With Tamara Ghandour: Recent Episodes
Tamara Ghandour
Conversations with Everyday Innovators that reject the status quo, think differently, and make a positive difference in their world. No blah blah “experts” hawking their hypothetical BS here. These are real people, real experiences, and real results. Tamara and her guests bring a fresh approach to innovation, making it accessible to everyone, at any time. This podcast is for people that know that life is too crowded, cluttered, and competitive to be mediocre, and are ready to ignite innovation, influence others, and make a massive impact by tapping the power of their innovative minds.
Tamara Ghandour is the pioneer in human-centered innovation, the creator of the proprietary, research-based Innovation Quotient Edge assessment (the only tool that helps people discover their Everyday Innovator style), curator of Everyday Innovators Digital Magazine (innovation tools at your fingertips), sought after keynote speaker, author, and mom of two teenage boys and one oversized dog that loves to spoon. Her big goal is to unleash one million Everyday Innovators into the world.
Lesley Jane Seymore is one of the few media entrepreneurs to successfully stay relevant in an industry that saw massive disruption, and for many irrelevancy. Lesley shares with me why being comfortable reinventing yourself is essential in a rapidly changing world, the importance of always having a pivot plan, and how to deal with resistance to change. As the president and founder of ConveyClub she has masterfully leveraged technology to bring women across the globe together and she also shares with us why connection and listening to customers matter! Check out Other podcasts you might enjoy:
Listen in as Felicia helps us better understand how to use daily mental wellness habits to live a better life, the power of plant-based medicines and how taking a break can be the difference between white knuckling and moving forward with ease. Felicia and I talk about some of the pivot points in life that have made a big impact, how the brain sometimes keeps us stressed out, and what to do to overcome the hurdles life throws at you. Check out Other podcasts you might enjoy:
Join us as we delve into the transformative power of mindfulness, breathwork, and yoga with wellness entrepreneur and yogi, Ashton August. Discover practical breathwork techniques to de-stress anytime, explore the art of mindfulness in everyday tasks like laundry, uncover the rejuvenating benefits of the "legs up the wall" technique, and learn how to connect deeply with your purpose in life. Ashton shares insights and practical tips that will inspire you to embrace these practices and unlock your true potential. And she shares about her passion for "vanlifing" and going for the things on that "wish" list. Check out Learn more about Other podcasts you might enjoy:
Feeling drained? Tune in to discover four simple, actionable tips to decrease exhaustion and increase your energy daily. I'm not talking about a one-time boost, I'm talking about powerful tips to help you manage your energy daily, not feel so overwhelmed and exhausted, and be more productive and innovative, every day. I cover everything from the 5-minute morning method to taking breaks through the day to get rid of mental residue to doing the thing you fear the most, first. Other podcasts you might enjoy:
Delve into the world of more focus and less stress with renowned Focusologist, Penny Zenker. We explore the transformative power of a "Reset Mindset", and finding clarity amidst life's chaos. Learn firsthand the art of asking the right questions to navigate challenges and how to conquer the tug-of-war with time, energy and values. We also talk about why Penny thinks the Rubik's Cube is the best metaphore for life. Get ready to reclaim control over your time and energy. Other podcasts you might enjoy:
Let's unravel the obstacles hindering a thriving culture of innovation, and what to do to overcome them. I deep dive into the treacherous pitfalls that stifle innovation and growth in organizations worldwide. I cover the relentless cycle of constant launch and abandon to the insidious habit of saying "yes, but." I also explore the dangers of a culture centered around presentations and the importance of making decisions outside the confines of the conference room. Other podcasts you might enjoy:
Find out how something as simple yet powerful as forgiveness (learning and letting go) can revolutionize your work environment. In this episode, I delve into the transformative power of forgiveness and how it serves as the ultimate innovation hack. Discover how letting go of grudges and past mistakes can clear mental clutter, build trust, and encourage risk-taking. Forgiveness also boosts morale, enhances collaboration, and fosters a culture where creativity and innovation thrive. Other podcasts you might enjoy:
In this episode I dive deep into why your problem-solving skills matter more than your job skills or expertise, and how to develop the skills that really matter - creative-problem solving, critical thinking, adaptability, decision-making and risk-taking. You'll be shocked at the workforce disruption statistics I share and feel a sense of empowerment and optimism when I share how to be the high-performing, high-value person you are meant to be to tackle this uncertain world. Here's a hint - they are mindset shifts and actions you can take daily. Other podcasts you might enjoy:
Get ready to unlock your Everyday Innovator advantage and discover the keys to thriving in change, chaos, and uncertainty. In this episode I share the 7 steps to tapping your zone of genius, why regret is worse than fear, answer audience questions about how to bring their ideas to life, and more. Other podcasts you might enjoy:
THIS IS A SPECIAL POP UP EPISODE: Step into a world where health, mental clarity, and success intertwine. I'm joined by none other than Dave Asprey, the trailblazing founder of the biohacking movement. With a resume boasting roles as the current president of Danger Coffee, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the visionary behind Upgrade Labs, Dave has dedicated his life to mastering the art of hacking both body and mind.Delving deep into the secrets of upgrading your health, mental state, and overall success. But this conversation is more than just a discussion—it's a roadmap to an upgraded you. Discover how to not just manage your triggers, but obliterate them from your life. Explore the 5 "Fs" that ignite our inner drive and propel us towards our goals (or sabotage us). And, uncover the true source of fear and how that shows up in your daily life. Other podcasts you might enjoy:
