We LOVE to hate on other generations. But the hate needs to be tempered - there’s lots of learning to be had.

Generational Battle Royale: Boomers, X, Millennial and Z (Ep. 106)

Crazy to say it, but being "believable" is a differentiator in the new economy.

Turning Believability Into a Skill (Ep. 105)

The similarities between 2007 and today are numerous - but here's to cutting through the noise to set yourself up well.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like 2007 (Here’s How to Prepare) Ep. 104

Those soft words like vulnerability and love? They have lots of power in the office.

The Strength and Power of “Soft Culture” Words

This week is 6 years since my last official day in corporate. Here's why I left, what I've learned and why I'd consider going back.

Why I Quit Corporate (And Could Consider Going Back) Ep. 102

Forgiveness: A word you probably haven't thought enough of; and the lack of it is potentially holding you back.

On Forgiveness: In Conversation with Forgivity (Ep. 101)

Taking time for perspective as we hit 100 episodes ...

Episode 100!

Nutrition is more than just what's on your plate. Marissa shares how to cut the nonsense when focusing on your nurition.

Nutrition (sans the Nonsense) – In Conversation with Marissa Winters, MA RDN NBC-HWC (Ep. 99)

Cut the noise - here is all you need to know about your wellness.

Wellness, Re-Organized (Ep. 98)

Motivation is a process ... and it changes as we change. More on how creativity and social groups make us motivated.

Re-Finding Motivation (Ep. 97)

Bellwether: One who leads or sets trends. Let’s learn from the best.

Doesn’t research the guests properly or their credentials before presenting them as ‘entrepreneurs’ or making other wild claims about their education, experience or resume.  

Don’t waste your time on this podcast.  Very poorly researched.

Fluff pieces for guests

Inspiration & informative!

Bellwether Hub with Jim Frawley

It’s always a risk for a white guy to cover the topic of equality in the workplace. So that’s why I’m thrilled to have Eileen Scully join me to provide her perspective and wisdom on the topic. Eileen is a consultant, speaker and author of the upcoming book, “In the Company of Men: How Women Can Succeed in a World Built Without Them.” When I first met Eileen, she made the comment, “Businesses and organizations operate in a way that was developed by white men ages ago, and that just doesn’t work for many people who aren’t.” As a white guy, that thought, quite frankly, never really occurred to me. We hear about equality in the workplace frequently, especially with high-profile changes that are happening over time (pay, leadership positions, etc.). Yet we don’t often go into the detail on simple, day-to-day operations in the office; those basic assumptions that, when they don’t affect us, are invisible. It’s one of the great revelations that came to me in the past decade: many of my assumptions may be wrong. It’s a frightening prospect, but one to be explored. And it’s a truly humbling exercise to think through (in the “real” humbling way - not in the humble brag, “I’m humbled to get recognized for being awesome” kind of way). Maybe, just maybe, certain aspects of how your business operates are wrong. Eileen is a rock star, traveling the world, doing amazing work and is one of those people that truly make a meaningful global impact. She is a BOSS.Enjoy! And order her book! Eileen Scully, Founder, The Rising TidesHer Website: www.therisingtides.comPre-Order her book: www.therisingtides.com/bookSee her TEDx Talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcGH3Vk00nsFollow her Twitter: @eemscully

It’s always a risk for a white guy to cover the topic of equality in the workplace. So that’s why I’m thrilled to have Eileen Scully join me to provide her perspective and wisdom on the topic. Eileen is a consultant, speaker and author of the upcoming book, “In the Company of Men: How Women Can Succeed in a World Built Without Them.” When I first met Eileen, she made the comment, “Businesses and organizations operate in a way that was developed by white men ages ago, and that just doesn’t work for many people who aren’t.” As a white guy, that thought, quite frankly, never really occurred to me. We hear about equality in the workplace frequently, especially with high-profile changes that are happening over time (pay, leadership positions, etc.). Yet we don’t often go into the detail on simple, day-to-day operations in the office; those basic assumptions that, when they don’t affect us, are invisible. It’s one of the great revelations that came to me in the past decade: many of my assumptions may be wrong. It’s a frightening prospect, but one to be explored. And it’s a truly humbling exercise to think through (in the “real” humbling way - not in the humble brag, “I’m humbled to get recognized for being awesome” kind of way). Maybe, just maybe, certain aspects of how your business operates are wrong. Eileen is a rock star, traveling the world, doing amazing work and is one of those people that truly make a meaningful global impact. She is a BOSS. Enjoy! And order her book! Eileen Scully, Founder, The Rising Tides Her Website: <a href="http://www.therisingtides.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.therisingtides.com</a> Pre-Order her book: <a href="http://www.therisingtides.com/book" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.therisingtides.com/book</a> See her TEDx Talk here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcGH3Vk00ns" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcGH3Vk00ns</a> Follow her Twitter: @eemscully

In the Company of Men: How Women Can Succeed in a World Built Without Them (Ep. 7)

