What's Your "And"?: Recent Episodes
John Garrett
John Garrett’s research involves talking with rock star professionals who realize that who you are is so much more than what you do. Accountants, consultants, lawyers and other professionals everywhere are doing some cool things after they leave the office. We discuss how these outside-of-work interests impact their career.
Ben Curtis, president and co-founder of Good Measure, shares how a genuine interest in connecting with others has been a driving force in both his personal life and career. Ben discusses how his passion for building meaningful relationships has grown stronger over time and how it shapes the culture at Good Measure. He emphasizes the importance of integrating human connection into the workplace, even in fields like accounting that may not be known for it. Ben believes everyone thrives when they bring their whole selves to work and encourages fostering communities around shared values and authentic interactions. He shares how Good Measure intentionally seeks out team members who value deep relationships, and how spreading joy is a central core value at the firm. Ultimately, Ben encourages listeners to lean into their unique interests and connections, believing that these are what make work—and life—truly meaningful.
Episode Highlights
· Ben emphasizes that building real relationships and understanding others is a core part of who he is and what brings him joy, both in life and at work. · He believes that people can achieve more together, and that genuine community is essential for experiencing the best that life and work have to offer. · At Good Measure, Ben is intentional about ensuring that technology and systems (like AI) are always in service of building real relationships—with clients and team members. · Ben is explicit about Good Measure’s core values, such as “spreading joy,” and seeks team members and clients who align with this relational, people-centric approach. · Whether you’re in a leadership role or not, Ben encourages individuals to bring genuine human connection into their sphere of influence at work, believing it will lead to more joy and meaning for everyone.
Claire Dowdall, Director of Brand at Exactly What to Say, shares her unexpected journey into the world of powerlifting, a passion she only discovered a year ago. She explains how she overcame setbacks, including failing her initial competition, to eventually win first place in her category at the British Showdown Championships. Claire reflects on the valuable lessons powerlifting has taught her about mindset, resilience, and progressive growth, and how these principles translate directly into her professional life. She emphasizes the importance of having pursuits outside of work and how these interests can positively impact creativity, problem-solving, and workplace wellbeing. Claire encourages leaders to actively learn about their team's outside-of-work passions, noting the positive ripple effects that can result. Her story exemplifies the power of a personal "And" and how sharing it can inspire others to find and embrace their own unique interests.
Episode Highlights
· The discipline, mindset, and lessons learned from powerlifting—like progressive overload, embracing failure to find your limits, and gradually improving—translate directly to achieving success and resilience in the workplace. · Claire believes having an interest outside of work makes life richer and more balanced. Personal pursuits create a positive ripple effect in both professional and personal spheres. · She emphasizes that sharing your interests with colleagues can inspire others and bring fresh energy and creativity to the workplace. She also urges employers to actively ask about and embrace employees’ outside interests. · Claire highlights the crucial role that mindset plays in both sports and professional life. Building confidence, developing an “alter ego” for challenging situations, and being present in the moment elevate performance and wellbeing.
Neeraj Nagarkatti shares his journey from co-authoring a joke book with his brother as a child to performing multilingual comedy around the world. He discusses performing stand-up in up to six languages conversationally, including a memorable Mandarin set in London while dressed as Freddy Krueger. Neeraj talks about the challenge and creativity involved in telling jokes across different cultures and languages, likening it to learning a song in a foreign tongue. He talks about the importance of having passions outside of work, how his comedy has opened up new conversations with colleagues, and the joy of connecting multiple interests. Neeraj encourages listeners to find their own "And," suggesting that sharing personal interests at work can foster deeper connections.
Episode Highlights
· Neeraj performs stand-up comedy in multiple languages, using his skills in up to six languages conversationally and several others at a basic level, which adds a distinctive layer to his personal and professional life. · Initially hesitant, Neeraj began sharing his comedy journey with colleagues as he became more confident, which opened up more conversations and connections at work. · Neeraj emphasizes that having interests and passions outside of your primary profession is essential—it brings creativity, breaks the monotony, and adds depth to your identity. · He suggests starting interest-based clubs or groups at work—like language exchanges or baking clubs—because you’d be surprised how many colleagues share your passions or are curious about them. · Whether in comedy, tax consulting, or learning languages, Neeraj finds that creativity thrives when you allow various aspects of your personality and interests to intersect, making both work and life more enriching.
Jen Hamilton shares her journey into Jiu Jitsu, inspired by her son, despite initially knowing nothing about martial arts. She reflects on the challenges and personal growth she’s experienced through seven and a half years of practice, emphasizing that perseverance and doing hard things on the mat translate to greater resilience and determination in her work as a Fractional COO. Jen highlights the value of being a beginner, the importance of community support, and how embracing failure has made her a stronger leader. She also talks about how her “And” makes her a more empathetic and well-rounded person. Jen encourages listeners to follow their interests, even if they have nothing to do with their job, as those passions help shape a richer, more empowered sense of self. Ultimately, she believes that continually challenging oneself in new ways is key to growth both personally and professionally.
Episode Highlights
· Jen started jiu jitsu not because she was naturally athletic, but because she wanted to support her son and later challenged herself. She found it difficult but rewarding, showing the value of pushing through discomfort and not giving up. · Her dedication to jiu jitsu, despite not being naturally gifted at it, reinforced her ability to tackle hard things at work. It gave her the confidence to handle professional challenges, knowing she’s capable of perseverance outside her comfort zone. · Jen emphasizes how practicing jiu jitsu with a supportive group has been crucial, highlighting the value of learning from and being encouraged by others, both on and off the mat. · She openly discusses her struggles and the slower pace of her progress, noting that consistently showing up and persisting, even when success is hard-won, is more important than immediate wins. · Jen points out that fully embracing who you are—including your non-work passions—makes you a stronger, more empathetic leader. It deepens your humanity, ability to relate to others, and brings out strengths like determination and consistency.
Matt Haney, a fractional COO with Sinclair Ventures, shares how his passions for golf, travel, and fishing have shaped both his personal and professional life. As a lifelong golfer, Matt describes the sport as more than competition, focusing on the value of relationships and time spent in nature. He highlights the transformative power of golf trips with friends, like his curated adventures to Bandon Dunes, and the deep connections formed through shared experiences. Matt talks about inheriting the “travel bug” from his wife's family, crediting his grandfather-in-law’s adventurous spirit and prioritization of experiences over things. Fly fishing, especially in mountain streams, is another source of joy, reminding him of the importance of being present and connecting with nature. Throughout the conversation, Matt emphasizes that having outside interests is mission-critical for humanizing the workplace and fostering lasting connections with colleagues.
Episode Highlights
· Matt emphasizes that hobbies like golf, fishing, and travel are essential for personal well-being and professional effectiveness. They make you a better person and leader. · Golf isn’t just a game for Matt, but an opportunity to connect with others, enjoy nature, and continually challenge himself. The relationships and mental shifts he’s gained through golf have been life-changing. · Inspired by his wife’s family, Matt believes experiencing new places and cultures expands your world and creates stories and bonds you carry throughout life. · Using practices like EOS Meeting Segues, Matt brings people together at work by encouraging them to share personal 'wins' and outside interests, which boosts morale, builds trust, and deepens collaboration. · Matt prioritizes his "Ands" and encourages the same for his teams, stressing that a culture of overwork isn’t healthy—real success is supporting each other’s full lives, goals, and well-being, both in and out of the office.
Kristie Ondracek, CFO and COO at TXCPA Houston, talks about her passion for paper crafting, specifically card making and scrapbooking. Kristie shares how she began crafting in high school and has since embraced the creative process, which she finds essential for both personal expression and enhancing her problem-solving skills at work. She highlights the joy she experiences from bringing a smile to others with her custom cards, reflecting on memorable projects, including cherished moments crafting with her late mother. As a leader, Kristie emphasizes the importance of creating space for employees to share their passions and encourages organizations to value their human capital. Through her experiences, she illustrates how this creative hobby has fostered a unique and effective approach to leadership and professional challenges.
Episode Highlights
· Kristie emphasizes the importance of thinking outside the box and being creative in problem-solving, which is enhanced by her hobby of card-making and scrapbooking. · She talks about how her crafting hobbies have helped her stay sane and bring joy to others, illustrating the importance of balancing work with personal passions. · Kristie highlights the need for leaders to be involved with their team beyond work-related performance, suggesting that understanding personal interests can boost productivity and morale. · She believes it’s crucial for leaders to create environments where employees feel safe to express themselves and speak up, benefiting both individual and organizational growth. · Kristie shares her journey toward becoming more open and authentic about who she is and what she loves, demonstrating the power of self-acceptance and sharing one's true self with others.
Joel Zeff shares his journey from being a newspaper reporter to a successful keynote speaker and author. Joel describes his transformative experience with improv, which he discovered after moving to Dallas for a job as a newspaper reporter. Despite the challenges he faced when the newspaper closed, Joel explored stand-up comedy and eventually joined an improv troupe, which opened doors for him to merge his passion for improv with presentations at his corporate job. He emphasizes the importance of following one's passions and how improv has taught him valuable lessons in teamwork, leadership, and communication. Throughout the conversation, Joel highlights the significance of laughter in building connections and improving corporate culture. His insights provide a compelling story of how passion can transform into a fulfilling career.
Episode Highlights
· Joel found his passion for improv when he was invited on stage during a performance. It was a life-changing moment for him. · Losing his newspaper job led Joel to explore comedy and improv, which eventually became his career path. · Joel emphasizes the importance of not keeping work and passion separate, as opportunities like Texas Instruments requesting his improv skills for an executive retreat helped shape his career. · He believes that making people laugh bonds and connects them, and even if his talks achieve only that, it's worthwhile. · Joel stresses the importance of figuring out what you love and would do for free, as it can lead to unexpected career opportunities and fulfillment.
K.C. Eames shares her journey from playing indoor volleyball to discovering her passion for beach volleyball later in life. Raised in a household that encouraged trying various activities, K.C. began playing volleyball at 10 and progressed to playing in the Junior Olympics. Despite burning out from the intense schedule, she rediscovered her love for the sport through beach volleyball. K.C. emphasizes the parallels between athletic competition and professional growth, highlighting the importance of persisting through challenges. She also discusses the value of sharing personal interests to enhance workplace relationships, inspired by a memorable interaction early in her career with a Partner who valued her volleyball experience and sought out her advice for his daughter. Now in a leadership role, K.C. is committed to fostering an open workplace culture where individuals can freely share their diverse passions.
Episode Highlights
· K.C. emphasized the importance of trying out different activities and sports as a child, which helps in discovering what one truly loves. · The discipline, resilience, and understanding of failure that comes with sports have parallels in professional growth and success. · She experienced burnout from playing volleyball continuously, which teaches the lesson that being consumed by one activity can diminish the love for it. · K.C. highlighted that sharing personal interests at work leads to stronger connections, breaking down hierarchy, and enhancing workplace culture. · As a leader, demonstrating openness about one's own interests can cultivate an inclusive and open work environment, encouraging others to do the same.
Adam Shay, a former accounting firm owner now coaching business founders through his company Share the Knowledge, joins the show to discuss his passion for mountain activities. Adam shares his journey of discovering a love for the mountains during his college years in Virginia, which blossomed into regular trips for hiking, mountain biking, and snowboarding. He enjoys visiting places like the mountains of North Carolina, Virginia, and often makes trips out west to locations such as Colorado and Montana. Adam emphasizes how these outdoor experiences help him relax, find peace, and even spark creative ideas due to a clear mind away from work. As he transitioned to sharing more personal aspects of his life, the conversations with clients and team members became more meaningful, strengthening business relationships. Through these experiences, Adam underscores the importance of integrating personal interests into professional life for both personal fulfillment and to foster deeper connections in business.
Episode Highlights
· Adam enjoys mountain time, describing his trips to North Carolina, Virginia, and the western United States, finding peace and clarity away from work. · Sharing personal interests and passions helps deepen business relationships, moving them from transactional to more personal connections. · Adam posts about his personal interests on LinkedIn to build connections that bridge the gap between personal and professional life. · He believes in the importance of showing interest in people as individuals, beyond their professional roles, to develop deeper relationships. · Adam emphasizes the value of having passions outside of work, encouraging self-reflection and finding interests that bring joy, as these can contribute positively to one's personal and professional life.
Cristin Browne shares her passion for gardening and skiing and all things outdoors. She discusses how her love for gardening began after purchasing her house with a blank backyard, which she saw as a blank canvas to create a flourishing vegetable garden. Despite her initial efforts resulting in mostly failed crops except for zucchinis, she found joy in experimentation and the connections it fostered with her neighbors and coworkers. Additionally, Cristin talks about her passion for skiing, which began in her teenage years on the East Coast and was further developed in Colorado. She highlights the joy of engaging in ski lift conversations and the unique practice it provides for networking and building connections. Through these outdoor hobbies, she emphasizes the importance of embracing all aspects of oneself, both inside and outside of work.
Episode Highlights
· Cristin shares the significance of the color pink in maintaining her femininity and personal identity during her time in the military. · She discusses her journey into gardening, emphasizing experimentation, learning from failures, and the joy of connecting with neighbors and coworkers through gardening activities. · Cristin describes her love for skiing, highlighting how it offers a sense of freedom, adrenaline, and the opportunity to connect with others through shared experiences and ski lift conversations. · She advocates for bringing all facets of one's identity to work, expressing how sharing personal interests like gardening can lead to deeper connections and adjacencies with coworkers, enhancing workplace culture. · Cristin emphasizes the importance for individuals to be authentic and for organizations to foster a culture that supports and values the diverse aspects of an employee's identity beyond just their professional role.
In this episode of What's Your "And"?, Jeff Towberman, the finance supervisor and controller at the North Saint Paul School District in Minnesota, shares his profound passion for baseball. Jeff recounts how a childhood experience at a San Francisco Giants game with his grandfather sparked his love for the sport. Over the last forty years, Jeff has channeled this passion into playing and then coaching baseball at various levels, including youth leagues and high school teams. He emphasizes the life lessons baseball can teach, such as teamwork, resilience, and the importance of knowing one's role. Jeff's story highlights how his dedication to baseball has positively influenced his professional life and personal connections. Listen in as Jeff and John discuss the intersection of sports, work, and life.
Episode Highlights
· Coaching baseball has allowed Jeff to positively impact the lives of young players, teaching them important life lessons beyond the game. · Jeff believes that baseball, like life, requires understanding individual roles and working as a team to succeed. · Jeff's lifelong love for baseball is deeply intertwined with his personal and professional life, including coaching at different levels and inspiring others. · Jeff emphasizes the importance of providing a supportive environment for kids in sports, recognizing that their time on the field can be a crucial escape from personal challenges.
This week's guest is Elsa Hirl, a financial assistant at Maquoketa State Bank in Iowa and the vibrant personality behind Momma Hirl's Baking. Elsa shares her passion for baking, which she attributes to her grandmothers and her early experiences making cinnamon rolls in junior high. She talks about how her baking journey and then sharing her "And" with others has bolstered her confidence and helped her break out of her comfort zone. Elsa also touches upon the joys of holiday traditions and the importance of balancing work with personal passions. Listeners will enjoy her humorous anecdotes and the heartwarming story of how her family came to appreciate her Christmas cinnamon rolls.
Episode Highlights
· Baking is deeply ingrained in Elsa's family history, with her starting to sell baked goods in junior high. · Works as a financial assistant while also managing her baking business, emphasizing the importance of pursuing passions alongside a career. · Pursuing and sharing her passion for baking has helped Elsa build personal confidence and step out of her comfort zone. · Sharing personal passions (like baking) at work helps in creating more meaningful human connections and improving workplace culture.
Bill Casey, the Deputy CEO at MGO, talks about his passion for music and car restoration. He shares memories of learning the guitar in high school and playing in various bands, emphasizing the importance of practice to stay proficient. Bill discusses his experience performing live many times in Chicago, highlighting the need for preparedness and teamwork in both music and work environments. He also talks about the significance of having hobbies for relaxation and creativity, seeing them as therapeutic ways to balance life's stresses. Further, Bill underscores the value of understanding colleagues' personal interests to build better communication and relationships in the workplace. Throughout the episode, he notes the importance of recognizing employees’ broader capabilities beyond their job roles.
Episode Highlights
· Engaging in personal hobbies like music and car restoration can foster relaxation, creativity, and better team dynamics. · Regular practice is essential for maintaining proficiency in any skill, whether it's playing guitar or delivering work presentations. · Providing and receiving constructive feedback in a positive manner is key to improving performance, be it in a band or at work. · Recognizing employees as more than their job roles and valuing their broader capabilities can enhance workplace culture and decision-making.
Anthea Bell, an embodiment and transformation coach and host of the Finding Your Way Home podcast, shares how walking in nature and mindful movement have been instrumental in her personal and professional transformation. She explains her journey from a demanding corporate career to becoming a coach focused on holistic well-being. Anthea emphasizes the importance of connecting with one's body and surroundings to counteract the stress of modern life. She also discusses the significance of connection and community in improving mental and physical health.
Episode Highlights
· Movement and walking in nature are essential for balancing life's stress and maintaining mental health · Transitioning from a corporate job to a coaching career emphasized the importance of connecting with one's passions professionally · Understanding and respecting the mind-body connection can significantly aid in personal and professional transformation · Genuine human connection and community are crucial for well-being and overcoming the stress of corporate environments · Being open to evolving and expanding beyond your current role or situation can lead to greater fulfillment and authenticity
In this episode of "What's Your 'And'?", guest Matt Pierce, a former advertising professional and passionate rap musician, shares his journey from Madison Avenue to the stage. Matt reflects on his early creative experiences and integrating his love for rap music with his advertising career. He recounts performing an original rap at a Havas Creative company happy hour, which led to more opportunities and recognition within his professional environment. Matt emphasizes the importance of sharing personal passions at work, as it fostered genuine connections and enhanced his visibility. He encourages listeners to pursue their hobbies while understanding the practical challenges involved. Despite initial hesitation, Matt found acceptance and encouragement from his colleagues, proving the value of authenticity in the workplace.
Episode Highlights
· Matt emphasizes the importance of balancing hobbies or passions with professional life and shares his experience of transitioning from advertising to music · He highlights the significance of sharing personal interests at work to foster genuine connections and enhance organizational culture · He discusses how sharing his creative talents at work, such as performing rap music at a work gathering, led to increased visibility and professional opportunities · Matt advises people not to rush into pursuing their passions full-time without practical understanding, valuing the fulfillment that part-time endeavors can provide
In this episode of "What's Your 'And'?," John Garrett welcomes Rick Goodmay, the Director of Client Relations at ICM Colorado. Rick shares how his passion for smoking meat and cheese serves as his creative outlet and how it fosters community both in his personal life and at work. Inspired by a coworker, he got into the art of smoking to enjoy and share larger quantities of delicious food. Rick emphasizes the importance of understanding the interests of coworkers and clients to build stronger relationships. He recounts heartwarming stories from his Italian upbringing that highlight the significance of food in bringing people together. Rick continues to spread joy and connection through his culinary talents, even making a point to smoke food with others at the office.
Episode Highlights
- Utilizing hobbies to build relationships: Rick emphasized how his interest in smoking meats and cheeses helped him connect with coworkers and clients, fostering a sense of community.
- Keeping traditions alive: Rick highlighted the importance of continuing family traditions, such as cooking and sharing meals, which play a significant role in his life and personal identity.
- Cold smoking: Rick shared his technique of cold smoking, a method for smoking cheeses without melting them, adding a unique skill set to his hobby.
- Workplace culture: Rick spoke about the supportive and family-like culture at his workplace, stressing the importance of genuine care and check-ins among colleagues for a safer, more cohesive environment.
- Importance of sharing your passions: Rick encouraged listeners to share their passions with others, noting that even if some people aren't interested, there will always be others who are, and these shared interests can build meaningful connections.
Carla Youngblood, a CPA by day and comedian by night, shares insights from her journey into comedy that began at a talent show. She reflects on her experience performing at a bar, where she learned the importance of engaged audiences for successful comedy. Carla discusses how her natural talent for humor, honed from family gatherings, positively influences her workplace, making her more relatable and engaging. She emphasizes the importance of showcasing personal interests at work, advocating for spaces where colleagues can share their passions. Carla also recounts her memorable performance for the Funeral Association of Alabama and her impactful one-woman show, "The Truth About Breast Cancer."
Episode Highlights
· Carla advocates for sharing hobbies at work, believing it enhances workplace dynamics and personal connections.
· Transitioning to speaking engagements, using humor to address serious topics like her breast cancer journey and connecting with other cancer survivors.
· Humor has positively influenced her professional life, making her a more engaging and relatable colleague.
· She encourages listeners to share their 'Ands' (personal interests) to create a more authentic and enjoyable work environment.
Malony Bartush, Director of HR Communications at Pentex Energy, delves into her passion for running and its impact on her professional life. She shares an inspiring anecdote about her running group’s extraordinary camaraderie, including a heartfelt story of members running extra miles for others who can't run that day.
Malony discusses how this supportive mindset permeates her HR role, helping foster a motivated workplace culture. She highlights her popular "Mile-A-Day Challenge," an initiative that has extended to over 200 participants, promoting perseverance and mental strength.
Additionally, Malony emphasizes the importance of authenticity and personal interests in enhancing both individual job satisfaction and organizational culture. Join us to hear Malony’s insights on balancing professional dedication with an enriching personal life.
Episode Highlights
· Her running group offers a strong sense of community and support, with members encouraging each other to achieve personal goals.
· The perseverance and drive from running translate into Malony's HR role, aiding her during challenging times.
· At Pentex Energy, a culture of support and encouragement for sharing personal interests leads to better productivity and job satisfaction.
· This personal Mile-A-Day Challenge has grown to over 200 participants, highlighting the mental and physical benefits of consistent effort.
· Embracing one's true self and hobbies leads to better workplace connections and overall satisfaction.
Franky Lopez, a senior accountant at BMSS Advisors and CPAs, shares his passion for competitive TV shows. Franky dives into his love for "Survivor," "Big Brother," and "The Challenge," as well as game shows like "Wheel of Fortune" and "Deal or No Deal." And let's not forget the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA.
Growing up, his family frequently watched these shows together, which fostered his competitive spirit and interest in people's stories. Franky also recounts the excitement of putting in applications to be a contestant and his family's near-appearance on "Family Feud" a few years ago.
He emphasizes how these interests help him connect with colleagues and build deeper relationships at work. Tune in to hear how Franky's unique hobbies impact his professional life and personal growth.
Episode Highlights
· Franky loves watching competition shows like Survivor, Big Brother, The Challenge, and game shows like Wheel of Fortune with his family, which was a significant bonding activity growing up.
· He appreciates these shows not just for the competition but also for the personal stories of the participants, which make them more relatable and engaging.
· Sharing his interest in competition shows at work helped him connect with colleagues, leading to activities like a Survivor Fantasy League with 20 participants.
· Franky believes it’s crucial for organizations to create a culture where employees can share their personal interests and connect beyond work-related topics, fostering a supportive and engaging work environment.
· He emphasized the importance of having supportive relationships at work, sharing a personal story of how his colleagues supported him during his father’s illness and passing.
Wendy Walker, VP of Regulatory Affairs at Sovos, shares her passion for quilting and running. Wendy reveals how she began quilting eight years ago to connect with her mom, utilizing pictures and video calls to collaborate from different states. She discusses the therapeutic and creative aspects of quilting, highlighting its significance as a stress reliever and a source of personal fulfillment.
Wendy also touches on her initial reluctance about sharing her quilting hobby with colleagues, and how embracing it helped display her multifaceted personality beyond her professional role. She encourages listeners to pursue hobbies for personal satisfaction and to integrate these interests into their work life for a balanced and enriched experience.
Lastly, Wendy talks about how personal interests can positively impact professional relationships and corporate culture by fostering creativity and open-mindedness.
Episode Highlights
· Revealing personal hobbies and interests helps positively impact professional relationships and dispel stereotypes.
· Personal items like quilts can spark conversations with colleagues, fostering connections.
· Individuals should pursue personal interests for their own joy and not be deterred by fear of judgment.
· Balancing personal hobbies with professional life enriches interactions, relieves stress, and enhances overall creativity and job satisfaction.
John Tyreman shares how something simple like having his drum set in the background during a work video call with a client sparked a deeper connection and conversation. He emphasizes the importance of sharing personal interests to build meaningful relationships at work. John recalls inheriting his mom's Pearl Export drum set and how jamming with a neighbor ignited his passion for drumming. He discusses his journey from playing in various rock bands in high school and his twenties, taking a break due to parenting, and eventually returning to drumming. John also highlights how his musical background influences his career in marketing and podcasting.
Episode Highlights
· Sharing personal interests like hobbies can build deeper connections in professional settings.
· Creating a space for employees to share their "and" can enhance team connections and work productivity.
· The significance of perseverance with a humorous story from his early drumming days.
· Balancing personal passions with parenting responsibilities is crucial for maintaining fulfillment.
· The natural connection between personal passions (like drumming) and professional skills (such as marketing and podcasting).
Eric Kamont, Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Industrial Metaverse at Microsoft, discusses the transformative power of integrating personal passions into professional environments. Eric shares how using personal interests as icebreakers has strengthened his connections in both work and while running youth programs. He reflects on losing 115 pounds, achieving a black belt in martial arts, and completing 85 Spartan Races, illustrating his mental fortitude and perseverance. Eric highlights the importance of understanding colleagues on a deeper level and fostering diverse, passion-driven teams. He also digs into the positive impact of a supportive work culture that encourages employees to live their fullest lives. Additionally, Eric emphasizes the value of being change agents within organizations and connecting with others over shared outside-of-work interests.
Episode Highlights
· Sharing personal passions can serve as effective icebreakers in both work and social settings, facilitating deeper connections and networking.
· Embracing and sharing personal interests can positively influence work culture and relationships, creating lasting connections and a supportive environment.
· The mental strength developed through personal challenges, such as Spartan racing, can translate into tackling difficult projects and achieving professional success.
· Having a diverse team with varied strengths, such as mental endurance and creativity, is crucial for excelling in the workplace.
· Organizations should create a supportive environment that encourages employees to share and pursue their passions, leading to better well-being, productivity, and profitability.
Dave Hartley, a partner with Anders CPAs and Advisors and host of the But Who's Counting? podcast, shares his insights on the importance of authenticity and individuality in professional settings. Dave highlights how firm leaders play a crucial role in fostering genuine connections, especially in remote work environments. He recounts his love for music, starting from his first concert in seventh grade, and how working security at concerts influenced his people skills. A memorable story about guarding the stage at a Bon Jovi concert is something you definitely want to hear. Dave also talks about his fondness for stand-up comedy and how its challenges mirror the learning experiences in a career. His passion for music and comedy translates into building strong relationships with clients and colleagues.
Episode Highlights
· Emphasizes the importance of being yourself in professional settings and how acceptance of individuality is growing in professions like accounting.
· Highlights the critical role of firm leaders in fostering genuine connections and interactions, especially in the remote work environment.
· Stresses the value of showing genuine interest in employees’ personal interests and hobbies to foster relationships and team engagement.
· Explains how his love for music has positively influenced his work, particularly in building and maintaining relationships with clients.
Judge Frank Szymanski discusses the importance of finding activities that bring joy and focus, advocating for spending time in "flow mode." Frank shares his passion for meditation, mindfulness, and yoga, and his efforts to implement these practices in the juvenile and adult prison systems. He also reflects on his dual identity as a singer in a David Bowie tribute band, emphasizing the significance of embracing all aspects of oneself. Szymanski highlights the effectiveness of mindfulness in addressing issues like gun violence and societal anxiety, and questions why such practices are not more widely adopted. Through his music and advocacy, Frank exemplifies the idea of fully activating oneself in both personal and professional life.
Episode Highlights:
· Emphasize finding joy and focus in activities, not just pursuing money and material gains for happiness.
· Advocate for the positive impact of mindfulness, meditation, and yoga.
· Highlight the decision to pursue a David Bowie tribute band due to admiration for Bowie's charisma and theatricality.
· Stress the importance of serving others and integrating both personal passions and professional duties.
· Encourage embracing all aspects of one's identity, including unique hobbies and professional roles.
Sherri Collins, the Chief Diversity and Engagement Officer at Make-A-Wish Michigan, talks with John Garrett about her passion for the performing arts. Inspired by her mother, Sherri's love for musicals, orchestras, and dance performances began at a young age when she first saw Annie. She discusses how these experiences foster human connection, transcend language and cultural barriers, and enhance creativity. Sherri also emphasizes the importance of pausing and being in the moment, and how these lessons translate into her work at Make-A-Wish Michigan. Additionally, she highlights a recent wish story about a boy wanting a saxophone, showcasing the power of community and emotional support. Sherri encourages listeners to share their interests and passions to create a sense of belonging and genuine connections both at work and in the broader community.
Episode Highlights
· Shared experiences like live performances create unique, bonding moments that connect people on a deeper level. · Involvement in performing arts enriches emotional and communal experiences, which can be translated into the workplace for a more connected team. · The passion and commitment observed in performing arts can be inspiring and enhancing for professional work environments, fostering creativity and dedication. · Engaging in hobbies like performing arts allows for essential mental breaks from work, helping maintain overall well-being and productivity. · Sharing personal passions and interests in the workplace can foster a sense of belonging and deeper connections among employees, creating a more inclusive and supportive culture.
Josh Sterling, a wealth strategist at Camus Advice in California, shares his unique journey from soccer player and coach to his current career. He emphasizes the importance of teamwork, family, and goal-setting, drawn from his extensive experience coaching high school and youth soccer teams. Josh advises listeners to identify their strengths and leverage them in their careers, integrating personal experiences into professional lives. He discusses the significant role of coaches in guiding players while stressing the importance of players taking responsibility. Josh also delves into his passion for helping high-net-worth individuals, particularly those with athlete children, in college planning and wealth management. Finally, he provides light-hearted insights into his personal preferences, from his fondness for vanilla ice cream to his love for the TV show Big Bang Theory.
Episode Highlights
· The importance of teamwork, family, and goal-setting in both sports and business · Advises people to identify and leverage their personal strengths in their careers · Highlights the critical role coaches play in guiding players, but also stresses that players must ultimately execute and take responsibility · The struggles business owners face with identity after selling their businesses and the importance of nurturing various aspects of one’s identity beyond work · Draws parallels between his soccer coaching experience and his current role in wealth strategy, noting how skills in teamwork and motivation are transferable across different careers
This week's guest is Sugey Piedra, an enrolled agent at Prominence Business and Wealth Management and host of the Tax Talk with Hey Hey podcast. Sugey shares her passion for smoking cigars while traveling, revealing how it has allowed her to meet fascinating people worldwide. She talks about her childhood restrictions that ignited her love for travel and her many adventures, including trips to Africa and Puerto Rico. Sugey emphasizes the importance of connecting personally with clients, which has improved her relationships and her business. She also discusses designing her office with personal photos to create a welcoming environment. Lastly, Sugey touches on her evolving perspectives on travel and encourages maintaining the human connection in professional settings.
Episode Highlights
· Sugey emphasizes the importance of connecting on a personal level with clients to build better relationships and trust · She highlights the significance of showcasing one's personal side through things like personal photos in the office to create a welcoming environment for clients · There is a need to change the perception that professionals, such as accountants, are boring and grumpy by showcasing their diverse personalities and interests · Sugey shares her love for traveling, exploring new places, and meeting new people, often through visiting cigar lounges · Focusing on the human connection as much as professional aspects
Chris Fuller-Wigg, Vice President of Sales at Motiv and advocate for rescuing farmed animals, shares his passion for creating the Austin Farm Sanctuary. He reflects on rescuing two goats and a pig that sparked the sanctuary's growth from a half-acre property in 2016 to 95 acres housing over 215 animals by 2021. Chris emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself in the workplace and praises Motiv for nurturing his ideas and allowing him to develop the sanctuary. His story highlights how integrating personal passions into one's life can lead to unexpected and fulfilling outcomes. Chris encourages listeners to pursue their passions, noting the positive impact on personal identity and professional performance. Throughout the episode, Chris's journey demonstrates the power of authenticity and the infectious nature of passion.
