DateTime Object ( [date] => 2019-06-16 04:58:13.027233 [timezone_type] => 3 [timezone] => UTC )

Array ( [id] => eaf47c8a-8b02-11e9-83e1-afc2760237b7 [createdAt] => 2019-06-09T15:07:05.943-07:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-06-09T15:10:49.979-07:00 [title] => S2E30 - Robin Thieme | Creating a Virtual, Outsourced CFO Solution [pubdate] => 2019-06-10T04:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/eaf47c8a-8b02-11e9-83e1-afc2760237b7/image/uploads_2F1560117861566-s432x1q56z-d353d501aeade5cd5ffdfb4c4ffc7c5b_2FArt%2B-%2BCYM%2B30%2B-%2BRobin%2BThieme__40TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 30 [subtitle] => [summary] => My guest today is Robin Thieme, the Founder of KBS CFO, which is an outsourced CFO and accounting department solution for growing sustainable and profitable businesses. She has over 30 years of financial and accounting experience, a passion for the efficiencies that new technologies enable, and a dedication to small businesses.
One of the things that really impresses me about Robin and KBS is that she was creating a virtual organization long before cloud computing was a mainstream term – and she takes the same innovative and thoughtful approach to establishing efficiencies and solutions that fit the current business environment for her clients.
The old mindset – although many still use it – is that having a CFO is too much money for a small- to medium-sized business. As it turns out, Robin says, small businesses have some pretty big problems or big decisions, too! And they may not need a full-time CFO, but they do still need someone to help guide them financially. “We're really meeting a need of businesses that are struggling to run their businesses; they love what they do, and are really good at it, but just need some help on the back end.”
An Anticipatory CPA & OrganizationYou know Robin is a member of the Maryland Association of CPAs because she describes herself as an “anticipatory CPA” – something we’ve talked about in past episodes with Bill Sheridan, as well as other guests.
Robin defines an anticipatory CPA as “one who is looking out towards the future, anticipating trends, and is really focused on what's going to happen next, instead of being a historian for our clients... And, ultimately, when you think about it, from its most basic elements, a successful business should always be thinking about where they're going and not where they've been. So, I live in that world,” and we should all be living in this world.
Everywhere in the accounting and finance profession, and really almost any profession, people are having conversations about change; changing demographics, changing technologies, changing societal expectations, etc. And, especially when it comes to technology, our profession tends to see this change as a threat – but that’s just our fear of the unknown talking. 
Robin compares this to autonomous vehicles, something that still feels futuristic and foreign to many of us, although there are already autonomous vehicles driving on our roads. Robin envisions a future where not only do autonomous vehicles become popular, but it might even become illegal for humans to drive because it will be a safety risk. 
And you know what? That change doesn’t hurt our ability to commute or get places – it gives us more time! The same thing is true for the technologies that are going to transform the way we do work in our profession, although the transition might be difficult to wrap our heads around.
So, what will you do to become more future-ready? What steps will you take to change your mindset and get out of your comfort zone? What risks are you willing to accept in order to be prepared for tomorrow – all the while knowing that, in order to enact change, it takes baby steps? 

Resources:

• Learn more at https://www.kbscfo.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kensingtonbusinesssolutions
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kbscfo
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbscfo/

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Array ( [id] => ade6ac1e-7e37-11e9-99fb-d717f72e7dba [createdAt] => 2019-05-24T08:22:01.720-07:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-05-25T15:48:20.339-07:00 [title] => S2E29 - Phillip Lovegrove | Becoming a Needs-Based & Hands-On Personal Service for Your Clients [pubdate] => 2019-05-26T23:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/ade6ac1e-7e37-11e9-99fb-d717f72e7dba/image/uploads_2F1558824488611-sx7wi1uqnw-0d4e7cd5564e4e216d5f3426415339bf_2FArt%2B-%2BCYM%2B29%2B-%2BPhillip%2BLovegrove__40TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 29 [subtitle] => [summary] => My guest today is Phillip Lovegrove, who's a partner in the personal financial planning firm of Vorisek Financial Corporation.
Now, many of the financial planners that I've interacted with in the past could not or would not adapt their conversation to meet the needs of their clients. Instead, many only seem to be serving their own needs and, at times, come across condescending. Phil is just the opposite.
Phil believes in taking a needs-based approach and providing hands-on personal service for his clients – and I believe this is something that all professional service providers need to start doing, and soon. It helps your clients in the long term, and it’ll help your business, too.
I've been a client of his for just over a year and, during this time, I've had more conversations about my financial position and pending retirement than ever before. Albeit, I'm a lot closer to retirement than I was five years ago, but this is the kind of service that really adds value and increases trust. He is doing a great job, and it's something we all can learn from.
So, do you provide a needs-based approach in your work life? If so, how can you help others become better in this approach? If not, will you develop the skills necessary to become a needs-based and hands-on personal service to your clients, customers, and employees?
Either way, sit down, devise a strategy, and work on it every single day.

Resources:

• Learn more at https://www.vorisekfinancialcorp.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-lovegrove/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/phillovegrove
• Financial Advisor Success Podcast: https://www.kitces.com/blog/category/21-financial-advisor-success-podcast/
• Between Now and Success: https://stevesanduski.com/podcast-blog/
• Planet Money: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510289/planet-money
• Wall Street Journal podcasts: https://www.wsj.com/podcasts

--
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Array ( [id] => 5ce69072-74be-11e9-8df9-ff1f831ba8f9 [createdAt] => 2019-05-12T07:00:56.253-07:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-05-12T07:03:51.063-07:00 [title] => S2E28 - Amy Franko | Cultivating The Modern Seller Mindset & Skill Set [pubdate] => 2019-05-13T04:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/5ce69072-74be-11e9-8df9-ff1f831ba8f9/image/uploads_2F1557669445780-xuj0pep6lja-c6519433103b4f9e2c7d5738aab475b9_2FArt%2B-%2BCYM%2B28%2B-%2BAmy%2BFranko__40TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 28 [subtitle] => [summary] => My guest today is Amy Franko, who is a strategic sales expert, author, and keynote speaker. Amy had a successful business-to-business sales career with global technology companies like IBM and Lenovo before, in 2007, she pivoted into entrepreneurship and launched the training firm Impact Instruction Group. Now, Amy works with professional service firms, helping them grow business development results and build firm leaders.
Amy also recently released a book, The Modern Seller, which is not a book about prospecting or negotiating skills. It's a book that explores the five skill sets that individuals and organizations need in order to become successful. In this episode, Amy explains each one of these skill sets in great detail, focusing on how they apply to the financial service industry. However, no matter what industry you're in, the ability for you to develop these five skill sets is crucial in the disruptive business environment that we are operating in today.
So, let’s dig into the five skill sets of The Modern Seller....
A modern seller is agile.
Until the last decade or so, “agility” was something that you heard about in sports and athletic training, not a business concept.
According to the Center for Creative Leadership, which does research on the top skills that organizations are looking to hire for and build, agility really popped onto the radar about 10 years ago. And they think that, by 2022, things like adaptability and versatility are going to be in the top five skills that organizations are looking to hire for.
Amy says that they are also skills that we need to be thinking about when it comes to business development and growth – because our clients are expecting that of us! They're expecting us to show agility as professional organizations, and in order to do that, we have to be developing agility in ourselves.
A modern seller is entrepreneurial.
Whether you're a manager, a senior manager, or someone at the highest level in your organization, look at yourself and look at the people in your firm. Do they see themselves as employees, or do they see themselves as the founder and the CEO, maybe the chief bootstrapper, in their own book of business?
Because there’s a big difference there. When an employee thinks of their book of business or their team's book of business as a business itself, they make different decisions. They look at the top line and the bottom line, and they look for the best opportunities.
So, we want to have people in our organization that are thinking entrepreneurially because that's what's going to help us grow.
Now that you know what a modern seller is, are you ready to become one?
Then you’re going to need to take some action.
So, what’s the next step in the pursuit of becoming a modern seller for you? Which of these five skill sets have you best developed? Which of the five skill sets is your weakest? Will you build on a strategy of strengthening your weakest and leveraging your strongest?
Devise a strategy and work on it every single day, even if it’s just for 30 to 60 minutes. It takes baby steps in order to change a habit.
“You can go to a training, you can read a book, but the switch has to be in the application; applying things, trying them, failing at them, and moving forward. That's the only way that we learn.”

Resources:

• Learn more at amyfranko.com
• Read: The Modern Seller: Sell More And Increase Your Impact In The New Sales Economy
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyfranko/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyFranko

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Array ( [id] => e294153a-69e4-11e9-9b2f-f3d6bb41bd64 [createdAt] => 2019-04-28T11:38:58.615-07:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-04-28T11:42:15.455-07:00 [title] => S2E27 - Samantha Bowling | MindBridge: Making AI Accessible to Small Accounting Firms [pubdate] => 2019-04-29T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/e294153a-69e4-11e9-9b2f-f3d6bb41bd64/image/uploads_2F1556476241848-re9eevykkuk-dbf12e64213c5e4be339772740912ca8_2FArt%2B-%2BCYM%2B27%2B-%2BSamantha%2BBowling__40TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 27 [subtitle] => [summary] => My guest today is Samantha Bowling, who's an Audit Partner at the accounting firm of Garbelman Winslow in Maryland and the current Chair of the Executive Board of the Maryland Association of CPAs.
This episode is focused on public accounting, but it also has great implications to business and industry accounting professionals. So, I encourage anyone in accounting – or just interested in how AI is going to change the nature of work – to listen to the interview and decide how these technologies might affect your organization.
Now, in March of 2016, artificial intelligence was introduced to the accounting profession when IBM and KPMG signed an agreement to bring Watson into KPMG's audit practice. At the time (and still, really), many of the small- to middle-sized firms speculated that this technology was too expensive for their practices.
Samantha, however, saw an opportunity. She felt that if the larger firms had this advantage, how long would it be until they started taking clients? She turned that question into action, and 18 months after IBM and KPMG's announcement, Samantha was able to bring artificial intelligence into her audit practice at an affordable price.
In fact, Samantha was awarded the Innovative Practitioner Award 2018 from CPA.com for her efforts – and it was well deserved!
Now, if you're still a little skeptical or just curious, then start listening or keep reading and you'll learn how she did it.
Small Firm, Big Technology
For context, Samantha’s firm only has about 15 employees, depending on the time of year. They do mostly everything that small firms do, except for government contracting, and she happens to be the audit partner at this firm.
So when Samantha heard about KPMG introducing AI into their audit practice three years ago, she thought she was probably going to lose a lot of revenue if the large firms have Watson and her firm doesn’t have anything.
“I'm not going to be able to do auditing anymore,” Samantha though. “[But] I really don't like tax. So, I have to find a solution."
Samantha started by talking to her software providers, asking how they were implementing AI into her platform... and they said they weren't. They were only going to look into AI for the large firm platforms. She was a little discouraged, but she didn’t stop searching. Instead, she did what most of us do when we have a question: she Googled it.
She just happened to come across a company called MindBridge, a Canadian startup company that was willing to work with her and let her try it out. Still, she was skeptical. She thought she can't afford the software, it’s probably not going to do what it says it's going to do; was she setting herself up for disappointment?

Resources:

• Learn more at gwcpas.com
• Check out MindBridge.ai
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/sbowlingcpa
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-bowling-cpa-cgma-25531420

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Array ( [id] => 5a842bd0-5e1d-11e9-a8b4-3badb1718011 [createdAt] => 2019-04-13T11:52:57.703-07:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-04-13T11:57:06.366-07:00 [title] => S2E26 - Kimberly Ellison-Taylor | Community, Mentorship, & Adaptability: The Ingredients for a Better Future [pubdate] => 2019-04-15T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/5a842bd0-5e1d-11e9-a8b4-3badb1718011/image/uploads_2F1555181544853-qgzrqc18exg-92ab8d2b118c5295a3f1847f2f2d9265_2FArt%2B-%2BChange%2BYour%2BMindset%2B26%2B-%2BKimberly%2BEllison-Taylor_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 26 [subtitle] => [summary] => Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, a powerhouse in the accounting profession whose drive, energy, and passion is unparallelled. Kimberly is currently a Global Strategy Leader at Oracle, and she has held positions at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Motorola, KPMG, as well as having a role in government in Prince George's County, Maryland.
On top of that, from 2016 to 2018, Kimberly served as 104th Chairman of the American Institute of CPAs, where she received numerous awards and recognition. Notably, she was the youngest person, the fifth woman, and first person of color to serve as chairman in the AICPA's 130-year history. Kimberly was also the second Chairman for the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, an organization founded in 2017 that has 667,000 members in 184 countries.
Kimberly has been able to walk the fine line between technology and accounting throughout her career, but she’s been able to leverage her accounting and finance acumen in every role she’s had. Even working at NASA Goddard, Motorola, and now Oracle, she’s always recognized that there were both technology and finance implications of every business decision (as well as people and process implications). “And I've been able to leverage both of those on top of the foundation that my parents set for me when they said very early, ‘don't be afraid, and you need to pay your dues, and work hard to get ahead.’”
Kimberly also learned from her parents and the church that she needs to give back – and she really took it to heart! She’s held executive roles, chair roles, and leadership, and she’s a passionate advocate for state CPA societies.
So why does she do it? 
It all comes back to servant leadership, and recognizing that other people inspired and helped her when she was younger. Some people may just need a little bit of help. Other people may need role models. Other people may need to hear that you made it through some tough times to get where you are. It's about helping people who might just need a small helping hand or inspiration, especially other people from socioeconomic backgrounds that are less common in the accounting and technology fields. 
“It's important to lift as we climb,” Kimberly says. “And I think it is important because the more of us that can give visibility to the options that are available, the more of us that will be attracted to the profession, that will stay in the profession, will be advanced and promoted to the highest levels of the profession. And I think that if not me, who? If not now when? And we all have individual accountability and responsibility to do our part and to pay forward.”

Resources:

• Check out AICPA-CIMA.com
• Connect with Kimberly on LinkedIn

--
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Array ( [id] => a214ebbc-5277-11e9-b8ff-e78ff4d36a90 [createdAt] => 2019-03-29T16:08:58.517-07:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-03-29T16:12:12.837-07:00 [title] => S2E25 - Cara North | Networking & Opportunity: Cultivating a Growth Mindset [pubdate] => 2019-04-01T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/a214ebbc-5277-11e9-b8ff-e78ff4d36a90/image/uploads_2F1553900805068-8wq4yspx3lx-c8a38331c056e3abbe906e93a95e91fd_2FArt%2B-%2BChange%2BYour%2BMindset%2B25%2B-%2BCara%2BNorth_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 25 [subtitle] => [summary] => Cara North is a learning experience designer at THE Ohio State University and the President of the Central Ohio Chapter of the Association for Talent Development. However, I did not invite her to be a guest on this podcast because of her day job. I invited her to be a guest because, as she says, "I love connecting others to people and opportunities." 
She loves networking, making connections, and creating opportunities – and I know that is a big fear for a lot of people, but it’s also a necessary part of being a lifelong learning and, increasingly, growing your career.
As Cara says, “If you work with me, you don't just get me – you get my network.” That's an extremely valuable thing you can offer employers and clients, and it’s a resource that will only get more valuable over time. “We're all in this together, we all want to do better, everybody wants to feel valued, everybody wants to be respected, and I feel like collaboration is the best way to do that.”
So, why do so many people hate the word networking?
I blame it on most people’s mothers, and then most people laugh at me. But what did your mother always tell you? Never talk to strangers! And when most of us think about networking, we think of talking to a group of strangers. But a stranger is somebody with a bottle of Mogen David at the Ohio Stadium looking at a lamp post going, "Oh, you're awfully tall." That's a stranger. But in a business environment, people that we don't know are opportunities.
You don’t even have to get face-to-face with real people to get started! One of Cara’s mentors, Mike Taylor, once said during a presentation that Twitter is the number one professional development tool. 
She signed up for Twitter during his presentation and, fast forward to 2019, she uses Twitter daily to talk to people all across the world that do the work and have the same challenges that she does.
“And I feel like, especially since I've been more networked, that my depth of knowledge has expanded more than somebody that has been doing the same old thing for five years or ten years because it's so important to me, and so important for your growth, to constantly be getting feedback.”
People that embrace that growth mindset won’t just have a better network – they’ll be better positioned over the next 10 to 15 years, as our workplaces evolve. “You're going to have to have a growth mindset to stay malleable and employable,” and that’s true in pretty much every industry, but it is especially true for CPAs. As we’ve mentioned before, CPAs will need more than just technical skills to thrive in the coming years.
So what are your next steps in becoming a better networker? Is it changing your mindset? Is it not sitting or standing with your office friends and meeting new people? Is it breaking through your shyness and comfort zone to explore possibilities? What do you need to do? And where could you get out of your comfort zone?
I challenge you to start by just taking 10 minutes, writing down some ideas – But the key here is follow through. Whatever you come up with, just do it!

Resources:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/caranorth11
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranorth11/

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Array ( [id] => 88b9e108-4918-11e9-9a64-139b6af4008a [createdAt] => 2019-03-17T17:55:33.326-07:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-03-17T17:58:24.394-07:00 [title] => S2E24 - Lucy Hayhurst | How to Avoid the Busy Season 10 (Pounds) [pubdate] => 2019-03-18T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/88b9e108-4918-11e9-9a64-139b6af4008a/image/uploads_2F1552870318039-787am1fc7ha-0b179c2ce8964ce73745be85921da1b1_2FArt%2B-%2BChange%2BYour%2BMindset%2B24%2B-%2BLucy%2BHayhurst_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 24 [subtitle] => [summary] => I've been out of public accounting for a number of years, but one thing I remember vividly was the busy season 10: the additional 10 pounds I gained because of all the pizza, the fast food, and the lack of exercise. So today, I asked licensed and registered dietitian and nutritionist Lucy Hayhurst to be our guest and provide us with some strategic tips on how to avoid the busy season 10.
Lucy is co-founder of Well Balanced Nutrition, where their goal is to help people worry less, love what they eat, and live their best life.
Now, you don't have to be a CPA or an accountant to learn from this episode because all professionals, at some time during their work year, will have to put in the extra hours over an extended period of time. When this happens, most of us revert to fast food and no exercise to get through this high-stress timeframe.
Often, when we talk about nutrition and wellness, people fall into the trap of thinking that they’re doing everything wrong, or that there’s too much they need to change to even bother – but thinking like that is the fastest way to fail. 
So, instead, Lucy encourages people to raise their awareness, then decide on just ONE thing that they can do better.
You know that old adage, “Everything's good in moderation?” Lucy tells us it’s total crap. You have to know thyself and recognize what your trigger foods are. She mentions the book Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin, which talks about the differences between moderation and abstinence. Some people can have just a few cookies or chips and be fine, but some people can’t have the package in the house without devouring it all – so it just takes a little awareness about what will hurt and help your wellness journey.
After you remove any obstacles to your health, pick just ONE thing to work on during this busy season; one bad habit you can make a good habit, which will in turn change your mindset around your health. Baby steps – that is the answer.
Then maybe you can add on another healthy habit when you’re less stressed this Summer, or during the next busy season.

Resources:

• Learn more at https://www.wellbalancednutrition.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellbalancednutritionnc
• Read: Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin

--
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Array ( [id] => bf495da8-3de1-11e9-abac-8f41ed2d61c6 [createdAt] => 2019-03-03T10:25:39.753-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-03-03T10:28:54.255-08:00 [title] => S2E23 - Jennifer Elder | What, So What, Now What: How Accountants of the (Near) Future Will Add Value [pubdate] => 2019-03-04T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/bf495da8-3de1-11e9-abac-8f41ed2d61c6/image/uploads_2F1551637511043-qa8jes93e9c-abeae358958485deede0eb2b2519a2a7_2FArt%2B-%2BChange%2BYour%2BMindset%2B23%2B-%2BJennifer%2BElder_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 23 [subtitle] => [summary] => Jennifer Elder works with financial leaders to become more strategic, stay ahead of the competition, and be more successful. As a consultant and keynote speaker, Jennifer is known for being energetic and enthusiastic, and she has the natural talent for taking complicated topics and making them simple, practical, and immediately implementable.
CPA Practice Advisor named Jennifer one of the Top 25 Women in Accounting in 2018. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants named her a Woman to Watch in 2015. She has been awarded Outstanding Educator by the American Institute of CPAs five times. And in 2018, Jennifer earned the designation of Certified Speaking Professional, making her one of only 10 people worldwide who hold both the CPA and CSP designations (but maybe I can push that number from 10 to 11 in 2019).

Becoming a Future-Ready CFO & Accountant
In the past, the role of the CFO was primarily looking in the rear-view mirror at the historical financial statements and reporting it to the other people in the car. This tells you where you have been, but it doesn't necessarily tell you where you’re going. “And there's too much change, too much risk out there. The CFO now has to shift that perspective and look forward. They have to start to be able to look into the crystal ball, see what's coming down the pike.”
Future-ready CFOs, and future-ready accountants in general, have to think about what's going on in the world and how it might affect your organization, which means you want to be looking at trends. What are the trends in the world at large? What are the trends in your industry?
In the accounting and finance world right now, the trend everybody's looking at and talking about is technology. How are things like artificial intelligence going to change everything?

When Jennifer teaches classes on the skills of the future and presentation skills, she breaks it down into five words you need to focus on to really add value to your organization: what, so what, and now what.
The what is data. The so what is why should they care? If we're talking about the what, we're just presenting the data that we think somebody needs to get, but we have to think about it from our client’s perspective. “Step out of your own head, get into the head of your audience, and think about what's important to them.”

Now what, then, is the action that’s going to help your client move forward.

Change Your Mindset is now being distributed on C-Suite Radio. You can find Change Your Mindset and many other outstanding business podcasts on C-Suite Radio by going to www.c-suiteradio.com.

Resources:

• Learn more at http://sustainablecfo.com/
• Check out jenniferelder.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferhelder
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/sustainablecfo

--
Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters [audioFile] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/bf495da8-3de1-11e9-abac-8f41ed2d61c6/stripped_addf09f8ae48f715ca1b432f7d133a9e.mp3 [downloadUrl] => http://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN9932039953.mp3 [size] => 46322416 [duration] => 2895.15 [uid] => CSN9932039953 [originalUrl] => [bitrate] => 128 [samplerate] => 44100 [channelMode] => stereo [vbr] => [audioFileProcessing] => [podcastId] => 855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d [preCount] => 0 [postCount] => 0 [insertionPoints] => Array ( ) [id3File] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/bf495da8-3de1-11e9-abac-8f41ed2d61c6/id3/7d3e7e10293889243773691ba0ae346f.mp3 [id3FileProcessing] => [id3FileSize] => 304339 [parentId] => [guid] => [pubdateTimezone] => Eastern Time (US & Canada) [originalFilename] => MASTER - CYM - Jennifer Elder.mp3 [preOffset] => 0.0 [postOffset] => 0.0 [spotifyIdentifier] => [expectedAdhash] => [audioFileUpdatedAt] => [draft] => [externalId] => [customFields] => )

Array ( [id] => bf3dffc8-337b-11e9-ac49-37d94cd85b50 [createdAt] => 2019-02-18T04:50:19.386-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-18T04:53:49.592-08:00 [title] => S2E22 - Bill Sheridan | Becoming Future-Proof [pubdate] => 2019-02-18T01:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/bf3dffc8-337b-11e9-ac49-37d94cd85b50/image/uploads_2F1550493702732-woxkx13q70t-3493ad38485690948aefb61e037cadf5_2FArt%2B-%2BChange%2BYour%2BMindset%2B22%2B-%2BBill%2BSheridan_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 2 [subtitle] => [summary] => Bill Sheridan is the Chief Communications Officer at the Maryland Association of CPAs and the host of Future-Proof, a podcast in which Bill has interviewed a wide variety of leading thought leaders in the accounting profession and in corporate America.
We discuss whether the profession is moving in the direction of becoming more future-proof, or future-ready, through the lens of the conversations he’s been having with his guests for nearly a year.


So, let’s get right to it: is the profession future-proof?
The short answer is no, we're not future-proof or future-ready yet – but we're getting there. However, we might be getting there a little slower than Bill and the other folks over at the MACPA hoped.
“It seems like they're starting to realize that this stuff is real. It's not going away. In fact, it's starting to impact them right now, and they need to pay attention to it. So, that's encouraging that they are starting to pay attention,” Bill says.
And in a way, this seeming reluctant to look forward makes sense for the accounting and finance profession. “When you think about the profession itself, accounting and finance will spend their entire careers looking behind them. By definition, they're accounting for things that have happened in the past.
“So, turning around, and looking through the windshield, and noticing what's coming at you, isn't a muscle that they've spent a lot of time building. And so, they're just starting to do that now. And the more they do it, the better they'll get at it.” Becoming future-ready starts with being aware of what's going on.
It comes back to the idea of the anticipatory organization, an idea championed by MACPA President and CEO Tom Hood. In this sense, anticipation a three-step process: aware, predict, and adapt. 
So, first step, being aware of change. That involves asking questions and start to understanding it. Next is predicting what will happen. So, now that I'm aware of it, what kind of impact is this going to have on me and the people that I work with? And then, finally, adapting. What can we actually do about it?
For example, here's a question for accounting and finance pros out there: how can you take advantage of 5G in a way that will benefit the people that you work with? 
“That's the muscle that we have to start building. We know this is coming, and in very short order. So, what are the opportunities embedded in something like that? And we need to start thinking about that now before it hits mainstream and evolves into something else.” So becoming anticipatory is the practice of building that muscle – because change is going to happen over and over.
“We need to be able to help walk our clients and customers into the future. In order to do that, we need to be there before them,” Bill says.

Change Your Mindset is now being distributed on C-Suite Radio. You can find Change Your Mindset and many other outstanding business podcasts on C-Suite Radio by going to www.c-suiteradio.com.

Resources:
Listen to Future-Proof: https://blionline.org/blog/ | Apple Podcasts
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billdsheridan/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillSheridan
Take Sally Hogshead’s assessment: howtofascinate.com/you (use code “FutureProof” to take it for free)
Read: The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle
Read: When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink
Read: The Excellence Dividend: Meeting the Tech Tide with Work That Wows and Jobs That Last by Tom Peters
Read: The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey by Hal Burrows, Kenneth H. Blanchard, and William Oncken
Read: The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker [audioFile] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/bf3dffc8-337b-11e9-ac49-37d94cd85b50/stripped_b7f4266095f87a4fd4a52e7b785eb9f8.mp3 [downloadUrl] => http://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN3370470812.mp3 [size] => 50403369 [duration] => 3150.21 [uid] => CSN3370470812 [originalUrl] => [bitrate] => 128 [samplerate] => 44100 [channelMode] => stereo [vbr] => [audioFileProcessing] => [podcastId] => 855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d [preCount] => 0 [postCount] => 0 [insertionPoints] => Array ( ) [id3File] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/bf3dffc8-337b-11e9-ac49-37d94cd85b50/id3/c40f305641f02d4b9b3d2f9b87ac54e7.mp3 [id3FileProcessing] => [id3FileSize] => 305021 [parentId] => [guid] => [pubdateTimezone] => UTC [originalFilename] => MASTER - CYM 22 - Bill Sheridan.mp3 [preOffset] => 0.0 [postOffset] => 0.0 [spotifyIdentifier] => [expectedAdhash] => [audioFileUpdatedAt] => [draft] => [externalId] => [customFields] => )

Array ( [id] => 86dea0ee-2992-11e9-80fa-33da2604cd10 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:11.609-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:44:07.594-08:00 [title] => S2E21 - Gary Zeune | The Pros & The Cons: Why White Collar Crime Happens (& How to Prevent It) [pubdate] => 2019-02-04T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/86dea0ee-2992-11e9-80fa-33da2604cd10/image/Art_-_Change_Your_Mindset_21_-_Gary_Zeune_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 21 [subtitle] => We would like your feedback on today's podcast by answering this quick two-minute survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MS2T6P6. Thank you so much for your support.   My guest today is a gentleman who knows more about fraud than just about... [summary] =>

We would like your feedback on today's podcast by answering this quick two-minute survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MS2T6P6. Thank you so much for your support.

 

My guest today is a gentleman who knows more about fraud than just about anyone else in the accounting and finance profession: Gary Zeune, CPA, Managing Director of The Pros & The Cons.

 

The Pros & The Cons is the only speaker bureau in the country specializing in white-collar criminals. His 40 plus ex-con speakers tell the stories of how and why they embezzled, took kickbacks, and cooked the books to the tune of up to $2.7 billion. His speakers include Mark Morse, a former CFO at ZZZZ Best; Paul Allen, an ex-bank CEO; and Dunlap Cannon, the largest real estate closing attorney in Memphis.

 

But regardless of what kind of entity they worked at, regardless of the dollar amount, there are several really common elements between everyone who commits fraud – the biggest one being that they don't think they're going to get caught. To put it simply, ego gets in the way.

 

So, why would someone be so stupid to think they aren't going to get caught?

 

Well, consider this: have you ever broken the speed limit while driving? Everybody, including me and Gary, have done. It's illegal, so why do we do it? We do it because we think we're going to get away with it – just the same as somebody cheating on their expense report or cooking the books at the bank for $2.7 billion.

 

People say, "Well, I'd never let that happen to me." Well, when you get in your car and you go on the freeway, most of us start going the speed limit. Then, you go two miles over. Then, you're three miles over. Then, five. After you're driving for an hour, you might be going 10, 15 miles over the speed limit. What happens is when your brain is bombarded by constant stimuli, the same stimuli, your brain becomes desensitized.

 

That's why frauds always start little and get bigger, and bigger, and bigger.

 

Most people think that there is a bright line on ethical behavior, but that's not the way it works. Ethics is not absolute. Ethics is situational.

 

So you might think going just five or 10 miles over the speed limit isn’t so bad, but would you break the law by driving 30 or 40 miles over the speed limit? Most of us the answer is no, most of the time, but what about when you have a medical emergency and you're taking your child to the hospital? Your child's health and well-being is more important than you staying five miles over the speed limit, so you change your behavior and break the law even more because there's something more important to you in this situation than the speed limit.

 

So, if you don't do something about fraud, it’s just going to grow – which also means you need to know how fraud works so that you can identify it.

 

You may get an expense report for $1000, including a $12 fake cab. If you don't bust someone over it, assuming you catch it, and then make the punishment worse than the crime, they're going to do it again. “And it will get bigger, and bigger, and bigger. That's where it always starts.”

 

Gary shares a number of great fraud stories in the episode, and you can learn even more by reading some of the following articles he wrote or contributed to:

 

• Scott London, Ex-Auditor From Insider-Trading Scheme, Is Out of Prison, Has a Job
• What do Fraud, Ethics and Strategy have in common?
• Fraudsters in Demand as Speakers Amid White-Collar Crackdown - Risk & Compliance - WSJ
• Prison-Bound KPMG Ex-Partner Remorseful for Insider Tips - WSJ
• Former KPMG Partner Scott London Speaks out Before Starting Prison Term - Accounting Today
• WSJ Special Report - White Collar Criminals for Hire - From the Penitentiary to the Podium
• Confessions of an insider trader on the eve of his prison sentence - WSJ MarketWatch
• Forbes Former KPMG Partner Scott London Shares Cautionary Tale Before Prison
• Former KPMG Partner Scott London to Hold CPE-Eligible Webcast on Ethics Before He Goes to Prison for Insider Trading
• Ever Thought, 'How Did He Get Promoted?' Here's How - WSJ
• How to Tell If Your Coworkers Are Using Their Manipulative Powers for Good or Evil - At Work - WSJ
• What Corporate Climbers Can Teach Us - WSJ

 

Resources:

• Learn more at http://www.theprosandthecons.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gzfraud/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gzfraud

 

--

Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 871d8674-2992-11e9-80fa-737c32d9d583 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:12.025-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:43:57.614-08:00 [title] => S2E20 - Jennifer Briggs | Indiana’s Competency-Based CPA License Renewal Law, One Year Later [pubdate] => 2019-01-21T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/871d8674-2992-11e9-80fa-737c32d9d583/image/Art_-_Change_Your_Mindset_20_-_Jennifer_Briggs_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 20 [subtitle] => Jennifer Briggs is the CEO of the Indiana CPA Society, and we talked about a year ago about the State of Indiana’s House Bill 1467, which allows competency-based learning through professional development opportunities to qualify accountants for... [summary] =>

Jennifer Briggs is the CEO of the Indiana CPA Society, and we talked about a year ago about the State of Indiana’s House Bill 1467, which allows competency-based learning through professional development opportunities to qualify accountants for accountant certificate renewal.

 

Today, we follow up on that conversation to check in on the progress that they have made, learn about any unforeseen challenges that they may have faced, and how they handle these challenges.

 

To recap, in 2010, the Indiana Society created a board-level task force on knowledge management. Jennifer worked with the task force on competency to examine how things have changed in education and everything snowballed from there.

 

Then, on July 1, 2017, the State of Indiana signed House Bill 1467 into law.

 

Following that, the Indiana CPA society created an all-online ethics course. It's interactive, and you have to actively participate in it by including comments or replying to other people's comments. Initially, it did count for a waiver of four hours, but if you take that course now, the certificate says you meet the ethics requirement in Indiana.

 

There’s no test, but, “the part of it that makes it more interactive and kind of tests, if you will, the competency gained is the questions and commentary that the learners have to include.” For example, there might be a case study that you read, and then it would ask what the learner would have done in this particular part of the situation.

 

So, how’s it going so far?

 

“We find that it tends to be people just get it right away and really liked the idea, or really people struggle with anything that's different, which I find so interesting because it has been around a long time,” Jennifer says. “We're 104 years old, almost, as an organization, but CPE, the credit hours system, is only 40 something years old... Sometimes, I don't understand that challenge to change.”

 

I'm so happy the folks in Indiana are working on this because we live in, to some degree, an la carte world. People learn in different ways, and being able to provide the opportunity to learn in the way that fits them best will only make them more successful.

 

Appropriately, the competency rule in Indiana is an option. It's not mandatory.

 

Jennifer also shares a story about her son and his friend that really hits home with me, and explains why this approach will only be more important as our profession moves forward:

 

Jennifer’s friend visited, and both of their kids were running around the house like maniacs playing hide and seek. At one point, they sat down and Jennifer’s friend said, "Oh, I can count this for her PE class."

 

Over the break, there was some incentive for students to be active for four hours per week. It didn't have to involve going to the gym or working out, it just had to involve being active. “And I just thought, gosh, if we can do that for sixth grade PE, we should be able to figure it out."

 

Resources:

• Learn more at http://incpas.org
• Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferbbriggs/

 

--

Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 877ddaf6-2992-11e9-80fa-f7eb8f61d951 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:12.657-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:44:28.631-08:00 [title] => S2E19 - Allen Lloyd, Boyd Search, & Chris Jenkins | Roundtable Discussion: The Future of the Associations, Technology, & Fellowship [pubdate] => 2019-01-07T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/877ddaf6-2992-11e9-80fa-f7eb8f61d951/image/Art_-_Change_Your_Mindset_19_-_Peter_Margaritis_-_Lloyd_Search__Jenkins_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 19 [subtitle] => Happy New Year, everyone! As I thought about 2019, I wanted to get off on the right foot – and I wanted to try something a little different. So today, I interview three wonderful guests at the same time. And you know what? It was a blast!   Our... [summary] =>

Happy New Year, everyone! As I thought about 2019, I wanted to get off on the right foot – and I wanted to try something a little different. So today, I interview three wonderful guests at the same time. And you know what? It was a blast!

 

Our guests are Allen Lloyd, CEO of the Montana Society of CPAs; Boyd Search, CEO of the Georgia Society of CPAs; and Chris Jenkins, CEO of the South Carolina Association of CPAs. All three are CEOs who used to work for the Ohio Society and are now running other state societies, so naturally, our discussion centers around the state of the CPA associations and the issues that members are facing in the accounting profession, both current and in the future.

 

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, which is why this isn’t a one-on-one conversation. These three highlight that each association needs the ability to recognize the idiosyncrasies or uniqueness of their membership and try to tailor their offerings to meet the membership’s needs.

 

For example, Chris Jenkins and the South Carolina Association of CPAs recently overhauled their membership model to create something completely new: an all-inclusive membership. And this was a pretty radical move!

 

“It's about bringing the association back to what it originally was, and the association was a community,” Chris says. “We spend a lot of time talking about CPE, and we spend a lot of time marketing CPE, but there are a lot of CPE vendors out there. What we were trying to do is deliver the maximum value for the minimum price. So, we wanted to roll CPE in as a member benefit.”

 

That’s right – SCACPA isn’t trying to upsell their members to purchase additional CPE credits anymore! The conversation around CPE is so often competence versus compliance, and when you take the price point out of the CPE, it becomes more of a competency-based system.

 

The world is changing rapidly, and as the world changes, associations need to change too.

 

Allen Lloyd and the Montana Association face a very different problem than our other two guests: they’re a state with just a million people that's three-and-a-half times the size of Ohio. CPE is difficult for them because it's difficult to get everyone together – then, even when you accomplish that, none of the cities in Montana are that big, and they're spread out so far from one another, making it difficult to get teaching talent to come.

 

So the MSCPA got rid of their eight-hour seminars and switched to cluster events. Instead of getting people together for an afternoon, everyone gets together for two or three days. None of the classes are longer than four hours and members can pick and choose what they want to do.

 

Georgia, on the other hand, is a much more populated state. There are over 21,000 CPAs licensed in the state, and 85% of their members are actually in Metro Atlanta. This creates both opportunity and challenges because, while they are compressed in this space, traffic is terrible and it's not going to get any better.

 

So Boyd and the GSCPA have made significant investments in their live stream technology, and they’re doing it all themselves. “We have our own equipment, our own staff, and we do it for ourselves,” Boyd says. “And in an age when a lot of people are partnering with outside companies, or with other states, or whatever, we have moved in the opposite direction where we are entirely reliant on ourselves.”

 

So the society owns the process, owns the technology, and hires the people beginning to end – and that has paid huge dividends for them financially. Although they have not experienced tremendous growth in their margins, they have offset losses that you can see in other states and other providers.

 

Change is scary. Change is necessary.

 

People in associations have a fear, and not an entirely irrational fear, that if they create too much change, the people who have supported the associations for the last 30+ years won't like them anymore.

“But we also have to recognize that if we don't change, if we don't do something different, the people who are going to support us for the next 30 years are not going to find us relevant. They're not going to find value in us,” Chris says.

 

So, each association, and really each firm, has to have a method of controlled change, in which you try to balance the needs of both without making either one 100% happy... and no matter what you do, you’re never going to make everyone happy.

But if people can find the value, they will want to be part of your association or work with your firm.