When it comes to being more productive, everyone has an opinion. Some people say get your work done in the morning, others get work done after lunch. Some say make a list. Others say to work in time blocks. The advice is far reaching, it often conflicts, and is based on opinion. Everyone’s model of productivity works for them, and then they proceed to inform you how to be like them. The issue is, not everyone is the same. Now, I love the tactical approach. Tips and tricks on how to operate, provided people can adjust and make them “their own,” can be very helpful. If nobody shared their learnings, then we wouldn’t learn. Simple as that. But moving beyond the tactical approach is finding a rhythm. And when people come to me with productivity challenges, often times they are talking about their “rhythm.” They want a system - something to get them operating at a higher level; a silver productivity bullet.It may exist in Ithaca, NY.In this week’s podcast, I chat with Nathan Walz, founder of Journey to Optimal Health, about light. Yes, light. Apparently, since I didn’t pay attention at all in my science classes growing up, light operates on a frequency that adjusts during the day. And your body responds to these frequencies as part of your circadian rhythm. Nathan chats about how tapping into your circadian rhythm (something we are all born with and is our natural way), can do wonders not just to productivity, but to mental health as well. I will admit, I was skeptical going in. Typically when I hear about natural things, I discount it, simply because I chalk it up to “hippy theory” or pseudo-science or imagination. Thing is, Nathan has the science to back this up. And it makes a lot of sense.In the morning, as the sun is rising, light enters at frequencies and they change throughout the day. This tells your body to be tired or awake. We hear all the time about the dangers of technology and how it impacts our sleep. It’s because the blue light from our phones gives off the frequency of morning light - which screws up our circadian rhythm. LED lights do the same thing. And once he got rolling, I was learning about all kinds of things that affect my rhythm. It’s an interesting area of focus that I haven’t heard much of before chatting with him: using your circadian rhythm to be more productive. I like it, and I’m going to explore it more. But in the meantime, listen to the podcast and see what small changes you can make to eliminate “blue light” - from changing light bulbs to getting filtered glasses. Most people don’t want to hear it, but the mornings are most productive for many people, and light could play a big part in that. And while I’m not one to tell people what to do, hearing Nathan say that the idea of night owls vs. morning larks is bullshit … well that just makes me smile. So listen away, and tomorrow get up, watch the sun rise, and tackle the day!Nathan's website:  https://journeytooptimalhealth.com/ His Top 9 "biohacks": http://bit.ly/mitochondriac And his links to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram

When it comes to being more productive, everyone has an opinion.  Some people say get your work done in the morning, others get work done after lunch. Some say make a list. Others say to work in time blocks.  The advice is far reaching, it often conflicts, and is based on opinion. Everyone’s model of productivity works for them, and then they proceed to inform you how to be like them. The issue is, not everyone is the same.  Now, I love the tactical approach. Tips and tricks on how to operate, provided people can adjust and make them “their own,” can be very helpful. If nobody shared their learnings, then we wouldn’t learn. Simple as that.  But moving beyond the tactical approach is finding a rhythm. And when people come to me with productivity challenges, often times they are talking about their “rhythm.” They want a system - something to get them operating at a higher level; a silver productivity bullet. It may exist in Ithaca, NY. In this week’s podcast, I chat with Nathan Walz, founder of Journey to Optimal Health, about light. Yes, light.  Apparently, since I didn’t pay attention at all in my science classes growing up, light operates on a frequency that adjusts during the day. And your body responds to these frequencies as part of your circadian rhythm. Nathan chats about how tapping into your circadian rhythm (something we are all born with and is our natural way), can do wonders not just to productivity, but to mental health as well.  I will admit, I was skeptical going in. Typically when I hear about natural things, I discount it, simply because I chalk it up to “hippy theory” or pseudo-science or imagination.  Thing is, Nathan has the science to back this up. And it makes a lot of sense. In the morning, as the sun is rising, light enters at frequencies and they change throughout the day. This tells your body to be tired or awake.  We hear all the time about the dangers of technology and how it impacts our sleep. It’s because the blue light from our phones gives off the frequency of morning light - which screws up our circadian rhythm. LED lights do the same thing. And once he got rolling, I was learning about all kinds of things that affect my rhythm.  It’s an interesting area of focus that I haven’t heard much of before chatting with him: using your circadian rhythm to be more productive. I like it, and I’m going to explore it more.  But in the meantime, listen to the podcast and see what small changes you can make to eliminate “blue light” - from changing light bulbs to getting filtered glasses.  Most people don’t want to hear it, but the mornings are most productive for many people, and light could play a big part in that. And while I’m not one to tell people what to do, hearing Nathan say that the idea of night owls vs. morning larks is bullshit … well that just makes me smile.  So listen away, and tomorrow get up, watch the sun rise, and tackle the day! Nathan's website: <a href="https://journeytooptimalhealth.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://journeytooptimalhealth.com/</a> His Top 9 "biohacks": <a href="http://bit.ly/mitochondriac" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/mitochondriac</a>  And his links to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram

Productivity and Rhythm (Ep. 15)

At Bellwether, we prefer to learn from the best. And when it comes to mindfulness, focus and performing under pressure, you find the best on one of the most intimidating stages in the world: the New York Philharmonic.Richard Deane, Principal French Horn for the NY Phil, executes with graceful detail in front of one of the most fastidious and discriminating audiences that exist (classical music fans). And he does so with one of the most challenging instruments you can play.Getting to his seat is an arduous journey. Some would argue that staying in that seat is even more challenging. It takes focus. It takes meditation and mindfulness. It takes humility and grace and all of those other really nice words we wish people used about us. Richard shares his story - of what got him to where he is, and how he remains focused while playing exquisite music on a grand scale. Most importantly, and this was the question I could hardly wait to ask, is how to get your focus back after making a mistake.The metaphors are solid and the advice is tangible. I loved learning from Richard, and I know you will, too. You can learn more about Richard on his website: www.richarddeane.comYou can learn more about the New York Philharmonic here: www.nyphil.org

At Bellwether, we prefer to learn from the best.  And when it comes to mindfulness, focus and performing under pressure, you find the best on one of the most intimidating stages in the world: the New York Philharmonic. Richard Deane, Principal French Horn for the NY Phil, executes with graceful detail in front of one of the most fastidious and discriminating audiences that exist (classical music fans). And he does so with one of the most challenging instruments you can play. Getting to his seat is an arduous journey. Some would argue that staying in that seat is even more challenging.  It takes focus. It takes meditation and mindfulness. It takes humility and grace and all of those other really nice words we wish people used about us.  Richard shares his story - of what got him to where he is, and how he remains focused while playing exquisite music on a grand scale. Most importantly, and this was the question I could hardly wait to ask, is how to get your focus back after making a mistake. The metaphors are solid and the advice is tangible. I loved learning from Richard, and I know you will, too.  You can learn more about Richard on his website: <a href="http://www.richarddeane.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.richarddeane.com</a> You can learn more about the New York Philharmonic here: <a href="http://www.nyphil.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.nyphil.org</a>

