Making Waves at C-Level: Business Tips for Executives, Leaders, and Entrepreneurs

This episode is about sales, asking for the business, and the fastest way to grow your business. Desmond Dixon is a sales guy through and through. He love selling and helps companies find ways to get more success with their sales teams.

About Desmond Dixon

Desmond Dixon started his career as a chemical engineer and quickly realized he did not experience being fulfilled in this line of work. Instead, he decided to follow his dream of being in sales, even though he had zero experience and failed at his first door to door sales job.

Desmond didn’t give up on his sales career and ultimately uncovered over 5 million dollars in opportunity before the age of 25. Desmond now trains and leads sales teams for small businesses who want to go from x and get to X amount in sales.

Desmond is now traveling the world right now and started his podcast, Campfire Capitalism, to connect the dots between sales growth, stages of business and new tech that can support other entrepreneurs like himself. He enjoys rifting on topics such as: NFT’s, real estate investing, day trading and media production. 

https://thomsinger.com/podcast/desmond-dixon

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In this episode of “Making Waves at C-Level”, Thom Singer sits down with Larry Long Jr. Larry is a seasoned sales executive who turned speaker for companies. He brings to his presentations a combination of experience and high energy.  

About Larry Long Jr.

Larry Long Jr is the Founder and CEO (that’s Chief Energy Officer) of LLJR Enterprises, which focuses on sales motivation, inspiration, transformation, training & coaching. He is the host of the weekly ‘Midweek Midday Motivational Minute’ Linkedin, Facebook, YouTube & Instagram Live series, Co-Author of Color Outside The Lines: Stories of Extraordinary Leadership, and Author of JOLT! Get Zapped Into Intentionality: Rediscover and Believe in Your Inner Greatness coming out in Spring 2022. Larry is also Co-Founder and Lead Instructor of The Sales Allies, an online sales training course and supportive community designed to uplift sales professionals. 

Ask yourself…do you break out sweating when thinking about Sales? Does that 500lb phone ever scare you into a state of paralysis? Well, guess what??? It’s staring back at you too, saying ‘Use Me Please!’ No worries as you’re not alone…and thankfully Larry Long Jr comes from a 16+ year career of leading software sales teams (Sageworks, Medfusion, Intuit, ChannelAdvisor, Pendo, Teamworks) and helping them find sales success.  

As a former collegiate D1 baseball player at University of Maryland  and legacy Terrapin student-athlete (both, his father and younger sister were long & triple-jumpers at University of Maryland…Go Terps!), Larry has had his fair share of strikeouts and knows how to deal with the highs and lows, ups and downs of Sales. 

Larry’s goal is to help you realize that sales IS NOT a four letter word. He is extremely passionate about coaching, and helping professionals take their game to the ‘next level’. As an experienced sales leader with a demonstrated history of success in SaaS sales, Larry brings a unique perspective to the table and understands many of the challenges faced by sales professionals.  

His areas of experience include Sales Training, Team Development, Leadership, & Motivation within organizations of all stages (start-up to publicly traded). Practicing what he preaches, Larry continuously seeks opportunities to learn & grow. Larry looks forward to assisting your organization. 

https://thomsinger.com/podcast/larry-long-jr

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In this episode Thom Singer talks to Business Strategist and Author Marcia Daszko about how to think differently. She is a “Pivot Provocateur” who tries to shake up how people think. She helps people achieve more than they ever dreamed. 

About Marcia Daszko

Marcia Daszko is a global business strategist and leadership transformation consultant in the Deming philosophy of management for 30 years. She guides executive teams and Boards of Directors to transform their thinking, achieve their competitive edge, and achieve results never before imagined. Bestselling author of Pivot Disrupt Transform: How Leaders Beat the Odds and Succeed, Marcia is a keynote speaker across all sectors. She writes a weekly Q&A column for the Silicon Valley Business Journal and has taught MBA classes at six universities from Fordham to UC-Berkeley and SJSU.