 

 

Resources:

• Montana Society of CPAs: https://www.mscpa.org/
• Connect with Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mscpaexecdir
• Georgia Society of CPAs: https://www.gscpa.org
• Connect with Boyd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boyd-search-2099356/
• South Carolina Association of CPA: https://www.scacpa.org/
• Connect with Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj52973

 

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Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 87ca1ab0-2992-11e9-80fa-ab430d443e72 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:13.156-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:43:43.531-08:00 [title] => S2E18 - Karl Ahlrichs | Multitasking is a Myth [pubdate] => 2018-12-24T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/87ca1ab0-2992-11e9-80fa-ab430d443e72/image/Art_-_Change_Your_Mindset_18_-_Peter_Margaritis_-_Karl_Ahlrichs_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 18 [subtitle] => We, as humans, are not wired to multitask – but we’re also addicted to it! So today, we’re going to learn about why multitasking doesn’t work and then some strategies we can use to be more productive. I thought this would be a perfect episode... [summary] =>

We, as humans, are not wired to multitask – but we’re also addicted to it! So today, we’re going to learn about why multitasking doesn’t work and then some strategies we can use to be more productive. I thought this would be a perfect episode to end the year, as the accounting community’s busy season is lingering on the horizon.

 

We’re joined by third-time guest Karl Ahlrichs, a human capitalist consultant who knows a thing or two about how individuals and teams really get things done.

 

Why can’t we multitask?

 

You can think of multitasking as either the ability to perform multiple tasks at one time or switching back and forth from one thing to another – but neither is an effective way to do... well, just about anything.

 

If you think you can effectively perform multiple tasks at once, I’d like to present exhibit A: “If you've eaten at a quick service restaurant like Kentucky Fried Chicken, they will hand you a multitasking eating implement that is with a spoon and a fork – the spork. It fails at both tasks! It's basically a spoon that can hurt you.”

 

And if you’re switching between tasks, that has its own costs. There is up to a 40% reduction in productivity from this, when compared to focusing on a task and completing it then turning to another task and completing it. Decision fatigue also sets in, as Karl calls it, and you become less effective as you think.

 

For example, imagine you’re balancing a spreadsheet and writing a document. If you were to split your brain power between those two, it is not a simple 50/50 split. There is a loss of time to task switching, and every flip takes about 20% of the brain's total processing power, leaving 80% for the task at hand, not 100%. So, instead of a 50/50 split, it's a 40/40 split with 20% wasted.

 

But this isn’t just lowering your productivity. It basically lowers your IQ by about 15 points – the equivalent of staying up all night – and it lowers brain density in areas of the cortex that are responsible for empathy, cognitive, and emotional control.

 

“So, over time, if you do a bunch of multitasking that is paying off in these short-term ding ding dings, it makes you less cognitive and have poorer emotional control.”

 

Still don’t believe us? Try it for yourself!

 

Karl walks us through a simple exercise to demonstrate the impact of multitasking and task switching:

 

• Take out a sheet of paper, a writing implement, and something to time yourself with.
• Write “A B C D E F G H I” on one line and then, underneath it, write “1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9.” Time yourself.
• Now do it again, but don’t write the two lines sequentially. Instead, alternate between letters and numbers (A, 1, B, 2, and so on). Time yourself.

 

How long did it take you? The first time it took me 11 seconds, but the second time it took me 15 (and I might have messed up once).

 

How to Put an End to Multitasking

 

The overall process is pretty simple: identify the tasks at hand, identify and focus on the workflow process that you want to use, decide what needs your full attention, triage, prioritize, reduce distractions, and then just pay attention to one thing at a time.

 

To make this easier on yourself, do less! Delegate, hand things off to colleagues, or hand things off to technology. Remove the stuff that someone else can do from your plate “so that your precious brain power can be used for the good stuff, for the creative moments.”

 

If you need some help creating a more effective workflow, Karl suggests trying out the Kanban method. It’s pretty simple: create a to-do list, a doing list, and a complete list on a whiteboard (or something similar), then write all of your tasks onto sticky notes. There shouldn’t be more than a couple things in your “doing” list at any given time, and writing them all out will both help you prioritize and figure out what can be delegated.

 

If you want to learn more about Kanban, head over to www.personalkanban.com.

 

Another thing that makes a big difference is aerobic exercise. “Overall physical fitness appears to improve the outcome of all tasks, and it improves cognition.”

 

I hope that gives you some ideas for taking on tax season. If you are looking for some more ideas, feel free to reach out to Karl or myself.

 

Resources:

• Learn more about Karl at http://www.expertspeaks.com/
• Connect with Karl: Twitter | LinkedIn
• Learn about Kanban: www.personalkanban.com

 

--

Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8812d78c-2992-11e9-80fa-2b476afb6822 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:13.633-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:43:45.313-08:00 [title] => S2E17 - Stephanie Feger | Color Today Pretty [pubdate] => 2018-12-10T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8812d78c-2992-11e9-80fa-2b476afb6822/image/Art_-_Change_Your_Mindset_17_-_Peter_Margaritis_-_Stephanie_Feger_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 17 [subtitle] => Stephanie Feger is a passionate communicator who believes that a shift in perspective can help people live truly fulfilling lives.   After working in the public relations and marketing industry for over 15 years, she realized that happiness isn't... [summary] =>

Stephanie Feger is a passionate communicator who believes that a shift in perspective can help people live truly fulfilling lives.

 

After working in the public relations and marketing industry for over 15 years, she realized that happiness isn't found in what society deems important and felt a calling to help others reach their fullest potential while embracing all that life has to offer. Now an author, professional speaker, motivational blogger, book publicist, and home decor business owner, Stephanie connects her passion for embracing creativity with her dedication to helping others live life in perspective.

 

In her recently published book, Color Today Pretty: An Inspirational Guide to Living a Life in Perspective, Stephanie invites others to change their lives by finding perspective from within.

 

She has a wonderful message to share with all of us as we begin to move into 2019, and for those in the accounting profession, as we move into that busy season (although I prefer to call it the opportunity season).

 

What Does it Mean to Color Today Pretty?

 

The idea of “Color Today Pretty” came to Stephanie in a dream, and it’s since become her life purpose and, really, a movement.

 

In the dream, Stephanie played the role of a female Simon Cowell on America’s Got Talent – essentially, the person that stands between someone's dreams and their reality.

 

A contestant walked up and started painting, and it was just awful. She told the young boy to give up and get a job, but he didn’t react by getting sad or angry like most people on the show. “Instead, he took his canvas, he brought it over to me, and he gifted me with a smile, and he said, ‘That's okay. I just want you to go color something pretty today.’”

 

“I realized that he had a choice. You know, there's a lot of ways to get from point A to point B in life. And I was sitting here thinking that I stood in between his ability to have this dream make it a reality, but this young kid taught me something different,” Stephanie says.

 

“What I realized at that moment is he couldn't control my reaction. He couldn't control if I was going to help him reach his dream, but he could control his reactions and his responses to what happened in life to him. He decided to color that day pretty, to take that moment and make it purposeful and meaningful. And he wasn't going to let me stop him.”

 

From that moment, Stephanie shifted her lens on life and learned to find beauty in the mundane – and she believes that if you can embrace this mentality, too, you can do anything.

 

One of the things I enjoy about the book is that it’s not coming from the perspective of "You know, I've got life figured out and here’s how you do it." Instead, it's more of a journey through what Stephanie has experienced, showing how shifting her perspective has allowed her to take some of the most difficult moments in her life and use them to grow instead of hinder her growth.

 

“There is a way for people to focus on the things that matter. But, sometimes, we have to go through an acceptance process to get there, to be able to see through the right lens, to be able to focus our spectacles, per se, and really see that, at the end of the day, the only thing we can control in life is ourselves.”

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more at http://colortodaypretty.com
• Color Today Pretty: An Inspirational Guide to Living a Life in Perspective
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colortodaypretty
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colortodaypretty/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-feger/

 

--

Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 884e1798-2992-11e9-80fa-9b486d013789 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:14.019-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:43:59.434-08:00 [title] => S2E16 - Carrie Sechel | You Have the Power to Pivot & Permission to Love [pubdate] => 2018-11-26T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/884e1798-2992-11e9-80fa-9b486d013789/image/Art_-_Change_Your_Mindset_16_-_Peter_Margaritis_-_Carrie_Sechel_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 16 [subtitle] => Carrie Sechel is an entrepreneurial business consultant, speaker, and the bestselling author of BASE Jump: Finding Yourself in an Unfulfilling Professional World. Before creating her business, Carrie spent 18 years in public accounting, including... [summary] =>

Carrie Sechel is an entrepreneurial business consultant, speaker, and the bestselling author of BASE Jump: Finding Yourself in an Unfulfilling Professional World. Before creating her business, Carrie spent 18 years in public accounting, including seven years as a partner with Deloitte.

 

Carrie always knew she wanted to start a business at some point, but she struggled, and her fear of leaving Deloitte was so great that she nearly broke down before finally deciding to move on. It was hard work to break away from the vision of success that she had been raised to believe.

 

How did Carrie redefine success for herself, build a thriving entrepreneurial consulting business, and write a bestselling book within two years of leaving Deloitte? She connected her knowledge and experiences to her passion to create the life that she wanted to live and aligned her business vision with her life vision. Now, she is driven to help others to do the same.

 

From Corporate America to Entrepreneur

 

Carrie fell into public accounting because she liked working with a variety of clients, learning about many different business issues, understanding how tax impacted those businesses, coaching her clients, and coaching her people.

 

But after being in public accounting for 18 years, she needed to look at really where things were going. She asked herself, “What am I creating here at Deloitte? What does that look like? And is that what I'm here to create?” She came to the conclusion that she wasn't going to find that thing in the various potential partner paths in public accounting.

 

“I knew that I wanted to create a business of my own.”

 

I know many of you have had that same thought, but a lot of people don't really realize the barriers that one goes through when going from employee to entrepreneur.

 

“I had been modeling a version of success that I had seen throughout my life and I was living this version of success that I had been raised to believe,” Carrie says. “I needed to redefine what success meant to me and find success in a way that meant I would have to humble myself for a while. I would have to take a pay cut for a while. I would have to create something of my own that, at that point, I didn't know what it was. And those were huge mental barriers to break through.”

 

“Your business is always a reflection of you. Your business is you and you're selling you, and you're defining what you're creating yourself – and all those things are infinitely exciting, and infinitely terrifying, and humbling.”

 

As an entrepreneur, Carrie is able to guide people and help them make this transition a little more easily. There are still big barriers, but with a little help and a plan, they’re a little less daunting.

 

This takes the form of Power to Pivot, Carrie’s system to take people through those initial steps to go from this chaotic not knowing feeling to just knowing.

 

“I see so many people going out and buying a franchise, or buying a shop, or a business that already exists. And several years later, they're just as miserable. And, actually, sometimes, more because they never honored what it is that they are truly meant to create. It's finding that, creating that big vision, and then planning for it.

 

You can learn more about Carrie’s system in her free on-demand training session called Authentic Ambition: How to Create a Post-Corporate Life You Love Full of Abundance, Creativity, and Joy. She goes through the system in detail and offers some very specific items to think about, so you can start exploring your options right now.

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more at CarrieSechel.com
• Free training session: Authentic Ambition: How to Create a Post-Corporate Life You Love Full of Abundance, Creativity, and Joy
• Read: BASE Jump: Finding Yourself in an Unfulfilling Professional World

 

--

Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8885f820-2992-11e9-80fa-2f15cd7aaa95 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:14.388-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-11T08:21:33.134-08:00 [title] => S2E15 - Sean Kenny | How PrepLink Plans to Transform Public Accounting [pubdate] => 2018-11-12T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8885f820-2992-11e9-80fa-2f15cd7aaa95/image/Art_-_Change_Your_Mindset_15_-_Peter_Margaritis_-_Sean_Kenny_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 18 [subtitle] => [summary] => Sean Kenny is the Co-Founder of PrepLink, a platform that allows accounting firms to work with freelance CPAs remotely, flexibly, and on demand. He is on a mission to transform the landscape of public accounting, and as you’ll hear in this episode, he is extremely passionate about this mission (and, personally, I think PrepLink is going to evolve into something very special).

 

Before founding PrepLink, Sean worked as a CPA for several firms in their tax departments, and the idea was born out his frustration with the lifestyle of public accounting – a frustration many of us understand all too well.

 

Sean realized that by providing a tool that allows accountants the option of finding remote, flexible work, he could tap into the abundance of talented and experienced CPAs willing to take on freelance assignments and open that up to firms who can benefit from a large pool of reliable on-demand experts.

 

“I want to offer a small firm all the resources of a large national accounting firm.” So when a small firm needs help with a specific subject matter they don’t know much about or a big project that needs more hands, they know they can find someone perfect for the job and bring them on.

 

PrepLink isn’t just outsourcing, though. It’s a new network for public accounting, allowing firms and professionals to establish and build relationships within the CPA community.

 

Sean shares an example of how he plans to use PrepLink to help him navigate the complexities of Nexus for an online business operating in multiple states:

 

“Right now, I have a business. I have clients all over the country. I'm actually going to have to use PrepLink to bring on people to help me understand my requirements as an internet business with all these accounting firms that I'm dealing with across the country. I need help there.”

 

But it's just not the accounting entrepreneurs like Sean who will benefit from this. It's tax managers or auto managers have this nagging feeling that there's to be a better way of doing things. “I'm screaming from the mountaintops,” Sean says, “if you offer flexibility, the amount of people willing to work with you will outstrip the amount of work that you have.”

 

Sean also stresses that you don't have to use PrepLink. “You can do it yourself. I hope this message gets across. Just offer flexibility and offer optionality, and you'll get people. You'll get amazing people.”

 

Resources:

• Learn more at preplink.io
• Connect with Sean: LinkedIn | Twitter
• Connect with PrepLink: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

 

--


 Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 88c92b7c-2992-11e9-80fa-cb1a241280f7 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:14.828-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-11T08:20:22.752-08:00 [title] => S2E14 - David Krebs | Making Tax Law Fun [pubdate] => 2018-10-29T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/88c92b7c-2992-11e9-80fa-cb1a241280f7/image/Art_-_Change_Your_Mindset_14_-_Peter_Margaritis_-_David_Krebs_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 14 [subtitle] => [summary] => Have you ever laughed out loud at a tax seminar? Do you wish that you could understand complex tax law in simple terms? Would you like to make more money with great tax planning strategies?

 

You may not believe it’s possible – mostly the laughing part – but today’s guest, David Krebs, is here to prove you wrong.

 

David is an author, speaker, Thomson Reuters Gear Up Tax Class teacher, silver-certified bowling instructor, and Olympic Calculator Edition champion, and he is unique in the tax space for two reasons: One, his unparallelled passion for helping his clients save money and grow their businesses. Two, when he's teaching or working with his clients, he makes taxes fun.

 

That's right – taxes and fun, in the same sentence, on purpose!

 

David even says that his spiritual gift is making tax law fun. Because “if you have to sit through a seminar for eight hours on taxes, and you enjoy it, that is a gift!” And I really couldn’t agree more.

 

In this interview, you'll hear the passion that Dave exudes, and it's completely contagious. He got me so jazzed that I think I want to attend one of his tax seminars. And I've never – I mean never – willingly wanted to attend a tax seminar.

 

If you also find yourself wanting to attend one of David’s seminars, look at the full list of upcoming events at gearup.com and send David a message asking if he’ll be speaking at the sessions near you (dave [at] cpaagi.com).

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more at cpaagi.com
• Attend one of David’s talks: gearup.com
• Read: "How an improv class can help develop essential business skills"

 

--


 Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

[audioFile] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/88c92b7c-2992-11e9-80fa-cb1a241280f7/stripped_4b5f28fc2698c0f0d4f1ded75fc2e8fc.mp3 [downloadUrl] => http://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN2319662645.mp3 [size] => 47690814 [duration] => 2980.68 [uid] => CSN2319662645 [originalUrl] => https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/improvisnojoke/MASTER_REVISED_-_CYM_014_-_David_Krebs.mp3?dest-id=395588 [bitrate] => 128 [samplerate] => 44100 [channelMode] => stereo [vbr] => [audioFileProcessing] => [podcastId] => 855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d [preCount] => 0 [postCount] => 0 [insertionPoints] => Array ( ) [id3File] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/88c92b7c-2992-11e9-80fa-cb1a241280f7/id3/70f8b358a98352ce4b774dad8d77f5dc.mp3 [id3FileProcessing] => [id3FileSize] => 72040 [parentId] => [guid] => 6f032b4f95414a078ee695899fc0b026 [pubdateTimezone] => Central Time (US & Canada) [originalFilename] => [preOffset] => 0.0 [postOffset] => 0.0 [spotifyIdentifier] => [expectedAdhash] => [audioFileUpdatedAt] => [draft] => [externalId] => [customFields] => )

Array ( [id] => 88ffcde4-2992-11e9-80fa-4b6c6db53f57 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:15.186-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-11T08:17:48.078-08:00 [title] => S2E13 - Kristen Rampe & Jason Lieu | Slide Deck Improv: Practice Presentations, Build Confidence, & Have Fun [pubdate] => 2018-10-15T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/88ffcde4-2992-11e9-80fa-4b6c6db53f57/image/Art_-_Change_Your_Mindset_13_-_Peter_Margaritis_-_Kristen_Rampe__Jason_Lieu_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 13 [subtitle] => [summary] => I recently started facilitating an experimental new professional development program called Slide Deck Improv, and today I am excited to introduce you to two of partners in crime in this venture, Kristen Rampe and Jason Lieu.

 

Kristen is the creator of Slide Deck Improv, a 10-year veteran of public accounting, and the owner of Kristen Rampe Consulting. Jason actually worked for Kristen during his short tenure as an accountant, but he left the profession to pursue improv and acting. Now he’s back in the professional services field as a fellow facilitator for Slide Deck Improv.

 

So what is Slide Deck Improv?

 

It’s the most fun way to improve your presentation skills and gain confidence in your abilities, all while practicing the life skill that is improvisation.

 

Slide Deck Improv combines the basic concepts of business communication and improvisation with practical – and fun – hands-on exercises.

 

The groups take part in improv games, culminating in the titular event: people take turns coming onstage, the audience chooses a topic, and then the presenter has to prepare a presentation on that topic using a slide deck they’ve never seen before.

 

In the process, presenters get an opportunity to take a risk in a safe environment, while practicing new communication and storytelling skills.

 

“I think one of the beautiful things about improv is that it shows you what you actually do know and what you actually have internalized; to have a little bit more faith in your abilities and to not feel so insecure in a public realm,” Jason says. “I think a lot of us feel like we can't do it, we don't know how to do it, we don't trust our instincts. [But Slide Deck Improv] opens up a whole new realm for people.”

 

I fell in love with this program the very first time I saw it, and I couldn’t be more excited to be part of it. Because we’re not just teaching business communications skills, we’re teaching everyday life skills.

 

Improv is all about connecting with your audience, no matter who the audience is. It could be your customers, clients, a sales team, family, strangers, whatever – at the end of the day, it comes to people talking to people. And if you can connect with and engage people, you're going to have this newfound confidence in your abilities.

 

If you want to see Slide Deck Improv firsthand, check out these videos of their past presentations  on YouTube.

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more at slidedeckimprov.com
• Follow Slide Deck Improv: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter
• Want to do this yourself? Learn more about the upcoming Small Group DIY Kit

 

--


 Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

[audioFile] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/88ffcde4-2992-11e9-80fa-4b6c6db53f57/stripped_3ac5e9bbdab16324e895c68c2d06d867.mp3 [downloadUrl] => http://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN5678282168.mp3 [size] => 35730912 [duration] => 2233.18 [uid] => CSN5678282168 [originalUrl] => https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/improvisnojoke/MASTER_-_CYM_013_-_Kristen_and_Jason.mp3?dest-id=395588 [bitrate] => 128 [samplerate] => 44100 [channelMode] => stereo [vbr] => [audioFileProcessing] => [podcastId] => 855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d [preCount] => 0 [postCount] => 0 [insertionPoints] => Array ( ) [id3File] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/88ffcde4-2992-11e9-80fa-4b6c6db53f57/id3/d857c0a8f5a8bf9a52a0f6b36e52e262.mp3 [id3FileProcessing] => [id3FileSize] => 74592 [parentId] => [guid] => 416d96339790415ebe046c676b384899 [pubdateTimezone] => Central Time (US & Canada) [originalFilename] => [preOffset] => 0.0 [postOffset] => 0.0 [spotifyIdentifier] => [expectedAdhash] => [audioFileUpdatedAt] => [draft] => [externalId] => [customFields] => )

Array ( [id] => 893926d4-2992-11e9-80fa-3b53eae26b73 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:15.561-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:43:43.573-08:00 [title] => S2E12 - Courtney Kirschbaum | Give Humanity a Seat at the Table [pubdate] => 2018-10-01T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/893926d4-2992-11e9-80fa-3b53eae26b73/image/Art_-_Change_Your_Mindset_12_-_Peter_Margaritis_-_Courtney_Kirschbaum_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 12 [subtitle] => My guest today is Courtney Kirschbaum, who I had the pleasure of speaking with after her keynote address at the Georgia Society of CPAs’ Southeastern Accounting Show in Atlanta. Courtney’s keynote address was titled “The Beginning of the End or... [summary] =>

My guest today is Courtney Kirschbaum, who I had the pleasure of speaking with after her keynote address at the Georgia Society of CPAs’ Southeastern Accounting Show in Atlanta. Courtney’s keynote address was titled “The Beginning of the End or the End of the Beginning?” and it focuses on the idea that everything old is new again, especially when it comes to panicking about the younger generation.

 

This talk was first inspired by a quote from Socrates: “The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.”

 

Sound familiar? Because 2000 years later, some older folks are still singing this tune – and yet, things are still getting done.

 

“Everybody thinks that their beginning and their end are like the ultimate beginning and the end... [but] anybody who had been in business for even a short while knows that so much of what we see is just something old with a new name.”

 

Burnout & Karoshi

 

Part of Courtney’s presentation covered the idea of karoshi, which can be translated literally as “overwork death.” Both Courtney and I have seen how this affects the Japanese people first hand, and you can learn even more about it in The Washington Post’s article “Do Japanese really work themselves to death? In some cases, yes.”

 

The sad truth is that the work culture in Japan has led to thousands of deaths, to the point where the government is now involved – and our culture here in the U.S. isn’t so different.

 

“It's going to come here, I think. It might come more slowly, it might take a different form, but we are turning into a culture that is work-obsessed. Well, we've been there for a while.”

 

The average workweek is 47 hours now. Not only that, from 2000 to 2014, the productivity at work increased by 21.6% – but, at the same time, the remuneration only increased by 1.8%. And that is simply unsustainable.

 

“We abandon our humanity, and we're working people to the point where they can't take it anymore, and they leave. And I think when we make millennial a pejorative term, we're kind of doing the same thing.”

 

So let's all cut each other some slack, let’s learn what we can about self-care from the younger generation, and let's add a little humanity to the equation; Let’s just bring some humanity into the boardroom, into the conference room, into our meetings, into how we manage our people, and how we interact with our people.

 

Don't just ask, “Will it work? Is it profitable? Is it right?” – Ask, “Is it humane?”

 

The evidence that treating people like people isn’t just nice, but a financially viable strategy, is abundant. So do you have the guts to do it?

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more at courtneykirschbaum.com
• Connect with Courtney: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
• Watch Courtney on YouTube
• Read: "“Yes, and” Take a Negotiation Lesson from Improv Theatre"

 

--

Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

[audioFile] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/893926d4-2992-11e9-80fa-3b53eae26b73/stripped_a8b700400d9f8c7e6de372af63214cdc.mp3 [downloadUrl] => http://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN5887157789.mp3 [size] => 39984901 [duration] => 2499.06 [uid] => CSN5887157789 [originalUrl] => https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/improvisnojoke/MASTER_-_CYM_012_-_Courtney_Kirschbaum.mp3?dest-id=395588 [bitrate] => 128 [samplerate] => 44100 [channelMode] => stereo [vbr] => [audioFileProcessing] => [podcastId] => 855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d [preCount] => 0 [postCount] => 0 [insertionPoints] => Array ( ) [id3File] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/893926d4-2992-11e9-80fa-3b53eae26b73/id3/9525809e43d254a738713a51b4f2a000.mp3 [id3FileProcessing] => [id3FileSize] => 79620 [parentId] => [guid] => 8b0f6025ccb14d5e83204d1abf8ad354 [pubdateTimezone] => [originalFilename] => [preOffset] => 0.0 [postOffset] => 0.0 [spotifyIdentifier] => [expectedAdhash] => [audioFileUpdatedAt] => [draft] => [externalId] => [customFields] => )

Array ( [id] => 8973212c-2992-11e9-80fa-77bb2da7ddf9 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:15.928-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-11T08:15:24.860-08:00 [title] => S2E11 - Kate Colbert | Think Like a Marketer [pubdate] => 2018-09-17T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8973212c-2992-11e9-80fa-77bb2da7ddf9/image/Art_-_Change_Your_Mindset_11_-_Peter_Margaritis_-_Kate_Colbert_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 11 [subtitle] => [summary] => My guest today is Kate Colbert, the Founder & President of Silver Tree Communications and Silver Tree Publishing and the author of the newly released book Think Like a Marketer: How a Shift in Mindset Can Change Everything for Your Business. Kate provides great marketing advice for people in any kind of business, and she tailored this conversation for the financial professional.

 

Now, this isn’t about converting accounting and finance professionals into marketers – It's about helping people like accountants make better decisions about their accounting practice by thinking like a marketer.

 

In Think Like a Marketer, Kate discusses the five principles that will help you make this mindset shift and change everything for your business:

 

1. Communicate for connection and meaning, not just to transact sales. (For a little bonus reading on this subject, check out this article in the Journal of Accountancy: “Networking Tips for Quiet People: A Little Preparation Can Take the Fear Out of Networking”)
2. You live and die by your customers' insights. You may think accounting professionals are a group of subject matter experts who are all about the data and numbers, right? But thinking like a marketer requires looking at numbers that most professionals just aren't. For example, when is the last time you did a client satisfaction survey?
3. Market yourself in a way that's strategy religious and tactic agnostic. This is not about where you go to church – If that you have a marketing strategy that you’re confident in, you need to be sticking religiously to that strategy. But in terms of the tactics you apply and the activities you do in marketing, you need to be really open-minded and agnostic.
4. Create cultures and processes that align with your brand. What are you willing to do differently in your day-to-day processes, up to and including the way the building is laid out, in order to really deliver on the story that you’re telling to the marketplace about what makes you a better accounting firm than the accounting firm down the street?
5. Do everything in service of maintaining a virtuous cycle of creating value for the customer while capturing value for you.

 

I am confident if you execute to these five principles, you'll begin to see signs that your marketing is resonating with your audience and having an impact.

 

“It doesn't matter where you are in your journey. Whether we're talking about a book that you just wrote, or if we're talking about a business that you founded, or a business that you work in, the perfect time to start thinking like a marketer is now.”

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more at thinklikeamarketerthebook.com
• Join the Think Like a Marketer Community: facebook.com/groups/1757442721002369
• Connect with Kate on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katecolbert
• Think Like a Marketer: How a Shift in Mindset Can Change Everything for Your Business

 

--


 Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

[audioFile] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/8973212c-2992-11e9-80fa-77bb2da7ddf9/stripped_f9e4bb6773463cf7bd50b75753f5651e.mp3 [downloadUrl] => http://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN6831528152.mp3 [size] => 53836068 [duration] => 3364.75 [uid] => CSN6831528152 [originalUrl] => https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/improvisnojoke/MASTER_-_CYM_011_-_Kate_Colbert.mp3?dest-id=395588 [bitrate] => 128 [samplerate] => 44100 [channelMode] => stereo [vbr] => [audioFileProcessing] => [podcastId] => 855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d [preCount] => 0 [postCount] => 0 [insertionPoints] => Array ( ) [id3File] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/8973212c-2992-11e9-80fa-77bb2da7ddf9/id3/9a9cd42128346769d4c2e5fb2d60ac01.mp3 [id3FileProcessing] => [id3FileSize] => 75444 [parentId] => [guid] => 1253d46e4dcd47e6b574a3daafec4bdb [pubdateTimezone] => Central Time (US & Canada) [originalFilename] => [preOffset] => 0.0 [postOffset] => 0.0 [spotifyIdentifier] => [expectedAdhash] => [audioFileUpdatedAt] => [draft] => [externalId] => [customFields] => )

Array ( [id] => 89afbc2c-2992-11e9-80fa-23cea52fe76f [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:16.337-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:44:03.551-08:00 [title] => Rebekah Brown | The Rising Tide Lifts All Boats: Why the MACPA & BLI Want to Train Every CPA to be Anticipatory & Future-Proof [pubdate] => 2018-09-03T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/89afbc2c-2992-11e9-80fa-23cea52fe76f/image/Art_-_Change_Your_Mindset_10_-_Peter_Margaritis_-_Rebekah_Brown_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 10 [subtitle] => Rebekah Brown is the Director of Development for the Maryland Association of CPAs and the Business Learning Institute. Rebekah frequently presents to groups both locally and nationally on the future of the accounting profession and, as a certified... [summary] =>

Rebekah Brown is the Director of Development for the Maryland Association of CPAs and the Business Learning Institute. Rebekah frequently presents to groups both locally and nationally on the future of the accounting profession and, as a certified Insight to Action facilitator, she has guided firms, nonprofits, and accounting professionals in the United States and Canada in their strategic planning process.

 

On top of all the work that Rebekah does, she’s just downright passionate about the profession, taking a “rising tide raises all ships” philosophy to everything she does to train and educate her fellow and future accountants.

 

Rebekah focuses on what she calls the three P’s:

 

1. People – “I develop people! I am passionate ... about helping people find their strengths and find their place in the accounting profession. So, on an individual basis, with each of our members, I want to help develop them and develop their careers.”
2. Pipeline – MACPA is over  100 years old, and in that time they’ve learned that we have to be constantly thinking about and developing future CPAs. So a lot of Rebekah’s work involves talking to college students, high school students, and even elementary school students about the accounting profession. “So, I’m always thinking about who is our next generation CPA, who's our next generation member, and preparing them for the profession.”
3. Profession – The MACPA isn’t solely focused preparing accounting and finance professionals in Maryland. “We really believe that the rising tide raises all boats. So, we want the profession to grow to be successful, to be anticipatory, to be future-ready. And so, as we do that all over the world, we believe we are benefiting Maryland, and we believe that Maryland CPAs are even better positioned to be future-ready because of that.”

 

Speaking of the future of the profession, there was an article in Accounting Today titled “Melancon: It’s time to reimagine accounting” covering a presentation that Barry Melancon, the President and CEO of the AICPA, made this year at the AICPA ENGAGE Conference.

 

My favorite quote from this article is when Barry says, "We've changed significantly just in the past year, and we're never going to see the pace of change that's slower than what we're seeing now. And, you know, we won't be obsolete, particularly, if we embrace these changes."

 

Just let that sink in. How does that affect you and your business, and how does that affect you as an accounting financial professional as we move forward?

 

I highly recommend reading the article and listening to Barry's podcast interview with Bill Sheridan on Future-Proof, a podcast for accounting and financial pros.

 

After doing so myself, I have decided to invest my CPE time and dollars into learning more about blockchain and artificial intelligence. I've been somewhat reluctant to do this, but I want to have this better understanding of this technology.

 

Resources:

• Learn more: MACPA.org | BLIonline.org
• Connect with Rebekah: Twitter | LinkedIn
• Listen to Peter on Episode 19 of Future-Proof & subscribe on Apple Podcasts

 

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Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

[audioFile] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/89afbc2c-2992-11e9-80fa-23cea52fe76f/stripped_933b0665337c7b5619419a856513a436.mp3 [downloadUrl] => http://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN6699598612.mp3 [size] => 48879490 [duration] => 3054.97 [uid] => CSN6699598612 [originalUrl] => https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/improvisnojoke/MASTER_-_CYM_010_-_Rebekah_Brown.mp3?dest-id=395588 [bitrate] => 128 [samplerate] => 44100 [channelMode] => stereo [vbr] => [audioFileProcessing] => [podcastId] => 855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d [preCount] => 0 [postCount] => 0 [insertionPoints] => Array ( ) [id3File] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/89afbc2c-2992-11e9-80fa-23cea52fe76f/id3/7f347641dca080fb989d45090c079183.mp3 [id3FileProcessing] => [id3FileSize] => 79492 [parentId] => [guid] => db1f776935e2404b966799fdaf35f381 [pubdateTimezone] => [originalFilename] => [preOffset] => 0.0 [postOffset] => 0.0 [spotifyIdentifier] => [expectedAdhash] => [audioFileUpdatedAt] => [draft] => [externalId] => [customFields] => )

Array ( [id] => 89ef60f2-2992-11e9-80fa-23bc46ae8cee [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:16.755-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-11T08:13:00.979-08:00 [title] => S2E9 - Byron Patrick | Staying Ahead of Technology: Trends You Need to Know & What You Can Do to Protect Yourself [pubdate] => 2018-08-20T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/89ef60f2-2992-11e9-80fa-23bc46ae8cee/image/Art_-_Change_Your_Mindset_09_-_Peter_Margaritis_-_Byron_Patrick_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 9 [subtitle] => [summary] => Overwhelmed by trying to stay current with the rapid change in technology? Have sleepless nights because you fear that someone will #hack into your company? Just need IT help? Then this episode is for you. [audioFile] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/89ef60f2-2992-11e9-80fa-23bc46ae8cee/stripped_d67cfaa28b902b75d8ef4396c14c8e50.mp3 [downloadUrl] => http://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN4773981410.mp3 [size] => 43649149 [duration] => 2728.07 [uid] => CSN4773981410 [originalUrl] => https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/improvisnojoke/MASTER_-_CYM_009_-_Byron_Patrick.mp3?dest-id=395588 [bitrate] => 128 [samplerate] => 44100 [channelMode] => stereo [vbr] => [audioFileProcessing] => [podcastId] => 855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d [preCount] => 0 [postCount] => 0 [insertionPoints] => Array ( ) [id3File] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/89ef60f2-2992-11e9-80fa-23bc46ae8cee/id3/0184e1f4ce44068dff56af424e3db01f.mp3 [id3FileProcessing] => [id3FileSize] => 68288 [parentId] => [guid] => 87e1ed49f7434ac1aab19fe2cd87fac8 [pubdateTimezone] => Central Time (US & Canada) [originalFilename] => [preOffset] => 0.0 [postOffset] => 0.0 [spotifyIdentifier] => [expectedAdhash] => [audioFileUpdatedAt] => [draft] => [externalId] => [customFields] => )

Array ( [id] => 8a3515b6-2992-11e9-80fa-8f86da1fa575 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:17.213-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-11T08:11:42.758-08:00 [title] => S2E8 - Owen Wyss | The Value of Volunteering (For You & Your Community) [pubdate] => 2018-08-06T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8a3515b6-2992-11e9-80fa-8f86da1fa575/image/Art_-_Change_Your_Mindset_08_-_Peter_Margaritis_-_Owen_Wyss_TILE.png?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 8 [subtitle] => [summary] => Owen Wyss is the Financial Controller at Thompson Concrete Construction, and he can best be described by a quote he gave in a recent AICPA article titled “Tired of Getting After-Hours Work Email?” Owen said, "Given the fact that my company does pay for me to have the ability to access my email on my smartphone, I believe they expect me to be available in an emergency or in order not to delay a project or task, especially since we operate globally."

 

Now, most CPAs don't feel that way – and that is what makes Owen a great leader!

 

Owen embraces the essence of leadership. He is currently Vice Chair of Finance for the Ohio Society of CPAs, is also on the board of the Construction Financial Management Association, and has been on the board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (an organization close to my heart).

 

“I encourage, first, for everybody to find something they're passionate about; and second, to find an organization that aligns with them and realize that what will come of that are some great friendships, some great networking opportunities, and business connections.”

 

That’s a lot for one person, in addition to having a job and a family, so our conversation covers a wide variety of topics: his role as a financial controller, why the construction industry needs to embrace more lean practices to become more efficient, and his volunteer time.

 

As you’ll hear, Owen is passionate about everything he does and is a great role model for both young and old. I am very proud of him, and I'm envious of his drive.

 

I also have an exciting announcement: my new book, Taking the Numb Out of Numbers: Explaining and Presenting Financial Information with Confidence and Clarity, is available for purchase on Amazon.com! If you'd like to learn more about the book, head on over to TakingTheNumbOutOfNumbersBook.com.

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more about the Ohio Society: ohiocpa.com
• Connect with Owen on LinkedIn

 

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 Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8a699f66-2992-11e9-80fa-2f7255fbfb47 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:17.557-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:44:15.017-08:00 [title] => S2E7 - Cara Silletto | Why Your Employees Leave & How to Keep Them Longer [pubdate] => 2018-07-23T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8a699f66-2992-11e9-80fa-2f7255fbfb47/image/TILEChange_Your_Mindset_07_-_Peter_Margaritis_-_Cara_Silletto.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 7 [subtitle] => Cara Silletto is a retention guru who works with companies all around the country, in all different industries, to help them reduce employee turnover. To accomplish that, she bridges the generational gaps and helps managers be more effective in their... [summary] =>

Cara Silletto is a retention guru who works with companies all around the country, in all different industries, to help them reduce employee turnover. To accomplish that, she bridges the generational gaps and helps managers be more effective in their roles.

 

This is an issue that comes up a lot in firms today and it’s only going to be a bigger issue with each passing year. So if you’re clinging to the old ways – well, consider this a wake-up call.

 

Because the firms who are set in their ways, who have decades-old policies they haven't revisited, are the ones who contact Cara saying things like, "We can't recruit anybody... And when we do recruit somebody, they're only staying one or two years, or they don't want to be on the partner track anymore. What's the problem?"

 

The Millennial Mindset

 

Cara is the author of a short book titled The Millennial Mindset (which you can get for free here). It contains some stories about Cara’s childhood, as she happens to be one of the oldest millennials, talking about things like technology, respect for authority, and entitlement (everybody's favorite topic when it comes to millennials).

 

“And what that little booklet talks about is the backstory of why am I, as a millennial, so entitled, and why do I have no loyalty to anyone or anything,” Caray says. “[It] tells a lot of those stories of how I grew up differently than the previous generations, which is a pretty good aha moment for a lot of managers and older colleagues, even, that really do not understand how millennials see the world so differently.”

 

 

Why Your Employees Leave & How to Keep Them Longer

 

Cara also co-authored a new book called Staying Power: Why Your Employees Leave and How to Keep Them Longer. This book focuses on specific strategies for reducing employee turnover today, covering the evolution of our employees over the last 20 to 30 years in the workplace.

 

“Today, we are in an employee's market. It's absolutely the employees' choice, the candidates' choice, of where they're going to work.”

 

The power has shifted – and it's time for your mindset to shift as well.

 

Survey after survey says that the new generation of workers don't leave because of pay. They leave because of things like antiquated software and mandatory Saturdays.

 

What the new generations want is flexibility and to be heard; they would like more transparency across the entire organization. It can be frustrating for staff when they feel like the partners are the only ones who know what's going on.

 

People are only going to stay as long as they feel that it's a good place for them to work and you're only going to keep them so long as they're providing what you need as an employer – so it has to be mutually beneficial.

 

“I want to challenge each and every one of you to turn up your appreciation dial and start to thank people for doing a great job, even if it is their job.”