Presence at the NY Philharmonic (Ep. 28)

I have a theory. I believe that part of the reason adults are so miserable is that they have stopped learning. There is something special about being a kid. The awe of new things, wonder and learning - I’d argue it’s what makes being a kid so special. It’s why young people are so happy and engaged and have desires to do new things.As we get older - we lose that. We have to meet the expectations of others. We have to present ourselves in certain ways to meet the needs of the Joneses and impress other people. We evolve from learning internally to showing externally. And that sucks.A client recently told me that his favorite part about coaching is that it helped him realize that “he likes learning.” I thought that was pretty wise and well said. After all, we never think about what we are learning day to day. And the reason for that is because we have our routines.When we get stuck - and by stuck I can mean any kind of rut - I tend to blame it on routine. Routine takes away learning. It’s the same thing over and over again. That may comfort people from time to time, but it doesn’t quite help us grow. The fun thing to note is that learning can take many forms. It’s not just learning a new language or a new skill - it could mean learning about yourself. What could be cooler or more important than that? I mean, come on … it’s you. I give an example on the podcast about running. Everyone tries to run and almost everyone quits running. Because it’s miserable. But the reason people find it miserable is that nobody takes the time to “learn” how to run. They just go out and try to crush a distance and focus on how miserable they feel doing it. Once I learned to run, it changed my whole perspective on it. Now I use running to help me think or de-stress - and I try to go every day. We can identify the desire to try something new or to make a change. People do it all the time. If one more person tells me that they want to write a book, I may jump off a bridge. But I know they won’t, because they haven’t learned to write. And that takes practice. Once people learn how to do something, in their way, then they can learn how to love it. I talk about inner dialogue often, and the power of choice. There is an endless possibility of everything in the world because there is an endless possibility of learning - not just books, but about yourself as well. Your values, your motivations. Why you say things you do, and why you are responding to things like you do. Examining and peeling back the onion on what gets you going is a learning journey in and of itself.So with that, I would encourage you to get out and learn something. Maybe learn about why you flipped off that guy in traffic. Maybe learn about why grapefruits are called grapefruits (it’s because they grow like grapes on trees). I can’t think of a better way to spend your time … Enjoy!

I have a theory. I believe that part of the reason adults are so miserable is that they have stopped learning.  There is something special about being a kid. The awe of new things, wonder and learning - I’d argue it’s what makes being a kid so special. It’s why young people are so happy and engaged and have desires to do new things. As we get older - we lose that. We have to meet the expectations of others. We have to present ourselves in certain ways to meet the needs of the Joneses and impress other people. We evolve from learning internally to showing externally. And that sucks. A client recently told me that his favorite part about coaching is that it helped him realize that “he likes learning.” I thought that was pretty wise and well said. After all, we never think about what we are learning day to day. And the reason for that is because we have our routines. When we get stuck - and by stuck I can mean any kind of rut - I tend to blame it on routine.  Routine takes away learning. It’s the same thing over and over again. That may comfort people from time to time, but it doesn’t quite help us grow.  The fun thing to note is that learning can take many forms. It’s not just learning a new language or a new skill - it could mean learning about yourself. What could be cooler or more important than that? I mean, come on … it’s you.  I give an example on the podcast about running. Everyone tries to run and almost everyone quits running. Because it’s miserable. But the reason people find it miserable is that nobody takes the time to “learn” how to run. They just go out and try to crush a distance and focus on how miserable they feel doing it.  Once I learned to run, it changed my whole perspective on it. Now I use running to help me think or de-stress - and I try to go every day.  We can identify the desire to try something new or to make a change. People do it all the time. If one more person tells me that they want to write a book, I may jump off a bridge. But I know they won’t, because they haven’t learned to write. And that takes practice. Once people learn how to do something, in their way, then they can learn how to love it.  I talk about inner dialogue often, and the power of choice. There is an endless possibility of everything in the world because there is an endless possibility of learning - not just books, but about yourself as well. Your values, your motivations. Why you say things you do, and why you are responding to things like you do. Examining and peeling back the onion on what gets you going is a learning journey in and of itself. So with that, I would encourage you to get out and learn something. Maybe learn about why you flipped off that guy in traffic. Maybe learn about why grapefruits are called grapefruits (it’s because they grow like grapes on trees). I can’t think of a better way to spend your time …  Enjoy!

Re-learning To Love Learning (Ep. 19)

You know good, smart people. These good, smart people can help you in many different ways. Why not put them to use as you attempt something new?

Who is on Your Personal Board of Directors? (Ep. 22)

If you work for a corporation, you are probably familiar with the annual Individual Development Plan, or IDP. But what about creating one just for you outside of work?

Creating Your Personal IDP (Ep. 21)

In a week celebrating a country's independence, let's focus on your own independence, and how your assumptions can limit your choices.

Independence, Individually (Ep. 14)

