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Industry Trailblazer Andy Cunningham Empowers Readers with Cutting-Edge Business Strategies

In the ever-changing realm of business, certain individuals stand out for their extraordinary vision, unparalleled expertise, and unwavering dedication. One such luminary is Andy Cunningham, an acclaimed author, CEO, and entrepreneur, whose impact on the domains of branding and marketing strategy is unforgettable.

Andy Cunningham’s journey is a tapestry woven with exceptional accomplishments and transformative experiences. From collaborating with industry legends like Steve Jobs to founding her own thriving companies, she has charted a distinct course that continues to inspire entrepreneurs and professionals on a global scale.

As an author, Andy Cunningham’s profound insights and wisdom come to life in her highly praised book, “Get to Aha! Discover Your Positioning DNA and Dominate Your Competition.” This literary treasure serves as a guide for those seeking to build a robust and distinctive brand that deeply connects with their target audience. With her expertise in strategic brand positioning, Andy Cunningham has revolutionized the marketing landscape, empowering countless leaders to unlock their full potential.

At the helm of Cunningham Collective, a strategic communications and marketing advisory firm, Andy Cunningham continues to empower leadership teams with the indispensable tools for positioning their companies for triumph. Her proven framework, honed through collaborations with numerous enterprises, ensures that every brand she touches achieves resounding success.

This interview delves into the brilliance of Andy Cunningham, exploring her early career journey, the pivotal moments that shaped her approach, and the invaluable lessons she has learned along the way. Through insightful discussions, we uncover her unique perspective on brand positioning, marketing trends, and the future of entrepreneurship in the digital age.

Discover the strategies, techniques, and philosophies that have propelled her to the forefront of the industry and find inspiration to unlock your own brand’s limitless potential.

The path to success is illuminated by those who dare to think differently, challenge the status quo, and pioneer new frontiers. Andy Cunningham embodies this spirit of innovation, and her transformative contributions continue to shape the modern branding landscape.

Prepare to be inspired, enlightened, and equipped with the tools to navigate the ever-changing currents of the business world.

Can you share some of the early challenges you faced when starting your career, and how did you overcome them?

Like most women of my generation, I did have a handful of male chauvinist challenges early in my career. I had a managing editor who chased me around his desk, a publisher who said women can’t write feature articles about trucks, clients who tried to kiss me, men who sat next to me with their hand in my thigh, etc. This is where I made a life decision to actively not make gender an issue in any circumstance. It is refreshing and exciting to see women reclaim their power and continue to shatter glass ceilings. We have a long way to go, but I love watching my daughter soar, knowing she hasn’t endured the same level of sexism in the workplace that I did at her age. 

 What role do you think innovation plays in entrepreneurship, and how do you foster a culture of innovation within your ventures?

I think entrepreneurship requires a great deal of innovation, and vice versa. No matter how many business books exist, there really isn’t a playbook for every situation you come across as an entrepreneur. Simply starting a business requires some innovative thinking. And true innovation requires an entrepreneurial approach to bring it to market. 

I’ve always viewed my purpose as bringing innovation to market, so it’s incredibly important that I foster a culture of innovation in my companies. I try to do so by listening to and implementing new ideas, encouraging my employees to challenge the status quo and take intelligent risks, and giving people the freedom to experiment and lead within their roles. It goes back to building a culture of action built on values of substance. In my case, those values are outlined in The Cunningham Way. 

Can you share a case study or example from your book that illustrates how the principles

outlined in “Get to Aha!” have helped a company achieve significant breakthroughs?

One of the most successful positioning projects of my career, and possibly of all time, is Cisco. This is an example of leveraging context to create high value relevancy and viewing category as a strategy, not a given. It was the mid-nineties. Cisco was successfully selling hubs and routers. But CEO John Chambers knew the company stand for so much more, and in turn could be work so much more. So he reached out to me to discuss how we might help him elevate the company above the day-to-day hubs and routers business. Reviewing the market through the Six Cs of positioning, we correctly surmised that the emerging Internet would change the face of communications forever. Cisco provided the plumbing that made the Internet hum. This is an example of observing contextual trends, identifying the right waves to ride, and associating the brand with the next big thing. 