Episode Highlights
· the importance of integrating passions into daily life for a fulfilling professional and personal experience. · the role of organizations in fostering environments where employees can be authentic and not feel constrained. · the journey and growth of Austin Farm Sanctuary from rescuing a few animals to housing over 215 animals. · supportive work environments, like at Motiv, provided Chris the skills and stability to effectively manage his animal sanctuary and pursue his passion.
Rory Henry, director at Arrowroot Family Office and host of the AFO Wealth Management Forward podcast, shares how he's seen the What's Your "And"? message resonate with so many people in a short amount of time. He emphasizes the importance of saying "Yes, and" to opportunities, which can lead to serendipitous moments in life. Rory also touches on his passion for sports, recounting memorable experiences at football and basketball games. He discusses using improv comedy to overcome the fear of public speaking and how its principles can be applied in the workplace. In addition, Rory highlights the importance of organizations creating spaces for individuals to explore and share their passions, which can enhance overall well-being.
Episode Highlights
· He emphasizes the importance of saying “Yes, and” to opportunities as a way to lead to serendipitous moments and open doors for progress in life. · Rory talks about the connection and sense of community that sports can bring, highlighting the emotional rollercoaster and joy of attending live sports events. · He shares his experiences of using improv comedy to overcome fear of public speaking and its successful application in settings like wealth management conferences. · Rory underscores the significance of integrating passions and interests in the workplace to enhance overall well-being and unlock the human element within organizations.
Wealth Management Director and Author Lindsey Kane Leaverton joins host John Garrett to discuss the intersection of her financial expertise and her passion for creativity. Lindsey shares insights from her book "Not Another Self-Help Book," reflecting on the role of songwriting and writing in her personal healing journey. She delves into the unexpected positive impact her book has had on her clients, revealing the importance of authenticity in professional and personal spheres. Lindsey's love for Life cereal, dark chocolate-dipped waffle cones, and an out-of-tune green piano is also on full display. Through her candid conversation, she illustrates the enriching power of embracing one's creative side. The episode showcases Lindsey as a prime example of living the "What's Your 'And'?" philosophy, blending professional drive with personal passions.
Zane Stevens joins host John Garrett to share insights on his nontraditional approach to accountancy firm structure, prioritizing employee happiness for increased productivity. He delves into his personal passions, including his significant involvement in coaching soccer and managing a youth soccer league. Zane credits the skills he's developed through coaching, such as patience and recognizing individual motivations, as valuable lessons that translate to the corporate world.
Clint Padgett dives into his passion for scuba diving, recounting night dives with bioluminescent plankton and close encounters with marine wildlife, such as barracudas and hammerhead sharks. He shares the exhilaration of drift diving in destinations like Cozumel and relives a particularly nerve-wracking experience with an air supply issue in Curacao. Clint also opens up about his journey to veganism through his travels and the use of helpful apps like Happy Cow. He fondly recalls the adventure that led to him and his brother getting certified for scuba diving and speaks on the joy his company brings him in helping clients. Listeners get a glimpse of Clint's personal side as he answers rapid-fire questions, revealing his preferences and favorite memories. Throughout the episode, Clint emphasizes the importance of pursuing individual passions and how they can enrich one’s professional life.
Alice Grey Harrison shares her passion for needlepoint, which she discovered during a sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands. She expresses the meditative benefits of needlepoint and defends integrating hobbies like this into the workplace, arguing that they enhance energy and spark creativity. She advocates for integrating personal passions into work life, suggesting that such practices can lead to moments of clarity and contribute to overall well-being. She also discusses how organizations can have programs to support employees' pursuits outside of work, helping them be their best both personally and professionally.
Steve Grimes delves into his passion for mountain climbing, sharing insights from his experiences with altitude sickness and the perseverance required to conquer towering peaks like Kilimanjaro. Steve, the firm administrator at Whipplewood CPAs in Littleton, Colorado, has tackled 34 of the state's 58 "14ers," with mountain climbing providing him not only a physical challenge but also a mental resilience that translates into his professional life. He discusses the parallels between climbing and workplace culture, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability and human connection. This episode explores how personal endeavors such as Steve's mountain climbing and book collecting can enrich office dynamics and professional relationships.
In this episode of "What's Your 'And'?", Michael Berthold shares his journey from engineering to embracing his passion for music. Michael recounts how forming the band Clubhouse in college and winning a contest to play at the LC Pavilion gave him tremendous confidence, which he has carried into his accounting career. He discusses the balancing act of being a senior accountant and client engagement manager at Bean in Los Angeles, while also pursuing his love for creating music. Berthold encourages listeners to express their hobbies and interests at work, relating a memorable encounter with a CFO who was a former bass player for Imagine Dragons. He emphasizes the importance of being authentic and sharing one's talents with the world.
Chris Mossa, Chief Strategy Officer at Graphite in New York City, shares his passion for endurance running and the impact it has had on his life. He discusses the evolution of running from a competitive pursuit to a mental health practice and now a focus on longevity. Chris emphasizes the importance of finding commonality to make connections in sales and business and highlights the value of getting to know employees beyond their professional skills. He also shares insights on thorough preparation in both comedy and corporate settings, emphasizing the importance of having interests outside of work. Join Chris and host John Garrett in a conversation about the power of personal passions and building connections in the professional world.
Arlie Kidd, Head of Talent Relations at Lemonpie, shares the value of singing as a way to unplug and recounts her personal experiences, from being Miss North Carolina to finding joy in telling people's stories through PR and podcasting. She emphasizes the significance of incorporating personal passions into the workplace to create a more well-rounded and engaged environment. Arlie reflects on the magical moments singing has created and the impact it has had on her professional career, culminating in her recent reconnection with the joy of singing as live events have resumed. She advocates for investing time in activities outside of work for personal enrichment and self-care, encouraging listeners to explore past interests from school and join organizations for personal growth. Arlie Kidd highlights the importance of human connection in the workplace, suggesting that allowing time for personal conversations can lead to emotional bonds and improved work productivity.
Will Hill, owner at Will Hill Consults, shares his passion for hiking and finding waterfalls with host John Garrett in episode 603 of What's Your "And"? He discusses how outdoor activities like hiking have energized him and provided a valuable perspective that he applies to his work. Will talks about his favorite hikes, including those in the redwoods and at Joshua Tree National Park, and how he incorporates his outdoor experiences into his speaking presentations. He also emphasizes the importance of both leadership and individuals in creating a space for people to share their "And." Tune in for this engaging conversation on the What's Your "And"? podcast!
Stephen Vono, Senior Vice President at McGowan Pro, shares his passion for vinyl records and music, which has enhanced his professional career. He talks about how hearing John speak at a conference motivated him to start the Risky Records Podcast which combines his love for music and work, creating a humanizing effect on his professional image. Stephen discusses the resurgence of vinyl, his extensive record collection of over 2,500 records, and the importance of integrating personal passions into the workplace to create human connections and improve client relationships. He emphasizes the responsibility of leaders and individuals in creating a work culture that encourages sharing personal interests.
Mike Gillis, CEO of DMJPS, a CPA and advisory firm in North Carolina, joins John Garrett on this episode of What's Your "And"? Mike talks about his passion for lake life and how it's become a huge part of his personal and professional life. His dedication to promoting work-life balance and employee engagement, along with his advocacy for sharing personal interests in the workplace, creates a positive atmosphere for his staff. Mike's commitment to encouraging a culture that values people's interests beyond work serves as an inspiration and encouragement for leaders looking to prioritize employee well-being and satisfaction.
Michelle Kooi, the founder of Confluence Coaching and Consulting in Durango, Colorado, talks about her passion for outdoor activities, including rock climbing, mountain biking, and skiing. Michelle shares how these activities help her alleviate stress, learn new things, and ultimately improve her work and life. She discusses the importance of authenticity and embracing one's passions beyond their profession, highlighting her own experiences in finding joy and fulfillment outside of work. With her emphasis on living a big, bright life and making time for activities that make her better, Michelle encourages listeners to connect with others and truly show up at work as their authentic selves.
In this episode of What's Your "And"?, host John Garrett sits down with Rafael Casas, the Director of Strategic Alliances and Partnerships at QuickFee. Rafael emphasizes the importance of discipline and work ethic, as he has honed these skills through playing soccer. He values the lifelong friendships he made on the field and highlights the importance of putting in time and effort. As a captain of his teams, he learned crucial leadership skills. Rafael also discusses his experience facing health challenges and how his background in Jiu Jitsu helped him mentally and emotionally. John and Rafael explore their ideal moments to time travel and discuss their personal interests, including their favorite travel destinations and their preferences for various aspects of everyday life. Tune in to find out more about Rafael Casas' journey and the impact of personal passions on work.
David G. Ewing, CEO of Motiv, shares his passion for robotics coaching his son's high school team in Austin, Texas. He highlights the importance of building teamwork and structure within robotics programs and talks about the intense but rewarding 12-week competition season. David emphasizes the positive spirit of competition, where teams support each other and foster camaraderie. He also explains how coaching robotics can translate valuable skills like teamwork, camaraderie, and a positive mindset into the workplace. Tune in to hear David's insights on the power of robotics and its impact on personal and professional growth.
Phil Alves, CEO & Founder of DevSquad, talks about his passion for piloting, how he was introduced to it, how it has helped improve his problem-solving skills and much more!
Meredith Monday Schwartz, CEO of Here Comes the Guide, and co-host of the Currently Reading Podcast, talks about how her passion for reading led her to start a podcast about it, how her podcasting skills have applied to her career as a CEO, supporting employees’ hobbies in the office, and much more!
Jason Staats, founder of Realize LLC., talks about his passion for creating funny content and how it both applies to his career and separates from his job, using AI tools, bringing your whole self into the office, and much more!
Ritu Singh, Marketing Ops and Martech Leader for PwC, talks about her passion for dancing, how she got back into it after taking a break, how PwC provides a nurturing environment for their employees to do what makes them happy, and much more!
In this episode, Mark Mirsky from KRD in Chicago shares his experiences in balancing work and his passion for coaching soccer, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance. He also reveals how his love for soccer led to unexpected connections, including a memorable trip to London to watch Manchester United play at Arsenal. Through their conversation, Mark highlights the significance of finding one's "and" beyond their profession, inspiring listeners to embrace their diverse identities and support one another's unique passions. Tune in to hear Mark's insightful perspectives on sports, work-life balance, and the power of sharing our stories.
Megan Gluth-Bohan, CEO and owner of TRI, talks about her passion for the outdoors, why it’s important to balance profitability and well being as a leader, and much more!
In this episode of "What's Your "And"?", host John Garrett sits down with the vibrant and multi-talented Emily Ackerman, the Director of Business Development at LGT in Dallas, Texas. Emily's journey takes us from her early days in public accounting to her love for music and performing. She shares the importance of embracing our human side and discovering hobbies that bring joy and creativity to our lives. From fostering dogs to cooking up unique dishes and even getting back into playing the piano, Emily's zest for life and authentic self shines through. So grab your earbuds, crank up the volume, and join us on this entertaining and heartfelt episode that proves it's the "Ands" in life that truly make us who we are. Don't forget to check out the podcast website for exciting visuals and connect with Emily on social media to witness her amazing singing skills. And while you're there, don't miss the opportunity to take an anonymous research survey on corporate culture by clicking on the big, shiny button. As always, subscribe to the podcast and spread the word to never miss an episode that celebrates the unique passions that make us all rock stars in our own right.
Rani Puranik, CFO for Worldwide Oil Field Machine Inc., talks about her passion for singing, dancing and how she feels her creativity gets her in touch with herself. She also talks about how her company encourages their employees to embrace their hobbies, be their authentic selves and why that can be crucial both personally and professionally!
Brian Beckcom, an attorney based out of Houston, Texas, talks about his passion for practicing Jiu-Jitsu, how it has improved his personal and professional life, making connections at the workplace through hobbies, and much more!
Brian Franklin, a shareholder at Weinstein Spira, talks about participating in dog shows, collecting cannons, and running a winery! He also talks about how these interests differentiate him in the office and why it’s so important to have interests outside of the office!
Abhishek Nayak, CEO & Co-Founder of Appsmith, talks about his passion for pottery, how it has helped him improve his skills as a manager, creating an open work culture in a remote environment, and much more!
Troy Pepper shares his story of how he became the NBA PA announcer for the Indiana Pacers, how it has improved his networking skills in his career, the importance of people skills, and much more!
Jade Glab talks about getting into pageantry, winning Miss New Jersey, the discipline needed to compete in pageants, how she applies these skills to her career, and much more!
Matt Banker talks about his passion for conceptual art, what conceptual art is, how it has applied to his career in marketing, and much more!
Shane Sullivan, Senior Accountant at Avant Communications, talks about his passion for watching films and how this passion helps him develop relationships in the office, why it’s important to care about other people’s passions, and much more!
David Bergstein, the Chief Innovation Officer of Bergstein CPA, talks about his hobbies of racquet sports, mainly pickleball, how it has helped him establish relationships both personally and professionally, why it’s so important to be yourself in the workplace, and much more!
Heather Winandy, Client Engagement Manager at RSM US LLP, talks about her passion for exploring, trying new hobbies, bringing your full self into the office, and more!
Alex talks about her love of socializing on social media as well as in person, how it helps with her career, meeting her best friend online, and much more!
Karl Hebenstreit, Principal Consultant for Perform & Function, LLC., talks about his passion for writing business and children’s books. Karl talks about how his writing helps with his career, having support from his co-workers, approaching different work cultures and much more!
Melissa Romo, author, and VP of Global Marketing at Sage, talks about her journey to realizing her passion for writing, taking the leap to pursue it full-time, how it helped her find her current position and much more!
Nick Sinclair, Founder of TOA Global, talks about his passion for snowboarding, where he likes to go snowboarding, how it helps in his career, how he is identified by his passion at work and much more!
Orumé Agbeyegbe Hays, Founder & CEO of Hays CPA, LLC., talks about her passion for running and traveling and how it has helped improve her skills in endurance and networking within her career! She also talks about some of her favorite places she has visited!
Tate Hackert, President of ZayZoon, talks about his passion for martial arts, his fighting experience, how it has improved his self-discipline both in and out of the office, and more!
Bill Mandara Jr., CEO of Mancini Duffy, talks about his passion for playing music, how it helps him with his career as a CEO, how Mancini Duffy encourages its employees to discuss their hobbies, and much more!
Mary McDonald talks about her hobby of macro-outdoor photography, how it is a conversation starter in the office, how it has improved her relationships both in and out of the office, and much more!
Clint Murphy, CFO of Mosaic Homes, talks about discovering his passion for writing and podcasting, how it has improved his communication skills, why it’s so important to always have an And, and much more!
Jon Ekstrom, a Communications Consultant at Deft Communications, talks about his passion for organizing theme parties, the different themes he has done, why it’s important to have structure when putting together a party and much more!
Angie MacPhee, a Consultant and Managing Partner for Baker Tilly, shares her passion for being a Colorado native, mainly hiking the mountains of Colorado. She talks about how hiking has helped her with setting goals at work, how Baker Tilly encourages its employees to discuss their hobbies and much more!
Alex Drost, Founder of Connection Builders, talks about his passion for biking, creating better client relationships, culture surveys, and more!
Michele Harrison, Learning and Development Manager at Janover LLC, talks about her passion for Krav Maga and teaching self-defense, how it has given her discipline and patience in the workplace, and much more!
Zach Gordon, VP of Accounting at Propeller Industries, talks about his passion for running and traveling. He discusses how his experience in running marathons has helped him with discipline and goal setting in the workplace, his initial culture shock when he first started at Propeller, and much more!
Elizabeth Coo, Founder and Co-Host of Entry Level Adulting Podcast, talks about how she fell into accounting, discovering her passion for podcasting, how it has helped her with her career as an accountant, and much more!
Joe Garafalo, Co-Founder of Mosaic, talks about his passion for playing poker, how it is more a numbers game than gambling, how it applies to starting/running a business, and much more!
Elandas Miller, Scrum Master at Cognizant Softvision, talks about his passion and side hustle, Kicking It Sports, which hosts field day type of events within his local community. He also talks about how his skills in organizing sports events applies to his career, why being open about your outside of work passions is beneficial, and much more!
Alexandria Romero talks about how she went from couch to 5k with her passion for running, how she develops strong connections with her team, and much more!
Bianca Mueller, Community Manager at Wagepoint, talks about her passion for contact sports and building communities. She also shares how this helps her career in maintaining professional relationships and staying focused as well as finding her passion after injuries and other things in life getting in the way!
Paul Jan Zdunek, COO of Miller Kaplan, talks about people watching, understanding the psychology of people, and how that is applied to his career.
Carolyn Ellis, Founder of Brilliance Mastery, talks about how she discovered her passion for musical theatre, how it has taught her to stay out of her own way, the skills that she can apply to her career, and much more!
Chase Birky, CEO & Co-Founder of Dark Horse CPAs, talks about his passion for college football, talking about it at work, why it is important for employees within a company to have an aligned purpose, and much more!
Lynne Titley, Associate Director of Finance at Space & Time Media, talks about her passion for playing music, specifically jamming. She shares why she prefers jamming to traditional performing, how it applies to her career, and much more!
Josh Standley, CEO of DKK Accounting, Inc., talks about how he discovered his passion for 3D Printing, why he finds it to be a relaxing hobby, how it helps him establish connections in the office, and much more!
Tonya Moffitt, Managing Partner of Merina+Co, talks about discovering her passion for riding ATVs and UTVs, breaking the negative stigma of taking vacations, why it’s so important to have something that takes you away from work, and much more!
Andrew Lassise, founder of TECH 4 Accountants, talks about his journey to sobriety, developing business relationships on the golf course, how his sobriety affected his business relationships, and much more!
Maggie Johndrow, managing partner of Johndrow Wealth Management, talks bout how she got into tennis at an early age, coming back to it after 15 years, how her skills in tennis translate into her career, and much more!
Sam Staley talks about getting into his passion for alpine skiing, shifting over to teaching, and how his skills in skiing apply to his career!
Omolara McCloud, “The S/uperhero Accountant”, talks about her passion for travelling abroad, learning different languages, embracing her authentic self, early in her career, and much more!
Justin Miller, a Partner & National Director of Wealth Planning for Evercore Wealth Management, talks about his passion for writing children’s novels, how he realized that there needs to be more in your life than work, his work/life balance, and much more!
Anna N'Jie-Konte, Founder of Dare to Dream Financial Planning LLC, talks about discovering her passion for kickboxing, how it translates to her career, breaking through with sharing her passion in the office, how founders can play a huge role in the foundation of a company’s work culture, and so much more!
Aaron Berson talks about how his general curiosity led him towards his passion for taking on DIY projects and earning YouTube diplomas! He also talks about how this passion has benefitted his career! And why it is important to embrace an employee’s skill outside of the office!
Jaclyn Badeau, President of Badeau Consulting, LLC., talks about her passion for sports, establishing connections in the office through sports, and when she realized how important it was to create personal relationships in her business!
Beau Osland talks about his passion for playing music, how it affects his relationships to clients and co-workers in the office, and much more!
Nikki Winston, founder of the Winston CPA Group, talks about her passion for cleaning, how it applies to her organizational skills at work, providing a space for individuals to be themselves at work, and much more!
David Almonte talks about his non-profit, FountainHead RI, its purpose, and how it helped him improve his skills as a CPA! He also talks about how his office promotes a healthier work culture and why that is so important for productivity!
Fara Rosenweig talks about how she discovered her passion for running, developing relationships in the office through running, barriers to overcome when sharing hobbies, and much more!
Rick Maurer, of Maurer & Associates, talks about his passion for playing jazz music, how it ties into his career, why it is has been important to keep it in his life, and much more!
Ashley Dodge, a Director at Bigwedesky, talks about her passion for being a dog owner and managing the Instagram page for her dog, Hans Gruber! She also shares how owning a dog has changed her perspective in clear communication in the office and how it has helped her live her best life outside of the office!
Mike Maksymiw, an executive director at Aprio, talks about his passion for baseball, developing deeper relationships through baseball, why it is important to engage and be authentic in the workplace, and much more!
Ale Spray, Community Engagement Manager for Mortenson, talks about her passion for cycling, her bike Catalina, getting through the pandemic, how cycling has helped develop relationships in the office, and much more!
Mike Kowis, a tax attorney at Entergy Services, LLC, talks about his passion for off-road racing, doing a presentation in the office about his passion, how it helps him with his job, and much more!
Kari Hipsak, a Senior Manager at AI CPA, shares her journey of both physical and mental hardships that led her to advocate for mental health awareness. She talks about how finding and losing hobbies due to unfortunate circumstances have helped her realize their importance in an individual’s mental health and much more!
Bill Hershey, owner of Life Stream Business Services, talks about his passion for a holistic lifestyle, how it has helped him physically, mentally, and in his business, and how the corporate culture is changing to a more holistic point of view!
AlexAnndra Ontra, co-founder of Shufflrr, talks about her passion for ballet dancing, how those skills apply to her work, when she feels the best ideas come, and much more!
Brian Streig talks about his passions for home cooking, hiking, and how he finds these topics to be great ice breakers in the office, and why he feels the tone at the top can make a big difference in workplace culture!
Nayo Carter-Gray, CEO & Founder of 1st Step Accounting, talks about her passion for paper crafting, creating crafts for others in the office, and how it helps hone her attention to detail and develop relationships with clients and co-workers!
Bolanle Williams-Olley, CFO & Partner at Mancini Duffy, talks about discovering her passion for creating NGO organizations and planning birthday parties and why she feels it is important to have something to be passionate about outside of the office!
Kenneth Omoruyi, a Managing Partner of CKO CPAs & Advisors, talks about how he discovered his passion for playing saxophone, inspiring other students to start playing saxophone, and connecting with others as a musician!
Jessica Elizabeth McClain talks about how she discovered her passion for bodybuilding, how it has influenced her husband, and helped establish a support system and closer bonds at the workplace!
Sarah Campbell Arnett talks about discovering letters and photos that led to her passion for learning about her family’s genealogy, why it is important to have something that inspires you outside of work, and so much more!
Shawn Parikh, Founder and CEO of Entigrity Solutions LLC., talks about his passion for playing Cricket and Tennis, and how he finds time to do activities with his family on a regular basis!
Robina Bennion talks about finding her passion for painting, how her art and feeling off the energy of others go together, becoming a “wealth doula” and much more!
Dave Skuodas, Watershed Manager at Mile High Flood District, talks about how he discovered his passion for photography & videography, applying these skills to his presentations in the office, and what he feels is needed for a good work culture!
Lei Testa, a Managing Partner at Averett Financial, talks about her passion for knitting, knitting blankets for people in the office, and how her knitting has improved her planning skills in her career!
Ken Healy, a partner at Diversified Financial Solutions, PC., talks about how his colleagues at work got him into rental property management, volunteering for his community, and how his experience from this helps him with creating and managing connections in the office!
Shannon Weinstein, owner of Fitnancial Solutions, talks about finding her passion for fitness and dancing, how she integrated it into her work as an accountant, and how she found ways for her organization to encourage people to be open about their passions!
Sullivan Finlay, a Senior Accountant at Salesforce, talks about his passion for improv comedy, how it has improved his skills in his career as an accountant, and why it’s so important to have a work culture that is open to people expressing their passions!
Christie Boriack, an interior designer at Angeline Guido Design, talks about her passion for building genuine social connections, how it helps in her career, and why she feels you should simply embrace the awkwardness of meeting new people!
Michael Durant, a Senior Tax Associate at Prager Metis CPAs LLC, returns to the podcast from episode 186 to talk about how he began working with financial literacy awareness programs, his recent hobby of playing chess, and how the pandemic has made many people pursue new hobbies!
Chris Hervochon, owner of Better Way CPA, talks about his passion for golfing, his college golfing career, and how his experience in golf has helped him in his career as a CPA and entrepreneur! He also talks about the importance of establishing connections with co-workers in a virtual environment!
Dr. Natalia Wiechowski, LinkedIn Marketing Unicorn & Edutainer at Think Natalia, talks about her multiple “Ands”, why she has a passion in pursuing so many new ventures, and how that has helped her stand out in her career! She also talks about why a company’s culture is easier to influence from the top!
Benson Babu, a physician at Good Samaritan, talks about his passion for landscape photography, how he applies his photography skills to his career, and why it is important to connect with his patients at a human level!
Amiee Keenan, founder of The ISV Society, talks about her passion for health & fitness, how it improves her performance in the office, and how she has developed relationships in the office through her passion!
Crystal Shin returns to the podcast from episode 211 to talk about some of her latest creative projects and how she has seen a difference in workplace culture since the pandemic!
Gabe Messercola, Asset Manager of EDF Renewables, talks about his passion for expeditionary mountaineering, how it has helped improve his leadership skills in the office, and much more!
Jen Todling, an Audit Partner at EY, talks about her passion for dancing and how she feels it helps her perform better at her career, how she established an identity at the workplace with her passion, and how she encourages her co-workers to open about their own passions!
Braughm Ricke talks about his passion for building cars, how it relates to building a company, and why it is important to have something to focus on outside of your work!
Jervis DiCicco, CEO and Co-founder of ProsperBridge, talks about his passion for caving, the risks associated with it, and how that has helped him with handling risks in the workplace. He also talks about how intense situations can be bring people closer and why it is important to help activate people’s passions at work!
Iralma Pozo talks about her passion for wellness and brewing tea, how it helps her in her career as a CPA, and much more!
Mayur Vyas returns to the podcast from episode 221 to talk about his new passion in CrossFit! He also talks about why it is good to have a passion outside of work and why you should be encouraged to share it with others!
Ford Baker, CEO and Founder of BaCo Tech, talks about how his poor health led him towards discovering his passion for cycling and how it has improved his life personally and in the workplace! Ford also talks about how he tries to encourage his organization to take more time off and lead a healthier lifestyle as well as how this led him to create his own accounting system to improve productivity and free up time for employees!
Brian Dubow talks about how he discovered his passion for running endurance marathons, how it has helped him with his overall perspective and connecting with people in the workplace, and what type 2 fun means!
Geraldine Carter, owner of She Thinks Big Coaching, talks about her passion for traveling, how it runs in her family, some of her favorite trips, and how her experiences traveling play a role in her management style!
Dan de Roulet, Co-Founder of Knowify, LLC., talks about how he discovered his passion for Judo, getting his kids involved with it, and how it has helped him develop resilience in being an entrepreneur running a business!
Kylie returns to the podcast to talk about her recent projects, turning her hobby into a business of its own, prospecting accounting clients from her interior design business, and much more!
Tim Barr talks about how he discovered ultrarunning, why he got into it, and how it has helped shape his perspective when tackling issues at the office! Tim also talks about how his office promotes discussions outside of work among coworkers.
Kaitlyn Kirkhart, CCO of BaCo Tech, talks about discovering her passion for traveling, how she is known for her passion in the workplace, and how she realized why it is so important to have a hobby as a professional!
Casey Hill talks about his passion for board games and how building his own board games have made him better at handling business and relationships in the office. John and Casey also talk about the many ups and downs of running your own business the process of creating and selling your own product!
Mark Menezes, talks about his passions for playing piano and stand-up comedy. He also talks about how easy it is to relate to co-workers through these hobbies whether they share them or not and how the skills from playing music and comedy help with his career!
Amanda Wilkie returns to the podcast from episode 193 to talk about how her life both personally and professionally have changed in the last year! She also tells us about some new hobbies, with her being better at some than others!
Abbey Kanellakis, a Senior Manager at Rea & Associates, talks about how she discovered her passion for gardening, when she realized being herself at work can benefit her career, forming The Committee of Awesomeness, and much more!
Rob Rastovich, CTO of ThingLogix, talks about being brought up and taking over his family’s ranch that has been passed down for many generations and how he navigates between the two vastly different worlds of being a rancher and a technologist! He also talks about the reaction he gets when people in the office find out that he is a rancher and how it encourages them to open up about their passions!
Stephen King, President and CEO of GrowthForce, talks about his experience as a concert promoter and how it plays a role in his career in accounting today! He also talks about how gardening and running a business are similar!
Mike Brand of BMSS, LLC talks about his passion for cooking and eating good food, how he connects with people through his passion for good food, and how BMSS encourages its employees to connect with each other outside of their professions!
Stephanie Campigotto, a Director at PwC, talks about how she found her passion for woodworking, building her own furniture, how these skills apply to her job as an accountant, and how where you live plays a major role in company culture!
Rachel Fisch, Chief Global Development Officer at High Rock Accounting, and the former co-host of the Green Apple Slices podcast, returns to talk to John about the changes in people sharing their hobbies and passions more since the pandemic and much more!
James Sinclair, co-founder and CEO of Enterprise Alumni, talks about why he feels it is important to have a hobby or passion that gets you away from your work, how he found working with animals as his passion, and much more!
Kace Phillips, the co-founder of RBA, talks about his passion for music and live concerts and how this passion has given him many unintentional networking opportunities! He also talks about the importance of great company culture and how that affects the quality of work and client experience!
Sam Ovett, co-founder of Mobile Pocket Office, talks about his passions for kayaking, skiing, and rock climbing. He also talks about how these passions gave him a lesson that applies to other aspects of his life and how continuous encouragement and genuine interest in your employees can improve the company culture!
Kerry Crockett, CEO of IASA, talks about her passions for traveling the world, helping animals, and how these passions and her career both require compassion and building relationships!
Josh returns to the podcast from episode 178 to talk about his continued passion for writing and recording his own music! He also talks about how he has gotten more comfortable with sharing his music, how it helps him in the office, and much more!
Will Baker talks about his passions for playing guitar, his work as a church planter, and how he maintains a priority for these things in his life along with his career. He also talks about the importance of being a part of a community outside of work!
Derek Abdekalimi talks about his passions for skiing and Judo, how they coincide with each other and his career, and why he feels it is important to be able to talk about passions with co-workers in the office.
Scott Shute talks about his lifelong passions for music & photography and how these skills applied to his corporate careers. He also talks about creating his own job of Mindfulness and Compassion programs at LinkedIn and why it is a great example of both the organization and the individual playing a role in corporate culture!
Emma Loggins talks about how she started her blog FanBolt, becoming an official blogger for TV shows, creating client relationships, and much more!
Dennis Sherrin, returns to the podcast from episode 177 to talk about his hiking adventures during his sabbatical from accounting! He also talks about how he has noticed more of the 'What’s Your And?' message and how he has applied it in his life!
James Perry talks about his fascination for Egyptian culture and landmarks, how his work experience affects his travels, the many things to come out of Ireland, and so much more!
Adrian Mayse talks about what inspired him to write a children’s book about accounting, the positive reaction from his colleagues, and how that reaction gave a renewed focus for him at the office!
Ben Loggins talks about how he first became interested in studying UFO events, talking about it in the workplace and as a public speaker, and why it is important to have flexibility in the workplace!
Leslie Ehm talks about her two passions in life: Swagger AND boxing! She tells us how she got into boxing, where to find value in what you do, what swagger is, and how boxing applies to her swagger message!
Herschel Frierson talks about some of his favorite tech gadgets from his Tesla to his video game collection, his home theater set up, and more! He also talks about why it is so important to know the hobbies and passions of your employees with getting the most out of them in the workplace!
Daniel Siemens, returns to the podcast from episode 183 to talk about his reignited passion for skateboarding, building a halfpipe, and how the culture at ScL Health allows for him and his co-workers to be open with each other!
Tripp shares some stories from traveling the country seeing The Grateful Dead, making connections with other Deadheads, in the office, and why it is important to have something outside of work!