Https://thomsinger.com/marcia-daszko

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In this interview, Thom Singer sits down with a very interesting guest who is an expert in Adaptive Leadership and AI Ethics. Marisa Zalabak has an eclectic background hand a deep curiosity for learning. They discuss emotional intelligence, organizational justice, character, sustainability, and a whirlwind of other topics. 

About Marisa Zalabak

Marisa Zalabak, founder of Open Channel Culture, coaching and consulting for Adaptive Leadership and Organizational Culture, focusing on human potential, essential skills and sustainable practices for the emerging future.

Marisa currently serves as a co-chair of a committee expanding global AI Ethics education with IEEE.org, the world’s largest professional organization advancing technology for humanity. She is a contributing author of IEEE’s recommended standards for the ethical design of artificial intelligence as well as co-author of proposed approaches for transdisciplinary collaboration in the development and mobilization of AI.

Marisa is a member of MIT’s U.Lab with the Presencing Institute; co-creative innovation labs building capacity in programs and action research worldwide to support and scale societal innovation. She also serves on global leadership teams in business, education and society such as: Million Peacemakers-developing a global youth peacemaking initiative and Women4Solutions-1,000+ executives and entrepreneurs in 30+ countries building inclusive businesses aligned with sustainable development goals. 

Marisa serves as a signatory with The Knowledge Pledge- dedicated to connecting global experts with high potential social entrepreneurs to share knowledge, co-create solutions, and scale impact. In addition, she has served as an advisor for multiple restorative/social justice initiatives (e.g. Anti-Violence Project, Vera Institute for Arts & Politics). 

As an Educational Psychologist and researcher, TEDx & keynote speaker with expertise in Social-Emotional & Creative Intelligences and Organizational Culture, she has implemented programs and trained thousands of educational leaders fostering creativity and humanity in education.

Marisa’s career has been interdisciplinary, working across a wide range of fields and sectors; performing arts, television, business, education, psychology, research, restorative justice, social equity, leadership development, organizational culture, public speaking and AI ethics. 

A dedicated optimist, Marisa is deeply committed to supporting responsible leadership, healthy partnership with advanced technologies for regenerative futures with lasting legacy.

Website:www.openchannelculture.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisazalabak/

https://thomsinger.com/podcast/adaptive-leadership 

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Why should C-Level executives care about their own personal LinkedIn or other social media? Come on, they have busy jobs, they don’t want to be self-promotional, and who wants to hear their pontifications?  

Richard Bliss, the president of BlissPoint Consulting says “Your ability to master a 21st century communication tool calls into question your ability to lead a 21st century organization”.

In this interview you will learn more about how to use LinkedIn than you ever have anywhere else. 

About Richard Bliss

As a LinkedIn Top Voices and experienced executive communications manager and Social Media Coach, Richard Bills works with executives and sales teams, helping them become more comfortable with social media and more fluent in social conversations. He helps them build their platform and confidence to reach their audience effectively.

Executives must have mastery of 21st-century communication tools to be successful at leading 21st-century organizations. These tools offer incredible opportunities to connect, increase brand awareness, and reach more people through thought-leadership, advice and social conversation.

Curious and passionate about what drives corporate success, Richard Bliss has worked with start-ups and high-growth technology companies in EMEA, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. He has helped them position for multi-million-dollar revenue growth and acquisition by focusing on the global market while leveraging local diversity.

All this experience has allowed him to execute tactical programs to drive demand generation, new revenue and increase brand awareness by defining brand vision & strategies and building high-caliber Social Selling Sales Teams. 

Other Things You Might Like To Know About Richard Bliss:

• He published the book “DigitalFirst Leadership” in 2021, as a guide to help executive master the language of social media.