We developed a thought leadership platform called “Cisco and the Internet Economy.” At the time, there were only two CEOs who dominated the technology airwaves: Intel’s Andy Grove represented hardware and Microsoft’s Bill Gates represented software. No one but us saw the opportunity to turn this duopoly into a triad. We established John’s credibility as a thought leader in the space and strategically started to position him as a peer to Andy Grove and Bill Gates. We limited his speaking engagements to events at which only Grove and Gates were speaking, quite literally positioning John Chambers and Cisco as a critical component of the Internet Economy. The press ate it up and Cisco was forever connected to the Internet. This is an example of using category as a strategy, not a given. It can be tempting to operate within the confines of your current category, but you don’t have to! We created what I call a ‘cluster category’ in which we clustered Cisco with two complementary technologies (and John Chambers with two influential leaders). 

This changed the game entirely. Cisco was no longer talking about hubs and routers, selling widgets and features. It started talking about the future of the internet and sold a dream. John’s cachet skyrocketed as he joined the tech industry’s pantheon of most important CEOs, Cisco’s valuation climbed from $1.2 billion in 1995 to $43 billion in 1997, and with new found vision, its employees banded together to create products that ultimately would make the Internet economy reliant on Cisco. 

The key takeaway? Start with strategy and examine the market to find your position of maximum opportunity. 

Were there any specific mentors or individuals who played a significant role in shaping your early career? If so, how did they influence you?

I feel like this has been answered at nauseum. See above. 

Can you share a funny or memorable anecdote from your professional life?

  1. It was the late 1990s and I had just bought myself a Corvette. I parked at the Pacific Athletic Club where the who’s who of Silicon Valley worked out in those days. As I was getting out of the car, a man pulled up next to me and said, with genuine admiration, “Is that your car?” I said, “Yes, it is.” And he says, without missing a beat, “Wow! You must type really fast!” I thought about calling out his sexist comment, but chuckled to myself instead and replied, “You know what, I do!” It’s a story that reflects the time in which it took place, highlights the progress that has been made, and still makes me laugh to this day. 

Click Here to Connect with the Cunningham Collective: https://www.cunninghamcollective.com

 

For Press Inquiries Contact Michael Beas of Atlas Elite Publishing via info@atlaselitepublishing.com

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The Problem with Hiring People Who Are Just Like You

By Evan Hackel

An excerpt from my forthcoming book Ingaging Leadership Meets the Younger Generation

Many company owners, managers, and executives make the mistake of hiring people who are just like they are or putting together teams of similarly minded people. Software engineers tend to like to work with other software engineers, for example, and people who launched businesses by selling assertively tend to hire assertive sales professionals. As a result, their organizations fail to have the balance that they need for peak performance.

Instead, look at what’s happening within your organization. As you look at your team, do you see people who are doing only what they are required to do, rather than what they love to do and at which they excel? If this is the case, your company and your team could be better served if you recruit a mix of people who together provide all the skills necessary for success.

Imagine that your business is like a symphony orchestra. Now imagine your orchestra is made up only of musicians who can play strings and tympani. What kind of music will it make? Granted, it might sound okay, but it will not make beautiful music. A full symphony orchestra usually has a group of musicians who play more than 13 different instruments, not just one or two. Chances are that your organization needs people who can perform well in a dozen or more specific roles.

When considering your business teams, think of yourself as a conductor who, with the right mix of Ingaged people and a beautiful score, can achieve brilliant success.

Consider the variety of people in your company. Are there gaps in ability, attitude, or experience that are preventing your organization from achieving its greatest potential? If you were starting up today, what kind of staff would allow the business to grow and prosper?

Hire and Support People Who Have the Right Attitude

Attitude is the most important trait among your people.

Attitude is a game-changer. If you populate your organization with people who are positive, they will lift others and lead them to excel. On the other side of the equation, negative people can drain the energy out of everyone around them. Negative people in an organization can kill your chances of success.

I am not recommending a staff made up of people who are irrationally positive all the time like artificially upbeat cheerleaders who have no grounding in practical business. You want resilient people who adopt a strongly positive yet realistic point of view when facing business challenges and setbacks. Those will be the same people who will look for ways to make things better, even at times when everything seems to be going well.

Negativism kills. You can talk to some very skilled people who will say, “I know that everything seems to be going well right now, but I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. Negative things are bound to happen, and things will then get worse.”

Although it is good to look ahead and anticipate future problems, you want people who are going to be positive, and who are going to inspire others realistically. When people are inspired, they will perform better, and your enterprise will prosper.