Arianna Campbell, a consultant at Boomer Consulting, talks about her furniture refinishing hobby, how her family can be her toughest critics, and how it makes her better at her job as a consultant!
Chip Schweiger, Audit Director at PKF Texas, or as he would say “Full-time CPA, part-time cowboy”, talks about how his hobby as a cowboy helps him improve at his job and why it is so important to have something outside of work!
Gail Wilson, founder of GWA Business Solutions, talks about her passion for music and attending concerts! She also shares when she realized that learning about other people’s hobbies add insight to who they are as people!
Twyla returns to the podcast from episode 196 to talk about how the pandemic has given her time to reflect on herself and determine what’s best for her mental health, as well as finding a new hobby in hiking in the mountains!
Randy Crabtree, a partner of Tri-Merit, talks about his passion for craft beer and how he applies it to his work with establishing connections with his clients!
JP Lisdorf, of Lisdorf International Consulting, talks about his passion for cycling, sportsmanship, and how quality hours of work are more important than more hours!
Ariel Lomax, from Jabian Consulting, talks about her passion for baking, her drive to getting things done the right way, and how you can develop an understanding of someone through knowing their passions!
Karen Reyburn, owner of The Profitable Firm, talks about finding her passion while dealing with chronic fatigue syndrome, breaking down the resistance of being creative, overcoming shyness, and her companies pillars and values concept!
Andrew Ven De Beek, returns to the podcast to talk about how his business is shifting towards the alcohol distribution industry, making his own whisky, the culture he tries to create at Illumin8, and more!
Kevin Dawson, host of the Leaders & Lagers Podcast, talks about his passion for aeronautics and plane spotting! He talks about how his passion for planes correlates with leading teams in his career and how it serves as an ice breaker for establishing relationships!
Nikole Mackenzie, President of Momentum Accounting, talks about discovering her passion for Aussie Rules Football, how she applies her values in sports to her accounting firm, building a company based on flexibility, and more!
Michael Puck, Senior Partner of Human Insights Group at UKG, talks about his passion for dog photography, his findings on how dogs can benefit your mental health, sharing dog photos in webinars, and much more!
It's crucial for us to create human connections at work so John encourages you to take the initiative. From Margaret Wheatley's poem "Turning to One Another," he shares the line "Remember, you don't fear people whose story you know. Real listening always brings people closer together."
Barbara Turley, CEO of The Virtual Hub, talks about her passion for skiing and how it plays a role into her career running a company and challenging yourself towards mastering a certain skill!
Bill Penczak, CEO of MICA Ventures, returns to the podcast to talk about his most recent trips, starting his own consulting firm right before the pandemic began, the status of the accounting professional world, and much more!
Sara Gibb, owner of Flow Works Bookkeeping & Consulting, talks about her passion for art and why she felt it was better suited as a hobby rather than a profession! She also talks about how her art translates into her work as a bookkeeper and how it helps build relationships with clients!
It's Christmas Day! We've finally made it to the end of 2020 so I wanted to take a moment to recap what a year it's been on the show. We've had so many great guests sharing their "And"–from rollerblading to NASCAR to ju-jitsu and even two volunteer firefighters!
Thank you for subscribing to this podcast to hear about the "And" of other professionals and how that applies to their work. If you or someone you know has an "And"–that hobby or passion or interest outside of work–please reach out because I'd love to share this with everyone listening.
There will be a slight change in format going forward with a little more of me sharing what I've learned from the research sprinkled with some more follow-ups about how the book has impacted workplace cultures.
Speaking of the book, What's Your "And"?, the audio version will be coming in the first half of 2021! The exact date is pending–just like everything else in the world. If you prefer the paperback or e-reader version, the links are at WhatsYourAnd.com. And if you have the book, please take a minute to leave a few sentences as an Amazon review.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Terrell Turner talks about how his desire for making meetings a more fun experience led him to his passion for creating content to creatively relay important information, tell stories and encourage people to open up and connect with each other!
John Bly returns to the podcast from episode 152 to talk about how he maintained his passion for traveling through the pandemic and how it has affected people being more open about their hobbies and passions!
Rubik Yeriazarian talks about his passion for writing accountant themed greeting cards and children’s books! He talks about how this hobby has helped him improve his marketing skills, why it’s important to have something outside of work, and his experience in opening up about his hobby in the office!
Ges Ray returns to the podcast from episode 171 to talk about his recent performances with his choral singing group, his opportunity to travel to New York to sing at Carnegie Hall, and how he has noticed more of an interest in people as humans in the workplace!
Suraya Yahaya talks about getting an RV and the adventures she has been on with her family through the past year. She also talks about how her experiences with the RV and traveling have helped her with problem solving and relating to others at work!
Bailey Smith, owner of Sopris Accounting Solutions LLC, returns to the podcast from episode 56 to talk about her shift to needlepointing after becoming a mother and how she is noticing a growing amount of understanding that people are more than their careers!
Martin Bissett, founder of The Bissett Group, talks about his hobby in researching the real St. Nicholas in who he was, his history, and how his story has been embellished over time. He also talks about the spirit of giving and how he applies it towards his work as a consultant!
It's the day after Thanksgiving here in the United States and I'm officially stuffed! This year hasn't been ideal for any of us but that doesn't mean that we still can't take a moment to give thanks.
Thank you for subscribing to this podcast to hear about the "And" of other professionals and how that applies to their work.
Thank you for sharing this message with your friends and coworkers -- and bosses, too! This is our message and it's making a difference.
And finally, thank you for reading the book! It was a journey writing it and seeing the positive feedback made it all worth it. If you haven't gotten the book yet, the links are at WhatsYourAnd.com. And if you have gotten the book, please take a minute to leave a few sentences as an Amazon review.
Thank you again.
Cloud Accounting Aficionado Kellie Parks talks about her cabin renovation projects, building her own “she-shed” office, running a cloud-based accounting firm, and how her renovation projects apply to her profession as an accountant! She also talks about her other passion for water skiing!
Damien returns to the podcast from episode 114 to talk about teaching his kids how to play piano, having John on his podcast, and overcoming the fear of feeling vulnerable!
Tosha Anderson, founder and CEO of The Charity CFO, talks about her passion for traveling around the world with her family and how it played a major role in motivating her to start her own firm and establish a company culture that allows her and her colleagues to pursue their hobbies!
Jason returns to the podcast from episode 113 to talk about his recent shows with his band, having clients hear his music on the radio, and how the pandemic has both affected his music and his workplace culture.
Greg Tirico talks about his passion for music and playing drums! He also talks about how music is an easy topic to get clients and colleagues to open up about themselves and encourage them to share more!
Mathew returns to the podcast from episode 122 to talk about his shift from choreographer to playwright, recovering from his business falling apart, and how What’s Your And is an influence on his new play!
Sal Rezai, founder of Accounting by Sal, talks about her passion for hula hooping and how it has helped with her physical confidence fostering relationships with clients! She also talks about how having a hobby outside of work can help provide a purpose for yourself!
Hannah returns to the podcast from episode 141 to talk about her latest hobbies in gardening and DIY crafting projects. She also talks about why she decided to step away from the fiddle and how she has been more aware of people sharing their passions in the office!
David Jenyns talks about his passion for Jiu-Jitsu, setting it aside and returning to it after several years, and how it has helped him become a disciplined business owner!
Dr. Sean Stein Smith returns to the podcast to talk about his shift in passions from drumming to creative writing and how this passion has helped with communication skills in the office! He also talks about how it’s important to give your brain a break from work to focus on other things!
Amanda Aguillard talks about her passion for backpacking and how it has helped with facing adversaries and establishing relationships with clients! She also talks about how technology has allowed her to run her business, maintain client connections, and continue to pursue her passion!
Mark Lee returns to the podcast from episode 136 to talk about his continued passion for magic, standing out an individual, and how he pivoted his business during the pandemic!
Joel Lacayo talks about his passion for charity and non-profit work helping fellow immigrants like himself find contacts and develop professional skills for building careers!
Josh Lance returns to the podcast from episode 125 to talk about his continued passion for brewing beer and wine and how his passion applies to the type of clients he works for! He also talks about recently getting into cooking at home and how it is important to have something outside of work especially during the pandemic!
Heather Smith talks about her passion for traveling around the world and how it helps her with developing relationships and standing out among the competition!
Ryan Bartholomee returns to the podcast from episode 163 to talk about his continued passion for building Lego figures with his family, live tweeting, and some of the shows that have recently featured his tweets! He also talks about how his Lego figures are conversation starters in the office and what Shenandoah does to encourage an open culture at work!
Eric Pierre talks about his passion for basketball, his brief career playing with the semi-pros, how he applies his skills from basketball in the office, and why its good to have a passion outside of the office!
Clayton Oates returns to the podcast to talk about how he is satisfying his travel bug through the pandemic, his gardening, helping small businesses, and taking time for yourself!
Scott Orn talks about his passion for running and moderating his non-profit “Ben’s Friends”, which was started for a friend who had a rare brain aneurysm and serves the need of expanding a network of other affected by it! Scott also talks about how he got this group started, what it provides, and how it has affected his life in the office!
Tom Wheeland returns to the podcast from episode 138 to talk about his new passion for cooking and grilling! He also talks about how important it is for a leader to be open and vulnerable to make an impact within your organization!
Georgia Green, CEO of BEUrevolution, talks about some of her adventures and how she balanced between her travels and being the CEO of a company. She also talks about why she felt this was the best hobby for her and why the individual sets the tone in a company!
Chris Hooper returns to the podcast from episode 68 to talk about his semi-retirement from accounting and how he has been spending his time from continuing weightlifting to becoming a volunteer firefighter!
Shehan Chandrasekera talks about how a co-worker introduced him to bouldering, how it helps him take his mind off work, the skills it provides him in the office, and much more!
Chris Brown returns to the podcast from episode 105 to talk about his growth within his leadership academy, playing guitar for his worship band, and how workplace culture is influenced by his experience in the leadership academy!
Dr. Scott Dell talks about his passion for motorcycles and how it has provided a platform for networking either through motorcycle groups or in the office!
Warwick returns to the podcast from episode 79 to update us on his Aussie football career! He talks about building connections with teammates and fans of football, making it to the grand finals, and his new hobby, playing the guitar!
Kesha JonTae' talks about her passion for fashion, getting comfortable with her own style, and how confidence is a large part of her hobby and career!
Caleb Newquist returns from episode 15 to talk about his move to being a full-time blog writer, how he deals with receiving feedback on his writing, and one fun way to help with sharing your hobbies in the office!
Michael Ly talks about his passion for developing personal and professional relationships with people and how it benefits his career as the CEO of Reconciled! He also talks about the work environment he strives for at his company and how his background helped fuel his passion for developing relationships!
Meri Amber returns to talk about her move to being a musical comedian full-time, some of the awesome comic conventions she has performed at, and how she has continued to perform through the pandemic! She also talks about how you should never ignore a hobby or passion you may have!
Peter Montoya, consultant, keynote speaker, and author, talks about how his passion for CrossFit provides balance in his life, helps him establish connections and relationships, and how it helped further him in his career!
Trent returns to the podcast from episode #90 to talk about how he has been dealing with not being able to travel recently, why Australian coffee is the best in the world, and how his passion for lattes and coffee help establish relationships in the office!
Brittany Elliser talks about her passion for romance novels and how she started a blog to not only express her passion but to better herself in the workplace! She also talks about her experience with her son’s liver transplant and becoming an organ donor advocate!
Jonathan Ankney returns to the podcast from episode #95 to talk about how he is regaining his annual cycling mileage after taking some time off to deal with health issues. He also talks about how the pandemic is shifting the dynamic in humanizing the workplace!
Jeannie Ruesch talks about her early discovery of her passion for writing stories and how it goes together with her career as a marketing director! She also talks about the importance of being authentic and vulnerable both in the office and as an author!
Tony Nitti returns from episode #100 to talk about his shift in hobbies from professional mountain bike racing to lifeguard coaching, how the pandemic has affected the industry, and why its so important to have interests outside of work, especially when working remotely!
Michelle Weinstein, The Pitch Queen and host of the Abundant Accountant podcast, talks about her passion for fitness and how it improves her life both personally and professionally. She also talks about finding control in your life and how your passion is a big part of that!
Ben Westbrook returns to the podcast from episode #107 to talk about his new hobby, crafting! Ben shares with us some of the crafts he has worked on lately and how these skills apply to his career as an accountant!
Jackeline Velez talks about her transformation from having no hobbies and lacking fulfillment in life to discovering yoga, changing her habits, and finding a great workplace culture at Xero! She also talks about her improvements in life contributed to her professional success!
Scott Usher returns to the podcast from episode #61 to talk about his recent performances as a theatre actor, how having connections with colleagues can make you more effective at your job, and examples of how Bader Martin encourages building these connections!
Max Eckstein talks about how he discovered Aussie Rules Football and how his experiences in playing have helped him become more resilient to challenges and a better leader both on the field and in the office!
Byron returns to the podcast from episode #64 to talk about his latest project with expanding his barn, buying a new horse, and his newfound hobby with his one-wheel!
Danielle Supkis Cheek talks about how her grandfather, who was a tailor before working for NASA, got her into sewing and how she rediscovered her passion for it after realizing she needed a creative outlet outside of work! She also talks about how she puts the hobbies of other co-workers over her own in part to make it a more comfortable environment to share!
Chris Ekimoff returns to the podcast to talk about his new hobbies with running and starting his new podcast, inSecurities. He also talks about what he does around the workplace as a director to encourage an open workplace!
Phil Gerbyshak, VP of Sales Training at Vector Solutions, geeks out on pinball and how it helps with multi-tasking and strategic thinking in his job!
Amy Vetter returns to the podcast from episode 104 to talk about her passions in yoga and playing bass guitar as well as taking on a new hobby in boxing! Amy also discusses why its more important to focus on having hobbies than trying to be the best at them!
Kate Johnson talks about how she went from having little formal experience in singing and teaching to directing her church’s children’s choir group! She also talks about how it helps her get away from her more calculated mindset and gives her a chance to explore her creative side!
Tim Cowley returns to the podcast from episode 91 to talk about how his passions for rugby and board games help with developing relationships with clients and how they help with quick learning and adapting in the office!
Jim Laing talks about his lifelong passion for hockey, and his time as a professional hockey player as well as being drafted into the NHL! He also talks about how his pro hockey experience serves as a great ice breaker in the office and how his company promotes an open work environment for their employees!
Sammie Johannes returns to the podcast from episode 93 to talk about her continued passion for powerlifting, recent accomplishments, and how her company, Xero, supports her passion for powerlifting!
Gail Perry is a woman who can say she has done a lot of awesome things! She talks about how she transitioned from having a music major in college to picking up writing and journalism, to bookkeeping and running her own movie theater! She also talks about how these experiences helped her in her career as an accountant!
Ed Kless, Senior Director from Sage, returns to the podcast from episode 92 to talk about his passions for baseball and musical theatre. Ed shares with us how he is getting through the cancelled baseball season, sharing his passions with his kids, and his thoughts on being open about your passions in the workplace!
Mariette Martinez talks about her early days dancing at rave parties, putting together the salsa popup dance party at a conference, and what it takes to build a great culture at the workplace!
John visits David Kendall, Founder and CEO of Bold Legal, at his office in Denver, Colorado to talk about how his passion for cyclocross and his career as an attorney both involve leadership skills, taking risks, and how both satisfy his desire to pushing limits!
Eric Johnson, CEO of Nintex, returns to the podcast from episode 49 to talk about his newfound passion in coaching for his kids’ basketball teams as well as being an avid basketball fan himself! He also discusses what Nintex does to set the tone of their culture and why it contributes to their success!
Mike Whitmire talks about the five components of his life including his passions for baseball and golfing as well as his home and work lives. He also talks about how a fellow employee inspired him to start woodworking and how he tries to engage other employees through humor!
Misty Megia returns to the podcast from episode 23 to talk about her shift in theater work as a director and producer. She also talks about how her work in theater has influenced her in the office to help executives make engaging presentations and be more thoughtful leaders!
Erin Kidd talks about how she found her passion for writing when she first started at Thompson Greenspon and how she found it to be a great way to communicate and relate to clients! She also talks about her passion for supporting fellow military spouses!
Rebecca returns to the podcast from episode 62 to talk about her new passion in baking! She tells us how she got into baking, sharing recipes in the office, and how being open about her hobby encourages others to follow suit in the office!
Emily Bartlett talks about being a volunteer firefighter in her hometown of Mason, Michigan and how it affects her job as an accountant for the city. She also talks about the family culture at her office that provides her the support system to continue her volunteering firefighting!
Maya Townsend returns to the podcast from episode 40 to talk about her latest ventures in chocolate including facilitating an annual conference, hosting a chocolate salon, and how it all applies to her job as a consultant!
Jared Robbins talks about his passion for soccer, how it has helped build the work ethic that he applies in the office, and how the leadership of his firm is encouraging a culture of being open in the workplace!
Paul Meissner returns to the podcast from episode 88 to talk about his continued passion in curling, finding a new hobby in golf, giving up umpiring, and why he feels accounting is not a commodity!
Shaun Hunley talks about getting into comedy and how it helped him overcome shyness in the office. He also discusses how he overcame the fear of what other people in the office thought of him as a comedian and differentiating yourself in your profession and hobby!
Christine DeAngelis returns to the podcast from episode 28 to talk about her new career change that combines her passion for holistic health and her skills as a CPA. She also talks about why she goes to the gym at least 3 to 4 times a week!
Joel Ungar shares some powerful experiences participating in the Wish a Mile cycling marathons for the Make a Wish Foundation. He also tells us how his passion for cycling makes it easy for him to establish connections!
John visits Ron’s office in Denver to follow up on his latest adventures as part of the Distinguished Clown Brigade, taking on the role of Santa Claus, and writing a book on the cannabis industry!
Tim Smith talks about his experiences as a triathlete and how those experiences help him mentally prepare for the tough challenges he faces both in and out of the office! Tim also talks about the joy he gets from establishing connections with clients and shares some stories from his time as a circus performer!
Cindy Schroeder returns to the podcast from episode 76 to update us on her Disney adventures and how it has influenced the experience she offers to her clients!
Stephen talks about his passion for motorsports and shares some of his experiences spectating the racetrack! He also talks about how he realized his passion made it easy for him to establish connections with clients and co-workers!
Scott returns to the podcast from episode 78 to talk about his ongoing passion for Buckeyes football and how he utilizes his favorite football team, his favorite rock band, and golfing for establishing and maintaining connections with employees and clients! He also tells the story of recruiting the group of rappers into the firm who were also featured on the podcast!
Mark Violi been in over 25 plays also movies and TV. He is a member of SAG-AFTRA. Mark also writes screenplays and has optioned several scripts to Hollywood as well as being a 7-time produced playwright. Including an upcoming production of ROEBLING: The Story of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Mark talks about getting into acting and how he found the confidence to start writing his own plays. He also talks about how important it is to bring your full self into whatever it is that you do!
Kevin Yeanoplos returns to the podcast from episode 17 to share with us his recent experiences in his hobby of road trips visiting historical musical landmarks and his latest relay run! Kevin and John have a deep conversation on having a passion or hobby in life!
Ryan talks about how getting into CrossFit and travelling has helped him power through his more stressful periods of running an accounting firm! He also talks about why it is so important to have something that disconnects you from work and how he set an example in encouraging his employees to do so!
Joseph is back on the podcast from episode 44 to talk about his return to full-time public accounting, his latest trips around the globe, and how the culture and philosophy of his new job compliments his lifestyle!
Madeline Pratt, founder and CEO of Fearless In Training and Womxn Talk Money, talks about how her passion for fitness and yoga has helped her achieve balance in life through her professional career, health issues, and encouraging her team in the workplace to be more active!
Brian Wagner returns to the podcast from episode 74 to talk about his recent retirement, steelhead fly fishing in Alaska, and why workplace culture has to come from the individuals!
Ilya talks about his passion for skiing and how his balance on risk assessment applies both in the office and on the mountains. He also talks about how workplace cultures have changed overall with a demand for more purposeful roles!
Drew is the AVP for Finance at LIU, and the founder of The Rapping CPA – a creative content development service for businesses, individuals and organizations. While he loves data analytics, process management, and business strategy, he has a passion for rapping, acting, and overall entertaining in general. Accordingly, he’s developed tons of songs, videos, and content on all topics from accounting to partying. He enjoys boating, house parties, networking events, speaking, performing, history, brainstorming, and sports. Drew is a self-proclaimed polymath and “multipotentialite”.
The Rapping CPA returns to the podcast from episode 84 to talk about how his reputation has followed him through a new job and how he landed a job as a production assistant for a couple of Bon Jovi’s music videos!
J Keith, VP of Corporate Development at Pax8, has always tried to be creative in everything thing that he does. As a CPA, his creativity is focused on how he addresses any issues or projects in his professional career.
J talks about how this creativity is applied in the office, how Pax8 encourages employees to share about themselves, and how it is important to break the barrier of communication as a senior executive!
Belicia returns to the podcast from episode 37 to update us on her latest hobbies including snowboarding, travelling, and going to the shooting range! She also talks about how she has noticed a change in co-workers making a point to bring their full selves into the office!
Ali Metzl, a shareholder of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, talks about her passion for running marathons and how it benefits her work at the office with developing relationships with clients and colleagues, and helping her maintain focus!
Jason Kalies, Director of Accounting Policy for United Health Group, returns from episode 9 to talk about his new passion for photography and how it challenges him to think differently and look at things in a different perspective!
Caleb Jenkins, Leader of Client Accounting Services at RLJ Financial Services, talks about applying his technical expertise as an accountant towards community volunteer programs like SALT Micro-financing and how participating in a volunteer activity is much more of what sets your identity as an individual than your profession!
Brad led the outwardly “successful” life into his 20s: Succeeded in school, elite university acceptance, job at a top international accounting firm, CPA designation. But he had no plan other than the standard American narrative. His first year at work he saw what “success” looked like for the firm’s partners — working 80-hour weeks and not taking vacations – so Brad looked for a different path. He and his future wife also had an epiphany: eventually they would want to have kids, but with high pressure jobs in a high cost of living area, they wouldn’t have the time or freedom they desired to spend with those future kids. This led him to the concept of financial independence.
Brad returns to the podcast from episode 50 to update us on his life of Financial Independence and getting his own podcast started!
Amie is a tax professional with over 13 years of diverse experience, including roles in both public accounting and private industry. She currently is a Senior Tax Manager at Eide Bailly LLP serving clients in the Des Moines, Iowa market as well as writing internal and external technical tax communications for their National Tax Office. Her published work has appeared in The Tax Adviser, Thomson Reuters, and local publications. She also maintains a personal blog at www.livingthetaxlife.com where she writes about tax, business, and life in general.
Amie talks about her first travel experience, getting lost in foreign countries, and how her experiences from travelling help her handle day-to-day conflicts in the office!
Mike returns from episode 11 to tell us why he switched from baseball to hockey, how his co-workers and clients react to his new passion, and gives us a background on his charity organization “Hand to Hold”!
Mark owns MGR Accounting Recruiters, a San Antonio focused recruiting company, and Where Accountants Go, a career-content site for accounting professionals.
Mark talks about how he found his passion for running and how his experience in working for the family business made it easy for him to share this passion in the office!
Holly returns to the podcast from episode 60 to give us an update on her long-standing home renovation project and how much her farm has grown! She also talks about how her clients have been more open about their passions & hobbies as Holly has become more comfortable to share hers!
Billy Kelley tells us the story of his very first hunting trip that made him realize his passion for it! He also talks about how hunting has taught him patience, how he applies that to handling conflicts in the office, and why it is important to know your why!
Randy returns from episode 16 to talk about his most recent favorite concert, how he is taking more of an interest in other people’s hobbies, and how ACM LLP is encouraging a culture of sharing passions outside of work!
Bill talks about his passion for inline skating and how it has given him the confidence to be more upfront about his passions outside of work. He also talks about how he has yet to find someone to keep up with him and his skating!
Seth returns from episode 51, to talk about his shifted interest from hiking to video editing for his consulting courses. He breaks down how he although enjoys his work as a consultant, his true passion in his work is currently more towards the video editing aspects of it! Seth also talks about how he found relief in diving into this passion during a time of loss in his life.
Jose Zavala talks about his passion for hunting and how it has given him the skills of being patient and taking a step back to breathe in stressful and fast-paced moments in the office! He also discusses how the idea of dressing for success does not always have to be a suit and tie!
Kristen Rampe, CPA works extensively with the accounting industry on talent retention, talent development, and partner harmony. She spent ten years in public practice with PwC and a regional firm in San Francisco, before founding her consulting practice in 2011.
When Kristen was first on the podcast, on episode 27, she talked about her passion in watercolor painting. She is now back to talk about her new passion in improv performance!
Bob Neuman shares a similar vision to John in that every individual is more than just their profession. Bob talks about how a scary but successful mountain climbing experience brought him to this epiphany and discover his passion to help other professionals lead fulfilling lives!
Lauren Thiel, founder of The Real Thiel, an accounting firm for creatives, returns to the podcast from episode 71 to update us on her new dance company and how dance continues to impact her business!
After 25 years in corporate executive leadership roles, Kathy is now a creative coach helping people capture and celebrate their life story or career legacy. As a Life Story Curator, she combines photos, thoughts, interviews, custom artwork, letters and memorabilia of people’s lives creating an heirloom quality book that captures important events and life experiences.
Kathy Lawless talks about her 30+ years in volleyball and how a company-wide extracurricular activity encouraged her to be more open about her passion during her time in the corporate world!
Andrew Tarvin, the World’s first Humor Engineer, returns to the podcast from episode 38 to talk about his transition from improv to stand up comedy, how your emotions impact your productivity, and his new book!
Sean is a Detroit-area native and Notre Dame undergrad. He spent 8 years working in Chicago and DC before attending MSU College of Law.
Sean Gallagher, a friend of John’s from college, talks about the obstacles and difficulties of coaching youth baseball and how he applies these skills in the office!
Jen Gardner returns to the podcast from episode 55 to tell us about her brief hiatus from roller derby, joining a new team and helping them win their first championship in 11 years! She also shares with us some of her co-worker’s reactions to her passion for roller derby!
Leticia talks about her dance journey, how it helped develop the discipline she applies in the office, and how she managed to get a co-founder to attend a ballet class! She also talks about how a negative reaction to sharing a passion can hurt morale and productivity!
Scott has been at Conrad Siegel since 1995, where he helps clients design and run their defined contribution retirement plans, and to understand their fiduciary responsibilities. Scott works mainly with 401(k)-type plans and ESOPs, and does a fair bit of business development as well. He especially enjoys the public speaking, writing and networking that he does as a part of his work!
Scott returns to the podcast from episode 41 to talk about his new Mustang, his recent leg injury, backpacking with his son, and why he loves networking!
Shannon is a litigator practicing primarily in the products liability, toxic torts, government contracts, and financial services spaces. He loves the people he works with and the work is (usually) pretty exciting. However, music and cars have always been his passion. He has been a musician for as long as he can remember. “I was playing ‘drums’ on pots and pans on the kitchen floor before I could carry a tune (or hold my bladder)”. Shannon started working on cars as soon as he “could see under a hood”. He spent the first 10 years after college as an engineer for a Big 3 auto manufacturer, the next few years running a hot rod shop, the next 5 as a professional musician and college instructor, and the last 8 years or so building his legal practice.
Shannon Peters talks about his love for cars, his previous careers in the auto & music industries, and how this experience is applied to his career today as an attorney! He also shares with us his experience with his office discovering his passion in music and their reaction!
Jen returns to the podcast from episode 32 to talk about becoming a mom and how she connects with others through her experience with parenthood and how she applies her passion for juggling into her presentations!
Seth is a Tax partner with Carr Riggs & Ingram in Dallas, TX. He has two kids and a wife who teaches yoga and meditation that helps keep his house calm and peaceful. Seth enjoys spending time with his family and exercising.
Seth talks about overcoming shingles at the age of 35 through swimming and how he promotes a culture of sharing experiences in the office as a partner at his firm!
The Priestess of Profits, Ingrid Edstrom, returns to the podcast from episode 54 to tell us about her recent professional achievements and her journey of shifting her business towards consulting.
Dave Recchion is a risk management professional for LBA Haynes Strand. His journey in helping companies manage their risks has led him to some more risky passions with Drone Photography and Scuba Diving.
Dave and John talk about the connection of his hobbies and his job through risk assessment, how the firm encourages their employees to share their passions among one another, and how both an organization and an individual play important roles in encouraging an open work environment!
Dawn W. Brolin, is the Executive Vice-President of Business Development and Compliance at Out of the Box Technology, LLC.
Dawn is back from episode 57 to tell us about her latest venture as the assistant coach and designated motivator for the Eastern Connecticut State University softball team!
Greg talks about his passion for mountain biking and skiing and how he integrates these passions into his professional life. He also talks about why it can be easier to default to a ‘technical mode’ in the office and how his early learning difficulties helped him develop the ability to establish relationships!
Jim Fahey, PAFM is the Chief Learning Officer at HBK CPAs & Consultants, a Top 100 CPA firm with offices in OH, PA, NJ and FL. He has more than 29 years CPA firm experience working in human resources, recruiting, training and development, technology and practice management.
Jim returns to the podcast from episode 20 to talk about his latest car purchase, enjoying his quality time fly fishing, and a cool reward system he implemented at HBK!
Dan Herron, Partner at BFFS Inc. is a simple man who enjoys numbers, eating, running, and movies….not necessarily in that order.
Dan talks about his passion for running and how it taught him discipline and commitment that he applies to his career as an accountant! Dan also shares his agonizing experience of running a 50 mile marathon and why it is not recommended for everyone!
Edie Gardner previously discussed travelling to all 50 states as a personal bucket list item in episode 33. Now she’s back to talk about how that experience has affected her personally and professionally with helping others accomplish their bucket list items!
Mayur is a CFO and business advisor to startups to small/mid-size companies. With 15 years’ experience (most of it at PwC), he's been an auditor, management consultant, and corporate trainer. He now supports clients with tax planning, investor relations, due diligence, and financial projections. He enjoys working in a high-performance environment while keeping the team motivated through humor and encouragement.
Deacon Greg Papineau returns to the podcast from episode 43 to talk about his many passions including helping people as both a deacon and an accountant, as well as golfing, and his family! Greg gives us an update on how he has been encouraging his team at the office to participate in outdoor events participating in the USGA Senior Open!
Kristen also considers herself a 'recovering CPA', having spent 10+ years in public accounting. Around the same time she got back into singing, Kristen started Viaggio Partners, a remote staffing company focused specifically on connecting accountants with fulfilling remote career opportunities, while helping CPA firms address their work compression and talent acquisition and retention challenges.
Kristen talks about rediscovering her passion for singing and how her confidence as a person and a professional grew along with her confidence as a singer!
Rebecca Bernek returns to the podcast from episode 29 to give us an update on what she’s been up to since her hiatus from motorcycle racing. She also discusses the changes in her work schedule, achieving a good work/life balance, and how it has benefited her personal and professional life!
Brett talks about his transition and the culture shock he experienced from being an aircraft pilot to an accountant. He also talks about how his firm embraces his passion for motocross and how he uses it to promote his ideals of persistence and commitment! Also, John shares what he doesn’t like about the accounting industry!
Amy was born & raised in Birmingham, Alabama. Moved to Fairbanks, AK thinking it would be for a year, but she has been there for 18 years! Amy worked in public practice for over 10 years at a big (then) 5 accounting firm and 2 small local firms.
Auburn football fan Amy Cooper returns to the podcast from episode 42 to talk about some of the recent games she has been to and how her students show their appreciation by decorating her office with Auburn gear!
