The Experience of You: Recent Episodes
David Thompson
How do you build a strong Personal Brand in today’s world? What's the EXPERIENCE people can expect from you? Each week, David Thompson -- a branding influencer and marketing leader who created the first college course on Personal Branding -- interviews people from every walk of life who create the ultimate experiences for others. They share how you can take control of your career (and life) by creating a strong personal brand, as well as offer great career advice. Your Brand is your Future. Tune in to this podcast to maximize your career opportunities.
In this episode, David talks with Administrator, Analyst, Consultant, Host, Marc J. Harrison, Sr. RAA, about career preparation for student-athletes, the value of self-belief. Most importantly, you’ll learn what marc learned from his mentor, who an Olympic coach. Marc and David discuss: What’s missing right now from the playbooks of student-athletes, coaches, and their respective colleges as they prepare for their transition to the business world? Marc shares his perspective on Title Nine and some common misconceptions How do you help students translate their experiences into potential value? Marc shares his experience with positivity, his upbringing, and the Positive Coaching Alliance at ISI Schools and the value it adds to the student experience. Dealing with the modern student-athlete who’s growing up in a social media-focused world. You’re trying to win while shaping the student-athlete into a career-ready business professional. How to deal with trying to win while shaping a student into a career-ready, value-creating professional. De-Educating and Re-Educating Leadership Skills for Student-Athletes - What employers are looking for in a candidate fresh out of college, as an intern, or for a full-time role? Characteristics that make you memorable when you are not necessarily the most confident individual on campus and the importance of self-belief What is the experience of Marc Harrison? “If you Don’t Beleive You Don’t Belong” - Marc Harrison If you were not a part of the program, you couldn’t believe what was happening. Favorite Points “If you're one sport, make sure you get involved in, you know, multiple sports because you can have different roles, side learns to work with different people, you know, learn how to take directions with different kind of folks, it all benefits you as a whole when you're grown.” "If You Don’t Believe, You Don’t Belong." Links Marc Harrison: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-j-harrison-sr-raa-11b0b719/ (LinkedIn) Marc Harrison Company: https://hsrn.com/ (website) David Thompson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidthompson2020/ (LinkedIn) Career Coach Pros: https://careercoachpros.com/ (website)
In this episode, David talks with the founder of Conarium Wellness, Rafael Andrade, about being an observer of yourself and your well-being, small changes that can make big differences, the mind-body-spirit connection, and more. 3 Favorite Points Becoming the observer of yourself Observing your own thoughts, behaviors, feelings, and emotions Then, try to use that as a vehicle to make improvements The majority of us struggle with any significant change, so make small changes Science can be valuable but can open the door for collective confusion We live in a time where science has taken us to a place where everything is compartmentalized When you go smaller and focus on one part, we forget about the entirety of the being We need to focus on the human as a whole We are part of something larger than ourselves We have a spirit, a soul, and a mind Embrace all three of those and realize that you can't have one without the other Technologies integrated into processes and protocols Hyperbaric oxygen therapy- focus on breathing and oxygen absorption\ we don't breathe the right way Book: James Nester Breathe Improving the way we breathe has dramatic benefits for our health Light therapy- we depend on sunlight to live We react to visible and invisible light Certain wavelengths benefit things like circadian rhythms, reduced inflammation, increased blood flow, etc. Movement- get the individual to become aware of their physiology Enteroception- internal perceptions- move in a healthier way/how the body was made to and wants to move. Rafael Andradehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rafaelangelandrade/ ( LinkedIn) Rafael Andrade Company: https://www.conariumwellness.com/ (website) David Thompson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidthompson2020/ (LinkedIn) Career Coach Pros: https://careercoachpros.com/ (website) David Thompson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidthompson2020/ (LinkedIn) Career Coach Pros: https://careercoachpros.com/ (website)
