil with your career,” says Loren, who also hosts Career Blast in a Half. “This is about really advocating and treating yourself as somebody who is going to transform an organization.”If you’re ready to retool your career trajectory, now is the time to book a discovery call with Loren, which you can do at this link. You’ll also find inspiration and wisdom in her podcast, Career Blast in a Half.If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience or subscribe to our newsletter, please visit this link.Click hereto hear more fascinating conversations with Fortune 500 CEOs, professional athletes and entertainerswho have shared their human stories on Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or thanks to – that you’ve never thought to thank – who would that be and why? No doubt or hesitation – Eileen Jones, a high school English teacher who was the first person to acknowledge Loren’s writing talent and develop her voice. Cheers to her!Yes, And: What enabled Loren to be both an outlier and standard-bearer; perform as a maverick while also maintaining impeccable dignity.Research shows that thought leaders are regarded as having two things:Authenticity.Information to share of value to others.Applying the Methodology: How Loren’s framework has proven elastic enough to adapt easily across the full range of industry sectors, from legal to ops to HR to creative.Shedding the Cloak: What prompted Loren to break with the hiring/recruitment industry status quo in order to establish a creative alternative model.Sheltering: About putting a repeatable process in place for migrating out of blocked, unhappy workplace situations.Loren’s Four-Step Proprietary Process:Step 1: Get Clear!Ask yourself what you’ve been doing and why.Determine your core values, the benchmark for evaluating opportunities going forward.Establish how people are going to find you via 15-20 keywords relevant to your skill set .Identify 10-15 companies that meet your ideal criteria.Showcase specific problems you’ve solved or successes you’ve had.Create boundaries around the conditions under which you want to meet.Step 2: All about Your Assets!Reimagine LinkedIn as more than a profile. It needs to convert interest and generate activity/connections.Create content – which includes strategically commenting on other people’s posts. Join conversations!Develop marketing materials with effective (timely) messaging.Design collateral (visual and written) that is accessible.Step 3: Networking with strangers!Reach out to 2nd, 3rd and 4th degree links – which are going to be your more useful allies in finding a new niche.Formulate pitches that will demonstrate preparation and initiative.Learn how to ask sharper, more mind-blowing questions.Step 4: Do your homework (aka Sniff Testing)!Perform due diligence on your prospective employer.Ensure that onboarding and your 30/60/90-day plan are in place.Keep eyes and ears open for unexpected leads or connections.Scan the landscape for business challenges to which you can bring your vision, expertise and solutions.Shout-Out for Eileen Jones: Thank you for your example, bravery, wit, class – all the known and unknown gifts you’ve given Loren over the years! QUOTABLE“Being a rebel can be blended with a lot of discernment, decorum and the ability to be kind and loving and just a really wonderful person.” (Loren) While it’s not without its merits, the whole industry of hiring and recruiting was just broken. It was a calling for me that you are either going to be part of a continuous problem or you are going to create a different kind of solution.” (Loren) “I

This episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times issues an unmistakable call to action: Join the crusade for workplace openness and compassion! Host Chris Schembra’s guest, Geoff McDonald, is explaining the business and moral case for making mental health integral to our corporate cultures. Why? Because beyond fostering top performance and competitive advantage, it saves lives. As a keynote speaker and business transformation consultant with decades of HR leadership at Unilever, Geoff is uniquely positioned to destigmatize the mental health challenges that are all too common in today’s noisy world. Having navigated a diagnosis of anxiety-fueled depression, he understands the paralyzing impacts and basic ingredients for restoring equilibrium. His experience was painful and frightening but, as Geoff shares, it was also an invitation to enable change and human connection. You’ll learn through this conversation how a combination of unconditional love and willingness to be vulnerable ultimately empowered Geoff, a UK-based native of South Africa, to open a global dialogue around mental health in the workplace. “Too often we have not focused on the concept of the health and energy of our people as a critical enabler of performance,” says Geoff. But we can reject stigma and isolation! Join us as Geoff outlines the steps we can take to bring more gratitude, kindness, quality of life and bottom-line results to our workplaces!If you want to be further inspired by Geoff’s perspective on mental health and wellbeing as key indicators for thriving workplace cultures, check out his powerful TedX Talk, "Let's Talk About Mental Health."If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience or subscribe to our newsletter, please visit this link.Click here to hear more fascinating conversations with Fortune 500 CEOs, professional athletes and entertainers who have shared their human stories about Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or enough thanks to – that you’ve never thought to thank – who would that be? It has to be mom, in recognition of the unconditional she provided as Geoff’s baseline.Midnight, January 25, 2008: How a massive panic attack on the eve of his daughter’s 13th birthday triggered debilitating anxiety, a diagnosis and a transformational choice.The Power of Love: About the curative effects of both embracing his humanity and accepting the love Geoff’s family and friends offered through a dark passage.Four Ingredients that Healed Geoff’s Anxiety-Fueled Depression:Getting a concrete diagnosis that integrated various symptoms.Being authentic and forthright about the feelings he was experiencing.Trusting the credibility and respect he’d built over 20 years at Unilever.Working for a compassionate leader who had experience dealing with mental illness within his circle of family and friends.How Geoff empowered himself – and others – through openness and vulnerability.Common Conditions: Why depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges are just part of being human in the world today.Implementing the Cure: Why purpose is integral to creating workplaces that are healthy.About a Finite Resource: How pervasive burnout and pernicious stress erode the energy we need to fuel our teams and move mountains.Making Mental Health and Wellbeing a Strategic Priority:Supports and energizes workers – a key ingredient for workplace success.Enhances people’s lives – which is simply the right thing to do.Yields performance metrics – that support leadership objectives.Why actively de-stigmatizing mental health at an organizational level cultivates psychological safety, retention and potentially saves lives.Chris Captures the Alchemy: About the combination of openness and cushion of unconditional love that supported Geoff’s recovery and fuel his mission today.In closing, please join this crusade by doing three things:Reflect on (and get curious about) your own relationship to mental health and ask: Is it one of intolerance or true compassion?Keep the conversation going. The more of us who are candidly discussing mental health, the greater the de-stigmatization.When you’re ready, consider sharing your story, which is like sending a small lifeboat out into the ocean of people now suffering in silence and feeling alone. QUOTABLE“The purpose-driven work that we do is very tiring … But every time I talk to (Geoff) the energy is real, I feel it in every bone in my body and it inspires me to do greater good for our world.” (Chris) “That sense of unconditional love – and how powerful that can be … is so important.” (Geoff) “The decision I took was that I wouldn’t be burdened by the stigma associated with (mental) illness and that empowered and liberated me.” (Geoff) “A sense of love and a sense of hope were probably the two most powerful ingredients in my recovery ... Those two emotions kept me going.” (Geoff) “I am

Have you transcended the transactional? Host Chris Schembra’s guest on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times embodies the abundance that flows from giving without the constant expectation of receiving in return. Galen Hair, a highly successful plaintiff’s attorney, speaker, author and podcaster, has built his practice around a purpose-driven approach to both law and service. The outcome? Prosperity, yes. But yet more importantly Galen and his team at Insurance Claim HQ are working for clients they believe in arguing cases with merit. They come from a place of gratitude and, as Galen explains, “I find that when you give something without expecting anything you tend to get much better stuff in return.” In this case, we’re talking about the huge impacts his firm of 119 employees with more than $30 million in annual revenue is making on behalf of 10,000 clients. You’ll learn how his involvement with Hurricane Katrina clean-up in New Orleans foreshadowed the meaning-infused work Galen would go on to do as an attorney representing those who have been wronged and evolving his industry’s mindset through platforms such as his Level Up Claims Summit, the nation’s No. 1 property casualty conference, which takes place this year on June 9th in New Orleans. Click here to learn more and register!If you’d like to connect with Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience or subscribe to our newsletter, please visit this link.Click here to hear more fascinating conversations with Fortune 500 CEOs, professional athletes and entertainers who have shared their human stories on Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or enough thanks to – that you’ve never thought to thank – who would that be? How a music teacher at his Texas public school went above and beyond to impact Galen’s life artistically, emotionally and financially.Giving for the Sake of Giving: Why life can be looked at like a series of bank accounts from which we draw and replenish at any given time – and often to the benefit of all.In the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: About Galen’s intimate involvement with both the horror and generosity that rocked New Orleans – diving in with no real skill set (he’d been training as an opera singer) but a huge amount of heart.Embracing Purpose: How Galen refocused his career, creating a legal “practice with a purpose” that combined his desire to do good with an ability to earn a secure income.How to Practice Law with Integrity:Take cases that make sense for you – not your bank account.Remember that you’re a lawyer, but also an individual.Take cases for people and causes in which you believe.Don’t worry about the rest of it!Staying on Task: Even when building a venture feels challenging, it’s easier to remain focused and disciplined when the big picture feels right.Timing and the Universe: Galen recalls how a life-changing case fell into his lap in the space of a day in which he’d suffered an acute panic attack about his firm’s viability.Building Community: How Galen’s Level Up Claims Summit and podcast have helped people within the legal industry connect and inspire gratitude among one another.The Proverbial Silver Lining:Remember that seemingly negative things can yield positive impacts.Recognize tools available to meet challenges today versus in the past.Use gratitude as a vehicle to leverage lessons learned.Parting Thought: Why Galen holds special admiration and gratitude for Chris, who has been there at pivotal moments to help him with the mindset he needed to adopt!The Bookkeeping of Benefits: Chris honors the act of kindness and vote of faith Galen placed in him and his company in the midst of Covid19. QUOTABLE“I came from a tumultuous family environment and one of the things that I discovered as an adult is that my family’s survival was not an accident. We were really lucky to have people help us out.” (Galen ) “We’re often really guilty of paying attention to our financial bank account and not the people we love or the things we have around us.” (Galen) “The good news about gratitude is that it doesn’t always have to be given back. Sometimes it can be paid forward.” (Chris) “You can pump up that bank account as fat as you want it but you will not be fulfilled if what you’re doing isn’t bringing you some sense of purpose.” (Galen) “As a leader, take care of yourself as much as what you are building. People are what’s behind the business.” (Chris) “I find that when you give something without expecting anything you tend to get much better stuff in return.” (Galen) “You have in some way, shape or form – intentionally or unintentionally – helped me adopt a mindset that was going to be necessary for what was coming next.” (Galen) “The people on your team, the people that you serve, are counting on you to lead with integrity, hope, optimism and connection. Be there for them when they need it most!” (Chris) LINKS/FURTHER RE

Do you know your four key quadrants and how to bring them into balance? On this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Host Chris Schembra welcomes back best-selling author Robert Glazer, who is taking us inside his Elevate framework. As the founder of Acceleration Partners, he and his team provide clients a unique framework through which to optimize the core capacities foundational for healthy, thriving enterprises. You’ll come away from this lively give-and-take with concrete steps for restoring life elements that are “out of whack” and in need of more attention. “It requires deep self-awareness and real authenticity to be the type of leader you actually are,” says our guest. “If I don’t understand my values and why they are my values, I’m showing up as a completely different type of leader.” Don’t miss pivotal insights from Robert’s most recent book, "Elevate Your Team: Empower Your Team To Reach Their Full Potential and Build A Business That Builds Leaders," and frontlines perspectives on the leadership challenges we’re facing daily, both personally and organizationally. Is it time you got your spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical capacities into alignment? Sign up for Robert’s on-demand course (use code GRATITUDE to receive $20 off). And once you’ve done your core work, let us know about the values that define you!You can hear lots more about how to push your personal limits by listening in to Robert Glazer’s The Elevate Podcast. Or purchase his latest book, "Elevate Your Team: Empower Your Team To Reach Their Full Potential and Build A Business That Builds Leaders."Want to stay in touch with what Robert’s up to? You can receive his weekly Friday Forward newsletter, click here.If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience or subscribe to our newsletter, please visit this link.Click hereto hear more fascinating conversations with Fortune 500 CEOs, professional athletes and entertainerswho have shared their human stories on Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:Because he’s a repeat guest. Chris slightly tweaks the pod’s signature gratitude question to ask: How has gratitude been foundational to Robert’s “other-ish” orientation in life.From the Jump: Acknowledging the value and benefits we receive from the people who come into our lives and the relational elements that cement true success in life.About Robert’s Writing Method: Interweaving the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical elements that are the framework for his myriad best-selling books.State of Mind: If you’re constantly coming into conflict or dealing with negativity, it’s probably time to ask: Are you bringing the best version of yourself?Rejection as a Catalyst: How the “Valley of Death” shapes ultimate business outcomes – if we adopt the tools necessary to adapt to and navigate the terrain.Reframing Growth: Why it’s important for leaders today to figure out how to bring their entire team along through waves of expansion that are humane and sustainable.Robert’s Four Core Competencies to Elevate Organizational Cultures:Spiritual Capacity: Understanding bedrock strengths and values.Intellectual Capacity: Improving your ability to think, learn, plan and execute on goals. It’s your personal operating system!Physical Capacity: Tending to personal performance and optimized well-being.Emotional Capacity: Cultivating strong relationships and how you react to outside individuals and circumstances.Finding Your Values: About Robert’s online course and how it expands our spiritual vocabulary and capacity.Examining the role of trust.Bringing awareness to core narratives that drive leadership styles.Finding solutions that reinforce psychological safety in the workplace.Take the free Four Capacities Quiz or use cod GRATITUDE to get $20 off the his on-demand core values course.The Role of Vulnerability: How sharing personal stories and normalizing our common humanity empowers teams to look inward, get honest and make necessary adjustments.The Growth Mindset: When we explore, attune to and build our core capacities our leadership abilities expand in ways that enable us to be agile and flexible.Shifting the Story: How developing the capacity (and helping our teams) to process negative autobiographical experiences turns those negatives into powerful positives.Parting Thoughts:Remember to model the importance in today’s hybrid world of being intentional about creating breaks and separation between work and home.A vacation is allowed to be a vacation. Take a real break!Consider using delayed delivery to manage the flow of email – for your benefit and that of others up and down the organization.Don’t forget that setting boundaries empowers everyone!Maintain not just a work-life balance but a life in balance – spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and physically. QUOTABLE“I think gratitude is an orientation … It’s outside of ourselves, thinking about what we can do for others.” (Robert)“If you’re foc