Natalia Zhinhel was born in Russia and lived there until she turned 18. She tried yoga when I was still living in Russia, and immediately felt the difference. So, when she moved to the USA, she made sure that yoga stayed in her life. She is a Risk Assurance Experienced Associate at PwC.
Natalia tells John the many benefits of yoga; mentally, spiritually, and physically as well as how it has helped her handle the typical stresses of the workplace and how it helps improve her productivity!
MB returns from episode 22 to talk about her more recent stained glass pieces, moving to Tennessee from Connecticut, and how she encourages people to share their passion with others in her Checkbooks classes!
Chris Macksey, Operations Manager for Prix Fixe Accounting, talks about the differences in culture between the corporate world and the restaurant world. He also talks some of the many skills that can overlap from cooking to accounting!
Dave Gilbertson returns to the podcast to talk about his latest ventures as a stand-up comedian and speaker, including his latest TedX presentation and opening for Louie Anderson! John and Dave discuss what compelled John to get into comedy.
Crystal Shin, Director of Business Development at Goldin Peiser & Peiser, talks about her passion for acting and dancing on stage and how it has helped her skills in engaging new clients and improving presentations! She also discusses how Goldin Peiser & Peiser encourages employees to participate in non-profits and share personal experiences!
Rumbi Bweinofa-Petrozzello, previously featured on episode 14, returns to update us on what she's doing outside of work including being a part of the African Film Festival, and promoting diversity and inclusion in the CPA profession, despite having to put her running on hold due to injury.
After a decade in teaching & researching international politics, Jeremy realized he most enjoyed consulting with students about their career, business, & financial futures one-on-one. Now he works with clients, advising them on small business & personal finance through his accounting practice. An Enrolled Agent, he handles tax preparation, tax planning, & accounting for realtors, freelancers, & families. He lives in St. Augustine, FL, with his wife Halley & daughter Cora.
Jeremy Wells, owner of JWellsCFO, talks about his passion for Star Trek and how it has played a role in establishing 'first contact' with new clients and students, as well as teaching him an important lesson in humanizing himself in his profession!
Greg Kyte returns from episode 3 to discuss with John his shared passion for comedy, an update us on his stand-up career, his new live show, and shares stories on how he has applied his comedic passion in the workplace!
Delene Taylor, Marketing Director for DMLO CPAs, talks about her passion for social enterprise, establishing and facilitating valuable connections, and how it brings a positive impact to her as a person and for her career!
Jody Padar, the Radical CPA, returns to the podcast from episode 19 to catch us upon the latest reality TV shows that she has been recently watching and how this topic of discussion is brought up at the office over their daily lunches! Jody also discusses how sharing these topics have made an impact on her career, and how her authenticity has contributed to her social media following!
Steve Campana, a partner at Honkamp Krueger & Co., P.C., talks about his passion for country western line dancing and also how he re-discovered another passion for playing pool! Steve also talks about how his shift in focus towards building relationships has had a positive effect on both his work & home life!
Bob Lung returns to the podcast for the first Follow Up Friday segment!
Bob previously featured on episode 5, and returns to talk about his latest achievements in the Fantasy Football world from launching his new website to publishing his first Fantasy Football book!
Kylie Parker, a director at Lotus Accountants & an interior designer, tells us about some of the projects she has done, how it has established relationships in with workplace with both clients and how finding clients with similar passions can make going to work more enjoyable! She also talks about her short time as a dancer!
Stuart was originally featured in episode 13 discussing his passion for stand up comedy. Today, Stuart is no longer as active in stand up comedy but is now a host of his own internet radio show called “Hack Attack on Sports”.
Aaron Jaqua is a CPA and Senior Tax Manager for Eide Bailly.
Aaron joins us as being the first guest of “What’s Your 'And'?” and talks about his passion for running and how it has given him the mental strength to power through some of the worse tax seasons! He also talks about how Eide Bailly regularly encourages its team to mentally get away from work for a bit and tells us a touching story of how the firm was accommodating when dealing with a personal family matter.
John joins us to celebrate an exciting milestone of 200 episodes for the podcast and also shares with us some exciting news about the podcast, his new book and more!
Lisa Channell is a Certified Professional Bookkeeper specializing in cloud bookkeeping. Lisa is the owner of Bonfire Bookkeeping.
Lisa talks about her passion for true crime, how she indulges in this passion, and how it can fuel both her curiosity and anxiety! Lisa also discusses how she applies this detective-like passion in the office by helping her gain skills in finding clues. Lisa also applies this passion through an interactive game among her team members to promote internal interaction!
Julie Incorvina is a CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner, currently celebrating 25 years with Redwitz, Inc. in Irvine, California.
She has over three decades of experience in public accounting, specializing in audit and accounting services for non-profits and various for-profit industries.
Julie talks about how her husband got her into theatre production as well as how it provides a creative outlet, and how it helps maintain her managerial skills that she brings to the office. Julie also talks about her own productions she has written and when her theatre is used for movies!
Tom Bazley, Managing Director of BDO USA, LLP, talks about his passion for researching American history. More specifically, the American Civil War! Tom talks about how he is able to establish a connection with some of his clients through this passion and how it has established a mutually beneficial relationship with lawyer!
Twyla Verhelst is the Co-founder of Helm, a cash flow forecasting app and Co-founder of Twenty Eighty, an accounting firm in Calgary, Alberta. Twyla has entrepreneurial experience in accounting, advisory, and software with an underlying passion to help others find their confidence and discover what lights them up. Twyla is committed to empowering bookkeepers and accountants to create the business they desire using tangible tools along with the most invaluable and intangible tool, their authentic self.
Twyla tells us about her journey to become a runner, including some memorable moments like completing a run with her daughter on Mother’s Day, how she started sharing her passion for running in the office, and how sharing this passion has inspired some of her colleagues to run as well!
Graeme Gordon is a British former naval officer, now a CEO of Praxity – Global Alliance. He shares his stories of being introduced to baseball and falling in love with the New York Yankees, to almost accidentally being cast as a producer for a Shakespeare play. Graeme also talks about how these passions are beneficial in social situations in the workplace!
This week, John and Rachel close out the "Green Apple Slices" segments and wrap up over 130 episodes together.
The Green Apple Podcast did weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discussed a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments were released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
McAuliffe CPA Enterprises. P.C. is a full-service accounting firm, specializing in Chart of Accounts organization and general ledger development and maintenance—with a focus on creating high-quality books and records to streamline the financial reporting and tax compliance processes. With nearly 15 years of diversified public accounting experience, Justin founded McAuliffe CPA Enterprises, P.C. in 2018 to work with small business owners to organize their books and records, assist with management of the general ledger, develop and/or retool the chart of accounts, and help develop or maintain an accounting infrastructure—serving as an outsourced controller and CFO and COO for key clients, when necessary.
Justin joins us on The Green Apple Podcast to talk about his passion for cleaning and how he finds it to be therapeutic as well as necessary! Justin also talks about being a rideshare driver as a way of getting out of the house and to improve his interpersonal skills!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Inc article "7 Ways to Keep Employees Motivated Besides Money" by Bubba Page.
After meeting John back in March, Amanda Wilkie was inspired to figure out what makes her a Green Apple. Through this, she discovered that she was a hobby collector. She has a passion for trying new things and learning new skills varying from motorcycle riding, inline skating, running, and more! Amanda talks about this trait has contributed to her success as a consultant in the technology space despite it being potentially seen as a symptom of a lack of focus.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a HBR article "Six Components of a Great Corporate Culture" by John Coleman.
Benjamin Wann is an operational controller at Savencia. He has a passion for finding solutions to complex problems, improving workflows, and developing processes. All of which play a part in his hobby for renovating homes! Ben was recently named the 2019 IMA Exemplary Young Professional Award Winner!
Ben tells us how a disastrous home purchase led to his passion for remodeling homes and how it helps improve his project management skills as well as his ability to build relationships based on his experience in home renovation! Ben also talks about his company The Numbers Guys and how they help create a community among accountants and financial professionals.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article "New Study Shows Surprising Links Between Salary, Stress And Employee Engagement" by Chris Westfall.
Drew Chambers is a former ‘wall-streeter’ turned marketer and has owned a national process outsourcing company for 8 years before starting work with a startup! He is currently the VP of Marketing of Corus.
Drew tells John about his experiences in different work cultures from working on wall-street, to his own startup business. They also discuss how cycling helps with his team-building skills in the office and how it feels to be the only cyclist in an office full of basketball players.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a CIO article "Building your corporate culture: more like a culinary art than a science?" by Randy Pennington.
Ashley tells John about how the Green Apple message has affected her and her co-workers at BeachFleischman since his visit to them this past Fall. She also talks about how she hopes to use her passion for baking and decorating cakes for client relations, recruiting, and more!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly “Green Apple Slices”, where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don’t miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Legend article, “Employee Engagement: 4 Things Disney Says You Need” by Lisa Sperow.
Trevor Halcomb is a USMC veteran and aspiring tax professional who currently works as a tax associate at Howard, LLP while finishing his Masters in Taxation at the University of North Texas. He plans to begin sitting for the CPA exam in February of 2020.
Trevor talks with John on how the Green Apple message has affected him and his realization that his passions for CrossFit and yoga help him stay productive as an accountant! Trevor and John also talk about a LinkedIn post he shared with his colleagues and the positive reception he was given!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly “Green Apple Slices”, where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don’t miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Frobes article, “How Viewing Your People As Individuals Can Dramatically Impact Your Bottom Line” by Jeneen Masih.
Joshua Jenson (JJ the CPA) is a founding partner of Jenson & Company, CPA’s in Edmond, Oklahoma who became interested in becoming a CPA not just for the job itself, but for the flashy lifestyle it could provide him! JJ tells John about how his grandfather played a large part in his career choice and how he applies his lifestyle towards his clients and his children!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Thrive Global article, "6 Secrets to Staying Happy at Work" by Glassdoor.
Lorilyn Crum is a CPA and senior accountant at Collective. She earned her degree in political science from the University of Michigan and her Post-Baccalaureate Accounting Certificate from Linfield College. During her time at UofM, she was recruited on the softball team being part of the first team east of Mississippi to win a national championship! Lorilyn talks with John about her softball career and how her passion for living a healthy lifestyle affects her life both personal and professionally.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Work It Daily article, "3 Reasons Why Companies Like Cisco Want Their Employees To Have A Life Outside Of Work" by Jennifer McCann.
Michael Durant, CPA at Prager Metis CPAs LLC, found a passion in teaching children financial literacy after getting involved in outreach programs while taking accounting classes. He saw a need for this when realizing that children did not understand important aspects like the effects of interest rates over time and more! Michael tells us how this passion is very different from his accounting job despite still dealing with finances, and how participating in these programs helps build his network as an accountant!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Workforce, "Focus on Employee Work Passion, Not Employee Engagement" by Drea Zigarmi and Randy Conley.
Alan is a CPA in Richmond, KY. Currently on the Auditing Standards Board of the AICPA, prior member of the Peer Review Board. He is a past President of the KYCPA Society of CPAs and past member of the KY State Board of Accountancy. He is currently the Vice-Chair of the EKU Board of Regents.
In this episode, Alan shares his experience in the accounting business and how the overall landscape has changed over time allowing individuals to be different from what they talk about at work, their dress codes. Alan also tells us how having a passion can potentially lead to more business as an accountant rather than your technical skills and why he feels the emphasis on the human aspect of client relations is usually overlooked.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a 15Five article, "These 5 Management Practices Create Uncommonly Successful Workplaces" by David Hassell.
Moreen Leisen is an accountant at Seefried Industrial Properties, Inc. who fell in love with making Kombucha after talking to someone at work about how she liked it! Moreen is a listener of The Green Apple Podcast and reached out to John because she wanted to share her story of finding her passion and how it affects her career as an accountant!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Jostle article, "Feel Like a Boring Boss? How to Improve Employee Engagement in the Workplace" by UpGifs.com.
Daniel Siemens, a tax analyst for SCL Health in Denver, Colorado, talks to John about a rare passion of his: building model ships in bottles. Daniel tells us how watching Pirates of the Caribbean got him into this hobby, the skills from it that he applies to his job as a tax analyst, and how it affects the way his co-workers and clients view him in the workplace!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Fast Company article, "Do These Things to Create an Engaging Employee Experience From Start to Finish" by Rob DeLuca.
In this episode, Jon Maki connects his skills as a surfer to his skills as a business owner and accountant and shares a couple of prominent beaches that he has surfed.
He grew up bodyboarding but didn't get into surfing until 15 years ago. Now he says it gives him energy to make it through the work week -- and it helps him relate to some of his clients. Just like Jon starting his accounting business, surfers need to know their equipment, know their limits and eventually have to "go for it."
Jon is the president at MFI Works. His team helps micro-business owners get a grip on their finances and smart about IRS matters.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Jostle article, "7 Reasons why Organizational Culture is Important" by Corey Moseley.
In this episode, John talks with Irina Morozova, an auditor at Strothman and Company who also serves as a dance partner for her own boss, Ray Strothman, who was featured in episode 158 of The Green Apple Podcast. Irina tells us how she became a professional ballroom dancer, pursuing employment in Strothman and Company, and how her experience in ballroom dancing is applied to her skills as an accountant!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "Employers: Don't Stop Your Team From Building Personal Brands" by Christine Michel Carter.
Kevin Izevbigie is an experienced B2B marketer that has a background as a qualified accountant. Founder of advisoryaccountant.com – We help Accountants & Tax Pros Attract Their Ideal Consulting Clients with Facebook & Direct Marketing. Kevin brings his experience as an accountant, a decade developing superior offers and 7-figures spent on marketing funnels to help businesses grow!
In this episode, Kevin and John talk about how important and beneficial it is for someone to take time to fulfil their needs to express themselves in their passions and satisfy that ‘itch’ we all have and how Kevin made his passion for a traveling a part of his own business!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a The Balance Careers article, "How to Understand Your Current Company Culture" by Susan M Heathfield.
Phil Yaeger is a seasoned accountant and well-rounded person who teaches accounting in CPA review, offers financial advice on the radio, collect baseball memorabilia, and talks to many celebrities. Phil tells John of going into accounting during the era of the Vietnam war, how he found teaching to be a way of enjoying accounting, and why it’s so easy for him to start a casual conversation with a celebrity!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Inc article, "5 Sure Signs You Work for a Great Company Comes Down to These Top-Notch Leadership Behaviors" by Marcel Schwantes.
Josh Hemmrich, Fred Lamb, and Tonisha Spratte were encouraged to put together a rap video for their colleagues at Cherry Bekaert after one of the seniors of the firm discovered their passion making rap music.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Culture iQ article, "5 Tips for Keeping Your Remote Workers Engaged and Productive" by Kim Wolf.
Dennis provides audit, tax, business valuation and advisory services for clients primarily in hospitality, construction, wholesale and government as well as closely-held companies. Dennis concentrates his services to clients on strategy and development of organizations that utilize their collective talents to enhance operations. As a Kolbe Certified Consultant, Dennis helps organizations (including the firm) understand individual’s natural talents and better utilize those talents for company success and better work environments.
Dennis earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of South Alabama.
In this episode, Dennis talks to John about how he feels you can get the best productivity out of your team by encouraging them to build relationships with each other through sharing aspects of life outside of work. He also tells us some of the many places he has traveled to in his adventures!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Great Resumes Fast article, "The Importance of Company Culture in Your 2019 Job Search" by Jessica Holbrook Hernandez.
Originally from New Jersey, Tom received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Dayton, OH in 1986. He worked the next 9 years with a large Wall Street law firm and with a CPA firm in New York and the Virgin Islands before relocating with his wife and children to San Francisco. Tom has been with RINA since 2002; he is currently a Tax Stockholder, Chairman of the Board and Head of the firm’s International Tax Practice. Tom works with outbound US businesses to structure overseas operations in a tax efficient manner and also with inbound businesses to assist with US entity formation. The consultation includes reviewing tax treaties to determine how to efficiently structure the intercompany transfer of funds.
In this episode, Tom talks shop with John on working in improv comedy and how he applies it to his accounting firm to engage interaction among co-workers. Tom also discusses breaking down the barrier between partners and their colleagues.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Jostle article, "7 Reasons Why Internal Communications is Important" by Corey Moseley.
Sue McFadden talks to John about her adrenaline fueled passion of racing motorcycles and being a sidecar monkey and how it affects the way she is viewed by her colleagues in the workplace when they learn about this passion.
Sue is a Finance Manager at Lutherwood in Kitchener, Canada, and has an education with Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada).
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Fast Company article, "Why Rectifying Our Culture Of Overwork Is Easier Said Than Done" by Rachel Gillett.
Wray Rives is a CPA based out of Texas with over 20 years of experience in public accounting. He currently owns an accounting firm that provides virtual accounting and tax services to cloud based businesses. Wray is a part of the American Institute of CPA’s and the Texas Society of CPA’s.
Wray received a BBA in Accountancy from the University of Mississippi.
In this episode, Wray shares his experiences in raising foster children, how it influenced him to be more open of his foster care experience in the workplace, and how it affected his own children growing up. Wray also shares a story of how he attended a Lynryd Skynyrd after party!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Inc, "Want More Productive Employees? Match Their Work Schedules to Their Internal Clocks" by Minda Zetlin.
Andrew is an accountant and the founder of Illumin8, an accounting firm geared towards helping small businesses and thrives on putting the culture of old world accounting behind. He is also a whiskey enthusiast and super fan of the Utah Jazz basketball team.
Andrew received a CA in accounting from The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Sapling article, "What is Employee Onboarding?" by Jen Dewar.
Brooke is a relationship manager and accountant at Wipfli LLP in Helena Montana. After high school she joined the Helena Symphony Orchestra as a French horn player and is still a part of the symphony today!
Brooke earned a Bachelor of Applied Science from Montana State University-Bozeman.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Employee Benefit Adviser article, "Want to Fight Employee Burnout? Focus on Well-Being" by Henry Albrecht.
Ges delights in building your confidence in public speaking, making the keynote or workshop fun, memorable, and with instant takeaways that you can use immediately. Built on four decades of commercial roles (including Bank Manager!), lots of singing and four decades of Public Speaking, delivering workshops, Keynotes, MC and even radio broadcasting, Ges delivers an effective mix of business & presenting experience to equip you and your team with the skills to speak in public.
Ges Ray is a retired banker and public speaking coach who re-discovered his love for choral singing after leaving it behind for 25 years!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "The Importance Of Internal Marketing To The Employee Experience" by Michael DesRochers.
Bill is a social person, which you can tell from listening to this episode. He also loves to travel! So he’s never too shy to share his experiences travelling the globe with his colleagues in the office. In fact, he feels it is beneficial towards developing relationships within the office and therefore a stronger bond with your co-workers!
In this episode, Bill tells a couple of stories on his travel experiences how it affected his social skills in the office, and we learn the worst meal John has ever had!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "10 Ways Leaders Can Influence Company Culture" by William Craig.
Sara has always enjoyed writing throughout college. But after graduating and travelling South America, she decided to become an accountant. After a hiatus, she picked up writing as an outlet for her frustrations personally and professionally.
In this episode, Sara talks about her journey from studying law, travelling, and re-establishing her passion for writing.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a CPA article, "How Important is Corporate Culture for Employee Recruiting?" by Isaac M. O'Bannon.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Financial Express article, "Top Managers Play Key Role in Driving Employee Engagement" by PTI.
Nick built up his writing and his accounting career at the same time. In some ways, they can even go hand in hand. This started because he began writing newsletters featuring reviews of local hot spots for the office! Overall, the progression of both his career and hobby seem natural.
In this episode, Nick tells John of this natural buildup of his accounting and writing as well as the perks of his writing in both his personal and professional life.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Business News Daily article, "12 Secrets to Keeping Employees Happy Without a Raise" by Marci Martin.
Josh is one of many in the accounting world whose health became a personal concern, gaining weight after only 13 months at his first accounting job. After a break-up with his then girlfriend, it was the final motivator to become more active outside of work by first getting into cycling. It was also natural for him to get into fishing and boating, growing up near a lake during his childhood.
In this episode, Josh talks about his experiences in his active lifestyle, how it has benefitted him personally as well as professionally, being a platform to establish relationships and connections. John also tells a funny story on how he handled a heckler during a comedy show.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Courant article, "What Next: Redefining Yourself When You No Longer Have Your Work Identity" by Sarah Wesley Lemire.
Laura was drawn to marketing at an early age, but found a perfect fit as a marketer for accounting firms. She also found a passion in cooking simply through a love for food. She wanted to eat healthier after graduating from college, so she started to learn more about preparing her own meals from scratch. Now she jokes that her goal is to break people's diets by bringing homemade sweets to the office.
In this episode, Laura talks about her path to marketing for accounting firms, discovering her love for cooking, and how food can be a universal topic of discussion and passion with co-workers at the office. It's a great way to get a conversation started with someone.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Livemint article, "Adopt the means to measure and manage the return on culture consistently" by Rajeev Peshawaria.
To Ron, numbers have always made sense to him, naturally leading him into accounting given the job security. This, along with growing up in a bowling alley, has also lead him to pursue his passion of bowling on a professional level!
In this episode, Ron talks about how his success in bowling has helped him come out of his shell as introvert and help promote a more engaging experience for his colleagues at Carr, Riggs, and Ingram. He also shares a couple of stories like winning a USBC singles championship, and working for professional golfer Jack Nicklaus.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Chief Executive article, "How Your Corporate Culture Is Leaving Money On The Table" by Euan Davis.
By day, Ryan is just another accountant. By night, he interacts with celebrities on Twitter, live tweeting while watching some of his favorite television shows and attends Comicon with his family!
In this episode, Ryan shares some of his stories of interacting with celebrities on Twitter and even meeting some in person including Jimmy Fallon and Sidney Torres.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "Forget Hiring Great People Until You Fire Your Lousy Managers" by Jeff Hyman.
Like many others in the accounting world, Cate fell into accounting. Eventually ending up working long hours, typical for those in the industry. However, as part of DHG, she was encouraged to get out of the office and participate in extracurricular activities. This lead to her passion for hiking for the Make-a-Wish Foundation!
In this episode, Cate and I discuss how DHG encourages handling stress in a positive way and how this culture affected her overall compassion towards working with others!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an EU-Startups article, "How to Avoid Burnout as a Startup Founder" by Bernardo Arnaud.
Kevin pretty much fell into consulting a lot like how he pretty much fell in racing. He went on to win a number of races and even setting records while eventually working his way up to co-founding his own consulting firm.
In this episode, Kevin and I talk about sharing your passions at the office, even when it feels natural not to as an introvert. Also, how running a racing team helped Kevin gained the skills in stress management and even handling sales.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Journal of Accountancy article, "Lonely At Work? You’re Not Alone" by Matthew Dees.
Clayton found his way into accounting when pursuing his goal of establishing his own business. All in the effort to work on his own time and provide flexibility to travel the world. He found it to be a great excuse to take his family on numerous vacations.
In this episode, Clayton and I talk about how he was able to combine his passion for travelling with his professional goal of running his own business and how sharing your passions in the workplace can improve your skills in communication.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a CPA article, "Flexible Work Environments Improve Job Performance".
Rachel went into accounting simply just to improve her skills in math with the goal to eventually run her own business. In tandem, she starting powerlifting after being inspired from seeing others doing it on Instagram! Now she’s helping those in the office who want to set time aside in their busy lives for the gym.
In this episode, Rachel and I discuss how being an accountant helped shape her discipline towards power lifting and how the comfort of being able to open up about yourself to co-workers can be affected by the culture of your office.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a PsychCentral article, "Why Work-Life Balance is Futile—and What to Focus on Instead" by Margarita Tartakovsky.
Ray Strothman is like any other business man that likes to establish and maintain client relations outside of the office through activities like golf. But more so, he provides publicity for his firm Strothman & Company when clients catch him at ballroom dancing events, a perfect opportunity for networking!
In this episode, Ray and I talk about how expressing genuine interest in your co-workers and their passions outside of work can also lead you to try new things and potentially find a new passion of your own!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a HR Dive article, "Researchers: Compassion from managers boosts employee productivity" by Valerie Bolden-Barrett.
Kevin Gienger enjoys two things outside of the office, bicycling and running, and cooking. Kevin had short stints in basketball and track before getting into biking. Kevin has participated in events like a 200 mile bike ride from Seattle, Washington, to Portland, Oregon. He also has a coffee cake recipe featured in a cookbook!
In this episode, Kevin and I talk about why people can be reluctant to share their passions in the workplace how the offices of Boldt, Carlisle & Smith encourage their employees to share fun facts about each other.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Inc article, "Harvard and MIT Say A.I. Isn't Going to Steal Your Job, But Your Colleagues Who Embrace It Will" by Adam Robinson.
Teryn Grater is an avid world traveler, favoring places best for hiking, kayaking, and other activities of the like. Her travels make for great conversations at ATKG, where she is currently a partner.
In this episode, Taryn and I talk about her vision of an ideal workplace and the experiences she went through to determine that vision. Taryn recognizes the cause of a lacking talent pool in the accounting industry to be the typical overworking climate it provides.
Teryn joined ATKG in 2001 to help out on projects while Melanie had her twin boys. What started out as a favor from one CPA friend to another turned into Teryn becoming a partner in 2003, which was likely, Melanie’s master plan the whole time. Of course, Teryn’s quite strategic herself, so it was very likely part of her master plan as well!
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "Pathways to becoming the CEO: Chief Engagement Officer" by Kevin Cashman.
Chris Meshginpoosh has maintained an actively physical routine outside of work after coming to the realization that his lifestyle was not necessarily the healthiest. A part of this physical lifestyle at one time was his passion for breakdancing. Although he does not do it as much as he did before, Chris will occasionally break into The Robot in the conference room to close out a meeting.
In this episode, Chris and I talk about how it is possible to apply skills from a passion or hobby into your regular work life. Chris’ passion in breakdancing taught him the importance of putting time into developing a skill, overcoming ‘stage fright’, from jumping on to the dance floor in front of a crowd to dressing up as Santa at the office Christmas party, and applying choreography into important business meetings. We also discuss on how the relationships you build through your passions can lead to opportunities in your career and help develop leaders of the future.
Episode Highlights
- The benefits of staying active in an office environment
- How breakdancing taught Chris the importance of choreography in developing client and colleague relationships
- Relationships are not formed solely on your professional skills
- “You do not have to create a different you to be successful in business”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Insight article, "Firms need to distinguish between job and organisation when it comes to employee engagement" by Neil Franklin.
Dave Erb became interested in hunting lighthouses through his passion for boating. Living in Maine has given him so many opportunities to explore areas that are harder to get to, especially by land. It’s been nice time to share with his family, researching lighthouses and finding them while they’re out on the water, which gives everyone such a different perspective. One of his favorite lighthouses is on Halfway Rock in Maine, which is only accessible by helicopter.
In this episode, Dave and I talk about how it’s much easier to start a conversation about interests outside of work that can lead to a conversation about work, but it’s nearly impossible to go the other way. Living in Maine, it was natural for him to talk about his passion for boating but it took people asking him, “so what do you do on a boat all day?” for him to open up about his fascination in lighthouses. BerryDunn encourages sharing outside of work experiences at the start of meetings because, “I think we work better together because of the strength we build from sharing our passions.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Money Control article, "AI to create new jobs, enhance employee engagement: Report" by Money Control.
Rachel started geocaching after a friend introduced her to it in college. That’s where you’re in a worldwide scavenger hunt for hidden “treasures” using your GPS. After you find them, you sign or stamp that you were there, put it back for the next person to find, and make note of it online. Unless, of course, it’s your engagement ring – which is the really creative way her husband proposed to her!
In this episode, Rachel and I talk about how geocaching has allowed her to be more persistent and to look at issues at work from different angles. She’s also found it is helpful in making her more creative and keeps the inspiration flowing, which are both ideal when you’re in marketing. At first, she was reluctant to share because she didn’t want it t come across as a distraction. But Rachel began to open up over time, as she got more confident in her work skills and sensing the genuine interest of those around her.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Dan Pontefract article, "You Are Way Too Busy; It's Hampering Your Ability To Think And Be Productive."
John Bly grew up going to the same lake every summer with his family. After college, he realized he wanted to expand his horizons further than that lake vacation and has since been to over 40 countries on every continent except Antarctica. One of his favorite trips was when he took his family to Aukland, New Zealand a few years ago.
In this episode, John and I talk about how it’s very important to decompress. He’s always going full speed in the office, so he’s found taking a quarterly trip helps him perform much better. John has also learned a lot about himself and others as he’s visited different cultures. Clients and coworkers enjoy hearing about his latest adventure, which helps create stronger relationships in the office. He leads by example because he feels it’s on the firm’s leadership to set the tone for their culture, saying, “If you encourage it the right way, it becomes a family-like atmosphere.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Christie Lindor article, "People Do Not Quit Companies, Managers or Leaders - They Quit Organizational Cultures" by Christie Lindor.
Paul Panabaker didn’t start travelling until after he graduated and had some work in Australia. Now, he travels all the time, especially for DFK International conference and also to visit friends in Thailand, where he’s been able to catch some monster fish. He’s also a pretty huge Toronto Raptors fan and has collected a lot of memorabilia over the years.
In this episode, Paul and I talk about how his travels have allowed him the ability to be engaged in other parts of the world and how business might be done there. The conference trips allow him to have in-person meetings with people that he does business with, making it a true connection that lasts. He feels that having a personality means having the ability to communicate with clients and coworkers, saying, “If you can have a relationship that’s a little bit more, then having a personality at work certainly doesn’t hurt.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an FWA article, "Perspectives on Work-Life Integration: How to Make It Work For You" by the Financial Women's Association.
Elizabeth Pittelkow Kittner joined a bunch of coworkers at swing dance lessons in order for all of them to be able to dance at one of their weddings. She enjoyed it so much that she continues to take lessons and is even known to be dancing at the standing desk in her office as she moves through a problem. And if Bobby Darin’s Beyond the Sea comes on, you better be ready to see her in action.
In this episode, Elizabeth and I talk about how similar change management and dance are because even the smallest of movements can make a big difference. Demonstrating skills developed from outside interests above and beyond technical skills is even more important now, especially with automation and A.I. entering the workplace. She says, “We, at the core, are humans and we need to connect on multiple different levels to have the most effective relationships.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Achievers article, "Are You Having Fun at Work?" by Samira Hafezi.
Roger Swanger loves to be outdoors. He’s always up for some hunting, or fishing, or camping. He found that becoming a member at Ducks Unlimited allowed him to find others with similar interests who also happened to also be businesspeople in the community. To strengthen the relationships with some of his clients, he’s even been known to take them clay shooting and to other outside activities.
In this episode, Roger and I talk about how it’s so much easier to connect with others if you’re just yourself. This also gives you confidence, which is what a client wants. It’s important to not only know what you can do, but maybe more importantly, what you can’t do. As Roger says, “Trying to be all things to all people is not a recipe for success and can bring you some disappointment.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "When Brand Strategy And Corporate Culture Collide" by Levetica Watts.
Bobby Chadha started playing video games when he would have competitions with friends on his Nintendo. Now, he turns to his Xbox or PC for games of Call of Duty, FIFA, and Civilization. He finds it’s a good way to relax and unwind after work and even creates some fun connections with other gamers at work. He’s even been known to play a game of FIFA on the office Xbox while conducting an interview!
In this episode, Bobby and I talk about how the culture is conveyed to a new employee from the moment they are recruited. The onboarding process is also a way that firms and companies really struggle to make an impact. He says, “Set the expectation that this is a culture of openness and we’re here to be ourselves and bring our whole selves to work.” One example he gives is having each new hire share a fun fact about themselves at their first monthly all staff meeting. Bobby finds that he is always collaborating with others, so taking the time to get to know others makes that much easier in the long run.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Lattice article, "How Much Does Employee Turnover Really Cost?".