 

Some of you are probably cringing right now at the idea – "That's why they get a paycheck," after all.

 

But we know that there are people who come to work and don't do their job, or they don't do a great job, or they're not as dependable as some of the other staff on our team.

 

You will gain so much more loyalty and people will want to work for you longer if you show the appreciation that is deep down inside of you. Because if you dig down, you probably are thankful for the people who show up, show up on time, do great work, and take great care of your clients or any of the projects that they're on.

 

GIVEAWAY: Want a free copy of Staying Power?

 

Cara is offering one free autographed copy of Staying Power: Why Your Employees Leave and How to Keep Them Longer to Change Your Mindset listeners. If you want a chance to win, all you have to do is tag Peter on social media and mention the book.

 

You can find Peter...

• On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaccidentalaccountant
• Twitter: @pmargaritis
• Or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermargaritis/

 

After a week, we will pick one lucky winner to receive a signed copy of the book.

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more at crescendostrategies.com
• Connect with Cara: Facebook | LinkedIn
• Staying Power: Why Your Employees Leave and How to Keep Them Longer
• Get a copy FREE: The Millennial Mindset

 

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Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

[audioFile] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/8a699f66-2992-11e9-80fa-2f7255fbfb47/stripped_1cd882cee8586cefe344e0d0770be991.mp3 [downloadUrl] => http://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN3436716078.mp3 [size] => 53217071 [duration] => 3326.07 [uid] => CSN3436716078 [originalUrl] => https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/improvisnojoke/MASTER_-_CYM_007_-_Cara_Silletto.mp3?dest-id=395588 [bitrate] => 128 [samplerate] => 44100 [channelMode] => stereo [vbr] => [audioFileProcessing] => [podcastId] => 855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d [preCount] => 0 [postCount] => 0 [insertionPoints] => Array ( ) [id3File] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/8a699f66-2992-11e9-80fa-2f7255fbfb47/id3/f53ff36b0016b83c31579a0f4938046e.mp3 [id3FileProcessing] => [id3FileSize] => 84262 [parentId] => [guid] => 5a3f3057b5b64869865a7500d8c4e89a [pubdateTimezone] => [originalFilename] => [preOffset] => 0.0 [postOffset] => 0.0 [spotifyIdentifier] => [expectedAdhash] => [audioFileUpdatedAt] => [draft] => [externalId] => [customFields] => )

Array ( [id] => 8aabdade-2992-11e9-80fa-63f2e407f58a [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:17.991-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-11T07:59:29.430-08:00 [title] => S2E6 - Jennie Scheel | How to Translate Accounting: Communicating the Story Behind the Numbers [pubdate] => 2018-07-09T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8aabdade-2992-11e9-80fa-63f2e407f58a/image/ChangeYourMindset_JennieScheel_S2E6_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 6 [subtitle] => [summary] => My guest today is Jennie Scheel, CFO of Five Nines Technology Group and a previous attendee of my Financial Storytelling seminar.

After the seminar, she sent me an email with a nice compliment about the class and asked if I knew of any great summaries that I could share with her for taking accounting data and turning it into a powerful story… but at that time, and even still, I didn’t know of any.

Instead, I helped Jennie develop her story for the organization in exchange for using this exercise as a case study for my upcoming book, Taking the Number Out of Numbers: Explaining and Presenting Financial Information with Confidence and Clarity. The big problem with presenting accounting information to non-accountants is the language barrier – not everybody speaks the foreign language of Accounting.

But on top of that, most of Jennie’s co-workers speak a different foreign language: engineering. So she has to learn a second foreign language and translate that into accounting, then translate all of the relevant information into plain English for executives and clients.

So the big question: How do I communicate complex financial information to those who do not speak Accounting?

The information is often complex – accounting is difficult! – so our goal should be to make it as simple as possible. Your audience probably doesn’t need to know anything about accrual, debits, or credits. They just need to understand enough about the organization to make the best possible decisions for their business.

As John Medina, the author of Brain Rules, says: numbers are boring.

Luckily, there's always a story behind the numbers! And the more you can evoke emotion with that story, the more you can keep people awake and attentive, the more impact your presentation will have.

After my class, Jennie was able to take a presentation about the balance sheet for her organization and tell a story using a dollar bill to help them understand what the costs were and how the organization became profitable.

It might seem like an extremely simplified way to present a balance sheet – and to a degree, it is – but it was a huge success.

Jennie received a compliment from one of the employees in the room after that presentation: “She said usually when you used to get up in the meetings, you would smile and act like you were happy about the numbers. So I thought they must be great. I had no idea what you were saying, but then you were smiling so I thought great… But she said this time, when you put the dollar up there, I actually understood what you were talking about – I could understand the business.”


You see, when you take the NUMB out of numbers, it leaves you with ERS: effective, relatable stories, which leads to confidence and clarity.

 
So I challenge you to look at your financial presentation and ask yourself: Is it time for a change? If so, give me a call or send me an email: petermargaritis.com/contact.

Resources:

• Learn more about Jennie & Five Nines: gonines.com/project/jennie-scheel-cfo/

 

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 Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8b11e892-2992-11e9-80fa-0337494c0183 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:18.660-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-11T07:57:04.985-08:00 [title] => S2E5 - Rich Stang and Brad Hoffman | The Future-Forward Culture Behind DeLeon & Stang [pubdate] => 2018-06-25T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8b11e892-2992-11e9-80fa-0337494c0183/image/ChangeYourMindset_Stang_Hoffman_S2E5_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 5 [subtitle] => My guests today are Rich Stang and Brad Hoffman, who are partners in the Maryland accounting firm DeLeon & Stang – and it is not your average firm. I have included a case study on DeLeon & Stang in my upcoming book, Taking the Numb out... [summary] => My guests today are Rich Stang and Brad Hoffman, who are partners in the Maryland accounting firm DeLeon & Stang – and it is not your average firm. I have included a case study on DeLeon & Stang in my upcoming book, Taking the Numb out of Numbers, and I brought Rich and Brad on the podcast so they can talk more about their fascinating firm.


DeLeon & Stang is very much an anticipatory organization. They have created an exceptionally positive culture and go beyond traditional services by providing clients with a future-forward look at the financial situation. In this episode, we’ll examine how their future-forward approach applies to creating a mission statement, deciding to open a new location, rolling out new benefits in 2018, and more.


Why is DeLeon & Stang different?

When Brad and Allen DeLeon started the firm, neither of them had worked in public accounting. So as they started the firm, they didn't quite know how a CPA firm typically ran. “In some respects, that maybe hurt us a little bit. But in a lot of respects, I think it helped in that we didn't have some of the idiosyncrasies that you hear about in traditional CPA firms.”
So they put employees first, they said yes before no, and they had fun – because they didn’t know any better.
Just recently, this has led to two key decisions that a lot of CPA firms would not make:

• They opened a new firm in Frederick, MD, without an existing book of business or acquiring a new firm. Frederick is definitely a good market to be in, it’s a growing market, but that wasn’t the main reason they opened the office: it was a huge commuting benefit for employees! Traffic in the D.C. area can be bad, to put it mildly, and this office can save some people hours in their daily commute. On top of that, it’s the kind of modern office that you probably don’t associate with CPAs, and it’s likely to appeal to a younger generation.
• DeLeon & Stang recently introduced an unlimited PTO policy. It’s still a work in progress, they knew it wasn’t going to be perfect. “We still have strides to make, but we thought it was the best thing to do. We just want people to do their jobs… It doesn't really matter when they go home, as long as the clients are happy and as long as things are getting done.”

I think DeLeon & Stang is one of the most interesting firms in the country – and hopefully, we’ll see a lot more firms that look like this in the future.

Resources:

• Learn more at deleonandstang.com
• Connect with Rich on LinkedIn
• Connect with Brad on  LinkedIn

 

--


 Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8b474c08-2992-11e9-80fa-93307c8043d7 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:19.010-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-11T07:55:12.412-08:00 [title] => S2E4 - Dr. John Molidor | The Science Behind Brain-Friendly Presentations [pubdate] => 2018-06-11T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8b474c08-2992-11e9-80fa-93307c8043d7/image/ChangeYourMindset_DrJohnMolidor_S2E4_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 4 [subtitle] => My guest today is Dr. John Molidor, a Professor of Psychiatry and Community Assistant Dean at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine as well as a past president of the National Speakers Association Board of Directors. John shares his... [summary] => My guest today is Dr. John Molidor, a Professor of Psychiatry and Community Assistant Dean at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine as well as a past president of the National Speakers Association Board of Directors. John shares his extensive knowledge about how to prepare a presentation that takes your audience's brain into consideration and provides a richer learning experience, or a “brain-friendly” presentation.


John came to the NSA Ohio chapter in February 2017 and delivered a presentation on this topic and it was absolutely life changing for me – this knowledge has been the biggest game changer in my professional speaking career.
John emphasizes that the job of any speaker is sharing what you know, creating a safe environment to learn, and inviting your audience into that safe environment, and we need to understand how the brain works, consumes information, and processes it to achieve those goals.

What Presenters Should Know About the Brain & Learning:

• Your cells will eavesdrop on what you're sending your brain. So if you're sending your brain negative information or positive information, your cells tend to pay attention to that, which then can cause a chemical reaction resulting in a cascade of chemicals, either for good or for bad. So try to keep pessimistic thoughts out of your head!

• Dr. Molidor says we don't refer to people as left or right brain anymore. Brains are hemisphere. They have both right hemisphere and left hemisphere. There are also a lot of redundancies, meaning when one side is working the other side is also active. So if you’re speaking to just one side of the brain, “you’re wasting opportunities.” Talk to both hemispheres: Tell the story, show the emotion, give the data, give the numbers.

 

• Contextual cueing teaches the audience to associate a symbol with an action. Everything from your header size to image choice to font color creates a contextual cue, and you should make sure those cues are consistent and conducive for learning. When you do that, the brain can focus on what the presenter is saying because you have cued it to do so

 

• The brain loves stories. “The oral tradition has been part of how the brain structure, if you will, has evolved over time.” Not only that, but different parts of the story are stored in different parts of the brain. So to access that information, you’re actually going to access different parts of the brain, and in doing that, the brain actually is more activated. And when we active more of the brain, we have a higher probability of things being remembered.

 

• Give your audience “commercial breaks.” If you’re putting out a lot of info, you have to give the brain a break so they can process it. We’ve also taught a generation of learners that they will receive these breaks, through the way both schools and entertainment like television are structured.

 

• Brains love oxygen, so you need to get the audience moving or inhaling oxygen occasionally. Asking them to stand up and do jumping jacks may not make sense, but even just getting the audience to yell or shout forces them to inhale more oxygen.

 

• The brain looks for patterns… and it looks for patterns even when they don’t really exist, so you have to be wary of that. Similar to contextual cueing, you should consider how the patterns in your presentation can help the audience actually figure out what you’re presenting to them.

Resources:

• Connect with Dr. Molidor on  LinkedIn

--


 Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8b872a1c-2992-11e9-80fa-d32cc436b6a6 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:19.425-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-11T07:53:20.187-08:00 [title] => S2E3 - Eddie Turner | Facilitated Collaboration: Stay Ready (So You Don’t Have to Get Ready) [pubdate] => 2018-05-28T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8b872a1c-2992-11e9-80fa-d32cc436b6a6/image/ChangeYourMindset_EddieTurner_S2E3_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 3 [subtitle] => Collaboration is a buzzword in business today. Everyone talks about it. But how do you do it?   Well, today’s guest, Eddie Turner, thinks he has the secret sauce to collaboration: “It should be facilitated – facilitated collaboration is... [summary] => Collaboration is a buzzword in business today. Everyone talks about it. But how do you do it?

 Well, today’s guest, Eddie Turner, thinks he has the secret sauce to collaboration: “It should be facilitated – facilitated collaboration is what accelerates performance and drives impact.”


Eddie is known as “the leadership accelerator” because he works with leaders to accelerate performance and drive impact. He is a C-Suite network adviser, international certified coach, certified trainer, and professional speaker.


Staying Ready (So You Don’t Have to Get Ready)
As professionals, we need to ask ourselves, when is the last time our industry innovated?

That question needs to be asked because if we aren't ready, we have to get ready – only then can we stay ready – because the change is coming!

Look at the taxicab market (Uber), the hotel market (Airbnb), and now even grocery stores (Amazon & Whole Foods). Disruption is happening and the old guard can’t keep up.

Are we next?

Because Watson is already here. Watson is working, right now, with the big four and the audit practice. We saw the H+R Block commercials last year – Watson IS the machine learning that is going to disrupt our industry.

Things have changed, and accountants and finance professionals don't have to crunch the numbers – we have to communicate information to the end user, listen to what they are saying, and learn to have a dialog again.

We have to be continuous learners and continue to develop ourselves. Because if we're not continuing to educate ourselves, we're leaving ourselves vulnerable to the disruption that technology will introduce.

And the easiest way for us to learn is through facilitated collaboration, particularly with facilitators as talented as Eddie.

“What speakers are finding is no longer do audiences show up to listen to the sage on the stage. They show up to have a conversation, to have a dialogue, even with a keynote speaker.”

Resources:

• Learn more at eddieturnerllc.com
• Connect with Eddie: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter
• Check out Adobe Connect

 --


 Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8bd10560-2992-11e9-80fa-87abcefb8098 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:19.912-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-11T07:51:39.774-08:00 [title] => S2E2 - Michelle Sopp, Jennifer Oleksa, Chris Fleck, and Bret Johnson | The Future of Professional Learning & Development [pubdate] => 2018-05-14T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8bd10560-2992-11e9-80fa-87abcefb8098/image/ChangeYourMindset_002_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 2 [subtitle] => Today I sit down with four incredible guests – Michelle Sopp, Jennifer Oleksa, Chris Fleck, and Bret Johnson – to discuss our major takeaways from the 2018 National CPE Educators conference held earlier this year.   If you are in the learning... [summary] => Today I sit down with four incredible guests – Michelle Sopp, Jennifer Oleksa, Chris Fleck, and Bret Johnson – to discuss our major takeaways from the 2018 National CPE Educators conference held earlier this year. 

If you are in the learning and development business, in any industry, pay close attention because all industries and professions need to adapt and change in response to new technologies and changing behavior. 

The conference objectives were:

 

• Creating a fun and dynamic learning environment
• Trying to avoid fluff
• Offering strategic sessions that spur creativity
• Creating sessions that challenge attendees to think differently
• Creating multiple learning opportunities that foster collaboration, not only with other educators but also with our vendors

 More about our guests:

 

• Michelle Sopp is the Vice President of Learning for the Oklahoma Society of CPAs and the chair for the 2018 National CPE Educators Conference. One of her biggest takeaways from the conference is that today’s learners just learn differently, so the learning experience needs to be more engaging and broken up into smaller increments.

• Jennifer Oleska is the Director of Education and Training for the Georgia Society of CPAs. One of her biggest takeaways is that associations need to create a better content ramp for bringing in new members, so that we can create a valuable and even beautiful friendship between the members and the organization. “Give them what they need and then they want to be invested and involved with us in the future because they know we're invested and involved in them as well.”

 

• Chris Fleck is Senior Manager of State Society Learning at the AICPA. Chris and Bret were both part of the “FOOD Group” pre-conference meeting, which means “For Our Own Development.” His biggest takeaway is that we’re currently in the process of re-skilling the profession, with associations like the AICPA on the forefront in figuring out what skills professionals need going forward.

• Bret Johnson is Director of Channel Management and Development for the AICPA. One of his biggest takeaways is that the AICPA and state associations need to embrace more collaboration so that we can stop re-doing work that other organizations have already done. In this way, we can innovate more effectively, together.

Resources:

• Michelle: LinkedIn | Twitter
• Jennifer:  LinkedIn
• Chris: LinkedIn | Twitter
• Bret: LinkedIn

--


 Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8c0fb648-2992-11e9-80fa-9b2983635ac4 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:20.323-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:44:02.425-08:00 [title] => S2E1 - Amy Vetter | The Future of Accounting: How Firms Need to Change & Why We Need to Become Cherished Business Advisors [pubdate] => 2018-04-30T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8c0fb648-2992-11e9-80fa-9b2983635ac4/image/ChangeYourMindset_001_AmyVetter_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => 2 [episodeNumber] => 1 [subtitle] => This is an exciting time to be in the accounting profession – we are at a turning point, and the profession is recognizing that just counting beans is not going to get us into the next century (or even the next decade). We need to change our... [summary] =>

This is an exciting time to be in the accounting profession – we are at a turning point, and the profession is recognizing that just counting beans is not going to get us into the next century (or even the next decade). We need to change our role and relationships with our clients, and we need to be proactive about investing in developing technologies that will allow us to do so.

 

That’s why I sat down to talk with Amy Vetter, a key influencer in the accounting industry and an accomplished tech executive, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker. Amy is the author of Integrative Advisory Services: Expanding Your Accounting Services Beyond the Cloud, the CPA and accounting professions' guide to the future of delivering advisory services to their clients.

 

I've been dying to interview Amy since I saw her speak at the 2018 National CPE Educators Conference in New Orleans. She was the kick-off keynote speaker of this conference, and let me just sum her presentation up: She knocked us over!

 

Amy just understands what the profession needs going forward, and on top of that, she has a knack for explaining what the profession needs going forward – and that’s why her book is so valuable.

 

Integrative Advisory Services is a toolbox that any firm can pick up (and should) if they want to begin thinking differently.

 

It’s an effective (and surprisingly interesting) accounting book because there are a lot of stories; real life experiences that relate to how we can help clients, the challenges that the profession is facing with technology, and what we can do about it.

 

One of the key ideas in the book is that we need to evolve our relationship with our clients. We need to become CHERISHED Business Advisors – not trusted.

 

We've been talking about being the ‘trusted business advisor’ in the profession for a long time, but if you look up the definition of trusted, it means you’re being honest and sincere.

 

“And to me that doesn't describe that relationship because that's what we should be. We take ethics courses. We have a CPA exam and say we're going to be ethical… I don't feel like that's something that you should be striving for. You just should be that.”

 

What you want to strive for is being cherished – when clients can't imagine not having you as part of their business because you are providing so much value. Money isn’t an issue because you're an integral part of their business.

 

“As an advisor, you’re helping to save businesses. You're helping them stay in business. You're helping their families, their employees’ families. It's the most rewarding job as an accountant, I believe, when you can get in that role.”

 

--

 

Resources:

• Learn more at AmyVetter.com
• Connect with Amy: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
• Integrative Advisory Services: Expanding Your Accounting Services Beyond the Cloud

 

• Business, Balance, and Bliss: How the B3 Method Can Transform Your Career and Life

 

• Watch Amy’s TEDxTalk: "Disconnect to Connect: The path to work-life harmony"

--

Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8c698b3c-2992-11e9-80fa-db3297426245 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:20.912-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:43:07.694-08:00 [title] => Ep. 99 - A Very Special Announcement About the Next 100 Episodes [pubdate] => 2018-04-23T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8c698b3c-2992-11e9-80fa-db3297426245/image/Solo_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode99_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 99 [subtitle] => Today I’m celebrating my 100th episode (because I technically started this show with episode 0) – and I have a special announcement for all of you.   First, I’d like to thank all of the guests who have given their time and shared their... [summary] =>

Today I’m celebrating my 100th episode (because I technically started this show with episode 0) – and I have a special announcement for all of you.

 

First, I’d like to thank all of the guests who have given their time and shared their knowledge with my audience – without you, we never would have reached this milestone. I’d also like to thank my audience, especially those of you who listen every week. I hope you’ve been able to gather some nuggets of wisdom and applied them in your everyday life!

 

Now for my special announcement: I’m re-branding the podcast and changing its name to “Change Your Mindset | with Peter Margaritis, CPA, CGMA, AKA The Accidental Accountant.” I will also be changing from a weekly schedule to a bi-weekly schedule for a period of time.

 

Note: If you are already subscribed to the podcast, you do not have to change anything. The title of the show will simply be updated in your podcast app of choice.

 

Why the change? I want to serve the accounting profession better than I have over the last 100 episodes.

 

I firmly believe that, in the next five to 10 years, the accounting profession will move from a compliance role to more of an advisory role – we have to quit thinking about the way it used to be and listen to the younger generation on where they feel it’s going to go.

 

The essential skills CPAs will need by the year 2025 are communication skills; leadership skills; critical thinking & problem solving skills; anticipating & serving evolving needs; and synthesizing intelligence through insight, integration, and collaboration: otherwise known as interpersonal skills, people skills, or soft skills.

 

Building strong communication skills does begin with embracing the principles of improvisation – or, more accurately: Building strong communication skills begins with embracing the APPLIED principles of improvisation.

 

And applied improvisation is not about making jokes, becoming a comedian, or just being silly, which is what a lot of people think when they hear the term improv. Instead, applied improvisation takes these techniques and applies them to business, relationships, and life.

 

The style, dialogue, and conversation about applied improvisation will not change – that is the essence of the message in Changing Your Mindset because applied improvisation builds relationships, develops people, strengthens corporate cultures, and increases an organization’s bottom line – but with an increased focus on why (and how) we need to change our mindsets, if we want our businesses to survive the next 10 years.

 

And while our conversations will focus on the accounting profession, what we will talk about applies to every profession and the challenges we all face on a daily basis.

 

So even if you are not a CPA, this may be the platform that will allow you to move away from group think by hearing the thoughts and ideas of people who are different form you, but striving for the same result: happiness and prosperity.

 

 

Resources:

• Connect with Peter at PeterMargaritis.com

--

Improv Is No Joke is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8ca0a19e-2992-11e9-80fa-d325c0c057a9 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:21.272-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:43:44.851-08:00 [title] => Ep. 98 - Scott Palmer | Improvisation in the Workplace: Disarming Angry Customers & Remembering How to Communicate [pubdate] => 2018-04-16T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8ca0a19e-2992-11e9-80fa-d325c0c057a9/image/ScottPalmer_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode98_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 98 [subtitle] => Scott Palmer is the Executive Director of Adult Education at Butler Technology and Career Development Schools, and he joins me to discuss how the principles of improvisation have helped him create a collaborative environment with his team, his... [summary] =>

Scott Palmer is the Executive Director of Adult Education at Butler Technology and Career Development Schools, and he joins me to discuss how the principles of improvisation have helped him create a collaborative environment with his team, his students, and the institution.

 

Scott has been in adult education for more than two decades, and he loves this work because he is able to help others realize lifelong goals, whether that be pursuing a degree, completing a certificate, or getting a job.

 

Scott has always utilized improvisation, subconsciously, but over the last couple years, he’s been making a point of using the principles of improvisation to consciously improve his communication.

 

Improv & Angry Customers

 

Scott gets ample opportunity to practice because, like many of us, he deals with angry customers on a regular basis. The practice seems to be paying off, because he’s learned a lot!

 

When a customer comes in angry, they usually just want to be heard. However, a natural reaction to an angry person is getting defensive – but that’s the worst thing you can do with an angry customer.

 

Scott’s goal is to disarm the angry person, without them knowing they’re being disarmed. He does this by listening, expressing empathy, and asking questions that give the other person an opportunity to be part of a solution (e.g. What would you like to see happen?). This conversation is about them, not you.

 

“Being grateful, the simple act of saying thank you and saying please, and showing respect through communication goes a very long way, especially when working with students and customers.”

 

You don’t have to like them to effectively communicate or improvise with someone – but you do have to respect them.

 

“People have forgotten how to communicate. The technology has allowed us to become lazy and insincere in the ways that we communicate, and I would suggest that we, as people, are suffering as a result.”

 

 

Resources:

• Check out Butler Technology and Career Development Schools at ButlerTech.org

--

Improv Is No Joke is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8ce3124a-2992-11e9-80fa-83ace210a0c9 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:21.708-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:43:52.990-08:00 [title] => Ep. 97 - Kay Frances | Lighten Up & Stress Less with America’s Funniest Stressbuster [pubdate] => 2018-04-09T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8ce3124a-2992-11e9-80fa-83ace210a0c9/image/KayFrances_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode97_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 97 [subtitle] => Kay Frances is a motivational humorist who has shared her message to “lighten up, stress less and take care of ourselves” for over 30 years. Kay is “America’s Funniest Stressbuster” – and she even wrote the book on stress, The Funny Thing... [summary] =>

Kay Frances is a motivational humorist who has shared her message to “lighten up, stress less and take care of ourselves” for over 30 years. Kay is “America’s Funniest Stressbuster” – and she even wrote the book on stress, The Funny Thing about Stress; A Seriously Humorous Guide to a Happier Life!

 

When it comes to humor, Kay is the real deal. She performed as a professional stand up comedian for many years and appeared on a number of national television and radio programs. Plus, as you’ll hear in this episode, I was laughing throughout the entire interview!

 

But Kay isn’t just funny; she uses humor to put her examples in a context that is relatable to everyone in the audience. However, when she is discussing ways to reduce stress, she is very serious and to the point – and this ability to make you laugh, while remaining serious about the message, is what elevates her to the level of a great humorist (and stressbuster).

 

For the accountants out there, this is an especially stressful time of year – but Kay has some advice:

 

• Knowing how stressful this period of the year will be, it is even more important to let go of stress about things that don’t matter.
• Self-care is more important than ever. We all know that we operate better on a good night’s sleep than three hours of sleep. Eating a bag of Cheetos may sound better than a salad, but you will feel and function better after the salad.
• You have to make time for relaxing (without compromising your self-care). Even though it may not feel like you have time to wind down, making time for it will actually give you more energy throughout the rest of your day.
• Learn to say NO. You’ll have more time in the other 8 months of the year, but you have to protect your time during the busy season; you have to make yourself a priority.
• Be optimistic! The American Heart Association found that, all things being equal, people with an optimistic spirit have better heart health, a stronger immune system, and a decreased risk of stroke.

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more at kayfrances.com
• Connect with Kay: YouTube | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
• Read: The Funny Thing about Stress; A Seriously Humorous Guide to a Happier Life!

--

Improv Is No Joke is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8d37fb48-2992-11e9-80fa-1344659672b8 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:22.264-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:44:09.047-08:00 [title] => Ep. 96 - Bob Pacanovsky | Develop a Black Tie Mindset & Discover the Power of Hospitality [pubdate] => 2018-04-02T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8d37fb48-2992-11e9-80fa-1344659672b8/image/BobPacanovsky_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode96_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 96 [subtitle] => Bob Pacanovsky is what you might call a “Wow!” expert – with 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, primarily in the hospitality space, he has learned how create engagement, retention, and loyalty with customers, employees, and clients. Bob... [summary] =>

Bob Pacanovsky is what you might call a “Wow!” expert – with 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, primarily in the hospitality space, he has learned how create engagement, retention, and loyalty with customers, employees, and clients. Bob took that expertise and founded The Black Tie Experience, which helps companies and leaders create that Black Tie Experience for their customers and employees.

 

The black tie is much more than a uniform – it’s a mindset. You don’t actually have to have a black tie on to deliver a Black Tie Mindset, you just have to create an impression that LASTS:

 

• Look
• Act
• Speak
• Tact (or how you behave)
• Serve

 

We tend to rush to the service part because we want to create an unbelieve customer or employee experience, but “we have to know how to look the part and act the part before we can actually serve the part.”

 

One of the most important things to keep in mind – and this can be difficult – when working with other people, whether they’re your customers or employees, is that it’s not about you as a host or leader, it’s about them.

 

“If you have a mindset of making people feel differently about your product, your service, and themselves than they ever have before, then you’re really living the Black Tie Mindset.”

 

The 4 Principles to Create a Black Tie Experience:

 

1. A Culture of Welcome - Create a welcoming culture (not only for your employees, but also for your customers or guests). What is the culture, or the atmosphere, like in your company?

 

1. The Way of Doings Things - What is your company’s way of doings things? Disney, Apple, and Starbucks all have their own unique way of doings things, and it affects how you experience their brands. However, most companies aren’t spending enough time training their employees to wow people.

 

1. Impact Points - These are the subconscious impressions that people make about your business before, during, or after they purchase something. For example, what impression does your website make, or what does your restroom look like?

 

1. Put Yourself in your Customer’s Shoes - What does your customer see, hear, touch, or smell when they come into your business, or interact with you online?

 

You’ve probably heard me say in the past that we’re all in the people business, even if we’re accountants – Bob takes it a step farther, arguing that we’re all in the hospitality business… and it makes a lot of sense!

 

The definition of hospitality is, “The art of making that personal connection with someone,” and based on that definition, aren’t we all in the hospitality business, first and foremost?

 

So yes, we are in the people business, and we do need to focus on customer and employee experiences and retention, but we can’t excel at those things if we forget about the power of hospitality.

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more at bobpacanovsky.com
• Connect with Bob: Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter

--

Improv Is No Joke is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8d7b8750-2992-11e9-80fa-ab74c8f99b60 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:22.706-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:43:36.148-08:00 [title] => Ep. 95 - Kristen Rampe | Another CPA Who’s All Things Improv Shares a New Training Tool for Speaking Success [pubdate] => 2018-03-26T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8d7b8750-2992-11e9-80fa-ab74c8f99b60/image/KristenRampe_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode95_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 95 [subtitle] => Kristen Rampe,  Founder of Kristen Rampe Consulting, returns to the show to discuss how CPE educators can get the best out of their presenters and subject matter experts and a new training tool for those who want to build confidence when speaking... [summary] =>

Kristen Rampe,  Founder of Kristen Rampe Consulting, returns to the show to discuss how CPE educators can get the best out of their presenters and subject matter experts and a new training tool for those who want to build confidence when speaking in front of a crowd: PowerPoint Improv!

 

If you want to get better at speaking, this episode is for you.

 

Kristen conducted an excellent breakout session during the 2018 CPE Educators Conference, in which a group of us discussed how we can get more engagement from our audiences.

 

One of the things she talked about was giving the different personas in the room what they need – but what does it really mean to know your audience?

 

You need an understanding of...

 

• Who’s in the room
• What their background is
• Why they’re there
• What they want to learn

 

If you don’t know who they are and what they want, it’s going to be a lot harder to provide value or engage them. Remember: in any speaking engagement, it’s not about you, it’s about the audience.

 

PowerPoint Improv

 

Kristen recently discovered this new kind of improv, and I’m fascinated by the concept. It sounds like excellent training for any professional speakers, or just anyone who wants more confidence in front of crowds. Plus, it sounds like fun!

 

The premise is simple:

 

1. After some basic improv education and warm ups, participants get on a stage with a slide deck that they’ve never seen before.
2. In proper improv fashion, they get a topic from the audience.
3. The participant gives a presentation on that topic!

 

Kristen says most people go into this a little bit nervous, naturally, but then they realize just how much they can do, how much they know, and how many stories they can tell.

 

Check out kristenrampe.com/powerpoint-improv to learn more, and to see a video of PowerPoint Improv in action.

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more at kristenrampe.com
• Connect with Kristen: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
• Accounting Dreams and Delusions: Scenes From Professional Paradise, and What Really Happens in the Accounting Industry by Kristen Rampe

 

--

Improv Is No Joke is produced by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8dbfcaaa-2992-11e9-80fa-9b4de72d1b2c [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:23.154-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:43:50.781-08:00 [title] => Ep. 94 - Chris Loehrer: Creativity, Collaboration, & Innovation in Traditional Business Environments [pubdate] => 2018-03-19T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8dbfcaaa-2992-11e9-80fa-9b4de72d1b2c/image/ChrisLoehrer_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode94_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 94 [subtitle] => Chris Loehrer is a right-brain person living in left-brain world, meaning he is extremely creative, has a BFA in animation and film, but currently operates in a leadership role within The Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA)… not exactly what you might... [summary] =>

Chris Loehrer is a right-brain person living in left-brain world, meaning he is extremely creative, has a BFA in animation and film, but currently operates in a leadership role within The Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA)… not exactly what you might expect from a creative type.

 

In this episode, Chris offers a unique perspective on the topic of leadership, and shares the challenges he faces with getting some of his ideas across and accepted in a numbers-driven, linear thinking business environment.

 

Chris is the Studio Operations Manager at OSBA. He was hired to create innovative products and services for membership across all departments, as well as communication plans that tell the story of membership benefits and the value of membership.

 

However, the bulk of his work in recent months has been implementing new and innovative delivery methods for getting those products to members. In the process, he works with many different teams.

 

When working with different teams, Chris takes a “Minnesota nice” approach. He believes that we don’t have to be anything but friendly in our teams; it won’t serve you to act upon knee jerk emotional responses, or for leaders to approach the team with a “this is the way it is” attitude.

 

A team doesn’t operate effectively, in the long run, that way.

 

The best teams are full of learners, Chris says, especially creative learners – people who can see beyond an obstacle and find previously unseen avenues for success are critical.

 

And while lawyers and accountants may not immediately consider themselves creative right now, Chris says, “People don’t consider themselves creative until they are given the opportunity to be creative.”

 

Like in improv, there are no wrong answers when trying to collaborative solve a problem; bad ideas are just bridges to good ideas. So fostering an environment where new ideas are not only accepted but encouraged creates more opportunities to solve problems.

 

“I’ve learned through fantastic leaders that active listening and thoughtful acceptance of what you’re hearing from other team members is a big deal, and you don’t have to be the person in the room who has the answer all the time.”

 

 

Resources:

• I want to get to know you better! Please click here to fill out a 5-question survey so that I can better tailor the show to meet your needs.
• Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8e0058d6-2992-11e9-80fa-8747f32bb547 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:23.577-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:43:47.850-08:00 [title] => Ep. 93 - Ted Janusz: What You Need to Know About Online Marketing & Social Media in 2018 [pubdate] => 2018-03-12T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8e0058d6-2992-11e9-80fa-8747f32bb547/image/TedJanusz_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode93_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 93 [subtitle] => Ted Janusz is a speaker and marketing guru, and he’s here to help you get the most out of your online presence. We discuss how you can set your organization apart from the competition, how to get your clients and prospects spending more time on your... [summary] =>

Ted Janusz is a speaker and marketing guru, and he’s here to help you get the most out of your online presence. We discuss how you can set your organization apart from the competition, how to get your clients and prospects spending more time on your website, and what you can do to raise your level of authority to be perceived as an expert in your field.

 

Marketing isn’t the same as it was even just 10 years ago – or, at least, your marketing shouldn’t look the same as it did 10 years ago.

 

For starters, everyone has to have a website. “It’s like the modern business card.”

 

However, just having a website isn’t enough. You also need the right website.

 

• There are two big marketing trends that emerged in 2017: influencer marketing & video.
• 79% of people who come to your website scan it, rather than read it – so you need to prioritize visual information, especially videos. Your site needs to grab someone in just a few seconds. Otherwise, they’ll move on.
• The people visiting your site only care about one thing: What can you do for me, or how are you able to help me? Dan Kennedy says that the #1 marketing mistake that most small businesses make is not using testimonials. So get some testimonials, and cut back on those bios!
• When trying to market yourself through video, consider video testimonials, showing members of your staff as real people, and creating how-to videos. Whatever you do, present it from the client’s perspective – not your own.
• Consider why most firms lose customers: 1% die, 3% move away, 5% switch to another firm based on advice from friends or family, 9% switch to another firm based on advice from a competitor, 14% get angry and leave, and then the vast majority leave because they feel ignored or unappreciated. Pay attention to the customers that you already have, and make them feel valued! Satisfied customers are your most effective, and cheapest, form of marketing.

 

In Made to Stick, Chip & Dan Heath lay out the six common factors of “sticky” marketing campaigns, or the six principles of S.U.C.C.E.S.

 

1. Simple
2. Unexpected
3. Concrete
4. Credible
5. Emotional
6. Stories

 

Something else to consider as you’re planning your marketing over the next few years: Millennials and Gen Z are getting older, and soon they will be the majority of your clients (if they aren’t already). They are at home online, and spend a lot of time online, so that’s where you will need to be if you want to attract a new generation of clients.

 

 

Resources:

• I want to get to know you better! Please click here to fill out a 5-question survey so that I can better tailor the show to meet your needs.
• Learn more at januspresentations.com
• Connect with Ted: Facebook | LinkedIn

 

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8e400b0c-2992-11e9-80fa-3fba603b5486 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:23.995-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:44:06.293-08:00 [title] => Ep. 92 - Mary Foley: Don a Red Cape, Be Bodacious, & Take Charge of Your Life [pubdate] => 2018-03-05T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8e400b0c-2992-11e9-80fa-3fba603b5486/image/MaryFoley_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode92_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 92 [subtitle] => Mary Foley energizes female entrepreneurs with the clarity, confidence, and tools to attract, engage, and win more clients. She is an author, energizing keynote speaker, business mentor, host of the P.O.W.E.R. Plug Podcast, and a lover of red capes.... [summary] =>

Mary Foley energizes female entrepreneurs with the clarity, confidence, and tools to attract, engage, and win more clients. She is an author, energizing keynote speaker, business mentor, host of the P.O.W.E.R. Plug Podcast, and a lover of red capes.

 

On today’s episode, we discuss her book Bodacious! Woman: Outrageously in Charge of Your Life and Lovin’ It! Her sense of humor and positivity comes through on every page of – as it does every minute of this podcast!

 

This book isn’t just for women, either. Her stories encapsulate the principles of improvisation and the philosophy of Yes, And (which is especially evident when she shares the story of showing up to work without a pair of pants).

 

If you look at Mary Foley’s website, you’ll see that being “bodacious” is more than something she uses to brand her content – it’s a personal rallying cry.

 

“I realize that if I want to create the career I want, let alone the life I want, I need to get more bold and more guts – and that’s why the word ‘Bodacious’ became a personal rallying cry.”

 

When you read the book, or hear Mary describe her journey towards bodaciousness, you’ll see that she is willing to do something that is very scary for a lot of people: take risks.

 

And if you are, like many of us, wary of taking a risk because you don’t know what’s going to happen, because you might fail, Mary has two words for you – So what?

 

If you try and something doesn’t work out, so what? You might be working off of a bad definition for failure, anyway. Mary’s definition of failure is “simply not trying,” and making that internal mindset shift can dramatically change your relationship with risk.

 

“Your ability to take risks more easily and often, bounce back, and have a ‘Yes, And’ perspective isn’t just a nice thing – it’s more and more a critical strategy for not just surviving, but thriving.”