Tracy "JackieO" LaTourrette, celebrated as Colorado's "First Lady" of fighter pilots, broke barriers as one of the world's pioneering women to fly combat-ready F-16s. Graduating amidst a predominantly male cohort from the US Air Force Academy, she earned a prestigious appointment from President George H.W. Bush. Tracy's entry into the Air Force predates the authorization for women to fly combat aircraft. In our conversation, we delve into her remarkable journey of resilience, decisive leadership, and winning the moments so that you can win the mission, both in the cockpit and in life. Other podcasts you might enjoy:
If you feel stuck in a rut or like the ability to be an innovator is out of reach, this episode is for you. I dissect the myths holding you back from greatness and reveal the seven unexpected keys to unlocking your zone of genius. From thinking innovation is only for the select few to the myth about being fearlessness, we'll delve deep into the secrets of being an Everyday Innovator. Plus, I'll answer questions that listeners called in that range from how to get legacy thinkers on board with change to how to differentiate in a crowded world. Call in your questions: 720-798-4535! Join the Aha!Academy Waitlist: Watch Coffee with Tamara live and check out other insights and ideas on YouTube Other podcasts you might enjoy:
For founder Anthony Gonzales "uno mas" was the internal mantra he used to keep going when embarking on his fitness journey - just one more pull up, one more burpee, one more attempt at a clean and jerk. His phrase "uno mas" became the mantra for himself and those around him, inspiring the creation of Uno Mas Ropa - fun, urban designed apparel with that phrase on it. In this episode we dig into why he started this company, what it means to be all in for your dreams, how to move with intention, overcoming imposture syndrome, being brave enough to ask, avoiding regret, and how to deal with "no." Other podcasts you might enjoy: Join the Aha!Academy Waitlist: Watch Coffee with Tamara live and check out other insights and ideas on YouTube
Justin’s foray into the world of business started with running his own business while still in elementary school, dishwashing at 14 and culminated in a leadership position in a top financial firm. Now he is the CEO of Work.Meaningful. where he works with clients to create rhythms of sustainable excellence and author of "I Respectfully Disagree." He is also a dad and mountain climber. We dig into how to bring meaning to your work, not wait to find it, and how to disagree respectfully in a divided, dug-in world. Other podcasts you might enjoy: Discover your unique Everyday Innovator archetype Watch Coffee with Tamara live and check out other insights and ideas on YouTube
L. David Marquet is a retired Naval officer and was the captain of the USS Santa Fe, a nuclear submarine. As captain he turned what was considered the worst performing crew into the highest performing team. He did this by dropping the command and control model for what he calls intent-based leadership. In this episode we delve into his experience as a nuclear submarine captain, why you should stop giving orders and start sharing intent, how to change your language so that you develop leaders, not followers, and why you probably aren't thinking big enough. He is also the author of the best selling books and Language is Leadership. Other podcasts you might enjoy: Join the Aha!Academy Waitlist: Watch Coffee with Tamara live and check out other insights and ideas on YouTube
We've all been there - in that place where we feel undervalued, left behind, or worse, invisible. It happens in work, in our relationships, and in life. In this episode, Tamara shares her top tips for staying ahead, staying open minded, and avoiding the invisible trap. She also delves into how fixed minds fall behind, especially in a changing world. You'll hear the best advice she ever received about her career and how you can avoid being disrupted. Other podcasts you might enjoy: Get your Everyday Innovator Certification Watch Coffee with Tamara live and check out other insights and ideas on YouTube
If you're eager to boost your persuasive powers, gain more support, and have a bigger impact on others, then this episode is crafted just for you. I'll guide you through seven practical strategies that you can start using right away to become a more effective influencer. We all understand the difference between merely having an idea, a product, or a goal, and actually rallying others to join us in achieving those ambitions. Grasping the essence of influence is key to turning aspirations into realities. I will share insights into the rule of reciprocity and its significance, how taking a moment to pause can encourage others to embrace your ideas, the importance of recognizing your unique style of influence (your Everyday Innovator archetype), and how influence is like a rubberband, among other things. Other podcasts you might enjoy: Get your Everyday Innovator Certification Watch Coffee with Tamara live and check out other insights and ideas on YouTube
I dive into what it means to be a "Rebel with a Cause" and how being yourself and challenging the status quo is the most valuable and authentic way to approach work and life. I talk about how rebels with causes are driven not by disruption, but by purpose, change, and impact. I share what it takes to be a strong Everyday Innovator, why it matters, and how you can unlock your greatest strategic advantage - your innovative mind. This is an episode about how to live up to your full potential. Other podcasts you might enjoy: Get your Everyday Innovator Certification Watch Coffee with Tamara live and check out other insights and ideas on YouTube
This is a podcast for those wanting to be ready to tackle the tail winds and head winds that life throws your way. I dive into the essence of being prepared for the future through the 5 critical areas: collaborative spirit, agility and resilience, appreciation and awareness, everyday innovator mindset, and strategic decision-making and risk-taking. I share why each area matters, unpack their meanings, and bring to life real-world stories showcasing the strengths and pitfalls encountered by individuals and organizations alike. My goal is to offer you actionable insights and strategies, fostering both personal and professional growth. Join me on this journey to navigate the complexities of the future with confidence and expertise, making every step an opportunity for mastery. Other podcasts you might enjoy: Join the Aha!Academy Waitlist: Watch Coffee with Tamara live and check out other insights and ideas on YouTube
Join us for an episode tailored for those on a quest for fulfillment and purpose. Whether you're seeking that spark of inspiration or deciphering the subtle hints life throws your way, Kristen Olson, the founder of Graceful Disruption and host of the Turmeric and Tequila podcast, along with her expertise in branding, delves into an honest discussion with me. Together, we explore the essence of purpose, navigating life's signals, the power of stillness, embracing simplicity over complexity, and a plethora of other insightful topics. Tune in for a captivating conversation that promises to ignite your inner drive and shed light on your path forward. Other podcasts you might enjoy: Join the Aha!Academy Waitlist: Watch Coffee with Tamara live and check out other insights and ideas on YouTube