Ah yes, the dread of speaking in public. We are going to go there again - but not in the same way as before. I love getting feedback from listeners on what they want me to cover in a podcast - and advice on how to write a speech was interestingly a hot request. So let’s do it.I consider the speech process to have three “events” or “phases.” The first phase is the fear of speaking; that gut wrench when someone asks you to give an update at a Town Hall. We all know it so well - it’s well documented, there is plenty of advice, the dead horse continues to be beaten. That’s something that takes work to overcome - and look back to this episode with speech coach Tony Figliola for some tremendous tips to help you overcome the fear. Another phase is the actual delivery of the speech, which you want to be engaging, enthusiastic and impressive. We’ll cover that in the future.But in between is arguably the most important phase of the speech process: actually writing it. Maybe there is a fourth phase - a relief when it’s finally over - but that’s for another time. Back to writing. I think a big, underappreciated aspect of the fear of public speaking is the fear of the unknown. And part of the unknown is that we don’t know what to say. Finding the words to communicate what emotions or feelings we want to convey can be anxiety-inducing. It takes focus, practice and true, pen-to-paper work. Most people focus on delivery. Enthusiasm and connecting with the audience is vital for success. But no matter how dynamic a speaker you are, without the proper words and messaging, you are going to fall flat. Enter this week’s podcast guest Mike Greenly. Mike has made words his life’s work. He joins us this week on the podcast to talk about how words have power. “They are oxygen,” says Mike. And that oxygen gives life to your presentations. There is a lot to consider when writing a speech: Who is the audience? What do they need to hear? What do you *want* them to hear? What’s the medium? PowerPoint or no? Where in the hell do I even begin? Mike takes us back to basics. The first step, and most important part of speech writing, is finding the “north star” - that main takeaway that you want to convey. Everything else can link back to that. There are different types of speeches and occasions that require different writing styles and  presentations. A conference of 5,000 is very different from a board presentation of seven executives. Regardless of the situation, structuring a speech is telling a story. And how do your story and words bring your audience on a journey? Listen to the podcast for more Mike’s tips - he has plenty of them. And reach out to him below to learn more about what he does … Mike Greenly, speech writer extraordinaireWebsite:  http://www.mikegreenly.com/ His Medium article on speech writing is here.The state anthem of Virginia, which he wrote, can be heard here.His song "Common Ground" can be heard here.

Ah yes, the dread of speaking in public. We are going to go there again - but not in the same way as before. I love getting feedback from listeners on what they want me to cover in a podcast - and advice on how to write a speech was interestingly a hot request. So let’s do it. I consider the speech process to have three “events” or “phases.”  The first phase is the fear of speaking; that gut wrench when someone asks you to give an update at a Town Hall. We all know it so well - it’s well documented, there is plenty of advice, the dead horse continues to be beaten. That’s something that takes work to overcome - and look back to this episode with speech coach Tony Figliola for some tremendous tips to help you overcome the fear.  Another phase is the actual delivery of the speech, which you want to be engaging, enthusiastic and impressive. We’ll cover that in the future. But in between is arguably the most important phase of the speech process: actually writing it.  Maybe there is a fourth phase - a relief when it’s finally over - but that’s for another time. Back to writing.  I think a big, underappreciated aspect of the fear of public speaking is the fear of the unknown. And part of the unknown is that we don’t know what to say. Finding the words to communicate what emotions or feelings we want to convey can be anxiety-inducing. It takes focus, practice and true, pen-to-paper work.  Most people focus on delivery. Enthusiasm and connecting with the audience is vital for success. But no matter how dynamic a speaker you are, without the proper words and messaging, you are going to fall flat.  Enter this week’s podcast guest Mike Greenly.  Mike has made words his life’s work. He joins us this week on the podcast to talk about how words have power. “They are oxygen,” says Mike. And that oxygen gives life to your presentations.  There is a lot to consider when writing a speech: Who is the audience? What do they need to hear? What do you *want* them to hear? What’s the medium? PowerPoint or no? Where in the hell do I even begin?  Mike takes us back to basics. The first step, and most important part of speech writing, is finding the “north star” - that main takeaway that you want to convey. Everything else can link back to that.  There are different types of speeches and occasions that require different writing styles and  presentations. A conference of 5,000 is very different from a board presentation of seven executives. Regardless of the situation, structuring a speech is telling a story. And how do your story and words bring your audience on a journey?  Listen to the podcast for more Mike’s tips - he has plenty of them. And reach out to him below to learn more about what he does … Mike Greenly, speech writer extraordinaire Website: <a href="http://www.mikegreenly.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.mikegreenly.com/</a> His Medium article on speech writing is here. The state anthem of Virginia, which he wrote, can be heard here. His song "Common Ground" can be heard here.

Advice on Writing a Killer Speech (Ep. 17)

It’s no secret that our childhood experiences have massive effect on who we are as individuals. But how about the way that we treat others? This week I learned about Adverse Childhood Experiences, otherwise known as ACEs. I also learned that ACEs have a major impact on how you then proceed to treat other people, in particular your children. As a relatively new parent, there is no shortage of opinion on “how” you are supposed to parent. And those opinions aside, I think most people can agree that being an asshole on the side of an athletic field is not one of the “good things.” Jerry Reynolds has a passion for sports and for helping others. A social worker, he has been diving into the world of parent-child relationships when it comes to sports, and has tapped into how a parent’s childhood experiences affect the way they treat their children in the sporting world. It has major consequences for your children, but this information is also very relevant to the way we interact at the office and in the community. I had no idea how much change is going on in youth sports - between the thousands of dollars needed to participate and the massive lack of referees (who wants to get yelled at?) right up to full on criminal laws being passed that can include jail time to unruly parents … it makes me think that chess may be a better option for my kids. The idea of “just have fun,” just like everything else (it seems) has become bastardized and ruined. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In particular - it comes down to the parent and their individual experiences with their children; understanding their needs and desires, and supporting them in fundamental, basic ways when it comes to sports and other activities.There are cognitive and developmental benefits of youth sports - we hear about them all the time. Being part of a team, physical exercise, a commitment to others … and the data shows that more and more children are abandoning sports at younger and younger ages. This has follow-through implications for adulthood and the ongoing adult obesity epidemic. When was the last time YOU participated in a team sport? Jerry and his research were fascinating: he covers kids and sports, economic disparity and how it affects sports scholarships, and even talks about how these findings are relatable to your own relationships at home, the office and your community. I found it to be super interesting, and I hope you do, too. Jerry is doing more research (and can use funding … ahem) ... his CV and contact info are below. To find your ACE score, here is some information: https://acestoohigh.com/got-your-ace-score/. Jerry Reynold's CV:Download