Dear You! On this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times an immigration activist and legal powerhouse teaches us how to write letters to the selves we intend to become. Hillary Walsh, President and Founder of New Frontier Immigration Law, explains how this simple tool can help us determine – and then manifest – the things we want to be, do and have. It starts with articulating a vision – then identifying the week-by-week, month-by-month steps necessary to make it a reality. It’s exactly this kind of focused goal-setting that has driven Hillary’s growing legal advisory firm and foundation. You’ll learn how she transcended childhood abuse, as well as stints in foster care and lockup, to become a crusader for the rights of those without a voice – victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and a broken immigration system. Gratitude is at the root of Hillary’s ambitious goal to empower marginalized people – the core mission that animates her whole team at New Frontier Immigration Law on even the toughest of days. Says Hillary: “The only way out of a ditch is not to dig more. It’s not to have someone pull you out. It’s up to you to levitate out.” Now there’s a thought for your next motivational letter!Did you try our 60-second letter-writing exercise? If you’d like to share the thoughts you composed while listening to this episode, we’d love for you to send them to us via this contact.The short documentary at this link will give you the overview on Hillary’s work and the passion she brings to immigration law. Click here if you’re interested in learning more about the goal-setting retreats we discussed.If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience or subscribe to our newsletter, please visit this link.Click hereto hear more fascinating conversations with Fortune 500 CEOs, professional athletes and entertainerswho have shared their human stories on Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or enough thanks to – that you’ve never thought to thank – who would that be? Her longtime friend Lisa, a beauty pageant mentor who supported Hillary as a feisty teen-age competitor in pursuit of scholarship money. Decades later, it stands as “the most authentic demonstration of friendship and love” Hillary has ever known.Lonely at the Top: Bringing the intensity required to achievement and innovation can predispose judgment, projection and high expectations that not everyone shares.How Hillary Stays Committed: Ongoing goal-setting and targeted plans are key, as well as detailed letters to her future self that articulate concrete goals.New Frontier University: The platform, which will offer revolutionary access to education and skills, launches in the next six months.A Letter to Myself in Sixty Seconds:Investigate/Determine the things you want to be, do and have.Who do you want on your team five years from now?Imagine the gift you want to have cultivated five years from now.Include specific data and personal targets, then build backwards month by month, week by week.Speak your desires directly to the universe.Put it in writing: “Dear (Me), It’s 2028 and I’m so glad I’ve been able to x,y and z.”New Frontier’s Big-Picture Goals: To serve and support those who have experienced domestic violence and human trafficking.To compensate for shortcomings in the social welfare system.To provide options and a voice to undocumented people who are victims.To create a new line of defense for those who have suffered trafficking.Hillary’s Ups & Downs:Challenge: Hiring and identifying partners has been an “intense learning journey.”Challenge: Losing confidence when senior hires “tank your leadership culture.”Victory: The funny, irreverent, high-energy team she has assembled.A Great Fix for Down Moments: Grab a piece of paper and jot down three things you have to celebrate and ask others around you to do the same. Try creating a dedicated Slack channel! You’ll feel gratitude shift the energy!Parting Thought: If you feel like your team isn’t working for you, then it’s time to stop and take stock. Whenever you think your people are your problem, it’s because you’re out of alignment with your own core values! QUOTABLE“I hate pretending because authenticity is one of my core values.” (Hillary)“I’ve accepted that my life is going to be very out of balance. I think seeking balance is the enemy of innovation and achievement.” (Hillary)“I’m very dissatisfied, which is why I want to change so much and make a really lasting impact that outlives me.” (Hillary)“I don’t need people to know my name when I’m gone, but I need the shit that I did now to matter in three generations.” (Hillary)“You’re fighting for something really, really, really big and meeting resistance. And that resistance comes in the form of loneliness … self-doubt … Imposter Syndrome … pleasing others and challenging your ability to do what you need to get don

What is it about building wealth that is so fraught? As we learn on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, our relationships with money are deeply rooted in narratives that map back to our childhoods and often are mired in confusion or trauma. Lifting the veil on our complex dance with financial planning, respected industry leader Jamie Hopkins, Managing Partner of Wealth Solutions at the Carson Group, is sharing with Host Chris Schembra the framework on which he has built his latest bestselling book "Find Your Freedom: Financial Planning for a Life on Purpose." Through the course of 23 carefully choreographed and info-packed chapters, we learn about some of the most common roadblocks to wealth building, how our personal money stories shape financial destiny and why it’s so important to challenge patterns of thought that do not serve. This lively conversation touches on everything from the importance of selfishness to the power of community to the multidimensional nature of giving. Most importantly, Jamie underscores how truly rich, impactful lives start at the core of who we are – with what we believe we deserve. “You are worthy of great financial freedom. That is the most important thing,” says our guest, whose work is all about helping clients make the shift. “If you don’t believe that, all the other work, the investment strategy and tax tactics will be siloed off from the impact and your true meaning.” If – like so many of us – you’re stuck in scarcity, this episode is your first step towards abundance!Did you know that we move better when we move within communities that align with our goals and support integral decision-making? Click here to get started exploring the important research and strategies featured in Jamie’s bestselling books, "Rewirement: Rewiring The Way You Think About Retirement!" and "Find Your Freedom: Financial Planning for a Life on Purpose."If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience, please visit this link. And clickhereto listen to previous episodes of Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or thanks – have never thought to thank – who would you give that credit and thanks to? Two new friends who came into Jamie’s life unexpectedly and without any forced ties or premeditated reasons for being in each other’s orbits.Find Your Freedom: About the Carson Group’s brand evolution and focus on building wealth and creating impact through a codified financial blueprinting process."Find Your Freedom: Financial Planning for a Life on Purpose:"How Jamie’s latest book reflects a macroeconomic movement towards more sustainable – and human-centric – market economies and financial planning as a profession.The Monster of Wall Street: Jamie takes a brief look back at his work on the Bernie Madoff case and the ways in which that “complete abuse of trust” shaped his career.Trust Is Everything: Why good faith is essential to the healthy, collaborative advisory relationships Jamie believes must extend across the entire financial planning industry.It Starts With Our Stories: Jamie shares the trauma central to his childhood, a working-class upbringing upended when his father died unexpectedly in a construction accident.Giving As a Mask: A look at some of the complex dynamics that can occur when we dissect the motivations and compensations associated with gifts and philanthropy.Distinguishing How We Give:As the outgrowth (very often reflexive, even non-sensical) of a habit.As the communication and manifestation of a Love Language.Two Key Chapters:Chapter 23: Celebrate (and show gratitude) for your accomplishments for continued success. It’s key to maintaining positivity and momentum.Chapter 20: The Power of Community. A look at why having a network that reinforces your values and long-term goals fosters kinder lives and better decision-making.Parting Words of Advice: You are worthy! Even if a sense of financial scarcity lurks, you have it within your power to claim impact, meaning and value. And if you struggle with it? That’s okay, too. You are in good company! QUOTABLE“Part of your personality is to help those around you succeed by challenging the system.” (Chris)“I like this notion of having friends that don’t rely on me for money, aren’t asking me for things and (came into my life) serendipitously.” (Jamie)“(At Carson Group) we noticed that people the last couple of years were starting to crave more than a spreadsheet … They were craving meaning and impact on the world.” (Jamie)“(You) can have a lot of success and still live in fear … and I think it’s a natural fear that a lot of people hold from a scarcity background.” (Jamie)“Generally speaking, everybody make selfish decisions … That doesn’t mean that there aren’t some selfless acts out there, but I think most decisions are based around this core sense of ourselves and survival.” (Jamie)“You’ve got to be a

As Host Chris Schembra reminds us at the close of this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, it’s never too late to learn something new – IF we’re willing to take a pause, step back and offer ourselves grace. And few people embody this practice more vividly than his guest, Allison Hare, who is redefining what it looks like to be a so-called late bloomer. As the host of “Late Learner,” a popular podcast (formerly known as Culture Changers) that explores what it means to open up to new things at any stage of life, she encourages us to embrace spontaneity, authenticity and the unexpected. Having grown up programmed from childhood to be hard-charging, self-supporting and financially aspirational, Allison spent many years as a highly successful sales executive. Problem was, over time, the path she was on was depleting her – and burning through her creative energy. It wasn’t easy to shake everything up and risk her secure status quo, but the outcome is undeniable. This is a woman who radiates joy and positivity. Today she is sharing that source of light by helping her clients, seminar participants and podcast listeners to get similarly unstuck. “It was an insane leap of faith when I made the decision not to make any decisions for the foreseeable future, until I could hear my own voice,” says Allison. She’s inviting us to much the same: Pause, get quiet and make space for that inner knowing and the integration of gratitude. Are you ready to celebrate not just goals achieved, but the journey itself? This conversation will give you great ideas and tips for doing exactly that!Check out Allison’s upcoming Calm in the Chaos retreat experience or book a free discovery call with her at this link.If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience, please visit this link. And click here to listen to previous episodes of Gratitude Through Hard Times, featuring Fortune 500 CEOs, Academy Award winners, Grammy Award winners, Superbowl champions and more! KEY TOPICS:Love/Hate: Allison loves being a host and invites guests on her show based on a gut instinct. What she least likes? When she comes across as … less than her sharpest!Mirroring as a Tool to Create More Meaningful Connection: About the neurological impact that occurs when you repeat the last three words spoken by the person with whom you’re in conversation. It makes them feel authentically heard!Signature Question Time: If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or thanks to – that you’ve never thought to thank – who would that be? Herself! It feels self-indulgent but it’s true, and a source of struggle.Cultural reasons why we can be so resistant to feeling gratitude towards ourselves:Gendered upbringing that emphasizes modesty for women.Biblical emphasis on not being boastful.Social norms that frown upon being “conceited.”I’ll-Be-Grateful-When Syndrome: By tying our ability to feel gratitude and be happy to achieving certain metrics we set for ourselves tends to undermine good feeling available to us all along the journey.Comparing your success to the success of others is a recipe for perpetual ingratitude.Allison’s Gratitude Inventory:Rest, pause and reflection.Taking the time and space to get quiet enough to hear her own voice.Consciously detaching from deeply ingrained messages that did not serve.Claiming freedom.The No. 1 Testimonial from Participants in Chris’s Gratitude Experience: This was a space for me to pause, reflect and connect. Clarity is self-empowering!Words of Wisdom: Let it be easy! Move towards places with the least resistance.Allison’s New Direction:Her successful “Culture Changers” podcast has been rebranded “Late Learners.”She’s leaning into sharing her journey out of corporate America and into self-discovery and lifelong learning.The new roadmap is a work in progress whose DNA is a sense of wonder.It’s all about the question: What can happen when you head in a new direction?A focus on teaching herself and others to take a brand new path – or embark on no path at all and just see what comes along!A sense of wonder and surprise prepares the way for unexpected delight.Feeling Stuck? Try This Simple Exercise: Break out of routine and instead pursue an “unplanned plan,” opening up to something new or spontaneous! (Chris and Allison share a very recent such adventure and how it lit them up!) QUOTABLE“The thing that once got you in trouble is also the thing that helps you out so much – being a good mirror of what’s happening.” (Chris) “In my head, if I’m not further along (my entrepreneurial journey) then I don’t have a right to trust me yet … and in the process give up my own power.” (Allison) “What an interesting thing that we as a society as a whole are so bad at giving ourselves gratitude.” (Chris) “It’s very easy when you have big goals and big dreams … to measure your progress or happiness or gratitude on whether you’ve achieved that or not.” (Chris) “My value

Passionate. Smart. Honest. Nice. These may not be your typically hard-charging business terms but for Chris Jackson, President at Stream Realty, they are bywords for long-term growth and success. As Host Chris Schembra’s guest on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times explains, the commercial real estate powerhouse has long prioritized a human-centric approach – with amazing results! Chris sand his team at Stream foster not only a healthy workplace culture but resilience and retention of top talent. From the most senior leadership to the most recent hire – the shared mission is all about emphasizing integrity, authenticity, family and loyalty to the brand. It’s clearly a recipe that’s working! Over the past 20 years, Chris and his team have built this privately held company into a $5.8 million revenue juggernaut with 294 million square feet of real estate under management around the nation. You’ll learn about Chris’s 25-year marriage, a partnership that exemplifies the power of unconditional support, as well as the priority he places on showcasing team members, clients and partners alike. And with his “eternal optimism,” Chris finds a silver lining in even the bumpiest of economic times. “Downturns are what hold the greatest opportunities,” he says. “If you treat downturns as an opportunity for growth and connection, you’ll build relationships that outlast any market cycle.” With its forward-looking workplace vision, Stream Realty challenges all of us to consider the power of making gratitude, empowerment and humility a core component of any business plan.You can learn much more about Chris and what Stream Realty has to offer at this link.If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience, please visit this link. And click hereto listen to previous episodes of Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:When a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: About the art work on display in Stream’s HQ office – created by a broker and an embodiment of the human-centric, empowering ethos Chris promotes.The Signature Question: If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or thanks to – that you’ve never thought to thank – who would that be? Chris pays tribute to Heather, his wife of 25 years and the unconditional partnership they share.Understanding the Narrative! About the “Six Emotional Arcs” that define a gratifying story – and in particular the perennial “back and better than before” storyline.About how Chris learned to turn downtimes (such as pandemic) into an opportunity to cultivate trust, resilience and ultimately growth (by standing by the team and doing the next right thing).Why Stream Realty has come out of Covid19 and other challenging circumstances stronger than ever. The secret sauce? Integrity and a commitment to the entire team.Hard Lessons Never Go to Waste: Chris shares the story of how he turned an impulsive (and, it was quickly clear, also misguided) career move into a career-defining pivot that became his 20-year journey with Stream.Word to the Wise: Eagerness, change and passion are great. But check the impulsivity!Thoughts and feelings that fuel ingratitude:Anxiety.Fear.Guilt.Anger.Shame.Regret.Conflict.Thoughts and feelings that fuel gratitude:Empathy.Courage.Compassion.Curiosity.Action.Innovation.How “eternal optimism” shapes Chris’s leadership style and infuses it with:Empathy.Gratitude.Awareness of the contributions of others.Ability to celebrate and share the spotlight with others.About the core values (compassion, empathy and empowerment) central to the growth culture that supports a diverse group of 1,400 Stream employees nationally.Striking the Balance: Chris uses sports as a metaphor for knowing when to celebrate, when to regroup and how to keep the focus on an overall winning record year over year.Giving Up Control to Get Control: Myriad outside forces shape the real estate market, but Chris advocates taking charge of those things you can, like:Your attitude.How you treat one another.Your effort.Top Tips for People Launching their Careers:Find a company whose values align with your own.Prioritize environments that will support growth and advancement.Look for leaders who will champion and promote you.How Gratitude Shows Up with Stream’s Clients and Partners: Constant awareness that without their trust and confidence, there is no Stream.Long-term relationships based on reciprocal integrity and loyalty.About what Stream has to offer that publicly traded corporations (beholden to stockholders first) cannot in terms of prioritizing the team.Credit Where It’s Due: Taking note of Chris’s eagerness and the ease with which he gives praise to and calls out by name co-workers as well as customers and partners.What Chris is Grateful For:Incredible relationships – family, friends and colleagues.An opportunity to champion a company and industry he loves.The journey ahead and blessings he has known along the road so far.I