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more at MaryFoley.com
• Read: Bodacious! Woman: Outrageously in Charge of Your Life and Lovin’ It!
• Download Mary’s FREE eBook: “How to Thrive on Change for Your Career…Now More Than Ever!”
• Listen: P.O.W.E.R. Plug Podcast

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

[audioFile] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/8e400b0c-2992-11e9-80fa-3fba603b5486/stripped_b841a8057702402c36dc93956ae8fad4.mp3 [downloadUrl] => http://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN2249822757.mp3 [size] => 63241404 [duration] => 3162.07 [uid] => CSN2249822757 [originalUrl] => https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/improvisnojoke/UPDATED_Ep_92_-_Mary_Foley_x.mp3?dest-id=395588 [bitrate] => 160 [samplerate] => 44100 [channelMode] => stereo [vbr] => [audioFileProcessing] => [podcastId] => 855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d [preCount] => 0 [postCount] => 0 [insertionPoints] => Array ( ) [id3File] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/8e400b0c-2992-11e9-80fa-3fba603b5486/id3/17a3aafbe445b0bc3b723b4c03cd2f69.mp3 [id3FileProcessing] => [id3FileSize] => 76208 [parentId] => [guid] => 91b91502677885255103cbb14363a181 [pubdateTimezone] => [originalFilename] => [preOffset] => 0.0 [postOffset] => 0.0 [spotifyIdentifier] => [expectedAdhash] => [audioFileUpdatedAt] => [draft] => [externalId] => [customFields] => )

Array ( [id] => 8e74716c-2992-11e9-80fa-73dd67b64dd0 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:24.339-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:44:07.451-08:00 [title] => Ep. 91 - Jim Canterucci: Finding Your Purpose Story & Automating Organizational Change Management [pubdate] => 2018-02-26T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8e74716c-2992-11e9-80fa-73dd67b64dd0/image/JimCanterucci_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode91_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 91 [subtitle] => Jim Canterucci is a catalyst for growth leadership change. He is the Founder of Transition Management Advisors and Constituent Hub, the author of Personal Brilliance: Mastering the Everyday Habits That Create a Lifetime of Success, and creator of a... [summary] =>

Jim Canterucci is a catalyst for growth leadership change. He is the Founder of Transition Management Advisors and Constituent Hub, the author of Personal Brilliance: Mastering the Everyday Habits That Create a Lifetime of Success, and creator of a comprehensive system for for leading change called Change Management Project - The Next Step.

 

For years, Jim and his team at Transition Management Advisors have been helping their clients develop leadership capabilities to create a championship culture, generate innovation, and successfully lead the resulting changes.

 

More recently, Jim has focused on automating the process of leading large organizational change. Using Constituent Hub, an enterprise SaaS platform, “organizations can facilitate sound change leadership principles, view and influence change leadership across the enterprise, make evidence-based change decisions, and realize the ROI of change.”

 

So how does Constituent Hub facilitate organizational change?

 

Most organizations have change initiatives going on all the time, both big and small, and they’re usually tracking those initiatives through spreadsheets or sharepoint. Constituent Hub pulls all of that information together, in a cohesive way, so that change leaders can focus on getting the job done.

 

For the first time, Constituent Hub will give leaders the ability to look at all of the ongoing change initiatives and how many changes each individual in the organization is involved with.

 

Analyzing the users (or constituents), identifying who’s resistant to change, helping them prepare, and measuring whether they’re ready for change are, historically, very difficult to do – to the extent that we’ve actually institutionalized not doing them. By lowering the barrier to entry through automation, implementing change becomes much more viable and strategic.

 

“You’ve heard the term ‘stakeholder’ for project management? I changed the word to constituent because it implies they actually care about the people, are taking care of them, and own their results!”

 

In addition to working with clients directly, Jim is a former president of NSA Ohio and an incredible speaker.

 

Jim even developed The Purpose Formula, which helps speakers develop a Purpose Statement and then get buy-in from their audiences. Jim is generous enough to offer this Purpose Formula handout, which offers an overview of the concept and guides you in creating the right formula for your business.

 

The formula is simple, but it allows you to position your purpose in such a way that you can create a sustainable business. This involves “unveiling that purpose, explaining that purpose, and then finding the customer’s connection linked to that formula so that it’s there’s too.”

 

“Everything that we do should be inspirational.”

 

You should also check out Jim’s script for his presentation, Why? The Purpose Story. In this document, Jim provides a detailed, moment-by-moment breakdown of his speech, including stage directions and energy flow. It offers incredible insight into an effective, purposeful story.

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more at JimCanterucci.com
• Connect with Jim on LinkedIn
• Check out ConstituentHub.com
• Personal Brilliance: Mastering the Everyday Habits That Create a Lifetime of Success
• Change Management Project - The Next Step

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Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8eb511ea-2992-11e9-80fa-2fe9573b21ff [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:24.761-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:44:22.667-08:00 [title] => Ep. 90 - Laura Stoll: Using Improv to Develop Internal Talent & Manage Change [pubdate] => 2018-02-19T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8eb511ea-2992-11e9-80fa-2fe9573b21ff/image/LauraStoll_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode90_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 90 [subtitle] => Laura Stoll is the Talent Development Consultant at Ernst & Young, and she has a fascinating perspective on how you can develop top talent within your organization that is influenced by her background in improv.   Laura studied at Second... [summary] =>

Laura Stoll is the Talent Development Consultant at Ernst & Young, and she has a fascinating perspective on how you can develop top talent within your organization that is influenced by her background in improv.

 

Laura studied at Second City, iO, and ComedySportz Chicago. She even has the distinction of being the only student ever thrown out of previous guest (and current husband) Jay Sukow’s classroom!

 

At EY, Laura strategizes, designs, and consults on large-scale programs designed to improve the value of the internal talent organization, which includes over 8,000 people. Their big focus right now is on the Career Journey.

 

In every organization, people tend to resist change, especially the kind of large-scale change that Laura aims to create. So change management becomes critical, and that’s where the fundamentals of improv can really come into play.

 

Improv isn’t about making things up––it’s about planning like mad, and then being prepared to throw your script away to meet the needs of the person you are talking to or working with. Learning improvisational skills inspires a more adaptable mindset, and you can’t approach change without that.

 

Possibly the most exciting thing about Laura’s work at EY is that other people see the value of these skills, and the top leaders in the organization are getting excited about improv. There’s simply no way to effectively inspire a change in culture without buy-in from the top, so this is a huge step for a huge organization.

 

And taking that step isn’t optional any more, for any organization. Global markets and whole industries are shifting rapidly – the organizations and individuals who resist change will be left behind.

 

“If you’re not actively moving to shift your skill set so that you can be more in the moment, react, and respond – and ultimately be a trusted business advisor – you’re going to be left behind because that’s just the way things are evolving.”

 

If you want to take your first step today, just practice awareness: When you feel yourself putting up a wall, saying no, or reacting negatively, pause and ask yourself, “How could it work?” It’s basic, but that little tweak will start you on the path to change.

 

 

Resources:

• Connect with Laura on LinkedIn
• Read: “Will Health-Care Law Beget Entrepreneurs?”

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Array ( [id] => 8eec4bec-2992-11e9-80fa-affbe69082cd [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:25.124-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:44:36.940-08:00 [title] => Ep. 89 - Jon Petz: Laugh Louder, Perform Better, & Achieve More [pubdate] => 2018-02-12T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8eec4bec-2992-11e9-80fa-affbe69082cd/image/JonPetz_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode89_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 89 [subtitle] => Jon Petz is born to be on stage – so much so that he left his highly successful career as a corporate vice president to fulfill his purpose and passion by helping others laugh louder, perform better, and achieve more. We discuss how he evolved from... [summary] =>

Jon Petz is born to be on stage – so much so that he left his highly successful career as a corporate vice president to fulfill his purpose and passion by helping others laugh louder, perform better, and achieve more. We discuss how he evolved from a corporate executive to a business magician to an opening keynoter and MC, and how you can better engage your audience in any situation (plus, we laugh a lot along the way).

 

As a speaker and MC, Jon engages and energizes his audience using his amazing art of performance, inspiring stories, and the unique “It’s Showtime” performance philosophy to bring home the belief and genuine desire to create greater impact in what we do and with the people we do it for.

 

According to Jon, it’s at this point we begin to demonstrate and achieve the sense of significance and making a difference.

 

Jon doesn’t just talk about the importance of significance – he walks the walk. Moved by a moment in his own life, Jon and his wife created the Miracles & Magic Program with one simple goal: to provide children with a life threatening illness and their families a chance to feel “normal” again, experiencing the comedy and wonderment of magic and laughter.

 

Jon also wrote a book on the subject, Significance… In Simple Moments, the proceeds of which are donated to charities like Miracles & Magic that help children in life-threatening situations.

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more at JonPetz.com
• Connect with Jon: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
• Support Miracles & Magic
• Get a ticket to Jon’s upcoming show - Saturday, Feb. 17th, 2018, at The Lincoln Theater in Columbus, OH

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Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8f24cb02-2992-11e9-80fa-ef114a5666fe [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:25.494-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:44:45.029-08:00 [title] => Ep. 88 - Jody Padar | The Roadmap to the New Firm [pubdate] => 2018-02-05T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8f24cb02-2992-11e9-80fa-ef114a5666fe/image/JodyPadar_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode88_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 88 [subtitle] => Jody Padar, AKA The Radical CPA, is a leader driven by a passion to foster real change in the accounting profession. She represent the next generation of accounting professionals, leading the vanguard for both digital CPAs and future-ready firms.... [summary] =>

Jody Padar, AKA The Radical CPA, is a leader driven by a passion to foster real change in the accounting profession. She represent the next generation of accounting professionals, leading the vanguard for both digital CPAs and future-ready firms.

 

Jody returns to the show to discuss her new book, From Success to Significance: The Radical CPA Guide, which is a practice-proven roadmap to a new business model for CPA firms. If you’re looking to change and you’re not sure how to begin, this lays out the steps of creating change through practical strategies, tools, tips, insights, guest experts, and case studies.

 

So what does the New Firm look like?

 

• Technology is part of the core of the firm, and is used to facilitate closer client relationships.
• The business model transforms: instead of doing every kind of work for every kind of customer, they’ve niched down.
• They productize everything offered, so they don’t track or bill by time and, instead, offer everything they do at a fixed or value price.

 

There’s no question: technology is having a significant impact on CPA firms. So how are our firms going to evolve and transform their business model to react to them, and to innovate with them?

 

“We can’t change fast enough. We really have to transform our accounting firms so that we can be relevant. Change doesn't work anymore. We really need transformation.”

 

And this transformation isn’t just at the firm or technology level – it’s a total mindset shift that everyone needs to buy into. Everyone in The New Firm needs to be adaptable, forward-thinking, and more than just an accountant.

 

The computers are going to do most of the accounting work, so we need to be better consultants and trusted business advisors.

 

We need to be Radical CPAs.

 

 

Resources:

• Get your copy: From Success to Significance: The Radical CPA Guide
• Learn more at NewVisionGroup.com
• Connect with Jody: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
• Sign up for Jody’s newsletter

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Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 8f5c9884-2992-11e9-80fa-4369451b8cc3 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:25.860-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:44:55.890-08:00 [title] => Ep. 87 - Marilyn Sherman: How to Overcome Obstacles That Keep You from Achieving Your Goals [pubdate] => 2018-01-29T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8f5c9884-2992-11e9-80fa-4369451b8cc3/image/MarilynSherman_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode87_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 87 [subtitle] => Marilyn Sherman is a speaker and author who has spent years motivating and inspiring audiences to get out of their comfort zone and get a front-row seat in life, and this is the perfect time of the year to check in with her because she has tips and... [summary] =>

Marilyn Sherman is a speaker and author who has spent years motivating and inspiring audiences to get out of their comfort zone and get a front-row seat in life, and this is the perfect time of the year to check in with her because she has tips and techniques anyone can use to stay focused on their goals (and New Year’s resolutions).

 

It’s the end of January, so some of you may have broken your resolutions already – and that’s okay! Listen to the entire episode, apply Marilyn’s tips, and then you’ll be able to resurrect those resolutions for the remainder of the year.

 

If you want to do a little extra homework and really blow your goals away, you should check out Marilyn’s new book: Is There a Hole in Your Bucket List? How to Overcome Obstacles That Keep You from Achieving Your Goals. (Plus, if you order it through her website and mention the podcast, you will get a free book on wine from Marilyn’s husband!)

 

Marilyn wrote this book because even successful people tend to sabotage their own success, in some area of their life. However, we can patch up those holes in our bucket list (or our resolutions) with Marilyn’s tips and techniques.

 

(Some of) Marilyn’s Tips & Techniques for Achieving Your Goals:

 

• Marilyn suggests creating a bucket list, if you don’t have one already, because it represents your hope for the future; it’s a glorified list of goals. Then, if there is one recurring thing that you can’t cross off of your list, you have identified a hole to fill.

 

• Be more vulnerable. When you admit that you are struggling (possibly with shame or fear), you will find that you are not alone. “When you expose light to whatever it is that has been holding you back, that’s taking your power back – and that’s the first step to patching up these holes that are preventing you from success.”

 

• Everyone needs an “Anger Buddy” and an “Anger Sack.” Everyone has a bad day sometimes, but unfortunately we can end up blowing up or snapping at someone who doesn’t deserve it due to the accumulation of many smaller things over time (which is unproductive). You can avoid this ever happening again if you envision an anger sack that fills up when negative things happen. When you feel that it is full, have a chat with your anger buddy, often a significant other, who you have trained to let you vent; you don’t need to add solutions to an overflowing anger sack.

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more at MarilynSherman.com
• Connect with Marilyn: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
• Read: Is There a Hole in Your Bucket List? How to Overcome Obstacles That Keep You from Achieving Your Goals

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Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

[audioFile] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/8f5c9884-2992-11e9-80fa-4369451b8cc3/stripped_b271650412fc74079fa384b53d769097.mp3 [downloadUrl] => http://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN1812421450.mp3 [size] => 63384033 [duration] => 3169.2 [uid] => CSN1812421450 [originalUrl] => https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/improvisnojoke/Ep_87_-_Marilyn_Sherman.mp3?dest-id=395588 [bitrate] => 160 [samplerate] => 44100 [channelMode] => stereo [vbr] => [audioFileProcessing] => [podcastId] => 855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d [preCount] => 0 [postCount] => 0 [insertionPoints] => Array ( ) [id3File] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/8f5c9884-2992-11e9-80fa-4369451b8cc3/id3/849ab7150514f1fabd044cdbe1f11473.mp3 [id3FileProcessing] => [id3FileSize] => 77456 [parentId] => [guid] => 2f9d1d572d07b720e3eb0f601049bc98 [pubdateTimezone] => [originalFilename] => [preOffset] => 0.0 [postOffset] => 0.0 [spotifyIdentifier] => [expectedAdhash] => [audioFileUpdatedAt] => [draft] => [externalId] => [customFields] => )

Array ( [id] => 8f967b08-2992-11e9-80fa-534851e5c938 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:26.239-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:10.481-08:00 [title] => Ep. 86 - Keith Harmeyer | SmartStorming: How to Innovate & Why We Need To [pubdate] => 2018-01-22T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8f967b08-2992-11e9-80fa-534851e5c938/image/KeithHarmeyer_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode86_QUOTE_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 86 [subtitle] => Keith Harmeyer is all about ideas! He is an expert in innovative thinking, creative problem solving, and idea generation who spent over two decades coming up with great ideas for some of the world’s best known and most successful companies (such as... [summary] =>

Keith Harmeyer is all about ideas! He is an expert in innovative thinking, creative problem solving, and idea generation who spent over two decades coming up with great ideas for some of the world’s best known and most successful companies (such as JPMorgan Chase, Disney, Conde Nast, and McDonald’s).

 

Now, as a Founding Partner of SmartStorming and co-author of SmartStorming: The Game Changing Process for Generating Bigger, Better Ideas, Keith is providing other organizations with the expertise, structure, skills, and proven idea generation techniques they need to develop their own ground-breaking ideas and innovate.

 

What exactly is innovation?

 

Keith defines innovation as “the introduction of something new or different that provides greater value or benefit.” If it’s different just for the sake of being different, that’s novelty.

 

We tend to think of innovation in big terms, on an organizational level, but it all starts with the individual people within an organization.

 

When the people within an organization learn how to be more creative in their thinking and more innovative in how they approach their work, then you see innovation surface on an organizational level.

 

Why do we need to innovate?

 

We are now under continuous, constant pressure to reinvent ourselves and the value we deliver to our customers, clients, and the organizations we work for – and, once again, it’s not just at the organizational level. Each one of us is under that same pressure.

 

If you don’t disrupt your industry and your business… well, then somebody else is going to disrupt it for you, and you may not be able to keep up.

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more at SmartStorming.com
• Connect with Keith on LinkedIn
• Read: SmartStorming: The Game Changing Process for Generating Bigger, Better Ideas

--

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

[audioFile] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/8f967b08-2992-11e9-80fa-534851e5c938/stripped_546e7b11133b48110e66aa86cb560f9f.mp3 [downloadUrl] => http://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN7926718767.mp3 [size] => 65596604 [duration] => 3279.83 [uid] => CSN7926718767 [originalUrl] => https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/improvisnojoke/Ep_86_-_Keith_Harmeyer.mp3?dest-id=395588 [bitrate] => 160 [samplerate] => 44100 [channelMode] => stereo [vbr] => [audioFileProcessing] => [podcastId] => 855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d [preCount] => 0 [postCount] => 0 [insertionPoints] => Array ( ) [id3File] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/8f967b08-2992-11e9-80fa-534851e5c938/id3/b78b88d6885f7a6093aab620f12a3298.mp3 [id3FileProcessing] => [id3FileSize] => 74954 [parentId] => [guid] => 1e8747bc283371001f5af9635e618b19 [pubdateTimezone] => [originalFilename] => [preOffset] => 0.0 [postOffset] => 0.0 [spotifyIdentifier] => [expectedAdhash] => [audioFileUpdatedAt] => [draft] => [externalId] => [customFields] => )

Array ( [id] => 8fce3cdc-2992-11e9-80fa-2f61a9ef8682 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:26.602-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:16.926-08:00 [title] => Ep. 85 - Merle Heckman | Intentional Storytelling & Applying it in Business [pubdate] => 2018-01-15T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8fce3cdc-2992-11e9-80fa-2f61a9ef8682/image/MerleHeckman_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode85_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 85 [subtitle] => Today’s guest, Merle Heckman, truly understands the power of storytelling – and why it is needed in all aspects of business today.   You see, Merle works with engineers, but he’s not an engineer (he’s the Manager of Organizational... [summary] =>

Today’s guest, Merle Heckman, truly understands the power of storytelling – and why it is needed in all aspects of business today.

 

You see, Merle works with engineers, but he’s not an engineer (he’s the Manager of Organizational Development at Regal Beloit). And when engineers give presentations, they can be dense with jargon and hard to understand... not unlike when accountants give presentations.

 

Merle wanted to know how individuals within his organization could give better presentations, so that the people listening could better retain and use the information being presented.

 

So, for his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership, he performed a study and wrote a dissertation titled, "Intentional Storytelling: A Potential Tool for Retention and Application in Business."

 

The research was fairly simple:

• There’s a monthly divisional meeting at Regal Beloit. Every other month, Merle coached the speakers on incorporating storytelling into their presentations, and they did this for four months. So the first month was normal, second coached, third normal, fourth coached.
• After every meeting, Merle sent two surveys: one two days after, and one two weeks after. The first survey asked questions related to retention, and the second survey asked if they had applied the information, or put it into practice.

 

And the results are astonishing:

 

• When the presenters incorporated storytelling techniques, participants put the information into practice 2.5x more often than when the presenters didn’t.

 

• When comparing the first presentation (no storytelling) with the second presentation (with storytelling), participants retained twice as much knowledge when there were stories. When comparing the third presentation to the fourth presentation, participants retained 81% more knowledge.

 

“In the business context, the story teaches. We learn how to do things … The story resonates with us in such a way that it really reaches in and it really appeals to us.” Stories give presenters the opportunity to put specialized knowledge into a context that everybody can understand.

 

And if the term story seems daunting, Merle sometimes uses the term “homespun illustration.” The important thing is that we're not talking about making things up; We're talking about taking real-life events and real-life situations so that you can draw similarities (or create analogies) to the truth that you're trying to give, and reinforce it.

 

So what type of stories should a presenter tell?

 

1. “The best stories are the ones that come from our lives; The best stories are the ones that we have lived.” There are so many stories out of our own personal lives that can affect, inspire, educate, guide, and teach people.
2. The second best stories are the ones we have observed in other people around us. You don't have to say the person's name, but explain how they solved a problem. Those make great, relatable examples.
3. The third best stories are the ones that we read about in books, or from history, that are true to life. These are often stories about how the Lincolns and Jobs of the worlds solved problems.

 

Don’t make any mistake: Teaching with storytelling isn’t easy – but it is incredibly effective.

 

In a world with so much information, in a world where everybody has a screen captivating their attention, the story will distinguish you as being different.

 

So put in the work to craft a good story – and, more importantly, practice so that you can effectively deliver that story; “Greatness is not in the performance. Greatness is in the preparation.”

 

 

Resources:

• Connect with Merle on LinkedIn
• Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath & Dan Heath

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Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 90121ccc-2992-11e9-80fa-8712bf94a489 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:27.047-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:06.735-08:00 [title] => Ep. 84 - Antonio Ocampo-Guzman: Designing Improv Classes for Business & Computer Science Students [pubdate] => 2018-01-08T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/90121ccc-2992-11e9-80fa-8712bf94a489/image/AntonioOcampoGuzman_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode84_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 84 [subtitle] => I’m really excited to introduce you all to Antonio Ocampo-Guzman, an actor, director, author, and theater teacher originally from Bogotá, Colombia. He is an Associate Professor at Northeastern University, where he teaches all levels of acting,... [summary] =>

I’m really excited to introduce you all to Antonio Ocampo-Guzman, an actor, director, author, and theater teacher originally from Bogotá, Colombia. He is an Associate Professor at Northeastern University, where he teaches all levels of acting, voice, and improvisation – but not just to theater students.

 

Antonio has developed a number of courses for non-theater students to help people develop their “soft skills,” or interpersonal communication skills – but, as listeners to this podcast know, those skills can be very hard to comprehend and practice.

 

“When you bring people back to playfulness in theater, they rediscover a childlike sense of innocence, playfulness, winningest, and generosity – which makes life much easier.”

 

Antonio designed the first one of these courses about five years ago, for the business school. Shortly thereafter, Dean Carla Brodley asked him to design a similar course for the computer science program.

 

After a short pilot period, it became a required class for every single undergraduate student majoring in Computer and Information Science at Northeastern.

 

“You’re only alive and compelling when there’s a disruption. The status quo only perpetuates injustices and inequalities… and Improv is all a disruption.”

 

 

Resources:

• Learn more about Antonio: camd.northeastern.edu/theatre/people/antonio-ocampo-guzman
• Connect with Antonio on LinkedIn
• Read: The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey

--

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

[audioFile] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/90121ccc-2992-11e9-80fa-8712bf94a489/stripped_bc05a7c416e3f6aba69d7fdad6dee567.mp3 [downloadUrl] => http://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN4571758531.mp3 [size] => 59331918 [duration] => 2966.6 [uid] => CSN4571758531 [originalUrl] => https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/improvisnojoke/Improv_084_AntonioOcampo-Guzman_Complete.mp3?dest-id=395588 [bitrate] => 160 [samplerate] => 44100 [channelMode] => stereo [vbr] => [audioFileProcessing] => [podcastId] => 855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d [preCount] => 0 [postCount] => 0 [insertionPoints] => Array ( ) [id3File] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/90121ccc-2992-11e9-80fa-8712bf94a489/id3/828ffb2e18e1b4b12d0c7d1135397229.mp3 [id3FileProcessing] => [id3FileSize] => 73860 [parentId] => [guid] => 00be7f56bd9b3a287d8516c598b7fa40 [pubdateTimezone] => [originalFilename] => [preOffset] => 0.0 [postOffset] => 0.0 [spotifyIdentifier] => [expectedAdhash] => [audioFileUpdatedAt] => [draft] => [externalId] => [customFields] => )

Array ( [id] => 90534030-2992-11e9-80fa-8f68e3300d5e [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:27.476-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:44:32.378-08:00 [title] => Ep. 83 - 2017: A Year in Review [pubdate] => 2018-01-01T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/90534030-2992-11e9-80fa-8f68e3300d5e/image/ImprovisNoJoke_Episode83_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 83 [subtitle] => Happy New Year! To celebrate the beginning of what is sure to be another interesting year, I’ve gone through every episode from 2017 and pulled out a quote that I found impactful.   Inspired by one of these quotes? You can find an image to... [summary] =>

Happy New Year! To celebrate the beginning of what is sure to be another interesting year, I’ve gone through every episode from 2017 and pulled out a quote that I found impactful.

 

Inspired by one of these quotes? You can find an image to download and share for each one by clicking this link.

 

 

Resources:

• Connect with Pete and listen to previous episodes of the podcast at improvisnojoke.com

--

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

[audioFile] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/90534030-2992-11e9-80fa-8f68e3300d5e/stripped_90367cd5f9ba6f059554235f1d60e71a.mp3 [downloadUrl] => http://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN1467644415.mp3 [size] => 45796310 [duration] => 2289.82 [uid] => CSN1467644415 [originalUrl] => https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/improvisnojoke/Improv_083_PeterMargaritis_Complete.mp3?dest-id=395588 [bitrate] => 160 [samplerate] => 44100 [channelMode] => stereo [vbr] => [audioFileProcessing] => [podcastId] => 855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d [preCount] => 0 [postCount] => 0 [insertionPoints] => Array ( ) [id3File] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/90534030-2992-11e9-80fa-8f68e3300d5e/id3/dcde41c56cb561de82a5a64fec580fa0.mp3 [id3FileProcessing] => [id3FileSize] => 70548 [parentId] => [guid] => 0e3440b6c7b82f968e9df76e92345afb [pubdateTimezone] => [originalFilename] => [preOffset] => 0.0 [postOffset] => 0.0 [spotifyIdentifier] => [expectedAdhash] => [audioFileUpdatedAt] => [draft] => [externalId] => [customFields] => )

Array ( [id] => 908ea24c-2992-11e9-80fa-33745bf680cf [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:27.865-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:03.716-08:00 [title] => Ep. 82 - Tim Sinclair | Business Development: What Makes Your Business Unique & Different? [pubdate] => 2017-12-25T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/908ea24c-2992-11e9-80fa-33745bf680cf/image/TimSinclair_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode82_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 82 [subtitle] => Tim Sinclair is the Industry Consulting Director at the accounting firm WebsterRogers, and he has worked with more than 350 companies across the U.S. and in a variety of industries. He is passionate about helping business leaders advance and grow... [summary] =>

Tim Sinclair is the Industry Consulting Director at the accounting firm WebsterRogers, and he has worked with more than 350 companies across the U.S. and in a variety of industries. He is passionate about helping business leaders advance and grow their companies so they can, in turn, improve the lives of their employees and their local economy.

 

We discuss the skills you need to develop a business, how he helps the team at WebsterRogers sharpen their business development skills, and the role improvisation plays in this process.

 

Business Development 101

 

• You need to know what makes you unique and different, and why someone should do business with you – and you need to be able to succinctly articulate that to a prospect or client.
• Active listening is a critical skill; be engaged in a conversation and curious so that you can understand what another person struggles with, what their needs are, and how you can help.
• Consider the whole experience of each meeting, and make it a unique and memorable experience. Bring an item related to their business, a gift, or something else that makes it stand out.
• Change your mindset around networking. “You’re not out selling – you’re out helping.” You need to have enough confidence in your service and what you provide so that, when you network, you see a bunch of people who need help, and you know you’re able to help them.
• Your relationships will differentiate you from technology, which will be increasingly important every year. Plus, when you develop business relationships, the likelihood of losing business diminishes dramatically.
• You should also build relationships with other people in your industry! More often than not, you’re helping each other succeed more instead of competing with each other for the same money.

 

Resources:

• Connect with Tim on LinkedIn
• Learn more about WebsterRogers

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Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

[audioFile] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/908ea24c-2992-11e9-80fa-33745bf680cf/stripped_b2067cdb58994248b440644ed6e2e784.mp3 [downloadUrl] => http://traffic.megaphone.fm/CSN9076411905.mp3 [size] => 55363918 [duration] => 2768.2 [uid] => CSN9076411905 [originalUrl] => https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/improvisnojoke/Improv_082_TimSinclair_Complete.mp3?dest-id=395588 [bitrate] => 160 [samplerate] => 44100 [channelMode] => stereo [vbr] => [audioFileProcessing] => [podcastId] => 855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d [preCount] => 0 [postCount] => 0 [insertionPoints] => Array ( ) [id3File] => https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/megaphone-prod/podcasts/855b7260-2992-11e9-b6a9-772c1cb8f09d/episodes/908ea24c-2992-11e9-80fa-33745bf680cf/id3/ada9f7a162f18c289ec62ce54cf0d2a7.mp3 [id3FileProcessing] => [id3FileSize] => 74598 [parentId] => [guid] => 7cfeded591aecb2b80e4dcc9f39ef8cc [pubdateTimezone] => [originalFilename] => [preOffset] => 0.0 [postOffset] => 0.0 [spotifyIdentifier] => [expectedAdhash] => [audioFileUpdatedAt] => [draft] => [externalId] => [customFields] => )

Array ( [id] => 90ede89c-2992-11e9-80fa-4bb3995ee360 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:28.489-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:44:47.900-08:00 [title] => Ep. 81 - Jerry L. Esselstein: How Professionals Can Prepare for the Changing Business Environment [pubdate] => 2017-12-18T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/90ede89c-2992-11e9-80fa-4bb3995ee360/image/JerryEsselstein_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode81_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 81 [subtitle] => Jerry L. Esselstein specializes in strategic planning, implementation strategies, personnel development, and performance measurement for private company owners, executives, and other senior management groups.   Jerry has an extensive leadership... [summary] =>

Jerry L. Esselstein specializes in strategic planning, implementation strategies, personnel development, and performance measurement for private company owners, executives, and other senior management groups.

 

Jerry has an extensive leadership background, and our conversation focuses on the critical leadership skills needed in the modern business landscape. Although we are discussing the future of the accounting profession, you don’t need to be an accountant to enjoy this episode because this information applies to many professions and businesses.

 

How can professionals prepare for (and adapt to) the new and changing business environment?

 

• Many professions, including CPAs, will have a much more limited scope. (i.e. CPAs will likely still be giving assurance based on historic performance, but who will be involved in forecasting, advising, growth?).

 

• Technology such as machine learning and blockchain will do a lot of grunt work faster and better than any human will ever be able to – so a professional’s ability to do that grunt work will be less important than their ability to interpret information, apply standards, and think creatively; the skills of a trusted business advisor.

 

• While there will always be a need for the “pure CPA,” our clients will require more than just a CPA and an attorney – they will need trusted specialists in many areas, and all of those specialists will need a holistic understanding of the client’s business.

 

• Coaching, mentoring, and training need to be reintegrated into the professional education system. Competency-based education may not cut it.

 

• “Self-interest is killing us right now, from the president all the way down to the staff at a CPA firm.” What’s in it for me? What do I get out of it? That’s cultural, and that didn’t happen overnight.

 

 

Resources:

• Connect with Jerry on LinkedIn
• Necessary Endings: The Employees, Businesses, and Relationships That All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Move Forward by Henry Cloud

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Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 91279c22-2992-11e9-80fa-335a24008483 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:28.868-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:10.457-08:00 [title] => Ep. 80 - Boyd Search | Transforming Corporate Culture in a Changing Profession: Transparency, Trust, & Leadership [pubdate] => 2017-12-11T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/91279c22-2992-11e9-80fa-335a24008483/image/BoydSearch_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode80_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 80 [subtitle] => Boyd Search is the President & CEO of the Georgia Society of CPAs. Our conversation centers around how he approached changing the organization’s corporate culture, and the impact that the George Society is making on its members, associates, and... [summary] =>

Boyd Search is the President & CEO of the Georgia Society of CPAs. Our conversation centers around how he approached changing the organization’s corporate culture, and the impact that the George Society is making on its members, associates, and the profession.

 

On Boyd’s first day as CEO of the Georgia Society almost seven years ago, I was actually his first new paying member – and I am still a member because his changes haven’t ticked me off yet!

 

So how (and why) is Boyd transforming the culture in the Georgia Society of CPAs?

 

• Boyd’s first action as CEO wasn’t actually a big change or initiative – he took time to learn about the stakeholders in the association so that he could better make a plan for the future.

 

• “As the world has changed, and as time becomes a more precious commodity, associations have, by and large, become more staff-driven.” The association hasn’t increased their staff, but existing staff positions now have new responsibilities, which means they’ve had to hire new staff or learn new skills.

 

• “When you get to change in an environment where your hair isn’t on fire, it’s a lot more fun.” The change isn’t necessarily easier when it’s not an emergency, but it can be more fun.

 

• Changing the culture has been a gradual process, and it’s only been possible because the leadership within the organization wanted change – that buy in from the leadership is extremely significant, whenever you’re approaching a big change within an organization.

 

• There are a lot of things impacting the profession. We tend to undervalue or underestimate the amount of change that needs to happen, particularly from the curriculum perspective. The George Society has taken some time to have “conversations with smart people,” in which they spend time talking to their stakeholders over dinner (That’s right, more listening!). They found a theme: things are changing so often and so fast that no one is sure where the dust is going to settle, so they should continue with an incremental approach to change.

 

• “There’s no question that the profession is going to face significant changes… but the reality is that there’s going to be tremendous opportunity for those who are in the business of providing validation, verification, and trust.” We need to figure out how to leverage those things, both for the good of the profession and the interest of public trust.

 

Resources:

• Learn more about the Georgia Society: GSCPA.org
• Connect with Boyd on LinkedIn

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9164f6b2-2992-11e9-80fa-bb7b604fad27 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:29.270-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:15.827-08:00 [title] => Ep. 79 - Ryan Parker: Adding Value to Your Organization (as You Grow as a Leader) [pubdate] => 2017-12-04T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9164f6b2-2992-11e9-80fa-bb7b604fad27/image/RyanParker_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode79_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 79 [subtitle] => Ryan Parker is the President & CEO of Endicott Clay Products and the newly installed chair of the Nebraska Society of CPA’s executive board.   Our conversation focuses on the process of adding value to your organization as you grow your... [summary] =>

Ryan Parker is the President & CEO of Endicott Clay Products and the newly installed chair of the Nebraska Society of CPA’s executive board.

 

Our conversation focuses on the process of adding value to your organization as you grow your career, what you should be thinking about if you aspire to be a leader within your organization, and the challenges of replacing a seasoned CEO.

 

How can you add value to an organization & grow as a leader?

 

• Some work is necessary, but doesn’t add value. “When you’re in a public accounting role, the trick is to really become an advisor. A consultant pays the pills, but it doesn’t generate revenue.” When you turn that corner and become an advisor, in any industry, you start to create work for your organization.

 

• Many people in technical professions understand their job, but they don’t necessarily have a comprehensive understanding of the business or industry: sales, marketing, human resources, regulations, and daily operations all matter. You need a complete understanding of a business if you want to be a trusted business advisor.

 

• “A lot of times, being a trusted business advisor really boils down to having conversations about people, pricing, or customers that nobody wants to have.” You have to be willing to ask questions that are difficult but, in the long term, matter a great deal.

 

• “You have to be willing to go out on a limb and embrace change and the unknown, and it doesn’t come easy. But if you’re not willing to embrace it, you’re going to fail… The easiest thing ever is just to react to a situation. The second easiest is when you just respond. The absolute hardest is to initiate it.” Once you can initiate change, for your own personal self-development or for the company, you can start to become what you want to become, as a professional.

 

• Find a mentor that you hold in high regard, whether they are in your organization or outside of it. Find out how they climbed the ladder, the values they embraced, what level of work they’ve taken on, and be honest with yourself: is that what you really want?

 

• “If you really want to become an executive or a partner within your firm, do whatever is needed when it comes to understanding all of the issues – don’t leave a stone unturned… You’ll be surprised at how many times you pick up the stone and look underneath of it and there’s an opportunity.”

 

• Accept failure as a learning opportunity – not as a punishment. If you want to grow, you have to constantly push yourself past your comfort zone, and sometimes you will fail in the process. That’s okay. So, what have you failed at today?

 

 

Resources:

• Connect with Ryan: LinkedIn | rparker@endicott.com

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 91993b02-2992-11e9-80fa-e7bb155ded2a [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:29.613-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:28.966-08:00 [title] => Ep. 78 - Jay Sukow: Teaching Improv to Businesses, Actors, and Everyone Else [pubdate] => 2017-11-27T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/91993b02-2992-11e9-80fa-e7bb155ded2a/image/JaySukow_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode78_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 78 [subtitle] => Jay Sukow believes that the world would be a better place if everyone took just one improv class – and I agree! Jay is trying to make that world a reality as the Founder of Today Improv, where he teaches improv to actors, businesses, and everyone... [summary] =>

Jay Sukow believes that the world would be a better place if everyone took just one improv class – and I agree! Jay is trying to make that world a reality as the Founder of Today Improv, where he teaches improv to actors, businesses, and everyone else all over the world.

 

Jay is also on faculty at M.i.’s Westside Comedy Theater and The Second City Hollywood, and co-host of the ImprovCast with Jay and Landon.

 

In the 80’s and 90’s, there wasn’t a lot of understanding about what improv was. However, after years of people like Jay working with the public and businesses, people are starting to accept and understand why improv is so beneficial in both business and life.

 

“Be the improviser that you want to play with; be the person in your business who you want to work with.”

 

When Jay and his ensemble go to work with a business, they don’t claim to be business experts – but they are experts in communication, working together, being part of an ensemble, focusing on the team first, and using information.

 

His goal is to get others to implement those skills within their business, or their lives, and make it a habit. And one of the most valuable skills and habits that you might learn in one of these Improv classes is Yes, And.

 

Because in your professional world and your personal world, you will have to say Yes, and you will have to say yes to things that you don’t want to do or else you will lose something – so learning how to say yes, in a constructive manner, is a very valuable skill.

 

Often times, we are struggling because we aren’t accepting something or making excuses. When we use Yes, And, we aren’t trying to find a quick way out of a problem or an acceptable way to make an excuse. We are saying before I shoot this idea down, how could it work?

 

“You have to accept failure. Your failure is going to help us succeed in the long run, but we’re so focused on immediate results that we don’t allow ourselves that space.”

 

Resources:

• Learn more about Today Improv
• Listen: ImprovCast with Jay and Landon

--

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 91dbb7b6-2992-11e9-80fa-33f91068ead4 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:30.048-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:25.633-08:00 [title] => Ep. 77 - Colin Blalock | It’s Not What You Say That is Heard: Why Reading Body Language is Fun & Profitable [pubdate] => 2017-11-20T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/91dbb7b6-2992-11e9-80fa-33f91068ead4/image/PeterMargaritis_ColinBlalock_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode77_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 77 [subtitle] => Colin Blalock, a shareholder with Jones and Kolb, is a CPA with a very unique set of skills: Colin has developed a talent for understanding the nonverbal messages that people are saying. That's right – He has developed the ability to read body... [summary] =>

Colin Blalock, a shareholder with Jones and Kolb, is a CPA with a very unique set of skills: Colin has developed a talent for understanding the nonverbal messages that people are saying. That's right – He has developed the ability to read body language, and he has delivered a number of conference presentations on this topic.

 

The importance of reading body language is underscored when you understand how people are interpreting your message: 7 percent is what you say, 38 percent is how you say it (the tone of your voice), and 55 percent is silent body language.