In this episode, David talks with the President and CEO of ThigPro Balance & Relationship Management Institute, Naketa Thigpen, about nurturing emotional intimacy, how deepening intimacy can benefit you in the business world, the importance of setting boundaries, and more. 3 Favorite Points Leadership & Intimacy Intimacy means deepening connection If you have customers, you should want customer intimacy to give them an experience of your brand, service, or product with a personalized/customized feel. You want customers and leaders to feel seen, heard, and appreciated Nobody wants to feel expendable Leadership intimacy work helps them see their skills, talents, and gifts and helps them appreciate all of those things. What can happen in nine months? The first couple of months is all about unraveling calcified chaos and confusion that's on top of their belief system- it shows up in their branding It takes two to three months to get people to be honest People think if they get vulnerable, you won’t see them as amazing as they are Just because you get vulnerable and might be a mess doesn’t mean you aren’t amazing in business Having & Setting Boundaries Set boundaries with people who are not adding to your life as much as they are taking In real life- on stage- you have to show up with energy and vigor and be fully focused, but when you have leeches taking from you behind the curtains, it makes it hard to show up on stage with the same energy. “We need to put some boundaries in place. Without them, there's no clear line for people to know what is okay and what isn't.” “Some people who truly do love you take advantage of you simply because you haven't made it clear that this is a line you cannot cross.” Learning to rid of the guilt that comes from setting boundaries Naketa Thigpen https://www.linkedin.com/in/naketathigpen/ (LinkedIn) David Thompson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidthompson2020/ (LinkedIn) Career Coach Pros: https://careercoachpros.com/ (website)
In this episode, David talks with freelance composer, sound designer, and creative director Timothy Day about effortless mastery, the value of being unique, encouraging fearlessness, and more. 3 Favorite Points from this Conversation Our personal brand should be as effortless as our default position - default comfortable pose. So here are four key questions to ask yourself: How can you be in your most natural state? How can you achieve a high level of ease? How can you maintain your default position in high states of stress? How can I make these small tweaks to be at ease when I’m myself most effectively? Two tips for young people who are worried about how they present themselves and are not just experiencing life for the gifts it brings: Stop thinking you can't approach a CEO or ask someone to be a mentor Stop coming at life from insecurity and lack of confidence How do you build people/confidence- specifically in the youth? Encouraging fearlessness, big mistakes, wrong notes → creates a space for failure to happen without judgment, welcoming those imperfections. Give yourself the ability to fail well, and take something away from those failures → creates a space where greater things can happen Timothy Day https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyday/ (LinkedIn) Timothy Day Website: https://timothyday.com/ (timothyday.com) David Thompson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidthompson2020/ (LinkedIn) Career Coach Pros: https://careercoachpros.com/ (website)
In this episode, David talks with Senior Associate Athletic Director at Temple University for Academic and Career Services, Justin Miller. They discuss what Justin does in his role at Temple, how he emphasizes academic success for student-athletes, finding creative ways for student-athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), the role of social media for athletes, and more. Highlights for Student-Athletes 1. Create an emphasis on your academic success. Buy in and trust- effectively communicating and being transparent. Breaking the athlete mentality of zero failure- giving students the ability to try things and not do well to realize they’re still okay. Give the department a face and a consistent message. Put the students first- let them drive the conversations and have ownership. 2. How time management helps student-athletes appropriately provide themselves with the work and space to succeed in the classroom and their sport. Covid has made this harder. Know each student on an individual level- no cookie-cutter approach to success. Understand students' course load, having empathy, and couple that with the knowledge of the students. Be realistic with time to work and time to disconnect Structure and proactiveness “You don’t just lift weights the day before a game, and it’s about what you’re doing every single day.” 3. Creative ways for student-athletes to profit from their image and likeness. These factors are empowering student-athletes. Finding creative ways to use name, image, and likeness to help an educational goal. Getting students to think about the impact of their image and brand. Hoping to use it as a nugget to facilitate some learning. Tweetable Quotes “We’re about having students leave Temple with a breadth of experience, not just athlete.” “We don’t live in a space with zero failure. We live in a space where students can try things and not do well, and that’s okay.” “Eligibility to me is a bad word.” “Athletes have a finite window to maximize their earning potential for the future. If there are circumstances that jeopardize that, they should have the chance to maximize their return.” “You don’t just lift weights the day before a game, and it’s about what you’re doing every single day.” “Forget if you're a sports fan, you have to be a fan of students doing well.”