As Chris Schembra’s guest on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times demonstrates every day, bringing an attitude of gratitude to the sales process fosters the kinds of quality relationships that are foundational to long-term success. Alex Ridder, VP for Global Accounts at The Adecco Group in Switzerland, has helped make the $20 billion-a-year global recruitment company the powerhouse that it is by emphasizing connection. And there’s nothing squishy about it! As you’ll hear highlighted throughout the show, studies and research clearly demonstrate that emotion and promotion go hand-in-hand. Chris and Alex talk about the importance of bringing empathy into the workplace, whether through expressing appreciation for team members’ efforts or building trust relationships with clients. Alex explains why transactional sales are self-limiting and while holding space for people to explore pain points and reach out for support opens up infinite consultative possibility. Human interaction, these two gratitude gurus agree, is a key differentiator in the marketplace. In a world of automation and depersonalization, it's our ability to offer openness and trust that sets us apart – professionally as well as personally. Tune in to learn about the hard science that backs up the power of gratitude to build community, secure relationships and cement positive outcomes all the way around. “I don’t believe gratitude has a finite limit,” says Alex, who is also an Ambassador to Adecco’s Win4Youth initiative. “Interpersonal conversation creates a much more transparent and joyous conversation … which then leads to greater business outcomes.”If you enjoyed this episode and would like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience, please visit this link. And click here to listen to previous episodes of Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or thanks to – that you’ve never thought to thank – who would that be? While there are numerous people to thank on a regular basis, it’s his dad Rick that Alex can never thank enough. Although “all about the numbers” as a sales guy, gratitude plays a prominent role in Alex’s life that can’t be quantified. It’s infinite!No Destination: There is no perfect thank-you note or endpoint for expressing gratitude. It’s an ongoing journey without specific metrics or obligatory reciprocity.Authentic emotion is a key ingredient when communicating gratitude. The practice isn’t meant to be a check-the-box, but an expression of something heartfelt and genuine.It’s a Fact: It feels good to give and to receive gratitude. Most people overestimate potential awkwardness and underestimate the good feelings they’ll experience.Gratitude in Groups: In addition to the pleasures of giving and receiving, an added element of gratification and teambuilding comes from witnessing such exchanges.Peer-to-Peer Gratitude: Make it a public event to encourage the free flow of generosity, trust and affirmation.About the Difference Between Being Grateful to Some Thing and Some One: It’s less about the transaction and more about the emotional journey.Here’s an exercise to try: When you think about the things for which you’re grateful, look for measurable, specifics to identify and articulate the why.About the Relationship Between Luck and Gratitude:Alex explains what he believes is the “soft correlation” between having a positive mentality, gratitude towards the people around you and positive outcomes.Chris explains that luck is what happens to you while gratitude is a perspective you embrace irrespective of what happens to you.How do you wake up and set intention for the day? Do you put gratitude front and center? The choice is yours – and the results undeniable!Emotion to Promotion: A Google study has demonstrated that long-term sales relationships thrive when they are based on mutual, reciprocal generosity and trust.Why human interaction is a key differentiator within hyper-competitive marketplaces:Personal touch helps uncover specific pain points.Personalized solutions distinguish themselves by not being homogenized.The stronger the relationship, the more likely a solution and sale emerge.How empathy and holistic relationships – which springs from gratitude – are game-changing superpowers when injected into the buying/selling process.About sharing market insights that Adecco clients can use to build community and connect in meaningful ways.Why eliciting gratitude also often creates serendipitous interpersonal connections that knit teams together through psychological safety and trust.Melding Atelic with Telic: The importance of immersing in activities as both journey and destination, integrating gratitude along the path to achievement and connection. QUOTABLE“There’s an infinity of gratefulness that you have and as you continue to appreciate what people have done for you … I don’t believe gratitude has a finite

What if everyone’s overarching go-to-market strategy were kindness? Well, for Host Chris Schembra’s guest on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, it’s a concept that has been central to building a $200 million company. CEO Sam Jacobs launched Pavilion, his membership-based leadership community, after coming to a deep understanding of something very basic: We start to gain when we learn to let go. He is sharing with us the human-centric elements that are foundational not only for successful business ventures but for successful (i.e. peaceful and meaningful) lives. Sam explains how he moved away from grasping and attachment to outcomes in favor of something more authentic expansive. You’ll come away from this heart-centered conversation with a clear understanding of the interplay between how we talk to ourselves and what we offer the world; why failure can be our friend and how to take a long-term approach that replaces the transactional with ongoing connectedness, personal fulfillment and long-term business growth.Sam founded Pavilion in 2016 as a support network for revenue leaders and has since opened chapters globally, establishing a robust platform for peer-to-peer connection, training, development and career resources for all high-growth professionals. Most recently, Sam is out with a new book that will change the way you think about engaging with the marketplace, whether as a corporate employee or aspiring entrepreneur. Pick up Wall Street Journal bestseller "Kind Folks Finish First: The Considerate Path to Success in Business and Life"and you won’t be able to put it down!If you’d like to learn more about Host Chris Schembra and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience, please visit this link. And click here to listen to previous episodes of Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:What’s a moment of adversity that you’ve overcome in your life or career that you’re actually grateful for? After four firings from five jobs in a short period of time, Sam seized an opportunity to change his trajectory and patterns of thought/behavior.Ultimate Job Satisfaction: Knowing how to generate happiness and a sense of peace.About how high participation and low attachment correlates with a universal flow of abundance in our direction.Negotiation as a career hack (and source of protection) amidst constant turnover:Do your due diligence.Pre-negotiate your severance.Be realistic about the shifts that happen after the honeymoon phase.Sam Defines Success Based on Three Key Elements:What you’re good at.What you’re (truly) interested in doing.Where the market is moving.About Pavilion’s evolution, based on letting go of pre-conceived notions and creating self-sustaining revenue as well as a source of kindness and light in the world.Contemplating an entrepreneurial risk? Consider what might happen when you stop giving all your best ideas (and energy) to someone else’s enterprise.Sam reflects on the agility required to move with markets, keeping fluid and aligning through empathy with what’s happening in real time (as Pavilion did while riding the waves of pandemic)Sam’s Principles for Kindness – and Success:Thinking long-term rather than transactionally builds connection.Releasing attachment decreases neediness and increases openness to surprising outcomes.Winning every single negotiation isn’t the endgame. It’s about building relationships over time.Sam’s Formula: How to manifest $25 million in funding and a business valued at more than $200 million by emphasizing not what’s missing but the joy in what’s already here!Creating the Mental Attitude to Prevail:Don’t chase the dollar!Re-channel negativity (true or not) towards the big-picture goal.Change the negative narratives in your head.Retrain the Brain: Substitute affirmations and self-care for unkind mental tapes.It takes nothing from anyone else for us to be kind to ourselves! QUOTABLE“What I expected when I started my career was that as you became more and more senior you achieve some level of stability, prosperity and independence but that was not happening for me.” (Sam)“Five years ago I decided … I cared more about a feeling of being independent, believing in myself, establishing some level of stability. What I most wanted was peace.” (Sam)“Gratitude is the frequency most harmonious with abundance.” (Sam) “(Pre-negotiated severance) is not about the money, it’s about reducing the level of anxiety you have when you show up to work every day.” (Sam)“When you work for somebody else you’re not even renting, you are selling – forever – your best ideas to somebody else.” (Sam)“If you can listen to what the market is telling you and try to respond and provide a solution rapidly, then you can be aligned with the market. It’s a process – not a static state.” (Sam)“It increases the likelihood that wonderful serendipity will happen when I don’t need anything specific to happen tomorrow.” (Sam)“I’m really good at being generous and thinking long-term … and it always has a w

This episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times features Josh Golden, CMO at the marketing powerhouse Quad, who is unpacking his special brand of digital marketing and communications magic. It’s no coincidence that he has blazed a trail by making transformational inroads at legacy companies like Xerox, Ad Age and NBC Universal. As he explains to Host Chris Schembra, Josh believes “when you connect people together and are a positive influence, they kind of want to do hard things!” This consummate connector shares with us the “why” that drives both his humanity and humility. As two A+ students of gratitude, Chris and Josh share insights into falling in love with what we do in life – an intentional process that can be cultivated with patience and kindness towards others as well as ourselves.Enjoy this heartfelt conversation about the art and science behind effective leadership as well as the challenges Josh has navigated while acquiring the tools necessary to guide organizations – and inspire teams – to bring their best. Does that mean meeting fixed goals, one by one? Not necessarily! For Josh, who also hosts "Three Things I Know for Sure" and "Eureka," the emphasis – whatever the career or life context – has to start first with genuinely loving the process and enshrining collaboration as a living, breathing goal in and of itself. You’ll come away from this passionate exchange ready to double down on the kind of can-do attitude that inspires rapid-fire growth and steady satisfaction. Looking for motivation? This episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times will leave you fired up and ready to go!Want to know more about the science and behavior that result from an attitude of gratitude? It’s all detailed in Chris’s book, "Gratitude Through Hard Times: Finding Positive Benefits Through Our Darkest Hours." If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience, please visit this link. And click here to listen to previous episodes of Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or thanks to – that you’ve never thought to thank – who would that be? Josh lives in a world of “a thousand thank-you notes,” never leaving his appreciation unspoken. Points on the Compass: Josh holds a space of gratitude both for lessons learned from a person who treated him badly and a deep well of goodness bequeathed by his father.What Resonates: Josh makes a practice of observing leadership behaviors and noting what works – authenticity, emotion, humanity. That’s what gets people engaged!Solving Puzzles: Josh looks to untangle hard things and then invites others to come along with him in rising to the challenge!Transformational Leadership and how Josh got there:Honing his craft – communications and storytelling.Learning what it means to manage people – assembling the best possible team and inspiring them to do great work.Evolving a replicable plan that motivates talented teams to tackle challenge, growth and change.Maintaining a Positive Mindset: Why a can-do attitude leads to rapid-fire growth!How the best working relationships resemble a process of falling in love, working together to build upon something flawed but always beautiful.If you aren’t in love with what you’re doing in your day job, find that passion on the side and grow it into a deeper pursuit.You don’t have to quit your day job: Growing what lights you up professionally may take time and cultivation. It’s okay to pursue multiple paths, organically and at the same time.The Paradox of Goal Setting as a Philosophical Approach to Life:Measurable goals and activity drive dissatisfaction and disappointment. An “atelic” mindset thrives on a love of doing rather than outcomes.Use Your Quiet Time! Josh uses moments of calm and focused, simple activity to clear his mind and reach next-level relaxation – and inspiration!Work In Progress: Optimal leadership starts with nurturing our own creativity and capacity through calm, reflection, gratitude and self-affirmation. QUOTABLE“I don’t believe I could have gotten to where I’ve gotten without the people helping me.” (Josh)“I really get upset when I see a lack of justice in the world … It’s just so much better to be grateful and enthusiastic and positive. It’s so much better to be very rarely pointed.” (Josh)“When you connect people together and are a positive influence, they kind of want to do hard things!” (Josh)“Everyone wants their company to evolve. I just happen to be the marketer that they come to when it’s a task that’s achievable but needs the right motivation behind it.” (Josh)“If you fall in love with what you do … it’s this wonderful way to re-explore your own personal process.” (Josh)“If you can fall in love with your work, then it’s not really work. It’s like a great hobby that you’re getting paid for.” (Josh)“You’ve got to take care of that heart and soul within you in order to take care of someone else’s heart a