Let's embark on a journey to demystify the science of breakthroughs, turning what often feels like a magical and random occurrence into a deliberate and repeatable process. Imagine unlocking the power to generate forward momentum, ease, and impact in your life at will. This episode is not just about finding those elusive breakthroughs; it's about defining them as discoveries that propel us forward, faster, and with more significant effect. We'll explore the common traps that keep us stuck, unveil practical exercises to ignite our creative spark, and emphasize why taking action is the key to turning breakthroughs into realities. If you've ever felt like you're just going through the motions, yearning for that one big idea to change everything, this podcast is your beacon in the dark.This episode is more than just a conversation; it's a roadmap to unlocking your full potential and transforming your life and work. Don't let another day pass without harnessing the power of breakthroughs to create a future filled with success, creativity, and impact. Episode Highlights: #1 Leapfrog to Success with The A to B Activity: Discover the secret behind why some people seem to achieve their goals effortlessly while you're left feeling like you're always catching up. Tamara introduces a simple yet powerful activity that not only showcases the true impact of genuine breakthroughs but also reveals how you might be unknowingly complicating your journey towards your goals. This segment promises to reshape your understanding of progress and set you on a more efficient, impactful path. #2 Mind Games: Breaking the Brain's Barriers to Innovation: Ever wonder why your most groundbreaking ideas feel just out of reach? Tamara delves into the neuroscience behind why our brains resist innovative thoughts and outlines three critical habits you need to quit to overcome this blockade. This enlightening discussion sheds light on the mental traps that hinder our creative processes and how to outsmart your own brain to foster a culture of breakthrough thinking. #3 Brainpower Unleashed: Activating Creativity Through Simple Acts: Stuck in a creative drought? Tamara shares her top activities for jumpstarting your brain's innovation engine, anywhere, anytime. From the surprising cognitive benefits of laughter to the unexpected inspiration found in mundane tasks like doing the dishes, this segment is packed with actionable tips to elevate your creative thinking and unlock new realms of possibilities. #4 Optimize Your Mental Mastery - Harnessing Your Everyday Innovator Style: Understanding your unique approach to innovation is crucial for tapping into your highest potential. Tamara highlights the importance of recognizing your Everyday Innovator style, offering strategies to tailor your daily activities and environment to maximize your cognitive efficiency. This segment is a game-changer for anyone looking to enhance their creative output and achieve their best breakthroughs. #5 From Thought to Action - The Crucial Step Beyond Ideation: Wrapping up the episode, Tamara shares a humorous yet poignant story illustrating a common misconception: that ideation is equivalent to action. She stresses the importance of moving beyond the brainstorming phase, reminding us that the true value of breakthroughs lies in the steps we take afterward. This final highlight is a call to action for listeners, challenging you to transform your innovative ideas into tangible outcomes. Why This Episode Matters: Without these insights and strategies, you might continue to find yourself trapped in a cycle of stagnation, missing out on the life-changing benefits that come with real, actionable breakthroughs. Coffee with Tamara live streams every Wednesday at 9am PST/ 10am MST/ 12pm EST. Listen in, ask questions, share your thoughts. Linkedin: YouTube: Facebook:
In this riveting episode of our podcast, we delve into the heart and soul of perseverance, purpose, and transformation with the legendary Karl Mecklenburg. His journey from a 12th round draft pick to becoming an indispensable force for the Denver Broncos is nothing short of awe-inspiring. A member of the Broncos Ring of Fame, six-time Pro Bowler, and three-time Super Bowl contender, Karl's 12-year career epitomizes endurance and excellence in a league where the average player's tenure is a mere fraction of his. Our conversation explores the profound life lessons Karl has gleaned from the gridiron—lessons that have propelled him through life's challenges and triumphs. Through his story, we uncover the power of purpose, the necessity of honesty and forgiveness, and the resilience required to navigate change and remain relevant in a constantly evolving world. A Few Episode Highlights: 1. Unearthing Greatness Against All Odds: Discover Karl's remarkable journey from being a 12th round draft pick to securing his place as one of the most crucial members of the Broncos' defense. Learn how he transcended his role on the field by making himself indespensible to the team. And hint, it's not about how he played. 2. The Power of Positioning and Mentorship: Tamara and Karl dissect the transformative impact of finding one's rightful place in both professional and personal spheres - how the guidance of a mentor or champion can unveil hidden potential, emphasizing the importance of standing out and aligning oneself with life-changing allies. 3. The Cornerstones of Improvement: Honesty and Forgiveness: Karl shares insights into how embracing honesty and forgiveness can catalyze personal and professional growth. Reflecting on his experiences with playbacks in football, he illustrates how confronting truth and embracing forgiveness are vital for enduring improvement and success. 4. Navigating Life Beyond the Field: Engage with Karl's reflections on transitioning from NFL stardom to the next chapters of his life. This segment offers perspectives on understanding one's direction, values, and priorities when faced with significant life changes. 5. Embracing Failure as a Pathway to Progress: In a powerful close to our discussion, Karl imparts a message on the essence of failure and the resilience needed to move forward. His viewpoint on overcoming setbacks and persisting in the face of unmet expectations is a masterclass in enduring success. This episode is a testament to the indomitable spirit of human resilience and the transformative power of purpose-driven living. Karl Mecklenburg's life story is an inspiring blueprint for tackling adversity, embracing change, and forging a path of relevance and indispensability in life and work. Coffee with Tamara live streams every Wednesday at 9am PST/ 10am MST/ 12pm EST. Listen in, ask questions, share your thoughts. Linkedin: YouTube: Facebook:
This episode is a must-listen for anyone grappling with self-acceptance and identity transformation. In this inspiring episode of our podcast, we sit down with Supriya Surender, an alopecia warrior and the empowering voice behind BaldieBoo. Supriya opens up about her journey, offering invaluable insights on how to prevent negative thoughts and challenging situations from dominating our lives. She shares her personal strategies for staying aligned with her path of purpose and passion, every single day. Together, we delve into the powerful synergy of trust and action, and how this dynamic duo becomes a magic formula for building momentum in life. Whether you're facing personal challenges or just seeking a dose of inspiration, join us for this uplifting conversation with Supriya and discover how to turn obstacles into opportunities for growth and fulfillment. Episode Highlights: #1 Embracing Change: Supriya's Inspiring Journey Through Alopecia: Dive into an emotional and uplifting episode where Supriya shares her heart-wrenching yet empowering journey of losing her hair to Alopecia. Discover how she bravely faced her identity crisis and emerged stronger, crafting a new, resilient self-image. #2 Transforming Adversity into Positivity: Supriya's Awakening from Despair: Supriya recounts the pivotal moment she realized her self-pity was dominating her life. This episode is a treasure trove of insights on how to shift from a negative mindset to cultivating a life centered around positivity and hope. #3 Emotional Mastery: Supriya's Techniques for Recognizing and Releasing Feelings": Learn from Supriya's personal strategies for acknowledging and letting go of negative emotions. This is a practical guide to emotional health, offering listeners effective techniques to understand, accept, and move beyond their feelings. It's a valuable resource for anyone seeking to gain control over their emotions and forge a path to emotional wellbeing. #4 Seizing Opportunities: Tamara's Insight on Recognizing Life's Open Doors": Listen as Tamara delves into the importance of being open to change and recognizing new opportunities - how to avoid missing life-changing chances due to being stuck in old patterns. It's an eye-opener for anyone looking to identify and seize the opportunities that life presents. #5 The Power of Trust and Action: Supriya's Formula for Seizing Opportunities": Explore Supriya's belief in the dynamic duo of trust and action as key drivers for embracing new opportunities. This episode is a motivational guide emphasizing the importance of trusting the process of life and actively pursuing new paths. It's perfect for listeners seeking inspiration to take action and capitalize on the doors that open in their lives. Coffee with Tamara live streams every Wednesday at 9am PST/ 10am MST/ 12pm EST. Listen in, ask questions, share your thoughts. Linkedin: YouTube: Facebook:
Discover the surprising reasons why stress might be your nemesis when it comes to creativity and innovation, and how to overcome it. From the neuroscience of stress to the unexpected consequences that are impacting your daily life, I've got it all covered. I'll dig into how stress is minimizing your creative problem-solving abilities, decision making and innovator talents. Tune in to learn how chronic stress is making you sick and dumb, how it shows up every day and I'll give you some easy to implement exercises to help you stress less and create more, everyday! Episode Highlights: #1 IMPAIRED COGNITIVE FUNCTION: Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone associated with the body's "fight or flight" response. Tamara talks about how stress impairs cognitive functions, including memory, attention, and problem-solving abilities. #2 PUTS BLINDERS ON: High levels of stress often lead to a narrowed focus. This tunnel vision limits your ability to think broadly, hindering the exploration of alternative perspectives and creative solutions #3 STAY STAFE: Stress tends to increase aversion to risk and promotes a conservative approach. When under stress you may be less likely to experiment with unconventional or novel concepts, stifling the creative process. Tamara also talks about how not changing and staying in place is actually the riskiest thing you can do. #4 MISTRUST: Effective innovation often relies on the exchange of diverse ideas and constructive collaboration. When stress is high, communication and collaboration break down. This leads to mistrust and lack of respect. #5 MASSIVE BURNOUT: Prolonged stress can lead to burnout and decreased motivation. Innovation requires a high level of engagement and passion for exploring new possibilities. Chronic stress can sap individuals of the energy and enthusiasm needed to tackle creative challenges, resulting in a lack of motivation to initiate or sustain innovative projects. #6 NO MORE SERENDIPITY: Serendipity is often a catalyst for innovation. Stress, however, can create a mindset focused on survival and immediate concerns, blocking you from recognizing and capitalizing on unexpected opportunities. You don't see them anymore. #7 STRESS LESS TIPS: Tamara shares her top tips for stressing less and creating more. All of this has been validated by her experience and research. She covers everything from the 50/20 rule to color therapy to cold plunging to "one thing" prioritizing method. Join the for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, early release bonuses, and to add your two cents about this episode and more!
In this edition, we’re unleashing the power of Ask Me Anything (AMA), fueled by the burning inquiries of the . Today’s question comes from John in Atlanta, a small business owner. John asked: I'm wondering, at times I think I'm being innovative or disruptive, but then I look at the results and I'm not sure I'm being innovative enough. How do I know if I'm being innovative or headed in that direction. Episode Highlights: #1 INNOVATION VERSUS INCREMENTAL: How to know if you are being innovative versus incremental. Tamara digs into knowing when you stand out versus when you barely move forward, or adding to the noise versus rising above. #2 REAL DEFINITION OF INNOVATION: Tamara explains that real innovation is simply thinking differently about what's right in front of you #3 INCREASING CHANCES OF SUCCESS: When you start from a place of innovation you increase your likelihood of success. While failure can happen for many reasons, if you start from a place of innovation you are more likely to succeed #4 QUESTIONING THE BIG THING: Tamara opens up about how she has recently had a lot of conversations with herself about what's next. She's thinking about the big breakthrough and the next horizon in life. If you’re watching the live stream, be sure to pipe in, ask your questions, and drop your insights. Collective wisdom fuels our growth, so let’s embark on this journey together! Join the for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, early release bonuses, and to add your two cents about this episode and more!