In this episode, David talks with the Principal at Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a progressive high school near Philadelphia focused on academics and preparing students for careers, James Dundee, about building connectivity and rapport with students, developing well-rounded individuals for society, how to teach ownership and responsibility, and more. Having connectivity and rapport with students Hopefully a model they will take for themselves and continue Encouraging staff to offer a friendly face You don't know what kind of day the student has had prior to coming to school Want to identify if a student is struggling - dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, sudden loss, etc. Connectivity of the students knowing that people are there for them Want students to see the human side of teachers and authority “I think that's important for the students to have an understanding that these adults, although there's an authoritative role, it's also a role of coming out of care, and understanding.” Developing well-rounded individuals for society Mindset of everybody gets a trophy/everybody is a winner Teachers that failure is not okay- never learned to fail or overcome that failure Generational gaps- older people weren't all given a prize You have to get out of the mindset of being a victim If you’re going through stuff, you have to care for yourself first. Pull yourself up. Rely on friends, family, teachers, but be able to lift yourself out- take ownership for your mistakes Everybody wants to save everybody out of a situation instead of letting them learn from it How do you teach ownership of actions Don't allow student to push things off on anyone or anything- ask them exactly what was their role in the situation Progressive approach- ask them after what they earned, what are the next steps, how do we help you never make this mistake again? If you constantly beat someone down they will never grow and never change
Never give up on someone and make sure they know you never will
In this episode, David talks with CPA turned stylist Francesca Zampaglione about becoming your own confidence creator, the power of your thoughts, the intersection of image and brand, and more. 3 Favorite Points 1. A mental barrier we create: Imposter Syndrome Unintentional, but we can intentionally remove the stigma we create within ourselves Imposter syndrome does not have to be in your mind but can be a dark cloud behind you You’re not alone - ask for help Harvard Business Review loosely defines this as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. Example: “who am I to deserve this” Highly successful people with imposter syndrome cannot correlate why they have been so successful. They create a fake imaginary mental barrier and question if they are deserving of their found success. 2. The Power Pose Body language and nonverbal signals that we send. It only takes two minutes to shift our mindset from powerlessness to power with the wonder woman pose. Powerful posture creates a positive mindset- backed by science. 3. Three Phases of building a strong personal brand Self-discovery: defining and understanding your personal brand Identify your core values Identify your style and standards Peer assessment survey to see how others perceive you These are all a part of the foundation you need to build your brand Self-determination: mapping out the pathway to your personal brand What perception of you do you want to create - intentionally Learn to tell your story in a way that impacts others “If you’re not setting goals and dreams and mapping how to get there, you will not get there.” Self-awareness- deploying your brand, working on yourself, and how you can be more effective Stay intentional Creating relationships- the foundation of your future “Your net worth is your network.” Define your success daily - what did you accomplish that day
In this episode, David talks with the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs at West Virginia University in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics, Rebel Smith, about how the college student has evolved, student expectations and realities during the pandemic, helping students understand their values and how they want to project their personal brand and more. 3 Favorite Points How has the college student evolved The younger generation questions the value of college more- student loan crisis Have to talk to students more about how this is going to prepare them for a better future The younger generation seems to have a more difficult time making decisions for themselves Technology allows them to be constantly connected- a huge number of people that help them make decisions Sometimes thinking for themselves has to be nurtured because they are fearful of doing things without consulting their collective Personal branding students don't realize the impact their everyday decisions are having on their brand if they want to be considered as hardworking and dedicated, then coming late to class and turning in assignments late or missing them is creating a different brand for them most of them at this age and 18 aren't connecting the two- they think that my brand is something I'll figure out later But it starts now- you are establishing your brand with your faculty, a lot of career opportunities happen through networking, and your faculty could play a role in that What kind of impression do you strive to create every day? Problem solver/ fixer- look at the way things are done and then make them better. Dependable- say I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it Student advocate- if there's a policy, or a procedure, or hurdle that stands in the way of student success, I want to remove it or fix it Staff advocate- feel the same way about my team. I want to make sure that they have what they need to do their job well, that they have the support that they need, that they have professional development opportunities that they feel appreciated, engaged, they know their importance. So I feel very strongly about a positive work environment, a healthy environment for students and for my staff.