Even though he ran the sprint as a member of the track team at Cornell, Chris Schembra’s guest on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times looks at life as a marathon. Steven Izen, the hugely successful entrepreneur behind Lokai bracelets with meaning and plant-powered Elements Drinks, shares insights into how he has taken a personal obstacle (dyslexia) and leveraged it as a superpower and why giving his team time off on Fridays is good for both individual and corporate health. This far-ranging conversation takes a look at humility, balance and the importance of connection (especially in our often disconnected and remote post-pandemic world). You’ll enjoy learning about the alone-but-not-lonely practices that nourish Steven professional and personally as well as the power he has found in releasing attachment and emotional reaction to outcomes. He and Chris wrap up with a call to action: Energy is paramount! So remember always ton promote positivity and self-care for yourself and those around you. “If you are finding balance in the things that fill your bucket outside of work, in life,” says Steven, “you will be the best version of yourself.” If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience, please visit this link. And clickhereto listen to previous episodes of Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or thanks to who would that be? Easy! That would be Mom, whom Steven thanks privately all the time, but never in professional contexts.Modeling Humility: Steven’s mother has always walked the walk by making other people’s needs a priority.A spirit of adventure and nod to the highs and lows inherent in life has infused Steven’s entrepreneurism since its inception as a tribute to a treasured grandfather’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s – “the lowest low” he’d ever experienced.About building out www.lokai.comover the past decade, what fuels Steven’s bracelets with meaning and the ventures he has added to his portfolio.No Time for Doubters: Steven has been fortunate to have – and cultivate – a circle of supporters who appreciate his tenacity and work ethic.Steven and Chris share workarounds that have helped them manage (with great results) their respective dyslexia and ADHD.Obstacles as Advantages: How so-called weaknesses strengthen alternative muscles.From Mt. Everest to the Dead Sea: About blending the hopeful and humble; competitiveness and long-term averages.About recalibrating our understanding of balance. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and best fortified against burnout by incorporating all facets of personal health and well-being.Steven provides perspective on quick-hit entrepreneurism and the truth of what it takes to succeed in the long run – pursuing the journey, not the destination.Balance Fridays: Steven’s innovative (and humane) effort to provide team members time once a week to care for themselves physically, emotionally and practically.As a board member for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Steven has had an opportunity to observe seasoned executives who are exemplars of work-life balance as well as purpose-driven values, priorities and decision-making.How to Get Out of Your Own Way: Neutralize emotion and attachment to outcomes!Human Connection is a central priority for Lokai, which is remote and thus requires an intentional commitment to team-building interactions.About the loneliness epidemic – chronic disconnection in a post-pandemic culture.Steven combats loneliness by embracing quality time communing with himself and focusing on a small, intimate group of close friends and family.Message for the Carols: Thanks to two moms from their sons! QUOTABLE“A lot of the gratitude and purpose in giving back that I incorporate into everything I do comes from (my mother).” (Steven)“Everybody experiences highs and lows in life. It doesn’t matter your age, demographic, your income level.” (Steven)“I never let the dyslexia hinder my ability to succeed … and have always taken that mindset into everything I do, including business.” (Steven)“If I believe in something I’ll have to be stopped by a brick wall because I’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.” (Steven)“If you are finding balance in the things that fill your bucket outside of work, in life, you will be the best version of yourself and be able to continue for as long as you want.” (Steven)“A connection to self is the thing that sometimes stands in the way of meaningful connection with others.” (Chris)“Energy is everything. What Steven helps you do through his bracelets is get energy … helps you find balance between the Mt. Everest of humility and the deep Dead Sea mud of hope.” (Chris)“Time is important. Money is important. Relationships are important. Energy is most important … You can get things done by being strategic, smart and doing things right.” (Chris) LINKS/FURTHER RESOURCES:More about the Make-a-Wish FoundationAbout "

The data are in – and impressive! Plant therapy is incredibly healing, a documented anxiety reducer that can even ease depression. What is it about the power of putting our hands in the soil? Host Chris Schembra’s guest on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times illuminates the magic ingredient: The gratitude we cultivate when we stay in the present moment, which is the core mission of Founder Donna Letier’s experiential gardening company, Gardenuity. A hit especially with corporate leaders interested in promoting empathy and reflection among team members across the enterprise, Gardenuity offers a platform not only to focus and quiet our attention but also to access the joy to be found in the simple act of getting dirty. You’ll learn on this podcast about the complementary app Donna has developed specifically to help us stay in the now, where misting our plants and tending our gardens is a first step towards opening our hearts and bonding with others. “When you actually see and witness plants’ growth, it teaches you instinctively that we’re not alone; that everything is actually interconnected,” says Donna, whose vision for Gardenuity was sparked by a very personal story she is sharing with pride and joy. The much-studied benefits of nurturing plants as a form of cultivating personal engagement obviously resonates across the workplace, whether live or remote, since 85 percent of corporate clients rebook. At the intersection of gratitude and wellness, Donna’s beautiful direct-to-your-doorstep personal gardens occupy a space rooted in our mutual humanity and desire to connect. Accessibility to gratitude, thanks to Gardenuity, is now available to all of us in a gardening kit you’ll want to share with colleagues and friends!Just click here if you’d like to get started with your garden today, at a special discount Donna has put together for friends of Gratitude Through Hard Times.Many thanks to all our repeat visitors! Click here to listen to previous episodes of Gratitude Through Hard Times. We’ve got more than 200 in the archive and would love you to listen, rate and review! Your engagement, shares and comments mean the world! If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience, please visit this link. And don’t forget to check out his bestselling book, "Gratitude Through Hard Times: Finding Positive Benefits Through Our Darkest Hours." KEY TOPICS:About Gardenuity, which resides at the intersection between gardening and wellness. An experiential gardening company that delivers customized containers direct to your doorstep – and absolutely dominating the space.Opening Question for Donna: If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or thanks to – that you’ve never thought to thank – who would that be?Her husband Scott – who has given Donna encouragement just to show up as herself. No need for perfection! (He is terrible at receiving compliments, but deserves to hear them!)Praise is a love language easily silenced by consumer technology that can mute connection and access to the present moment. Gardening does just the opposite!Meaningful Moments of Pause: The wellness benefits derived from gardening don’t require devoting a whole weekend. All you need to do is get your hands dirty!In its mission to foster connection and accessibility to wellness across workplace cultures, Gardenuity takes a three-pronged approach: physical health, mental health and health of the planet.Donna’s daughter “Joyful Jillian” inspired Gardenuity through her perseverance and resilience in the face of significant special needs. She is the embodiment of gratitude.About the research that underscores the instinctive response humans have when they interact with gardening or nurture a plant of any kind: Reduces anxiety by 63 percent.Reduces depression by 38 percent.Gratitude and anxiety can’t coexist psychologically. According to a recent study of 10,00 trauma patients, the anxiety level among 86 percent dropped drastically shortly after they placed their hands in the soil.A new study out of Australia highlights what the act of connecting with nature does from a mental health and resilience standpoint.What a Gardenuity “grow kit” looks like when it arrives at your door and the awesome app that walks even the most inexperienced gardeners through how to interact with dirt, assemble garden components – and stay mindful in the process!Chris’s “try this at home”: How about equipping team members across the enterprise with plants to share at a Monday morning all-hands hybrid meeting and have everyone write notes of gratitude into the group chat. The outcome? “Your team is going to be more creative, more empathetic, more innovative and work together better as a team.”Continuity and success are baked into Gardenuity because its app provides ongoing reminders and community around the act of tending our gardens, individually and collectively.How Gardenuity helps corpo

SUMMARYIs your wounded inner child still in charge of your emotional playlist? Maybe it’s time to update the soundtrack of your life! Host Chris Schembra’s amazing guest on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times has developed a powerful program based on an interesting trifecta of tools for growth. As Susan Drumm explains in her new book, "The Leader's Playlist: Unleash the Power of Music and Neuroscience to Transform Your Leadership Style and Your Life," when paired with our most authentic selves, neuroscience and music can shift ingrained habits of thought with transformational results. Her concrete case studies illustrate how our brains can be highjacked – or healed – by the “anchor songs” we play in our heads. As CEO of Meritage Leadership Development, Susan’s mission is nothing less than ushering in a new era of enlightened leadership. How? By shifting often outdated ideas and associations embedded within our deeply grooved neural pathways, we can reimagine the background music that sets the tone for everyday life choices. Offering a detailed step-by-step methodology for forging new patterns of thought, Susan is inviting all of us to release negative narratives as old as those hit summer songs we loved back in high school.You’ll learn in this lively conversation about how we function at our highest level – and, quite literally, at our most potent energetic vibrations – when we bring awareness, acknowledgement and a new frame of reference. The Leader’s Playlist is an innovative program that unlocks empowerment through one of neuroscience’s well-documented treatments for childhood trauma and other psychic injuries: Music. Susan is urging: “We all need to collectively look in the mirror and say: ‘Where are we leading from old wounds and what needs to shift and heal so collectively we can all get to a higher level of enlightened leadership?’ ” Ready to unlock the secrets of your own "Leader's Playlist"? The time to start is now!Click here to find out all about Susan’s debut book, "The Leader's Playlist: Unleash the Power of Music and Neuroscience to Transform Your Leadership Style and Your Life." And if you want to turbocharge, consider her upcoming master class, which you can register for here.If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience, please visit this link. And click here to listen to previous episodes of Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:If you could give credit or give thanks to one person in your life that you don’t give enough credit or thanks to, who would that be?About Susan’s framework, which is uniquely applicable to everyone because it uses music as a vehicle. Want to motivate growth in others? It starts with authentically believing in them, which undergirds development through the toughest of times and steepest of learning curves.Turning Early Childhood Trauma into a Superpower: Susan shares what she’s observed and personally experienced when formative wounding triggers reactivity.About the metaphorical playlist that is the soundtrack to each of our lives and – whether you’re aware of it or not – may be impacting your efficacy as a leader.Adaptive Upside: When he was raging, Susan’s father could cast a long and frightening shadow. As a result? She developed a keen ability to read the room, intuit potential derailment and diffuse tension -- survival skills that are a great asset in coaching.When Stress Yields Gems: Trauma response can induce PTSD, but it can also spark skills that can be leveraged to create post-traumatic growth Music As a Healing Tool: Susan shares how she unlocked her neural pathways – and deeply embedded, reflexively negative feelings – in order to move from seething resentment to a positive orientation.Create Your Own Empowerment Playlist! It’s possible to choose songs that resonate in ways that bring optimism, healing and connection. Redirecting old neural pathways that do not serve, and carving out new ones that are more life-giving, can make permanent mindset change. That doesn’t mean, however, that you’ll never again find yourself defaulting to those old “neural highways to hell.”About Micro Interventions: One strategy for creating a desired shift is intervention in thoughts through the introduction of music.The Music of Healing: Susan helps her clients recover and shift by working with them to identify where they’re stuck internally, usually rooted in patterns of thought that do not serve but can be re channeled in empowering ways.Music Lights Up All Regions of the Brain: Sense memory is stimulated by sound vibration and can be harnessed to shift energy.Higher versus Lower Emotions – Gratitude and peace vibrate at high levels while grief and sadness reside in lower levels. What do we do with that information?We can’t dismiss or ignore difficult feelings, which carry messages.Rather than dwell in negativity, we can opt to acknowledge pain and move on.Well-practiced patterns of thoughts can be redirected through intenti

SUMMARYIf you’ve ever struggled with the idea of meditation, try this out: How about no beads, no sitting cross-legged, no chants or ashram journeys? The transcendental practice developed by Host Chris Schembra’s guest on this episode of the Gratitude Through Hard Time podcast speaks to all of us who want to embody our deepest visions but find our busy minds get in the way. Vishen Lakhiani’s practice, "The Six Phase Guided Meditation," skips the things that make mindfulness a challenge – especially for frenetic, creative entrepreneurs. As he lays out in his new book, coming out this week, his program’s goals are transformational not because of a series of disciplines or rituals but because they bring alignment in the most direct, simplest of ways.Vishen’s journey to wholeness began 20 years ago, when he abandoned a burnout job in Silicon Valley. That decision to look for a deeper connection with himself and others has culminated in the fundamentals he spells out in his compelling new book, "The Six Phase Guided Meditation" and can also be explored via his Mind Valley apps and the hugely popular seminar he conducts in cities across the world. If you’re ready to “dream bigger,” then this episode will give you a powerful starting place to shift your mindset and make real what you see and feel. In wrapping up, Vishen reminds us that luck is something we can choose. Reality is something we can bend. And a more abundant world is something we can create, through the unity that lies within us all. “This is the grand magic trick that makes life easy; that helps build incredible businesses,” he says. “This is the secret that helps you live a life that seems blessed.”Whether you think you are an expert at meditation or that meditating is impossible for you, Vishen's new book is a must-read. It's transformational. Pre-Order before 9/20 and get 500 Customizable Meditations through his APP to use for a year - FREE! You can find the link here.If you enjoyed this conversation, please click here to listen to previous episodes of Gratitude Through Hard Times. And you can find out much more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience at this link. KEY TOPICS:If you could give credit or thanks to one person in your life who hasn’t been given enough credit or thanks, who would that be? Vishen recognizes his ex-wife for being an “incredible entity” and wonderful mother to his children.On souls and how Vishen believes they were meant to function – not necessarily as monogamous mates for life.Advancing Humanity: Businesses are capable of raising universal consciousness, but it doesn’t have to be a blanket effort. Vishen challenges every owner to evolve individually towards consciousness and spiritual growth for the greater good.Our ultimate growth is rooted in awareness of our powers within, the consciousness we connect with and extend beyond our physical bodies.The Concept of Unity: Separation is a protective mechanism – and illusion.Try this exercise from the Sufi poet and thinker, Rumi: Close your eyes and think about the message you want to communicate in silence to another person and remember – whatever energy you put out is what you will receive back.Studies of gratitude practices and forgiveness confirm that they yield positive benefits, such as:Once we recognize how intrinsically connected we are to everything else on the planet, we move towards unity and understanding of the oneness we all share.The Truth About Meditation:How Transcendent Practices work by:About "The Six Phase Guided Meditation":About the Pillars of Happiness and Vision that comprise Vishen’s six phases.Vishen reflects on the criticism and rejection he experienced at one point from peers in his native Malaysia and how he persevered with his practice, using it to transform his response to one of compassion.Dreaming Big: About using creative visualization to reprogram our brains and deliver a mindset embedded with powerful belief and emotional connection.All About Dan Sullivan’s Happiness Gap and how Vishen has incorporated it.Vishen’s Ultimate Hope: For people to understand that we are all spiritual beings having a human experience and that everything starts with tapping into the power of our souls and intuition, our ability to manifest the future and connect with all life.Parting Thought: The secret is to live in harmony, balancing balancing play, minimizing stress and overwhelm, feeling God’s blessing – the love – everyday. QUOTABLE“Your business is not the most important thing. Your business, rather, is the ultimate vehicle for your personal evolution.” (Vishen)“If your business fails, it doesn’t matter. If your business hits a billion dollars, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that running your business is helping you grow.” (Vishen)“The greatest thing we can do as humans is move toward unity … and our own fundamental truth.” (Vishen)“Our consciousness never actually ends. It blends into all life. We are connected to plants, to energies, to