Ivy Anderson wanted to learn yoga because she felt like she needed to learn to relax. She started going to classes at the Peace School in Chicago, which also offered martial arts classes. Several years later, she’s now working on her third-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and loves how it combines with her yoga to impact her life. When she’s not doing that, Ivy is also an avid photographer. What started as taking pictures during long walks or vacations has turned into a blog and a book.
In this episode, Ivy and I talk about how much her yoga and martial arts has taught her to more present in the moment, have more patience, and be calmer and more likable. All of these are skills that make her a much better leader. Her photography allows her to better create an image for a client of the end goal and the firm’s process get there. Ivy is excited to be able to share these passions with others at work and takes the time to get to know others around her. She says, “Look for an organization that allows you to bring your whole self to work because that’s where you will be happier.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Employee Connect, "Guiding Principles for Building a Successful Organisational Culture" by Bryon Conway.
Dan Keith started playing the bass guitar after his 6th grade band teacher suggested he give it a try. Just 7 years later, he was in a band that went on tour, performing in a variety of venues across the United States and Canada. He would then go on to get his degree in nursing, become a CEO and a father, so his guitar sat in his closet until a few years ago when he realized how much he missed his passion for playing music.
In this episode, Dan and I talk about how much nursing transfers into music because both involve being on a team with others, doing work that others appreciate. As the CEO, he’s always looking for ways to create genuine connections with others in the office. He’s says, “People, in general, would love to talk about it if someone would just give them an ear.” Dan also encourages his staff to go for walks outside the office and creates opportunities for people to create stronger connections by spending time together in a more casual setting outside the office.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss his notes from attending the Culture Summit in San Francisco and how one of the sessions discussed an Undercover Recruiter article, "5 Blueprints for Organizational Success".
Donny Shimamoto grew up in Hawaii with very practical parents, so he didn’t get to travel much until after college. Now he travels all the time and people have gotten to know him through his social media posts about the food he eats wherever he visits. He says he’s more of a pragmatic foodie because he feels it’s less about the cost and more about the taste and presentation.
In this episode, Donny and I talk about how he uses food to relate to others because he doesn’t watch much TV and isn’t really into sports. But everyone needs to eat, so he finds that business meals are a great way to create connections with others. He feels it’s up to each of us to allow others to get to know us better, always asking himself, “How can you create an opportunity for others to relate to you?”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Irish Independent article, "How Understanding the Needs of Millennial Employees can Improve your Business" by Caroline McEnery.
Jennifer Warawa and her husband have been foster parents for a little over four years. Since they didn’t have children of their own, the couple decided to get certified after hearing about a small nonprofit agency in Atlanta that was struggling to find foster homes for the children in their system. Shortly thereafter, they were given two foster kids who were with them for nearly two years. One of the favorite memories for Jennifer is when her business connections, who had become personal connections, sent her foster kids Christmas cards from all over the world.
In this episode, Jennifer and I talk about how having foster children allows her to get a different perspective. No matter how crazy work might seem, there are other things much more important than work and seeing her foster kids helps remind her of that. Talking about being a foster parent with client and coworkers has been easy because she feels that business becomes personal. She also says, “Your vulnerabilities are what give you a unique perspective at work.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Chief Executive article, "Employee Experience Boiled Down To One Word" by Lior Arussy.
Jim Bourke started collecting baseball cards as a kid and now has every Topps baseball card except one – Mickey Mantle’s 1952 rookie card #311. He says he’ll be buying it the day after his last child graduates college. He grew up outside of New York City and was fortunate enough to attend many Yankees games growing up, which fueled his passion for baseball cards. Now, he also goes to the All-Star Game every year and coached his son’s Little League teams.
In this episode, Jim and I talk about how passion for something, no matter what it is, makes you stand out. He tells young accountants that he mentors, “Find something that’s yours and take it to the next level.” He learned early on in his career that in order to be successful, it was necessary to develop both his personal and professional lives. He’s also known for creating experiences for those around him, whether that’s taking staff someone unique while they’re out of town on a client visit or it’s sitting in the front row with clients at Yankees games and taking pictures with some of the players.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Inc article, "5 Ways to Develop More Meaningful Relationships at Work" by Beth Fisher-Yoshida.
Chris McCabe has been playing both hockey and lacrosse since he was young. He had an older brother who also played, so he helped mentor Chris. Later, he attended the University of Vermont, becoming the captain of the Men’s Lacrosse team and later named to the 40th Anniversary Lacrosse team at UVM. Chris went on to play professionally for the Boston Blazers of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and was inducted into the University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.
In this episode, Chris and I talk about how his playing sports gives him the strength and perspective to have a successful career. He finds that making a connection with others in the office makes a huge difference. He says, “It’s this inherent interest we have in one another that makes it a nice experience when we come to work.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Think Growth article, "Why Culture Doesn’t Just Happen" by Katie Burke.
Hannah Horton had owned a fiddle since she was young but could never find somewhere to take lessons. Then she moved to Nashville, started working at LBMC and was staffed on a client with Abby Parsons. One day it came up that Abby also had always wanted to try to learn to play, so they decided to sign up for lessons. Not only did this give them a reason to look forward to Saturdays during busy season, but it helped them in ways they couldn’t have imagined.
In this episode, Hannah, Abby, and I talk about how their fiddle lessons have opened up a lot of conversations in the office, allowing them to develop relationships with people in different service lines and even in different offices. They say, “It’s a fun, positive thing to talk about… a morale booster.” This made many people realize they needed to find hobbies as well.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Harvard Business Review article, "Research Shows a Simple Way to Increase Your Engagement at Work" by Michael Parke and Justin Weinhardt.
Darcy Boerio always enjoyed running, especially when her son was a baby and could be pushed in a jogging stroller. But once he was too old for that, Darcy struggled to find a fitness activity they could both do together. She was talking with a friend who did karate with her daughter and thought that it wouldn’t hurt to go. With her friend as an accountability, Darcy and her son have made it a regular thing.
In this episode, Darcy and I talk about how she had been reluctant to talk about this with others in the past because she didn’t think it would matter. But she’s since found that, “It’s a good long-term benefit to get to know your coworkers.” Since most of her team now works remotely, it’s even more important make the effort to create those connections.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Entrepreneur Europe article, "It Really Pays to Have a Rich Company Culture" by Eric Siu.
Mark Winburn had always played musical instruments but it never occurred to him to try singing until he was at a Young Life meeting. Then he started with his college choir and later became a member of his church choir. But then work began taking more of his time, so he put his singing passion on the shelf for a few years. What work took away, it gave back, when his work party had karaoke, giving him the opportunity to rekindle his passion. And now he’s a finalist in Houston’s Pride Superstar competition!
In this episode, Mark and I talk about how his singing competitions have allowed him to create a positive spirit of camaraderie with others in his firm. He’s been so moved by the support he’s gotten at his performances, seeing several of them in the audience. Mark says, “For me, singing is me breathing in happy.” He’s very cognizant of others needing to find and share their interests as well, so he’s careful not to schedule things that will interfere with this.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Idea Vault article, "4 Ways Corporate Culture Positively Affects Your Bottom Line" by Eric Sivertsen.
Tom Wheeland recently took some time away from work to hike with his wife to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. On one of the nights that they camped at the bottom, Tom took some time to look at all the stars he could see without any city light pollution. That’s when he realized, “Any time you can broaden your perspective on the world, you see both the significance -- and insignificance -- of what you do.”
In this episode, Tom and I talk about how this trip and his other passions of playing tennis and watching Notre Dame sports have allowed him to have other dimensions for him to talk about when meeting new people at work. He finds that it’s easier to relax and be himself, whether that’s in the office or on a client visit. This sets an example for others to see that, “The barriers that prevent you from deep relationships melt away if you’re being genuine.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Campaign US article, "Here's How to Nail Authenticity in the Workplace" by Rob Davis.
Carl Reader started lifting weights a few years ago as a way to stay healthy. He really enjoyed it because he was in control and there are always new goals to achieve when training. The weightlifting routine and principles of mindfulness have helped Carl learn to respond rather than react to business situations.
In this episode, Carl and I talk about how business isn’t B-to-B or even B-to-C, it’s all H-to-H (Human-to-Human), because people are still buying from other people. Because of this, Carl says, “My intention is to really get to know others because that’s where the magic happens.” He tries to treat all relationships the same by having the same persona, both in and out of work.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a CMS Wire article, "5 Ways to Improve Employee Engagement Through Good Leadership" by Dom Nicastro.
Mark Lee first got into magic as a way to impress the girls when he was in secondary school. He was good enough to soon begin entertaining at children’s parties by the age of 14 and later become a member of The Magic Circle. He thought this was what he wanted to do for a living until his parents introduced him to Arnie the Accountant, who helped Mark see that he would need to do 3 shows a day, everyday, in order to make a decent living. That’s when Mark decided that he would choose a career in accounting – but still continues to perform his magic, which people from his past, both from school and work, always remember him for.
In this episode, Mark and I talk about how “building relationships with clients is more important than it’s ever been.” He firmly believes that we must each find something of ourselves to share in order to stand out from the crowd, so others will remember you easier compared to other accountants they know. We also discuss how he shared this hobby with coworkers but regrets not doing so more with clients because he felt the pressure from professionalism.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a PayScale article, "How To Use Coaching To Skyrocket Employee Engagement" by Conrado Tapado.
A few years ago, Nick Nappo joined his brother for trivia night at a local restaurant. Now, he’s a member of the team that won the World Tavern Trivia Championship held in Atlantic City! He has always “known a whole lot about nothing” so he’s excited to be able to put that to good use to help his team. It started hanging out with friends during the week but soon turned into a team competing across the country.
In this episode, Nick and I talk about the parallels between his team at work and his team that won the championship – “Everybody brings something unique to the team. If you harness those passions and talents, you can maximize your effectiveness as a team.” At first, he was reluctant to share his passion for trivia with his coworkers but realized that this is what makes him unique. Now he has a whiteboard hanging outside his cubicle where he writes tough trivia questions for his coworkers to try to answer, creating a fun way to start conversations.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Fortune article, "A Burnout Culture Led to Record Attrition at PwC. So It Changed Its Approach" by Andrew Nusca.
When Joel McKay worked as a Business and Litigation Consultant in Chicago, he never felt like it was the right fit for him. While he was interested in many things outside of work – like BMX bikes, road cycling, woodworking, snow skiing, and playing drums in a band – he really enjoyed tutoring students on Saturdays. He got into it through a friend and has never looked back, having left the consulting world for a grad school program in school counseling.
In this episode, Joel and I talk about his passions and interests outside of work has always allowed him to build strong connections with others. Instead of clients and colleagues, now he does this with students and their parents. He firmly believes that passions make life richer, adding, “I’m not good at my job if I’m not balanced.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly “Green Apple Slices”, where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don’t miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a The Cut article, “Why Hobbies Make You Happy” by Susie Neilson.
Bill Jones began exercising about 15 years ago when he weighed 300 lbs. A coworker mentioned that he was going to the YMCA one day, invited Bill, and that’s when he began walking the track. After just six months, he had already lost 80 lbs and was encouraged to keep the momentum going, so he signed up to run the BolderBoulder 10k. Since then, he’s completed 4 Ironman triathlons and 16 marathons!
In this episode, Bill and I talk about him being so focused on work instead of himself is what led to him being 300 lbs. But he was able to overcome that by doing what many thought was not possible. Now he schedules runs during the week, sometime even during the day if he’s going to have to stay late during busy season. He also encourages everyone to find what gives them that release from work and talk about it with others in the office. “Share your passion. People will support you in ways you never imagined.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Lawyers Weekly, "The NewLaw Firm Shunning Short-Term Fixes for Staff Engagement" by Melissa Coade.
Blake Oliver started playing the cello when he was young and eventually became a member of the San Francisco Youth Symphony. As a music major at Northwestern University, he was chosen to attend the prestigious Meadowmount School of Music and participate in the Aspen Music Festival. Although he learned that he didn’t care for the life of a professional musician, he now attends concerts regularly and stays in contact with many of his musician friends.
In this episode, Blake and I talk about how he promised himself never to hide any part of himself when he made the decision to go into accounting. He believes that “People are crying out for authenticity in this world. They want to work with people who are who they seem to be.” It’s his music background that gives him the ability to look at a problem and approach it in a new way. As the accounting profession continues to become more automated, it’s the more creative people that are being attracted to make a difference.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an IT Web article, "Five Corporate Culture Fixes for BPM Success" by Marilyn de Villiers.
Marc Hendrikson and his wife adopted their first daughter from Guatemala. Since then, they’ve adopted three more children and fostered countless others. This provided a fresh perspective on things because when he would come home after work, suddenly all of his stresses paled in comparison to their needs.
In this episode, Marc and I talk about how he has never really conformed to the stereotypical accountant model, from getting his college degree when he was a little older to being an open book with his coworkers and clients. He found that the more he shared with clients, the more he cared about them personally. And he saw that “clients who are focused on more things than just making money are more successful because they’re well-rounded people.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a The Week article, "Why Small Businesses Have the Happiest Employees" by Laura Oliver.
Mark Wickersham started cycling in his early 20’s after a friend lent him a bicycle. He had grown up orienteering but experienced some knee problems in his late teens, so cycling was a nice alternative to feed his addiction to exercise. He soon bought his own bicycle and joined a cycling club for accountability. Since then, he’s ridden across northern France, and done some of the Tour de France sections of the Alps and Pyrenees.
In this episode, Mark and I talk about how cycling is a “significant part of my business because that’s where I do my best thinking.” He’s able to switch off from work and allow thoughts to come to him. This wasn’t always the case but as Mark’s career progressed and he started his own firm, he began to realize how important cycling was to his business. So much so that he got more confident in sharing it with potential clients and even bringing his bike on stage with him when he speaks.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "Boost Employee Productivity In 20 Minutes: My Experience With Nap Rooms At CES 2018" by LaKisha Greenwade.
Wade Becker is always up for an adventure – whether it’s flying in his experimental class airplane or SCUBA diving in the Palau Islands in the South Pacific. As a kid, he would read the National Geographic magazines dreaming of being able to explore other parts of the world. Thanks to the flexibility of working in public accounting, he’s been able to do just that.
In this episode, Wade and I talk about how “business wasn’t meant to be boring.” Clients always reach out looking for technical expertise but by the end of that first conversation, he’s interested in creating a deeper connection with that person – usually by asking about their passions and interests outside of work. He finds it’s always good to have a plethora of things to talk about with a client, in the same way that “a painting that is one color is typically not as stimulating as something that you see many different colors on.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Inc article, "Want a Better Everything at Work? Use These 3 Strategies to Boost Happiness and Results" by Ellen Petry Leanse.
Wesley Middleton was young when he learned that he could play the piano by ear. He began to play in church and even picked up the trumpet when he was in high school. Now he’s followed in his father’s footsteps and plays the organ in his church’s band. They have several YouTube videos that he will share with others in the office so they can all see his passion for music.
In this episode, Wesley and I talk about how his being in a band has made him a better leader at his firm. He’s learned to make sure that his instrument isn’t too overpowering, so the band can come together to build one sound – similar to his accounting firm coming together to have one voice to serve their clients. He also talks about how they try to get everyone in the firm to open up with how they have fun and where they go on vacation, because “there’s no question that everything we do outside the firm directly impacts how things are conducted inside the firm.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Business 2 Community article, "Turning Workplace Happiness Into Business Success for SMEs" by Matthew Foster.
Nina Kaufman was called to come back to her faith after her Grandfather passed away and she soon found herself chanting Torah as part of the service. This is difficult because it involves telling a story with music while understanding the text in two languages. She also runs at least one 5k a month with her husband, including the Midnight Run in New York City’s Central Park on New Year’s Eve.
In this episode, Nina and I talk about how her outside of work interests allow her to “clear the mechanism”, to borrow a quote from the movie “For the Love of the Game.” The performance aspect of chanting Torah has made her much more comfortable when speaking to large audiences. And her running has taught her to let go and realize that not everything needs to be so competitive. But the biggest impact is the way she’s now able to relate more with her clients. “My clients wanted to get to know me and hear more about the person behind the professional.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "Budget-Friendly Tips To Boost Employee Happiness" by Alan Kohll.
Patrick Kmieciak started tutoring when he was in college after a friend said that he was going to do it. A friendly competition arose between the two to see who could do it fastest. Patrick ended up winning and he helped his first client go from failing at mid-terms to getting a C+ and being able to graduate. Patrick was even invited to her graduation party!
In this episode, Patrick and I talk about how his tutoring keeps everything fresh, so it helps him understand business better and directly helped him pass the CPA Exam with such a high score to get the Elijah Watt Sells Award. It also helps him understand how best to communicate with others. And whether he’s in the office or he’s tutoring students, he’s found that, “People like people with a personality and some sort of uniqueness about them.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "Attention Entrepreneurial Leaders: Are You -- And Your Employees -- 'Bore-E-Gaged?'" by Randy H Nelson.
Josh Lance started making shiraz and zinfandel wines with a friend several years ago. He found that the process was very similar to accounting, in that the process is very detail-oriented and there’s a fair amount of math. Unfortunately, you can’t really taste the fruits of your labor for 1-2 years while the wine ferments. In the meantime, he realized he could home brew beer that had a much shorter wait time, so he began to explore that as well.
In this episode, Josh and I talk about how this passion allowed him to quickly develop a client niche. He’s as excited about their business as his clients are, so it makes going to work much more enjoyable. He also created his own firm four years ago with a group of other young parents who appreciate flexible schedules. Josh also feels that it’s important they have passions outside of work, adding, “While we might be good at it, we are all much more than just accountants!”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Inc article, "9 Questions Interesting People Ask to Cut Through the Small Talk" by Marcel Schwantes.
Andrew Logan started riding since he was 8 years old, when his father bought him a dirt bike. He took a break after a bad accident in his early 20’s but now rides his Harley Davidson motorcycle to work every day from May through December. This lead him to implement the dress code policy that anyone in the firm can wear jeans everyday they ride a motorcycle to work. In his free time, Andrew has gone on rides with clients and has even taken his bike on long road trips through Canada and the US.
In this episode, Andrew and I talk about how riding his motorcycle provides him with the best therapy he could get. His 25-minute commute in the morning allows him to get his mind right for work. Sometimes, he’ll even take his bike out during lunch to be able to clear his head and get a better perspective. Early in his career, he vowed never to be what everyone considered to be the “stereotypical accountant”, so he’s known to ride his 2011 Harley Fat Bob to client meetings. Andrew finds that “…it enhances the client relationship once they realize you’re not a one-dimensional type of person.” Now that he’s the managing partner, he’s able to make sure that the firm supports everyone’s passions, because he believes “…if firms will let people do the things they’re passionate about, they’ll get paid back in spades.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Reward Gateway article, "New Research Reveals Breakdown Between Employees and Employers in Recognition, Trust and Communication of Mission and Values".
Hayden Nilson was part of a high school state championship hockey team, which is really saying something considering he grew up in Alaska. He continues to play goalie about once a week, but has moved on to coaching and being on the Board of Directors for his old Youth Hockey League.
In this episode, Hayden and I talk about how playing goalie in hockey requires a certain attitude and confidence which translates directly to standing out in the business world. He hasn’t been afraid to get very involved at both his firm and with the Alaska Society of Certified Public Accountants, both of which have benefited his career. He encourages others to have confidence in yourself – and not just in your technical abilities – in order to get ahead.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Harvard Business Review article, "1 in 5 Highly Engaged Employees Is at Risk of Burnout" by Emma Seppala and Julia Moeller
Mathew Heggem started dancing as a child after realizing he wasn’t a good enough singer for the lead parts in the local children’s theater musicals. It was during an inspired performance as The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland that someone who ran a dance studio offered him some free lessons. He continued to dance through high school and later would get into choreography as well.
In this episode, Mathew and I talk about his arts side allows him to view business through a different lens. He likes to look at it as he’s participating in acts of creation both in the office and on stage. It was when he realized that both dance and business grow from ideas created by a person, he began to flourish in both worlds. He even went so far as to say, “It’s when I separate the two that things get worse."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Recode article, "How to Fix Your Company’s Culture, According to Former Netflix Exec Patty McCord" by Patty McCord.
Dr. Sean Stein Smith started playing the drums when he was 8 years old because they provide the driving force for all of music. He was a member of his high school marching band and later his college’s pep band. Since graduating from college, he’s continued to play his Pearl Export drum set in the pit orchestra for shows, as well as on the stage during a cabaret musical.
In this episode, Sean and I talk about how his drumming has allowed him to have the mindset to analyze the bigger picture and understand how you fit in. By combining our out of work identity with our work identity, it adds depth to each one of us which develops trust. These layers to each one of us make us more approachable and more real. It’s important for firms to be open to realizing that their staff are people, and it’s healthy and natural for them to passions outside of work and to talk about them when they’re with coworkers and clients.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a HR Director article, "Engaging Environment Challenges Explained" by Nigel Purse.
Tom Schneider was named the World Series of Poker Player of the Year in 2007. He learned how to play from his mother when he was young, where he quickly learned how to read people actions and how they’re motivated. He also happened to teach himself how to play the guitar at the age of 51, so now he writes and sings country music in his spare time.
In this episode, Tom and I talk about how playing poker helped him learn how to calculate expected values and to process the game, all of which helps him be a better CFO. He started the singing/songwriting passion because he wanted to be on “America’s Got Talent”. While that never happened, he’s gone on to write 30 songs. He’s found that his coworkers at LoudMouth Golf really appreciate this talent and he’s created stronger bonds because of this. He believes that having something outside of work is crucial, so when he meets new team members, he is quick to ask them “what do you love to do outside of work?” because “that’s what really drives them.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Huffpost article, "The Marketing Tactics That Can Improve Your Employee Engagement Efforts" by Jason Nochlin.
Scott Hoppe got into cycling when he was a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He bought an $800 bike and began riding it everywhere he went as a way to exercise and lose some weight. This eventually led to him entering both crit races, which are shorter, “crash happy” tight circles, and road races, which are much longer distances. He finished in 6th Place in the most difficult road race he’s competed in was in Boonfield, CA, a very mountainous part of the Pacific Coast Highway. When he’s not racing, he’s been known to ride his bike to some CPE events and even across the Golden Gate Bridge to work.
In this episode, Scott and I talk about how his cycling allowed him to learn that his limits were greater than he thought. He can now see through the “hurt locker moments” in order to dig deeper and stay focused longer. Scott is big believer in finding common ground to develop stronger relationships. When he was with larger firms, he often started “biggest loser” challenges or Wednesday night runs. He feels that if you’re at a larger firm, you shouldn’t wait to ask for permission but rather take it on yourself to create the culture you want. "Don’t be scared of failure, so fail forward and fail fast."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a SocialTalent article, "Employee Engagement in the Workplace" by Michelle McSweeney.
Ted Barton first stepped on a comedy stage as a junior at the University of Central Florida. Since then, he’s even followed an acoustic set at an open mic by the lead singer of “We The Kings” and recently did a show in New York City.
In this episode, Ted and I talk about how doing comedy allowed him to be more creative at solving problems, have better analytical skills and, most importantly, develop his true self. He worked in several internships through college and noticed a common denominator of people not sharing their personal lives for fear of appearing less professional. But Ted feels the culture can be improved, started with the firm leadership, “but it can stop with the individual if they have some bad preconceived notions.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "Satisfy Your Employees' Desire To Connect" by Todd Richardson.
Becca Shane didn’t get into running until eight years ago but she hasn’t stopped since, running 38 races in that time. She run everything from 5k’s, to 10k’s, to half-marathons and even the 48.6 miles over four days “Disney Dopey Challenge” – twice!
In this episode, Becca and I talk about it’s human nature to want to create connections with others. This was especially true when she graduated college and moved to a new city. In order to create connections and make friends, Becca found that it was best to talk about anything except work. She says, "If you only talk about work, you’re going to be pretty boring." In the corporate setting, Becca feels it’s more the individual’s responsibility to open up and share their non-work passions because the firm can’t force anyone to do this, especially since everyone has completely different interests.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Money article, "In the Workplace: Improving Employees' Work-Life Balance" by Diane Stafford.
Kay Morgan has always loved trying new recipes – and the wine that goes along with it. As she began to bring on clients and hire new staff, she realized that food is something that everyone can relate to. This leads to her actually asking clients about their favorite meal during the onboarding process. It was also leads to her team sharing recipes with each other on a regular basis. Food is such a huge passion for Kay that she hires a chef to come to her annual team retreats.
In this episode, Kay and I talk about how food and conversations about food are a great way to break the ice. These conversations amongst her team allow them to get more comfortable with each other and develop stronger bonds of trust. Kay firmly believes that it’s important to take time to build relationships between team members because her clients are hiring the whole team, not just one person. She also says, "You have to be vulnerable in business in order to grow.”
Chris Morrison has always been very active and that hasn’t stopped even though he’s with a public accounting firm. While Ragner Relays and hiking are his two biggest passions, he’s also skydived several times and been a licensed helicopter pilot. Hiking is his “budget hobby” and a quick weekend getaway from his home in Phoenix. The Flatiron Hike outside Phoenix is the one he’s done the most but he’s also done a lot of hiking in the Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks.
In this episode, Chris and I talk about how much these activities have allowed him to open up and have stronger connections with everyone at his firm. He used to be shy and not say much about it, but after people asked what he was doing with his PTO time, he realized how it’s a great way to build relationships. He also takes pictures while he’s hiking and puts those up in his cubicle as a way for others to see what he’s passionate about. He firmly believes that people are what make up the personality of the firm and it’s up to each individual to let that out. In his words, “We live to work – not work to live.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Inc article, "Science Found the 5 Things That Drive Employees to Go Above and Beyond" by Marcel Schwantes.
Damien Martin has been playing piano since he was very young. He liked it so much, he majored in music at the University of California, Berkeley and was often paid to perform with jazz ensembles when he lived in the Bay Area. While he was studying for his degree, he decided to take a few Intro to Business classes where he began to see a parallel between music and tax. Just like notes on a page, the numbers on tax forms need to come alive to create a unique experience for the audience or client.
In this episode, Damien and I talk about how he felt he didn’t belong at a public accounting firm because he hadn’t gotten an undergrad business degree. He didn’t want to share his passion for jazz and blues because he felt that others would think he wasn’t as qualified. What he realized is that once people found out, it was much easier to network and often times people wanted to come see him play. Now that he’s made that leap, he says, "If I try to separate it, it just doesn’t feel right. I feel like I’m holding something back and not being genuine.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Accounting Today article, "RSM's 2nd Annual '90-90-9' Program Awards Staff $90K" by Sean McCabe.
Jason Hastie is the lead singer for Jason Hastie and The Alibi, a Top50 Canadian country band that was ACMA nominated for Group of the Year in 2015. He had always liked singing but didn’t really get into it until after he moved to Calgary and started his own consulting firm. Now he’s regularly on the radio and is invited to the CMA Awards!
In this episode, Jason and I talk about how similar writing and performing his music is to being a small business consultant. Finding that common ground that connects us is what makes both so powerful. In his words, “We’re all born to connect.” He realizes we’re all human and can’t be totally perfect. “The harder you try to be perfect, the easier it is to feel like you failed."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Medium article, "Your Company’s Culture is Who You Hire, Fire, & Promote" by Dr. Cameron Sepah.
Sahand Kargosha really likes history. Especially United States history. In an effort to learn as much as he can, he’s read many books about the Civil War and both World Wars. He’s been doing this ever since he was little, learning how important reading was from his Mom.
In this episode, Sahand and I talk about how being a bit of a history buff has allowed him to develop some great relationships in the office – especially with a Tax Partner. This helped even before he started with EY, since his interview with a Senior Manager turned to discussing the Civil War. He likes to talk about this and finds it’s a good way to connect with others. He says he has yet to find anyone that absolutely hates history and that “…there are so many ways to bond with people – the work itself is just one of those ways."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "The Key Differences Between Culture, Purpose And Employee Engagement" by Dan Pontefract.
Guy Pearson likes to work. A lot. He started his own firm, Interactive Accounting, one of the first cloud accounting firms in Australia, and a few years later, he started Practice Ignition. He spends so much time with both that he refers to one as his wife and the other, his mistress. When he was younger, he liked to play rugby, but because he’s had to start both companies from the ground up, he hasn’t had much time for hobbies or passions – something that he now realizes needs to change. So he’s being more intentional with making time for surfing, playing basketball, and going to concerts with friends.
In this episode, Guy and I talk about how important culture is to a firm or company. He says, "You can train everything else, but you can’t train someone to be a good fit for your culture." Therefore, during the interview process, he’s sure to ask questions that lead to candidates letting their personality out by sharing their hobbies or passions. He thinks coworker relationships are so important, he flies the entire global team to Sydney each April for their internal conference.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Business Insider UK article, "A 28-year-old CEO Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Shares his Favorite Question to Ask in a Job Interview" by Catherine Rice.
John Garrett takes his digital recorder around the QB Connect Conference to interview accountants who are shattering the stereotype.
In this episode, he talks with a group of professionals who have interests outside of work including comic strip writing, online technology training, magic and weight lifting.
John Garrett takes his digital recorder around the QB Connect Conference to interview accountants who are shattering the stereotype.
In this episode, he talks with a group of professionals who have interests outside of work including gaming, meditating, photo journaling AKA "camera chronicles", running, biking and skateboarding.
John Garrett takes his digital recorder around the QB Connect Conference to interview accountants who are shattering the stereotype.
In this episode, he talks with a group of professionals who have interests outside of work including True Crime, Vespa riding, playing tennis, staying at great hotels around the world, barber shop singing and golf.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a People Management article, "How to move beyond the rhetoric on employee engagement" by Georgi Gyton.
Ben was also fascinated by music and singing while he was growing up. It started with the children’s choir in his church and led to piano lessons when he was 8 years old. By the time he was in high school, he was performing in 5 different choirs and still keeping up with the piano. He graduated from Rice University with a degree in Music Performance and went on to sing opera professionally for some time. His favorite performance was singing the male lead at an old opera house in Mazatlan, Mexico, where the crowd was so enthusiastic that they were almost part of the show as well, providing a new level of energy to the performers.
In this episode, Ben and I talk about how there is a step by step approach when it comes to both music and taxes. Music is a lot more analytical than many people think and Ben is keen to finding the patterns, which is very similar to doing taxes. He proudly displays his opera performance degree on his office wall as a way for others to see his true passion and for them to see that you can be successful at the firm even if you don’t come from an accounting background. When evaluating staff, he feels it’s important for firms to realize that billable hours is just one component – and it’s definitely not even the most critical one.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an AccountingWEB article, "Establish a Work Culture to Develop Your CPA Firm" by Dominic Diongson.
Joey Havens grew up in a small town in Northern Mississippi, spending a lot of his time outdoors fishing for crappie fish and white perch with his brother. Now, he takes his son and grandson fishing, sometimes even in salt water for speckled trout. Joey says fishing gives him a chance to recharge so he can give more energy to the HORNE team, and it humanizes him, allowing other to more easily relate.
In this episode, Joey and I talk about how important it is to take the time to get to know others on a personal level, because “we all crave to connect to other people.” He leads by example, showing everyone at HORNE that it’s okay to be human. This helps everyone develop stronger trust in each other, which only makes the firm stronger and more successful. The biggest shift happened a few years ago when the firm leadership decided to be very intentional about making culture a priority every single day.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a WFLA article, "Balancing Your Life and Career" by Jena Abernathy.
Chris Brown grew up the son of a preacher and always knew that he would want to do some ministry when he grew up. In the 6th Grade, he learned to play the guitar and brings that talent to both the stage at church and at firm recruiting events. He regularly led worship through college and played his guitar during services. Rather than make that his career, he realized that he could do more by being a CPA and doing this as a passion on the side, acting as the part-time worship pastor at his church.