"Don't Anticipate, Participate" That's what the teachers told my son and his class in preparation for his Sophomore retreat. And it's the advice he gave me when I asked him what they will be doing on their overnight adventure.In this episode I'm going to pass along this wisdom and delve into the fascinating neuroscience that underlies this transformative mindset. Discover how embracing the present moment not only enhances your daily experiences but also brings about positive changes in your brain. Gain practical insights into how cultivating a participatory mindset can lead to improved cognitive function, emotional well-being, and a more fulfilling life. I answer questions about the lizard brain and how to shake it off when you find yourself in a state of anticipation. Podcast Highlights: #1 DON'T ANTICIPATE, PARTICIPATE: How this advice encouraged me and my son to be in the present moment and enjoy experiences versus worrying about what's to come. I share a funny store about why this advice was given to my son and how it got to me. #2 WORRY NEVER WORKS: I share two stories where I wasted my energy and time worrying about things that never happen and I encourage you, the listeners, to think about how many times you've wasted precious time worry about what never comes to fruition. I also share a quote I heard about how 85% of what we worry about never happens #3 ANTICIPATION EFFECTS THE BRAIN: I share some insights around what anticipation, worry and stress does to the brain including decreased memory, release of stress hormones, decreased decision-making and more. Basically it's making you dumb and sick. #4 JOYS OF PARTICIPATION: On the flip side, I share the benefits of being in a state of participation - of being in the moment, present and in the here and now. I share how this increases memory, energy and satisfaction. I also talk about the power of mindfulness to get more out of any experience. #5 SHAKING OFF WORRY: Based on questions from the audience, I share how I move from anticipation to participation. I talk about the lizard brain, the gazelle ritual and the important of recognizing where you are. I also share some insights into how to get others to be more present with you. This includes tips on how to acknowledge and redirect. Join the for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, early release bonuses, and to add your two cents about this episode and more.
In this episode, I'll explore the incredible impact of a single mirror moment—a fleeting few seconds when I saw my reflection and felt its power to shape my day. Today, I delve into a personal story of a hotel mirror that drastically changed my day for the better, boosting my positive self talk and confidence for a major speaking engagement and then the pitfalls of a negative mirror moment that brought me down later. I'll also unlock some the science behind why this happens, revealing how your brain captures and influences your thoughts, communication, and actions based on that last image you see of yourself. Discover the "Imperfection Interruption," the subtle disruptions that stem from your self-perception, and learn how to overcome them. Podcast Highlights: #1 POWER OF THE MIRROR MOMENT: One mirror moment can change the trajectory of your life, giving your more confidence and positive self-talk. Tamara shares how a positive mirror moment led her to crush her speaking engagement, close a big deal and walk with confidence all morning. She also shares how she then had the opposite mirror moment that brought her day down. #2 THE IMAGE IMPRINT: How your brain records the last image of yourself and then stores it. This then impacts your thoughts, your communication, your behavior and actions all day long. Gary Brecka talks about the science behind how the brain records this last image. #3 THE IMPERFECTION INTERRUPTION: When that last recording image of yourself is filled with imperfections or what you don't like about yourself, that negatively impacts your day. On a subconscious level you have all these imperfect micro-interruptions that seep into your communication and behaviors. #4 THE 6 FEET RULE: How standing 6 feet from your mirror changes how you see yourself and that will change how you go about your day. At 6 feet you stop seeing the imperfections and begin to see the beauty and the positive. That image becomes what you carry around all day long. #5 MORNING ROUTINE MATTERS: Tamara also shares how she also uses fitness to create those Mirror Moments. When she lifts heavy or accomplishes a new personal record in Crossfit, the acts more boldly all day long. She also shares other tips for creating Mirror Moments all day. #6 POWER OF EXPERIMENTATION: Tamara also shares a little bit about her experimentation in going live on YouTube. She talks about fumbling through it and being thankful because you can't achieve your big goals without taking a first step. Join the for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, early release bonuses, and to add your two cents about this episode and more!
Whether you're a seasoned sales professional, just starting your journey, a leader trying to get buy-in for your ideas from your leadership or an entrepreneur, this interview with sales guru Matt Easton will give you the tangible tools to get more "yeses," close more deals and make more money. We explore the intricacies of objection handling, negotiation, closing deals, and more, as we dissect the core principles of effective selling. But this podcast goes beyond the usual sales tips and tricks; it's about understanding the psychology of buyers, the art of communication, and the mindset of a successful salesperson. It's time to redefine your approach to selling, close more deals, and unlock a world of opportunities. A Few Questions I Asked: #1 Why do traditional sales techniques fail? #2 Why is it so important to actually slow down the sales process? #3 How do we handle people's objections? #4 Why is "what do you need to think about?" actually one of the worst questions you can ask? #5 What's the F Bomb in sales and how do we avoid it? #6 Is the hunger to keep closing and not get comfortable a skill you can teach or something you are born with? #7 What's the difference between introverts and extroverts when it comes to sales? Conversation Highlights: #1 Selling For Life Success: Selling isn't just about closing deals, it's about getting to yes with your spouse, your boss, your clients and your colleagues; it's a critical life skill #2 STOP CONVINCING PEOPLE: How bad selling, or convincing is like standing on a bar and yelling at the top of your lungs, "I'm single and I drive a Porsche and here are 10 reasons why you should date me!" #3 TAKE THE EGO OUT OF IT: We need to stop selling from our perspective, and start selling from our prospects perspective. #4 LOSE CONTROL: Giving away control will actually close more deals and make you more money than trying to control the thoughts and next steps of your prospect. #5 THE F BOMB OF SALES: How saying "I'm just following up" is actually the opposite of what you should do to get to the next steps and close more deals #6 OBJECTIONS DON'T MATTER: How trying to convince someone that you can overcome their objections actually shuts down the conversation and the opportunity, the key is in understanding if it's a make or break objection, a complaint or a work around. #7 INTROVERTS VS. EXTROVERTS: How extroverts are great at selling because they have the energy to start conversations, but introverts are great because they like to listen for the answer. And, now the key to both is a proven process. Explore the for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, early release bonuses, and to add your two cents about this episode and more!