SUMMARYCuriosity. Care. Compassion. Connection. As we learn on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times with Host Chris Schembra, these words define Kapil Sharma’s highly successful career as a leader known for bringing out the best in his teams. As Chief Transformation Officer at Microsoft India, he has brought home tools and lessons learned over 12 years living abroad in order to pay forward to others – particularly those who are fearful or marginalized. Throughout his career Kapil has seized opportunities and pushed himself hard, always with a sense of gratitude and commitment to giving back the gifts he has received. And for that deep well of both humanity and tenacity? Kapil gives a big tip of the hat to his mother, who lavished care and support on him from an early age. It was this foundation that enabled Kapil to take off, broaden his horizons and return to inspire others through his work transforming workplace cultures, tech stacks and customer relationships in Bengaluru (also known as Bangalore) and beyond.You’ll learn about the Five Sage Powers for developing Positive Intelligence that have guided Kapil and the heightened acuity he attributes to both risk-taking and fear. He’s also sharing professional and personal development resources that have influenced his management style as well as the ways in which his children’s wonder and positivity are like a battery refresh when his energy runs low. Even with all today’s unsettling challenges, Kapil finds tremendous promise in human, scientific and technological advances. Pandemic has been a great leveler, he says, inviting us to take stock, prioritize and most of all model gratitude and empathy: “If we can teach (our children) to be compassionate, caring, loving, I think there will be a great outcome that they will be able to create – if they remain connected as human beings.” It’s a heartening outlook – one that we have it within us to make real!Kapil’s engaging postings on a range of topics are available @LinkedIn. KEY TOPICS:Chris opens by asking: If you could give thanks to one person you don’t credit enough, who would that be? Kapil gives a shout out to his mom, who supported her only son’s decision to leave his hometown in India to explore – which became 15 years in London. She encouraged him in every way throughout that journey.Based in Bengaluru (also known as Bangalore) the past four years, Kapil sees his return as an opportunity to educate his children to Indian culture as well as to show his mom gratitude and respect for all her hard work as a parent.About Kapil’s Sense of Service: As a young man he was driven to achieve and benefited from the generosity of wise elders and mentors. He sees his role today as one of providing the same to young people coming up behind him in India.Taking Risk: In order to live to his fullest potential, Kapil regularly sets challenges for himself – especially those that stretch him in ways that might be of service to others (like the decision to move his family back to India).Why Kapil is very tuned into inspiring hope in younger people – especially those who are unsure, overwhelmed or marginalized.Changing Questions, Changing Life: Kapil shares brave questions that have shaped his trajectory, which include:Turning Fear and Danger to Advantage: Kapil sees in today’s unsettled crypto, stock and real estate markets an opportunity to hustle. And therein are gifts:How Covid19 has proved a great leveler, forcing all of us to ask:Kapil rejects the idea that we can’t change the system. We can spur small changes in one person’s world that chip away at larger systemic issues.Reframing hustling as staying positive, active and growth-oriented.About Shirzad Chamine’s Five Sage Powers for developing Positive Intelligence – or hustle with humility:A recap of what has factored into Kapil’s vision:Cogs in a Wheel: How Kapil evolved his management style and emphasis on providing smart people with understanding, validation, empathy and space to be vulnerable.Three Things that Kapil Requires:Democratized Leadership: Kapil enables his teams to do what they do best by inspiring high levels of commitment and accountability. It’s a recipe that generates camaraderie and positive, self-reinforcing results.The Demands of Caring: Empathetic leadership can be grinding at times, but Kapil’s two kids recharge his batteries. Their positive energy and wonder are therapeutic.Kapil shares an anecdote about a team member who was falling short of expectation and tried to take himself out of the position. Because of his skills and EQ, along with the right encouragement, he went on to flourish. Hire the right people and they will eventually succeed!Transgenerational Learning: Kapil is most excited to see his children inherit from his mother (and father) a living, daily example of caring and compassion. And honesty! Where they fall short, his parents will call them out!The Power of Human Connection: Kapil’s wish for future generations, who will

The stars align on this episode of the Gratitude Through Hard Times podcast when two Italian empaths get together for a conversation about mentorship, leadership and personal growth that happens to coincide with the 7:47 Club’s seven anniversary. Host Chris Schembra welcomes Matt Tedesco, VP & General Manager for Americas East at the iconic furniture design company MillerKnoll, for a lively give-and-take about his passion for coaching and unique approach to group engagement and retention. It all starts with embracing the journey! They reflect on the pitfalls of results-oriented management, strategies for getting out from under social constructs that do not serve and the compounding power of positivity. Matt highlights a pivotal spiritual moment that has shaped his value system and explains how vulnerability has empowered him — as a coach, an artist, a musician, a father, friend and colleague. Self-awareness is foundational to all the other elements that connect us with each other, says Matt, helping us tune into our own emotions and — as importantly — the challenges experienced by others.You’ll also learn about what Matt calls his “cheat sheet to the world,” a simple but profound strategy that guarantees we’re bringing our best selves, personally and professionally. Even when the world disappoints, we have it within us to learn and move on with open hearts. “Focus on gratitude, focus on the things that are positive,” says Matt. “Bringing positive energy is a matter of deciding.” This dynamic exchange is your first step! If you’d like to learn more about Chris and his 7:47 Virtual Gratitude Experience, please visitthis link. And click here to listen to previous episodes of Gratitude Through Hard Times. KEY TOPICS:Deflection and Dreams: Chris asks Matt reflect on his humility about accomplishments and the ways in which he feels pride in any endeavor that offers value-add in some way.Results-Oriented Living: The societal push is often towards outcomes, but Matt is committed to embracing the process and lessons learned along the way.Goals are finite. Then what? It’s got to be the going — not the getting there — that’s good.Putting It Out There: By making his music available on Spotify, which is a vulnerable thing to do, Matt is reclaiming an artistic part of himself. Self-consciousness be damned!We can’t be good at everything. And that’s the point! Art and other creative, spiritual or physical pursuits (even those that humble us) can be tools for continuous learning and movement towards self-actualization.Matt envisions members of his teams as ensemble musicians playing in concert; not basketball players taking unilateral command. The focus is on collaboration; not scrambling to hit every basket.Recalling a Pivotal Spiritual Moment: An angry kid lacking in confidence, Matt felt a spontaneous transformational release — and sense of equanimity in the world — following his eighth-grade confirmation in the Catholic Church.What does it mean to be of service and actually help? Matt believes the best coaching/mentoring starts with intentional, active listening. No pre-conceived notions or agenda.Above all, most people simply want to be heard — witnessed in a way that touches something deep in them and connects them to others and a sense of understanding.Nervous, sad confused: Matt’s wife recently provided him safe harbor, a place to be fully seen, when he chose to get vulnerable and share personal and professional doubts.Defining the True Nature of Love: Borrowing inspiration from "Man's Search for Meaning," the Holocaust survivor Viktor E. Frankl’s compelling take on what matters most in life, Matt’s take is that our ultimate meaning isn’t money, sex or power. It’s simply love.Defining Leadership: Loving team members and those we serve requires whole-hearted commitment to listening and caring (that ideally resides in mutuality and reciprocity).Matt’s Strategy for Moving Beyond Social Constructs That Do Not Serve:Cultivate awareness.Welcome uncomfortable, vulnerable feelings.Question and examine emotions as they arise.Own those moments of so-called “weakness” without judgment.How to erode performance? Deny, suppress or withdraw from vulnerable emotions.Gratitude as a Tool for Retention:No. 1: It must be authentic.Tokens like a pizza party or group “atta boy” aren’t enough.Keep an eye out for the smaller acts, which often matter just as much as the big.Make the recognition specific and personal.Communicate in a way that makes people feel seen and heard.You will be most generous and present when leading from a place of love.Accentuate the Positive! Negative thoughts beget more. Don’t miss the opportunity to energize everyone across the enterprise with the force for good that is gratitude!Finding the universal in the specific: By articulating exactly why we have gratitude and celebrating those who inspire it we are spreading a powerfully positive contagion.All in the Perspective: Whether kids on his son’s lacrosse team o

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." This proverb is old but will always ring true. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Chris welcomes David Goldstein, the Founder and Creator of Opportunities at TeamBonding, the leading creator and provider of virtual, hybrid, and in-person team building events. Listen in as Chris and David discuss the power of play, team building, creating opportunities, and developing a mindset of gratitude to propel your life forward.“We need to get to places and have experiences that allow people to have fun together, to play together, to meet each other, to trust each other. This is what life is about. It’s not about going to work, it’s about the things that work opens up for you.” – David GoldsteinDavid shares his origination story, from landing on the front page of the Wall Street Journal as a 26-year-old to running a team building company that hosts thousands of events for the world’s biggest companies every year. He highlights the importance of sharing your creative ideas with others and rejecting the philosophy that every minute of every day as an entrepreneur should be spent thinking about work. “With [entrepreneurship], at any point you can fall, there’s no safety net. But when you have someone by your side, that’s where the safety net is.” – David GoldsteinDavid also sheds light on how he involved his kids in entrepreneurship and taught them the value of starting a business. He offers words of wisdom on making ADHD your entrepreneurial superpower and what to do when your success doesn’t feel enough. Then, Chris breaks down the psychological benefits of being grateful for even the worst things that have ever happened to you (yes, there are benefits!).Plus… How is David staying optimistic about the future of human connection in the post-covid era? Tune in to find out! Books & Resources Mentioned:Learn more about TeamBonding: https://www.teambonding.comTribe by Sebastian Junger: http://www.sebastianjunger.com/tribe-by-sebastian-junger Tune in anywhere you listen to your podcasts!OR Watch this podcast as a video series: https://spoti.fi/3uZah52If you enjoyed this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, take a moment to share, rate, and review it so we can keep spreading the gratitude! About the Guest:David Goldstein is the Founder of TeamBonding, the leading creator and provider of virtual, hybrid, and in-person team building events. Chosen Seven times by INC. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing companies in the USA.Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidgoldstein

Sarah Fern is Chief People Officer of Velocity Global, a global Employer of Record organization with over nine hundred employees scattered around the globe. Fresh off the heels of a $400 million Series B, they are one of the world's leading firms as an employer of record. Employer record organizations help with global expansion. They help with global hiring, timely and accurate payroll processing ongoing compliance with local labor laws, additional HR related tasks, in layman's terms that you're watching this. If you have a company and you want to expand into a global market, They are the team to help you do it. As Chief People Officer, Sarah is responsible for overseeing the people side of this fast growing company. In today's episode, we go deep. We chat about how Sarah's parents instinctively put trust in her at a young age. How she used books as an early escape. She learned early on that life is about giving gratitude to the hard times we've been through, especially in the face of adversity.In this episode, Sarah shares the brave story of having three miscarriages over a decade ago. She teaches us that when things don’t go to plan, you don’t have to become bitter. If you become bitter in the face of adversity, you have a tendency to develop post traumatic stress. But if you turn that adversity into and positivity, you can actually develop post traumatic growth.She teaches us that her moments of adversity taught her empathy, acceptance, self efficacy, appreciation, and so much more.You can’t know gratitude without knowing pain.We tie the conversation back to her leadership at Velocity Global. She teaches us that leadership isn’t just about writing policies, it’s about building trust, and seeing the uniqueness in nine hundred people across the world. What courageous conversations do the people at velocity global need to have in order to show up every day inspired and ready to connect?What do you need to find in the workplace to give you wings?This is a brave and vulnerable conversation with one of the world's great leaders, please enjoy.