In this episode, Chris and I talk about how putting “Worship Pastor” on his resume helped him stand out from other candidates coming out of school. It’s also very encouraging to hear the leadership at Beall Barclay completely embrace that while Chris is working hard to be the best accountant he can be, his true passion is something different. He appreciates that and feels like it makes for a more positive work culture, “You can do accounting anywhere. If you find a place where you enjoy the people you’re with, that’s where you need to be.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Accounting Today article, "The Three Foundations of a Strong Firm Culture" by Daniel Hood.
Amy Vetter has wanted to be a CPA since she was a little girl, to follow in the footsteps of her grandfather. At the age of 12, she was even doing the books for her mother’s cleaning service! In high school and college, she discovered explored her artistic side by painting and playing the violin and viola, but the steady nature of an accounting job won out in the end. More recently, after achieving success in the business world, she realized she needed to be more mindful and took up yoga. She describes it as being transformational, so she became a yoga instructor and opened her own yoga studio.
In this episode, Amy and I talk about how she was able to use her yoga to pivot into a new career on the technology side. It’s allowed her to take time away from work to be alone with her mind and to remember to breathe. This is something that she has built into her weekly routine because she says, "We're better at work and at home if we intentionally make time for our passions."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Bloomberg article, "People Start Hating Their Jobs at Age 35" by Chris Stokel-Walker.
Dave Finklang achieved what most little boys only dream of – becoming a pilot. He flew for Chautauqua Airlines for several years before retiring to pursue his accounting career. Dave decided to pair his Aviation degree with a minor in Accounting because he grew up around a small business that his father and uncle owned, so he saw first-hand how accounting was used in making business decisions.
In this episode, Dave and I talk about the direct correlation between being a pilot and a tax accountant, including how to manage people with different personalities, quick thinking skills, and the methodical nature of planning. Thinking ahead of his clients is not much different than thinking ahead of an airplane midflight. And it’s allowed him to have a huge advantage when talking to clients. He said, "When you use your hobby as an ice breaker, it let’s people remember you and differentiates you in the marketplace."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Huffpost article, "5 Surefire Ways to Make Yourself Happier at Work" by Tiffany David.
David Leary is all about collecting splat points. If you go to an Orangetheory Fitness gym, you also collect splat points and now automatically have a connection with David. He also plays ice hockey and is an avid runner. Although he claims to run like a hockey player, his highlight was getting 2nd place in his age group in the Mt. Lemon Half Marathon.
In this episode, David and I talk about his exercise and running has allowed him to connect with others. Running is fairly common so when he’s at a conference, David likes to organize a group to run together, which allows them to connect in an informal way. He also says that running is similar to his work, where you put one foot in front of the other and do the best you can do. He’s always shared his passions at work, from ice hockey to exercising, and has never put up a boundary between his personal and professional lives. He believes being genuinely authentic is important and adds, "People are too worried they have to be somebody they aren’t so they fit the stereotype."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Workforce article, "Creating Happiness: Creative Workers Claim to be Happiest at Work" by Ariel Parrella-Aureli.
Steve Browne describes himself as a music freak. Right when he gets to his office, he turns on some music and leaves it on throughout the day. He has an iPod classic with 11,000 songs on it and he goes to live concerts as often as possible – including U2 at Soldier Field and Paul McCartney and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers with Joe Walsh. He has a very personal connection with music that translates into a personal connection with the people around him.
In this episode, Steve and I talk about how, like music, people have a vibe, so it’s important for leaders to understand where people are instead of where you think they should be. As a human resources executive, it’s important for Steve to have the courage to be himself while also encouraging others to do the same. But it’s the company’s culture that has to not only allow for it but also value each individual’s passions. In order to get to know others around you, make time in your calendar to get out and meet others where they are at. As Steve says, "Your desk is your enemy. You need to get out of your office and go visit people."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Harvard Business Review article, "The Case for Investing More in People" by Eric Garton.
Tony Nitti has been pursuing passions outside of work since before he even started his first job out of college. Having graduated a semester early, he had extra time before needing to report to the Arthur Andersen office, so he moved to Vermont to ski nearly every day. This lead to him pursuing other passions over the years, including racing mountain bikes, back country skiing, and climbing – all reasons he moved to Colorado. After narrowly surviving a brain aneurism several years ago, he’s now more committed than ever to these passions and maximizing his time here.
In this episode, Tony and I talk about how important it was for him to realize that he was completely removed from the things that made him happy by working longer hours and being stuck in a never-ending race to get the most billable hours. He says, "If I let the passions part of me die then everything in my life is going to suffer." Professionalism preaches a false hope that grinding out more hours is the path to success. It’s much better to feel satisfied in all areas of your life, realizing that your hobbies and passions are much more a part of you than your job is. These are also the ways that we’re able to connect with others in a stronger way. “The real skill I have isn’t my understanding of tax law but that I have the ability to communicate it with people because I am an actual person.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Inc article, "7 Traits That Will Help You Build Great Teams that Deliver Amazing Results" by Gordon Tredgold.
Jaime Rein knows what working under pressure is like, having been a trained chef for many years prior to getting into bookkeeping. When she made the move, she thought she was leaving that world behind but quickly realized how much her training benefited her bookkeeping career. Being flexible to pivot at any moment, working through stressful times, being confident in your skills, having grace under fire, and “presenting the plate” to the customer are all very similar in both worlds – and things Jaime does very well. While training to be a chef, she learned the phrase “mise en place”, which is French or everything has it’s place, which just so happens to be exactly the same as bookkeeping.
In this episode, Jaime and I talk about how she was reluctant to share her past with clients for fear they wouldn’t take her seriously. The only downside she’s found is now people are nervous inviting her over for dinner thinking that she’ll be judging their cooking. She has realized how much she’s able to relate to her clients because most of them are also small business owners who have big dreams but could be at a point where they might need to walk away, which she proves is completely okay. Most importantly, by sharing passions you begin to realize that no one really conforms because we all have a story that is both unique and brilliant. In Jaime’s words, "It makes life a little bit brighter when you’re not talking just numbers."
Jaime Rein is the owner of Rein Business Services in Prince George, British Columbia.
She graduated from the College of New Caledonia with a Bookkeeping degree and later earned her CPB designation.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel talk about their highlights from the Accountex Conference in Boston last week. From Rachel's breakout session and panel discussion, to John being on The Key Accounts Facebook Live video, to the Sage VIP Event, and then the TSheets private tour of Fenway Park, they both had a great time and appreciated meeting so many of their listeners!
John Garrett takes his digital recorder around the Accountex Conference to interview accountants who are shattering the stereotype.
In this episode, he talks with a group of professionals who have interests outside of work including coaching ladies kickball, taking part in triathlons, connecting and sharing resources on social media, and traveling.
John Garrett takes his digital recorder around the Accountex Conference to interview accountants who are shattering the stereotype.
In this episode, he talks with a group of Australians who like gardening, traveling, underwater photography, and playing jazz trumpet.
John Garrett takes his digital recorder around the Accountex Conference to interview accountants who are shattering the stereotype.
In this episode, he talks with a group of Australians who like gardening, traveling, underwater photography, and playing jazz trumpet.
Jonathan Ankney became an avid cyclist after starting his accounting career, using it as a way to clear his mind from work. In his words, “creative people need to think,” so this is where he’s able to process a lot that he can’t while he’s in the office. On top of regularly riding to and from his off in New York City, Jonathan has also taken his bike to ride all over Korea.
In this episode, Jonathan and I talk about how his cycling has given him many skills that help in his business as a solopreneur: endurance, pacing, and planning. Prior to his accounting career, he was a professional musician, so he’s able to be more creative and mentally nimble at work. All of these traits make him a much better accountant. We also discuss how he was reluctant to share with coworkers at first because he didn’t feel like it mattered to his career. No he connects with other cyclists when he’s wearing his bicycle tie or they see pictures in his office.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an ATD article, "3 Reasons Employee Engagement Is Declining And How Managers Can Improve It" by Victor Lipman.
Meg Vito grew up exploring with her family, often taking trips as long as three months as her parents made it a priority to see as much as possible. Now she considers herself to be a “weekend warrior”, spending her time away from work hiking, camping, canoeing and exploring the outdoors – not only across Canada but other countries as well.
In this episode, Meg and I talk about how her exploring has given her confidence and self-reliance so she is less afraid to take risks. She also finds that her Philosophy degree has given her some unique critical thinking skills that translate to her being a better trusted advisor for her clients, because "developing trust is one of the most important things we can do." We discuss some of the things that Elements does to foster trust amongst the team and how Meg finds that "Often times when you do a little digging, people are more complex than they appear."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Chicago Tribune article, "7 Deadly Sins of Employee Communication" by Sujan Patel.
Sammie Johannes has been weight training since she was 16 years old. Her classes ended sooner than her younger brother’s, so she would spend that time at the gym next door, working with dumbbells and doing some kickboxing. Now, she’s placing in powerlifting competitions and hitting milestone lifts in bench, squat, and very close to this in dead lift. Some of her colleagues have even come to support her at these competitions while she proudly wears her firm’s shirt.
In this episode, Sammie and I talk about how her powerlifting has given her more patience and resilience. Training doesn’t always go according to plan and constructive feedback is taken much better after being coached in the gym. The atmosphere at Accodex allows her to be able to talk about her powerlifting, even being encouraged by one of the founding partners to have a flexible schedule if training needs to happen during the day. But it’s not just sharing you’re your hobby or passion, Sammie adds, "It’s important we also share the why for our hobbies and passions."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Search Party article, "4 Key Steps for Creating Employee Engagement" by Annette Ainsbury.
Ed Kless grew up near New York City with parents in a “mixed marriage” – one rooted for the Giants and the other rooted for the Dodgers. Luckily, both teams moved before he was born, so it was easy for him to grow up a Mets fan. He’s attended a game in 18 baseball stadiums across the country, with Citi Field being his favorite. He recalls a great story about being at the game when the Mets won the National League Championship over the St. Louis Cardinals in 2000, chanting Rick Ankiel’s name as he continued to struggle to find the strike zone. He also brings up just how much baseball lingo has made it into the regular business world, with phrases like pinch hit, home run, touch base, and to 86 something.
In this episode, Ed and I talk about authenticity consulting theory, which means saying what you see or saying what you feel. It’s the most powerful tool we have to communicate. We also discuss how it’s easier for an organization to shut down a positive culture than it is for them to foster it, because the latter requires buy-in from the individuals. Ed also says that “Human beings behave by what we believe, not because of what we know.” This is what actually drives our actions. Unfortunately, this is directly at odds with the corporate world, which is based on what you know. So getting to the beliefs of each individual takes some time but results in a strong culture.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or an Android app.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Harvard Business Review article, "Burnout at Work Isn’t Just About Exhaustion. It’s Also About Loneliness" by Emma Seppala and Marissa King.
Tim Cowley started playing rugby after a friend suggested they both join a team as they were watching a match on TV. It had been several years after his college football ended, but Tim thought those skills would translate well to the rugby pitch. Besides, it was in his blood because his grandfather had played Gaelic Football in Ireland and then a little bit after immigrating the US. He’s also really into table top games and microbrewing beer, all of which give his skills that make him a better CPA.
In this episode, Tim and I talk about how important it is for accountants to know how to network. Through his hobbies, he’s learned that there are a variety of people out there, some with non-traditional jobs, so they might be looking for someone who isn’t a traditional accountant. He also finds that it’s really important to take the time to talk with everyone because "making a non-business connection to others is the key to being a good accountant."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an ATD article, "Don't go to school for finance — liberal arts is the future" by Abby Jackson.
Trent McLaren grew up visiting his family’s beach home near Melbourne anytime his parents had a long break from work. When he moved to Sydney, he thought what better place to live than on the beach? Then he can visit every day instead of just for holidays. When he isn’t entertaining coworkers at his home, he really enjoys walking along the beach and sipping lattes.
In this episode, Trent and I discuss his philosophy that “as long as my outcomes are being met, then everything is free reign.” We talk about how companies and firms can create the framework for a sharing culture to thrive but it’s still up to the team members to be an active participant in that. He also gives several examples of ways that coworkers have bonded at different places he’s worked.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an ATD article, "Want to Increase Employee Engagement? Hold Managers Accountable".
Garrett Wagner started riding bicycles when he was young and has never quit. He started riding competitively after a good friend invited him to join the team. Since then, he's done many 100-mile rides, biked parts of the Tour de France course, and participated in many races and triathlons. He really enjoys the challenge that cycling forces you to conquer and the pure joy and freedom he experiences on the road.
In this episode, Garrett and I talk about how cycling has impacted his career, teaching him to push himself harder. Similar to being a CPA, it takes a lot of hard work and discipline to be successful. He's also developed some great coworker relationships after riding together. He says, "The connection isn't what you do at work, it's why you do these things you're passionate about."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a HR Digest article, "A Not-To-Do List to Cultivate Work-Life Balance" by Anna Verasai.
Paul Meissner has always had a thing for winter sports. After competing in downhill skiing in University, his attention turned to curling, a sport where he gets to yell a lot. Some of his highlights include a game against the gold medal-winning Canadian Paralympic Team and another time playing a pickup game against Greg McAulay, a Canadian world champion curler.
In this episode, Paul and I talk about how curling is a great metaphor for an office, where the team is made up of different skills and it takes all four working in tandem to get it right. By playing regularly, he's learned to communicate more effectively and to change plans quickly. Client faces light up when they find out he does curling, so he often takes colleagues and clients to play. He really enjoys that because everyone is out of their comfort zone and there's a level playing field so everyone can play equally.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "3 Benefits Companies Can Provide To Boost Work-Life Balance" by Rachel Ritlop.
Liz Mason began traveling when her Dad brought her along on business trips to London and the Caribbean. Since then, she’s been hooked and now sets her personal goal to travel at least two weeks a year to disconnect and focus on something positive in order to break the anxiety and stress that build up from work. She believes in this so much that her firm offers everyone a $1,000 stipend if they completely unplug from work on their vacation.
In this episode, Liz and I talk about how her traveling has forced her to learn better problem solving skills. She’s learned to filter information more efficiently in order to make better decisions. We also talk about how some firms give their teams PTO but then make them feel guilty if they use it, which completely defeats the purpose. These are usually the same firms with cultures that don’t encourage everyone to share passions, missing the fact that, “having human passions is always relatable whether the other person shares that passion or not.”
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Harvard Business Review article, "HR’s Vital Role in How Employees Spend Their Time, Talent, and Energy" by Eric Garton.
Michael Wherry has been downhill skiing since he was very young. And now he's gotten his daughter in the sport, even taking a trip together to Breckenridge, Colorado this past winter. It was during this trip that he realized how much skiing had taught him how to be a better manager. Because everyone has had different experiences, a good manager needs to find the right questions to get others to explain what they’re processing in their head.
In this episode, Michael and I talk about how people need to feel comfortable at work. The firm or company needs to be open to everyone putting small things in their space that show who they are. It’s ideal if management leads the way because, "Newer staff needs someone to show them the way that work isn't everything." He’s seen some firms do “Busy Season Olypics” playing Minute To Win It type games to break up the monotony, which is something that doesn’t necessarily only have to be during Busy Season.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "How To Build An Innovative Workplace Culture With Experimentation" by Daniel Newman.
Andy Wang started playing guitar just after graduating high school and later joined a punk rock/ska band when he was in college. He started after his father told him, "Why talk about it? Go take a lesson!" Since then, he's learned to play the Hawaiian slack key guitar and has entertained Christie Brinkley, performed at Staten Island Stadium, the Highline Ballroom, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival, where he was able to perform with his musical heroes.
In this episode, Andy and I talk about how his guitar playing benefited his career in so many ways. He developed a niche by realizing there weren't many Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar players in New York City. He also learned to take a leap of faith and trust the process -- you'll get better over time. Early in his career, he didn't share his guitar playing because he didn't feel that it benefited his career. Now he's inviting clients to his shows, includes it in his twitter bio and on his page of the firm's website. Andy said, "When you're in the business world, there's always the risk of trying to take yourself too seriously. The fun goes out the window."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Washington Post article, "Uber founder Travis Kalanick resigns as CEO amid a shareholder revolt" by Elizabeth Dwoskin.
Drew Carrick, aka "Petty Ca$h", has always wanted to entertain those around him. Whether it's his original rap songs about accounting or him being his college mascot for a few events, Drew really enjoys standing out, so he was a natural fit for the Green Apple Podcast. His "Public Accounting Anthem" went viral and the rest was history. Colleagues at his firm have recognized his innovation and entertaining skills, and as such deemed him as the "Most Creative". He's even performed his original rap songs at Grant Thornton events, which got the attention of the Marketing group for some special projects.
In this episode, Drew and I talk about how Grant Thornton is doing some things to promote bringing your whole self to work. Drew said, "You shouldn't only be yourself when you're at home or hanging out with your friends. You should be able to be that around the people you work with, too." For most people, work isn't the most important thing in their lives and they need to know that it's not only okay, but the norm. And it definitely doesn't make you any less effective at your job.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "Ten Company Rules That Destroy Trust And Teamwork" by Liz Ryan.
Chris Ekimoff refers to himself as a "swammer", as in someone that used to swim competitively. So competitive in fact that he was a member of the Saint Bonaventure University swimming team who won conference championship for the Atlantic 10 Conference in 2006. This helped him stand out in his start class at Deloitte thanks to the Summer Olympics happening the year he graduated. Many people found out he was a swimmer, so they were asking him questions about the swimming events, which allowed him to develop unique relationships at all levels of the firm.
In this episode, Chris and I talk about how being a part of a swimming team taught him to have confidence in himself while understanding how his piece fits into the bigger picture. He says that no one is judging you. Chris feels the firm plays a big role in this, saying, "The firm itself can't make you share but the firm also shouldn't limit it from happening." And shared experiences are great, too, but the firm must be careful to find a balance in activities so a variety of people can be involved.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Entrepreneur article, "Why You Should Never Follow Your Passion" by Bryan Elliott.
Jeff Crosley is a natural when it comes to performing, especially when it comes to the piano. He's been playing since he was very young and continued that passion through college, playing jazz and pop rock whenever he gets the chance. One such opportunity came before his firm's hospitality suite at an event in Atlantic City. As the Marketing Manager, he had taken the lead on planning and organizing the event. To take the edge off a little before the guests arrived, Jeff decided to sit at the piano that was in the room as decoration. And he never stopped. Both guests and firm partners encouraged Jeff to keep playing, often making requests and buying him drinks. This one moment has been the topic of conversation both in the office and with clients who were at the event.
In this episode, Jeff and I talk about that night and how using his piano skills made for such a great work event. We also discuss how his practicing and performing music is very similar to running marketing campaigns for the firm. And to never feel like you're the only one in your office who participates in a particular hobby or passion. He says, "Some people might think no one else shares their hobby but you don't know until you're talking about it."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Thin Difference article, "Pushing Past the Fear of Looking Stupid" by Eric Torrence.
Amy Hancock first started modeling as a baby. She's now travelled all over the world for photoshoots, both as a model and as a photographer. The modeling especially has given her confidence and, as a naturally shy person, it pushed her out of her comfort zone. All of this has been a huge benefit now that she is the owner of her own company.
In this episode, Amy and I talk about how she was almost living two separate lives, hiding her modeling because she worked in a male-dominated industry. She didn't want to be judged or give them a reason to doubt her technical skills. What she realized after the fact is that most of this was in her own head and once it's out there, "the right people will think it's cool."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a CultureIQ article, "Improving Employee Engagement" by Sarah Greesonbach.
Steve Snyder is a college football tailgating expert. Specifically, Penn State football. He's been a fan for a long time but it wasn't until his kids started going there that he was able to justify getting season tickets. He quickly realized that having food and drinks before and after games was a great way to develop friendships with people both in and out of the office. So if you're at a Penn State game and see a German flag flying, tell Steve I'm the one that sent you over.
In this episode, Steve and I talk about how changing the environment to outside the office helps people relax and be themselves. This leads to deeper relationships back in the office as you now have a shared experience to talk about. We also learn Steve's secrets to a happy life are: a good mattress, a good spouse, and a good job that you like going to. And since he's been in firm leadership roles, he makes sure to show a genuine interest in those around him. He says, "Do right by your people and all things will come together."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Human Resource Executive Online article, "6 Tips to Increase Employee Engagement" by Sreeni Kutam.
Warwick Jackson is a currently a member of the Killarney Vale Bombers, an Australian Football Club. Prior to this team, he helped the Pennant Hills Demons win multiple Grand Finals championships. He got started in Australian Rules Football when he was a kid but stopped playing for some time to focus on university and his career. Then a coworker at his first accounting firm invited him to come play for his club and the rest is history.
In this episode, Warwick and I talk about how playing football has helped his business career. By playing sports for so many years, he's learned to be open to coaching, be resilient to fight through tough times, and to have fun -- celebrating "wins" is important. Now that he's a partner, he likes to lead by example. He says, "Work is only a part of our lives. I want to make sure it adds to my team's lives, not subtract from it."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "The Top Three Factors Driving Employee Burnout" by Joyce Maroney.
Scott Duda was given a choice by a Partner when he first started in public accounting -- either take Friday afternoons off to network and golf or you can stay in the office and work. Through that Partner, Scott learned how to network through golf, developing new relationships and strengthening current relationships. He also happens to cheer for Ohio State sports, especially football. During our talk, it comes out that we were both rooting for our respective teams at the Notre Dame vs Ohio State football game in 1996!
In this episode, Scott and I talk about the best way to build relationships and to build teams is to just be yourself. He talks about how it's okay to not be an expert at everything but instead just know who to reach out to. Scott even tells his staff, "It's okay to not know everything. As a matter of fact, trying to learn everything will slow your career down.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Fast Company article, "Why Engagement Happens in Employees' Hearts, Not Their Minds" by Mark C. Crowley.
Meri Amber is a singer of crazy songs. The geek pop singer-songwriter graduated from the University of Sydney with a degree in commerce (accounting) but has gone on to a popular music career performing her original songs all over Australia and New Zealand. She's even written an entire album of accounting songs. The corresponding music videos got her a lot of attention, so I was excited she could take time to talk with me.
In this episode, Meri and I talk about how important being creative is in the world of business. Not breaking the law creative but the kind of next level thinking based on the data given. Clients aren't paying so much for the work but more how are we going to use this information? And we talk about being worried to share your passions with coworkers or clients because you think they won't relate. She says, "You need to show it if you want other people to acknowledge it!" It's even better if you can correlate it to a benefit for the firm, which isn't as difficult as a lot of people think.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Harvard Business Review article, "Why the Millions We Spend on Employee Engagement Buy Us So Little" by Jacob Morgan.
Cindy Schroeder is such a fan of all things Disney, that she considers herself to be a true "Disnerd". So much so that she's an Annual Walt Disney Passholder, allowing to take in as much Disney as her schedule will allow. She's been able to go behind the scenes at the Disney parks and other perks that would make any Disney fan lose their mind. By sharing this passion with clients, Cindy has been pleasantly surprised to find that there's always someone that shares your passion. She says, "If you don't talk about it, you'll never find those other people."
In this episode, we talk about how much the Walt Disney experience made her marketing skills so much better. It's even more impactful than going to a CPE marketing breakout session at a conference! She learned the attention to detail matters to how your clients feel, so she sends really fun cards and other treats to her clients on random days.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Virgin Pulse article, "Organizational Culture".
Stacy Mueller might be the most popular person in the office, taking the time to bake cakes to celebrate people's birthdays. Seriously, who doesn't love cake?!? She's also known for quilting and making ginger bread houses, both things that she's perfected through years of family gatherings.
In this episode, Stacy and I talk about how these passions help humanize her and give the office an opportunity to take a break from only talking about work demands. We also discuss a new policy INT implemented during the interview process where the candidate meets with a few people for a cultural fit interview. The staff don't ask any technical questions at all but instead focus on the candidate's outside interests and personality, two things that are vital to a healthy work culture.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School article, "Four Steps for Improving Employee Engagement".
Brian Wagner wasn't exactly in love with fly fishing the first few times he went, but a friend had invited him and promised cold beer was involved. After a few times, he began to learn the knots and techniques to catch fish and it became a lot more fun. And while unplugging from work is nice, there are many parallels -- no matter how much you study the technical skills, to truly excel, you must also learn the "art" of both fly fishing and business.
In this episode, Brian and I talk about how his fly fishing has built some really strong client relationships. It's also given him the ability to hone some skills that translate straight to the office, like focusing, remembering to be in the moment, and patience -- as Brian says, "Nothing good happens when you rush it." I also really liked talking with Brian about how it's up to individuals to own their career but the organization must support it, which includes sharing passions or creating shared experiences as a team. The last thing Brian wants is for everyone in the firm to be the same (i.e., accountants who only talk about accounting) because that'd be a very boring place to work.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Nikkei Asian Review article, "Japan Inc. moving toward 4-day work week".
Rebekah Brown is a foodie. She's also a football superfan. And very involved in her church community. No matter where she is, whether it's work or one of these other activities, Rebekah always brings her whole self. She loves talking about restaurants, sharing recipes, and cooking meals with her family and friends. And because everyone needs to eat, she's always got something to talk about with others.
In this episode, Rebekah and I talk about how important it is to take time to learn about yourself. We also talk about how she has the confidence to bring all of herself to everything she does. She finds that it's easy for work to get stressful, so talking about your hobbies and passions a little makes work more fun and allows you to have strong bonds with coworkers to make it through the tough times.
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Harvard Business Review article, "What Great Managers Do Daily" by Ryan Fuller and Nina Shikaloff
Brett Cooper is always looking to feel more personally connected with others. It started out organizing activities for his peers at his first public accounting firm but then shifted to those less fortunate half the world away. After volunteering domestically for a few years, Brett decided he needed to be able to see and talk with the people he was helping, which led him to use his accounting background in India, Uganda, Kenya and now Rwanda. He likes that he is maximizing the value of businesses while also maximizing the value of his personal life.
In this episode, Brett and I talk about the beauty of sharing diverse experiences. It's crucial for everyone to determine their own happiness, know who they are, and own it. We also talk about the fear of being perceived as "not serious" if you show that you have passions that are equally important as your job. In the end, it's up to you to overcome that fear because, as Brett says, "Either fear dictates your choices or you do."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "An 'Employee Value Proposition' Mindset Just Might Fix Employee Engagement" by Rod Wagner.
Lauren Thiel follows the motto "Always be yourself, unless you can be Beyonce!" As a little girl, Lauren's parents enrolled her in dance class in hopes that it would teach her discipline. What they didn't realize she was now heading down a path where dance was a going to be a part of her life forever. After getting her degree in Accounting, she was able to use her business skills to help a friend start Bey Dance, a fun, inclusive and divalicious dance school inspired by Beyonce's music and dancing.
In this episode, we talk about how her dancing has increased her self-confidence and made her a better presenter. Lauren feels it's important to remember that your firm or company hired you for you, so if you don't share a bit of your whole self at work, you're denying your firm, your coworkers, your clients, and your career, from seeing the full potential you can bring. In Lauren's words, "I mostly do accounting but it's about being much more than that."
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Business 2 Community article, "Are You Creating Deep Interactions?" by Dave Brock.
Ron Baker really hates the billable hour. I mean really, really, really hates it. And you can throw in timesheets, too, while you're at it. It all started after he left his job at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. to start his own firm and realized how annoying it was for his clients to be billed this way. He immediately started value pricing and hasn't looked back since, having written several books and coached many other firm owners to do the same. And, oh yeah, he's a pretty decent golfer who loves to travel.
In this episode, we talk about how professionals aren't paid for tasks but rather are paid for outcomes. Unfortunately, many professional services firms have a vision that's too narrow and utilitarian, which creates an anti-innovation culture that is slow moving and measuring the wrong metrics. As Ron said, "We don't build relationships by being efficient!"
The Green Apple Podcast does weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "Being Engaged at Work Is Not the Same as Being Productive" by Ryan Fuller and Nina Shikaloff.
Chris Callegari admits he's the last person he thought would ever try salsa dancing, let alone performing of any kind. But shortly after he graduated college, he was looking for a new challenge and signed up after for salsa classes after seeing an ad in a newspaper. Since then, he's gotten pretty good and he's got the 1st Place trophy to prove it!
In this episode, we talk about how his salsa dancing showed him how stepping out of his comfort zone could lead to success. Chris even had someone on his team excited to share that she had just started salsa lessons herself! By taking the time to get to know his team over monthly check-in meetings and then also sharing his hobbies and passions with them, he feels like it's made him a much better manager.
The Green Apple Podcast is doing weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "Why We Shouldn’t Tell Workers When to Unplug" by Susanna Schrobsdorff.
Chris Hooper took the roundabout way into accounting -- from wrestling promoter at the age of 13 to power lifting competitor to entrepreneur. He'd always been good at making money, but never good at keeping it, so he figured he needed to study up on accounting. And the rest is history. While he isn't competing anymore, he still lifts regularly, sometimes even with clients.
In this episode, we talk about how Chris works hard to make Accodex a refuge for really good accountants who also have passions outside the office. While this might be frowned upon at larger firms, he embraces and encourages it. He stays in constant contact with all the staff but also schedules quarterly meetings with every individual. His goal is to have short-term productivity but long-term engagement from his team, so he works hard to align their personal goals with those of the firm. The question that he asks everyone is, "What's your dream job and what can we do for you to help you get there?"
The Green Apple Podcast is doing weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "Seven Ways To Listen To Your Team (Without Taking A Survey)" by Liz Ryan.
Jennie Moore has been figure skating since she was very little. It's something almost everyone does growing up in Canada. Even today, she continues to perform in competitions and can be found practising at the skating rink alongside her children. She doesn't want to brag but she's gotten very good at lacing up skates for a whole row of kids.
In this episode, we talk about how much figure skating has impacted her business career. From self-correcting to being able to accept coaching to listening well, she has always remembered that it truly takes a team to become great. She also feels that sharing her figure skating with coworkers -- even scheduling meetings around practice -- has lead to more engagement and has helped her firm blossom. She says, "People want to know you're human. If you care about their personal lives then they realize you care about them as a person."
The Green Apple Podcast is doing weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Accounting Today article, "Friedman LLP Implements New Flexible Work/Life Program" by Sean McCabe.
David Beasley loves music. So much so that he spent several years composing for and performing in the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band near Omaha, NE. And even though he no longer lives near there, he continues to compose music for the Omaha Symphony.
In this episode, we talk about how David's been able to create connections with coworkers through their hobbies or passions. This helps out when times are tough or he needs to correct someone's work because their relationships are based on more than just work so the criticism isn't taken personally. David also points out that we're all working in order to do something else, whether that's supporting our family or to be able to do our passions more. In the end, he says, "What's the harm in sharing? There is actually no risk and a lot of reward."
The Green Apple Podcast is doing weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss an Inc. article, "The Most Interesting People Know This Self-Marketing Secret" by Miranda Marcus.
When Tyler Crawford and AJ VanderWoude started at BMSS a few years ago, little did they know they’d be creating original rap videos – the latest being CPA’s on Fleek. What started out as a fun way to learn about upcoming audits has now turned into an amazing way to create strong relationships with their clients.
In this episode, we talk about how their firm, BMSS, works to find the person behind the accountant. They encourage each individual to explore those talents and then use them to better their career, which in turn benefits the firm. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone operated with this mentality?
The Green Apple Podcast is doing weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Forbes article, "Are You A Good Boss? Test Yourself With These 5 Questions" by Lisa Quast.
Byron Patrick spends a lot of time shoveling horse manure. Literally. It's what comes with the territory as the owner of a small horse farm. But whether it's digging post holes for the fences or grooming the horses, he says it's nice to sit back at the end of the day and be able to see the fruits of all his hard work.
In this episode, we talk about how talking about things that interest you and genuinely being interested in talking about things that interest those around you will lead to weird connections that you never thought were possible. He's also found his management skills have grown due to his time on the horse farm learning how to motivate horses to do what you what you need based on what interests them.