Discovering Your Own Voice Episode Summary David Thompson talks with Employee Benefits Consultant at Hardenbergh Insurance Group, Doug Holcombe, about beginning to build your personal brand, overcoming the fear of failure, how to choose valuable people to network with, and more. Episode Highlights When did you first become aware of the concept of personal brand? Doug: left college, dropped out of PT school, career path took a complete 180, and had to find a new identity at 23 years old Had to figure out what he was passionate about/enjoyed, but that’s not enough You have to experience highs and lows, pressures and responsibilities Experience and failure → leads you to carving out your own identity/brand How you want to be perceived and how others perceive you should align, which comes from an authentic narrative and messaging This will make you stand out from the rest How did you begin to build your brand? Avid reader → encourage everyone to read Main takeaway from readings: you have to attach yourself to an identity/brand, you have to stand for something Networking (organic or inorganic)- have your elevator pitch ready, look the part, speak the part, embody your role Reading, passive learning, active learning, engaging and networking are ways to perfect your brand How does Doug Holcombe come across? Nice, agreeable, supportive of others Puts others interests before his own → philosophy of the giver In business: many think it’s a zero sum game (winners and losers) because we live in a competitive capitalistic society Hard to give without feeling like you need something in return Stop creating an expectation of reciprocation, instead just give selflessly Lead with who you are as a person, your core principles By supporting someone else, you further your personal brand And it will come back around in some shape or form and benefit you eventually- just don’t attach a timeframe to it Consciously creating perceptions when networking You need to have goals and objectives for yourself, otherwise you will not see a return on your networking investment It's easy to wing it, but you shouldn’t → go in knowing who you want to meet and leave with a next step agenda Look at who’s attending the networking event Who is in an industry that you can positively impact Get in front of those people Introduce yourself Explain to them why they need to meet you and why they need to have a follow up call/meeting with you Be intentional with your time - quality of networking over quantity Always be authentic Following up is key!! Introvert vs Extrovert People are usually a combination of both Growing up- more of an introvert, through sports- developed more of an extroverted personality “An identity crisis doesn't help in being an extrovert.” Important to toggle between the two if you're going to be in business development Networking - try to explore the extroverted side Confidence and fear of failure Its much easier to suppress the failures in your life Manifest themselves to introvert vs extrovert You overcome failures and you learn from them Certain moments can help you extinguish that fear of failure and allow that fear to motivate you and propel you forward As time goes on and you gain more experience, it puts everything into perspective- context is everything Experience and failure can give further clarification of what you want to do with your future Once you realize those experiences, whether positive or negative, are substantial and impact you and your current state - then you can learn from your failures and use them to make you a more mindful and effective person You can then put your failures to bed, come to grips with them It’s easy to succumb to failure… but experience will help you realize there’s really nothing to fear and will put things into context When you’re young you think things are planned for you, that there is a blueprint that was built for you… then you realize as you...