About Evan Hackel
As author, speaker and entrepreneur, Evan Hackel has been instrumental in launching more than 20 businesses and has managed a portfolio of brands with systemwide sales of more than $5 billion. He is the creator of Ingaged Leadership, is author of the book Ingaging Leadership Meets the Younger Generation and is a thought leader in the fields of leadership and success.
Evan is the CEO of Ingage Consulting, Delta Payment Systems, and an advisor to Tortal Training. Reach Evan at ehackel@ingage.net, 781-820 7609 or visit www.evanhackelspeaks.com

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[PRESS RELEASE] C-Suite Network™ Partners with Revolution Media Group to Pioneer New Age in Media Broadcasting with “Bulls, Bears and Blockchain”

Live interactive podcast set to expand distribution on C-Suite Radio as a podcast series to expand distribution, access, and engagement

 

New York, NY – August 8, 2023 — The C-Suite Network™, the world’s most trusted network of C-Suite leaders, is announcing a partnership with Revolution Media Group, a trailblazer in media innovation, to redefine the landscape of financial broadcasting. This partnership will integrate traditional finance, decentralized finance, and emerging technologies by expanding distribution of the content via C-Suite Network™ and C-Suite Radio, the premier business podcast network.

The collaboration aims to usher in a revolutionary phase in financial broadcasting with the introduction of the highly acclaimed “Bulls, Bears, and Blockchain” (“B3”) podcast series. The Market Masters, a galaxy of finance gurus, along with a constellation of celebrated guests, steer the discourse on traditional finance (TradFi), decentralized finance (DeFi), and associated cutting-edge technologies.

“Business is constantly changing and it’s essential that we stay on top of any emerging technologies and news as they pertain to business,” said Jeffrey Hayzlett, Chairman and Founder, C-Suite Network™ and host of “All Business with Jeffrey Hayzlett on C-Suite Radio. “Having such a successful podcast join our network speaks volumes to their desire to reach a wider audience and delivers on our promise to our community of providing them with the most relevant content to scale their businesses to the next level.”

“Bulls, Bears, and Blockchain” fosters real-time audience engagement paralleling social media live streaming, inviting listeners to contribute during live podcast recordings. Coupled with a myriad of audiograms and posts, it results in a rich, multi-layered experience. The B3 show’s philosophy centers on delivering distinctive educational content and market insights, empowering listeners towards financial self-reliance.

Tune in on Twitter Spaces every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm ET. The vibrant hour is then masterfully shaped into a podcast, released the subsequent day on all podcast and streaming platforms. Integrating that content with C-Suite Radio, extends the show’s distribution, reach, and opportunity for engagement in an on-demand format where listeners download and listen at their own leisure.

“C-Suite’s role as a leader in business-focused podcasts and related content makes this exciting partnership a natural choice for “Bulls, Bears & Blockchain,” says Revolution Media Group Co-Founder and B3 Market Master Marc X. LoPresti.

“Bulls, Bears, and Blockchain” takes pride in its stellar lineup of guests. B3 has hosted financial luminaries such as Anthony Scaramucci of SkyBridge Capital, Thomas Lee from Fundstrat, Grant Cardone, and Peter Schiff, among others. These financial titans bring their own followers to the B3 audience, contributing their extensive experience to dynamic discussions and enriching our shows with exclusive knowledge and insights.

Begin your journey with “Bulls, Bears, and Blockchain” on multiple podcast platforms and engage live through social media spaces. Follow Revolution Media Group and C-Suite Network™ for exciting updates.

For a complete playlist of recent episodes, visit: https://c-suitenetwork.com/radio/shows/bulls-bears-blockchain/

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About C-Suite Network™

C-Suite Network™ is the world’s most trusted network of C-Suite leaders, with a focus on providing growth, development and networking opportunities for business executives with titles of vice president and above. The C-Suite Network’s mission is to provide a peer community, networking events, relevant content and services to support c-level executives and other entrepreneurs achieve professional success.

 

C-Suite Network™ offers invitation-only events as well as custom-tailored content through all its entities: C-Suite TV, C-Suite Radio, C-Suite Book Club, and C-Suite Network Advisors™. Learn more at www.c-suitenetwork.com, or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

 

About Revolution Media Group:

Revolution Media Group, the pioneers of media transformation, are reshaping content creation and consumption through innovative media and blockchain technologies. Composing a harmony of audience-centric journalism and community reinforcement, it’s the compass guiding you through unchartered territories. Discover a universe of boundless opportunities at www.getrevradio.com.