Ever wonder what it takes to turn your life’s passion into a business? Join me as I interview founder of Mach983 Crossfit, Fred Dayton, about his journey from needing an outlet for his stress to opening up a Crossfit gym based on community, support and excellence. We dive deep into the duality of self-sabotage and self-confidence, the importance of community, how empathy has changed him as a human and the importance of having your inner North Star and heart moving in the same direction. Questions I Asked: Tell us about how you found Crossfit and why it’s been so transformative for you. What have been some of the pitfalls and joys of turning your life’s passion into your business? Is it possible to feel both confidence and insecurity at the same time? How has empathy and showing up to listen made you a better human while making an impact on others? How does focusing on building connections and community help you achieve successful? How do you go about setting high expectations for yourself and others? Why is it so important to have your inner North Star and heart moving in the same direction? Conversation Highlights: #1 Transformation Through Crossfit: Explore the profound journey of Fred Dayton as he transcends the downward spiral, delving deep into the world of Crossfit. Discover the intricacies of how this physical and mental metamorphosis reshapes his existence, propelling him to new heights of personal fulfillment. #2 Passion into Profit: Uncover the exhilarating odyssey of turning your deepest passion into a thriving business. Fred talks about how he has had to navigate the labyrinth of challenges, pitfalls, and joys that come with coaching others to achieve their best selves and launching your entrepreneurial journey. #3 Stress Outlets: We talk about the holistic transformation that Crossfit (or whatever speaks to you in your life) offers, not only physically but also mentally. And how it becomes an invaluable outlet for stress and pent-up energy, revolutionizing not just your physique but also your mindset. #4 Community and Support: Fred decodes the significance of forging connections and building a community. Learn how the mutual exchange of support can be the cornerstone of satisfaction and success in life. Witness the creation of a tight-knit family or network that propels individuals to new heights. #5 The Joy of Giving Back: We both discuss the fulfilling journey of giving back, exemplified by Fred's commitment to FYR Denver. Understand how selflessly supporting others can liberate you from stagnation, leading to a life of more purpose and impact. #6 Embracing Dualities: Delve into the complexity of the human mind, as we examine the coexistence of self-sabotage and self-confidence. Learn how it's possible to hold both confident and insecure thoughts simultaneously, unraveling the inner workings of our psyche. #7 Empathy's Power: Journey into the realm of empathy and compassion, tools for becoming a better human. Witness how a moment of empathy can be the catalyst for positive choices and how it binds people together, fostering deeper connections. #8 Unseen Impact of Small Gestures: Fred talks about the idea that the ripples we create in others' lives.Explore how seemingly inconsequential interactions can hold profound meaning for someone else, emphasizing the profound impact of our daily exchanges. #9 The Gift of Listening: Uncover the art of listening as one of the greatest gifts one can offer. Understand how lending an ear helps individuals find and express their voice, making them feel valued and heard in a world often filled with noise. #10 Setting High Expectations: Delve into the concept of setting high expectations, both for yourself and those around you. Explore how these standards become the driving force behind personal and collective excellence. #11 Alignment of Heart and North Star: Dive into the sensation of aligning your heart's desires with your life's trajectory. Explore the profound sense of fulfillment that accompanies this alignment, as it propels you toward your true purpose in life. Explore the for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, early release bonuses, and to add your two cents about this episode and more!
Welcome to a deep dive into your own mind and to unmask your brain's betrayals. l'm going to delve into the intricate mechanisms that often stand in the way of growth and success, including the powerful change saboteurs lurking within your brain, understanding how they manifest as limiting beliefs, comfort zones, and the fear of success. We'll explore the psychology of self-sabotage and strategies to break free from these mental traps. A Few Insights From This Episode: 1 Thermostat Point: How our internal thermostat and self-perception can act as a set point that either motivates or prevents us from striving for better outcomes. #2 Limiting Beliefs: Explore the concept of limiting beliefs and how they create a mental ceiling that hinders personal growth. #3 Two Biggest Fears: The fear of hard work and fear of the unknown are the key factors that keep our thermostat where it is. #4 Mental Traps: Examine various mental games the brain plays, leading to self-deception, self-sabotage, defensive mechanisms, and a victim mentality. #5 Mental Residue: Describe how mental residue accumulates from task-to-task creating a heavy, distracted, unfocused brain that influences our habits and routines. #6 Mental Sewers: The landscape of your brain described and how your habitual beliefs and routines create deep grooves that no longer serve you #7 Fear of Success: How the fear of success can manifest as self-sabotage, subconscious beliefs, resistance to change, setting low expectations, and underestimating abilities. Explore the for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, early release bonuses, and to add your two cents about this episode and more!
Bonus episode! Occasionally I like to do episodes covering hot topics by drinking a double shot of espresso and diving in. In this one, you will discover the lost 'Art of Listening." Join me as I unravel the impact of echo chambers and empty ears on our society and personal growth. Key Insights from Episode: #1 The definition of echo chambers and empty ear; and their impact on your world #2 How echo chambers and empty ears lead to confirmation bias and how that confirmation bias is killing your creative problem-solving and decision making #3 How the lack of connection or feeling siloed may be a reflection of your lack of listening skills #4 Why lack of listening is keeping us divided, dumb, and stuck in place # 5 The importance of asking open ended questions and deep questions and how that one change can transform your conversation skills; i.e. how to be extremely curious #6 How listening with respect and vulnerability is a game changer for relationships of all kinds #7 Rejecting this idea that my beliefs are right and your beliefs are wrong is the key to connection and success 8 How we are uniquely individual creatures that need and thrive in communities Explore the for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, early release bonuses, and to add your two cents about this episode and more!