The Colorado Business Hall of Fame says this of the 2008 inductee: “Harry Frampton has made developing some of the world’s premier ski resort towns an art form. Combining keen business sense with a respect for culture and sport, Frampton works to provide visitors and residents of these bustling towns with a well-rounded experience.” The founding partner of East West Partners is also a principal of Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate, putting him in the center of virtually every significant development and real estate transaction in the Vail Valley. From 1982 to 1986, Harry was president of Vail Associates, Inc., and he is also chairman of the board of the Vail Valley Foundation and former President Gerald R. Ford’s World Forum. In those roles, he has been instrumental in bringing more cultural and world-class sporting venues and events to the valley, raising its international profile and enhancing the experience for guests and residents alike.Mr. Frampton has been named to the International Ski Hall of Fame. Chairman of the Urban Land Institute. But most importantly, part of a tribe of people that learned under Charles Fraser, Affectionately known as Charlie’s Angels.In this podcast, Mr. Frampton teaches us that leadership requires listening. That real estate development impacts community and national values. Mr. Frampton's leadership style is making a lot of different people with different skills feel connected to whatever it they are working on and make them feel like they're making a contribution. In this podcast we chat about old stories from Sea Pines, all the way to the future of real estate.A true pioneer. A lover of listening and making others feel heard. Please enjoy this episode with Harry Frampton.East West Partners: https://www.ewpartners.com/71 Wentworth: https://71wentworth.com/

Shannon is the Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Pointe Advisors, the largest female-led Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm in the country serving private clients, foundations, and retirement plans. Prior to launching Beacon Pointe, Shannon served as Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Roxbury Capital Management and oversaw the socially responsible investment (SRI) platform for several years. Shannon is a member of the CNBC Financial Advisor Council and is regularly featured in The Wall Street Journal, InvestmentNews, Barron’s, Forbes, Financial Planning Magazine, among other publications. In 2018 she was presented with the UC Irvine Lauds & Laurels Award and in 2017 the Orange County Business Journal Women in Business Award. Through Shannon’s passion for financial education, she is a founding member of the Beacon Pointe Women’s Advisory Institute and co-authored Your Dollars, Our Sense: A Fun and Simple Guide to Money Matters, an international best-selling book that has ranked #1 in six different business and finance categories. Shannon graduated from the University of California, Irvine where she played Division I Volleyball and she received her MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles Anderson School of Business. Shannon is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) for the Orange County Chapter, and serves or has served on numerous boards including the Pacific Mercantile Board of Directors, the UCI Athletic Fund Board, the Charles Schwab Advisor Council, the TD Ameritrade Advisory Council, as well as Scratchworks, a FinTech accelerator that connects innovative tech companies with investment and wealth management luminaries to advance the digital transformation of the financial services industry. As a dedicated philanthropist, she has also served on the Children’s Hospital of Orange County Professional Advisory Committee, the Investment Committee of Sisters of St. Joseph in Orange, and served as the Executive Director of the HALO Foundation. Shannon is married, has four children, and lives with her husband in Newport Beach, California.

Teams and businesses all over the world are growing. And having a growing team means that the culture changes every time somebody new is added, hopefully for the better. New additions mean the dynamic within team change, creating either positive or negative friction. As a leader, you have to absorb these things and drive the business forward. You have to have a passion for the people and want to do genuinely good for them.Gareth Giles Knopp has a passion for people.Gareth is a British skeptic, hard-nosed man, raised in post-World War II United Kingdom, who now sits as Chief Customer Officer and General Manager of North America Board International. Board is a wonderful technology company that empowers businesses to operate on a flexible all-in-one decision-making platform.Gareth has been with the organization for many years, starting when the valuation was about $75 million, and now Board is valued at over $1.5 billion.In this episode, Gareth shares his passions for people inside and outside the corporate world.Listen to this episode and learn about:Gareth sharing a moment of adversity he’s overcome (5:58)Finding connection in a new community (9:44)Building diversity and belonging in a global organization (15:58)Recognizing disengagement on a team (18:30)The impact of a Virtual Gratitude Experience (23:30)How Gareth is doing (27:30)How true connection is missing nowadays (30:12)Closing words from Gareth (35:23)LinksConnect with Gareth on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethgilesknopp/Board International - https://www.board.com/en#gref

What do astronauts, Olympic champions, and Nobel laureates do differently that allows them to achieve at such a high level?High achievers share the same four attributes: intrinsic motivation, perseverance, strong foundation, constantly learning through informal means. The key to their success is that they do all four of these things simultaneously.Ruth Gotian’s latest book, The Success Factor, outlines the approach that individuals aspiring to improve their performance can adopt.Dr. Ruth Gotian is the Chief Learning Officer and Assistant Professor of Education in Anesthesiology and former Assistant Dean of Mentoring and Executive Director of the Mentoring Academy at Weill Cornell Medicine. She has been hailed by the journal Nature and Columbia University as an expert in mentorship and leadership development. In 2021, she was selected as one of 30 people worldwide to be named to the Thinkers50 Radar List, dubbed the Oscars of management thinking, and recently won the Thinkers50 Distinguished Achievement “Radar” Award ranking her the #1 emerging management thinker in the world to bridge theory and practice. She is also a semi-finalist for the Forbes 50 Over 50 list. In addition to publishing in academic journals, she is a contributor to Forbes and Psychology Today where she writes about ‘optimizing success’. Her research is about the mindset and skill set of peak performers, including Nobel laureates, astronauts, and Olympic champions. Her latest book, The Success Factor, is out on January 25th.In this episode, Ruth shares what inspired this book and covers fundamental concepts.Listen to this episode and learn about:Being a high-achiever (5:03)Ruth giving credit and thanks to her fifth grade teacher (7:38)How The Success Factor came to be (12:51)Pivoting during difficult times (15:07)The practices of high achievers (17:44)Fearing not trying over failing (21:20)The importance of community for being a high achiever (24:13)Empathy in high achievers (28:19)Being a life long learner (30:10)Championing high achievers within your organization (33:54)LinksConnect with Ruth on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgotian/The Success Factor - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JDRP86B/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1Ruth’s website - https://www.ruthgotian.com

Planning for the end of your life is like pre-gratitude. Pre-gratitude in the sense that it's going to happen, it's going to hurt; how do you make something beautiful out of it?Sandy Gibson has the solution for making death into something beautiful by creating a better place than the traditional cemetery.Sandy Gibson is the Co-Founder and CEO of Better Place Forests, a sustainable alternative to cemeteries for families who choose cremation.When Sandy was a young boy, he lost his father to a stroke and his mother to cancer. After years of visiting their graves in a dreary Toronto cemetery, Sandy began to imagine what a better place to remember his parents might look like. In 2015, he founded Better Place Forests with his two best friends to give every family the chance to visit and remember the people they love in nature.Based in San Francisco, Better Place launched America’s first conservation memorial forests in 2017 and has raised more than $55M in venture capital. Better Place has been featured in the New York Times, on the Today Show, and by the World Economic Forum. Known for its strong culture, Comparably recognized Better Place Forests with national awards for Best Company Leadership, Best CEOs for Women, Best Company Culture, Best CEOs, and Best Companies for Women in 2019 and 2020.Sandy graduated from Princeton University in 2006 with an A.B. in History. A lifelong entrepreneur, he headed several companies and worked in finance and software before founding Better Place Forests. He previously served on the Board of Governors of Royal St. George’s College. He was born in Toronto, Canada.In this episode, Sandy shares the origin and mission behind Better Place.Listen to this episode and learn about:Sandy giving credit and thanks to his early employees and investors (4:20)The mission of Better Place (5:56)The what, how, and why of Better Place (10:42)Being intentional about life and death (21:01)The purpose and planning of a funeral (27:04)Needing meaning to survive (33:30)The difference between being grateful and glad (36:22)The 4 things to do to move on from a relationship (38:38)Living with meaning, intention, and appreciation (40:25)Finding purpose in unavoidable suffering (44:10)Giving gratitude to tough times (48:50)Gratitude as the protein after the workout (55:59)LinksConnect with Sandy on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandygibsonca/Better Place Forests - https://www.betterplaceforests.comBenefit finding research - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21642850.2014.889570

Leaders of today have had to reevaluate where and how they do their business. How they used to lead may not be as effective in our ever-changing virtual world.Heather Hansen O’Neill knows that the ‘office’ resides within you and that you can lead from wherever you are. With the right tools and strategies, your leadership can evolve with the times.Heather is an international keynote speaker, behavioral expert, author of Find Your Fire and Teams on Fire! and co-author of Where’s the Office?Moving Today’s Leaders from What IS to What CAN BE. Heather is also a 2x TEDx speaker and host of the popular podcast From Fear to Fire. She stimulates vibrant energy, focus, and action for those who want to collaborate effectively, lead change, and achieve massive results.Heather’s mission is to open leaders’ minds and hearts to the possibility within them.In this episode, Heather shares critical lessons in her new book, Where’s the Office?.Listen to this episode and learn about:Heather giving credit and thanks to her mom, Carole (5:04)How the book, Where’s the Office?, came to be (8:50)The importance of being a life learner (12:07)Shifting from an I to a we mindset (14:53)Elevating leadership to a new level (18:39)Sharing authentically with others (20:50)Aligning the head and the heart (25:20)LinksConnect with Heather on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherhansenoneill/Where’s the Office? - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MRRVNK2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

It can be hard to slow down enough to consider long-term goals in our fast-paced world. Especially when social media constantly shows us the successes and accolades of everyone we know.But to create a meaningful life, we need to slow down enough to reflect on the past and prepare for our future.Dorie Clark teaches us to play the long game to reorient ourselves to see the big picture.Dorie has been named one of the Top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50, and was recognized as the #1 Communication Coach in the world by the Marshall Goldsmith Leading Global Coaches Awards. Clark, a consultant and keynote speaker, teaches executive education at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Columbia Business School, and she is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Long Game, Entrepreneurial You, *Reinventing You* and Stand Out, which was named the #1 Leadership Book of the Year by Inc. magazine. A former presidential campaign spokeswoman, Clark has been described by the New York Times as an “expert at self-reinvention and helping others make changes in their lives.” A frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review, she consults and speaks for clients including Google, Microsoft, and the World Bank. You can download her free Long Game strategic thinking self-assessment at dorieclark.com/thelonggame.In this episode, Dorie shares wisdom from her newest book, The Long Game.Listen to this episode and learn about:Dorie giving credit and thanks to (5:42)The importance of looking ahead and looking behind (9:54)Delaying gratification (13:52)The journey of becoming a strategic, long-term thinker (19:57)Our obsession with short term thinking and solutions (23:02)Surrounding yourself with the right people (28:03)What Dorie’s long-term game looks like (33:36)Creating moments to meet people (38:56)Closing words from Dorie (41:16)LinksConnect with Dorie on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/doriec/Long Game self-assessment - https://dorieclark.com/thelonggame/Dorie’s website - https://dorieclark.comThe Long Game - https://dorieclark.com/longgame/

The world is riddled with uncertainty and challenges. We can let the uncertainty crush us or let the uncertainty propel us.One way to use uncertainty to propel us is to lead with humanity by giving grace, empathy, and understanding to the people around us.Monica Pool Knox knows how critical leading with humanity is.Monica Pool Knox oversees LivePerson's global human resources strategy — including leadership development, organizational effectiveness, talent management, total rewards, talent acquisition, people operations, and DEI — and focuses on continuing to align compassionate and ethical AI as a foundation of LivePerson's culture. She has extensive experience leading HR organizations and strategies to attract, develop, and retain world-class talent within high-performance companies.Prior to joining LivePerson, Pool Knox led human resources for a global workforce of over 8,000 focused on cloud and AI at Microsoft. She has held executive HR positions at Twitter, Sony, CBS Interactive, PepsiCo, The Walt Disney Company, and Verizon. Pool Knox serves as a Board Director of Swedish Health Systems and on the Board of Howard University's School of Communications. She earned her MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara.In this episode, Monica shares her story, and what made her the leader she is today.Listen to this episode and learn about:Monica giving credit and thanks to people who've hurt her (5:03)Figuring out the intentions of others (10:54)Leading with humanity (14:29)Managing complexities (17:15)Creating lasting change when times are tough (19:19)Using gratitude to overcome difficult times (22:45)Passing on wisdom (28:51)Monica's gratitude for her dad (33:43)We all have the choice (38:51)LinksConnect with Monica on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicapoolknoxLivePerson - https://www.liveperson.comWatch the video - www.747club.org/blog/747-conversations-with-monica-pool-knox

Belonging is often described as a feeling of security, support, acceptance, and inclusion. In addition, it's directly linked to decreased turnover, reduced sick days, and increased performance.People who feel like they belong want to show up because of each other. It's not the work that inspires people; it's the commitment to a shared purpose and community.Esther Raphael knows how powerful an inspired community can be.Esther is the Chief Marketing Officer for Intersection, responsible for leading all aspects of marketing, including B2B and B2C efforts, creative services, and content development. During her tenure, Esther has launched Intersection's first brand campaign, established a full-service in-house creative agency, and has overseen the go-to-market strategy for 10+ new markets and partnerships. Esther is also the Executive Sponsor of WIN, Women at Intersection, where she champions the growth and development of our female leaders.Previously at Condé Nast and Hearst, she spearheaded world-class solutions for advertisers and developed large-scale consumer events such as SELF's iconic Workout in the Park and Good Housekeeping's Shine On, a theatrical production at Radio City Music Hall.A recognized leader in marketing and branding, Esther has created groundbreaking programs designed to engage audiences and drive revenue. She holds a BA in Psychology from Queens College.In this episode, Esther shares her passion for connecting and inspiring people.Listen to this episode and learn about:Esther giving credit and thanks to her parents (5:14)Having the strength to fight for what you want (10:57)Narrowing down your passion (12:14)Chasing your passions while putting in the work (14:51)Inspiring connection and drive at work (18:01)Being inspired by people not work (21:25)How everyone plays a role in shaping us (23:13)Not changing who you are but showing who you are (26:04)Esther's passion and gratitude for people (27:35)Esther's forthcoming book (31:17)LinksConnect with Esther on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emlraphael/Follow Esther on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/estherraphael/?hl=enLearn more about Intersection - https://www.intersection.com

You can heal your trauma.Whether your trauma is unprocessed or you're using it to fuel you, you can heal and live in a place of contentment, joy, and peace, where you create healthy relationships and success in business.Faith Jones not only healed her trauma but overcame it to go from surviving to thriving.Faith Jones is a lawyer, activist, entrepreneur, and business advisor. She began her career as an attorney with Skadden Arps representing clients in a wide variety of cross-border corporate transactions and has worked with businesses and government leaders in the Pacific Rim. Faith has been a featured TEDx speaker, has traveled the world, and has done humanitarian aid work in Kazakhstan, Japan, and Taiwan. Her memoir, Sex Cult Nun, is out on November 30th from William Morrow.In this episode, Faith shares her story and how she overcame it all.Listen to this episode and learn about:Faith giving credit and thanks to God (6:20)How to remain committed through adverse times (10:30)Trauma and its ties to wisdom (13:28)Measuring your impact (23:02)Processing trauma (29:51)Owning yourself (35:36)The power of stories (37:44)You're not alone, you can heal (44:37)LinksConnect with Faith on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/faith-jones-we-rise-free/Sex Cult Nun - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XQQLYC3/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1I Own Me TED Talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/faith_jones_i_own_me_understanding_our_property_rights_to_our_own_bodies