It’s no secret that our childhood experiences have massive effect on who we are as individuals. But how about the way that we treat others? This week I learned about Adverse Childhood Experiences, otherwise known as ACEs. I also learned that ACEs have a major impact on how you then proceed to treat other people, in particular your children. As a relatively new parent, there is no shortage of opinion on “how” you are supposed to parent. And those opinions aside, I think most people can agree that being an asshole on the side of an athletic field is not one of the “good things.” Jerry Reynolds has a passion for sports and for helping others. A social worker, he has been diving into the world of parent-child relationships when it comes to sports, and has tapped into how a parent’s childhood experiences affect the way they treat their children in the sporting world. It has major consequences for your children, but this information is also very relevant to the way we interact at the office and in the community. I had no idea how much change is going on in youth sports - between the thousands of dollars needed to participate and the massive lack of referees (who wants to get yelled at?) right up to full on criminal laws being passed that can include jail time to unruly parents … it makes me think that chess may be a better option for my kids. The idea of “just have fun,” just like everything else (it seems) has become bastardized and ruined. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In particular - it comes down to the parent and their individual experiences with their children; understanding their needs and desires, and supporting them in fundamental, basic ways when it comes to sports and other activities. There are cognitive and developmental benefits of youth sports - we hear about them all the time. Being part of a team, physical exercise, a commitment to others … and the data shows that more and more children are abandoning sports at younger and younger ages. This has follow-through implications for adulthood and the ongoing adult obesity epidemic. When was the last time YOU participated in a team sport? Jerry and his research were fascinating: he covers kids and sports, economic disparity and how it affects sports scholarships, and even talks about how these findings are relatable to your own relationships at home, the office and your community. I found it to be super interesting, and I hope you do, too. Jerry is doing more research (and can use funding … ahem) ... his CV and contact info are below. To find your ACE score, here is some information: <a href="https://acestoohigh.com/got-your-ace-score/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://acestoohigh.com/got-your-ace-score/</a>. Jerry Reynold's CV:Download

Parents and “ACEs” – How Our Childhood Experiences Affect Our Child’s Sports (Ep. 12)

Life lessons from a whirlwind journey to Belfast.

Being a Bridge … and a Good Ancestor (Ep. 27)

This week I’m continuing the theme of reputation, and I want to cover the idea of “personal branding.” I hate the term - I feel like it’s a marketing gimmick designed to sell corporate workshops - but the idea of it is an extremely important one, especially as the economy and work structure are changing. And, since I don’t have a better term to replace “personal brand” - we’ll run with it. Last week I wrote a bit about “presence” - and what people see of you in the moment. It’s an often-forgotten area of focus for people, especially as we get so busy in meetings and with delivering our work, yet it is a fundamental component of what makes our personal brand.It’s no secret that reputation is key to success. But reputation is only one aspect. Reputation, presence, personal brand - all of these fall under the same umbrella but have nuanced definitions that require different focus. Presence is what people see in the moment. Reputation is what precedes you, and the story people tell. Your “personal brand” is a culmination of all of this. While I think the term “personal brand” is ridiculous, the idea is a necessity in today’s world. Think about it - you have a story out there. And when you meet or hear about someone new - you instantly go online to look at them. And if you are like me, you judge them.Establishing and maintaining your personal brand is a great exercise to go through and to revisit a few times a year. To do so, there are three questions to answer regarding Character, Commitment and Story. First, Character.The ever-present question of “Who are you?”  What do you bring to the table? Character, or personality or persona, is a combination of your inner drivers and what other people see. It encompasses your values, your motivations, your interests. It’s what you prioritize and find important. Your brand has to align with your character, otherwise we are pretending to be something we aren’t. I won’t beat a dead horse on this - as it’s in a few previous posts - but doing the exercise of what words describe you and what people would use, is an excellent first step.Dos, Commitment.What do people experience when they interact with you? Think of a corporate brand that you recognize, like Starbucks. When you think of Starbucks, you know exactly what to expect every time you walk in that store. They have made a commitment to you: wifi, coffee, bathrooms. What about you? When people interact with you - what expectations do they have? If they approach you for something at the office or in the community, what outcome do they foresee? The importance of this step can’t be understated. Expectations on how you will act impact the ways that people treat you, ask you questions or offer you assistance.Trois, Story. What is the story you want people to tell about you? Taking pieces of your Character and Commitment - how do you stitch them together into a package so people will tell the story for you. This is the reputation that we want to harvest and nurture. Day in and out, your presence will impact this story. Also, what other people say will impact the story. While we can’t completely control this, we can do everything in our power to impact it so that the story that goes ahead of us is one that will make our interactions more productive. Whether going for a promotion, looking for a new job or simply getting a project done - your personal brand, when properly defined and working, will open many more doors. Happy branding!

This week I’m continuing the theme of reputation, and I want to cover the idea of “personal branding.”  I hate the term - I feel like it’s a marketing gimmick designed to sell corporate workshops - but the idea of it is an extremely important one, especially as the economy and work structure are changing. And, since I don’t have a better term to replace “personal brand” - we’ll run with it.  Last week I wrote a bit about “presence” - and what people see of you in the moment. It’s an often-forgotten area of focus for people, especially as we get so busy in meetings and with delivering our work, yet it is a fundamental component of what makes our personal brand. It’s no secret that reputation is key to success. But reputation is only one aspect. Reputation, presence, personal brand - all of these fall under the same umbrella but have nuanced definitions that require different focus.  Presence is what people see in the moment. Reputation is what precedes you, and the story people tell. Your “personal brand” is a culmination of all of this.  While I think the term “personal brand” is ridiculous, the idea is a necessity in today’s world. Think about it - you have a story out there. And when you meet or hear about someone new - you instantly go online to look at them. And if you are like me, you judge them. Establishing and maintaining your personal brand is a great exercise to go through and to revisit a few times a year. To do so, there are three questions to answer regarding Character, Commitment and Story.  First, Character. The ever-present question of “Who are you?”  What do you bring to the table? Character, or personality or persona, is a combination of your inner drivers and what other people see. It encompasses your values, your motivations, your interests. It’s what you prioritize and find important. Your brand has to align with your character, otherwise we are pretending to be something we aren’t.  I won’t beat a dead horse on this - as it’s in a few previous posts - but doing the exercise of what words describe you and what people would use, is an excellent first step. Dos, Commitment. What do people experience when they interact with you? Think of a corporate brand that you recognize, like Starbucks. When you think of Starbucks, you know exactly what to expect every time you walk in that store. They have made a commitment to you: wifi, coffee, bathrooms.  What about you? When people interact with you - what expectations do they have? If they approach you for something at the office or in the community, what outcome do they foresee? The importance of this step can’t be understated. Expectations on how you will act impact the ways that people treat you, ask you questions or offer you assistance. Trois, Story.  What is the story you want people to tell about you? Taking pieces of your Character and Commitment - how do you stitch them together into a package so people will tell the story for you. This is the reputation that we want to harvest and nurture.  Day in and out, your presence will impact this story. Also, what other people say will impact the story. While we can’t completely control this, we can do everything in our power to impact it so that the story that goes ahead of us is one that will make our interactions more productive.  Whether going for a promotion, looking for a new job or simply getting a project done - your personal brand, when properly defined and working, will open many more doors. Happy branding!