Today I interview entertainer, comedian and speaker, Merit Kahn, about her journey from business and sales trainer to pursuing her dream of having a one woman show on broadway. From building a full comedy club in her basement to booking shows across the country, Merit will inspire you to go big and let your passions be your guide. She also digs into how comedy has helped her deal with the tough times in her life and how putting her story out there was one of the toughest and most rewarding experiences in her life. Some Questions I Asked: How do you figure out which beliefs are holding you back? What was it like being vulnerable and putting your life story on stage? What can we learn from your experience? How has asking the right questions helped you pursue your dreams? What do you do about those people that aren't on board with your big dreams and even try to bring you back down a level? What is it about humor that has helped you cope with difficulties and challenges in life? How can we apply that "find the funny" to our lives? Conversation highlights include: Reimagine Your Past, Redesign Your Future: Decide how to view your past so you can take control of how you want to move forward The Power of Humor: How finding the funny in tough situations helps you push through them and shed the victim mindset that often takes over Breaking Free from Hand-Me-Down Beliefs: Learn how to identify and shed beliefs that no longer serve your growth Elevate Your Set Point: Elevate your life's baseline and take note on how your set points may actually be pulling you back down Your Supportive Circle: Explore the art of surrounding yourself with a tribe that empowers your journey. Unlocking Success Through Inquiry: Discover the secret to success – asking the right questions that lead to insights and knowledge Chasing Dreams 101: Uncover the mix of courage, support, and opportunity that propels you toward your dreams. Aligning Life with Dreams: Learn the art of harmonizing your everyday existence with your most cherished aspirations, down to how you set your schedule Leading by Example: Shine a guiding light for others by setting a compelling example for personal growth. There is no Fearless: There is only action despite fear and creating enough of an opening in your own beliefs to make it happen Explore the for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, early release bonuses, and to add your two cents about this episode and more! Chicago Show: New York Show: Merit Kahn Website:
Dive deep into the Cult of Average with Tamara in this thought-provoking episode . Unveil the subtle forces of conformity, mediocrity, and peer pressure that shape our lives. Discover why we often succumb to the gravitational pull of fitting in and how it impacts our personal growth and critical thinking. Explore the psychological underpinnings of conformity and its negative consequences. Join Tamara as she shares five actionable steps to break free from the Cult of Average, empowering you to embrace your individuality and redefine what it means to be truly exceptional. Share this episode with a friend who needs a nudge or is feeling stuck. Explore the for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, early release bonuses, and to add your two cents about this episode and more! Stay above the pull of the cult of average.
Welcome back, rebels! Join me, your curious and coffee-fueled host as I relaunch the Coffee with Tamara podcast with a bang. In this episode, I'll take you on a thrilling and maybe even uncomfortable journey through the world of comfort zones, reimaginng what's possible and facing fear. My relentless pursuit of the extraordinary has led me to question why so many of us settle for the ordinary. I delve deep into the realm of human behavior, fear, and risk, challenging the norms and I invite you to join me in embracing discomfort as a catalyst for growth. Share this episode with a friend who needs a nudge or is feeling stuck. Explore the for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, early release bonuses, and to add your two cents about this episode and more! Stay uncomfortable, stay rebellious, and keep defying the status quo.
12-minutes is all it takes to unlock your best brain and unearth a wealth of innovative ideas. Have a question you want Tamara to cover? An idea for a podcast episode? Call the podcast hotline and leave a voicemail! Call (720) 798-4535 Watch the podcast on YouTube: Listen or watch the podcast and leave a comment: Follow Tamara on TikTok: Get more resources, downloads and learning opportunities:
The nagging ideas you can't seem to stop thinking about and the balls of regret that live in your brain. Have a question you want Tamara to cover? An idea for a podcast episode? Call the podcast hotline and leave a voicemail! Call (720) 798-4535 Watch the podcast on YouTube: Listen or watch the podcast and leave a comment: Follow Tamara on TikTok: Get more resources, downloads and learning opportunities:
My experience living what I'm calling a "less life" over the past two weeks. The mindset, the actions and the results. Have a question you want Tamara to cover? An idea for a podcast episode? Call the podcast hotline and leave a voicemail! Call (720) 798-4535 Watch the podcast on YouTube: Listen or watch the podcast and leave a comment: Follow Tamara on TikTok: Get more resources, downloads and learning opportunities:
The 3 mental traps that keep you from unlocking you best brain and life #1 Mental Games #2 Mental Residue #3 Mental Sewers Have a question you want Tamara to cover? An idea for a podcast episode? Call the podcast hotline and leave a voicemail! Call (720) 798-4535 Watch the podcast on YouTube: Listen or watch the podcast and leave a comment: Follow Tamara on TikTok: Get more resources, downloads and learning opportunities:
The comparison game and how it leads to mediocre success. Have a question you want Tamara to cover? An idea for a podcast episode? Call the podcast hotline and leave a voicemail! Call (720) 798-4535 Watch the podcast on YouTube: Listen or watch the podcast and leave a comment: Follow Tamara on TikTok: Get more resources, downloads and learning opportunities:
It's easy to believe that your way of doing things or your perspective on a situation is the only one. Or perhaps to believe that your opinions and viewpoints on matters are right, while others are wrong. In this episode I explore how we can all be climbing the same mountain and yet have drastically different experiences. I dig into how two (or more) people can have very different vantage points that lead to different stories, perspective and opinions. However those differing experiences don't have to pull you further apart. In fact, it's actually helpful in so many ways. I also give you a few personal examples to help bring this to life. Tamara’s Everyday Innovator style is Risk Taker Experiential. Sticky Inspiration: You can be on the same mountain and have very different perspectives Lesson & Action: Recognition, empathy and curiosity create understanding and connection Connect with me on , , and Join our global Everyday Innovators community on