Do you think that you are living in a dress rehearsal?This is a one-act play called your life. What kind of role do you want to play? Because you don't get to do this again.The genesis of living a meaningful life is knowing what success means to you and stripping away the obligations that are no longer in service of that meaning. Of course, success is about more, but it's not about the more we think. Success is more of what matters.Karen Mangia knows the true meaning of success and how you can have success from anywhere.Karen is one of the most sought-after keynote speakers in the world, sharing her thought leadership with over 10,000 organizations during the course of her career. As Vice President of Customer and Market Insights at Salesforce, she helps individuals and organizations define, design, and deliver the future. She serves on multiple boards, including the Racial Equality & Justice Taskforce. She is the author of four books: the newly released Success From Anywhere, Listen Up!, Working from Home, and Success With Less.In this episode, Karen shares life-changing wisdom from her new book, Success From Anywhere.Listen to this episode and learn about:Karen giving credit and thanks to one of her college professors (4:43)Everyone has to design what their impact looks like (10:39)Success being defined by an authentic connection to who you are (12:57)How to know in the moment that hopeless times are worth it (19:27)The power of asking "Why not?"(23:22)The shift from progressive tolerance to progressive consciousness (27:16)Granting yourself permission (32:36)LinksConnect with Karen on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenmangia/Karen's Website - https://karenmangia.comSuccess From Anywhere - https://www.amazon.com/Success-Anywhere-Create-Future-Inside/dp/1119834627

Life is all about trial and error. Therefore, it's vital to try as many new things as possible in order to discover what you really want to do in life.By chasing fulfillment over pleasure, you'll create a rich life while pleasure will bring you an empty life.Tyler Wagner knows the value of chasing fulfillment and traveling down the path that's right for him.Tyler is the founder of Authors Unite and a #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author.In this episode, Tyler shares the wisdom he's learned while chasing a fulfilling life.Listen to this episode and learn about:Tyler giving credit and thanks to his dad (4:51)The fear of free time (11:03)Tyler's message to his dad (12:44)Harmful affects of avoiding conflict and the solution (14:30)How to start saying no (19:19)Chasing fulfillment over pleasure (22:40)What success looks like (26:18)Growth is good but so is the present (30:31)Balance is key (32:19)Gratitude as the cure for stagnation (36:43)Closing advice from Tyler (41:16)LinksConnect with Tyler on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerbwagner/Authors Unite - https://authorsunite.comTyler's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tylerbwagner/?hl=en

Every single person deals with down moments in life. Yet, it's in those hard times where our legacy is forged.So don't look at those challenging times as problems; instead, become a problem solver. Welcome difficulty into your life and navigate through those storms. You are in total control, do not blow with the wind.Lt Col Dan Rooney knows that flying into the wind is how he creates an impactful legacy.Lt. Colonel Dan "Noonan" Rooney is a fighter pilot with three combat tours in Iraq, a PGA Professional, and the founder of the Folds of Honor Foundation, which has raised more than $135 million and awarded more than twenty-eight thousand scholarships to the family members of fallen or disabled soldiers. Rooney is a two-time recipient of the Top Gun award and has received many decorations, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Air Expeditionary Medal. For his service and patriotism, Rooney was presented the White House's Volunteer Service Award by President George W. Bush, the Air National Guard's Directors Service Award, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He has been recognized as one of People magazine's Heroes of the Year, Money magazine's Hero of the Year, and ABC World News Tonight's Person of the Year. Lt Colonel Rooney is a proud husband and father of five daughters.In this episode, Dan covers the impactful core concepts in his book, Fly Into the Wind.Listen to this episode and learn about:Dan giving credit and thanks to junior high school English teacher (4:57)Always giving credit where credit is due (9:49)Why Dan wrote his book, Fly Into the Wind (13:48)Welcoming problems in your life (18:22)How to do the next hard thing (20:21)Our responses determining our outcomes (23:54)Using pressure to your advantage (26:40)Faith as a nonnegotiable (32:49)How to support Dan's mission (37:39)LinksConnect with Dan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-rooney-462b0311/Fly Into the Wind - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WS9G5YV/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1Dan's Website - https://danrooney.com

Action now is better than never. This is especially true in the DEI space.When it comes to DEI, we can start driving change with more education, access to opportunities, and the creation of systematic changes. But all of this starts with a step in the right direction.Rosa Nunez believes that it's never too late to do the right thing.Rosa is Foley Hoag's Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. She is responsible for developing, implementing, leading and championing proactive diversity and inclusion initiatives and programs, in alignment with Foley Hoag's overall strategic plans. Rosa is also co-chair the firm’s Diversity Committee.Rosa's initiatives are centered around recruitment, learning and development, engagement, retention and external positioning.Rosa has over 15 years of experience specializing in workplace diversity and inclusion, employee engagement, workplace culture and community outreach programs. Most recently, she worked at BCW Global - Burson Cohn & Wolfe in New York as the SVP, Senior Director, North America - Diversity & Belonging. In that capacity, she was responsible for creating and implementing a comprehensive U.S. inclusion, diversity, equity and belonging strategy to identify talent and help them flourish at BCW. Before that, Rosa was the U.S. Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Omnicom Media Group and started her career as a member of the Global Diversity & Inclusion Team at information technology firm Accenture.In this episode, Rosa shares her knowledge for creating DEI change.Listen to this episode and learn about:Rosa giving credit and thanks to the people that helped and hurt her (4:27)What's most needed in the Latin community for DEI (10:39)Creating educational opportunities for an archaic industry (14:21)The top 3 things to implement when paving a new path (17:41)Experiences that can bridge the gaps between different communities (24:48)Why we are not connecting with people who are different than us (28:28)What we're seeing with the younger generation and DEI (33:51)What's on the horizon for Rosa (37:21)LinksConnect with Rosa on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosa-j-nuñez-mba-94554937/Foley Hoag - https://foleyhoag.com

Our education system has created a massive gap in individuals for feeling true fulfillment, true creativity, and true contribution in the world because it's focused more on creating cogs in a wheel than actually individually contributing members of society.The things that you don't learn in college are the things you need to know to be truly fulfilled in your life.Zander Fryer knows and teaches you what they don't teach you in college.Five years ago Zander Fryer was stuck in a 9-5, single, lonely, bored, and lost. He was unfulfilled and unhappy and getting paid a quarter million dollars a year to stay that way. But, after losing his best friend to suicide and struggling with depression for months he knew something had to change.He quit his corporate job in his late twenties, with no idea what he was going to do and only 3 months of living expenses in the bank. Fighting for life, for time and in honor of his fallen brother, he embarked on a new journey. Despite the harsh criticism of those around him, within 3 months, he replaced his former 6 figure salary, and in 1 year he built a 7 figure business from the ground up.Zander is now a best selling author, internationally renowned speaker, and host of the iTunes top podcast – Sh*t You Don’t Learn In College and is happily married to the women of his dreams.He's been featured in TIME, Forbes, Inc., and TEDx and his company - High Impact Coaching - serves over 50,000 people in 27 different countries and at more than 700 organizations.He is praised as the "next generation of leader," by Chicken Soup for the Soul author, Jack Canfield and regarded as the "coach of coaches" by many top industry leaders like Craig Ballantyne and Bedros Keuilian.In this episode, Zander dives deep into the core principles of his book, Sh*t You Don’t Learn In College.Listen to this episode and learn about:Zander giving credit and thanks to his dad, Robert (5:32)How love can be expressed (8:30)The problem with our education system (12:57)How Zander found his niche (24:54)Fear journaling and its benefits (33:43)You have the ability to change (47:41)LinksConnect with Zander on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zanderfryer/Sh*t You Don’t Learn In College Book - https://www.amazon.com/Sh-You-Dont-Learn-College-ebook/dp/B09FYBZY5JSh*t You Don’t Learn In College Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shit-you-dont-learn-in-college/id1559626815

It's never too late to start new. It's never too late to jump horizontally. It's never too late to keep living a little bit more of your truth. Progress is not linear.Paul Park knows that it's never too late to find your purpose in life.Paul is the Chief Revenue Officer at Sparrow. Prior to Sparrow, Paul Park was the Acting Head of Sales at TriNet, a leading PEO in the HR Tech space that is publicly traded with a $6B market cap. Paul Park started as an individual contributor and rose through the leadership ranks by creating innovative industry go-to-marketing strategies, ecosystem partnerships, DE&I initiatives, and championing career development programs.Paul Park has contributed to a number of different industry events and organizations, including being a startup ambassador and a super-connector.Paul Park earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton.In his spare time, Paul Park enjoys watching foreign films, reading personal development books, and listening to Tech and venture podcasts.In this episode, Paul shares his nonlinear life story.Listen to this episode and learn about:Paul giving credit and thanks to his mom (4:09)Not having everything figured out (7:29)Maintaining motivation and faith (8:43)The power of servant leadership (9:59)How to be empathetic in sales (12:11)Setting a strong relationship foundation (15:26)Creating communities within a company (20:05)Spotting potential (24:56)Feeling a renewed sense of purpose (29:06)LinksConnect with Paul on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulparkk/Sparrow - https://trysparrow.com

Have you ever wondered where your perspectives come from?Throughout your lifetime, various people have taught you your current belief system. In order to find the root cause of a belief, you need to keep asking yourself why until the root appears.Dr. Shindale Seale focuses on finding the root cause to create transformational education.Dr. Shindale Seale is a cultural equity and diversity strategist who employs leadership and performance optimization concepts to help entrepreneurs, corporate and academic stakeholders, and Diversity & Inclusion professionals identify and reach their organizational culture goals.For over two decades, Dr. Seale served in various leadership and training roles and sectors, including the corporate environment, academia, and the non-profit arena. Her work has focused on business performance optimization, staff development, and creating sustainable and equitable working environments. Her research and consulting on creating equitable solutions in gender, race, age, and ability matters has led to her being a sought-after subject matter expert and speaker.In addition to her consulting services, Dr. Seale is the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Program Chair at the University of California Santa Cruz - Silicon Valley Extension, where she also develops and teaches courses on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in the workplace and academia. Dr. Seale is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Redlands, where she teaches Leadership, Organizational Change, and Business Communication.Dr. Seale holds a Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Change and Leadership and a Master of Education degree, both from the University of Southern California (USC). She also earned her Bachelor of Arts with a focus on Language and Linguistics from California State University at Dominguez Hills (CSUDH).In this episode, Dr. Seale gets to the root of injustice issues in our world today.Listen to this episode and learn about:Getting to the root cause (3:22)The power of aha moments (6:43)Who DEI training is really for (9:23)Creating a sense of urgency (13:25)A massive lack of education around our origins (17:52)What people need to hear about racial healing (21:25)Are these conversations allowed? (24:51)How to adjust our perspectives (33:48)Focusing on what went right versus wrong (40:43)Dr. Seale's barista name (47:42)LinksConnect with Dr. Seale on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drshindaleGrateful Processing of Unpleasant Memories - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Philip-Watkins/publication/233193951_Taking_care_of_business_Grateful_processing_of_unpleasant_memories/links/00b7d532b352f4b726000000/Taking-care-of-business-Grateful-processing-of-unpleasant-memories.pdfIt Didn't Start with You - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013D6640M/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1Rachel Yehuda's work - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=k7C9PhkAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sraDr. Seale's website - https://seadecc.com

If you aren't living your truth, then you aren't living the life you are meant to live.Ray DeForest knows just how necessary it is to live your truth.Performer, producer, activist, community leader, Ray DeForest, may also be known to some as his popular theatrical character, Doris Dear. 3-time winner of the MAC Award, actress and comedienne Doris Dear, has been featured in numerous movie and TV productions, performs in her own sold-out cabaret-style shows, and stars in her series "Doris Dear's Gurl Talk" on the BroadwayOnDemand streaming service. Ray created the series at the height of the Covid pandemic as a way to bring Doris to a new audience while live theater was on hold. Ray writes, directs and produces the series now currently filming season 3. The show was an immediate hit and won the prestigious Silver Telly Award for season one.In addition to entertaining audiences and raising funds to support theatre development, Mr. DeForest is a member of the prestigious Dramatist Guild of America. It is through his lifelong love of theatre that Ray nurtured his storytelling and comedic talents, as well as his ability to connect with an audience and take them on an emotional journey. "Art requires reaction," he proclaims. Long before theatre life beckoned Mr. DeForest to Manhattan, he found himself growing up in 1950-1960s Staten Island, where idyllic "Americana" was a real-world version of Norman Rockwell's iconic paintings. But what is one to do when they don't fit the traditional mold? "Admitting who we are is never easy," states Mr. DeForest. But, this challenge of self-expression found a creative outlet through character development and performance and continues to be richly rewarded by audiences who react to the experience and find a safe space in his character's maternal presence. Bravo!In this episode, Ray shares vital lessons from living his authentic life.Listen to this episode and learn about:Ray giving credit and thanks to the people who closed the door on him (5:33)Why it takes time to share our emotions (16:23)Living our life authentically because we have no idea what's coming next (19:55)Gender as a social construct (25:23)Getting people to acknowledge that we have more in common than differences (32:36)The qualities that make a great leader (36:15)Gratitude inspiring creativity and innovation (40:51)Insights from Ray (43:42)LinksConnect with Ray on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raydeforest/Doris Dear - https://www.dorisdear.com/homeRay's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hewearsheelsandhose/?hl=enDoris Dear Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dorisdearny/?hl=enCosplay Ray Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cosplayrayde/?hl=en