David talks with the networking tour-de-force, Ashley Owens, about how she created the concept of "Networking Concierge," how she founded networking company Ashley Assists, tips on becoming a power networker, "Dunbar’s Number" and much more. Episode Highlights: How Ashley Assists got started with one event and a four-hour drive to State College Pennsylvania. How a 15-minute conversation at a tech event helped one woman start her company. The power of having an advocate and support system with you during events. What Business Development for hire looks like. The stories and learnings from Ashley’s cocktails and conversations event. How to be a good power networker. Networking is maintaining and doing your research before you talk to somebody. What Ashely wishes she knew about networking when she was first getting started. The difference between introverts and extroverts and how they network. A typical day for Ashley Owens. The value of knowing your unique skill set and how to use it to your advantage. Ashley’s top 3 tips for networking. Dunbar’s Number and how it applies to your professional network. The importance of giving back. Tweetable Quotes: “I was able to create service offerings based on the needs of the people that I had the pleasure and the privilege of being in my network."– Ashley Owens “It's recognizing that networking activity is not just talking to people, it's maintaining and doing your research before you talk to somebody. It's asking deep, meaningful business conversation questions, it's making sure that you are following up because that other person's not going to follow up."– Ashley Owens “Remember, nobody cares about what you do. They care about what your passions are and how you light up when you talk about something or a completely personal topic that is a commonality between you and that person." – Ashley Owens Links: Ashley Owens - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashowens/ (LinkedIn) Ashley Assists - https://www.instagram.com/ashleyassists/ (Instagram) Ashley Assists - https://www.facebook.com/ashleyassists/ (Facebook) https://www.ashleyassists.com/ (Ashleyassists.com) https://rvntv.tv/channel/connect-to-success/?fbclid=IwAR1pzMCvXj1YHDdvhq32bvUzhYPq9QSiLn6twOUWuid7LLZ2CrvnqXr-kWs (Connect to Success) David Thompson:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidthompson2020/ ( Linkedin) https://careercoachpros.com/ (Career Coach Pros)
Women leaders are more perceptive and build stronger brands than men, says the godfather of Personal Brand, Karl Speak. Karl talks about the science and research on personal branding and women leaders, with insights into their naturally perceptive capabilities, and how they become leaders in previously male dominated executive culture. Episode Highlights: This conversation highlights the research findings about how women build stronger personal brands. The rising growth and impact women leaders are having on the business world. Relationship building is a natural strength of women. There are some natural, scientific-based reasons why women are better leaders - higher emotional intelligence and being naturally perceptive. 55% of women agreed with the statement: “Sometimes I’m concerned how someone perceives me that I spent too much time focused on why does he or she perceive me that way, as opposed to what am I doing that’s creating that perception”. Nearly 60% of women in the study agreed with the statement: “Sometimes I am too critical, which causes me to second guess myself and hold back my comments or actions which can limit my ability to make a contribution.” 70% of women agreed with the following statement “Sometimes I feel like women are more competitive with other women than they are with men.” How Karl’s research reinforces the fact that women have a special quality when it comes to perceptions and perception management. Women's perceptual skills give them a leg up and enhance their abilities in terms of relationship-building skills -- they have higher degrees of empathy. How to change the perceptions people have about you. Tweetable Quotes: “Women's natural perceptual abilities give them a leg up and enhance their relationship-building skills as leaders.” – Karl Speak “You need to understand that you have to be accountable for the perceptions you create about yourself."– Karl Speak “Misperceptions and perceptions can be managed and changed. But it takes a very conscious, consistent effort over a lot longer time than you think. "– Karl Speak “There are some natural, scientific-based reasons why women are better leaders - higher emotional intelligence and empathy.”– Karl Speak Links: Karl Speak - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlspeak/ (LinkedIn) http://www.karlspeak.com/ (karlspeak.com) http://www.brandtoolbox.com/ (Brand Tool Box) David Thompson:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidthompson2020/ ( Linkedin) https://careercoachpros.com/ (Career Coach Pros)