 

But a lot of us don't take the time to think about our own body language, and that limits how effectively we can communicate with others – or understand what they’re really communicating to us.

 

Colin’s Challenge & Body Language Cheat Sheet

 

For the next 30 days, when you get up in the morning, read this cheat sheet – the 13 keys of body language – and try to identify these things during your day. What you see, and learn, will absolutely blow you away.

 

Key #1  - Initial Meeting

• Plan
• Flash/return flash
• Eye contact
• Smile

 

Key #2  - Spacing

• Personal space
• Correct distance

 

Key #3 - Conflicts

• Unknown male/female (standing and sitting)
• Standing vs. sitting
• Avoid deep armchairs

 

Key #4 - The Handshake

• Pressure/length
• Limp wrist
• Dominate (counter)
• Get together
• Submissive
• Glove
• Double touch
• Shoulder grip

 

Key #5 - Appearance

• Glasses
• Best face forward

 

Key #6 - Cooperation/Acceptance

• Head tilt
• Eye contact
• Smile
• Speaking to a group – contact

 

Key #7 - Power Plays

• Control time/space
• The stare – counter
• Where you sit

 

Key #8 - Reading Others

• Watch for leakage
• Read my lips
• Furrowed forehead
• Buy signs
• Watch the feet
• True smile
• Copying stance/gestures

 

Key #9 - Common Lying Gestures

• No single sign
• The nose knows
• Gravity defying gestures and happy feet

 

Key #10 - Watch the Hands

• Touching objects
• Palms up/down

 

Key #11 - What about the Eyes?

• Audio (side to side)
• Calculating (down and left)
• Emotional (down and right)
• Deception (up and right)
• Recalling (up and left)

 

Key #12 - Common Barriers

• Arm fold
• One arm fold
• How to break the barrier

 

Key #13 - Practice!

 

 

Colin’s Favorite Body Language Books:

• Telling Lies, Paul Ekman
• • Extremely hard to read, but many books use his research.
  • Unless you really like Calculus I would pass.
• The Secret Language of Success, David Lewis
• • First book I read, 31 rules provides a good foundation;

 

• The book cost $0.01 and shipping is $4.24.  Accountants love rules and there are 31 Rules to follow.  Note: three books below cover many of the same points.

 

• The Definitive Book of Body Language, Allan and Barbara Pease
• • Excellent book and discusses issues up through former President Clinton;
  • Entertaining and useful.
• What Every BODY is Saying, Joe Navarro
• • Real life experiences working with soldiers captured in the Gulf Wars and how the same techniques are applied to interactions today;
  • Works with Fortune 500 companies now;
  • Addresses benchmarking.
• Let Me See Your Body Talk, Jan Hargrave
• • Very good book for singles;
  • Explains social interactions.
• The Silent Language of Leaders, Carol Kinsey Goman
• • Excellent book if preside over meetings or need to get a consensus from a group on issues;
  • Explains why some people “lead” and no one follows.

--

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9214a26a-2992-11e9-80fa-a72ba50e5a00 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:30.422-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:11.089-08:00 [title] => Ep. 76 - Dr. David Brobeck: How FUN Increases Engagement & Retention [pubdate] => 2017-11-13T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9214a26a-2992-11e9-80fa-a72ba50e5a00/image/PeterMargaritis_DrBrobeck_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode76_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 76 [subtitle] => Dr. David Brobeck (AKA The Problem-Solving Professor) is a professional speaker and a professor of graduate education at Walsh University. His current academic focus is researching various means to enhancing teaching and learning based on... [summary] =>

Dr. David Brobeck (AKA The Problem-Solving Professor) is a professional speaker and a professor of graduate education at Walsh University. His current academic focus is researching various means to enhancing teaching and learning based on neuroscience. Regardless of the endeavor, David believes learning should be fun – and I agree!

 

In this interview, Dr. Brobeck shares tips and techniques we can use to make learning fun in order to increase the audience member retention rate, whether we’re presenting, teaching, at work, or at home.

 

Dr. Brobeck starts every presentation with a slide saying, “If you're not a fun person, you may hate the session.” He then goes on to explain that, even if you’re not fun, you might want to fake it because the brain can't tell the difference – and we know people learn more and retain more when there is humor involved.

 

If you look at the traditional lecture style of speaking, there’s no engagement. It's just boring data. It's just not connecting with them, and it creates boredom.

 

This positive or negative reaction to stimuli, whether genuine or faked, is controlled by our body’s limbic system. Amy Cuddy, a professor at Harvard and TEDTalk presenter, talks about how this system releases endorphins and cortisol into our brain, and how that affects retention.

 

Laughter releases endorphins, and we learn more when we have endorphins being released in our brain. Conversely, cortisol is released when we need to protect ourselves. So a stressful or boring classroom can actually cause the brain to start to protect itself, and then you don't learn as much.

 

You also need to let the brain shift tasks occasionally, if you want it to process and retain information. Dr. Brobeck implements a simple tool called the QRST method:

• Question - The presenter / teacher / boss poses a question related to the information they are presenting.
• Reflect - The audience is asked to reflect on this question for 10-30 seconds.
• Share - They are then asked to pair up and share their thoughts on the question with another person. After 30 seconds, the presenter gets everyone’s attention and tells everyone to switch so the second person can also share their thoughts for 30 seconds.
• Team - After everyone shares their thoughts with someone else, the presenter asks people to share what their partner told them.

 

Another powerful and fun presentation tool is storytelling. When people hear a good story, they equate it to their own life – and they climb inside that story with the storyteller, and they start to live with that person. So we remember experiences better when we feel like we’ve had them, and some stories are so powerful that we never forget them.

 

Resources:

• Learn more about Dr. Brobeck: nsaohio.com/members/name/david-brobeck/
• Watch Amy Cuddy’s TEDTalk: Your body language may shape who you are

--

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 92595716-2992-11e9-80fa-7fec1b4a8c2a [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:30.871-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:06.163-08:00 [title] => Ep. 75 - Jack Park & Maureen Zappala: Writing Buckeye Reflections [pubdate] => 2017-11-06T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/92595716-2992-11e9-80fa-7fec1b4a8c2a/image/PeterMargaritis_JackParkMaureenZappala_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode75_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 75 [subtitle] => What do a cow, a snapping turtle, and a goat have in common? Ohio State Football (really, we’re not kidding)! This is just one of the fascinating anecdotes you’ll find in the new book Buckeye Reflections: Legendary Moments from Ohio State... [summary] =>

What do a cow, a snapping turtle, and a goat have in common? Ohio State Football (really, we’re not kidding)! This is just one of the fascinating anecdotes you’ll find in the new book Buckeye Reflections: Legendary Moments from Ohio State Football.

 

We’ve talked to both Jack Park and Maureen Zappala on previous episodes of the podcast (episode 13 and episode 39, respectively), but today they’re joining us together to discuss their two-and-a-half year journey co-writing Buckeye Reflections.

 

Even if you’re not a football fan, I think you’ll enjoy the work they’ve done and the stories they’ve uncovered while developing the book. You can download the first chapter for FREE by going to BuckeyeReflectionsBook.com.

 

“Games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage, but it’s the stories of the people that really make the legacy.” –Maureen Zappala

 

Resources:

• Buckeye Reflections: Legendary Moments from Ohio State Football
• Learn more about Brutus Mascot Camp

--

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 92a8f140-2992-11e9-80fa-4f96f76f338d [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:31.389-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:18.908-08:00 [title] => Ep. 74 - Jennifer Briggs: Indiana Passes Competency-Based CPA License Renewal Law [pubdate] => 2017-10-30T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/92a8f140-2992-11e9-80fa-4f96f76f338d/image/PeterMargaritis_JenniferBriggs_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode74_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 74 [subtitle] => Jennifer Briggs is currently the Senior Vice President and COO of the Indiana CPA Society, and she will be the CEO of the society beginning January 1, 2018.   On July 1st, 2017, the state of Indiana signed House Bill 1467 into law, which... [summary] =>

Jennifer Briggs is currently the Senior Vice President and COO of the Indiana CPA Society, and she will be the CEO of the society beginning January 1, 2018.

 

On July 1st, 2017, the state of Indiana signed House Bill 1467 into law, which “allows competency based learning through professional development opportunities to qualify accountants for accountant certificate renewal.”

 

This all began years ago, around 2010, when the Indiana society created a board-level task force on knowledge management. Jennifer worked with the task force on competency to examine how things have changed in education, and everything snowballed from there.

 

Although the bill is passed, this is just the beginning – Jennifer is now working with a committee to create rules around the law. Nothing is finalized, but the idea is that this new system will be designed around those who actually want to learn (as opposed to those that sit in the back of a classroom to collect their 8 hours of credit).

 

Change is everywhere in our profession – technology, demographics, pricing models – so it’s imperative that the education change, too.

 

“If you want things to be different, you have to do different things.” –Jennifer Briggs

 

Resources:

• Learn more at about the Indiana Society at INCPAS.com
• Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn

--

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 92fd38d6-2992-11e9-80fa-c3432d02b4d7 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:31.945-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:15.830-08:00 [title] => Ep. 73 - Dr. Alan Patterson: How to Go From Technical Expert to Strategic Leader [pubdate] => 2017-10-23T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/92fd38d6-2992-11e9-80fa-c3432d02b4d7/image/PeterMargaritis_DrAlanPatterson_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode73_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 73 [subtitle] => Dr. Alan Patterson is the Founder of Mentoré, a consulting practice specializing in leadership and organizational development, and a thought leader at the Business Learning Institute. Dr. Patterson also wrote Leader Evolution: From Technical... [summary] =>

Dr. Alan Patterson is the Founder of Mentoré, a consulting practice specializing in leadership and organizational development, and a thought leader at the Business Learning Institute.

Dr. Patterson also wrote Leader Evolution: From Technical Expertise to Strategic Leadership, which defines the four critical stages needed by individuals with technical or specialist backgrounds to move into leadership positions.

“So what can I say? I'm a lone ranger. Hired gun. You need help? The doctor is in.” –Dr. Alan Patterson

Although a lot of things have changed in the business world over the past few decades, one thing has stayed the same: we acknowledge that communication skills are important, but we don’t necessarily act like it.

Even in the digital age, these are three of the most important skills you need to master… if you want to attain a strategic leadership position, or be considered a trusted business advisor:

1. Active listening
2. Communicating at the level of audience understanding
3. Understanding the perspectives of the people you're talking to

Dr. Patterson will tell his clients, “I can't believe I'm making money going to organizations telling them that they have… to be better at listening,” but it turns out no one is immune from underdeveloped communication skills – being in a senior position doesn’t guarantee that you're a better listener (and sometimes it’s just the opposite).

“You need to go out, talk to people, and listen. Do you know what we call that? That’s called a dialogue.” –Dr. Alan Patterson

Dr. Patterson has a personal challenge for you: Think of one person you know that's a good listener, then talk about that person and what they're like and what they mean to you. The results will likely be pretty dynamic.

Dr. Patterson believes that people who don’t develop emotional intelligence, empathy, moral character, courage, relationship management, influence, and persuasion skills will, guaranteed, top out in their career; they will be frustrated because they will be passed over or put in a box.

“People want the easy answer, so I say okay: You have to learn how to influence other people, and influence is based on credibility. There is no shortcut.” –Dr. Alan Patterson

So what do people need to start working on today if they want to go from technical expert to strategic leader?

Broader visibility, broader understanding of the business, providing guidance, and selling those ideas to others – And you won’t get seen, learn about the business, or have credibility if you don’t first learn to listen with empathy.

Resources:

• Learn more about Mentoré: Mentore.com | Twitter | Facebook
• Leader Evolution: From Technical Expertise to Strategic Leadership by Dr. Alan Patterson
• If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating by Alan Alda

--

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 933ec5ee-2992-11e9-80fa-1ba6d78aa407 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:32.373-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:10.148-08:00 [title] => Ep. 72 - Bill Sheridan | Human Work in the Age of Machines: How to be a Future-Ready CPA [pubdate] => 2017-10-16T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/933ec5ee-2992-11e9-80fa-1ba6d78aa407/image/PeterMargaritis_BillSheridan_Improvisnojoke_Episode72_ART_WAVVE_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 72 [subtitle] => Only 8 percent of CPAs believe that the profession is future ready, according to CPA.com’s study Welcome to the Fast Future. This is a rather concerning statistic because the future is coming, and it might be closer than you think.   Bill... [summary] =>

Only 8 percent of CPAs believe that the profession is future ready, according to CPA.com’s study Welcome to the Fast Future. This is a rather concerning statistic because the future is coming, and it might be closer than you think.

 

Bill Sheridan, Chief Communication Officer at the MACPA, is on the front lines trying to prepare CPAs for the future, and he recently published a new white paper that every CPA should read: Human Work in the Ages of Machines: Five Steps for Building a Future-Ready Finance Team.

 

Basically, the paper asks what happens when more and more of the things that accounting and finance professionals are trained to do are being done by machines, and what does that mean for our profession?

 

Because these technological changes are going to happen whether we like it or not, there's nothing we can do except learn how to do the things that machines can't do and work with them (or go out of business).

 

We have to go beyond being just number crunchers and become number interpreters; we have to be able to understand what we're viewing and become better communicators.

 

The futurist Peter Sheehan puts this another way: we've entered an age when humans should only do work that only humans can do, and everything else is going to be automated.

 

This means that CPAs will need a new set of eight core skills, if they want to remain relevant going forward:

1. Communication
2. Leadership
3. Critical thinking and problem solving
4. Anticipating and serving evolving needs
5. Synthesizing intelligence to insight, or providing the insight to the numbers
6. Integration and collaboration
7. Tech savvy and the ability to analyze data
8. Functional and domain expertise.

 

6/8 of these skills were also identified in the Horizons 2025 project. We tend to ignore stuff like that until it's almost too late – until the stuff that is on the horizon suddenly gets closer and is threatening to steamroll us.

 

We waited, and now it’s crunch time.

 

Bill doesn’t believe that the problem with CPAs is that we’re too introverted to learn these soft skills. Bill believes the big problem holding us back is that accounting is a rear-facing profession. We've been trained to look in the rearview mirror, and so that's what we've done for decades and decades.

 

Now we're at a point where we have to start looking through the windshield a little bit more and learn how to become a more forward-facing profession, which means figuring out what we need to do to stay relevant tomorrow rather than just accounting for what happened yesterday.

 

Bill developed the Five C’s for staying relevant through the change:

1. Context - What are the big changes going on around us? There’s three hard trends converging: technological advances, changing demographics, and new legislation.
2. Certainty - What can we be certain will happen? The futurist Daniel Burrus says your odds of succeeding go up and the risk of failing goes down, when you start basing your strategy around things that you know are going to happen.
3. Capacity - It’s going to take time for us to learn how to become future ready, and we're all busier than ever before. But we make time for the things that are important to us.
4. Competencies - As discussed previously, we're going to have to learn an entirely new set of skills. Key among them is anticipation: learning how to spot future trends before they happen and position our organizations to take advantage of them, before the competition, is actually a skill that you can learn.
5. Core Values - In a world where everything seems to be changing around us, it's really kind of comforting to know that there are some things that should never change: our core values. The core purpose of this profession, as established by Vision Project, is to make sense of a changing and complex world.

 

How to Take Your First Steps Towards the Future

 

Trying to become future ready all at once is overwhelming, and more or less impossible. However, now is a great time to start building future-ready habits.

 

Bill suggests you start with a simple exercise: schedule one hour a week for yourself, and actually put it in your calendar. During that hour, do something like read a book that will help you prepare for the future, or ask your team what productivity apps they like and start implementing them.

 

In the resources below, you will find a number of valuable books and resources to learn from during your weekly time block, including Human Work in the Ages of Machines.

 

Resources:

• Connect with Bill on LinkedIn
• Human Work in the Ages of Machines: Five Steps for Building a Future-Ready Finance Team
• The Second Machine Age by Andrew McAfee and Erik Brynjolfsson
• Humans are Underrated by Geoff Colvin
• Only Humans Need Apply by Thomas Davenport and Julia Kirby
• The Fourth Industrial Revolution by Klaus Schwab
• The 2020 Workplace by Jeanne C. Meister
• Traction by Gino Wickman
• Thank You for Being Late by Thomas Friedman
• Brain Rules by John Medina

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 93e0bfa2-2992-11e9-80fa-1b6ac8ebc4bd [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:33.437-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:44:48.268-08:00 [title] => Ep. 71 - The Accidental Tour Guide: Peter’s Favorite Places to Eat in the U.S. [pubdate] => 2017-10-09T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/93e0bfa2-2992-11e9-80fa-1b6ac8ebc4bd/image/PeterMargaritis_Solo_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode71_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 71 [subtitle] => We’re doing something a little different today: Peter shares his favorite places to eat all over the country. He was inspired by former guest Clarke Price, who keeps a record of every restaurant he visits and often suggests new places for Peter to... [summary] =>

We’re doing something a little different today: Peter shares his favorite places to eat all over the country. He was inspired by former guest Clarke Price, who keeps a record of every restaurant he visits and often suggests new places for Peter to try.

 

New Orleans:

• Gump Shop - GumboShop.com
• Mr. B's Bistro -  MrBsBistro.com
• The Pelican Club - PelicanClub.com
• K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen - KPauls.com
• Drago's Seafood Restaurant - DragosRestaurant.com

 

The Greater Baltimore Area:

• Cunningham’s - CunninghamsTowson.com
• Gachi House of Sushi - GachiSushi.com

 

Bloomington, Minnesota:

• Ciao Bella - CiaoBellaMN.com - Best Customer Service Award
• • Read Peter’s article about Ciao Bella’s customer service

 

Seattle, Washington:

• Purple Cafe and Wine Bar - PurpleCafe.com

 

Bellevue, Washington:

• Seastar - SeastarRestaurant.com

 

Atlanta, Georgia:

• Canoe - CanoeATL.com
• One Flew South - OneFlewSouthATL.com

 

Charleston, South Carolina:

• S.N.O.B. (Slightly North of Broad) - SNOBCharleston.com

 

Nashville, Tennessee:

• Puckett's Grocery and Restaurant - PuckettsGro.com/nashville

 

The Greater New York City Area:

• Taverna Kyclades - TavernaKyclades.com
• Estiatorio Milos - milos.ca/restaurants/new-york

 

Lincoln, Nebraska:

• DISH Restaurant - DishDowntown.com

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9419a588-2992-11e9-80fa-efb0022951f8 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:33.810-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:21.223-08:00 [title] => Ep. 70 - Annie Conderacci: Facilitating Growth & Positive Change with Improv [pubdate] => 2017-10-02T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9419a588-2992-11e9-80fa-efb0022951f8/image/PeterMargaritis_AnnieConderacci_ImprovisNoJoke_Ep_70_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 70 [subtitle] => Annie Conderacci is a change management consultant and a passionate student of improv. She studied and performed improv at The Second City, Annoyance Theater, and IO Chicago, and she performs improv and sketch all around the city. As a change and... [summary] =>

Annie Conderacci is a change management consultant and a passionate student of improv. She studied and performed improv at The Second City, Annoyance Theater, and IO Chicago, and she performs improv and sketch all around the city.

As a change and management consultant, Annie frequently uses her improv skills to facilitate growth and positive change in organizations. Throughout the interview, she does an outstanding job of describing how improv can be applied to business, and discusses how you can use improv to defuse difficult situations.

Annie fell in love with Improv the first time she saw Second City – she went to business school in Chicago so that she could also take classes.

She was first drawn to the culture of imperfection. When she saw that you can make mistakes sometimes, and you don’t have to be perfect or even scripted, something clicked.

As she moved up through the levels at Second City, it got more challenging… but it never stopped being fun or supportive. One of the most important lessons that she learned, and that she still applies in the workplace, is that you can challenge people in a way that makes them feel supported and taken care of, and that allows them to take bigger risks than they might in a safe environment.

The freedom to fail is important, and that can mean something as simple as framing failure as a learning opportunity. Improvisers will have so many bad shows – way more bad than good – but it's the bad shows that they really learn the most from.

And it’s important to note that, even if you are in the worst culture in the world, you can still do something within your own space, and you can make the conscious decision to not perpetuate a culture that is counterproductive. If you're fun to work with, people are going to want to work with you, especially if your methods create results.

Improv also teaches us greater empathy, and it teaches us to acknowledge the way other people feel. Always saying Yes, And forces you to consider the other person’s point of view and add to it, as opposed to dismissing it; Yes, And helps you unlearn unproductive behavior. This is a powerful life tool that helps on stage, at work, and at home.

Can you imagine how powerful it would be if people learned these skills as kids?

If we started with kids, and kids could start acknowledging these behaviors early, building good teams, developing leadership skills, thinking quickly on your feet, and supporting each other... that may actually make a great difference in the world.

Annie works with an incredible non profit called Room2Improv that works with children in Chicago. “By teaching them how to explore, embrace and adopt the techniques of improvisation into everyday living, we motivate individuals to care about themselves and others, make healthy choices and effective decisions and use their confidence to overcome their fears.”

Resources:

• Connect with Annie on LinkedIn
• Support Room2Improv

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 94561176-2992-11e9-80fa-63b34c5e86f6 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:34.206-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:19.020-08:00 [title] => Ep. 69 - Byron Patrick: Be Selfish & Get Involved With Your Local Association [pubdate] => 2017-09-25T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/94561176-2992-11e9-80fa-63b34c5e86f6/image/PeterMargaritis_ByronPatrick_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode69_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 69 [subtitle] => Byron Patrick, Managing Director of CPA practice at Network Alliance, is a nationally-known industry thought leader and a multi-recipient of the CPA Practice Advisor's 40 Under 40 award. Byron has been an active member of the Maryland Association of... [summary] =>

Byron Patrick, Managing Director of CPA practice at Network Alliance, is a nationally-known industry thought leader and a multi-recipient of the CPA Practice Advisor's 40 Under 40 award.

Byron has been an active member of the Maryland Association of CPAs since the beginning of his career, and he credits much of his professional success to the support and membership of the MACPA.

Personally, I know I wouldn’t be where where I am today without my local association, and I wholeheartedly agree with Byron – The benefits from volunteering at your state CPA Association (or any professional association) are endless, and the financial and personal investment you make will pay for itself many times over.

Too often, CPAs don’t want to participate with their association because they look at membership as a cost, when really it's an investment in your network and career.

When Byron was chair of the MACPA’s young professional network, his message was to be selfish – get involved with the association. These relationships and these opportunities will absolutely have a positive impact on your career trajectory… if you are willing to make the investment, meet people, and take advantage of those opportunities.

“As much as I do to give to the industry and association, and everything else, my take away is a thousand fold. And it's okay – I am perfectly fine with you getting involved if it's to be selfish, because once you show up you're not going to leave.”

Resources:

• Connect with Byron on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Network Alliance

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 94936896-2992-11e9-80fa-f31dd5af4cf5 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:34.608-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:18.809-08:00 [title] => Ep. 68 - Greg Conderacci: Supercharge Your Spiritual Energy [pubdate] => 2017-09-18T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/94936896-2992-11e9-80fa-f31dd5af4cf5/image/PeterMargaritis_GregConderacci_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode68_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 68 [subtitle] => We’re talking to returning guest Greg Conderacci, the energy management expert who wrote Getting Up!: Supercharging Your Energy and, at the age of 66, rode his bicycle across the United States in just 18 days. In Getting Up!, Greg writes about the... [summary] =>

We’re talking to returning guest Greg Conderacci, the energy management expert who wrote Getting Up!: Supercharging Your Energy and, at the age of 66, rode his bicycle across the United States in just 18 days.

In Getting Up!, Greg writes about the important difference between time management and energy management. Doing more, and living a happier life, isn’t about having more time – It's all about having more energy. We don't get any more time, but we can all get way

more energy.

Throughout this three-part series, Greg discussed four types of interrelated energy, which you can remember by thinking of P.I.E.S.

• Physical energy is the ability to just get up and get going, and it’s the type of energy that a lot of people focus on... but it’s the least important of them all.
• Intellectual energy is what people usually get paid for. Do you have the energy to solve puzzles, solve the problem, meet these needs, etc.
• Emotional energy is the one that often causes the most problems. In episode 46, we discussed the “energy vampires” who drain your emotional energy, and how you can combat them.
• Spiritual energy fuels passion, commitment, and endurance. Although for many it's religious nature, it doesn't have to be – spiritual energy is embedded in each person's mission; his or her's life purpose.

Spiritual energy is the most powerful source of energy, but often people don't really understand it until they work their ways through the first three.

If you look at people who make a powerful impact in the world, they all do that on the basis of spiritual energy. Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa: these people didn't get elected to anything, they didn't have armies, but the sheer power of who they were came through, drove their lives, and changed the world.

You can learn more about managing energy, reducing stress, and balancing your career in Getting Up!: Supercharging Your Energy.

Resources:

• MorePersonalEnergy.com
• Getting Up!: Supercharging Your Energy by Greg Conderacci

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 94da15f2-2992-11e9-80fa-e74adf7e2b36 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:35.071-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:18.053-08:00 [title] => Ep 67 - Tom Hood | The Anticipatory CPA: How to be Aware, Predictive, & Adaptive in a Changing World [pubdate] => 2017-09-11T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/94da15f2-2992-11e9-80fa-e74adf7e2b36/image/PeterMargaritis_TomHood_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode67_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 67 [subtitle] => Tom Hood, CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs and the Business Learning Institute, is on a mission to help CPAs make sense of this changing and complex world. Tom and I spoke on the third episode of this podcast, in June of 2016, and a lot has... [summary] =>

Tom Hood, CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs and the Business Learning Institute, is on a mission to help CPAs make sense of this changing and complex world. Tom and I spoke on the third episode of this podcast, in June of 2016, and a lot has changed in that short period of time.

We discuss how technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing are impacting the accounting profession (and the world), and how CPAs can begin transforming themselves into Anticipatory CPAs.

What is blockchain?

Tom says that blockchain is best described as the Internet of Value. Using secure peer-to-peer data, blockchain basically conveys transactions of value with multiple parties to, effectively, create a public ledger.

This is a real example of a supply chain using blockchain technology, which may help you understand how it works in practice:

• There’s fishermen in a boat off the coast of Malaysia, and they have smartphones.
• When they catch a tuna, they use their smartphone to take a picture. The phone geo locates the photo and it creates the first block of data. The data says this tuna was caught at this location, at this point in time, with these people, and it includes the picture.
• On the dock, the fishermen hand the tuna off to a processing plant, and that creates another block of data showing it was transferred.
• Now it’s being processed. The really good meat is going to go to the sushi restaurant and the other stuff is going to be processed further down to canned tuna.
• The sushi tuna is in another block of data that says it's going on a truck, and it is delivered to some number of sushi restaurants. Each one of those restaurants is another element of data all about that fish. The restaurant owners and customers can trust, with certainty, that the fish is fresh and high quality.
• In the canning center, the cans come out with a bar code that basically connects it back to that block of data. When someone picks that can off the shelf, they can trace it back to that tuna on that day in that place off the coast of Malaysia. Consumers can trust that these fish weren’t caught using illegal or morally questionable practices.

The Convergence

The real power of blockchain technologies is realized when it converges with cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

If you’re not aware, “the cloud” isn’t just for storing data – cloud computing harnesses the power of any connected device to process tasks more quickly than any single computer possibly could. This exponential increase in processing power has made artificial intelligence significantly more tangible.

Oracle, for example, have a machine called Hana. It could process every tax return in the history of the world, since 1957 to now, in under four minutes.

If accountants can leverage these technologies to do the grunt work in a matter of minutes, or even seconds, they can focus their time and energy on delivering substantial value to their clients by interpreting and analyzing that data.

On top of that, blockchain databases will create an extra layer of trust and accountability, possibly even removing the need for audits entirely in many areas of the accounting industry.

Be an Anticipatory CPA

The idea of being anticipatory is to be aware, predictive, and adaptive. Do you even know that the trend is real? Can you predict what it might do for you or your client or your company? And then what would you start doing to adapt to it?

A CPA’s greatest value is taking complex information and putting it in a context that somebody who doesn't have that knowledge can understand.

To help prepare you, the Maryland Society of CPAs is working with IBM to create a future-ready learning portal for CPAs to learn about artificial intelligence, big data, data science, deep machine learning, and blockchain.

The portal will give CPAs a familiarity with the technology and an understanding of the terms so that, as this technology starts to unfold, they'll be able to see the potential and understand the major concepts well enough to communicate with the people controlling these technologies.

Resources:

• Learn more:
• • Maryland Association of CPAs
  • Business Learning Institute
  • Five Steps for Building a Future-Ready Finance Team [PDF] - by Bill Sheridan, CAE (Business Learning Institute)

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Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 950deeae-2992-11e9-80fa-0f6b61f42d00 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:35.410-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:17.571-08:00 [title] => Ep. 66 - Karen Eddington | Dealing with Pressure: Comedy, Communities, & Self-Care [pubdate] => 2017-09-04T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/950deeae-2992-11e9-80fa-0f6b61f42d00/image/PeterMargaritis_KarenEddington_ImprovisnoJoke_Episode66_ART___TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 66 [subtitle] => Karen Eddington is a comedian, speaker, researcher, and the author of Understanding Self-Worth. She uses her experience in stand-up comedy and improv to teach laughter as a form of self-care.   For 15 years, Karen has researched identity to... [summary] =>

Karen Eddington is a comedian, speaker, researcher, and the author of Understanding Self-Worth. She uses her experience in stand-up comedy and improv to teach laughter as a form of self-care.

 

For 15 years, Karen has researched identity to look for patterns and create original solutions that help people “Under Pressure.” Although The Under Pressure Project started as an effort to understand the biggest pressures faced by teens, it has grown into a mission to heal the most universal and dangerous experience we all share.

 

The one thing that we all have in common, which Karen describes as “the most universal and dangerous experience we can have,” is mental isolation: The times we feel alone in our mind because we feel diminished, flawed, or excluded

 

The best solution for getting through this terrible but universal experience is to develop a support network, and anyone can learn how to create supportive communities by practicing comedy.

 

Comedy vs Pressure

 

While Karen was researching The Under Pressure Project, she was also getting into comedy for the first time, and she started making some useful connections. She was able to bring in comedy to relieve that pressure and isolation.

 

As we’ve mentioned on the podcast before, the principles of improvisation and comedy are incredibly powerful in networking situations, professional environments, and just regular ol’ social situations. One extremely powerful tool that Karen likes to use is shared laughter: those moments where we connect as humans through vulnerability and humor.

 

When you combine Karen’s research with a repertoire of practiced comedic tools (like misdirection or Yes, And), you can learn how to create experiences of shared laughter in any situation, and as a result, create communities that support each other; you can heal mental isolation.

 

“Laughter heals and strengthens us, when sometimes nothing else can.” –Karen Eddington

Resources:

• Learn more at KarenEddington.com

• Watch Karen’s TEDxTalk: “The connecting power of shared laughter”

• Watch Karen’s speaking & stand-up

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9546e6fa-2992-11e9-80fa-3b8223ba6b1f [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:35.783-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:19.538-08:00 [title] => Ep. 65 - Debbie Peterson: RACE to Change Your Mindset & Results [pubdate] => 2017-08-28T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9546e6fa-2992-11e9-80fa-3b8223ba6b1f/image/pm_podcastart_1400x1400.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 65 [subtitle] => Debbie Peterson is a certified trainer of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and mindset expert who works with companies to increase bottom line results through greater clarity in communication and in leadership. We discuss how you can change the... [summary] =>

Debbie Peterson is a certified trainer of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and mindset expert who works with companies to increase bottom line results through greater clarity in communication and in leadership.

We discuss how you can change the story that you’re telling yourself to transform negative self-talk into a positive thought process. We all suffer from this, at times, but Debbie provides proven strategies that will help change the dialogue in your head.

Neuro-linguistic Programming

One of the most important skills that Debbie learned was neuro-linguistic programming. After she went to NLP training, she figured out how to think differently in a way that changed her career, and her belief system about herself and what she was capable of.

After discovering that positive mindset shift, she wanted to help others do the same.

Then, one fateful night, Debbie woke up with an idea formed in her mind: Getting to Clarity. She rushed downstairs, secured the URL, and the rest is history.

The Stories We Tell Ourselves

People often say we are the stories that we tell ourselves, and it’s true. But it’s important to remember that you're the author – you can pick up the pen and write a different story too.

So how can we change the stories we tell ourselves that cause limiting beliefs?

Behavior rewarded is repeated, so it's really about rewarding yourself with the behavior that you choose to believe.

Limiting beliefs can run full-time in your head, so the first thing you need to do is be aware of them and the story that you’re telling yourself; understand that some stories are not only limiting, but also inaccurate.

“If you change your mind, you change your results.”

RACE to Clarity: 4 PIeces of Shifting Your Mindset

Debbie’s RACE system is a tool you can use to think differently, and act differently. By constantly redirecting yourself through these four pillars, you will take consistent action towards your goals, and you will continually improve as a professional and a person.

1. Responsibility - There are certain things that you have responsibility for in getting more clarity. Whatever it is that you're trying to achieve, you need to know exactly what you want, and you need to know your Why. How can you hit a bullseye without a target?
2. Accountability - Do you have a plan or goal or strategy? Do you have some sort of system that is going to incrementally move you towards what it is that you want?
3. Community - Who are the people that you surround yourself with? You are the average of the top five people you spend the most time with, so who is it that you're spending the most time with, and are they people who support you in your goals and aspirations?
4. Engage - There's a lot of people out there who will figure out what they want and why they want it, but when it comes to taking that first step they want to backpedal and make excuses. We’ve all done it, but then you have all this great wisdom about yourself and you never do anything with it.

RACE isn’t just about thinking differently – it is doing differently as well.

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 958ca294-2992-11e9-80fa-e7b1a5e509df [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:36.241-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:17.265-08:00 [title] => Ep. 64 - Chris Shirer: JoinMyTable is Bringing the Party Back to the Dinner Table [pubdate] => 2017-08-21T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/958ca294-2992-11e9-80fa-e7b1a5e509df/image/PeterMargaritis_ChrisShirer_ImprovisnoJoke_Episode64_ART___TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 64 [subtitle] => Chris Shirer describes herself as a devoted champion of all things food, beverage, and guest experience… and she got my attention at “food!” Chris is the Founder of two companies: Madison + Fifth, a marketing agency, and the recently-launched... [summary] =>

Chris Shirer describes herself as a devoted champion of all things food, beverage, and guest experience… and she got my attention at “food!”

Chris is the Founder of two companies: Madison + Fifth, a marketing agency, and the recently-launched JoinMyTable, a new platform for prepaid group dining created to encourage community and increase our time spent in real world conversation.

JoinMyTable is a fascinating and unique concept: people who want to go out for dinner can pre-purchase off-the-menu dining experiences online with everything included (tip, tax, and any fees). Then they can invite people to join, and all of this is from a web-based platform.

The idea is to bring communities together over dinner for some good conversation, without technology or the usual hassle of going out. This could be a group of your friends or your team from work, but the real gem is bringing a like-minded community together to make new friends and have good conversation.

It took five years to get to this point because they needed to do market research. How could a service that brings people together for a night also help businesses?

• One of the biggest benefits for businesses is that these experiences can be offered on slow nights (usually Monday-Wednesday), which adds directly to the bottom line of a restaurant.
• Because the entire payment is included up front, the service staff doesn’t have to worry about common problems (like low tips) that come from big parties.
• It also shares the stories of individuals within these businesses: the chefs, brewers, distillers, coffee roasters, and other artists who we don’t always get to know, but who are sharing their incredible creativity in our communities.

JoinMyTable is now available to anyone in the Columbus area, and it’s going great so far! Restaurants like The Refectory, Paulie Gee's Short North, The Whitney House, The Avenue Steak Tavern, and Barrel & Boar have offered successful tastings, seafood boils, and other interesting experiences.

You can watch this video to check out the Low Country Seafood Boil at Barrel & Boar, and you can head over to JoinMyTable.com to invite friends and reserve your seat at an upcoming Table.

Resources:

• Learn more: JoinMyTable.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 95cc1780-2992-11e9-80fa-cbf274823455 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:36.657-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:18.886-08:00 [title] => Ep. 63 - Bob Dean | The New CPE: Collaborative Learning Experiences. [pubdate] => 2017-08-14T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/95cc1780-2992-11e9-80fa-cbf274823455/image/PeterMargaritis_BobDean_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode63_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 63 [subtitle] => Bob Dean, Founder of Dean Learning and Talent Advisors, returns to the show to talk more about virtual learning. Our conversation is framed around ThinkTank, collaboration, and an article that we wrote titled “The New CPE: Collaborative Learning... [summary] =>

Bob Dean, Founder of Dean Learning and Talent Advisors, returns to the show to talk more about virtual learning. Our conversation is framed around ThinkTank, collaboration, and an article that we wrote titled “The New CPE: Collaborative Learning Experiences.”

Bob works as a practitioner consultant using ThinkTank, a collaboration-as-a-service software company. By providing a collaborative structure to the way people work together, ThinkTank enables leaders to transform business processes and create a culture of collaboration, innovation, and engagement.

Bob recently facilitated something remarkable: a (successful) virtual collaboration experience with over 100 people from around the world that lasted 90 minutes – and he did that four times in one day!

Not only was his experience a feat, it benefitted both the client and the participants:

• It was all people ages 27 to 30, so all millennials, and they really embraced the virtual collaboration experience.
• In a live group, you may not get everybody's thoughts or ideas. ThinkTank has the ability to get all the ideas from people from everybody in that group, which makes it a much more richer experience, from a learning perspective, than just getting responses from two or three people in a live audience.
• Because nobody had to get on a plane, nobody had to travel, nobody had to be away, and nobody had hotel room, it was MUCH cheaper than training 400+ people in person, using the same exercise.

In the future, there are a number of exciting possibilities for virtual collaboration communities on ThinkTank:

• Optimized and effective onboarding processes.
• Training in the new revenue recognition principle, or other technical training sessions
• Teaching people to write effectively, and other skill-building courses
• Possibly even a virtual improv course!

In a world where change is happening faster and faster every week, we have to learn faster – and the way we learn faster will be learning through collaboration.

 

Resources:

• Connect with Bob: LinkedIn | roberthdean@comcast.net
• Learn more about ThinkTank
• “The New CPE: Collaborative Learning Experiences”

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 96058308-2992-11e9-80fa-83f8cd2a2d5f [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:37.033-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:40.331-08:00 [title] => Ep 62 - Patrick Donadio: Communicating with IMPACT [pubdate] => 2017-08-07T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/96058308-2992-11e9-80fa-83f8cd2a2d5f/image/PeterMargaritis_PatrickDonadio_ImprovisNoJoke_Ep_62_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 62 [subtitle] => Today our guest is Patrick Donadio, MBA, CSP, and MCC. For the past three decades, he has guided leaders and their organizations with powerful presentations and one-on-one business communications coaching. In his desire to help leaders grow their... [summary] =>

Today our guest is Patrick Donadio, MBA, CSP, and MCC. For the past three decades, he has guided leaders and their organizations with powerful presentations and one-on-one business communications coaching.