To create equity, we have to do things that are above and beyond because we're compensating for the way the system is already stacked against certain individuals. Equality and equity are different in that equality treats everyone the same regardless of need, while equity treats people differently depending on need.Kathy Goss knows just how vital equity is, especially when it comes to recruiting.Kathy Goss (she/her/hers) has nearly 20 years of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion at companies spanning a wide variety of industries and sizes. She currently serves as the Diversity & Talent Practice Leader at Chicago Trading Company. Previously, she built LinkedIn's first Inclusion Recruiting strategy and team, and during her tenure achieved double-digit percent increases in hiring rates for under-represented candidates. In addition to diversity recruiting, Kathy has extensive experience in DEI learning and development, culture change, and data analytics. She excels at breaking down complex problems to design and drive practical solutions that make a positive impact. Kathy graduated from Northwestern University with a B.S. in Learning & Organizational Change and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Chicago SHRM (Society of Human Resources Professionals). She lives in the Chicago area with her husband, 3 children, and their Redbone Coonhound rescue.In this episode, Kathy provides explanations and strategies for creating belonging, inclusion, and equity during the hiring process.Listen to this episode and learn about:Kathy giving credit and thanks to her husband, Shane (5:14)Being a life-long learner (7:11)How Kathy got her voice in this area (10:03)Pivotal allies for Kathy (13:43)Creating policies that benefit the employee and employer (17:21)The difference between equality and equity (23:01)Inclusion and belonging start before an interview (28:03)Pushing back on recruiters to have more diverse candidates (32:26)Building experiences to create connection (34:43)Priorities to focus on for recruiting (41:17)LinksConnect with Kathy on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathygoss/

At any point, any one of us is one question away from a completely different life.A good question creates a pause. And when we can pause, we can think, reflect, and then acknowledge the people who have formed our story up until this point. And then, most importantly, we can consider who we want to continue to fuel that story?Marc Champagne knows the life-changing power that questions have.Marc Champagne unpacks the mental fitness practices and reflective questions shaping the lives of some of the most successful and brilliant thinkers in the world. He is the host of the top 50 ranked podcast Behind The Human and co-founded the journaling app (KYO), which reached 86.9 million people without any paid advertising. He has studied mental fitness practices for over a decade and consults with Fortune 500 companies as a mental fitness strategist and speaker.Marc's first book, Personal Socrates (publishing October 2021), explores the pointed questions that stimulate our mental fitness and teach us how to direct our internal narrative to work for us instead of against us. Marc unpacks the prompts and mental fitness practices of legends such as Kobe Bryant, Maya Angelou, Robin Williams, James Clear, Coco Chanel, Stephen Hawking, and many others to bring clarity, intentionality, and possibility to every aspect of your life.In this episode, Marc dives into the power of question-asking and how it can change your life for the better.Listen to this episode and learn about:Marc giving credit and thanks to his uncle, Al Champagne (6:13)Jane Austin and 3rd party vulnerability (15:20)Why Marc wrote Personal Socrates (20:10)Why people are afraid of questions (28:16)How to get out of challenging times (31:46)Why to read Personal Socrates now versus later (36:00)Closing words from Marc (46:06)LinksConnect with Marc on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-champagne-14767b17/?originalSubdomain=caPersonal Socrates -https://baronfig.com/personal-socrates?title=default+titleBehind the Human - https://www.behindthehuman.com

One billion people, or 15% of the world's population, experience some form of disability.Disability refers to the interaction between individuals with a health condition (e.g., cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and depression) and personal and environmental factors (e.g., negative attitudes, inaccessible transportation or public buildings, and limited social support). Almost everyone is likely to experience some form of disability - temporary or permanent - at some point in life.But having a disability does not mean you don't have value to offer to this world.Debra Ruh fights to make sure everyone gets to share their value, regardless of their disability.Debra Ruh is a Global Disability Inclusion Strategist, Market Influencer, internationally recognized keynote speaker, published author, branding expert, successful entrepreneur, and exceptional mother. Debra is the host of a popular program: Human Potential at Work (Audience in 92 countries and 113 Regions). Proud to be the founder and CEO of Ruh Global IMPACT and the Co-founder and Executive Chair of Billion Strong.She is also an author of three books, Inclusion Branding (available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Voice via Audible), Tapping into Hidden Human Capital and Finding Your Voice Using Social Media.Debra Ruh received her call to action when she was told by so-called “experts” that her daughter, Sara, who was born with Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21), would never walk or talk. She refused to accept the prognosis and perception of this condition. Driven by her unshakeable faith in the power of human potential and the love for her daughter, Debra was determined to dedicate her life to create a path to empowerment and success for all those with disabilities. Her husband aged into disabilities due to a TBI sustained when he was hit by a drunk driver as a child. Sadly, his brain aged into Dementia due to the TBI.Debra had built a multi-million-dollar firm focused on ICT accessibility. Debra was convinced that "the real disability is being unable to see human potential" formed Ruh Global IMPACT. This social enterprise and think tank focused on Global Disability Inclusion Strategies, Digital Marketing, and Branding among many other services. Billion-Strong.org is a global identity organization focused on disability identity and empowerment.Debra consults with Multi-National and National Corporations and the United Nations. Debra is now internationally renowned global keynote speakers and travels the world inspiring and advocating for governments and corporations to include people with disabilities.In this episode, Debra shares her story and how she's changing the world.Listen to this episode and learn about:Debra giving credit and thanks to her Mother (4:58)Controlling your perspective and reaction to tough times in life (8:22)How Debra found her life's work (8:58)The misconceptions around disabilities (13:20)Does DEI include disabilities (17:11)How to include disabilities in DEI programs (19:25)The importance of community for advocacy (23:24)The power gratitude has to change perspectives (27:31)Billion Strong and how to join (31:34)Debra's message to her Mother (43:06)LinksConnect with Debra on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/debraruhRuh Global - https://www.ruhglobal.comBillion Strong - https://www.billion-strong.orgAXSChat - https://twitter.com/AXSChatInclusion Branding - https://www.ruhglobal.com/inclusion-branding/

Times of struggle are familiar to all of us. Moments where we're unsure of how we'll make it out the other side, that are difficult and dark are moments we all have in common. Sometimes they come upon us from out of nowhere and other times we bring them upon ourselves. Regardless of how they come about, they all have the potential to be better than we could ever imagine.David Paynter's worst year of his life turned out to be the best year of his life.David Paynter is a highly entrepreneurial, former professional cricketer who faced some of the world’s best players in his career, including the likes of the legendary English paceman James Anderson. And it was Paynter’s competitive playing experience that inspired him for what was to come next after he hung up his bat and boots.He recognised that there was an opportunity for a footwear revolution in cricket, based on those years of experience wearing product that failed to put the performance needs of the athlete first. The result? The PAYNTR brand, which was born in 2017, providing a game-enhancing footwear platform for the best players in the game, including the likes of global superstar Rashid Khan.While success in cricket was rapid, and the brand grew across Europe, India, the Middle East and Australasia, Paynter was also convinced that other sports could benefit from a similar approach. In April 2019, he reached out to Mike Forsey, a golf footwear innovation specialist with more than 30 years’ footwear design experience behind him, working with elite athletes at Nike, FootJoy and Under Armour. Nearly two years later, PAYNTR Golf was launched, and the X 001 F golf shoe came to market globally on March 1, 2021. The shoe fuses together a series of contrasting elements to allow golfers to optimize and harness the power in their swing – what PAYNTR labels the Performance Multiplied innovation ethos. Force x Velocity = Power.The PAYNTR brand will always have its roots in cricket, thanks in part to David’s Great Grandfather Eddie who played a starring role in the iconic Bodyline Ashes tour of Australia in 1932/33. Refusing to be downed by a severe bout of tonsilitis, Eddie climbed off a Brisbane hospital bed and helped England to victory, hitting the winning runs to win the Ashes.The PAYNTR brand is based in Leeds in the county of Yorkshire, England, with a US office in Portland, Oregon and an Indian office in Delhi.In this episode, David discusses the impact that his darkest year had on him and how it made him into the person he is today.Listen to this episode and learn about:David giving credit and thanks to his wife, Karen (4:55)How not all gratitude given is gratitude heard (10:43)Overcoming adversity (13:04)How it can be hard to do the "easy" things (18:49)Normalizing low points in life (21:22)Our worst years actually being our best years (26:25)How our past can propel our future (29:35)David's message to Karen (33:54)LinksConnect with David on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-paynter-00185a104?originalSubdomain=ukPAYNTR Golf - www.payntr.com

There's a demographic that a lot of people don't know exists. That demographic is gentlemen in the inner city who are extremely intelligent, have high grades, have massive potential, want to go to college, and be super successful.Two issues are standing in the way of this demographic achieving that success. The first issue is that they don't have access to the community that will help them become that successful. And because they don't have access to that community, they also don't have access to those powerful first experiences; the second issue.A powerful first experience is doing something you'd never thought you would do for the first time in a place that you never thought you would be in for the first time.Kenneth Chabert knows firsthand how much power first experiences have.Kenneth has a passion for communicating big ideas in very little time through the use of conversational intelligence and authentic storytelling.While working at Alex and Ani, he was known as the Prezi Master, one of only twenty-five experts in the world in Prezi. After starting a consulting practice, Kenneth worked with companies such as Trek Bikes, Amgen, Amica, and Burson-Marsteller in presentation design and authentic storytelling.In 2016, Kenneth founded the Gentlemen's Retreat, which teaches inner-city youth the art of being gentlemen through the use of emotional and conversational intelligence. They experience anything and everything a Gentlemen does - from staying in mansions to eating at some of the nicest restaurants, and are led through powerful workshops that enable them to get into top colleges and universities around the country such as Brown, Cornell, and Wake Forest University. The program has recently expanded into Montana where Kenneth curated Powerful First Experiences that give the Gentlemen experiential learning opportunities while expanding their networks.Kenneth coined the term "Powerful First Experiences." These types of experiences help people develop new levels of confidence and understanding of themselves and bridges the gap between people from different environments because PFEs lead to building empathy, better storytelling, creating larger and more diverse networks, and fostering a larger view of the world.Kenneth speaks around the world about powerful first experiences. He was featured as one of the Brave ones at Leadercast, was a TED Resident during Spring 2019, spoke at HATCH, and was a presenter at Kinnernet, and is part of the Nexus Global community.In this episode, Kenneth unpacks the model of the Gentlemen's Retreat and how impactful it is for all involved.Listen to this episode and learn about:Struggling with hearing praise (4:22)Kenneth giving credit and thanks to all of his Gentlemen (G's) (5:57)How to paint a compelling story (9:52)What the Gentlemen's Retreat is all about (14:51)Being a great partner for the Gentlemen's Retreat (20:19)How Kenneth sustains and grows the Gentlemen's Retreat (25:49)What's next for Kenneth and the G's (35:19)LinksConnect with Kenneth on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kchabert/The Gentlemen's Retreat - https://www.gentlemensretreat.org

Creating relationships is more challenging than ever for business and marketing professionals. But it doesn't have to be.If you want to become the ultimate marketing engine, focus on making customers into members to help them achieve lasting transformation.John Jantsch has the strategies you need to create customers and clients for life.John is a marketing consultant, speaker, and author of Duct Tape Marketing, The Referral Engine, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur, and The Ultimate Marketing Engine. He is also the founder of the Duct Tape Marketing Consultant Network, which trains and licenses independent consultants and agencies to use the Duct Tape Methodology.In this episode, John details the marketing concepts in his new book that transform how readers view their business, marketing, and customers.Listen to this episode and learn about:John giving gratitude to Peter Drucker (3:33)Why John wrote The Ultimate Marketing Engine now (8:37)What people are craving a transformation away from (12:22)Membership over customership (14:08)The meet me at the club concept (17:29)The power of referrals (21:11)Empathy as a marketing tool (23:56)Solving the problem of control (27:50)How to work with John (31:01)LinksConnect with John on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ducttapemarketing/Pre-order The Ultimate Marketing Engine - https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Marketing-Engine-Ridiculously-Consistent/dp/1400224772/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1608570384&sr=1-4&linkCode=sl1&tag=ducttape0a-20&linkId=cf8c5e2a5b68fe1933a34e54778e05e1&language=en_USInformation on The Ultimate Marketing Engine - https://theultimatemarketingengine.comDuct Tape Marketing - https://ducttapemarketing.com

It is through hardship and hard work that creativity grows and flourishes. When crunched for time or in a challenging situation, we have to find alternative, innovative solutions to our problems.Maria Goyer knows firsthand that necessity is the mother of invention.Maria is the Chief Innovation Officer at Velocity Global, where she drives strategic initiatives and innovative best practices across the organization to serve the growing global customer base. She served as senior vice president of Strategy for iWorkGlobal prior to Velocity Global’s acquisition. Maria’s efforts led to 2020 American Business Awards Silver medals in Growth and International Expansion. Maria applies more than 27 years of industry and strategic expertise in the development of all aspects of Business Process Outsourcing, including pioneering work in the Managed Service Providers (MSP), Vendor Management Systems (VMS), Employer of Record (EOR), Agent of Record (AOR) and Independent Contractor Compliance (ICC) industries and development of Software as a service (SaaS) applications for global contingent workforce programs. Additionally, Maria was named to Staffing Industry Analysts 2020 Global Power 150 – Women in Staffing list for her incredible contributions across the industry.In this episode, Maria shares her wisdom on innovation, gratitude, and the future of work.Listen to this episode and learn about:The Virtual Gratitude Experience Maria and her team went through (4:12)The importance of reflecting about the past to achieve future goals (6:26)Stigma's around giving gratitude to your team (8:20)Cultivating innovation on your team (9:35)Growing and flourishing in times of hardship (11:56)What the last 20 months has been like for Velocity Global (13:32)The next big thing in business is staying small (19:48)How Velocity Global is expanding (23:36)The future of work being centered around self-care (25:48)Maria giving credit and thanks to her stepmother, Janice (27:56)LinksConnect with Maria on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-goyer-1770262/Velocity Global - https://velocityglobal.com