David goes deep on Personal Branding for young adults with the man who wrote the book, Karl Speak. The value and importance of establishing a strong personal brand is vital in today’s crazy. Learn how to create it based on your strengths and values, so you stand out and can build relationships to help get a job and grow a career! Episode Highlights: The value and importance of establishing your personal brand today. Why every student needs to create their personal brand now. Tips on building a strong personal brand for students and young adults. If you’re starting your career right now, why you need to focus on building your brand. 3 things to remember if you’re an emerging leader or young professional looking for a job. Top tips for people looking for a job or trying to advance in their careers. Personal branding is all about building relationships. The evolution of maintaining and managing relationships. Karl’s 3 step process for sifting through the right and wrong advice on brand building. Social media self promotion is not personal branding, here’s why What is a strong personal brand looks like. The power of learning about who you are and how to apply yourself. Consistency is the hallmark of all strong personal brands. The value of personal branding for entrepreneurs is indispensable. Tweetable Quotes: “Personal branding is not about how you position yourself to get a job or how to get the next promotion. Personal brand building is a really powerful framework for your personal development. It keeps you focused on who you are and how you can make a difference."– Karl Speak “When you’re building your career, the first five years is all about you learning how to demonstrate who you are consistently, and that will truly differentiate you from your peers."– Karl Speak “Make sure that you know how to demonstrate your authenticity no matter what kind of future you’re building."– Karl Speak “Consistency is the hallmark of all strong personal brands and builds trust and loyalty."– Karl Speak Links: Karl Speak - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlspeak/ (LinkedIn) http://www.karlspeak.com/ (karlspeak.com) http://www.brandtoolbox.com/ (Brand Tool Box) David Thompson:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidthompson2020/ ( Linkedin) https://careercoachpros.com/ (Career Coach Pros)
David talks with the godfather of personal branding, Karl Speak, about the Power of Perception -- why it matters to your personal brand, how to create positive first impressions, and ensure you're being perceived accurately and building trust and loyalty! Episode Highlights: What perception is and where the phrase “Perception is Reality” comes from. Perception research shows that most people are worse at making positive impressions than they think. There is a long list of benefits when people actively manage perceptions and are perceived correctly. The importance of writing down three perceptions that you want to create whenever you’re meeting with someone. Here’s why perception matters in building a personal brand.. Perception Management is critical. Karl’s research shows that individuals have a greater sense of purpose in their life when they are perceived accurately. The importance of authenticity and how it helps you build trust with others. The Perception Gap. Tweetable Quotes: “One really important competency for all leaders to grow is their ability to leave consistent perceptions with the people they lead."– Karl Speak "I can't minimize this, and that is to be perceived accurately is at the core of authenticity. The more authentic you are, the more likely people will perceive you accurately. If they believe you're authentic, then they will trust you more."– Karl Speak “The perception gap is the difference between how I understand myself and how other people perceive me.” – Karl Speak "We should know that we're always trying to manage that perception gap. And that gap can be narrow with some people, wider with others."– Karl Speak Links: Karl Speak - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlspeak/ (LinkedIn) http://www.karlspeak.com/ (karlspeak.com) http://www.brandtoolbox.com/ (Brand Tool Box) David Thompson:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidthompson2020/ ( Linkedin) https://careercoachpros.com/ (Career Coach Pros)
David talks with branding legend, Karl Speak, who wrote the first book on Personal Brand -- Be Your Own Brand. Karl shares how personal branding started, how to build an authentic brand, and why social media self-promotion shouldn’t be mistaken for a genuine personal brand. Episode Highlights: How Karl got interested in the idea of personal branding over 20 years ago. How personal branding has become such a huge part of our culture. Karl’s take on the current state of personal branding. What personal brand is and what it is not. How to build a strong personal brand today. How to encourage and embrace the midlife transition of your personal brand. Advice for business professionals just beginning their careers. Tweetable Quotes: "People who take personal brand very seriously view it as a foundation for managing and succeeding in their professional life."– Karl Speak "Trust is the single most important quality of every brand, whether it's personal, product, or company."– Karl Speak Links: Karl Speak - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlspeak/ (LinkedIn) http://www.karlspeak.com/ (karlspeak.com) http://www.brandtoolbox.com/ (Brand Tool Box) David Thompson:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidthompson2020/ ( Linkedin) https://careercoachpros.com/ (Career Coach Pros)