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Embracing the Journey to a Prosperous Century: Your Guide to Financial Freedom!

In the grand tapestry of life, the threads of our fate intertwine with the enigma of time. As we march towards retirement, the elusive answer to how long our story shall unfold remains veiled in mystery. Will we dance with destiny for a century or be beckoned by the unknown tomorrow? Amidst this captivating riddle lies a quest to ensure that the canvas of our lives is painted with hues of abundance and prosperity! 

  1. Embrace the Uncharted Horizons: Preparing for the Unforeseen

Life’s journey is rife with unpredictability, and preparation is the beacon of tranquility that lights our way. As we toil to build our nest egg, the most intricate part of retirement planning awaits—the calculation of how many years to finance after retirement. As human beings, we cannot predict the length of our threads, but we yearn to ensure that our financial tapestry withstands the test of time. 

Imagine the unthinkable—the absence of financial preparedness. In such moments, we risk becoming a burden to those we cherish, our dreams shackled by unanticipated struggles. To transcend this fate, we must welcome the beautiful gift of life that extends beyond a century!  So when we plan our retirement at 65, we must raise the veil on the extraordinary journey that may extend for 35 years or more. 

  1. Navigating the Seas of Financial Stability: Annuities & Social Security

In this thrilling voyage towards prosperity, two pillars stand tall—Annuities and Social Security—guiding us through the turbulent waters of the future.  Social Security, a melody of financial security, gifts us with lifetime income. A symphony that grows more magnificent when we dance with the allure of patience, claiming its treasure only when we truly need it. 

A second guardian of stability lies in the embrace of a traditional pension—an elixir that blesses the fortunate few with lifelong benefits. If your company offers this timeless gift, seize it and be rewarded for a lifetime! 

  1. Illuminating the Path to Health & Happiness: MediCaid & Long Term Care Insurance

In this tale of prosperity, health is our most treasured asset.  Medicare supplemental policies and MediCaid emerge as our valiant knights, protecting us from the trials of medical expenses that threaten to darken our skies. As the sands of time flow, our need for medical attention may extend beyond a hundred days. In this realm, Long Term Care insurance takes our hand, securing us in times of vulnerability. 

Embarking on this exhilarating odyssey, we unlock the secrets to financial serenity, ensuring that our lives flourish in vibrancy and fulfillment!  As the stars align, we chart our course towards financial freedom, safeguarding our dreams for generations to come! 

So, dear adventurers, let us journey with a heart full of wisdom and readiness!  Secure your legacy, and let your financial tapestry become an eternal masterpiece that illuminates the world! 

Schedule a Free Financial Fitness Strategy Session with Kris Miller, LDA

Legacy Wealth Strategist #1 Bestselling Author, Speaker & Educator

Use the Calendar Below to Schedule Your One-On-One Session with Kris

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30+ years of experience assisting others to grow & protect their wealth. Helped more than 6,000 families avoid financial disaster by strategically planning for their futures. Not one person has lost a single dime on her watch. Her clients learn how to change their families’ financial realities and create incomes they will never outlive

For more Healthy Money Tips:

linktr.ee/healthymoneyhappylife

Kris@HealthyMoneyHappyLIfe.com

Phone (951) 926-4158

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A No BS Guide to Recruiting and Hiring Exceptional Employees

Unveiling the Key to Assembling an Exemplary Team

In the realm of prospering enterprises, the pivotal factor lies in the construction of a robust and proficient team. Your workforce forms the bedrock of your organization, and the acquisition and selection of suitable individuals can be the differentiating factor.

This pragmatic guide delves into the fundamental strategies and valuable insights to aid you in attracting, evaluating, and onboarding top-tier employees who will spearhead your company’s progress.

 

  1. Crafting an Alluring Job Listing

The initial stride in the recruitment process involves the creation of an enticing job listing that captivates the attention of qualified candidates. Commence by elucidating the job title, responsibilities, and desired qualifications with utmost clarity. Remember, lucidity is of utmost importance! Eschew the utilization of jargon or convoluted language that may perplex prospective applicants.

Next, accentuate the distinctive attributes of your organization and its culture. Convey your fervor, mission, and values to entice candidates who resonate with your vision. It is crucial to exhibit authenticity and showcase the personality of your company. Infuse a touch of your personal experiences as a business owner and articulate the reasons behind your passion.