In his desire to help leaders grow their people, Patrick has taken his decades of experience and crafted a results-based process for his new leader’s guide, Communicating with IMPACT, focused on improving communication, increasing profits, and boosting performance in less time.

Patrick’s process, The IMPACT Model, outlines The Six Keys to Communication. As you go through these six keys, think about which one is a weakness for you and try to pick up a couple of tips you can put in practice tomorrow.

The IMPACT Model

• I is the intention. What's my intention for this conversation? What do I want the person(s) I’m communicating with to think, do, or feel after we've met?
• M is the message & the method. How do I craft a message that's going to help me achieve the intention I have for this communication, and what method of communication will be most effective (verbal, nonverbal, or writing)? People respond differently to different forms of communication.
• P is the person. Who am I communicating with and how do I adjust my communication to that particular person?
• A is to activate. How do I activate this message to engage me and my receiver? A little rule of thumb: every three to five minutes you want to be engaging the receiver physically, mentally, or emotionally.
• C is clarify. How do you make sure that what we both said is being communicated correctly?
• T is transform. How do you transform this particular interaction into the result that you actually set for yourself?

The first half – IMP – is the planning phase. What's my intention, what am I going to say to achieve the intention, and how am I going to adjust the message to make sure that it fits this person I'm communicating with? The second half – ACT – is the activate phase.

Put it all together, take about two minutes before you open your mouth, and you too can be communicating with impact.

You can order your copy of Communicating with IMPACT now, which also includes a “Communication Inventory” to rate your current communication skills!

Resources:

• Connect with Patrick: Website | Facebook | LinkedIn
• Communicating with IMPACT

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 963ac11c-2992-11e9-80fa-1f1119d036b2 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:37.382-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:39.107-08:00 [title] => Ep. 61 - Chris Jenkins: Why Associations Need to Stop Treating Members as Customers & Start Fostering Fellowship [pubdate] => 2017-07-31T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/963ac11c-2992-11e9-80fa-1f1119d036b2/image/PeterMargaritis_ChrisJenkins_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode61_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 61 [subtitle] => Chris Jenkins, CEO of the South Carolina Associations of CPAs, joins us today to discuss how you can better engage an audience of any size when you are speaking, and to discuss how we can improve association management. Although Chris is a technology... [summary] =>

Chris Jenkins, CEO of the South Carolina Associations of CPAs, joins us today to discuss how you can better engage an audience of any size when you are speaking, and to discuss how we can improve association management.

Although Chris is a technology guy – we originally met when he served as the Chief Information Officer at the Ohio Society – he believes that Associations, and business professionals in general, are relying on technology far too much, and using it improperly.

Professional organizations need to re-emphasize, and re-facilitate, face-to-face human relationships.

Chris has always had a knack for engaging large crowds of people, but he used to struggle with small group interactions. Partly due to technology, we have lost the skill to connect with people one-on-one – because of this, Associations and businesses need to offer more professional development opportunities for soft skills.

Elevator Training

Chris learned to engage people one-on-one through an unconventional training exercise: he was locked in an elevator for an hour and tasked with talking to every person who got on and learning what they did.

When you're in an elevator and you're in that contained space, you catch people off guard by looking at them, greeting them, and asking about them. People are shocked, and you very quickly get over your fear of engaging people. The other thing that you’ll learn is how to stop a conversation properly before they got off the elevator.

You can learn how to network and manage a room by being locked in an elevator – and I know I’m going to try this exercise out soon! It’s also just a great improv exercise because it will train you to listen to understand.

Leaders Need To Build Trust

Leaders NEED the ability to engage people in one-in-one and small group conversations.

If you are in a large group and you want feedback, people will naturally want to be nice. A group of 10+ people is not going to give reliable feedback. But it’s important that leaders are able to go in and make people feel comfortable with giving you bad news, or news that they think you don't want to hear.

So leaders have to build trust, and the only way to do that is in very small groups, and to lay yourself out there and say what you’re trying to do.

If you can't make them believe that you're actively listening and listening to understand them, you're just going to get what they think you want to hear – and a bunch of people telling you what you want to hear is the most deadly thing that you can have in a leadership role.

The Difference Between Members and Customers

Associations also struggle with engagement because, increasingly, they treat members as customers.

What’s the difference?

Simply put, the difference between a customer and a member is the experience, and fellowship is a big part of the member experience.

You have to look at your business and you have to see what you're selling, and professional associations are businesses with something to sell. However, we’ve shifted to selling CPE… and that’s not what we’re supposed to be about; that doesn’t foster fellowship.

When we start looking at CPE as a revenue stream and membership as a revenue stream, it’s easy to start looking at people as customers. And when you look at customer service, you want to make sure that that individual customer has the best possible experience... and then when they're gone they're gone. So a customer relationship is something short.

But a member relationship is a long-term relationship, and it's not just a relationship between the company or the association and the member. It’s about fostering the relationship between the members themselves. They need a network of peers that they know that they can rely on. They need a community, and they need that fellowship.

You can look at it from the other perspective as well: as an association, your stakeholders are the members on your board. That's who gets the pay out of our efforts.

In a customer relationship, your payout is to stake holders who have invested in that company so your goal is to get as much money as possible from your customers so that you can pay out to your investors. We have a completely different goal.

An association’s goal is to give its membership the maximum value for the minimum price, and we've lost sight of that in many ways.

The unique value proposition of state societies is the fact that they’re local. They have local networks in every community. They have a local network at the state level. They have local meetings with real people, both social and educational.

When associations embrace the fact that they’re local – when they don't look to compete with national brands for CPE and don't look to compete with Facebook – they create a very strong network of professionals, and that network has incredible power.

As associations, we are uniquely positioned to create human experiences and we have to come back to it.

Resources:

• Connect with Chris: SCACPA.org | LinkedIn
• The Trust Edge: How Top Leaders Gain Faster Results, Deeper Relationships, and a Stronger Bottom Line by David Horsager

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9685b4b0-2992-11e9-80fa-3fb0d853b1ce [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:37.873-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:32.474-08:00 [title] => Ep. 60 - Roxanne Kaufman Elliott: How to Inspire Leadership, Develop Leaders, & Transform Cultures [pubdate] => 2017-07-24T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9685b4b0-2992-11e9-80fa-3fb0d853b1ce/image/IMG_2010.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 60 [subtitle] => Our guest, Roxanne Kaufman Elliott, has spent much of her professional life exploring what makes the difference between failure and success – and she’s found that it comes down to exemplary leadership. The good news is that there’s an exemplary... [summary] =>

Our guest, Roxanne Kaufman Elliott, has spent much of her professional life exploring what makes the difference between failure and success – and she’s found that it comes down to exemplary leadership. The good news is that there’s an exemplary leader in all of us – we just need a way to unleash it.

As President and i3 Leadership Master at ProLaureate Ltd., a transformational leadership development firm, Roxanne helps both individuals and organizations unleash their leadership potential and transform cultures. She’s also a certified executive coach, facilitator, award-winning business marketing strategist, and the author of Never Wear Read: A Leadership Love Story.

Roxanne started her professional life in drama, and later as a theater administrator. She then made a natural segue to working at a small company manufacturing specialty resin products for the construction industry. As part of a small leadership team, they grew that small business into a thriving company… before it was purchased by a large European company.

That was a pivotal and heart-breaking moment for Roxanne. She saw the business philosophy and priorities shift away from communication, cooperation, and collaboration. She had to leave.

She spent years learning about leadership from different organizations and research before founding ProLaureate, where she offers three distinct coaching services:

1. The Leadership Challenge – Primarily cultural development based off of the book of the same name, written by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. This training often involves individual coaching with everyone in an organization.
2. i3 Executive Coaching – One-on-one and small group coaching for executive teams that want to develop strategic leadership skills (with an emphasis on strategy).
3. ROXTalks – Speaking engagements and keynotes for large groups or organizations covering topics like “The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership” and “The Secret Sauce.”

The Leadership Challenge

Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner co-authored The Leadership Challenge and created the LPI 360 assessment around the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership. These practices are in schools, churches, Fortune 50 corporations, and everything in between. It's really a movement to create a shared language for leadership, level the field of what leadership is, and build genuine leadership within organizations.

Each one of the five practices are the tip of an iceberg that goes deep into developing our own personal leadership, which always comes first, and then our ability to lead others.

One of the things that Roxanne loves about Kouzes and Posner is that they say the key to success, in anything that we do, is to be in love. Think about it: when we're in love, we're passionate about what it is we are in love with. And, in this case, it's our business; it's our people; it's the work that we do; it's the impact that we make; it's the change that we bring.

The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership that guide organizations and people to leadership success:

1. Model the Way – Walk your talk. How many times have we had leaders say one thing and do another?
2. Inspire a Shared Vision – This is critically important because most people struggle with vision statements, sharing visions, and getting other people to buy in.
3. Challenge the Process – Experiment and take risks. You know the old saying if it ain't broke, don't fix it? Well, if it ain't broke, break it... and see if you can make it better.
4. Enable Others to Act – Foster collaboration, build trust, and strengthen others by helping them develop their own competencies.
5. Encourage the Heart – Recognize people for their contribution, celebrate values, and celebrate accomplishments (especially the little ones). A handshake, a twinkle in your eye, a genuine appreciation, and saying thank you go further than just about anything else.

The last one is Roxanne’s favorite, and it is the basis for the title of her book, Never Wear Read: A Leadership LOVE Story (emphasis mine). A lot of executives balk at this idea, at first, but this is the heart of it all – this is the passion that brings success to everything we do.

I appreciate Roxanne sharing so much about her experiences and coaching, and what she teaches parallels a core tenet of improvisation: providing support. Leadership can’t lead well in a silo, and teams can’t perform at their best without being given the tools they need to be successful.

How can you start providing support in your life to train as a stronger leader?

 

Resources:

• Connect with Roxanne: ProLaureate.com | LinkedIn | Twitter
• “Life’s Work: An Interview with Kevin Spacey”

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 96cceb5a-2992-11e9-80fa-0f4b88cd5cbf [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:38.340-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:34.842-08:00 [title] => Ep. 59 - Karl Ahlrichs | Storm Clouds & Silver Linings: The Future of HR (and a Coffee Table Book) [pubdate] => 2017-07-17T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/96cceb5a-2992-11e9-80fa-0f4b88cd5cbf/image/PeterMargaritis_KarlAhlrichs_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode59_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 59 [subtitle] => Today’s returning guest, Karl Ahlrichs, is a human capitalist consultant and a far-thinking and future-planning individual. Back in episode five, we discussed some of the storms he sees coming on the horizon, particularly where HR and the next... [summary] =>

Today’s returning guest, Karl Ahlrichs, is a human capitalist consultant and a far-thinking and future-planning individual. Back in episode five, we discussed some of the storms he sees coming on the horizon, particularly where HR and the next generations of employees meet. In this episode, we once again look to the future of human resources.

Although our current economy is far greater now than it's been in a while, Karl sees quite a few potential problems on the horizon that we need to be better prepared to tackle, in addition to some opportunities.

What’s are the big things on the horizon for employees and HR?

Workers in the U.S. are very productive, and that’s what keeps our stock market alive. The volume of people working isn’t changing very much, but the volume of what we’re producing continues to climb because we’re leveraging technology and new processes.

• The scary thing is that it’s not going to be applied to every industry (e.g. coal industry is in trouble, but natural gas is booming).
• We’re going to see middle management jobs get automated and disappear.
• If you’re working in a job that could be automated, you need to start looking for a way to get client- or customer-facing.

We are getting away from age segregation in the generations, which is great because there's been way too much millennial bashing.

We need to develop better emotional intelligence, which means developing critical thinking skills, maturity, wisdom, and the communication skills necessary to speak to different kinds of people.

We have to look at how young people want to learn and realize that everybody wants to learn that way. We have to gamify how we teach the core skills described above. If you make it a game, make it competitive, and get them engaged, you'll move the needle of learning. Below you can view a video of Karl explaining this process.

 

Big data is coming in a big way. With the power of algorithms coming and the power of all of this data that we've been gathering, we can now start drilling into it. We're able now to predict what happens next, instead of tracking what happened last week.

• For example, synd.io is an application that, in three dimensions, maps the actual network, of your organization. You get to look at your organization - live data, real data, real time - and you can look at it like a nest of people from three dimensions. You can turn it and twist it to figure out who's important and who isn't. You can figure out who your key employees are.

The one thing that people need to do this year to overcome all of the storm clouds on the horizon is listen to your high performing employees. You have to keep your top talent, and the easiest way to do that is to at least appear to listen to them (which goes back to developing emotional intelligence).

Karl also recently put out a very interesting art project: a limited run of handmade and letterpressed books containing his own poetry and photography. It’s called Spaces Between Places, and it’s central theme is the loneliness of business travel. Check spacesbetweenplaces.net for news about future distribution.

Resources:

• Learn more about Karl: ExpertSpeaks.com | KarlAhlrichs.com | Twitter | LinkedIn

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 97036338-2992-11e9-80fa-d773e6df5ced [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:38.697-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:38.761-08:00 [title] => Ep. 58 - Allison Estep: Why Improv Education Should be Mandatory (and How it Helps in Every Aspect of Life) [pubdate] => 2017-07-10T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/97036338-2992-11e9-80fa-d773e6df5ced/image/PeterMargaritis_AllisonEstep_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode58_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 58 [subtitle] => Today’s interview is love at first improv. Allison Estep is a former Creative Services Associate for the Indiana Society of CPAs and a graduate of the conservatory program at Second City in Chicago. Our conversation focuses on the everyday... [summary] =>

Today’s interview is love at first improv.

Allison Estep is a former Creative Services Associate for the Indiana Society of CPAs and a graduate of the conservatory program at Second City in Chicago. Our conversation focuses on the everyday application of improvisation skills to help us combat fear, take risks, work as a team, and become a more well-rounded person.

Allison strongly believes that every person should take an improv course at some point in their life – it’s simply a great way to learn valuable life skills, like listening, managing your ego, following fear, and working as a team. As a matter of fact, improv games were originally created by Viola Spolin as a teaching tool.

Getting up in front of people (in any situation) can seem like such a scary thing for people that have never been through an improv class, or don't know everything about the practice, but it's a little less scary once you realize everyone is part of the same team and everything doesn’t have to be a joke… and sometimes the most mundane things can be the funniest.

Here are a few Improv Games that you can play with your team, friends, or even family.

• The Human Knot – Five or more people create a circle (the more the merrier!). Everyone puts their arms out and grabs another person's arm to get tangled up. As a group, you try to get untangled without anyone letting go. This game is a great way of learning how to work together as a group to figure out a problem.
• One Word at a Time – Two or more people try to create a cohesive sentence by speaking one word at a time. Don't think – just react. It’s a great tool for teaching people to listen to understand (and not listen to respond).
• Dr. Know-It-All – Three people sit in a chair and they know the answer to every question that's ever given… But they answer one word at a time. To be successful, groups they need to really park that agenda, not anticipate / get ahead of themselves, listen to what's being said, and then react to it.

If you’re interested in taking the next step, find your nearest Improv school and take a class or get in touch with me about coming to your organization.

 

Resources:

• Listen to This American Life 532, Act Two: “Rainy Days and Mondays” - A story about how compassion and improv help a woman with dementia

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 973ef920-2992-11e9-80fa-e3e6e3e32ea8 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:39.088-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:35.802-08:00 [title] => Ep. 57 - Jason Michaels: You Can Do The Impossible, Too! [pubdate] => 2017-07-03T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/973ef920-2992-11e9-80fa-e3e6e3e32ea8/image/PeterMargaritis_JasonMichaels_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode57_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 57 [subtitle] => Today’s guest, Jason Michaels, is a professional entertainer, speaker, and author with astounding experience in the arts of deception. A storyteller by heart, Jason loves to blend impossible mysteries with unforgettable tales. Diagnosed with... [summary] =>

Today’s guest, Jason Michaels, is a professional entertainer, speaker, and author with astounding experience in the arts of deception. A storyteller by heart, Jason loves to blend impossible mysteries with unforgettable tales.

Diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome at the age of six, Jason overcame the impossible and became an award-winning sleight of hand artist and professional speaker. He motivates audiences to see beyond their challenges and self-imposed limitations and inspires them to take action by living bigger bolder lives with his keynote program and book, You Can Do The Impossible, Too!

Jason's also performs The Card Shark, a true story of scams, cons, and hustles. It is a one-man, autobiographical sleight of hand show that dives deep into the world of confidence men, fortune tellers, and charismatic magicians.

If you’re not familiar, Tourette's syndrome is a neurological brain chemical disorder that manifests itself by what doctors refer to as tics, which are basically uncontrollable movements or vocalizations.

Tourette’s can be a challenging disorder to overcome, particularly when your passion is on stage, but Jason has always thrived on putting himself in uncomfortable situations.

Sharing that story is incredibly powerful and important because every single person feels like something in their life is impossible… but it IS possible to overcome that.

This ability to overcome your fears and deal with the adversity – even the seemingly impossible – is a parallel message to the power of improvisation and Yes, And. It boils down to having a strong positive mental attitude and taking on adversity and your fears head on.

Jason’s book, You Can Do The Impossible, Too!, details his journey with overcoming Tourette's syndrome to become a success in business and in life. It is a must-buy if you fall into one of these three groups of people:

1. People who like magic and entertainment and want to read incredible adventures, stories, and crazy stunts (like attempting Houdini’s underwater torture cell on live TV).
2. People around the world that have Tourette’s syndrome, and especially their loved ones. “I know what that's like. I know what it's like to be a kid … how do you get through the next day? Because you're having such a hard day and you're having these twitches and it's uncontrollable and it literally feels like hell … if I share my story, maybe they will learn, from my point of view, some new ways to help their loved one, their child, their sibling, whatever.”
3. And then there's the audience of folks who want to push themselves. People who want to get outside of their comfort zone or need a message of inspiration to let them know that they're not alone.

Resources:

• Connect with Jason: Website | Facebook | Twitter
• Watch Jason’s TEDx Talk
• You Can Do the Impossible, Too!: How One Man Overcame Tourette's Syndrome to Become an Acclaimed Professional Magician, and How You, Too, Can Live Your Biggest, Boldest Life by Jason Michaels

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 97854254-2992-11e9-80fa-575db0979cc8 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:39.549-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:59.790-08:00 [title] => Ep. 56 - Clarke Price | The Leadership Problem: How Social Media is Making Organizations Risk-Averse [pubdate] => 2017-06-26T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/97854254-2992-11e9-80fa-575db0979cc8/image/PeterMargaritis_ClarkePrice_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode56_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 56 [subtitle] => In this episode we are talking to Clarke Price, a retired CEO of the Ohio Society of CPAs and the very first guest on this podcast one year ago. We discuss how the prevalence of social media (and the decline of respectful debate) creates new... [summary] =>

In this episode we are talking to Clarke Price, a retired CEO of the Ohio Society of CPAs and the very first guest on this podcast one year ago. We discuss how the prevalence of social media (and the decline of respectful debate) creates new challenges for leaders and we provide suggestions on how you can overcome these challenges to provide strong leadership in your organization.

The Ohio Society’s record of innovative leadership during Clarke’s tenure was recognized by the American Society of Association Executives when the society was selected as one of nine remarkable associations that were part of an extensive nationwide study of successful associations

The American Society of Association Executives’ publication, Seven Measures of Success: What remarkable associations do that others don't, featured the Ohio Society of CPAs as the only state-based membership organization profiled in the seven measures study.

Social media fervor is making many organizations far too risk-averse. Organizations are fearful that their membership, customers, or constituency might disagree – loudly, online, demanding a penalty – with any decision or position they publicize... so they do nothing.

Fear of risk leads to hesitation, which leads to inaction – and certainly doesn’t lead to innovation.

From an improvisational standpoint, the inaction kills me. If we don't make bad decisions, how can we find good decision? Bad decisions are just bridges to good decisions.

We need to change the current leadership trend. We can get ahead of these online movements if we train leaders to anticipate and respond to criticism appropriately.

Good leadership needs to share the truth, acknowledge disagreements, and (most importantly) communicate a story.

You need to tell a story about how the decision was made, why it was important, and what the consequences will be – a story full of emotion, as opposed to facts and figures – and you need to share that story in a variety of forums.

Communication strategies may vary but there is one constant: you can't be silent and you can't expect problems will just play out and then go away. 

We should expect more, and encourage more, from our leaders; they should be prepared to actually lead, make tough decisions, and think about the future. It’s not enough to just be present.

 

Resources:

• Road to Relevance: 5 Strategies for Competitive Associations by Harrison Coerver and Mary Byers
• 7 Measures of Success: What Remarkable Associations Do That Others Don't by Jim Collins
• “Chase One Rabbit: The Power of Small Wins | Philip Kim | TEDxAlbany” 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 97c24fb4-2992-11e9-80fa-8f37f82e936a [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:39.949-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:37.222-08:00 [title] => Ep. 55 - Cody Boyce: The Power of Podcasts for Lifelong Learning & Networking [pubdate] => 2017-06-19T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/97c24fb4-2992-11e9-80fa-8f37f82e936a/image/PeterMargaritis_CodyBoyce_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode55_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 55 [subtitle] => Today we’re pulling back the curtain to reveal the Wizard of Pod(casts), Cody Boyce, Founder of Podcast Masters. Cody and his team produce podcasts for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and other organizations that want to create brand authority,... [summary] =>

Today we’re pulling back the curtain to reveal the Wizard of Pod(casts), Cody Boyce, Founder of Podcast Masters. Cody and his team produce podcasts for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and other organizations that want to create brand authority, connect with an audience, and sound great doing it… including this one!

We discuss why podcasts are a powerful medium, for both hosts and listeners, and how the industry is likely to change over the next few months.

One of the most important pieces of podcasting, which a lot of people don’t think about, is its potential for lifelong learners. People who listen to podcasts are consuming so much information that can help them be more productive, do their job more effectively, be funnier, and countless other things. The list is constantly growing – there are 1,000 new podcasts (shows, not episodes) on iTunes every week!

Part of the reason that podcasts are so effective for lifelong learning, and what makes the medium so unique, is the freedom.

For the audience, podcasts can be listened to almost anywhere. Working out, on the commute, even while doing work – it’s available everywhere you are, as long as you have battery life.

For hosts, there is freedom in the space to do whatever they want. They can talk however, to whomever, and using whatever structure is most appealing.  

By virtue of this freedom and the relative intimacy of listening in on these conversations, podcasts hosts and audiences also form a relationship that you don’t necessarily see in other media.

This connection makes podcasts increasingly important for anyone, especially entrepreneurs, who want to develop a brand and build a community. It’s one of the easiest, and cheapest, ways to establish yourself in a particular niche. 

That leads us to one of the biggest questions about podcasts: monetization. You aren’t likely to monetize a show directly through ads. However, it is a great way to establish yourself as an expert authority in a space and begin adding value to people in your industry. If you can prove your authority and value in a space, then you can use the podcast to sell a product or attract customers to your actual business.

You can check out more of Cody’s shows here:

Manage to Engage – “We train leaders, managers and people who will be in the skills they need to not only be successful, but to be clear and open as people. Dedicated to the evolution of you, because businesses grow when people do.”

• Website
• iTunes
• Google Play

Balanced Blonde – “Here we will discuss everything from the young entrepreneurial blogging life to wellness, friendship, branding a business, writing, how to keep the passion alive and so much more. On each episode Jordan will interview someone in her life who has set their soul on fire and is doing awesome things.”

• Website
• iTunes
• Stitcher

The ONE Thing – “Discover the surprisingly simple truth behind extraordinary results. Learn how the most successful people in the world approach productivity, time management, business, health and habits with the ONE thing.”

• Website
• iTunes
• Stitcher

 Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 97f9818c-2992-11e9-80fa-331bc64a52f8 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:40.310-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:40.399-08:00 [title] => Ep. 54 - How Allen Lloyd Went from Executive Assistant to CEO Using the Principles of Improvisation [pubdate] => 2017-06-12T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/97f9818c-2992-11e9-80fa-331bc64a52f8/image/PeterMargaritis_AllenLloyd_ImprovisNoJoke_Ep_54_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 54 [subtitle] => Today's guest is Allen Lloyd, the new CEO of the Montana Society of CPA's and the former Senior Manager of the Board of Executive Operations at the Ohio Society of CPA's. In this interview, you will learn how Allen employed principles of improvisation... [summary] =>

Today's guest is Allen Lloyd, the new CEO of the Montana Society of CPA's and the former Senior Manager of the Board of Executive Operations at the Ohio Society of CPA's. In this interview, you will learn how Allen employed principles of improvisation to build trust, create new opportunities, learn new skills, and grow as a leader.

We also have some fun (and learn a little bit more about two-way communication) by playing an improv game! You can find instructions to play that game with your team at the bottom of this post.

Allen started his career in accounting as an Executive Assistant. It’s been a long, strange road from the offices of Norman, Jones, Enlow, & Co to the mountains of Montana, but a lot of his success came from being willing to improvise, try new things, and listen.

It’s important to remember that Improv isn’t making stuff up. It's going into a room with nothing but walking out with something because you collaborated on an idea.

Allen really understands how to be an active listener and collaborator. It’s a simple concept but, in practice, it can be very difficult to park your agenda, listen to understand, and then have a response... especially in today’s age of cellphones and the two-second news cycle.

However, the ability to ask questions and then listen to everybody's input, comments, ideas, and then formulate some type of plan from that is critical for any good leader.

Leadership isn’t being in charge – it’s listening so you can help the person next to you.

“You can do more things by empowering others and giving them the tools they need than you're ever going to be able to do by yourself.”

LAST WORD GAME: An improv game for you and your team

During the interview, Allen and I play the Last Word Game. It can be a lot of fun, but it also helps teach active listening because you can't get ahead of yourself, which happens far too often in day-to-day conversations. Every player is required to listen to every word the other person says before they say anything.

Here’s how you play:

• Separate into pairs
• The first person says a sentence - any sentence
• The second person follows up with a new sentence using the last word from the previous sentence.

For example…

Person 1: Follow is something that leaders are good at getting people to do is to follow them.

Person 2: Them trees are growing outside.

Person 1: Outside is where I'd rather be right now because the sun is shining.

Person 2: Shining praise on your people is a very important thing to do as a leader. 

Please let us know if you play this game with your team and tell us how it went. You can get in touch with Peter on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

 

Resources:

• See what Allen is doing at the Montana Society of CPAs
• Be a Great Leader: How to Inspire Others to do Remarkable Things w/ Simon Sinek

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 983a0086-2992-11e9-80fa-cbb008f18601 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:40.734-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:33.176-08:00 [title] => Ep. 53 - Cathy Paessun: How to Recognize & Adapt to Diabetes [pubdate] => 2017-06-05T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/983a0086-2992-11e9-80fa-cbb008f18601/image/PeterMargaritis_CathyPaessun_ImprovisNoJoke_Ep53_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 53 [subtitle] => Today’s episode is about something very close to me: diagnosing, managing, and informing others about Diabetes. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes later in life, and my son was diagnosed at the age of 16. We were lucky that I was paying attention,... [summary] =>

Today’s episode is about something very close to me: diagnosing, managing, and informing others about Diabetes. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes later in life, and my son was diagnosed at the age of 16. We were lucky that I was paying attention, knew the symptoms, and took action quickly… but everyone isn’t that lucky.

Cathy Paessun, Executive Director for the Central Ohio Diabetes Association and former Executive Director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, is on the show to discuss how we, as a community, can learn the information necessary to recognize potential symptoms and adapt appropriately.

First we will highlight the similarities and differences between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes are similar in that both suppress the effectiveness of insulin in the body. Individuals experiencing either type of diabetes may also present similar symptoms:

• Excessive thirst
• Excessive urination
• Excessive eating
• Lethargy
• Weight loss

However, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are very different.

Type 1 Diabetes

• Type 1 is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune response is attacking healthy cells.
• There is no way (that we know of) to prevent developing Type 1 Diabetes if you are predisposed to it, and there is no way to cure it after you are diagnosed.
• Although Type 1 was previously considered “juvenile diabetes,” this is not the case. There are 30,000 diagnoses of Type 1 every year, but only half of those are children.

Type 2 Diabetes

• Type 2 diabetes is caused by an overabundance of fat cells that suppress the effectiveness of insulin. It is not an autoimmune disease.
• Due to the nature of Type 2, it is preventable and can be managed with appropriate diet and exercise changes.
• In the United States, 95% of the approximately 30 million individuals who are diagnosed with Diabetes have Type 2.

When we are aware of these symptoms, we can be more present and focused when they appear in our own lives. This may be at work, with friends, or even at home. It’s important that we truly listen – with our eyes and our ears, as we learned from Greg Lainas last week – so that we can start a conversation.

If you think any of your friends, family members, or coworkers might be helped, or better able to help, after listening to this episode, please share it with them.

Resources:

• Central Ohio Diabetes Association
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 987dcbb8-2992-11e9-80fa-1faf1b75e587 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:41.177-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:38.777-08:00 [title] => Ep. 52 - Gregory Lainas: Networking for Business Development (and How To Talk Your Way into a Novel) [pubdate] => 2017-05-29T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/987dcbb8-2992-11e9-80fa-1faf1b75e587/image/PeterMargaritis_GregoryLainas_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode52_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 52 [subtitle] => Today’s returning guest is Gregory Lainas, Senior Vice President and Division Director of Robert Half Management Services, a division of Robert Half International. Greg is an incredible networker – so good, in fact, that he networked his way into... [summary] =>

Today’s returning guest is Gregory Lainas, Senior Vice President and Division Director of Robert Half Management Services, a division of Robert Half International. Greg is an incredible networker – so good, in fact, that he networked his way into the novel Flashback and was the first person in the history of Robert Half to obtain $20 million in gross margin – and this interview is packed with helpful tips and stories about networking for business development.

When we say networking, many of you (particularly accountants) might recoil. The concept is simple - it can be as simple as asking someone a question, and with social networking that ask is even easier -  but networking itself can still feel difficult.

Why do so many of us still find networking difficult?

• As we grow up, we find our comfort zones and it only gets harder to leave those zones. If social situations aren’t where you feel comfortable, that can be seem like a big obstacle.
• There’s a fear of failure.
• Your inner critic says you can’t do it, there’s no point, or you will embarrass yourself.

One way to quiet that inner critic, address your fear, and feel more comfortable is to take some of the pressure off of yourself by reframing your responsibility as a networker. Your primary role is not to talk – it is to listen, be interested, and be attentive.

“You’re born with two ears, two eyes, and one mouth. That means you should be listening and watching twice as much as you’re talking.”

The Greek philosopher Epictetus once said, “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” Gregory adds that we are also born with two eyes, and he has a great point: when we are networking, we need to be listening with our ears and our eyes.

There’s a secret to looking interested and attentive: actually being interested, or even passionate, about what you’re doing! Maybe you don’t actually hate networking – maybe you just don’t like the things you are currently networking about.

In baseball, they say there’s only one thing you cannot teach a player to do. You can teach them to hit, you can teach them to throw, you can teach them to field… but you cannot teach them to run. You can teach an accountant to listen, bot can’t teach passion.

And you shouldn’t try to fake passion if you don’t have it. Give yourself a break by aligning your interests with your job or business, in some way. If you’re plastic, as Greg calls it, and camouflage your true interests, you won’t actually fool anyone.

Another way to think of your role as a networker – and, really, anyone in a service business – is to think of yourself as a doctor for your clients or customers. We're trying to do a diagnosis, and we can't do the diagnosis if we're constantly talking. We have to listen, process, adapt, then prescribe.

How can we apply the art of listening and networking to improve business development?

The ultimate goal with any business interaction should be to stand out from your competitors and add value to your client or customer. Listening, passion and sincerity are all simple tactics, but they will help.

You can also stand out by offering a distinct value proposition… but you won’t know what you can offer if you don’t play the role of the doctor and find their pain, first.

Don’t believe it’s that simple? Next time you’re at a business appointment, try starting off with something like this: “Rather than me pontificate about all the services I represent, I'd like to learn more about your business. What keeps you up at night? What's preventing you from getting from point A to Point B?”

Wait, listen, and pay attention. The results will speak for themselves.

If you take the time to honestly serve your clients, and add value, then you will earn the right to do business with them, and you will set yourself apart from the competition in the process.

 

Resources:

• Connect with Greg on LinkedIn
• Robert Half
• Flashback by Gary Braver

Exciting News: Listen, Learn, and Earn CPE Credits

I’m excited to share that I've partnered with the American Association of CPAs and the Business Learning Institute to bring you a new learning opportunity for accounting professionals to earn CPE credits. Starting May 30th, you can earn up to 1 CPE credit for each completed podcast episode purchased for only $29 through the MACPA and Business Learning Institute self-study website. Just listen to an episode you purchase through the website and then take their review and final exam while you're working out, or after listening to an episode on your commute to and from work. It's that easy. You can learn more about getting CPE credits for listening to the show on my website.

While all episodes of the podcast are available on my website, only those purchased through the MACPA BLI self-study website are eligible for CPE credit.

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 98bb40ba-2992-11e9-80fa-afae94397898 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:41.580-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:47.310-08:00 [title] => Ep. 51 - Erin Daiber: Making Leadership Development a Competitive Advantage with a Recovering Accountant [pubdate] => 2017-05-22T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/98bb40ba-2992-11e9-80fa-afae94397898/image/PeterMargaritis_ErinDaiber_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode51_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 51 [subtitle] => Today’s guest, Erin Daiber, is a recovering accountant who now devotes herself to helping professionals become their best selves. As the Chief Possibility Officer of Erin Daiber Coaching & Consulting, she coaches individuals through CPA... [summary] =>

Today’s guest, Erin Daiber, is a recovering accountant who now devotes herself to helping professionals become their best selves.

As the Chief Possibility Officer of Erin Daiber Coaching & Consulting, she coaches individuals through CPA licensure, career transitions, and the path to leadership, as well as helping firms develop and deliver robust and thoughtful training programs. She’s also just a lot of fun, so I’m really excited to share this conversation with you!

“Not everyone has that natural ability to connect and relate to other people, so it’s a skill I like to help others develop.”

An interesting aspect to Erin’s coaching services is her CPA licensure training. She doesn’t simply train individuals in the technical aspects of accounting or do exam prep. She often works with individuals who have failed parts of the test multiple times, are concerned about being passed over for a promotion, or are at a make or break point in their career.  

A big part of her coaching is helping these high-performance individuals cope with the stresses of failure, which they may not be familiar with, and instill them with the confidence and leadership skills they need to excel in a firm after they pass the test.

It seems to be working. The average pass rate for each part of the exam is just under 50% – Erin’s clients have an 85% pass rate, and she’s never had someone fail twice after working with her. She had clients sitting for five parts of the exam in the last quarter and they all passed!

“There really needs to be a focus on developing yourself as a leader and developing the people around you.”

Erin also works with individuals who are already in leadership roles in their business. If you’re familiar with accounting, you know that firms tend to utilize Peter Drucker’s Peter Principle: they promote people to the level of incompetence.

Accountants tend to focus on being really technically sound, which of course is important because that's the job, but being able to teach and develop others is not a skill that comes naturally. We don't just know how to do that just because we are promoted a leadership role. You have to develop those skills, and sometimes it feels like too little too late.

Erin helps leaders prioritize their focus. It’s not all about the day-to-day. They need to emphasize developing themselves as better leaders and developing the people around them so that everyone in the company feels empowered to contribute to the firm’s long-term success.

“We really have to create where we're going as individuals and as a profession, because otherwise it does look really enticing to just do tax returns how we've always done it.”

You can learn more about Erin’s coaching at ErinDaiber.com and, if you have to take a part of the CPA exam soon, I highly recommend you get in touch!

 

Resources:

• Connect with Erin: ErinDaiber.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 98fd2b10-2992-11e9-80fa-5b33e2d6e835 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:42.012-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:45.968-08:00 [title] => Ep. 50 - Finding Happiness in Your Life with Reverend Susanna Goulder [pubdate] => 2017-05-15T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/98fd2b10-2992-11e9-80fa-5b33e2d6e835/image/PeterMargaritis_SusannaGoulder_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode50_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 50 [subtitle] => Today’s guest, Reverend Susanna Goulder, is a life purpose coach and President of Live Your Good Life Coaching. She specializes in helping entrepreneurs and professionals quiet their minds to align with their innate strengths, values, and purpose.... [summary] =>

Today’s guest, Reverend Susanna Goulder, is a life purpose coach and President of Live Your Good Life Coaching. She specializes in helping entrepreneurs and professionals quiet their minds to align with their innate strengths, values, and purpose.

In a previous life, Susanna was the original set decorator for Sex and the City. The industry put obstacles between her and happiness, so Susanna left her successful career in Motion Pictures and Television and entered the seminary to lead a purpose-driven life.

Susanna had it all and everything looked good on the outside, but inside she felt like a square peg in a round hole. The only thing she knew was that she wasn’t happy. When you feel like that, the ultimate challenge is to not beat yourself up and, instead, listen.

“There’s purpose everywhere. It’s just finding out how to settle into where you are expressing your strength.”

We often talk about listening on Improv is no Joke, but we don’t spend enough time talking about listening to yourself.

This isn’t entirely our fault – in fact, it’s a challenge because the human brain is out of balance.

The left side of the brain - which is pragmatic, survival-oriented, and analytical - is wired like a superhighway. The right side of our brain - which is more creative - is wired more like a dirt road. The left side of the brain is underdeveloped and underutilized.  

When we feel overworked or out of place, we need to quiet our mind and let the left side of your brain rest. Be patient.

“We need to listen well with others, but we also need to listen well with ourselves.”

Your best life is continually coming to life, and watching what's happening in your life will guide you. But you have to be quiet because, if you're using your mind to direct yourself, then you're not listening to the world around you giving you signs.

It doesn't matter if we think of ourselves as left brained or right brained people. What we want to do is find ways, when we get stuck and we're pushing at the work in front of us, to just step away and quiet our minds.

“We want it to be easy, and well-being is easy when you're in the right place doing the right thing.”

If you want more resources or support, you can go to Live-Good-Life.com. Susanna also has some live events coming up in May and June. You can learn more about her upcoming book, Manifest Your Big Best Life: Love What You Do, by heading over to her website or shooting her an email.

Resources:

• Connect with Susanna: live-good-life.com | LinkedIn | susanna@live-good-life.com

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9944ee0a-2992-11e9-80fa-dfdc0170373f [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:42.482-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:58.306-08:00 [title] => Ep. 49 - The Science of Charisma with Thaddeus Rex [pubdate] => 2017-05-08T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9944ee0a-2992-11e9-80fa-dfdc0170373f/image/PeterMargaritis_ThaddeusRex_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode49_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 49 [subtitle] => Today’s guest, Thaddeus Rex, is a Brand Strategist and Charisma Trainer. Before he was a brand expert, he learned about communication and storytelling as a musical artist, cast member of an Emmy Award winning PBS show, and motivational performer. As... [summary] =>

Today’s guest, Thaddeus Rex, is a Brand Strategist and Charisma Trainer. Before he was a brand expert, he learned about communication and storytelling as a musical artist, cast member of an Emmy Award winning PBS show, and motivational performer.