Byron Patrick is the Managing Director of CPA Practice at Network Alliance Inc. Prior to that, he spent 8 years as the CEO & Co-founder of Simplified Innovations Inc. He's been the MACPA Chair of Board of Directors, received the Baltimore SmartCEO CPA Power Player Award Recipient in 2014 and was listed in the CPA Practice Advisors 40 under 40 for five years from 2010-2014.
He graduated from Salisbury University - Perdue School of Business with a BS, Accounting. He is also holds the following certifications: CPA, CITP, MCSE, CCA and CGMA.
The Green Apple Podcast is doing weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments are released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Financial Review article, "How your Company's Unwritten Rules can Break its Culture" by Steve Simpson.
Jon Chudy did something he had always dreamed about since he was a kid -- play professional baseball. While his pro pitching career was short-lived, those skills he developed from years of playing baseball have translated directly to his accounting career. Not only that, but the fact he played baseball even helped him land the job!
In this episode, we talk about being a teammate, managing a rigorous schedule and mental toughness all helped him get through his first Busy Season. It helps that Jon feels comfortable where he works, which means he's able to communicate with everyone and makes the bonds between coworkers even stronger.
Jon Chuddy works as an Accountant for Keith Boyer, CPA LLC. Prior to that he was a Professional Baseball Player for the Fargo Moorhead RedHawks.
He graduated from Pace University – Lubin School of Business with Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting/Finance.
The Green Apple Podcast is going to start doing weekly "Green Apple Slices", where John Garrett and Rachel Fisch discuss a recent business article related to the Green Apple Message. These shorter segments will be released each Monday, so don't miss an episode by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher.
This week, John and Rachel discuss a Wall Street Journal article, "How to Build Instant Rapport in an Interview: Small talk can have a big impact on the outcome; tips from bartenders and comedians" by Sue Shellenbarger.
Rebecca Kelley grew up taking one big family trip a year — to Mexico every Spring Break. Since then, she has visited a total of 14 countries, even studying abroad in India while she was in college. She’s hiked in Inca trails to Machu Picchu in Peru and hiked the Alps in Switzerland, all while working hard to become a Partner at EKS&H. She feels that these trips allow her to totally disconnect so she returns with a fresh perspective.
In this episode, we talk about how it’s important to find a place that shares similar values as you. If you feel supported by the culture then you’re more likely to share, making work more fun and relationships more meaningful. A lot of us feel the pressure to know everything when we start, especially at a larger firm, so it’s up to management to tell them it’s okay to ask questions and feel a little vulnerable. In the end, Rebecca says, “It’s not about the accounting… it’s about the people.”
Rebecca Kelley is a Partner at EKS&H, where she’s spent her entire accounting career.
She received her BS in Accounting from the University of Denver.
Scott Usher’s first theater audition was for a background role in South Pacific. When the Director found out he knew all the songs, he was immediately cast. Since then, he hasn’t looked back, doing 1-2 performances a year — one time even acting opposite his wife. Scott says, “If you’re committed to doing what it takes to do the work, you’ll put the work first when it has to be first. Otherwise, you should be doing your hobby.”
In this episode, we talk about how his Bachelor of Arts degree combined with his theater experience has really helped him in the business world. At the very least, Scott feels that he is now much more open to conversations with both coworkers and clients, realizing that work can be very high stress so we need to lighten up when we can. He is the living example of someone that can indeed pursue their passions and have a successful business career.
Scott Usher is a CPA and a principal with the Seattle-based firm of Bader Martin.
He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Washington and his Masters of Science in Taxation from Golden Gate University.
Holly DeVito and her husband started remodeling houses several years ago on a whim as they wanted to update the house they were living in. A few houses later, they are now finishing up a farmhouse project — made even more challenging since they did it while they were also living there. She really enjoys having a vision and seeing it come together. Holly said there are many skills that have translated directly to her work, including patience, project management, budgeting and most importantly, dealing with chaos.
In this episode, we talk about how she first kept her hobbies separate from work early in her career. Now, she has clients talking to her about their farms and other remodeling projects. She didn’t realize how much it actually happened until we talked at the Quickbooks Connect Conference a few months ago. I really like how she approaches clients and coworkers for lifetime relationships, not just transactional ones.
Holly DeVito is the Founder and CEO of Sum of All Numbers, a bookkeeping and payroll services firm. Prior to that, she was the CFO at The American Red Cross.
She studied International Business Management at Brigham Young University – Hawaii and Utah State University.
Rachel Fisch really enjoys singing. And she happens to be really good at it as well. So much so that she was the director of a choir and sang a duet for her church's Christmas service. If you're lucky, she might also break out the chorus of a song mid-conversation if you happen to say a word that triggers it.
In this episode, we talk about her transition from bookkeeping business to owner to Senior Manager at Deloitte Canada. There happens to be a Partner in the office who also enjoys singing, so she's been able to make a connection right away with her new coworkers. Once she started delivering CPE, she realized how similar it was to being a Choir Director -- there's a wide variety of people at different levels that all need to understand the same information.
Rachel Fisch is currently working at Deloitte Canada as a Senior Manager in Accounting. Prior to that, she was the owner of FischBooks, a bookkeeping services firm.
She attended Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and later Assiniboine Community College. She is also a Quickbooks Online Certified ProAdvisor.
Brad Moore served in the Canadian Special Forces and has used this experience every day in his corporate career, especially as a CEO. His military training taught him to move toward activity and face challenges head on, letting specialists do what they do best to accomplish the mission.
In this episode, we talk about how he teaches parts of his military training, breaking things down into a series of tasks and instilling the idea of being accountable to each other. Taking a little time to show them the fundamentals gives the team confidence to overcome any obstacle together. In his words, "anyone can be developed if the right mechanisms are in place."
Bradley Moore is the CEO of Fundamental Applications Corp., which designs, develops, markets and acquires innovative mobile applications for college students. Prior to that, he was sales management with Eastman Kodak Company and a few internet companies.
He holds an MBA from Royal Roads University.
Dawn Brolin is all about having fun, especially in the office. Whether it’s nerf guns or shooting hoops outside, she is right there in the center of it all, which is pretty unique considering she’s the CEO. In her words, “If money is what drives you then you’ve got it all wrong.”
In this episode, we talk about how having fun at work has led to increased productivity, better morale and stronger connections at work. In fact, her clients are even drawn to the fact that Team Brolin can serve their needs despite not being focused on work all the time.
Dawn Brolin is a CPA, MSA, and Managing Member of Powerful Accounting. She has been named One of the Most Powerful Women in Accounting for 5 Years Running.
She has her Masters in Accounting from Eastern Connecticut University, where she scored the winning run for the softball team’s national championship.
Bailey Smith’s is best summed up by her twitter byline which reads, “Accounting is her trade, music is her passion.” Going to a Vertical Horizon concert in 2000 reignited her passion for live music, causing her to set a goal to attend more live concerts and to learn to play the bass guitar. Years later, she is now friends with the band, regularly attends live concerts (tracked in an Excel spreadsheet) and is taking lessons on her bass guitar. She’s even the Treasurer for Friends of Levitt Pavilion in Denver which is helping build a new music venue downtown.
In this episode, we talk about how she’s a naturally shy person, so it took her some time to open up to coworkers and clients. She soon learned the importance of sharing and, just as importantly, asking others to share as well. While most of us are very busy and just focused on getting the work done so we can go home, it’s important to take a few minutes to develop those connections.
Bailey Smith is the owner of Sopris Accounting Solutions, an accounting/bookkeeping/consulting firm. Prior to this, she worked in public accounting for EKS&H.
She attended the University of Denver where she received both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Accounting.
Several years ago, Jen Gardner saw a flyer for learning roller derby basic skills. She thought she might enjoy it because she grew up figure skating and tried her hand at hockey in college but couldn't quite master the puck handling. After a few roller derby lessons, it was clear she was a natural and now she's a regular player on Mob Squad in the Providence Roller Derby League.
In this episode, we talk about how letting professionalism win turns you into a stock photo. Like many of us, Jen was reluctant to share her roller derby passion with coworkers and clients because of the firm culture and how she felt others would judge her. A combination of moving to a different company and being more experienced with her work, she found that as she started talking about her hobbies more, people started to open up as well and stronger relationships were formed. So much so that the owner of her current firm has attended some of her roller derby bouts!
Jen Gardner is the Corporate Controller at The Copley Consulting Group. Prior to that, she worked in public accounting and then in a company’s Internal Audit Department.
She is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island with her M.S. in Accounting.
Ingrid Edstrom is definitely not your stereotypical bookkeeper. She breathes fire, plays Irish music in a band and makes videos with her sidekick, Penny, who was created as a prop for a Business Networking International (BNI) meeting. When the attendees commented on Penny, she realized that this was something that made her stand out, so Ingrid brings her along on all her business trips as well as appearances on the AskABookkeeper.com online education series.
In this episode, we talk about how if we act like we’re boring then how can we expect our clients not to think of us the same way? And forget about trying to attract and retain top talent if your firm thinks this way. Ingrid refers to it as “finding your inner unicorn”, your own set of passions that makes you unique. Weave these into your work conversations and you’ll soon realize that your relationships with both clients and coworkers will be on a much deeper level.
Ingrid Edstrom is a bookkeeping nerd and CEO of Polymath LLC. Polymath is an award winning Intuit Firm of the Future winner, Hubdoc Top 50 Cloud Accountant, and Corporate LiveWire Small Business Bookkeeping Firm of the Year. In 2016 Polymath was featured in the book “The World’s Most Inspiring Accountants” and was recognized by the Woodard Network with both the Practice Innovation and Rising Star awards.
She has her BA in Biology from Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, MN. She was recently recognized as one of the accounting profession’s Top 40 Under 40 and as one of the Most Powerful Women in Accounting.
After a friend came back from a South African trip with some bottles of wine, Deja Sconiers knew she wanted to learn more. Now she's got her own blog and is educating others about wine.
In this episode, we talk about how studying wines has helped Deja be more patient at work and take time to understand and respect the process. While her office isn't super conducive to sharing, she has managed to develop strong relationships with a few coworkers -- some of which are actually helping her with her wine blog.
Deja Sconiers is an Accounts Receivable Specialist at Electrolux.
She has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from North Carolina A&T State University. She is also a Future Business Leaders of America alum.
We did it! I can’t believe it’s been a year already since we started this journey of turning the definition of “stereotypical” professional upside down. Thank you so much to everyone for listening. Thank you so much to everyone for sharing this podcast with their friends. And thank you so much to everyone who has done the anonymous research survey that’s helping support the theory in my book.
In this episode, “Recovering CPA” John Garrett covers the last year of The Green Apple Podcast guests — from creatives, to athletes, to performers, to foodies, to world travelers, to a motorcycle racer, all of these individuals are examples of how your hobbies and passions enhance your career.
Every Wednesday, John interviews accountants, consultants, lawyers and engineers who are known in their respective office for having a hobby or passion. These are all examples of people who are shattering the stereotype and he’d love to have you (or someone you know) on as a guest as well. Just message him at the contact link above.
John also delivers his keynotes across the country and is writing a book to inspire others to see how valuable your hobbies and passions really are. Don’t let “professionalism” win by keeping your hobbies and passions dormant and then, over time, extinct altogether.
Seth David started hiking to the top of Griffith Park as a way to exercise because it was much more interesting than going to a gym. Then he realized that talking with clients and other small business owners while hiking was much more fun than just meeting in a restaurant, so every Saturday morning he would invite others to join him using the #AccountingHike hashtag.
In this episode, we talk about how his sharing his hiking and other hobbies with others gives him an added dimension that humanizes him, especially in the world of social media. It has also helped him continue to build a community and allow others to network as well. By being an open book, it makes it easy for others to see that he is approaching his work with the mindset of service to others. All of this has directly impacted his business in a very positive way.
Seth David is the founder of Nerd Enterprises, Inc. in Burbank, CA, where he teaches QuickBooks and general productivity applications to others. He’s very well-known in the small business accounting industry for his large library of YouTube videos.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting from Pace University – Lubin School of Business in 1996.
Eric Johnson didn’t get his first set of golf clubs until he was in college. He never really took golf seriously until several years later when some coworkers invited him to play a round at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Portland, OR. “Now this is fantastic… I want to do more of this!” was his immediate thought.
In this episode, we talk about how amazing golf has been for Eric’s relationship building, both with coworkers and clients. By developing these stronger connections, he’s able to have more open and honest work conversations. He also discusses how life is a broad concept that incorporates your work, your home life and your hobbies. If it was only work, Eric admits he would burn out and not be nearly as effective.
Eric Johnson is the CFO at Nintex, bringing more than 18 years of financial and operational experience at mid-size and large technology companies.
He graduated maxima cum laude from the University of Portland with a degree in finance.
Henry Lawson has always been fascinated with cars and anything with an engine, really. He’s built 3 cars and restored countless others, including a 1902 MMC and a 1969 Dodge Charger.
In this episode, we talk about how work can easily become all-consuming if we let it. Henry reminds us all that it is acually a marathon and not a sprint, so managers can’t expect everyone to run at sprinting speed all the time. There are times to get things done and there are times to back off an respect people’s space and freedom, especially when it comes to spending time with family. Therefore, a business should measure staff by outcomes instead of hours or face time.
Henry Lawson is co-founder and CEO of autoGraph.
He received a degree in mechanical engineering from Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and then his MBA from Harvard Business School as a Baker Scholar.
Julie (Jules) Carman has always been a runner, like good enough to earn a Track & Field scholarship to Cal for running 200’s kind of runner. There are things she learned running that carry over directly to her career, things that she feels you can’t get anywhere else: resilience, mental strength, proper mindset and discipline. Running also made Jules comfortable being uncomfortable, allowing her to easily mold to new situations and get to the next level.
In this episode, we talk about how things in life are much bigger than work, but it’s sometimes difficult to keep that perspective. And it’s a very slippery slope once you lose focus on the passions that truly drive you. Professionalism will tell you to work more and do those passions less, making them dormant and eventually extinct altogether.
Julie Carman works as the Senior Director, Global Accounting and Consulting Segment at Intapp in the San Francisco Bay Area.
She graduated from University of California, Berkeley in 1986 with a degree in Business and Communication
Shortly after starting at Hodges-Mace, one of the salespeople told Ron Shah that he’s “not the typical CFO” simply because he brought his personality to work with him. In the same way that he does in the office, Ron brings his personality to being the play-by-play announcer at his son’s high school football games. So much so, by his third game, people were noticing how much fun he was having in the booth.
In this episode, we talk about how Ron’s sharing stories about his play-by-play calls or other stories about his family, it humanizes him in such a way that makes him approachable. This allows everyone around him to feel comfortable and develop trust, which is the first key to engagement. By getting others to talk about their passions, it creates an energy in the office that’s infectious. Ron encourages everyone to “rip the band-aid off” and just share a little bit with a client or coworker — you’ll be amazed at the interest level and how others will gravitate toward you.
Ron Shah joined Hodges-Mace in October 2011 as the Chief Financial & Operations Officer.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Babson College and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Virginia.
At the age of 22, Vinh Giang decided not fulfill the Asian prophecy and become an accountant, so he took a slightly different path and pursued a career as a magician. Since then he’s won multiple awards for magic shows, he’s a successful international keynote speaker and runs a video production company in Australia called Luminary. Being a magician, speaker, and a director all have one thing in common – Storytelling. And that’s his greatest passion in life.
In this episode, we talk about how everyone in the office first found out he did magic and how bringing that to the office brought a breath of fresh air to an otherwise dull environment. And Vinh discusses how he hated work because he realized his "work self" was different than his "real self", so he was so relieved to be able to bring some of that to work and make it more fun. We also talk about how professionals should be more like performers, having opening and closing jokes or stories that break down the barriers professionalism has built.
Vinh Giang is the CEO and Director at Luminary Productions and an International Keynote Speaker, using magic to deliver his message. Prior to that, he worked at a small accounting firm in Adelaide, Australia.
He studied accounting at the University of Adelaide, Australia.
If someone were to ask where Joseph Rugger was right now, you’re best guess would be one of our glorious National Parks. He’s been to almost all of them, from Acadia in Maine to the White Sands in New Mexico –driving his Prius all over the country. He created a bucket list of places he’d like to visit all over the world and is quickly checking them off as he does his CFO work virtually.
In this episode, we talked about how we get most of our enjoyment from non-work time, so talking about those things in the office only enhances our jobs. We also talked about how leaders should take the time to genuinely get to know their staff. Using forced programs as the only time to do so is not authentic and doesn’t develop any connections. A good rule Joseph uses is to double the question to statement ratio to open a dialogue and build those relationships.
Joseph Rugger is the CFO of Jonesboro Prosthetic and Orthotic Laboratory and a Continuing Education Instructor with the AICPA. He was the 2011 Arkansas Outstanding Emerging CPA Award Winner and a member of the 2013 AICPA Leadership Academy.
He graduated from Lyon College with a BS Accounting, BS Finance, and BA Economics while being an active member of the baseball team. He later received his Master’s of Professional Accounting from IUPUI.
Greg Papineau takes service to a whole new level, especially now that he’s a Deacon in the Catholic Church. He was first called to this in 2000 as a chaperone on his son’s World Youth Day visit to the Vatican. Since then, he’s been ordained and in his words, can “marry, bury and baptize”. And, oh yeah, he also happens to be the 1989 Colorado State Champion Cyclist.
In this episode, we talk about how the word “Deacon” is derived from a Greek word meaning “servant”. Greg is always thinking how he can be even more service oriented and also develop a personal interest in clients and coworkers. This leads to a cycling group that meets in the warmer months and team meetings starting where the new staff members tell everyone a little bit about their life outside of work.
Greg Papineau works as the Director of Audit & Assurance for BiggsKofford, PC. He’s also the lead for the Firm’s Physician Group Services and Non-profit Services. Prior to joining BiggsKofford, he was a Controller in the banking industry after spending a few years at a different public accounting firm.
He has a Bachelor of Science, Accounting from Central Washington University.
Amy Cooper loves Auburn football. And she loves teaching accounting at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Combining the two has let her give the most important lesson — professionals can be successful while also sharing their passions at work. There isn’t a student in her Fall Semester classes that doesn’t know who Auburn is playing the next weekend.
In this episode, we talk about the public perception of accounting versus reality and how that skews people’s behavior, including that of accountants. When Amy sees these college students, they are all unique with different hobbies and passions. Amy is working hard to encourage this from her students even after they begin working full-time and “professionalism” creeps in.
Amy Cooper is an Accounting Instructor at the Universit of Alaska Fairbanks. Prior to that, she worked at a few public accounting firms in Washington and Alaska.
She has a BS in Accounting & French from Birmingham-Southern College and a Master of Professional Accounting in Taxation from the University of Washington.
Scott Gehman grew up camping in New Jersey but college and starting his career caused him to put that passion on hold for many years. He’s also always been obsessed with loud, fast cars. Now that his son is a Boy Scout, he’s able to combine the two as he loads up his Mustang GT to spend a weekend camping.
In this episode, we talk about how important it is to be willing to share, no matter how small — something on your desk, a picture on your office wall, or computer desktop wallpaper are simple ways to show your hobby or passion. We also discuss how he felt like an outsider since he really isn’t into sports but how he was able to approach co-workers and clients from another angle to create stronger relationships.
Scott Gehman is a Retirement Plan Consultant with Conrad Siegel Actuaries in York, PA. He also handles some marketing and business development for the firm.
He graduated magna cum laude with a BS degree in Marketing from Messiah College.
Maya really likes chocolate. No, I mean really likes it. It all started when she was in college and a chocolate fudge brownie a la mode sundae made her lose track of time and space as she was in total flow with that moment in time. And now she uses chocolate to start client meetings, which brings everyone together and also puts them in a great mood. She also actively participates in chocolate festivals throughout the country and even hosts chocolate tastings. So it looks like Boston just moved up to the top of my cities to visit next!
In this episode, we talk about how your value to your organization is much more than your intellectual capital -- it's the social capital of all your connections as well. And in this world of virtual teams, it's even important to create these personal connections. And she also offers some really great tips about how to decide which chocolate is actually your favorite.
Maya Townsend is the founder and lead consultant at Partnering Resources. She's also the co-editor of the Handbook for Strategic HR: Best Practices in Organization Development from the OD Network.
She graduated with a BA degree in Community Studies from Oberlin College and later went on to get an MS from American University and a Certificate in Organization Development from Georgetown University.
Mike says that he isn't good at it but he really enjoys playing the guitar. He finds that concentrating on something other than work allows him to disconnect and gives him a release to come back to the office refreshed. He also likes to be outdoors hiking, which he says is also a fun way to have a business meeting, creating a "remember when" experience with clients or coworkers that creates stronger bonds.
In this episode, we talk about how you, yes you, have permission to talk about your hobbies and passions at work. This gives your coworkers and clients a deeper, pneumatic connection so they'll actually remember you. Mike also adds that the best organizations create a culture that empowers each employee to truly be themself while also being a representative of the organization.
Mike Michalowicz is an entrepreneur and popular keynote speaker on innovative topics. He's also a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal; is the former MSNBC business make-over expert; and is the author of Surge, Profit First, The Pumpkin Plan and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, which BusinessWeek deemed “the entrepreneur’s cult classic.”.
He graduated with degrees in Finance and Management Science from Virginia Tech, where he was a member of the lacrosse team.
Andrew Tarvin is a funny guy and is well-known nationally within the ComedySportz improv world. He also does stand-up comedy -- his first paid gig was opening for Pauly Shore. A few years ago, he left his Project Manager position with Procter & Gamble to start Humor That Works to show corporations across the world how humor can enhance their bottom line.
In this episode, we talk about how he realized early on in his career that humor helped him be more effective with coworkers. One of his first managers encouraged him to push the boundaries, which he did by creating his own title: P&G Corporate Humorist. He would include jokes, cartoons or videos in his team emails and found that sharing his passion of humor was the single most important thing to benefit his personal brand at work.
Andrew Tarvin is the world's first Humor Engineer. He teaches people how to enjoy their jobs more while doing them better. Prior to running his own company, Humor That Works, Andrew was a Project Engineer with Proctor & Gamble.
He graduated from the Ohio State University, Magna Cum Laude with Honors in Engineering.
Belicia Cespedes loves tennis. She also happens to be the youngest person to ever pass the CPA Exam (at age 17). Professionalism would tell her that the latter is most important for her career but she has found a great deal of success creating coworker connections through tennis, even teaching some of her PwC co-workers how to play. And her competitive side comes out during the table tennis tournaments (very similar, I mean it’s got “tennis” in the name!) the audit team had during Busy Season. What’s most impressive is all of this is from an intern – the first intern that has been a guest on the show!
In this episode we talk about how playing tennis translates directly to her role as a forensics auditor. Each person is ultimately responsible for their own performance but you can always turn to the rest of the team for support. We also talk about how much professionalism weighs on interns and new hires as they feel the pressure to impress at work, not realizing that sharing your hobbies or passions actually helps more than hurts your career.
Belicia is currently working as a Risk Assurance Intern with the Forensics Team at PwC.
She is attending CSUN and pursuing her MSA.
Joe Fleenor is crazy about triathlons. He only started participating in them seven years ago but all of his coworkers and clients know this is one of his passions. Running was boring, so he needed three sports rolled up into one so it could help keep his attention.
In this episode, we talk about how if he didn’t bring his personal life to the workspace, he’d be miserable. He’s seen too many people get disgruntled by letting professionalism consume them, so be proactive. Simply sharing his passion has lead to deeper relationships because getting to know each other better means a deeper level of trust.
Joe Fleenor is the Director of Events & Client Relations for The Rainmaker Companies. Prior to this, he planned tournaments for the United States Tennis Association. He’s also very active in planning triathlons, including the River Bluff Triathlon in a few weeks.
He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in Education and Sports Management.
Looking at Mary Yetto, it might not be obvious that she loves to be outdoors. She’s an avid hunter and also a veteran kickball player, both of which have helped her create stronger connections both in the office and with clients. Being an ethical hunter and using patience are skills that directly translated over to her auditing career.
In this episode, we talk about how much pressure if on the managers to create a corporate culture that encourages sharing of hobbies and passions to increase employee engagement. Every new staff person needs to know that their manager is there for them and is supportive of everyone having an interest outside of work. Mary also believes that the biggest barrier to not sharing is yourself.
Mary Yetto works as an Assurance Manager for BDO. Prior to that, she worked at KPMG, then Hartman, Leito, and Bolt (who later merged with BDO).
She is a graduate of Texas Tech University, with her Master of Science in Accounting.
Evan Hackel loves skiing. So much so that he says it's more than a passion -- it's an addiction. He averages 60-80 days on the slopes each season, skiing all over the world. In addition to being a successful businessman who has started more than 10 companies in his career, Evan is also the Head Coach for the Mexican Freestyle Ski Team.
In this episode, Evan talks about how learning to ski is similar to learning how to run a successful business. The most important thing is to know how to stop safely so you can go full speed ahead, rather than using the snow plow technique that many skiiers and business leaders use. And I love how says that life is more than just business, so have a passion about something outside of work.
Evan Hackel is the Founder and Principal of Ingage Consulting, a consulting firm headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts. He is also the author of the book Ingaging Leadership.
He is a graduate of Boston College - Wallace E. Carroll Graduate School of Management.
When Edie Gardner turned 40, she set a goal to have an experience in all 50 states over the next ten years. Mission accomplished! The stories she shares from driving through the snowy mountains in Colorado, to visiting Cracker Barrel in Tennessee, to Mount Rushmore, all helped her create stronger relationships with her clients.
In this episode, we talk about how important bucket lists are and how it gave her a sense of purpose -- while also remembering to enjoy the journey. She talks about how the best employees are those that have passions they use to enrich their jobs. This makes work more enjoyable and gives you something to look forward to.
Edie Gardner is a CPA and counselor who can audit your financials and then ask you how you feel about the numbers. She's had careers in public and private accounting and social work but is now a stay-at-home mom with a new business of “storybookkeeping” which is part accounting, part counseling, part organization of papers, and part creation of bucket lists for living a truly happy life. .
Edie graduated from the University of Santa Clara with a BS in Accounting. She later received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California.
Jen started juggling in middle school and hasn’t stopped since, now teaching corporate audiences to be more balanced and productive. She took the balancing act literally as she spent several years performing juggling shows at night while working as a structural engineer in New York City.
You can catch Jen as she tours nationally as a speaker, educator and host that has been on The Late Show with David Letterman, ABC News, Fox, Huffington Post Live, Good Day Sacramento, Good Day Philadelphia, Off-Broadway and TEDx stages — and now, the Green Apple Podcast.
Jen Slaw worked as a structural engineer in NYC for 6 years until she quit to become a professional juggler. She serves as the director of Juggling Life, a non-profit with a mission to engage, inspire & emotionally heal ill & disadvantaged youth through interactive juggling and performing arts programs.
She was valedictorian of her high school class and graduated from Swarthmore College with degrees in Art & Engineering.
Ruth Ross learned how to play poker at age 10 from her father. Little did she realize that it would give her the skills to develop into a Human Resources executive. Combined with her love of travel, she’s played poker all over the world — from Las Vegas to Monte Carlo.
In this episode, Ruth talks about how poker gives her the ability to work on her “gut instinct” to read others, which is often very useful in dealing with office issues. She parallels employee engagement with poker, saying that we’re each dealt a hand at work and we need to decide whether to fold or go “all in”.
Ruth is an engagement evangelist, speaker, and author at R Squared Resources. She wrote the book “Coming Alive: The Journey to Reengage Your Life and Career”. Prior to this, Ruth spent 30 years as a Human Resources professional, working her way up to Executive Vice President.
She graduated from Syracuse University with a BS in Human Development and Business. She later went on to get her MS in Counseling from Northeastern University.
Kelly Richmond Pope is on a mission to show what an accountant is not. She’s shattering the stereotype of an accounting professor by continuously looking for new ways to keep students engaged by learning with different media. Her latest project is a feature documentary All the Queens Horses about the largest municipal fraud in U.S. history.
In this episode we talk about how important it is to tell stories to make your point stick with the listener, whether that’s accounting students or audit clients. Kelly also brings up how important it is to always bring your best self to work, which means not hiding your hobbies or passions. Be sure to stay to the end because we have a lot of laughs during the “Get to know Kelly” rapid fire questions.
Kelly Richmond Pope currently teaches forensic accounting at DePaul University in Chicago and is the founder of Helios Digital Learning. She is also a fraud filmmaker, entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed educational evangelist.
She received her Ph.D. in accounting from Virginia Tech University.
Rebecca Berneck likes to go fast. Really fast. Land speed record holder fast. All on a vintage motorcycle. And when she’s not doing that, Rebecca road races competitively throughout the country.
In this episode, we talk about how she’s incorporated this into her business at Officeheads — from her website pictures to the quotes on her office walls. When talking with clients, she parallels their companies to her motorcycle racing team (pit crew, coach, mechanic, etc.) to show that it’s best not to do it all yourself.
Rebecca is the founder and “Big Head” of Officeheads, providing financial management and strategic coaching to small creative and professional service companies. Prior to starting her business, she spent 15 years as the business manager at RNW Consulting, a boutique strategic management consulting firm in Chicago.
She enrolled at Mankato State University but only put in one year. In lieu of getting a formal higher education, Rebecca jumped in to learn on the job.
Rebecca’s links * ###### LinkedIn * ###### Twitter * ###### Facebook * ###### Office Heads * ###### American Motorcyclist Association – Land Speed Record article
Christine trains her way to better connections This year, Christine DeAngelis will complete a half marathon and several obstacle course races, including the Bone Frog Challenge and Spartan Trifecta. Those names alone intimidate me enough to not even want to sign up. But Christine is going to do them all as part of her newfound appreciation for fitness and healthy living after having her daughter a few years ago.
In this episode, we talk about how there are always little points of connection that come up in conversation, you just have to look for them. We also discuss how talking about her races not only provides a point of connection with others but also holds her more accountable to push further.
Christine DeAngelis is the President and CEO of Epiphany Consulting Group, where she helps companies grow by providing outsourced CFO and Controller services. Prior to that, she spent several years in both public accounting and industry. She is a graduate of the AICPA Leadership Academy, was voted one of New Hampshire's Top 10 Young Professionals to Watch and was recognized as one of New Hampshire's 40 Under 40 Young Professionals earlier this year and was even an adjunct professor of Accounting at Southern New Hampshire University.
Christine has a BS in Accounting from the University of New Hampshire and an MSA from Southern New Hampshire University, after which she served as an Adjunct Professor for two years.
Kristen views client connections through a different lens Kristen Rampe is a very busy woman. When she's not running her own consulting firm, she's shuttling her twin boys around and finding free time to pursue her creative side through art of all kinds: photography, painting, drawing, and improv. This provides some balance that she craves after many hours of accounting and consulting work.
We talk about how non-work conversations give depth to relationships, both in the office and with clients. She was reluctant to talk about her art because she didn't feel confident enough to share it at work but turned to other shared experiences like the office co-ed softball team to create stronger connections.
Kristen Rampe is the founder of Kristen Rampe Consulting, where she shows CPA and professional services firms how to use soft skills to get higher profitability.
She graduated from Butler University with a BS in Accounting. While there, she studied abroad at the University of Tasmania.
Ron clowns his way tobetter business relationships
When he isn’t writing a children’s book, grilling some deliciouspork chops or being a clown in Denver’s Distinguished ClownBrigade, Ron Seigneur is a highly regarded business valuationexpert. In this episode, we talk about how much accounting hasbecome a people-based business, so having hobbies and passionsoutside of work really helps develop those connections.
As Partner, he also looks for people with hobbies and passionsbecause these well-rounded individuals are probably also better atwriting and speaking to clients. Having all the technical knowledgewon’t get you far when you want to generate business.