 

  1. Effective Candidate Screening

Upon receiving a pool of applications, it is imperative to screen candidates effectively. Look beyond the surface-level particulars and focus on their skills, experience, and cultural compatibility. Embark upon the process by scrutinizing their resumes and cover letters, paying close attention to their previous roles and achievements.

In addition to conventional screening methods, contemplate incorporating behavioral and situational inquiries during interviews. This approach aids in assessing how candidates would navigate real-life scenarios they may encounter in the workplace. Share anecdotes from your own experiences to establish a personal connection and provide invaluable insights.

 

 

  1. The Art of Conducting Interviews

Conducting interviews is an art form that demands meticulous preparation and execution. Structure your interviews to encompass a blend of technical and behavioral questions, enabling you to gain a comprehensive understanding of the candidate’s capabilities. Eschew generic inquiries and opt for tailored questions that pertain to the specific role and align with your company’s culture.

Remember, interviews should facilitate a two-way exchange. Encourage candidates to seek clarifications about the company, team dynamics, and growth prospects. This open dialogue will afford you a glimpse into their enthusiasm, inquisitiveness, and compatibility with your organization.

 

  1. Onboarding for Optimal Success

Congratulations! You have discovered the perfect candidate. Now, it is time to set them on the path to success through a comprehensive onboarding process. Commence by extending a warm welcome and introducing them to the team. Cultivate a supportive environment where new employees feel at ease posing queries and seeking guidance.

Develop a structured onboarding plan that encompasses both general orientation and role-specific training. By providing lucid expectations and equipping them with resources, you will enable employees to swiftly acclimate to their responsibilities and comprehend how their work contributes to the overarching goals of the company.

 

 

  1. Cultivating a Positive Work Culture

Cultivating a positive work culture is indispensable for employee satisfaction and retention. Foster an environment wherein individuals feel valued, respected, and supported. Encourage open communication and deliver regular feedback to facilitate the professional growth of your employees.

Invest in comprehensive employee development programs, both formal and informal, to augment their skills and knowledge. Create opportunities for advancement within the organization and acknowledge their accomplishments along the way. When employees perceive their contributions to be appreciated and their potential to be nurtured, they are more inclined to exhibit unwavering commitment and motivation.

 

Conclusion: Assembling an Exemplary Team

The process of recruiting and hiring exceptional employees is an ongoing endeavor that necessitates dedication and diligence. By adhering to the strategies expounded upon in this guide, you will be well-equipped to attract exceptional talent that aligns seamlessly with your company’s objectives and values.

Remember, constructing an exceptional team is not merely about procuring skilled individuals; it is about fostering a supportive culture wherein every member can thrive. Therefore, devote the time and effort required to invest in your employees, and behold the flourishing of your organization as a result.

Prepare to triumph in the realm of recruitment and propel your business to unprecedented heights!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Svetlana Kouznetsova

Do you want to expand the audience for your podcasts, videos, and live events? Provide quality captioning to communicate with people who can’t hear you.

Captioning — converting audio content into text and displaying that text on a screen or monitor — will help you reach people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing, an audience currently estimated at 466 million worldwide. Captioning also can prevent your message from being missed or misunderstood because of other barriers, such as background noise, mumbling, or accented speech.

In the second edition of Sound Is Not Enough: The Art of Captioning for Universal Access, Svetlana Kouznetsova guides you through the process of adding captioning to your communications so that you can go beyond meeting accessibility mandates.

The author, who has given a TEDx talk on how captions increase ROI and audience for media creators, will show you how to capture new viewers and take your audience to a whole new and diverse level.

The book dispels common myths about deaf and hard-of-hearing people, describes the author’s experiences with deafness, and provides examples of quality captioning. The book focuses on speech-to-text translation because of its broader application.

Those who can benefit from Sound Is Not Enough include:

– Business executives;

– Media producers;

– Event organizers;

– Educators;

– Employers.

Let’s think outside the ears!

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5 Game-Changing Financial Planning Tips for Boomers to Retire in Style: Don’t Wait Another Day!

Are you a baby boomer feeling anxious about your retirement? Do you feel like you’re behind on your savings and investments? If so, don’t worry because you’re not alone! Many people in the baby boomer generation are feeling the same way. However, the good news is that it’s not too late to jumpstart your retirement savings.

 

I will share some tips that can help boomers like you jumpstart your retirement savings. These tips are simple and easy to follow, but they can make a big difference in your financial future.