As a career musician, Thaddeus quickly learned that there are hundreds of people with the same service or expertise you have to offer (and some will do it for free). Audiences wouldn’t come to hear guitar – but audiences might come to hear Thaddeus Rex… if he offers something unique.

That’s why Thaddeus started developing stage shows to promote reading and motivate kids, and that gig highlighted his branding chops.

People with products wanted Thaddeus’ help. They see him making a living off of nothing but stories – well they had products that people needed, but they didn’t have any good stories to help people understand why.

Brands are made of three components: Stuff, Stories, and Audiences. A really good brand is a collection of stories pointing in the same direction to help your employees and audience understand what your stuff is, and why they want to be part of it

Thaddeus has broken down the Five Factors that every competitor looks for in your stuff before they make a choice, and these are the factors that will give your business a competitive edge. He calls the training Checkmate Your Competitors.

By understanding the Five Factors of Competitive Edge, you will be able to align your stories and stuff with your greatest strengths.

1. Low Cost - The easiest way to differentiate your stuff, but it’s not usually sustainable. (That’s why we usually FLEE Cost, a useful mnemonic device for this list).
2. Features - Whatever your stuff can do that the competitors can’t. In professional services, it's hard to build any features that your competitors can't do.
3. Location - You’re in a place that your competitors can’t be.
4. Experience - Most businesses spend a lot of time trying to create a good experience for their audience. We’re really proud of the experience that we’ve worked so hard to build, but it’s really just par for the course at this point. Experience is not typically a great way to distinguish yourself (unless you’re Disney).
5. Esteem - Often overlooked, this is when your stuff builds an audience’s self-esteem. How can your business make someone feel good because they use your stuff?

When you differentiate on cost, they can always find someone who is lower cost. When you differentiate on features, they can always find someone who has different expertise... But when you differentiate on esteem, and you have a cause that you believe in and your story communicates that to the customer, that's really hard for someone to copy.

You can learn more about The Science of Charisma and improving your brand at ThaddeuxRex.com.

Resources:

• Connect with Thaddeus: ThaddeusRex.com | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
• Get a competitive edge with Checkmate Your Competitors
• Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds by Carmine Gallo
• The Experience Economy: Work Is Theater & Every Business a Stage by B. Joseph Pine II & James H. Gilmore

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 99797b52-2992-11e9-80fa-975561d94ac8 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:42.828-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:42.066-08:00 [title] => Ep. 48 - Build Your Brand with Ria Greiff, Host of NPR’s You Inc. [pubdate] => 2017-05-01T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/99797b52-2992-11e9-80fa-975561d94ac8/image/PeterMargaritis_RiaGrieff_ImprovisNoJoke_Ep48_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 48 [subtitle] => Today’s guest, Ria Greiff, is former therapist turned editor, writer, model, speaker, and public radio host. She hosts two NPR shows on WCBE 90.5, You Inc. and You Tune, and her mission is to elevate the emotional intelligence of the populace. I was... [summary] =>

Today’s guest, Ria Greiff, is former therapist turned editor, writer, model, speaker, and public radio host. She hosts two NPR shows on WCBE 90.5, You Inc. and You Tune, and her mission is to elevate the emotional intelligence of the populace. I was honored to be the guest on You Inc. in an episode about multiplicity that aired on 4/29.

You Inc. is about giving people the tools to improve their brand, and your brand is You Inc. She’s giving people the ability to maximize their experiences with others so that they can create bridges, instead of dams.

Ria practices what she preaches. You’ll learn during this episode that presence and trust, two principles of improvisation, were vital tools for achieving her goal – a public radio show.

Ria was a persistence presence at WCBE, which gave her the opportunity to demonstrate her talents and build trust. Ria volunteered at the station every day for six months before she submitted a show proposal – and she volunteered for another six months before she hosted a show.  

We should all be doing the same thing in our own business relationships, or potential business relationships. Who do you want to do business with: someone you trust or someone you don’t know? Someone you trust, obviously.

And how do you gain trust? Well, as Ria demonstrated, one reliable way is to be present. Don’t ask for anything – just add value and let that relationship grow over time.

As we referenced in the introduction, Ria does a lot more than the radio show!

• Read her articles for CityScene Magazine
• Check out the Fashion Meets Music Festival Magazine
• Join the Friends of Portal Park FB Group to learn more about her public edible initiative

 

Resources:

• Connect with Ria: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
• Listen to You Inc.: iTunes | Website
• The Cheat Code: Going Off Script to Get More, Go Faster, and Shortcut Your Way to Success by Brian Wong

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 99afe700-2992-11e9-80fa-9fc4a7b4744c [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:43.184-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:40.406-08:00 [title] => Ep. 47 - Jody Padar: The Future of Public Accounting [pubdate] => 2017-04-24T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/99afe700-2992-11e9-80fa-9fc4a7b4744c/image/PeterMargaritis_JodyPadar_ImprovisNoJoke_Ep47_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 47 [subtitle] => Jody Padar is a radical CPA, the CEO & Principal of New Vision CPA Group, and the author of The Radical CPA: New Rules for the Future-Ready Firm. Later this year, she will release The Radical CPA 2.0. She’s been one of Accounting Today’s top... [summary] =>

Jody Padar is a radical CPA, the CEO & Principal of New Vision CPA Group, and the author of The Radical CPA: New Rules for the Future-Ready Firm. Later this year, she will release The Radical CPA 2.0. She’s been one of Accounting Today’s top 100 influencers in the accounting profession for 6 years, and in 2015 she was named a Managing Partner Elite.

Jody represents the next generation of accounting professionals; the vanguard of the new movement of “digital CPAs.” She is trying to educate the profession on its natural evolution into the digital age… before they go extinct.

Jody believes in embracing the cloud, social media, bots, and other highly advanced technologies and practices. She wants to alter how CPAs think about firm culture and serving their clients.

So far, embracing technology and looking to the future is going very well for Jody. The average CPA firm grows 4% annually. Her firm, New Vision CPA Group, grew 25% last year – organically, or without acquiring anyone. On top of that, she expects to grow 25% again this year.

Jody’s success isn’t surprising. She’s moving into the future with consumers, because that’s what CPAs have to do if they don’t want their firms to go the way of Blockbuster and Blackberry.

She really doesn’t understand why more CPAs don't let the technology do the grunt work. CPAs are spending their time doing work that's not value added, instead of letting technology do it.

Do you want to join Jody on the front lines of accounting?

• It all starts with a firm’s commitment to doing everything in one way, which is often a problem. The firm’s strategies, technologies, and processes need to be cohesive, from the top down. How each firm does this will vary, but it needs to remain consistent.
• Invest in yourself and the future. Growth may be a little bit slower in the short term, but if we don't invest in this change we're not going to be relevant in the future. If firms don't make changes, then nobody will want to buy them... including their managers, who they think are going to come in as partners. They're jumping ship and starting their own firms because it's so easy to start a firm today.

Jody’s upcoming book, The Radical CPA 2.0., will focus on how you can build continuous innovation into your firm, so there's no longer change management – it's just continuous innovation as part of your firm. How do you have that culture of continuous innovation? How do you measure it? How do you manage it? How do you get your team members to do it?

In the meantime, you can learn a lot more by picking up a copy of The Radical CPA or by signing up for her newsletter (where she gives away most of the advice from her books away, for free!).

Resources:

• Connect with Jody: LinkedIn | Twitter
• Sign up for Jody’s newsletter
• Learn more about New Vision CPA Group

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 99e619ba-2992-11e9-80fa-7f98b6f378c6 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:43.539-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:55.327-08:00 [title] => Ep. 46 - Spotting Energy Vampires F.A.S.T. & Using the S.T.A.K.E. - with Greg Conderacci [pubdate] => 2017-04-17T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/99e619ba-2992-11e9-80fa-7f98b6f378c6/image/PeterMargaritis_GregConderacci_ImprovisNoJoke_Ep46_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 46 [subtitle] => This week we’re talking to returning guest Greg Conderacci, the energy management expert who wrote Getting Up!: Supercharging Your Energy and, at the age of 66, rode his bicycle across the United States in just 18 days. In episode 35, we focused on... [summary] =>

This week we’re talking to returning guest Greg Conderacci, the energy management expert who wrote Getting Up!: Supercharging Your Energy and, at the age of 66, rode his bicycle across the United States in just 18 days.

In episode 35, we focused on the difference between time management and energy management. We discussed tips and techniques for getting the most energy out of ourselves, and how we can generate more energy when we need it. Click here to give it a listen, if you haven’t already.

Today, we focus on the relationship between intellectual energy and emotional energy, identifying energy vampires, and using a S.T.A.K.E. really F.A.S.T.

This interview is part two of a three-part series about how to supercharge your physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual energy. Later in the Summer, we’ll part three will focus on spiritual energy.

Until then, you can learn more about managing energy, reducing stress, and balancing your career in Getting Up!: Supercharging Your Energy.

Resources:

• MorePersonalEnergy.com
• Getting Up!: Supercharging Your Energy by Greg Conderacci

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9a2584c4-2992-11e9-80fa-ebebd589fb50 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:43.954-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:51.848-08:00 [title] => Ep. 45 - Rosemarie Rossetti: 5 Lessons for Adapting to Adversity & Living With Conviction [pubdate] => 2017-04-10T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9a2584c4-2992-11e9-80fa-ebebd589fb50/image/PeterMargaritis_RosemarieRossetti_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode45_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 45 [subtitle] => Today's guest, Rosemarie Rossetti, is an international speaker, consultant, writer, and publisher who walks her talk. She’s also the most adaptable person I have ever met. We have an inspiring conversation about overcoming adversity and living with... [summary] =>

Today's guest, Rosemarie Rossetti, is an international speaker, consultant, writer, and publisher who walks her talk. She’s also the most adaptable person I have ever met. We have an inspiring conversation about overcoming adversity and living with conviction, and why she built the Universal Design Living Laboratory.

Rosemarie's life was transformed on June 13, 1998. There was no wind, no rain, no clouds. It was a beautiful Saturday, and she was celebrating her third wedding anniversary with a couple’s bike ride. Then, suddenly, there was a loud noise and she was engulfed by a three-and-a-half ton tree.

She was paralyzed from the waist down with a spinal cord injury, but Rosemarie looked deep into herself and found new strength and resolve. She had invested too much into her life to give up.

In her keynote speeches, Rosemarie shares the lessons she has learned since that fateful day, and demonstrates how to rise above adversity and live life with conviction.

1. Do something new every day.
2. Focus on a hopeful future instead of your self-pity.
3. Believe the impossible just might be possible.
4. Allow more time to get things done, and be patient with yourself.
5. To lower your stress, lower your expectations of other people.

This moment also changed her career path. In addition to motivational speaking, Rosemarie speaks and consults with a focus on universal design housing, or making homes that are both livable for a lifetime and sustainable.

Rosemarie and her husband want to start a discussion about the home of the future, which will marry universal design, green building, a healthy home, and technology.

They built a national demonstration home and garden in Columbus, Ohio: the Universal Design Living Laboratory. It is the highest-rated universal design home in North America, earning three national certifications. They have 217 sponsors that contribute products and services necessary to build the home, either at no cost or reduced cost.

You can take a virtual tour of their house on UDLL.com (bonus points if you can spot their cat).

You can also pick up the first chapter of Rosemarie’s upcoming book, The Universal Design Toolkit, for free. It's a listing of the universal design features, room by room, in the house.

Resources:

• RosemarieSpeaks.com
• Take a virtual tour of the Universal Design Living Laboratory
• Take Your Life Back! by Rosemarie Rossetti
• Calculate your Disability Insurance needs at LifeHappens.org
• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

Disability insurance saved Rosemarie’s life. She recommends everyone in the audience purchase their own policy.

• If you are employed by another company, you need to talk with your HR people and learn if disability insurance is part of your current benefits, and what it covers.
• If you are self-employed, start contacting your financial planners and financial representatives that sell disability insurance, and get an individual policy. LifeHappens.org has a disability insurance calculator that will help you estimate the income you need to maintain to your current standard of living, which will help you in purchasing a policy.

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

 

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Array ( [id] => 9a5fcd1e-2992-11e9-80fa-5f9c902b9aea [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:44.337-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:46:05.450-08:00 [title] => Ep 44 - How to Pursue a New Career With Passion, Purpose & Yes, And | with Courtney Kirschbaum [pubdate] => 2017-04-03T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9a5fcd1e-2992-11e9-80fa-5f9c902b9aea/image/PeterMargaritis_CourtneyKirschbaum_ImprovisNoJoke_Ep_44_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 44 [subtitle] => Courtney Kirschbaum is a human development and high performance expert who specializes in helping young professionals choose the right career and achieve mastery in it. She also successfully completed her own career transition later in life when she... [summary] =>

Courtney Kirschbaum is a human development and high performance expert who specializes in helping young professionals choose the right career and achieve mastery in it. She also successfully completed her own career transition later in life when she left the corporate accounting world to found CK Consulting.

Now she is launching a new project, Job Hunt School, to impact even more young professionals.

We discuss how pursuing passion and purpose help during career transitions, how the principles of improvisation will help you during the interview process, and the stress epidemic in the U.S.

“They're still not teaching the things that you are really going to need to know when you walk into the job, and not only on the first day but even before that.”

Courtney started consulting because she saw a leadership and development gap. Students in college aren’t being properly trained to transition from a collegiate environment to a corporate environment, or any other business environment.

She attempts to fill those important gaps:

• Expectations in a corporate environment, and how to fulfill them.
• Office politics, and how to navigate them.
• Empathy for business owners, and how to develop it.
• The value of feeling like you have a stake in your job, and how to attain that.

Consulting is great, but her impact is limited to the number of people she can work with on any given day. She’s reaching more young professionals through Job Hunt School.

Job Hunt School is a program for recent graduates who are spinning their wheels and going through the motions, who feel like they’re doing everything they were taught, but aren’t gaining any traction. You know how to play the game, you went to the career center and learned to write a resume, but you haven’t mastered the game.

Courtney’s program will offer the last 10% you need to master the game, and that last 10% can make a 100% difference in your career.

If you’re interested in securing your spot in Job Hunt School, or you know someone who will be graduating soon, head over to JobHuntSchool.com. The doors open in April 2017!

Resources:

• Connect with Courtney: Website | Twitter | Facebook
• Learn more about Job Hunt School
• Watch Courtney’s TEDxTalk: “The choices we make”

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9a97f612-2992-11e9-80fa-bfee537c4152 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:44.705-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:54.390-08:00 [title] => Ep 43 - Cathy Fyock - The Biz Book Strategist [pubdate] => 2017-03-27T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9a97f612-2992-11e9-80fa-bfee537c4152/image/PeterMargaritis_CathyFyock_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode43_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 43 [subtitle] => Cathy Fyock is an author of eight books and a book coach, and she hates to write. In spite of that, she wrote most of her books in just six weeks! In this episode, Cathy shares a number of excellent and actionable tips for writing your nonfiction... [summary] =>

Cathy Fyock is an author of eight books and a book coach, and she hates to write. In spite of that, she wrote most of her books in just six weeks!

In this episode, Cathy shares a number of excellent and actionable tips for writing your nonfiction book, getting started when you’re struggling, and the benefits of publishing a book for you and your business.

Her most recent book, Blog2Book: Repurposing Content to Discover the Book You've Already Written, is also the title of a seminar that I attended in February 2017. I really connected with what she said and, in large part, that is because she identifies with the pain of struggling to start writing, or struggling to get the words out of your head and onto the page.

Before you even start the writing process, you have to prepare.

• Get hyper clear about why you want to write this book. Is it just because you have always wanted to write a book, or are you writing a nonfiction book around your area of expertise as a way to establish your thought leadership, get more clients, more business, or as a revenue stream? There can be a number of reasons that you may want to write. They're all legitimate, but your reason may inform how you go about writing the book.
• Get hyper clear on what this is book about. A lot of people get stuck because they know a lot, and they could potentially write several books, but you can only write one book at a time... and even that is sometimes tricky. What is your thesis statement? What is your 30-second commercial?
• Establish your target audience. Who is that reader? Get very specific about who that target market is, and then start to think about what it is that you really want a reader to know. What is it that they have questions about? What are the issues that they would want to have addressed in a book on this topic?

Here’s a hot tip: To help her clients get clear on what their books are about and learn more about their audience, Cathy has “Ask Me About My Book” buttons. These are a valuable research and motivational tool because answering questions about your book will reveal what is compelling about your topic, if you have honed it properly, and get you thinking about the project more often.

Now you are prepared with an outline, a reason, and a business plan. How do start writing a book, even if you hate writing?

• A lot of people make the mistake of starting with the first chapter, but that’s one of the hardest chapters to write. Start with whatever chapter in the middle is calling to you. The first and last are the hardest to write because you need to have that big vision of where you're going and where you've been. Just start with a page – it doesn’t matter which one.
• After you have something written (and that first win!), continue to write out of order. You just want to create momentum. You want to create energy and excitement for yourself, because this is a big and arduous task.
• Don’t get hung up on editing. You need to write the book first, then you can edit it. Writing and editing are two different brain functions, so trying to do them both simultaneously is exhausting. Just get it all out there, raw, and polish it later.
• Learn when you write best. Early in the writing process, set timed writing sessions in the morning, afternoon, and late at night to assess when you are most productive. You may not be a morning person but still do your best writing in the morning.
• Learn where you write best. Try writing in different environments to see where you are the most productive. Some people thrive in a hectic environment (like the coffee shop or a restaurant), but others need to be in a cave.
• Use writing prompts. Just google the term, use an app, or think about something weird. The most different writing prompts can sometimes produce the most creative results, because thinking about two disparate subjects can result in lateral thinking.
• Practice time blocking. Schedule the times that you will write, put them on your calendar, commit to actually blocking off that time, and be very detailed with your plans. You don’t have to finish a whole chapter. Give yourself one small, but achievable, goal with each time block so that you can continue racking up wins.

Another way to chunk out the writing process, and the premise of her most recent book, is to write a blog first. You still need a plan and a theme, but writing 500-1000 words once or twice a week is much easier to chew than a whole book. By the end of the year, you will have a great outline for your next book, and you can use the blog to market the book throughout the process.

After you are done writing, publishing a book offers distinct benefits for you and your business. It can increase your authority in the eyes of your clients, customers, and prospects and differentiate your business from the competition.

Your book is your new business card. If you give someone your traditional business card, more likely than not it's going to end up in the trash can. However, no one throws away a book. It can sit on a desk, on a shelf, or anywhere.

People can see your book, and every time they do you've made another impression in their mind... or, worst case scenario, they give the book to someone else. Another touch point.

If you are thinking about a book, don't know where to start, or lack clarity, get in touch with Cathy for a complimentary strategy session. She wants to help you get started!

 

Resources:

• Connect with Cathy: Website | Facebook | YouTube
• Blog2Book: Repurposing Content to Discover the Book You've Already Written
• If you are thinking about a book, don't know where to start, or lack clarity, get in touch with Cathy for a complimentary strategy session.

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9ad22292-2992-11e9-80fa-cf5bc36be053 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:45.085-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:49.233-08:00 [title] => Ep 42 - Rik Roberts: Provider of Clean Comedy, Keynotes and Laughter [pubdate] => 2017-03-20T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9ad22292-2992-11e9-80fa-cf5bc36be053/image/PeterMargaritis_RikRoberts_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode42_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 42 [subtitle] => Today I’m excited to share a conversation with the hilarious Rik Roberts, who provides clean comedy and creative keynote presentations. Rik also provides excellent comedy education in the School of Laughs, which includes a hilarious podcast of the... [summary] =>

Today I’m excited to share a conversation with the hilarious Rik Roberts, who provides clean comedy and creative keynote presentations.

Rik also provides excellent comedy education in the School of Laughs, which includes a hilarious podcast of the same name and comedy classes that will help anyone who wants to add more humor to their writing.

Before Rik transitioned to the corporate speaking world, he spent years on the road as a stand up comedian. On the road, he learned many of the basics of comedy writing that he applies in presentations, and teaches to others, today.

“An artist removes things so that you can see the beauty of the art, whereas a laborious person would just use everything to show you that they can do it.”

If you want to master the art of comedy, you have to understand the economy of words. Rik uses the metaphor of a sculpture to illustrate why this is so important: if you give a sculpture 30 pounds of clay, they will remove pieces of it until they reveal a piece of art. They don’t add anything but their perspective.

To communicate effectively, comedians have to cut out anything excess. This is a skill that will help with presenting in front of any group, too.

In stand up comedy, the speaker usually wants to keep moving at a good pace. Laughs Per Minute are important. However, that isn’t necessarily the case in other speaking engagements.

At corporate speaking events, or when speaking to other people in a professional environment, it’s important that the speaker isn’t just talking at the audience – the speaker needs to have a conversation with the audience and listen to what they say.

When you are speaking in a professional environment, you need to slow down and hear what you are saying, as if it is the first time you are saying it, because that’s how the audience is receiving it. If you speak too quickly, you may blow past the key takeaways without giving your audience the time they need to process.

It takes a lot of practice, but good speakers are comfortable with silences, when they speak in professional environments.

“Listening to hear, not just to respond, is really key.”

Having a conversation with your audience also helps when communicating with Millennials and the generation under them. The younger generations value experiences, so they don’t want to just sit there and listen. They want you to engage them.

Way back when, before Rik was even in stand up, he was an improvisational comedian, and he’s still teaching improv skills and using improv exercise to help his audiences. The basic elements of Improv – like trust, team building, and listening – are things that every company and every organization needs, and sometimes all they need is a facilitator to show them how to do it.

If you are interested in hiring Rik to perform comedy or deliver a creative keynote, you can find more information on RikRoberts.com.

If you want to hone your own comedy writing skills, you can take Rik’s online comedy course at SchoolOfLaughs.com.

While you’re there, check out his podcast! I was interviewed on episode 80, where we discussed how I fell in love with improv, how I was dubbed the “Accidental Accountant,” and a lot more.

 

Resources:

• Connect with Rik: Website | Facebook | Twitter
• Take Rik’s Online Comedy Class
• Listen to Rik interview Peter on his podcast on School of Laughs Ep. 80

 

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9b08a696-2992-11e9-80fa-17422d1eb45c [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:45.443-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:51.839-08:00 [title] => Ep. 41 - John Kelley: Chief People Officer at White Castle Systems [pubdate] => 2017-03-13T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9b08a696-2992-11e9-80fa-17422d1eb45c/image/PeterMargaritis_JohnKelley_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode41_ART_TILE_1.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 41 [subtitle] => Today we’re excited to have returning guest John Kelley, Chief People Officer at White Castle Systems. We discuss how the skills of improvisation relate to change management, and how being a family business affects their company culture. Change... [summary] =>

Today we’re excited to have returning guest John Kelley, Chief People Officer at White Castle Systems. We discuss how the skills of improvisation relate to change management, and how being a family business affects their company culture.

Change management is the process of identifying and implementing necessary changes during a major business transition, whether that is a merger, a shift in culture, or a new building.

White Castle Systems moved into their headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, in 1934. Currently, it houses four or more generations of family and team members, from the Baby Boomers to the youngest generation of workers.

They need a bigger space, and a space that better aligns with White Castle’s mission, vision, and core values moving into the future. They’re building a new headquarters that the company can use for another 80 plus years, and that requires a great deal of change management.

John faces cultural change management decisions to at almost every level in the company:

• How are the work spaces designed for both collaboration and to allow privacy?
• How can they make the space a place where people want to work, while offering the freedom to work anywhere?
• How can they make shared spaces that people want to go to?
• How do they keep things both open and secure?

To answer these questions, John is practicing one of the key pieces, and often most difficult pieces, of improvisation: listening. They are listening to consultants, touring the buildings of other companies in the industry, and conducting in-depth one-on-one interviews with their team.

John won’t be able to please everyone. However, by focusing on the company’s mission, vision, and core values – and asking why every decision they make is in line with those three things – they will be set up for success during the transition.

“Do all you can to listen and give people the opportunity to share. Make sure you're listening and not coming in with your solutions”

 

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Resources:

• Take the Yes, And Challenge

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Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9b48e382-2992-11e9-80fa-7f1d309aea8c [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:45.864-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:46:03.423-08:00 [title] => Ep. 40 - Phil Kim: Associate Professor of Business at Walsh University and Founder of Ideapath Consulting [pubdate] => 2017-03-06T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9b48e382-2992-11e9-80fa-7f1d309aea8c/image/PeterMargaritis_PhilKim_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode40_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 40 [subtitle] => Korean Proverb Shijaki banida: “The start is half the task.” Today’s guest, Phil Kim, is a highschool dropout turned accidental accountant turned tenured educator and professional speaker. He shares the remarkable story about how he fell into a... [summary] =>

Korean Proverb Shijaki banida: “The start is half the task.”

Today’s guest, Phil Kim, is a highschool dropout turned accidental accountant turned tenured educator and professional speaker. He shares the remarkable story about how he fell into a hole and then turned his life around by chasing BIG goals through small actions.

In December 2016, Phil gave a talk at TEDxAlbany called “Chase One Rabbit: The Power of Small Wins” (related to his book of the same name).

Phil based his TED talk on a Confucian saying: “If you chase both rabbits, you catch neither.”

The book and TED Talk both explain how we can use focus, accountability, and small wins to achieve more.

• Reach high. Expand and stretch yourself beyond what you think you can do. Choose a single, big priority.
• Chase the rabbit. Take your singular goal and break it down into smaller, doable chunks or small action steps.
• Intentional Accountability. You have your goal and you have your action steps. Now you need some sort of accountability, either with just one or two people or through a small community (like a mastermind).

There's a theory called the the paradox of choice. It suggests giving users too many choices causes them to worry about making the wrong decision, so they don't make any decision at all. Too many choices can effectively lead to no choice.

So don’t try to do everything at once. Finish your top priority and then move onto your second priority.

We’re almost done with the first quarter of 2017 (wow that was fast!). I want you to watch Phil’s TED Talk or read his book and then reflect on your goals for the year. Do you have too many? Are they ambitious enough? Prioritize your goals and get hyper focused on just one rabbit – you might surprise yourself with how much you accomplish.

You can watch Phil’s first TED Talk on YouTube or pick up his books on Amazon.

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Resources:

• Phil’s TedX Talk: “Chase One Rabbit: The Power of Small Wins”
• Read Phil’s books:
• • Chase One Rabbit: 10 Habits that Move You from Failure to Success

 

• Zebras & Ostriches: 5 Simple Rules to Engage and Retain Your Best People

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Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9b816572-2992-11e9-80fa-53919ce0c4e7 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:46.234-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:51.029-08:00 [title] => Ep. 39 - Maureen Zappala: Founder and CEO of High Altitude Strategies [pubdate] => 2017-02-27T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9b816572-2992-11e9-80fa-53919ce0c4e7/image/PeterMargaritis_MaureenZappala_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode39_ART_TILE.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 39 [subtitle] => Today’s guest, Maureen Zappala, is a rocket scientist turned professional speaker. She shares how we can get over the fear of public speaking and the Imposter Syndrome. The Imposter Syndrome is a concept describing high-achieving individuals who are... [summary] =>

Today’s guest, Maureen Zappala, is a rocket scientist turned professional speaker. She shares how we can get over the fear of public speaking and the Imposter Syndrome.

The Imposter Syndrome is a concept describing high-achieving individuals who are marked by the inability to internalize their accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud.

We all fight it and Maureen has some great advice to help you move past this syndrome.

It’s important to understand that the Imposter Syndrome is not a confidence issue – it's a cognitive issue. It takes confidence to achieve most things worth achieving… but many people then experience a cognitive distortion separating themselves from their accomplishments.

A big part of getting beyond the syndrome is identifying yourself with the accomplishments. It is putting yourself in the place of the person who did the work, and accepting that it’s not somebody outside of you or a set of circumstances that allowed it to happen. You created it, you did it, and now you need to own.

Another critical part of getting over the imposter syndrome is recognizing its prevalence: you are NOT the only one suffering. Everyone can start moving past the issue when it is addressed, but sometimes it takes someone like Maureen to come in and start the conversation.

If you suffer from the Imposter Syndrome, you need to accept that there is no possible way you can know everything about the position you're in, the technology you're involved with, the company you work for, or the reach that you can have. There's no possible way, so you need to let yourself off the hook. Practice saying “I don’t know yet, let me get back to you.”

I greatly appreciate Maureen taking the time to share her important advice. If you are interested in having Maureen speak at your organization, you can contact her at MaureenZ.com.

--

Resources:

• Connect with Maureen: MaureenZ.com | Facebook

--

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9bb4ea82-2992-11e9-80fa-b3481ab96d09 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:46.571-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:56.952-08:00 [title] => Ep. 38 - Lisa Ryan: Founder and CEO of Grategy [pubdate] => 2017-02-20T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9bb4ea82-2992-11e9-80fa-b3481ab96d09/image/PeterMargaritis_LisaRyan_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode38_ART_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 38 [subtitle] => Did you know that… when a customer stops doing business with a company, 68% of the time it's because they feel ignored, underappreciated, or taken for granted? when an employee quits, 67% of the time it's because of their manager? only 42% of... [summary] =>

Did you know that…

• when a customer stops doing business with a company, 68% of the time it's because they feel ignored, underappreciated, or taken for granted?
• when an employee quits, 67% of the time it's because of their manager?
• only 42% of employees say that they received any kind of recognition in the past year?

Those surprising statistics show why we need today’s guest, Lisa Ryan, and her business, Grategy, LLC.

Grategy is a portmanteau of gratitude and strategy. The company teaches other organizations how to keep their top talent engaged, enthusiastic, and committed to long-term employment by harnessing the power of appreciation in the workplace.

“You keep your employees AND your best clients from becoming someone else’s by the way you treat them.”

You might be saying, “Hey, why should I thank my employees for doing their job?” Well, if you want your employees to give you their blood, their sweat, and their tears, that's what you do: you acknowledge them. As an added bonus, it costs nothing!

On top of all that, you’ll see tangible results in your team’s productivity, attitude, and overall profitability to the company if you take the time to look at your people as more than employee IDs.

Appreciated employees are more profitable in the short-term and retaining them will save you money in the the long-term. The process of hiring a new, minimum wage employee can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $16,000. That’s a big ROI for a change in attitude!

Another way to show appreciation is to invest in your employees, and to invest in all of them. Investing in everyone creates connections, conversations, and opportunities for people to learn and grow together. If you empower someone with an opportunity to grow, they just might surprise you.

Employers need to be sincere, be consistent, and can’t put a compliance factor around it.

Lisa is inspiring an incredibly necessary attitude change in business environments. As the Baby Boomers retire and a new generation fills in the workforce, you will want those employees to feel appreciated and respected – you want them to work for you.

Remember: show appreciation and gratitude to your talent so you can keep them on the payroll.

 

Resources:

• Sign up for your FREE Gratitude Thought of The Week at Grategy.com
• Connect with Lisa: Lisa (at) Grategy.com

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9c0d9f38-2992-11e9-80fa-63e8629f9248 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:47.152-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:44.937-08:00 [title] => Ep 37 - David Crone: Comedy Ventriloquist and Corporate Speaker [pubdate] => 2017-02-13T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9c0d9f38-2992-11e9-80fa-63e8629f9248/image/PeterMargaritis_DavidCrone_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode37_ART_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 37 [subtitle] => Today’s guest, David Crone, is a corporate entertainer, ventriloquist, speaker, and sometimes IT guy. He’s on the show to share his hilarious stories and teach us why work should be fun. David’s personal and business growth have been driven by a... [summary] =>

Today’s guest, David Crone, is a corporate entertainer, ventriloquist, speaker, and sometimes IT guy. He’s on the show to share his hilarious stories and teach us why work should be fun.

David’s personal and business growth have been driven by a desire to be a great entertainer, not just a great performer.

Great performers have great technical skills. As a ventriloquist, that means manipulating the puppet, working on the voices, not moving his lips, writing material, and finding good jokes. But there’s an art to entertainment that goes beyond performance.

Great entertainers go beyond great technical skills. They still have the technical skills in their back pocket, but the entertainment comes from passion, feeling, and connecting with the audience. Good entertainers can bring a room together.

“If you just hit every note right that’s not music. That’s playing all the notes right. That’s playing what’s on the page... But if you go to a concert and listen to some great pianist, their passion comes through in the variation and their feeling comes out through playing the music. You forget how many notes are being played and you just get sucked up in the moment.”

David believes that great managers should also be great entertainers. They should transcend technical acumen and incorporate human relationships. How do you create a culture that encourages working with other people and enjoys the process of creating?

For David, the simple answer is fun – people work better when they’re having fun.

David has found that imperfection is actually a very powerful leadership technique that is conducive to a fun atmosphere. It may sound odd, but he sees teams working better and happier when the boss allows his or herself to accept mistakes and be vulnerable because it doesn’t hold the employees up to an unrealistic standard.

When employees are avoiding mistakes and walking on eggshells, they’re also unlikely to take risks that can benefit a company. Of course, there is a limit to mistakes. Making a mistake is fine – repeating them is not.

If you want to learn more about how to make your workplace more fun, head over to WorkShouldBeFun.com.

If you are interested in hiring David to entertain at one of your events, head over to ImNoDummy.com.

Resources:

• Hire David for your own event at ImNoDummy.com
• Learn how to make your office more fun at WorkShouldBeFun.com

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9c554e1e-2992-11e9-80fa-4f3751efa2f1 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:47.622-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:42.905-08:00 [title] => Ep 36 - Jeff Jackson: Recovering Accountant who understands the power of sales [pubdate] => 2017-02-06T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9c554e1e-2992-11e9-80fa-4f3751efa2f1/image/PeterMargaritis_JeffJackson_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode36_ART_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 36 [subtitle] => Jeff Jackson is a husband, a father, a speaker, a salesman, a published author, a superhero in training, an accidental accountant, and a daddy blogger. His blog, Daddy is Best, was named one of the Top 50 Dad Blogs by BabySpot. On his blog, Jeff keeps... [summary] =>

Jeff Jackson is a husband, a father, a speaker, a salesman, a published author, a superhero in training, an accidental accountant, and a daddy blogger. His blog, Daddy is Best, was named one of the Top 50 Dad Blogs by BabySpot.

On his blog, Jeff keeps his creative spark lit while discussing the role of the modern dad.

Jeff is a baby boomer, and his father was part of The Silent Generation. His dad wasn’t an active participant in raising him, so he didn’t learn a lot about being a daddy when he was growing up.

Now, Jeff is a little bit older and learning to be a daddy on the job. By connecting with other fathers on social media, Jeff has noticed that many modern dads struggle with filling a more significant role in their kids’ lives. They don’t always know where to go for support. He’s trying to fill that gap.

Jeff is also an accidental accountant. He didn’t particularly like accounting, but he sees how he can help provide value to the profession as the need for accountants in small businesses grows over the next 5-10 years.

Jeff wants to combine his sales, accounting and speaking experiences to teach accountants how to sell themselves, and to dispel two accountant stereotypes:

• The Bearer of Bad News. Accountants are often considered the person who shows up when there’s a problem. As an accountant, you have the power to change that by forming personal relationships with the people you work with. You need to become a trusted business advisor.
• Just A Cost of Doing Business. Accountants are not just a necessary cost. Great accountants provide great value. You just need to learn how to communicate that value to your customers or clients.

I appreciate Jeff coming on the show to share the many turns on his journey. Be sure to check out Daddy is Best to read the comedic stylings of a marketer turned actor turned accountant turned salesman turned father.

Resources:

• Learn more about Jeff: Daddy Is Best | Twitter | Facebook

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9c8be23a-2992-11e9-80fa-ebc822c509d9 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:47.980-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:46:02.328-08:00 [title] => Ep 35 - Greg Conderacci: The Author of the Book 'Getting UP! Supercharging Your Energy' [pubdate] => 2017-01-30T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9c8be23a-2992-11e9-80fa-ebc822c509d9/image/PeterMargaritis_GregConderacci_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode35_ART_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 35 [subtitle] => Do you know the difference between time management and energy management? If you’re a CPA, accountant or anyone that's entering their peak revenue season, this podcast is a must-listen. We have a number of tips and techniques on how to get the most... [summary] =>

Do you know the difference between time management and energy management?

If you’re a CPA, accountant or anyone that's entering their peak revenue season, this podcast is a must-listen. We have a number of tips and techniques on how to get the most energy out of ourselves and how to generate more energy when we need it.

Greg Conderacci is an expert on energy management. He wrote Getting Up!: Supercharging Your Energy and rode his bicycle across the United States of America in 18 days averaging 150 miles a day. He really understands energy management.

Greg believes that we should move away from those old time management techniques into a new and more productive method of managing our energy.

 

“We’re kinda missing the boat here in the 21st century by talking about time management time management time management when, really, I think this is the century of energy management.”

 

The emphasis on time management goes back a couple hundred years.

• When most people in the U.S. worked on farms, the day started when the sun came up and it ended when the sun went down.
• During the Industrial Revolution, there was a concerted effort to make people think of time laterally. People on assembly lines were taught to think of time in terms of minutes and hours.
• We are still victims to this time management mentality, especially in our education system.

 

Not a lot of people work on assembly lines anymore, so why do we still have that mentality?

 

We need to focus on where we add value – and we add value with our energy.

 

“If you look at people who are making fabulous amounts of money, they're making fabulous amounts of money because of the value that they're adding – not because of the time they’re spending.”

The key is to focus on energy flows. None of us are at 100% peak all day long so you should take note of the times that you are most efficient and effective and schedule the most intellectually challenging work at those times.

After that, Greg has two big suggestions for maximizing the amount of energy you have in those times:

• Get at least seven hours of sleep.
• Drink a lot of water.

 

Your energy is maximized when you have seven hours of good sleep (so don’t drink yourself to sleep!). On top of getting energy, your brain is also working while you’re asleep. You can literally solve problems in your sleep.

There’s also value to the idea of a midday siesta, or an afternoon power nap. Most people are at their lowest energy between 2:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon, anyway. Sleep or rest will charge your batteries and make you more productive for the rest of the day.

The last part of the equation are all of the energy suckers in your environment. We have technology, we have instant messaging, we have texting, we have constant interruptions and, if that's not enough, we’ll pull out our cell phones. Discipline will save your energy.

“We're working on a scarce resource. We should manage our time carefully, there’s no question about that, but we keep thinking it's going to give us more time – it's not!”

If you have energy and you are purposeful about using it on your most intellectually challenging work, then you can maximize productivity by doing less challenging tasks when you have less energy. Emails don’t need to be checked first thing in the morning.

I greatly appreciate Greg coming on the show to share these extremely valuable tips for getting the most out of our energy. A lot of accountants are going to have a much better busy season if they put his advice into action.