Establishing a “Personal Brand” (Ep. 24)

As promised in a previous post and podcast, I’ve decided to organize my thoughts on wellness. It’s such a massive topic, that it needs to be broken down into categories. Today, we focus on the physical aspect of wellness.Physical wellness, to define it and get on the same page, is your vessel; the tank that carries around your crap all day. It covers health, weight, and more. In essence, it’s your body. It is not, however, your body image. Save that shit for our mental discussion. Physical wellness is what you are doing day in and out to make sure that you are a fine tuned machine to handle anything coming at you. Like Netflix. And there are three components to physical wellness: Diet, Fitness and Sleep. There is no shortage of information and advice on this topic. I’m aware of that. And I would argue that it’s part of the problem: there is too much advice and information on this topic, so people get confused or disappointed and they give up. But it is also the reason why I wrote this. And I’m going to specifically stay at the conceptual level. Because when it comes to physical wellness, you need to fill in the gaps. I’m not a doctor, I’m a coach - so I can’t prescribe for you specific items that would help you - but I can sure as hell will get you to where you want to be. When I coach my clients, we create a plan specific to them. What works for one person may not work for another. And it’s the same with your wellness. For example, tofu will never be a part of my diet. Ever. Yet for others, it may be a good part of their diet. For some people, running a marathon is good physical fitness. Other people may have bad knees. The point is, you need to do the work to fill in the gaps. As a coach, I can provide a framework.And it’s the one thing that we need to remember when it comes to physical wellness: we need to take a long view. This is not something that you can crash course in for a month and go back. Physical wellness is a routine - a day in and out experience where you make good decisions. If you are looking to lose weight - it may take years, not months. I used to be fifty pounds heavier - it took me almost a decade to lose it. Physical wellness is a journey - one that would serve you well to enjoy. And it’s important to note why it takes a long time - your body needs to adjust. It needs to recognize new norms. The reason significantly overweight people have trouble losing weight is because their body is fighting it. Their body goes into panic mode when they because to lose weight because it thinks they are starving. It’s the great irony in weight loss: those that need to lose the most have the biggest fighters against it: their own brains and bodies.One recommendation, if you are reading this and looking to lose weight: of these three, your diet is what will drive most of your weight loss. The other two are important, but diet reigns supreme. And since we are on that topic, let’s start there.  DIETKeeping it simple and conceptual, your diet is what you consume. It’s not a limitation on foods, it’s not a sacrifice, it’s not anything where you “stop doing something for a short period of time.” It’s what you put into your body. That includes food, drinks, booze, soda, cigarettes, vegetables, cocaine … anything you ingest is part of your diet. I think it’s safe to say that some of those things shouldn’t be in your diet. So that’s great - we know what a diet is. But here is what to take away when reviewing your diet: Everything you consume is either helping you or harming you. Put another way, which I think I hear from Dr. Mark Hyman, is that everything you eat is either making you healthy or making you sick. Keep your thoughts on diet at that level. It’s very easy to tell you to “eat this, not that” - but that’s not the point. For some, an occasional soda is just fine. For others, that soda will put them into a sugar spiral. Everyone has a trigger for their diet.

As promised in a previous post and podcast, I’ve decided to organize my thoughts on wellness. It’s such a massive topic, that it needs to be broken down into categories. Today, we focus on the physical aspect of wellness. Physical wellness, to define it and get on the same page, is your vessel; the tank that carries around your crap all day. It covers health, weight, and more. In essence, it’s your body. It is not, however, your body image. Save that shit for our mental discussion. Physical wellness is what you are doing day in and out to make sure that you are a fine tuned machine to handle anything coming at you. Like Netflix. And there are three components to physical wellness: Diet, Fitness and Sleep. There is no shortage of information and advice on this topic. I’m aware of that. And I would argue that it’s part of the problem: there is too much advice and information on this topic, so people get confused or disappointed and they give up. But it is also the reason why I wrote this. And I’m going to specifically stay at the conceptual level. Because when it comes to physical wellness, you need to fill in the gaps. I’m not a doctor, I’m a coach - so I can’t prescribe for you specific items that would help you - but I can sure as hell will get you to where you want to be. When I coach my clients, we create a plan specific to them. What works for one person may not work for another. And it’s the same with your wellness. For example, tofu will never be a part of my diet. Ever. Yet for others, it may be a good part of their diet. For some people, running a marathon is good physical fitness. Other people may have bad knees. The point is, you need to do the work to fill in the gaps. As a coach, I can provide a framework. And it’s the one thing that we need to remember when it comes to physical wellness: we need to take a long view. This is not something that you can crash course in for a month and go back. Physical wellness is a routine - a day in and out experience where you make good decisions. If you are looking to lose weight - it may take years, not months. I used to be fifty pounds heavier - it took me almost a decade to lose it. Physical wellness is a journey - one that would serve you well to enjoy. And it’s important to note why it takes a long time - your body needs to adjust. It needs to recognize new norms. The reason significantly overweight people have trouble losing weight is because their body is fighting it. Their body goes into panic mode when they because to lose weight because it thinks they are starving. It’s the great irony in weight loss: those that need to lose the most have the biggest fighters against it: their own brains and bodies. One recommendation, if you are reading this and looking to lose weight: of these three, your diet is what will drive most of your weight loss. The other two are important, but diet reigns supreme. And since we are on that topic, let’s start there. DIET Keeping it simple and conceptual, your diet is what you consume. It’s not a limitation on foods, it’s not a sacrifice, it’s not anything where you “stop doing something for a short period of time.” It’s what you put into your body. That includes food, drinks, booze, soda, cigarettes, vegetables, cocaine … anything you ingest is part of your diet. I think it’s safe to say that some of those things shouldn’t be in your diet. So that’s great - we know what a diet is. But here is what to take away when reviewing your diet: Everything you consume is either helping you or harming you. Put another way, which I think I hear from Dr. Mark Hyman, is that everything you eat is either making you healthy or making you sick. Keep your thoughts on diet at that level. It’s very easy to tell you to “eat this, not that” - but that’s not the point. For some, an occasional soda is just fine. For others, that soda will put them into a sugar spiral. Everyone has a trigger for their diet.