 

First, stop dwelling on the past. You can’t change what you didn’t do in the past, but you can start taking action now to secure your financial future. Write down your financial regrets on paper and then destroy them. This exercise will give you closure and allow you to focus on the future.

 

Next, track your spending and cut out unnecessary expenses. Small purchases like coffee and lunch can add up to a significant amount of money over time. For example, if you save $10 a day starting at age 52 and invest it at an average rate of 8%, you could have over $294,000 by age 70. Bach also advises cutting monthly expenses in areas such as cell phone bills and unused memberships at a health club or country club.

 

Third, eliminate debt. Carrying debt is counterproductive and expensive, especially for boomers carrying large balances on credit cards. Consider moving your balances to new cards that offer zero percent interest for several months, and renegotiating high-interest rates with existing card companies. Use the money saved on interest to pay down your debt, and once it’s gone, only charge what you can pay off every month.

 

Fourth, pay yourself first. Don’t wait until you’ve paid all your bills before saving. Instead, save at least one hour’s worth of pay each day and establish a 401(k) account for this money. If you haven’t started saving for retirement yet, aim to save two hours of pay per day. Establish automatic withdrawals from your paycheck into your retirement accounts to make saving even easier.

 

Finally, consider starting a part-time business. Many entrepreneurs over the age of 50 have turned hobbies or part-time businesses into extra income. Bach recommends consulting work or part-time teaching in your field of expertise to earn extra income that can be saved for retirement.

 

By following these five simple tips, you can jumpstart your retirement savings and secure your financial future. Don’t let procrastination hold you back any longer. Take action now and start building the retirement nest egg you deserve!

 

For more Healthy Money Tips Listen to our PodCast  “Money 911

Subscribe to my Youtube channel youtube.com/@healthymoneyhappylife

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WATCH:  Tips on How to Start And Grow a Personal Brand in 2023

 

Introduction:

In today’s digital age, creating a personal brand is more important than ever. People are no longer just buying products or services; they are buying into the people behind those products or services. This is why having a strong personal brand is crucial to success, whether you are an entrepreneur, executive, or employee.

 

What is a Personal Brand?

A personal brand is the perception that people have of you, based on the image you present to the world. It is how you are perceived by others, including your peers, clients, and competitors. Your personal brand is not just about what you do; it is also about who you are and how you communicate your values and beliefs.

 

Why is a Personal Brand Important?

Having a strong personal brand can help you stand out in a crowded market. It can also help you attract more clients, build trust and credibility, and increase your influence. A strong personal brand can also help you create more opportunities for yourself, whether it is getting a promotion, speaking engagements, or media coverage.

 

How to Build a Personal Brand

Building a personal brand takes time and effort, but the rewards are worth it. Here are some steps you can take to build a strong personal brand:

  1. Define Your Brand

The first step in building a personal brand is to define who you are and what you stand for. This includes identifying your values, strengths, and unique selling points. You should also think about your target audience and what they are looking for.

  1. Develop Your Story

Once you have defined your brand, it is time to develop your story. This is the narrative that you will use to communicate your brand to the world. Your story should be authentic, compelling, and memorable. It should also be tailored to your target audience.

  1. Build Your Online Presence

In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial to building a personal brand. This includes creating a website, blog, and social media profiles. You should also be active on relevant online communities and forums.

  1. Create Valuable Content

Creating valuable content is a key part of building a personal brand. This includes writing blog posts, creating videos, and sharing your expertise on social media. Your content should be informative, engaging, and relevant to your target audience.

  1. Engage with Your Audience

Engaging with your audience is crucial to building a strong personal brand. This includes responding to comments on your blog or social media posts, participating in online discussions, and attending events and conferences.

 

Conclusion

Building a strong personal brand takes time and effort, but the rewards are worth it. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a personal brand that stands out in a crowded market. Remember to stay true to yourself, be authentic, and communicate your values and beliefs. With persistence and dedication, you can build a personal brand that helps you achieve your goals and creates more opportunities for yourself.

 

WATCH:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uTY6TaZC2g

For more information visit tylerhayzlett.com

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Compliance or Consideration:
The Dangerous Truth About Obedience

Did you know April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month? This month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. Abuse doesn’t always leave bruises on the outside — it can come in many forms.

For many parents, the thing they wish for most is the ability to control their kids, ideally with a remote control! They are tired of every request turning into a shouting match, and just want the room cleaned, or the dishes done.