• He has lived in Latin America and Asia

• He is fluent in Spanish

• He is an expert in crowdfunding

You can follow him on Twitter at @RichardBliss and follow him on LinkedIn (look for the DOT before his name).

https://thomsinger.com/Richard-Bliss

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In this episode we talk about communications for executives. Many of us put of “Berlin Walls” around parts of our hearts and souls, and they hold us back in being the best we can be. Often when people have issues in communications they have blocks.

Christine Morlet, CSP joins the conversation on “Making Waves at C-Level”. She lives in the South of France, but works with executives all around the world as a speech coach and energy healer.  

About Christine Morlet

Christine Morlet is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), Business Advisor, Coach and Consultant focused on improved sustained Profitable Deals.

She has extensive experience across a broad spectrum of businesses – from small start-ups to large multinational corporations; from high tech manufactured products through basic commodities, to people based services businesses.

Christine Morlet can help your sales force understand what’s the real difference between Haggling and Negotiating and get much better results within a 30-45 Keynote Speech.

She has worked all around the world with several organization including BOCCARD Industrial Group, French Association for Professional Speakers, CAPSUGEL- PFIZER GROUP, Bouygues UK and International Federation for Professional Speakers.

Christine Morlet is fluent in French, German and English.

https://thomsinger.com/podcast/christine-morlet

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Jeremy Torisk’s “Become Your Own C.E.O.” mindset took him from a homeless kid, digging ditches to a C-Suite Title, Operating a National Telco Construction Company with over $60 Million Dollars in yearly revenue.

After 30-years in the Telco Industry, the company sold in 2021, which allowed Jeremy to shift from building his own legacy to helping others to do the same!

By sharing the stories behind the struggles, along with the process, strategies & tactics that proved effective over time, he’s added SCIENCE the mix, to help companies across America with Employee Retention, Platinum Communication, and Exponential Growth.   

He has a weekly Podcast called “The Go PROcast, where he invites Business Doers on, to discuss the secrets to their success too. And in his “SPARE TIME” he speaks to audiences small and large about how to get their workforce Engaged and to spread the “Become your Own CEO Mentality”. 

Please enjoy this interview with Jeremy Torisk, the author of LARBOR TO LEADERSHIP.

https://thomsinger.com/podcast/jeremy-torisk

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Thom Singer started this podcast, originally called “Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do” in 2014. His life looked very different at the time. He had no idea how this show would impact his business and his soul.

In this episode, celebrating 700 episodes, Thom looks at the evolution of his life (and this podcast) over seven years and 700 episodes.  

If you have not talked to someone in the past 5 years, you really do not know them. People change and grow. Fresh experiences and new people have an impact on people’s soul. Thom sees himself as changed (for the better) over the past seven years, and he is happier and more fulfilled in his life. 

Check out this retrospective, and feel free to reach out to him and share your thoughts. Thom (at) ThomSinger.com.

https://thomsinger.com.podcast/episode-700 

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In this episode we again visit the idea of the Great Resignation. Karl Ahlrichs joins me for a chat about what C-Level executives need to know.

Check out this post by Karl Ahlrichs

Why Your Employees Quit and How to Prevent It

By Karl Ahlrichs

My employer has hundreds of clients, and I am fortunate to work with some of them as a consultant. Therefore, I have the viewpoint of an inside outsider.  When I was talking with Thom Singer on his Podcast recently, I reflected that I have noticed something powerful – most employees don’t quit because of money, or because the task is too difficult, but because they no longer feel that their boss hears them or cares about them. Here are a few simple reasons why your employees quit and actions that you can take to reduce the chances of having to re-staff.

Listening

It starts with the boss. Based on my unscientific survey of simply asking people why they quit, more than half led with their main motivation for leaving a job was their relationship with their boss. It’s alarming – that communication issues are at least partially responsible for our nation’s high turnover rate. If your employees are unhappy at work, if they don’t feel like they can be honest with you and if they don’t see themselves as part of your team—they may quit. What can you do? Listen to them. Or, as a start, appear to listen to them.