Wellness, Organized: The Physical. (Ep. 8)

Last week on the podcast I discussed the love of learning. But, as always, learning is one thing and practical application is something completely separate. With that in mind, this week’s podcast is devoted to some practical examples on how to use learning to improve.True learning for whatever it is that we want to improve comes down to our ability to ask ourselves questions. To learn in the moment, we need to have a level of awareness and challenge ourselves with the difficult questions that are so easy to ignore. For those not listening to the podcast, here are the three things I highlight: First - Preparation. I use running as the example on the podcast. But in order to get started, you have to prepare and that includes the “why.” If you want to start running - ask yourself the “why” question. Is it because of self image and you want to get in shape? Is it because you want to lose weight? Is it because you want to impress another person? All of these questions will impact your ability to take running (or anything other habit) on. You may find that running isn’t the right answer, after all.Second - Collect Data.Businesses use data to make big decisions - why aren’t you? Data has to go through iterations. From data you have to garner information, which you have to turn into knowledge, which you then have to move to wisdom. It’s called the DIKW pyramid.For example, knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad. If you want to start a running regimen - track everything. Each day, write down your distance and time that you ran. Put some notes on what was good or not. There are two types of data here - both have value. Objective data (time/distance) and subjective (feelings). Both of these provide value as to why you are or are not moving towards your goal. This is true for running, writing a book, launching a business. If you did not do what you wanted to today - ask yourself why. You may realize you don’t want to do it.Third - Learn in the MomentUse the data to make decisions in the moment. If you always end your run at a certain spot, maybe challenge yourself to go a different distance. If a distance isn’t challenging enough, maybe run for a certain amount of time. Each of these will change up the perspective and help keep it interesting. If you find every Tuesday you go slower than the other days, maybe something is impacting that. If you find that you are only going twice a week, but want to go five, you can ask yourself the question of what’s impacting your ability to get it done. We all have these amazing ideas and lists of things we want to accomplish. But if you aren’t focused on it daily, or weekly, then it will always just be an idea. I hope the examples on the podcast were helpful! Enjoy the week!

Last week on the podcast I discussed the love of learning. But, as always, learning is one thing and practical application is something completely separate.  With that in mind, this week’s podcast is devoted to some practical examples on how to use learning to improve. True learning for whatever it is that we want to improve comes down to our ability to ask ourselves questions. To learn in the moment, we need to have a level of awareness and challenge ourselves with the difficult questions that are so easy to ignore.  For those not listening to the podcast, here are the three things I highlight:  First - Preparation.  I use running as the example on the podcast. But in order to get started, you have to prepare and that includes the “why.” If you want to start running - ask yourself the “why” question. Is it because of self image and you want to get in shape? Is it because you want to lose weight? Is it because you want to impress another person? All of these questions will impact your ability to take running (or anything other habit) on. You may find that running isn’t the right answer, after all. Second - Collect Data. Businesses use data to make big decisions - why aren’t you?  Data has to go through iterations. From data you have to garner information, which you have to turn into knowledge, which you then have to move to wisdom. It’s called the DIKW pyramid. For example, knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.  If you want to start a running regimen - track everything. Each day, write down your distance and time that you ran. Put some notes on what was good or not.  There are two types of data here - both have value. Objective data (time/distance) and subjective (feelings). Both of these provide value as to why you are or are not moving towards your goal. This is true for running, writing a book, launching a business. If you did not do what you wanted to today - ask yourself why. You may realize you don’t want to do it. Third - Learn in the Moment Use the data to make decisions in the moment. If you always end your run at a certain spot, maybe challenge yourself to go a different distance. If a distance isn’t challenging enough, maybe run for a certain amount of time. Each of these will change up the perspective and help keep it interesting.  If you find every Tuesday you go slower than the other days, maybe something is impacting that. If you find that you are only going twice a week, but want to go five, you can ask yourself the question of what’s impacting your ability to get it done.  We all have these amazing ideas and lists of things we want to accomplish. But if you aren’t focused on it daily, or weekly, then it will always just be an idea.  I hope the examples on the podcast were helpful! Enjoy the week!