When I guide parents through the world of conscious parenting for the first time, many parents are often unsure or hesitant about the idea of abandoning rewards and punishments with their children. They feel that if they don’t reward the behaviors they want more of then they won’t happen again and that if they don’t punish their children when they misbehave they will keep doing the wrong thing and that they are being permissive, that their kids will not learn right from wrong, and by indulging bad behavior their children will fail to grow up and be good citizens. My question to them is, “Why do you want to teach your children to be obedient and reward them for doing as they are told?”

The intent behind my question is to help parents realise that what they really want are children who are considerate of other people’s feelings and needs rather than obedient and compliant. Dr Marshall Rosenberg said two questions that reveal the limitations of punishment are:(1) What do I want this person to do? (2) What do I want this person’s reasons to be for doing it? Punishment and reward interfere with people’s ability to do the things motivated by the reasons we would like them to have.

Children who are taught compliance will only clean their rooms when you ask and likely with resentment or possibly they have learned to be a people pleaser. However, children who are taught consideration are able to recognise when their room is getting messy, understand how important having a clean home is (if not to them to you), and clean it without you having to ask! In essence, children who are raised with consideration have the ability to think about the effect of their actions on others, and choose behaviors sometimes because they have adopted the value themselves and at other times out of consideration for others values.

Understanding the difference between true consideration and compliance, and which one we are fostering in our children, is one of the cornerstones of conscious parenting. Traditional, behaviourist parenting models propose that children should be quiet and subservient to the adult. In fact, as a society, we are so conditioned to believe that children should just behave that we don’t stop to think about the ramifications of those teachings. Do we want children to learn to blindly obey individuals they perceive to have authority over them?

Dr. Louise Porter wrote, “Throughout human history, children have always been considered the property of their parents, to do with as they wished. Therefore, child abuse has long been a feature of all societies, with the killing of children, child sacrifice, mutilation, enslavement and sexual abuse all socially condoned in Western societies until the 4th century CE and still practised in many industrialising societies today. Infanticide was widely practised; once it began to be discouraged, abandonment became common. The result was that more European children died from abandonment than from the combined plague epidemics. This history still casts its shadow on modern life.”

Types of Abuse

Child maltreatment comprises neglect of children’s physical or emotional needs, and physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Of these types, neglect constitutes more reported cases than the other forms in total, although emotional abuse is probably the most pervasive but more difficult to quantify and thus report. Many children suffer from multiple forms of abuse simultaneously which complicates calculation of the rate of child abuse with estimates varying. Researchers propose anywhere from 20% to over 50% of children aged 2–17 experienced two or more varieties of victimisation. These types spanned physical assault, peer or sibling victimisation, property victimisation, witnessing another being victimised, sexual assault and physical maltreatment.

Child maltreatment comprises neglect of children’s physical or emotional needs, and physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Of these types, neglect constitutes more reported cases than the other forms in total, although emotional abuse is probably the most pervasive but more difficult to quantify and thus report. Many children suffer from multiple forms of abuse simultaneously which complicates calculation of the rate of child abuse with estimates varying. Researchers propose anywhere from 20% to over 50% of children aged 2–17 experienced two or more varieties of victimisation. These types spanned physical assault, peer or sibling victimisation, property victimisation, witnessing another being victimised, sexual assault and physical maltreatment.


Sexual abuse involves the exploitation and coercion of children by someone more powerful than them. Most childhood abuse is perpetrated by someone familiar to the victim. In many cases, this is a parent or another close friend or relative, such as older siblings or their adolescent friends.

The first measure for supporting children is to remember: “I wouldn’t have seen it if I hadn’t believed it” and realise it is rare that children will disclose directly that they are being abused, instead they may give vague hints or display some signs that we don’t want to ignore as doing so increases the chances of the abuse recurring to this child and others in the perpetrators life.

Steps to take:

(1) If you see unusual injuries ask how it happened and do not believe implausible explanations. Let children know that if someone told them not to tell anyone, let them know it is wrong for anyone to tell them to keep a secret forever and they can talk to you about anything. Encourage them to talk but do not force them.

(2) Reassure children that help is available, but never promise to keep the abuse a secret or suggest that they should forget about what has happened. Their trust has been violated and they need protection from a recurrence.