It’s not the money

Even if you can offer more money than other employers, that won’t help you retain talent. Money is a very small part of why employees quit (only about 30 percent of workers leave for better pay), and it’s easy to get a wage bump if another employer offers one. The main reason employees leave is because they don’t like their boss or feel valued by them. Disengagement and Resignation

When it comes to disengagement and resignation, relationships are critical. If people feel they can’t talk to their boss, if they feel that their opinions aren’t listened to, or if they feel as though their ideas and contributions aren’t respected, chances are high that they will look for opportunities elsewhere.

Empathy

Good bosses demonstrate empathy by showing their team that they’re invested in them as people and not just employees. They take an interest in what’s going on outside of work, especially when things are difficult. On a surface level, empathy is similar to listening—but it goes beyond simple attention and understanding; it means being willing to say I feel your pain without feeling judged or called out. This kind of management is good for your employee’s health, both physically and mentally.

Mental Health

One of these reasons for quitting your job might be mental health. When an employee is stressed at work, it’s hard to focus on anything else in life. Having mental health support in a company can help employees feel heard and cared for so they don’t feel forced to leave. Building trust and empathy with your employees is important not only to build a better relationship but also keep them around longer. Don’t forget that you need to take care of yourself too! Make sure you look after your own mental health so you can be prepared for what’s ahead.

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This episode is a fun chat with the cofounders of City Bonfires. These are two suburban dads who started a company during the pandemic (now their fulltime jobs) making candles and selling all you need for Smores. Yes, candles in a can and marshmellows…. and a business is born.

Thom Singer saw their ad on Instagram and knew they had to be guests on the “Making Waves at C-Level” podcast. This episode is a throwback to when the show was called “Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do”….as this is true coolness in action. 

About City Bonfires

As you can imagine, Covid-19 has impacted many industries across the globe. Maryland natives, Chris McCasland, a sports and concert industry broker and restaurateur, and Michael Opalski, a senior restaurant industry salesman, both endured a loss of income during the pandemic. As the story goes, both were at home for long periods of time with their families (Chris’ son Brooks is 4 and Mike’s son Alex is 12 and daughter Anna is 9). While at home, Chris started teaching himself e-commerce and searching for cool product ideas. He came up with City Bonfires, a portable, reusable mini bonfire that you can take on all of your outdoor adventures. He enlisted the help of Mike who came up with the design of the product. A 4 inch by 2 inch round metal tin that is filled with non-toxic soy wax. Unlike other soy wax-based products, City Bonfires entire surface becomes the flame – creating a mobile heat source – a mini bonfire!

Thus, City Bonfires was born! Each City Bonfire is handmade in Maryland with American-made materials by two Dads whose jobs were impacted by Covid-19.

We believe that bonfire nights are the best nights. Gather around our City Bonfire and make memories! As Covid-19 has taught us, life is best spent making memories with our family and friends. So get outside, light up the starry sky and make lasting memories!

Meet Chris

Co-founder of City Bonfires! Chris is from Germantown, Maryland – in Montgomery County, outside of Washington, D.C. Prior to the pandemic, Chris was in the concert, sports and event ticket industry. He is a part-owner of Quincy’s Bar & Grille in Rockville @quincyssouth and Potomac @quincyspotomac. He lives in Potomac with his wife and son, Brooks (5).

Here are a few things about Chris:

 Dad Superpower? Grilling

 What’s Your Fav Family Activity?  Watching the @nationals

 Parenting True Confession? It’s ME who eats all the Goldfish

Meet Michael

Co-founder of City Bonfires! Michael is from Easton, Maryland –  on the Eastern Shore. He went to Clemson University and lives in Potomac, Maryland with his wife and two kids.

Here are a few fun things about Michael:

 Dad superpower? “Keeping it fun!”

 Fav Show to Binge Watch: Big Bang Theory

 Fav Song for a Family Dance Party: @lizzobeeating Truth Hurts

https://www.thomsinger.com/podcast/city-bonfires

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