Ron is a Partner with Seigneur Gustafson LLP in Denver, CO. Heis past chair of the AICPA Accredited in Business Valuationcommittee and NACVA’s Professional Standards Board. He is anadjunct professor at the University of Denver College of Law wherehe teaches leadership and management for law firms.
Ron holds a BA in Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Managementfrom Michigan State University and an MBA in Accounting andCorporate Policy from the University of Michigan.
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Rick is a real court jester
Rick Roberts manages to keep a busy comedy schedule while also being a Partner in a law firm. He’s performed at Caroline’s Comedy Club in New York City as well as Mohegan Sun and several theaters in Connecticut. He regrets not starting sooner because it has been a huge complement to his law career.
In this episode, Rick says that all firms want to have intellectually stimulated staff so why not encourage that? He admits most professional jobs are all-consuming so it’s easy to get into a routine of passive entertainment, like going home and watching television, instead of actively pursuing a passion.
Rick is a partner at Nuzzo & Roberts, a 22 lawyer firm in Cheshire CT, focused on trial work defending people and companies who get sued.
He graduated from Binghamton University and SUNY Buffalo Law School and is now listed in Connecticut and New England Super Lawyers.
John talks with
Rick Roberts
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Other pictures of Rick
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| Rick on stage at a show in Connecticut. | Rick acting out one of his jokes. | Getting some big laughs at a theater. |
Rick’s links * ###### LinkedIn * ###### Nuzzo & Roberts Law Firm * ###### Rick Roberts comedy website
Megan barbecues up some great coworker relationships In 2010, Megan Varani and her husband Brian began participating in BBQ competitions in several different states. Just six short years later, they opened Mookie’s BBQ Restaurant and also have a catering business in Northern Virginia.
All of this was made possible thanks to EY leadership giving her the flexibility to get the work done with taking many Fridays off to travel to competitions. She talks about how her sharing provided another connection point with clients and coworkers. And by her sharing more about the BBQ competitions and restaurant, it encouraged others to also open up about their passions.
Megan is an Executive Director with EY in the DC Metro office, focusing on Assurance Financial Services clients. She’s spent the last 14 years with EY. Prior to that, she was an Audit Staff with Arthur Andersen prior to being merged into EY.
Megan graduated from Marietta College with a BA in Accounting and a minor in Leadership Studies.
Misty makes the workplace her stage When she was growing up, Misty was so shy she used to hide behind her parents in family pictures. That all changed after taking an acting class. Now she regularly acts and directs theater shows while also working in business development in the accounting industry. Thank goodness we didn’t arm wrestle because CPA Practice Advisor named Misty as one of the Most Powerful Women in Accounting.
In this episode, we laugh. A lot. And then Misty talks about how when she began to open up at work, she stopped “acting” and became herself. And how something as simple her team’s daily 10-minute walks creates lasting connections.
Misty is the VP of Business Development at CPA Academy, where she continues to follow her great passion for helping companies and sole proprietors grow to their fullest potential. She also spends time as the co-founder of The Theater of Marketing, a creative marketing business.
Misty has a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University-East Bay.
John talks with
Misty Megia
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Other pictures of Misty
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| Misty, the Director, poses after opening night. | Misty poses with Mathew Wiener, Tony Hawk, and Trevor Noah. | Misty performing in “All Shook Up”. |
Misty’s links * ###### LinkedIn * ###### Twitter * ###### CPAacademy.org * ###### The Theater of Marketing
MB’s stained glass projects make for colorful client relationships Several years ago, a friend invited MB (Mary Beth) to a stained glass workshop and now she can’t stop. And when the stained glass studio made the move to QuickBooks, you better believe they called MB first. So her passion led directly to a new client that she still has today.
In this episode, MB talks about how people sense when you’re not being true to yourself. When they sense this, it makes them not want to interact with you which could really hinder your ability to serve your clients well.
MB does QuickBooks consulting and training, having trained more than 12,000 QuickBooks users and accounts. Prior to this, she had a full-time tax and accounting practice. She is a CPA, CITP and Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisor.
She has a BA in Psychology from the University of Dayton and an MS in Taxation from the University of New Haven.
John talks with
MB Raimondi
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Other pictures of MB
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| MB poses with Brad Smith, President & CEO of Intuit. | Teaching a QuickBooks workshop at the Scaling New Heights Conference. | MB’s favorite stained glass project. |
MB’s links * ###### LinkedIn * ###### Facebook * ###### Twitter * ###### Business services website * ###### Stained glass studio website
Clients enjoy that John is a modern day George Plimpton
John Choe has played an inning of professional and he’s also tried out with an NHL team. And you better believe that clients and coworkers gravitate toward these stories, especially in the sports-obsessed stock picking world. One client compared John to George Plimpton, famous for his “participatory journalism”, where he would do an activity once and then write about it.
In this episode, he talks about how he used the skills he developed in the office to open the door to these professional sports opportunities and how it’s greatly increased his relationships at work. And if you’re in a place that doesn’t encourage this, you can still find a small group of the right people to do so.
John is a Security Analyst with FinArc Investments and responsible for researching, analyzing, and recommending stocks to the investment committee. Previously, he held research analyst positions at Liberty Mutual Group Asset Management, Inc. and State Street Global Advisors.
John earned a Bachelor of Science degree in materials science and engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
John talks with
John Choe
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Other pictures of John
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| John getting ready to make his professional baseball debut. | John gets an at-bat for the CornBelters in Bloomington-Normal, IL. | John tries out for goalie for the NHL’s Florida Panthers. |
John’s links * ###### LinkedIn * ###### Boston Globe article about NHL tryout * ###### Article about his one day as a professional baseball player
Jim races his way to better coworker relationships
Jim Fahey, or “Captain Noncharge” as he’s been called, has a lot of hobbies — competitive Scrabble, fly fishing, visiting Major League Baseball stadiums, driving remote control cars and autocross. He’d be enough to fill three episodes but we crammed it all into this episode. And the next time I visit Ohio, I’m going to get a test ride in Jim’s Toyota MR2.
Jim talks about a really cool activity he’s doing every month with the staff at HBK to help reinforce the Green Apple message.
Jim Fahey is the Chief Learning Officer at HBK CPAs & Consultants. He has many years of CPA firm experience working in human resources, recruiting, training and development, technology and practice management — working for everything from a small local firm, then a regional firm and now a Top100 national firm. This broad experience helps him understand the unique needs of the staff.
Jim obtained his bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Human Resources from the University of Akron.
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Other pictures of Jim
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| Jim attends an Autocross event with his HBK co-worker Rob. | There are many things hanging in Jim’s office, including this Scrabble board. | Jim’s Toyota MR2. |
Jim’s links * ###### LinkedIn * ###### Twitter * ###### HBK CPAs and Consultants
Jody’s being radical develops stronger coworker relationships
Jody Padar wrote the book that started the revolution of new generation accounting professionals. And she hasn’t looked back since, continuing to radicalize others. And when she’s not doing that, she swims competitively through the Illinois Masters Swimming Association.
Jody talks about making friends involves being a friend first. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable because that’s when goods things happen. And most importantly, we talk about how watching the Kardashians is good for bonding with coworkers.
Jody Padar is the CEO and principal of the Chicago-based firm New Vision CPA Group, which she transformed into a technologically advanced, paperless work environment. She is a regular contributor to a number of industry publications, including CPA Trendlines, and has been named by Accounting Today as “the Top 100 Most Influential to the Profession” for four years in a row.
Jody has a BBA from Saint Mary’s College and her MST from Northern Illinois University.
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Other pictures of Jody
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| Jody speaks with CPAs Gone Wild at SXSW. | Jody’s Radical CPA platform is changing the accounting profession. | At the CCH Connections User Conference with Teresa Mackintosh, Elvis and Marilyn. |
Jody’s links * ###### Twitter * ###### LinkedIn * ###### The Radical CPA * ###### New Vision CPA Group
Misty’s Junior Leagues creates better coworker relationships
When it comes to volunteering, Misty Geer is a pro. Now she’s focused her energy on the Junior Leagues and this has helped her develop presentation skills she uses in her job and many more connections both in and out of work. And all of this helps her become more human to her coworkers.
Misty talks about how others reacted to her when she started sharing her passions at work. She also brings up an excellent point that talking only about yourself could be counterproductive, so be sure to use your sharing as a way to get others to open up as well.
Misty Geer is an Accounting Supervisor with Halliburton performing managerial accounting functions for the Rockies Area. Previously, she worked as an auditor for Postlethwaite & Netterville before moving into industry with CARBO Ceramics.
Misty obtained her bachelor’s degrees from Southeastern Louisiana University and her MBA from Florida State University and is a CPA and CGMA.
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Other pictures of Misty
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| Misty and the Junior League volunteer to update a women’s shelter. | Misty helps others paint at a women’s shelter. | Misty and the Junior League gathered over 1k pounds of food in their last food drive. |
Misty’s links * ###### LinkedIn * ###### The Association of Junior Leagues International
Kevin relays his way to better client relationships
When he’s not using his business valuation skills, you can find Kevin running around the country on a 200 mile Ragnar Relay or interviewing rock stars as a Beat Writer for AXS Entertainment.
Kevin is a Shareholder and the Director of Valuation Services for Brueggeman and Johnson Yeanoplos, P.C. in Tucson, AZ. He was inducted into the AICPA Business Valuation Hall of Fame in 2010, recognizing fewer than 30 individuals whose lifetime achievements and contributions have significantly advanced the valuation discipline and have enhanced the valuation profession for CPAs. We met after I presented at an AICPA conference last year so it’s nice to talk with him again here.
Kevin graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Utah, is a Certified Public Accountant Accredited in Business Valuation and Certified in Financial Forensics and was in the charter class of those earning the ABV credential and the CFF credential.
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Other pictures of Kevin
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| Kevin talks with Jeff Bridges. | John Mayer poses with Kevin after an interview. | Kevin poses with Sting before a concert. | | Kevin running his leg of the Ragnar Del Sol. | Kevin posing after the Pat’s Run for the Pat Tillman Foundation. | Kevin carrying the baton in the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay. |
Kevin’s links * ###### LinkedIn * ###### Brueggeman and Johnson Yeanoplos * ###### AXS Entertainment articles * ###### Ragnar Relays
Randy rocks his way to better client relationships
All the Partners at Anton Collins Mitchell have website headshots that show their hobbies or passions. When Randy became a Partner, golf was already taken so he had to dig into his past to bring out his guitar. By opening up a little about his college guitar playing days, clients began asking him to jam with them. That’s when he had to admit that he needed to practice quite a bit before taking the stage with them, which shows that you don’t have to be proficient in your hobby to share it with others. You just have to be passionate about it.
I talk with Randy about how Anton Collins Mitchell uses a Fun Calendar to encourage staff to develop stronger relationships with others that share the same passions. And how, as a Partner, he looks for people who are eager to continue to grow — which is only enhanced by bringing your hobbies and passions to work.
Randy graduated with a degree in Accounting from University of Northern Colorado and has worked in public accounting ever since.
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Other pictures of Randy
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| Randy let’s loose on the golf course. | Randy poses with Blues Traveler after the NOCO Unify Suitcase Party fundraiser. | Randy’s Blues Traveler tattoo signed by lead singer John Popper. |
Randy’s links * ###### LinkedIn * ###### Anton Collins Mitchell * ###### Northern Colorado United for Youth * ###### Denver Active 20-30
Caleb writes his way to better professional relationships While Caleb Newquist no longer works in accounting, he is very busy being around it all the time. He’s the Founding Editor of Going Concern, easily the most talked about website about he accounting profession. Caleb is also the head of content for Accountingfly and the Founder of Yarn, a creative firm that serves the accounting profession.
I talk with Caleb about how his hobby became his passion, then his work, and now his job. And the friendships he’s developed since working from home have all stemmed from him talking about this.
Caleb graduated from a BBA at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and later a master’s in accounting from Colorado State University. He worked public accounting for 6 years before starting Going Concern.
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Caleb’s links * ###### LinkedIn * ###### Twitter * ###### Going Concern * ###### YARN * ###### Accountingfly
Rumbi is the social butterfly between her many networks
Whether it's singing karaoke in front of thousands in Berlin, running the New York City Marathon or being a part of the New York African Film Festival, Rumbi is making connections.
I talk with Rumbi about how important developing relationships is for someone who started her own forensics accounting firm. Which is pretty impressive considering she admits to becoming an accountant "on accident".
Rumbi graduated from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts with a degree in Economics and Mathematics before going to study accounting at the University of South Africa. She worked for Big Four and industry before starting her own firm, Rock Financial Forensics in New York City.
She's also the editor of Figuring Financial Forensics where she discusses news and her views of the world of financial forensics.
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Other pictures of Rumbi
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Rumbi participates in a panel at the New York African Film Festival.
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Rumbi sings karaoke in front of over two thousand in Berlin.
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Rumbi is getting ready to run another Brooklyn Half-Marathon.
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Rumbi's links * ###### LinkedIn * ###### Twitter * ###### Rock Financial Forensics * ###### Figuring Financial Forensics blog
Stuart jokes his way to better networking Stuart Hack recently stepped on stage at the Improv Comedy Club and was big hit with his clients.
In this episode, we talk about how Stuart’s radio host days and stand-up comedy hobby have allowed him to be much better at networking to generate more business for his Firm. He spent many years working for accounting firms before taking a leap of faith to start his own practice, Hack Tax and Accounting Services.
Stuart has a Bachelors in Mathematics and a Masters in Accounting, both from the State University of New York at Albany. He’s got over 27 years of experience providing individuals and small businesses with tax and accounting needs.
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Other pictures of Stuart
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| Stuart on stage at the Improv Comedy Club. | Stuart cuts the ribbon at his new office. | Stuart speaking at the Chamber of Commerce. |
Stuart’s links * ###### LinkedIn * ###### Hack Tax and Accounting Services * ###### Stratomatic Baseball
Donna races her way to better client relationships
Donna Bruce started running almost 5 years ago and hasn’t stopped, having completed 19 marathons and countless other races — including the 2013 Boston Marathon.
In this episode, we talk about how running has given her an identity that clients are interested in. Donna spent many years at a Big 4 firm before starting her own firm with two other Partners, that was later merged with BKD.
Donna graduated from Mississippi State University and is currently a Tax Partner and also serves as Tax Director for the Mississippi practice of BKD. She works primarily with high net worth family groups, closely held businesses, nonprofits spending a large amount of time with income tax, retirement and estate planning..
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Other pictures of Donna
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| Donna poses after finishing the 2014 Boston Marathon. | Donna poses with some friends just before the Tupelo Marathon. | Donna runs the 2014 Mississippi Blues Marathon. |
Donna’s links * ###### LinkedIn
Mike Kelley bunts his way to better coworker relationships (and a job)
Mike Kelley has always loved baseball. And it allowed him to have a special connection with his son, born four months early and now a thriving 15 year-old.
Mike is the Managing Partner at Wheeler Fairman & Kelley in Austin, TX -- his name is on the door! -- where he's a tax accountant who also does litigation support and business valuations. He graduated from the University of Michigan and went to work at Deloitte & Touche for a few years before moving to Texas. Mike connected with me on LinkedIn after I presented at an AICPA conference last year so it's great to catch up with him now.
After having their son, Mike's wife Kelli created Hand to Hold, a charity to help other families going through similar experience as they did.
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Mike gets ready to field a ground ball.
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Mike just before playing in Tempe Diablo Stadium, home of the Anaheim Angels Spring Training.
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Mike at bat during a recent baseball tournament.
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Mike's son Jackson volunteers at a special baseball camp.
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Mike's son Jackson takes a swing.
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Mike's wife Kelli and their son Jackson at a Hand to Hold event.
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Mike's links * ###### Hand to Hold (charity founded by Mike's wife) * ###### LinkedIn * ###### Wheeler Fairman & Kelley
Cathleen Anderson runs her way to better client relationships Cathleen Anderson is an avid runner of 5k’s and half-marathons. So much so that one time she actually them in consecutive days.
Cathleen received her BS in Business Accounting from Indiana University and then went to work for a payroll processing company in her hometown of Elkhart, Indiana. She later moved to Pennsylvania where she worked in public accounting and earned her CPA. And for the last 14 years, she’s been at Burnham, working her way up to Tax Manager and Retirement Plan Administrator.
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Other pictures of Cathleen
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| Cathleen and her family before the Bob Bard 5k in Quarryville, PA. | Cathleen running the Amos Herr Honey Run in Landisville, PA. |
Jason cooks up great coworker relationships
Jason Kalies grew up on a small family dairy farm in Wisconsin so he appreciates cultivating the land for fresh food. Then one day he decided to share his homemade salsa and marinades with a team visiting from out of town and deep coworker relationships were made.
In this episode, we talk about whiskey, the Circus Parade in Milwaukee, growing up on a dairy farm and why baking is better than cooking -- not necessarily in that order. Jason is currently a senior manager at big 4 accounting firm - having spent over 15 years in the accounting world in both public accounting and industry.
After graduating from St. Norbert College outside of Green Bay Wisconsin, Jason started working at PwC. He later worked for a bank for several years before returning to public accounting a few years ago.
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Boiling Ball Jars as part of the peach canning process.
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Jason gets ready to can some peaches.
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Jason sets up his "12 Whiskies of Christmas".
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Jason's links * ###### LinkedIn
Jack-of-All-Trades uses stories to connect with coworkers I've been friends with Dave Gilbertson for almost 15 years, since we both started at PwC. He is known among his friends and coworkers for several things -- being Louie Anderson's tour manager one year, writing a published book, playing an inning of minor league baseball, interviewing the Dali Lama -- you name it , Dave has probably done it or talked his way into it.
Currently, Dave is the Vice President of Corporate Strategy for Kronos Software so I appreciate him making some time to talk about that one time he was in an elevator with Louie Anderson and Larry King and the hilarity that ensued.
After starting his career as an accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Dave Gilbertson has served in a variety of senior executive roles within the private equity, strategy consulting and software spaces. He graduated from Georgetown University and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
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Dave with comedian Louie Anderson.
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Dave working out his comedy set.
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Dave's links * ###### Twitter * ###### LinkedIn * ###### Book: Baseball in the Badlands: Stale Beers and Stale Careers
Jason creates stronger client relationships with CrossFit Over the last few years, Jason Blumer has really gotten into CrossFit. And not only has it helped him get in better shape, he's also realizing there are many parallels to running your own business. So he's able to tell clients that there's no sitting down for breaks if they really want to meet their goals.
Jason is now the Chief Innovation Officer of his own firm, Blumer & Associates, CPAs. In this episode, we talk about overcoming fear and what made him want to start his own firm over 12 years ago.
Jason graduated from Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC with an accounting degree and went to work in industry, eventually becoming a Controller for a few years before switching over to public accounting. He left all that in 2003 to run his own firm. That wasn't enough so he created the Thriveal Network, a supportive community for accountants who have their own firms.
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Jason training at the Crossfit gym.
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Jason doing squats at the Crossfit gym.
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Jason's links * ###### Thriveal Network * ###### Twitter * ###### LinkedIn * ###### The Businessology Show Podcast
Jerry's client and coworker relationships are tailor made Jerry Folly-Kossi is a sharp-dressed man. And that isn't by accident. When he isn't busy as a financial analyst in the Business Valuation and Litigation Group at Hemming Morse, he's running his own custom menswear company, Swell Attitude.
We talk about how his fashion was influenced by growing up in Paris with his family originally from the Ivory Coast. And when he isn't designing custom men's clothes, he's practicing martial arts or playing soccer in a very competitive league with former professional players.
Jerry graduated from UCLA with BA's in both Economics and Political Science. He later went on to receive his MBA from the Graziadio School of Business & Management at Pepperdine University. Before joining Hemming Morse, Jerry worked for numerous Fortune 500 companies in the field of Investment Banking, Consulting and Accounting, namely Ernst & Young, Merrill Lynch and Burr Pilger & Mayer.
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Jerry displays his Swell Attitude custom clothing at a trunk show.
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Jerry on the field before a soccer match.
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Jerry is busy designing a custom suit.
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Jerry's links * ###### Swell Attitude website * ###### Facebook * ###### LinkedIn
Bob uses fantasy football to score a lot of points with clients Bob Lung talks about how being a fantasy football expert has lead to some fantastic business relationships. But he stresses it doesn't necessarily have to be fantasy football, his secret is tries to show a genuine interest in others.
Bob is now a Controller at a company near Akron, OH but he started his career at Ernst & Young, so he's got great perspective of both public accounting and industry. In this episode, we talk about how in 1985, he was keeping fantasy football scores using Lotus 1-2-3! And you'll never believe the story about his time hanging out with Al Davis, the former owner of the Oakland Raiders.
Bob graduated from the University of Akron but definitely doesn't fit the stereotypical mold of a CPA -- which makes him the perfect green apple.
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Other pictures of Bob
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Bob poses with a fantasy football championship belt.
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At the NFL Hall of Fame, Bob gets to hang out with legends like John Madden.
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Bob's links * ###### Bob's 2015 Fantasy Football Consistency Guide * ###### Twitter * ###### LinkedIn * ###### Fantasy Sports Warehouse posts
Andrew McArthur talks about how his homebrewing and air guitar competitions create stronger bonds with coworkers. Through he stresses it isn’t important to have a “cool” hobby — you should share no matter what your hobby or passion is.
I’ve known Andrew since my first day at PwC. He now works in Investment Risk Management at an Asset Management Firm in Denver, CO. In this episode, we talk about our first training at PwC, moving into the Internal Audit side shortly thereafter and how an accounting degree can lead to a diverse career path — many times not even doing traditional accounting at all.
Andrew graduated from UCLA with a major in Business Economics and a minor in Accounting. After 5 years with PwC in their advisory services division, focusing on Risk and Controls projects, Andrew made the move to an asset management firm where he has been working in various roles over the past 12 years.
He still has his active CPA license, although his career has gone many directions other than accounting.
John talks with
Andrew McArthur
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Other pictures of Andrew
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| Andrew pours ingredients for his latest home brew beer. | Andrew wins this regional Air Guitar Competition. |
Greg jokes his way to better client relationships Greg Kyte is a very busy man. When he isn't being a Comptroller (he was able to give himself whatever title he wanted), he is performing at comedy clubs and delivering CPE no one in the audience will soon forget.
He definitely took the unconventional route into accounting. After graduating from the University of Washington, Greg moved to Utah and became a middle school teacher. Listen to the hilarious reason he left teaching and what it was about accounting that pulled him in. Greg provides some great insight on why "soft skills" are so important for accountants and how they've specifically impacted his relationships with clients. You'll also get some bonuses like one of his first jokes on stage and what it probably means if you hear "strawberry" in a doctor's office.
Greg really, really likes degrees: he has a secondary education teaching credential from Brigham Young University, a degree in accounting from Utah Valley University, an MBA from Utah State University, and took one philosophy class from Harvard Extension School. He likes to brag that his Harvard GPA is 3.7.
Oh, yeah, and he's also a CPA.
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Greg tells jokes at Wise Guys Comedy Club.
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Greg delivers great content during his Comedy CPE events.
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Greg performing at a local comedy show.
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Greg's links * ###### Comedy CPE website * ###### Twitter * ###### LinkedIn * ###### Greg's Going Concern posts * ###### Greg's Thriveal CPA Network blog posts
"The Dancing Accountant" dishes on how she stands out to clients Nancy McClelland loves dancing so much, when she decided to start her own firm, she called it The Dancing Accountant, LLC. She shares some great insight into how opening up to her clients about her hobby makes her seem more human and less intimidating.
Being a professional 1960's Go Go Dancer was something that Nancy had always wanted to try. Shortly after a milestone birthday, she realized that it was now or never, so she began taking classes in Chicago. Just four short months later, she was asked to join The Janes Go Go Troupe and began performing at events all over the city -- including at one of her client's venues!
Nancy graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education and went straight to work as the Business Manager at the Ann Arbor School of Performing Arts. Someone along the way gave her a CCH Tax Guide and that's when she realized she should get her Masters in Accounting, pass the CPA Exam and start her own firm.
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"The Janes" pose on Nancy's Checker cab.
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Nancy on stage at her first dancing gig.
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Nancy at a disco charity event.
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Nancy's links * ###### The Dancing Accountant website * ###### Twitter * ###### LinkedIn profile * ###### The Janes website
John Garrett introduces you to The Green Apple Podcast
“Recovering CPA” John Garrett introduces you to The Green Apple Podcast. He shares his vision for the podcast and shares a little bit about himself.
After graduating from Notre Dame, John started at PwC in St. Louis. He worked hard to pass the CPA Exam, get promoted to Senior Associate and even be selected to work on the firm’s largest Financial Services client. Out of all of those resume-building things, wait until you hear what a PwC Partner remembered about John over ten years after he had left the firm.
Every Wednesday, John will be interviewing accountants that have hobbies and passions outside of work — ranging from something simple like watching movies to something crazy like skydiving.
He is doing this in hopes that as a profession, we begin to open up a little more to see each other as multi-dimensional and embrace the unique skill set that each of us has developed outside of work.
Other pictures of John
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| One of my first times on stage at The Funny Bone Comedy Club. | With Tom Griswold after being a guest on The Bob & Tom Show. | On stage at Caroline’s Comedy Club in New York City. |
Interview links * ###### John’s website * ###### John’s twitter
Sponsors * ###### Sponsor: Link and a few sentences about the episode sponsor.
Subscribe to The Green Apple Podcast!
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Transcript
- Hey there! I’m John Garrett and this is the first ever episode of The Green Apple Podcast! I’m so excited to share my vision for this podcast and a little bit about myself.
Episode 2 will kick off my interviews with some awesome accountants who stand out at work by being unique — like a green apple in a red apple world. Why apples? Well since I’ve got the time, I looked up the characteristics of apples and they are very similar to those of accountants — durable, long shelf life, and grow round over time. Ok, that one might’ve cut a little too close to the bone for some of us.
And before I forget, I wanted to let everyone know you can see show notes and listen to all the episodes at GreenApplePodcast.com. You can also participate in my research survey — it’d be super cool if you did, it seriously takes less than two minutes — and contact me if you’d like to be a featured guest. I’d love to have you — yes, you — on my show — even if you work in tax!
That’s right, because every Wednesday, I’ll be interviewing accountants that have hobbies and passions outside of work — ranging from something simple like watching movies to something crazy like skydiving. I’m doing this in hopes that as a profession, we begin to open up a little more to see each other as multi-dimensional and embrace the unique skill set that each of us has developed outside of work.
When I first started at PwC after graduating from Notre Dame, I realized quickly that on paper, we were all the same. We all went to college and have an accounting degree. Most of us, including me, have even passed the CPA exam. We all park in the same parking lot and walk the same path to work carrying our identical logo’d computer bags. But what makes you stand out has nothing to do with any of that. While we’ve been taught to believe that it’s completely unrelated to your job, your hobbies or passions are actually what makes you stand out and we all need to recognize the unique skills you’re bringing to the table.
Each episode will cover my guest’s story and how it has impacted their career. And I’ll be bringing one to you every Wednesday morning so your commute on that day just got a little better. You’re welcome!
I’ll have my guest introduce their episode so you’ll know who I’m talking with and what we’ll be talking about — just like I did for this one. Then I’ll ask them how they got into accounting because I’m always curious to hear that story. If you’re like me, I didn’t always want to be an accountant. I started college wanting to be an engineer. But a D in Physics and my birthday on April 15th, so it was pretty obvious accounting was for me! Besides, engineers are nerds. Am I right or what?
Then next we’ll dig deeper into their hobby. How did they get into it? What does it involve? What skills have you developed by doing this hobby? Now for me, that was standup comedy. I first went to a comedy club when I was at a training for PwC in Los Angeles. A few of us rented a car and went to the Improv Comedy Club in Hollywood. As it happens sometimes, most of the comedians were very, very funny but a few — were not. And that’s when I realized, “I could be as not funny as that guy.” My confidence was boosted when I got back to my home office and thought, “I am the funniest person in this department!” What I didn’t realize is being the funniest accountant is kind of like… driving the fastest minivan. So knowing I wouldn’t be the worst person that ever tried standup, decided to go up at the Funny Bone in St. Louis. For several years, I used to work all day and then go to the comedy club to perform at night. Eventually, I was good enough to be actually get paid and then take vacation days to fly and perform across the country. I’ve been a repeat guest on The Bob & Tom Show and my CD is in regular rotation on SiriusXM Radio. It’s pretty cool. And now look, I’ve got my own podcast!
The next thing we’ll discuss is whether they talk about their hobby at work. And if so, did they do this on purpose or did it just happen? We’ll talk about how this has benefited their career. Whether it’s stronger friendships with co-workers or stronger relationships with clients, you’re going to hear some inspiring stories.
And most importantly, I ask each of my guests — what are some barriers that keep people from sharing their hobby at work? This is meant to encourage all of us to find a way to quit acting like what you think an accountant should be and to open up and create deeper relationships based on what you enjoy doing.
The last segment, which is my favorite part, is where I’ll ask 17 quick questions to truly get to know my guest. Pressing questions like, “Star Wars or Star Trek?” or “Boxers or Briefs?” or “Movie that makes you cry?”. You know, the real questions that determine whether or not we can be friends — and if you say Rudy, you get some serious bonus points.
So to close out this episode, let me share with you why I started The Green Apple Podcast. As I travel the country speaking at firm all staff meetings and accounting conferences, I meet some really cool accountants. And this might be hard to believe but the thing that makes them really cool has absolutely nothing to do with accounting. And I’m sad when I hear that many of them are reluctant to share with their co-workers or clients for a variety of reasons — and I’ve heard them all. Personal talk isn’t billable or I’m scared of being different or my coworkers don’t care what I’m passionate about or I’m not going to bring it up since no one else does the same hobby as me. Hey, I did comedy. Do you think anyone else in my office did the same thing I did? We’ve all been there and I know many of you are thinking this right now.
That’s why this podcast exists. I want to keep generating valuable content to share with you the stories of many of our peers, accountants who have shared their hobbies and passions at work and the impact it’s had on their career — starting with me.
I never thought much of it at the time but this can have a profound impact on your career. You see, ten years after I left PwC, I was invited to speak at a Town Hall all staff meeting. A Partner who I had never worked for. A Partner who I didn’t even recognize his name, noticed the list of speakers and pointed me out, telling the meeting planner “I know John Garrett. He’s the guy who did comedy at night.” Ten years later. I had worked so hard to pass the CPA Exam. I was placed on the largest financial services client PwC had. I was promoted one of the first in my start class. Trying so hard to build my resume. And all this guy remembered was my hobby — telling jokes at night?
Was I the best one in my start class? Obviously not, now I tell jokes for a living. But who does he remember ten years later? Me. Therefore, what you doing now so coworkers and clients will remember you ten years from today?
But don’t just listen to my story. Like I said, each week, we’ll have a new accountant sharing their stories with you. All the way from Partners to CFOs to Interns and everyone in-between. Some of them might even work for the same firm or company as you or have the same hobby. I sincerely hope that these episodes encourage you to not be afraid to be unique — to be that green apple.
I really appreciate you subscribing to The Green Apple Podcast! If you find value in this podcast and the message we’re trying to spread here, please share it with your friends — and co-workers — because I realize those aren’t always the same group of people. If you’re listening on iTunes or Stitcher, please subscribe, rate and leave a review. If you’re generous enough to help me out with that, I’ll send you a free digital download of my comedy album currently in rotation on SiriusXM Radio. Just copy and paste your review into an email and send it to me. You’re welcome number two. Man, I’m such a giver.
And, more importantly, if you or someone you work with is known for their hobby or passion — no matter how simple or crazy it might seem, let me know by visiting GreenApplePodcast.com. I truly enjoy hearing from each of you and I’d love to have you on as a guest.
I’m so excited for you to listen and then go out and be… a green apple.