Abused children will need emotional support to surmount the adversity and injustice they have endured. Children who have been maltreated tend to withdraw, with the result that they are often overlooked or ignored in educational or care settings. Alternatively some behave disruptively or with aggression. By school age, perhaps 70% of children experiencing behavioral problems have suffered abuse or neglect. In response, their interactions with teachers often comprise coercive discipline such as punishment for “bad” behavior. This adds yet another layer to the abuse they have already endured. Therefore, it will be important to ensure that you do not respond to their provocative behavior with controlling discipline.

Some guidance measures include the following:

  • Listen to and validate their feelings, this will affirm they are valued.
  • Allow them to be assertive about meeting their needs.
  • Avoid all praise and other rewards that cultivate an external locus of causality, that is low self-efficacy
  • Deliver no punishment when children behave disruptively or aggressively, but instead help them regain command of their emotions by them taking time away from the setting, doing something soothing, thereby teaching them to practise handling emotional arousal.

As always, if you need a safe space to discuss any suspicions, my door is open.

Love and Blessings,

Katherine

P.S. Looking for a little mid-week guidance with your conscious parenting journey? We have good news! Katherine and our resident pediatrician, Dr. Lauren Fulkerson, have returned with Tuesday Tips in our private Facebook group!

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What are your children actually listening to?  Who? Inner voices? Outer voices? Both?

Control. Do you feel yourself longing for it lately?
When life feels uncertain, we often respond by grasping for control in any way possible.

You hyperfocus on cleaning up the house.

You micromanage a project at work.

You criticize your spouse for the way they do…just about anything.
And you try to get your kid to “behave.”

The belief that we should control our children, that they need to act according to our wishes, usually comes from a deep-seated belief passed down from our own childhood. And when our kids don’t do what we think they should do, we take it personally:

They’re driving ME crazy.
They’re making ME frustrated.
They’re not listening to ME.
We’re tuned into how our kids make us feel, but what about them?

If they’re not listening to you, who are they listening to? What are they listening to? Why can’t they just do as they’re told?!?

The answer is that (just like us and everyone else) they’re listening to something inside themselves.  Watch this trailer for that Pixar movieInside Out?

Have they been silencing that sarcastic voice inside all day at school and they just can’t do it anymore?


Have they buried their own feelings so they can follow orders at school and now have they collapsed into high emotion because they can’t dismiss themselves a minute longer?

Chances are that they never learned the skill to get “bigger than what’s bugging them.” They don’t have a clue how to be connected with their feelings and be present to them in a way that communicates complete self acceptance of what is there. Not identified with them or overcome by them, and just as importantly not numb to them or oblivious to them and their inner world either!

Rumi, the Persian poet born 807 years ago expressed it so well in his poem The Guest House.

As an adult with tons of training I am still mindful to be with the feelings that arise and be attending to them like a visitor or a guest passing through. No matter what is arising internally I am interested and curious! I don’t identify with it as who I Am.  The skill of Being With makes all the difference.

Once we are centered in the sense of self that is bigger than identification with any one part of us we can turn toward all of it and hear how it is feeling from it’s perspective and how it wants us to behave without giving the reins over to that part and behaving how it wants us to!

Granted, if we are merged with that part, and in essence we have collapsed into it, we may be:

  • throwing a temper tantrum
    • riding a scooter through the house, or
    • sneaking out after curfew.

I’m suggesting you support your child to have the awareness of their inner world, to cultivate “getting bigger than what’s bugging them,” so that they can be with all the parts of themselves just as they are,with total self acceptance AND also without letting that part decide their behaviors.


With this knowledge you can see how they are separate from you.  How they are navigating the outer voices in their world and their inner voices.  When your child says “no” to you, they’re saying “yes” to something inside themselves. Get curious about what they are saying “yes” to inside of themselves.

Developing a sense of self is important for your kid. You want to raise a confident adult who’s able to advocate for what they need. But without the right guidance, you’ll probably default to judging what inconveniences you, and to control your child’s behavior, under the false pretense that they made you feel the way you do – which is of course ridiculous – no one makes us feel.

Every parent I’ve worked with has made the mistake of trying to control their child in some way. But you can change your behavior and transform your relationship. (And incidentally, your child will probably start listening to you more often!)

Love and blessings,

Katherine

P.S. Looking for a little mid-week guidance with your conscious parenting journey? We have good news! Our resident pediatrician, Dr. Lauren Fulkerson, and I have returned with Tuesday Tips in our private Facebook group! Last Tuesday we discussed the recent influx in school shootings – what can parents do to protect their kids.