Learning, Redux. (Ep. 20)

Obviously, I’m a believer in the value of coaching. I’m also a believer in the fact that there is a lot to learn from all corners of this pebble we call Earth, and each person has a unique perspective to bring to any kind of relationship. What makes that perspective unique is the culmination of our experiences over time. Alan Goldstein isn’t young, but they say with age comes wisdom. And if there is an example of a person who has had perspective changes over the years, you won’t find a better one than his. A self-described radicalized Vietnam Veteran, Alan is a retired dentist from the Bronx who now has a successful life coaching business.There is a lot in that sentence for you to take in. Alan and I are both big on creating an inner dialogue and finding the questions you need to ask yourself to truly identify what it is that you believe. These beliefs then translate into actions.Change is uncomfortable - we know this. But creating a healthy internal conversation is just one specific, tangible aspect of managing and responding to change in the best way you can. I’ve learned a lot from Alan, and I think you will, too. Alan GoldsteinAlan's Website:  http://www.coachingpractice.com/index.php

Obviously, I’m a believer in the value of coaching. I’m also a believer in the fact that there is a lot to learn from all corners of this pebble we call Earth, and each person has a unique perspective to bring to any kind of relationship.  What makes that perspective unique is the culmination of our experiences over time.  Alan Goldstein isn’t young, but they say with age comes wisdom. And if there is an example of a person who has had perspective changes over the years, you won’t find a better one than his.  A self-described radicalized Vietnam Veteran, Alan is a retired dentist from the Bronx who now has a successful life coaching business. There is a lot in that sentence for you to take in.  Alan and I are both big on creating an inner dialogue and finding the questions you need to ask yourself to truly identify what it is that you believe. These beliefs then translate into actions. Change is uncomfortable - we know this. But creating a healthy internal conversation is just one specific, tangible aspect of managing and responding to change in the best way you can.  I’ve learned a lot from Alan, and I think you will, too. Alan Goldstein Alan's Website: <a href="http://www.coachingpractice.com/index.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.coachingpractice.com/index.php</a>

Questioning Our Beliefs (Ep. 16)

In order to get someone to believe us, we have to show them, not tell them, what we are capable of.

Showing vs. Telling (Ep. 26)

In case you haven’t heard, or if you were wondering why flags everywhere have a rainbow, June is Pride month. It’s a celebration of the history and contributions that have been made by the LGBTQ community. And this year, Pride has an interesting milestone: 50 years since the Stonewall riots. For many, growing up in the 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s meant the constant hearing that being gay was wrong. It was a sin, it was a mistake, it was “against nature.” It was something to be ignored and put away in the closet. And the more I’m learning about Pride and the LGBTQ community, the more I’m realizing that it wasn’t just people who were living in closets - but the fascinating history of the overall community as well.Fortunately, society is changing. And it’s changing in very significant ways. But as we make progress towards equality, it’s important to remember the history of the past fifty years and beyond that took us to where we are. And, as always, history gives us a good guideline on where we need to continue going.In this week’s podcast, Daniel Katz shared his perspective on Pride and the LGBTQ community. He shares his story of coming out, and what he considers the biggest misperceptions about the community that still remain. He also shared how, as a straight person, I could be supportive. His two ways resonated. First, it was refreshing to hear Daniel talk about something I would call “compassionate indifference,” wherein we recognize that being gay is just another aspect of a human being. You can be gay or straight - it doesn’t matter - let’s just move on with mutual respect. Secondly, it’s our actions, not words that show support. One of my biggest pet peeves about things like Pride month is when corporations or people rant and rave about how supportive they are. They are, in essence, trying to make it about themselves, and not the community they are purporting to support.Gay people have been around since the dawn of time. And they are a part of every group that’s out there. It’s about time they were recognized for what they were: fellow human beings. More progress is to be made, and more learning to be done. But the refreshing part of this year’s Pride month is the recognition that more and more people have the support they need and are able to start living life, as they are, in the open. After all, how can we expect anyone to be their best self if they aren’t allowed to be who they truly are? Daniel KatzDaniel was the perfect guest. Here is more info on how you can reach him: Instagram: danielist1Twitter: ChitsAndOrChatsWeb: www.chitsandorchats.comWeb: www.danielist.com

In case you haven’t heard, or if you were wondering why flags everywhere have a rainbow, June is Pride month.  It’s a celebration of the history and contributions that have been made by the LGBTQ community. And this year, Pride has an interesting milestone: 50 years since the Stonewall riots.  For many, growing up in the 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s meant the constant hearing that being gay was wrong. It was a sin, it was a mistake, it was “against nature.” It was something to be ignored and put away in the closet. And the more I’m learning about Pride and the LGBTQ community, the more I’m realizing that it wasn’t just people who were living in closets - but the fascinating history of the overall community as well. Fortunately, society is changing. And it’s changing in very significant ways. But as we make progress towards equality, it’s important to remember the history of the past fifty years and beyond that took us to where we are. And, as always, history gives us a good guideline on where we need to continue going. In this week’s podcast, Daniel Katz shared his perspective on Pride and the LGBTQ community. He shares his story of coming out, and what he considers the biggest misperceptions about the community that still remain.  He also shared how, as a straight person, I could be supportive. His two ways resonated. First, it was refreshing to hear Daniel talk about something I would call “compassionate indifference,” wherein we recognize that being gay is just another aspect of a human being. You can be gay or straight - it doesn’t matter - let’s just move on with mutual respect.  Secondly, it’s our actions, not words that show support. One of my biggest pet peeves about things like Pride month is when corporations or people rant and rave about how supportive they are. They are, in essence, trying to make it about themselves, and not the community they are purporting to support. Gay people have been around since the dawn of time. And they are a part of every group that’s out there. It’s about time they were recognized for what they were: fellow human beings.  More progress is to be made, and more learning to be done. But the refreshing part of this year’s Pride month is the recognition that more and more people have the support they need and are able to start living life, as they are, in the open.  After all, how can we expect anyone to be their best self if they aren’t allowed to be who they truly are? Daniel Katz Daniel was the perfect guest. Here is more info on how you can reach him: Instagram: danielist1Twitter: ChitsAndOrChats Web: www.chitsandorchats.comWeb: <a href="http://www.danielist.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.danielist.com</a>

On Pride … (Ep. 13)

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