 

Resources:

• Getting Up!: Supercharging Your Energy by Greg Conderacci
• Connect with Greg at MorePersonalEnergy.com
• Valuable articles for the busy season:
• • “3 Critical Areas of Personal Well-Being During Busy Season”
  • “Communication Will Matter This Season”
  • “Manage Your Busy Season With a Dose of Humor”
  • “Be the Leader Your Team Needs This Season”
  • “Your Busy Season Sitcom”

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9cd1f1bc-2992-11e9-80fa-8f416ef16d89 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:48.439-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:46:10.370-08:00 [title] => Ep. 34: Matt Horan: Professional Development Consultant [pubdate] => 2017-01-23T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9cd1f1bc-2992-11e9-80fa-8f416ef16d89/image/PeterMargaritis_MattHoran_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode34_ART_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 34 [subtitle] => Matt Horan is a professional development consultant with experience in engineering, practicing law, the Navy and management. In this episode, he explores why we need to be teaching people leadership skills earlier, before they are leaders. He also... [summary] =>

Matt Horan is a professional development consultant with experience in engineering, practicing law, the Navy and management. In this episode, he explores why we need to be teaching people leadership skills earlier, before they are leaders. He also offers, possibly for the first time ever in a podcast, a good definition for “adding value.”

Some people naturally want to be leaders and some people are thrust into leadership, but it doesn’t matter which camp you fall under – everybody needs to learn how to be a good leader before they can actually lead effectively.

If you have never had the opportunity to lead, where do you start?

• Self-awareness. It's understanding your own strengths, skills, priorities, values and expectations.
• “If you know yourself, then you can start to lead other people because to lead people you need to set expectations with those people.”
• Set goals based on what you want to achieve.
• Find a mentor, and don’t be afraid to ask someone to be your mentor.

Matt rejects the notion of “fake it ‘till you make it.” It’s a bad way to be a leader or a team member. A self-aware and honest leader is able to say they don’t know something in order to better understand it, and they’re able to speak up when they make a mistake.

What do you need to learn to be a good leader?

• You have to be able to say you made a mistake, when you make a mistake.
• You have to be able to say you don’t know something.
• You have to actively add value to everything you work on.
• You have to be present, in the moment and focused – just like in Improv!
• You have to create a culture where people want to do the same.

The Matt Horan School of Adding Value says adding value is basically your thoughts, your perception of how you think this should go, and being able to communicate that in a manner that somebody else can understand. It’s a critical skill for good leaders.

I greatly appreciate Matt coming on to share his insight and wonderful stories – he’ll definitely be back again soon.

 

 

Resources:

• Connect with Matt on LinkedIn

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9d1b23f0-2992-11e9-80fa-e39fddeffdba [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:48.920-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:46:11.211-08:00 [title] => Ep. 33 - Greg Kyte: Founder of Comedy CPE [pubdate] => 2017-01-16T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9d1b23f0-2992-11e9-80fa-e39fddeffdba/image/PeterMargaritis_GregKyte_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode33_ART_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 33 [subtitle] => We talk about how learning improvisational skills can be a valuable tool in your continued professional education (CPE) all the time. Today, we’re learning how other comedy skills can help hone different presentation and communication skills for... [summary] =>

We talk about how learning improvisational skills can be a valuable tool in your continued professional education (CPE) all the time. Today, we’re learning how other comedy skills can help hone different presentation and communication skills for professionals.

Greg Kyte is the Founder of Comedy CPE, a stand-up comedian, a CPA and a cartoonist. In other words: he is a standup comedian, with a niche in accounting.

We go into detail about the ways in which humor helps break down barriers in the workplace to facilitate open and honest communication. We also discuss how putting yourself in uncomfortable situations, and overcoming that discomfort, can improve your performance in every aspect of our lives.

“The humor that I can bring to the job really breaks down barriers, breaks down people's defenses, and it makes for some real open and honest communication – which, in the long run, really helps me be more effective at what I do.”

As a special treat, Greg shares one of his biggest claims to fame as a standup: opening for Weird Al Yankovic. It was an… interesting experience, to say the least.

You can learn more about Greg at ComedyCPE.com or on Twitter @GregKyte.  

 

 

Resources:

• ComedyCPE.com
• Follow Greg on Twitter: @GregKyte
• Enjoy Greg’s accounting cartoons on Going Concern
• Listen to The THRIVEal Podcast

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9d50c276-2992-11e9-80fa-c7d3f3189a57 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:49.271-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:46:10.067-08:00 [title] => Ep. 32: Randy Nelson: CEO of Gold Dolphins, LLC and author of “The Second Decision” [pubdate] => 2017-01-09T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9d50c276-2992-11e9-80fa-c7d3f3189a57/image/PeterMargaritis_RandyNelson_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode32_ART_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 32 [subtitle] => Today’s guest, Randy Nelson, is CEO of Gold Dolphins, LLC author of "The Second Decision: The Qualified Entrepreneur.” It’s a wonderful book that has changed the way I lead my own business. The first decision is your decision to start a... [summary] =>

Today’s guest, Randy Nelson, is CEO of Gold Dolphins, LLC author of "The Second Decision: The Qualified Entrepreneur.” It’s a wonderful book that has changed the way I lead my own business.

The first decision is your decision to start a business. The titular Second Decision comes in after the business is up and running smoothly.

The Second Decision is whether or not you, as a Founder of a business, are the right person to run a business. The book helps you answer the question, “Am I the right person to lead this company for the next 3-5 years?”

Randy defines five roles in the book – three are qualified to help run a business and two are not.

• The Leader is the person who is at CEO and wants to be the person to lead the company’s future.
• The Role Player is the person who doesn’t want to lead the company but has their own expertise, and they might fill a position like Chariman of the board.
• The Creator is the person who loves getting businesses off the ground, they’re a startup person, but they aren’t passionate about running a business.
• The Dabbler is the person who wants cash but isn’t interesting in learning everything they need to learn to build a business.
• Status Quo is the person who is happy where they are at.

Randy models his qualification system around the tests he went through to become a submarine pilot. It features a qualification card that asks you every question anyone will need to be able to answer to run a business for the foreseeable future, built around the top reasons companies fail or underperform.

“I really am pushing leaders for self-awareness on whether they are the right person in that right seat. It's a combination of self-confidence and self-awareness. If you have both, it's a powerful combo. If it's just the self-confidence piece without the self-awareness, it’s a risk.”

Randy wants leaders reading the book to be more self-aware of the role they are best at and enjoy the most. It’s okay if you aren’t the leader and don’t have a role to play in running a stable company – you just have to be self-aware enough to hire someone better suited for that role or leave the company behind.

Randy is currently working on “The Third Decision,” which will explore how leaders and entrepreneurs can avoid some regrets in their lives by being more self aware of the decisions they make in their personal lives.

If you haven’t already, pick up "The Second Decision: The Qualified Entrepreneur" and become more self-aware about the role you should have in your business. It’s a must buy.

 

 

Resources:

• "The Second Decision: The Qualified Entrepreneur” by Randy Nelson
• Learn more about Randy and Leadership on www.randyhnelson.com

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9d8a694a-2992-11e9-80fa-bb4ac6e2749c [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:49.649-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:46:16.391-08:00 [title] => Ep. 31 - Bob Dean, Founder of Dean Learning & Talent Advisors LLC [pubdate] => 2017-01-02T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9d8a694a-2992-11e9-80fa-bb4ac6e2749c/image/PeterMargaritis_BobDean_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode31_ART_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 31 [subtitle] => Bob Dean is a collaborator, innovator and talent developer. His firm, Dean Learning & Talent Advisors LLC, consults with companies on learning and development, talent management and customer experience. “I believe that learning and development... [summary] =>

Bob Dean is a collaborator, innovator and talent developer. His firm, Dean Learning & Talent Advisors LLC, consults with companies on learning and development, talent management and customer experience.

“I believe that learning and development needs to be a life-changing experience for people.”

He is a ”Certified Experience Economy Expert” and joined the first group of professionals certified by the authors of The Experience Economy, Joseph Pine and Jim Gilmore. The book explores the opportunities that businesses have in order to create a better experience within whatever platform they’re on.

Bob is passionate about virtual meetings, virtual collaboration and virtual learning – he has been ever since he saw the first virtual meeting platform in 1997 – but the PowerPoint platform has had a negative impact on both face-to-face business and virtual experiences.

Bob was very excited about the potential for the virtual classroom because he envisioned subject matter experts being able to extend their reach to many, many more people than they ever could in a classroom. He thought we would have a revolution on learning with virtual classrooms. Unfortunately, we’re 20 years later and it really has not taken off as much as he had hoped and expected, and a lot of that is due to the challenges with virtual facilitation.

“I really believe that, as businesses go global and as the Millennials become such a significant part of the workforce, that virtual learning, virtual meetings will become a differentiator for many companies.”

Bob has used a lot of virtual web platforms, but ThinkTank is the game changer for virtual collaboration. ThinkTank is over 25 years old and the company developed many of the guiding principles for best practices in collaboration, including the importance of anonymity.

Anonymity is a critical element of virtual collaboration and education because participants are more honest, open and eager to participate.

When participants are collaborating anonymously, they still need a virtual facilitator who is able to direct the process and optimize productivity. Bob believes virtual facilitation will be a core competency for future professionals. Facilitation requires two key skills:

• Confidence. You need the confidence to direct people who you can’t see or identify.
• Improvisation. You're dealing with the unknown so you have to be listening to what is being said, whether that listening is what has been written or on the call, and you have to be completely focused in order to adapt to the situation.

“I think the relevance of improv is greater now, in business, than it ever has been”

Improvisational skills are viewed by many business people as something that is fun and out-of-the-box, but not necessarily totally relevant to the way they interact with each other or with clients. However, in a world with instant communication, instant responses are critical to both face-to-face interactions and virtual interactions. It requires some level of improvisation to be able to respond quickly, with helpful information.

Improvisational facilitation ties back into the experience economy because working with different participants and adapting ThinkTank to provide different types of classroom experiences allows participants to retain more information than they would from a PowerPoint-driven type of presentation.

I greatly appreciate Bob for taking the time out of his schedule to teach us about virtual learning, virtual collaboration and virtual facilitation, and how they relate to improvisation.

 

Resources:

• ThinkTank
• The Experience Economy by Joseph Pine and Jim Gilmore
• Yes, And by Second City
• Look by Jim Gilmore

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

 

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Array ( [id] => 9dcbd268-2992-11e9-80fa-6b7396e3f523 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:50.077-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:45:40.496-08:00 [title] => Ep. 30 - Peter Margaritis: The Host’s Year In Review [pubdate] => 2016-12-26T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9dcbd268-2992-11e9-80fa-6b7396e3f523/image/PeterMargaritis_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode30_ART_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => [subtitle] => 2016 flew by faster than a european swallow, or maybe that's an African swallow? Well, in any case, on June 27th this podcast was launched with the intent to help my audience strengthen their communication and leadership skills through improvisation.... [summary] =>

2016 flew by faster than a european swallow, or maybe that's an African swallow?

Well, in any case, on June 27th this podcast was launched with the intent to help my audience strengthen their communication and leadership skills through improvisation.

I wasn't sure what I was walking into but I did tell myself that I needed to invest a year's worth of time to see if this was right for my business and I can answer that question right now with a resounding, “Yes!”

 

This episode includes a short review of the past 29 episodes and my favorite quotes. For more information and to see all the quotes, visit my website: PeterMargaritis.com/podcasts

 

Resources:

• Want to be a guest? Send me an email: Peter (at) PeterMargaritis.com
• Gaitten Wellness
• Listen to the cbuzz podcast (hosted by Dan Swartwout)
• Trusty & Company: Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
• College Bound Advantage
• Gratitude Marketing by Mike Sciortino
• Stop Knocking on my Door: Drama Free HR by Karen Young
• Accounting Dreams and Delusions: Scenes From Professional Paradise, and What Really Happens in the Accounting Industry by Kristen Rampe
• The Message of You by Judy Carter
• The Message of You Journal by Judy Carter
• The Comedy Bible by Judy Carter
• Learned Leadership by Greg Kozera
• Just The Fracks, Ma’am: The TRUTH about hydrofracking and the next great American boom by Greg Kozera
• The Intuitive Therapist by Janis Cohen

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9e0931bc-2992-11e9-80fa-97b528ac597d [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:50.479-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:46:02.797-08:00 [title] => Ep. 29 - Dr. Jay Young: Founder of College Bound Advantage [pubdate] => 2016-12-19T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9e0931bc-2992-11e9-80fa-97b528ac597d/image/PeterMargaritis_JayYoung_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode28_ART_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 29 [subtitle] => Today’s guest, Dr. Jay Young, just launching College Bound Advantage to provide more value and information to any college applicants, and their families, in the Ohio area. At College Bound Advantage, Jay will use his 20 years of academic experience... [summary] =>

Today’s guest, Dr. Jay Young, just launching College Bound Advantage to provide more value and information to any college applicants, and their families, in the Ohio area.

At College Bound Advantage, Jay will use his 20 years of academic experience and months of in-depth campus research to provide applicants with a trail map and all of the information they will need to make the best decision. His expertise and knowledge is only $549 – well under the $3,000 it costs, on average, to hire a college consultant.

“People look for colleges but it's really like hiking without a trail map.”

When people apply to colleges, they are often going into the experience somewhat blind. College consultants and school counselors have a keen understanding of the academic timeline and the best strategies for applying to a college, but they don’t necessarily know about academic programs.

Jay’s primary focus is on academic programs. He’s interested in the ways that they are connected to each other and the kinds of opportunities they provide students, both while attending and after graduating.

College applicants really don't know what they don't know and they don't really know what to look for – and they certainly might not know where to begin or where to go. Now there’s College Bound Advantage.

“I do what college consultants don't do and I do what high school counselors don't do. I know colleges in Ohio and I know their academic programs, I know their co-curricular programs and I know the trade-offs that result from the connections between those.”

Jay went to more than 50 Ohio colleges to prepare for his launch. When he visits a campus, he makes sure to do at least three things:

• A student-led campus tour to see the campus and talk to students who are actually attending there.
• A meeting with admissions to talk generally about programs, what schools they compete with, what they're proud of, what's going well and what's new.
• A meeting with a faculty member who is in one of the programs that they are particularly proud of to talk specifically about
• • the program as a whole
  • other similar programs in Ohio
  • the best programs outside of this school
  • important accreditations
  • required academic standards

Speaking with faculty members in unfamiliar, different disciplines helped Jay dive deep into how academic programs are structured and organized, what represents a quality program, and what doesn't – even outside of the business programs, which he is very familiar with.

When you come to Jay at College Bound Advantage, he will go through a three-step process to give the student and their family an edge.

• Intake – Transcripts, standardized test scores, personality test and a short interview to establish the student’s and family’s top priorities. Jay also educates the family on issues related to student debt.
• Trail Map – The trail map basically provides them feedback on the personality inventory, re-identifies the criteria that were discussed and prioritized, then identifies five to eight colleges that meet those criteria. For each school, he then provides feedback on how each criteria is or isn’t met and exactly the ways in which the school meets them.
• Coaching – Depending on the majors and what the student prioritizes, Jay provides a set of things to make sure the student covers and to make sure they do when they visit campus, so that they make those campus visits meaningful and better enable them to make the best decision.

“I can help them get to the right schools to look at the right programs and ask the right questions so they can make the best decision.”

I greatly appreciate Jay taking the time to talk about his new business endeavor. It’s an insane value proposition for the price he is asking, so I highly recommend heading over to College Bound Advantage to learn more or email DrJay (at) collegeboundadvantage.com to discuss a consultation.

 

Resources:

• Learn More: College Bound Advantage
• Get in Toch: DrJay (at) collegeboundadvantage.com

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9e42ec36-2992-11e9-80fa-03f0b1ae31f5 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:50.858-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:46:17.872-08:00 [title] => Ep. 28 - Jamie Richardson: VP of Government and Shareholder Relations at White Castle Systems, Inc. [pubdate] => 2016-12-12T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9e42ec36-2992-11e9-80fa-03f0b1ae31f5/image/PeterMargaritis_JamieRichardson_ImprovisNoJoke_Episode28_ART_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 28 [subtitle] => Today’s guest on the show is Jamie Richardson, the Vice President of Government and Shareholder relations at White Castle Systems, Inc., the Chairman of the Ohio Restaurant Association, and a family-owned business advocate. “It's 95 years ago that... [summary] =>

Today’s guest on the show is Jamie Richardson, the Vice President of Government and Shareholder relations at White Castle Systems, Inc., the Chairman of the Ohio Restaurant Association, and a family-owned business advocate.

“It's 95 years ago that the epicenter of all cravings was launched, and we’re going better and bigger and having more fun than ever.”

White Castle is celebrating its 95th birthday this year – and its 95th year as a family-owned business.

Jamie is an advocate for family-owned businesses. He believes it is important for family-owned businesses to share their story with thought leaders and lawmakers, whether that's at the state level or the federal level, to ensure that lawmakers consider the impact that new policies might have on family-owned businesses.

Jamie believes that family businesses are unique in a number of ways.

• “They are very distinctive… because a lot of the the businesses that are known for treating their team members well… tend to be family businesses.”
• Being family-owned gives them the freedom and flexibility to make good decisions for the long haul.
• Family-owned businesses are less likely to get caught up in what Jamie calls “the sudden tug” in an emergency.

“We feel it gives us an anchor and we call it the base of all metaphysics here in Castle Land.”

Jamie is also a great networker, which comes down to being a great friend. Jamie approaches community engagement and networking events as opportunities to make new friends, and that opens him up to connect and start helping them more easily.

Jamie engages with local communities, professional communities and charitable communities because it opens him up to a more diverse network of friends from different industries, different backgrounds, different worldviews and different perspectives. When you start to listen to people and genuinely appreciate them, then networking can begin to unlock some doors.

“The greatest part of networking is about friendships, and part of that friendship is being a good listener.”

Since 2008, Jamie has seen bigger barriers to entry in the foodservice industry, and more restaurants are going out of business. These barriers are put in place by regulators at the local, state and federal level – often with good intentions – and it puts a strain on an industry that already operates with compressed margins.

The impact of regulation is real. The struggle to remain profitable is only made more difficult by the fact that these threats are often more external than they are the result of a foodservice company’s own decisions.

“We think it's our responsibility to focus on being good citizens and let them know what the real world looks like.”

I appreciate Jamie for taking the time to talk to me. He’s a great person and a great friend, and that has taken him a long way in his career.

 

Resources:

• Get in touch with Jamie on LinkedIn

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9e7816e0-2992-11e9-80fa-bb352d48ad27 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:51.206-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:46:06.578-08:00 [title] => Ep. 27 - Janis Cohen, The Intuitive Therapist [pubdate] => 2016-12-05T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9e7816e0-2992-11e9-80fa-bb352d48ad27/image/Improv_is_no_Joke_27_ART_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 27 [subtitle] => Today on Improv Is No Joke I am talking to Janis R. Cohen, a licensed clinical social worker and author of The Intuitive Therapist. She has been a practicing therapist for the past 25 years, but eight years ago her practice changed dramatically when... [summary] =>

Today on Improv Is No Joke I am talking to Janis R. Cohen, a licensed clinical social worker and author of The Intuitive Therapist. She has been a practicing therapist for the past 25 years, but eight years ago her practice changed dramatically when Janis’ intuitive and psychic skills opened up and her practice completely shifted. Janis is a clairvoyant, an empath and a medium.

 

Janis’ goal in life is to teach other people. She wrote The Intuitive Therapist because she wants therapists to know how to do what she does so that they can help their clients faster and more effectively. It offers both professionals and laypeople effective strategies for getting in touch with the major driving system within them – their intuition.

 

“I am addicted. I am obsessed with helping people end their pain and suffering.”

 

She also wants to provide real, tried-and-true strategies about how to problem-solve on your own. She will do whatever it takes to help her clients achieve happiness, and all of that together was the impetus for her writing the book.

 

Janis has a seven-step process to strengthen your intuition:

1. Intention – Start with the genuine intention of noticing and connecting with your intuition.
2. Be aware – Be aware of everything around you and within you.
3. Imagine – Be in a space of fun and fantasy, in which you are open to receiving the messages.
4. Write It Down – Validate that your intuition has the strength and ability to guide you and lead you in all the right directions by writing down your experience.
5. Acting – It's taking what you become aware of, noticing what's going on and just going and doing.
6. Trust – Trust what you get. What many five-sensory people do with intuition is they immediately discard the immediate sense that they get.
7. Environment – Live in a space that validates that your intuition plays a key role in your decision-making, your relationships, your job and how you show up in this world.

 

There’s an interesting cross section between intuition, improvisation and service professionals. It’s all about serving your client or audience. The strategies that Janis employs are similar to the strategies that all service professionals should employ – there's a know, like and trust factor that dictates if your client will buy in. They have to know you are adaptable to their needs and like you as a person before they can offer you their trust.

 

I’ve known Janis for years, but I really enjoyed learning more about her life, her process and her business – and I absolutely loved reading The Intuitive Therapist. It made me think in different ways, which I always love to do, and I appreciate Janis for taking the time to write something that helps people.

 

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[smart_track_player url="x" social="true" social_twitter="true" social_facebook="true" social_gplus="true" ]

Download this Episode MP3.

 

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This week’s Improv article:

Type article description here, then link it.

 

What To Listen For In This Episode:

• T
• T
• T
• T

 

Resources:

• Learn more about Janis
• The Intuitive Therapist by Janis Cohen

 

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Transcript:

Click to download the full Transcript PDF.

 

Type here

   

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

 

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How To Leave a Review For My Podcast:

 

I would appreciate if you take a moment and write a review. It helps the podcast find greater visibility in the iTunes community. Here are the seven steps you need to take in order to leave a review:

1. Launch Apple’s podcast app
2. Tap the search tab
3. Enter “Improv Is No Joke” in the search bar
4. Tap the blue search key at the bottom right
5. Tap the album art for the podcast
6. Tap the reviews tab
7. Tap “write a review” at the bottom and begin writing

 

If you’d like to leave a review but remain anonymous, all you have to do is go to your iTunes account information page, go to your settings and click, “Edit nickname.”

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Array ( [id] => 9eb894f4-2992-11e9-80fa-9361f61af958 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:51.629-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:46:12.771-08:00 [title] => Ep. 26 - Ashley Matthews: Senior Manager at Rea & Associates [pubdate] => 2016-11-28T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9eb894f4-2992-11e9-80fa-9361f61af958/image/Improv_is_no_Joke_26_ART_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 26 [subtitle] => I spent 10 years in higher education, with eight of those years at The Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio. One of the great benefits of being a professor is seeing your students graduate and start developing wonderful careers. Today, I’m... [summary] =>

I spent 10 years in higher education, with eight of those years at The Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio. One of the great benefits of being a professor is seeing your students graduate and start developing wonderful careers. Today, I’m excited to be joined by one of my former students, Ashley Matthews, Senior Tax Manager at Rea & Associates.

A constant struggle in public accounting is that work is always being added, but never subtracted – and this issue was exacerbated by the economic downturn in 2008. Public accounting practices became leaner and hiring slowed down to a crawl. The result is a gap in experienced senior managers, because there were so few new hires 5-8 years ago. CPAs rising in the industry need to be adaptable and maintain an open line of communication with the people they work for, in addition to their clients.

“I found that you have to be stern and you have to mean what you say in order to be taken seriously. People have a tendency to pile on and see how much you'll take, and so pushing back is always appropriate.”

People who are not in public accounting, and clients, may not think of the word adaptability and CPA in the same sentence, but CPAs must be adaptable to everyday occurrences in order to be successful. If you're not adapting, you may be way too rigid and start losing clients and business.

“This definitely is not a profession for someone who wants to come in and sit at their desk and have their day planned out and be predictable and get their to-do list done every day and punch the clock and go home.”

CPAs like Ashley, who are often Millennials, are fighting the stereotype of an awkward business person chained to a desk counting beans. At Rea & Associates, they want clients to view them as trusted business advisors who understand all aspects of the clients’ businesses so that they can help the clients improve their businesses. Ashley and her associates are trying to break the CPA mold not only in the eyes of the outside world, but also in the eyes of their clients.

“We're working, especially here at Rey, for our clients to view us as their trusted business advisor.”

The role of a trusted business advisor is changing, and that’s why CPAs are providing excellent value to the firm and to the client when they’re able to adapt. Ashley discussed what her ideal public accounting firm will look like in the future. A successful firm will:

• embrace changing technology
• be transparent about partner succession and upward mobility with its employees
• be smart about the work that they do and when they do it
• realize that the best decisions and some of the best relationships are made when CPAs are out from behind their desk and really talking to people

“If you're doing the same thing today as you were doing three years ago, then you're missing the boat.”

I really enjoyed talking to my former student Ashley, and she offered an enlightening glimpse into the minds of a hungry generation of young professionals who are currently working their way up the ladder, in every industry. I expect we’ll be learning more about communication, technology and business relationships from Partner Ashley Matthews in no time at all.

 

Resources:

• Rea & Associates
• Listen to the unsuitable on Rea Radio

 

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

 

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Array ( [id] => 9efb14c8-2992-11e9-80fa-973399e75395 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:52.065-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:46:23.199-08:00 [title] => Ep. 25 - Bill Sheridan: Chief Communication Officer at the Maryland Association of CPAs [pubdate] => 2016-11-21T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9efb14c8-2992-11e9-80fa-973399e75395/image/Improv_is_no_Joke_25_ART_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 25 [subtitle] => Welcome to the Improv is No Joke podcast. Today’s guest is Bill Sheridan, the Maryland Association of CPAs’ Chief Communications Officer, editor, and resident social media cheerleader. He is creator and co-author of the association’s acclaimed... [summary] =>

Welcome to the Improv is No Joke podcast. Today’s guest is Bill Sheridan, the Maryland Association of CPAs’ Chief Communications Officer, editor, and resident social media cheerleader. He is creator and co-author of the association’s acclaimed blog, CPA Success; Certified Association Executive and thought leader at the Business Learning Institute; and manager of the association’s numerous social networks.

Today we’re talking about what Bill sees on the horizon for information and technology, and how CPAs and other business professionals will need to adapt as technology changes.

“I see a lot of change. It's going to get crazy, and it's going to get crazy really, really fast.”

In 1965, Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, observed that the number of transistors per square inch on integrated circuits had doubled every year since their invention – or, more simply, the processing speed of computer technology is doubling every year. This observation is called Moore’s Law, and 51 years later it still holds true.

“It's doing more than giving us really cool gadgets to play with. It's fundamentally changing everything.”

Moore’s Law suggests that computer technology experiences exponential growth, which can be hard to comprehend. In The Future of Professions by Daniel & Richard Susskind, they illustrate exponential growth with a simple mental exercise: imagine folding a piece of paper in half over and over and over again (it’s not actually possible to fold a piece of paper more than a few times, but this exercise gives you an idea of what exponential growth looks like).

• 4 folds = thickness of a credit card
• 11 folds = thickness of a soda can
• 21 folds = taller than Big Ben
• 31 folds = tall enough to reach outer space
• 43 folds = tall enough to reach the Moon
• 100 folds = thickness of 8 billion light years

“Things are are changing radically, and they're changing for CPA's as well.”

CPAs will have to come to terms the fact that computers will outperform them on some tasks, but nothing will change the fact that people will still need accounting services. CPAs need to adapt to new technology and clients’ changing needs, and if you don’t adapt then the generation below you will – so you’ll still be out of a job. The profession will still exist, but CPAs will need entirely new, adaptable skillsets. CPAs will need to be better improvisers.

“I'm not here to tell anybody that you have to do this stuff, because you don't, but you also don't have to stay in business.”

The young professionals who are going to be leading the CPA profession in a very short period of time are completely comfortable with moving from new technology to new technology, because that's just the way life is for them. The pushback from the old guard is fine and it's not unexpected, and very soon the accounting profession is going to shift to something that's much more capable of embracing new things, just because of the shift in leadership.

“If we can get there first, if we can figure out how to become a little bit more future ready and then show our clients and customers how to do that as well, then our role as trusted business advisors just gets stronger.”

As Chief Communications Officer, Bill’s philosophy is that the MACPAs needs to be wherever their members are and reach them in whatever way that they like to be reached, and they try to do that across all of the different platforms. By reaching out to their audience and adding value to their social media experience, Bill helps the MACPAs maintain their role as trusted business advisors when information is more available than ever.

At CPA Success they write about what members of the MACPA need to know today – breaking news, new standards, etc. At the Business Learning Institute they focus on what might be happening down the road that they should be paying attention to. Similarly, they shared important news on their Twitter feed and engage more personally with their clients on Facebook.

I always enjoy sitting down to talk with Bill, and I greatly appreciate him taking the time out of his busy schedule. We’re going to touch bases again on the podcast, in about a year, to see how technology is changing and discuss how we have adapted.

 

Resources:

• Follow the CPA Success blog
• Get educated with the Business Learning Institute
• The Future of Professions: How Technology Will Transform the Work of Human Experts by Daniel Susskind & Richard Susskind
• A More Beautiful Question by Warren Berger
• The Second Machine Age by Andrew McAfee and Erik Brynjolfsson
• Humans are Underrated by Geoffrey Colvin

 

Production & Development for Improv is no Joke by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9fade40e-2992-11e9-80fa-77955ce8a4b4 [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:53.236-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:46:27.855-08:00 [title] => Ep. 24 - Brette Rowley: The Career Coach to Millennials [pubdate] => 2016-11-14T02:55:29.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9fade40e-2992-11e9-80fa-77955ce8a4b4/image/Improv_is_no_Joke_24_ART_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 24 [subtitle] => Welcome to the Improv is no Joke podcast! Today’s guest, Brette Rowley, is a coach, educator, marketer and entrepreneur. She spent five years as a marketer before starting her own business, Brette Rowley Coaching, which leverages her experience as a... [summary] =>

Welcome to the Improv is no Joke podcast! Today’s guest, Brette Rowley, is a coach, educator, marketer and entrepreneur. She spent five years as a marketer before starting her own business, Brette Rowley Coaching, which leverages her experience as a business and marketing consultant in the corporate world to help young, professional job seekers brand and position themselves for success in a crowded job market.

I met Brette when she was working as a Marketing Consultant and Accounts Manager at Advantage Media Group, which is the publisher of my book. When she joined the company, there was a renewed emphasis in how they could use books to help their authors really take the next step in their business and really grow their businesses. She helped authors use their books as a tool to achieve their goals.

“I like to joke that I was a little bit of an accountability partner, a little bit therapist, a little bit strategist when I was on the phone with my client.”

Brette and Advantage Media Group have done a great job at educating their clients on marketing tactics, and these tactics are applicable to almost anyone. For a CPA, it can be something as simple as how to differentiate yourself from all the other CPAs out there. Start by putting on your client’s shoes and considering their needs. They don’t need to know every accounting tactic that you use. They need to know that they’re going to be taken care of and that you’re an expert. Understand what you’re selling, because it’s probably not what you think you’re selling.

“One of the things that initially drew me to marketing, in general, was the fact that those principles apply to everything across the board, whether you’re marketing a product, a service or yourself.”

At Brette Rowley Coaching, she helps Millennials who feel stuck in their careers develop a strategy to sell themselves. She helps clients establish an end goal and how they plan to position themselves to make sure that they are headed in the right direction. Feeling stuck is a big challenge for her clients, but creating a plan helps clients gain momentum and see an end point.

“I like to say that I help people get unstuck.”

Brette launched an online course earlier this year called Painless Networking For Job Seekers, and she named it that because networking appears to be a big pain point for millennials. Her clients often picture awkward cocktail conversation and networking events, so she wanted to help people understand that there's a better way to network.

“You don't have to be out there pounding the pavement. It's about relationships, not necessarily the number of connections.”

Brette is launching her second online course on December 1st, 2016, and it’s perfect for anyone who has always wanted to start their own business and doesn’t know where to begin, or someone who has started and gotten stuck somewhere along the way. If you want to learn more about this course, just go to sidehustlestarterkit.com.

It can be very confusing out there, with the the landscape moving as quickly as it is, and I think having a resource, a coach, who can help you navigate those waters is only a great benefit and investment for any young professional’s future. I highly recommend that anyone feeling stuck in their careers or looking for a job transition sign up for a free, 30-minute coaching session with Brette to see how she can help.

 

Resources:

• Brette Rowley Coaching
• Schedule a complimentary coaching session
• Enroll in Painless Networking For Job Seekers
• Get ready for the Side Hustle Starter Kit launching Dec. 1, 2016

 

Production & Development for The Impact Entrepreneur Show by Podcast Masters

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Array ( [id] => 9fe24186-2992-11e9-80fa-03d0a2c500fd [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:53.580-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:46:17.149-08:00 [title] => Ep. 23 - Claudia & Tom Trusty: 30 Years of Marketing, Communication and Design at Trusty & Company [pubdate] => 2016-11-07T03:00:00.000-08:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/9fe24186-2992-11e9-80fa-03d0a2c500fd/image/Improv_is_no_Joke_23_Art_INSTAGRAM.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 23 [subtitle] => In today’s episode I sit down and talk to two long-time business partners, great friends and excellent marketers. Claudia and Tom Trusty are the co-owners of Trusty & Company, a full-service marketing partner that maintains a diverse clientele... [summary] =>

In today’s episode I sit down and talk to two long-time business partners, great friends and excellent marketers. Claudia and Tom Trusty are the co-owners of Trusty & Company, a full-service marketing partner that maintains a diverse clientele ranging from brick and mortar retail to healthcare providers to a popular online knitter (and, of course, they only work with the best professional speakers).

 

“Marketing is really about communication and so we use whatever tools and resources that we can develop that help our clients connect with their audience.”

–Claudia Trusty

 

Trusty & Company truly is a full-service firm with a dynamic range of services:

• Design & Production
• Identity & Branding
• Advertising & Media
• Website Design & Development
• Interactive Media
• Social Media
• Strategy & Planning
• SEO Strategies
• Training & Education

 

“If you are beginning a business and you need everything from logo development to strategy then we are perfect for you because we can do it all.”

–Claudia Trusty

 

Whether you’re starting a business and need a brand new marketing strategy or just need a new website, Trusty & Company always starts with the same set of questions: tell us about you, your business, and your customers. They also ask new clients to tell them about what problem the client is trying to solve, and they address any preconceived notions they may have about marketing or design. Using improvisational techniques like Yes, And they can coordinate a marketing plan that improves on their client’s vision.

 

“We really try to make them think differently about their situation, and sometimes it's really good. Sometimes we start down a path where we come in to new ideas that they hadn't thought about before, and sometimes it doesn't work as easily because they're not ready to yet.”

–Claudia Trusty

 

In my time working with Claudia and Tom, they have helped me develop great products and improve the marketing for my business. The stellar design on www.PeterMargaritis.com gets a lot of great feedback, and the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is excellent. My web page is the first search result on Google when you search for me (with some help from a name that’s pronounced like a cocktail and spelled like an inflammation).

Google goes through about 500 algorithm changes every year, so Tom makes sure to stay up-to-date, but the most important thing for good SEO is solid web design. Another key aspect of Google’s algorithm is responsive design, or mobile-friendly design, which will greatly affect your search results.   

 

“A site isn’t built just on words anymore. The most critical thing is to build a site that looks and communicates very well to the customer. If customers understand it and can read it, the robots and the search engine can find it and read it.”

–Claudia Trusty

 

Design is a key element of online marketing, even if the content you are marketing is relatively dry. An accountant’s newsletter, for example, may contain very important information, but if it doesn’t look good who will open it and click through to your content? Trusty & Company help communicate information in a way that is both easy to understand and easy on the eyes. You can see a great example of their design in my newsletter.

I greatly appreciate Claudia and Tom taking time out of their busy day to talk to me about marketing, design and SEO. I admire the way they use improvisational skills to collaborate with each other and with their clients, and I love the content that they create. If you’re anywhere in the world and you are looking to improve your marketing, design or communication strategies – for web or physical products – get in touch with Trusty & Company.

--

This week’s Improv article:

https://www.google.com/url?q=http://createsend.com/t/y-8649F5C543EE23C1&sa=D&ust=1478515251805000&usg=AFQjCNGDodf0YMg7Vl0Uh4rCz76w3mjiMA

Resources:

• Trusty & Company: Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
• Send Claudia an email
• Example of a Trusty & Company eNewsletter
• Stephen Colbert & Keegan-Michael Key discussing how “Every Rule of Improv is the Exact Opposite of Show Business”

   

Production & Development for The Impact Entrepreneur Show by Podcast Masters

 

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Array ( [id] => a01a22fe-2992-11e9-80fa-37f550c2965f [createdAt] => 2019-02-05T14:08:53.946-08:00 [updatedAt] => 2019-02-05T14:46:20.483-08:00 [title] => Ep. 22 - Greg Lainas: Senior Vice President and Division Director of Robert Half Management Resources [pubdate] => 2016-10-31T03:00:00.000-07:00 [author] => [imageFile] => https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/a01a22fe-2992-11e9-80fa-37f550c2965f/image/Improv_22_Art_FB_TW.jpg?ixlib=rails-2.1.2 [explicit] => [episodeType] => full [seasonNumber] => [episodeNumber] => 22 [subtitle] => Today we are talking to very special guest Greg Lainas, Senior Vice President of Management Resources at Robert Half and President of the Connecticut Society of CPAs. He is also a character in the novel Flashback by Gary Bravely, an Accidental... [summary] =>

Today we are talking to very special guest Greg Lainas, Senior Vice President of Management Resources at Robert Half and President of the Connecticut Society of CPAs. He is also a character in the novel Flashback by Gary Bravely, an Accidental Accountant, and a world-class networker. Whether you’re a student looking for your first job or a professional who hasn’t had to look for a job in over 20 years, Greg has a lot of really useful information.

 

“If I can network my way into a book you should be able to network your way into a job.”

 

Greg also uses improvisational techniques and Yes, And to incredible effect. Through networking and saying Yes, And, Greg secured his first job as a CPA at Whittlesey and Hadley, found a way into ESPN in its infancy, received second interviews with IBM and Texas Instruments at their height, rose through the ranks of Robert Half to become Senior Vice President of Management Resources, and became President of the Connecticut Society of CPAs.

Those are just some of the incredible stories that Greg shares in this interview – and it doesn’t even touch on how he ended up as a character in a novel. Greg understands that anything worth pursuing in life takes effort, but that doesn’t mean it’s complicated. Everything comes down to forming relationships.

 

“When everything else fails, let common sense prevail.”

 

In a business environment there’s no such thing as a stranger. When you’re looking for a job, when you’re looking for a favor, what’s the worse thing that can happen? Someone says no, and that really isn’t very bad.

 

“There's no magic formula. It’s ask for help and you'll get help.”

 

I can't thank Greg enough for taking time out of his schedule. It was a lot of fun, and it gave me a few ideas of new things I’d like to try in my own businesses. Greg manages to find both creative and simple solutions to common problems, and I hope he inspires you to go out there, talk to your network, join professional and community organizations, and start saying Yes, And today.

   

This week’s Improv article:

Manage Stress With These 6 Improv Principles

Resources:

• Connect with Greg on LinkedIn
• Robert Half
• Flashback by Gary Braver

 

Production & Development for The Impact Entrepreneur Show by Podcast Masters

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