In a time when people are stressed out and burnt out, it's easy for conflict to occur. Sometimes it seems that the simplest question, conversation, or meeting sparks unnecessary conflict. While you are trying to move your ideas, decisions and projects forward that conflict only leads to spiraling down the negativity drain, stuck in a rut or spinning your wheels in place. I've learned that the key to productive conversations isn't in the objectives, or who is in the room, it's in the questions you ask. In this episode I'm going to cover the key keys for how to ask questions that spark meaningful conversations that move you forward, not conflict that holds you back. Ask open-ended questions (not yes or no questions) Get specific (not general) Ask for a story or example (take out assumptions of understanding) Follow up three times (go deep) Be curious like a kid (push your expertise and knowing aside) Ask about reactions (don't respond to them) Ask what questions you didn't ask (you don't always know what to ask) Tamara’s Everyday Innovator style is Risk Taker Experiential. Sticky Inspiration: Ask questions that spark conversation, not conflict Lesson & Action: Use one of the 7 keys to change the outcomes of your conversations Connect with me on , , and Join our global Everyday Innovators community on
Did you know gratitude is more than just saying what you are thankful for? Gratitude is the antidote to fear, anxiety and stress. It’s a dose of happiness, wellbeing, and even optimism, despite the odds. Studies have proven that gratitude can actually enhance your creative problem solving abilities. When you experience positive emotions you tap more of your mind. When you are stressed out your thinking is more rigid, reducing your creative thinking. When you are less stressed you are more open to innovative ideas, and able to make more meaningful connections that lead to new ideas. In this episode I explore how gratitude is the gateway to creativity and three steps to help you get grateful in any situation. Tamara’s Everyday Innovator style is Risk Taker Experiential. Sticky Inspiration: Gratitude is the gateway to your creative mind Lesson & Action: Get grateful, connect emotions and do it daily with intention Connect with me on , , and Join our global Everyday Innovators community on Raw Podcast Transcript: Welcome back everybody. Your host, Tamara here, author of the Books. Innovation is Everybody's Business and Think Sideways and creator of the Innovation Quotient Edge Assessment. The only tool out there that helps you discover your natural innovator strengths. So that you can ignite innovation, influence others, and make an impact. I am so thankful to be here today, and I think that falls right in line with our topic of discussion for the day, which is gratitude. now, I'm not here today to talk about gratitude in their traditional sense and why you should be a grateful person. I think we all know. We all know that it, you know, leads to a life of abundance. We know that. It makes us feel good. We know we should be thankful for the things that we have had, that we currently have that we're going to achieve. I think that's all a part of it. I think that's all really important. But I'm gonna take a little bit of a different. , did you know that gratitude is more, so much more than just saying what you are thankful for? Gratitude is actually the antidote for fear, anxiety, and stress. It combats all those things. It is actually a dose of happiness. Well, and even optimism despite the odds. Here's the cool part about gratitude. Studies have proven that gratitude can actually enhance your creative problem solving abilities. Isn't that cool? So when you experience positive emotions, you actually tap more of your mind. It's why when I find myself a little bit stuck in a rudd or getting really frustrated because I can't figure out how to do something, or you know, the email I need to write, or the solution to that big problem, whatever it is, instead of just white knuckling through it, sometimes I'll just stop and write out a list of the things that I'm grateful for and get myself into that. not just because I don't wanna be all curmudgeony and negative, I don't want that, but also because I need to tap more of my mind to solve the problem. And the funny part is I often find that when I do that, when I'm stuck and I stop and just take a second to be grateful for things that that solution that I've been looking for, that path to success, that innovative idea that's been alluding me is actually right in front of my face. Funny how that works isn't. According to the Stress Rx founder, Peter slac, hope I'm saying your name right. Gratitude affects the Olympic system of your brain replacing fear, dread, doubt, and cynicism with gratitude, joy, and possibility. Now, I think we all know that fear, dread, doubt, and cynicism, those things suck us under, don't they? They make us insecure. They tend to lead to bad decisions when we. decisions based on fear doesn't often go well, does it more often, not dread, doubt, cynicism. Those things make us feel small, play small. It keeps our ideas close in and incremental, so we never get that. Those innovative, creative solutions are gonna really help us move things forward, but gratitude replaces those with joy and possib. Those are the things that tap more of your brain. So like I was saying, if I feel particularly stuck or kind of in the weeds of a challenge, I can't seem to get my head out of, or if I know I'm going into a stressful situation, like a big meeting or a, a conversation with someone that I know is gonna be tough, I'll actually not just take five minutes to plan out. What am I gonna say? What is the outcome I'm looking for? I'll actually take five minutes to write down what I'm grateful for in the moment. , and I'll also write down how that gratitude makes me feel. I'm gonna talk more about that emotion part in a minute. And often that list includes small things, like a hot cup of coffee or warm house slippers, or big things like the opportunity ahead of me, or the success I've had, or you know, all the everyday innovators in our community that show up to our, on our live events all the time. It can be a range of things. So what I wanna do, For our sticky inspiration and for our lesson for today is I wanna get right to it, and I wanna give you three things that you can do to reduce stress and increase gratitude so that you can get to those innovative ideas. You can get to that place of happiness and joy and possibility because it's in that. that we find the solutions that we're looking for, we find the innovative ideas that push us further faster. Okay. Here's what I want you to do. Number one, I want you to list out 10 things you are grateful for. Now, I know 10 may seem like a lot, but it will push you to look past the obvious and find gratitude in the small and. unnoticed things. I'm gonna share with you in a minute my list, and you'll see as I'm going through my list, some of 'em are pretty obvious and some of 'em, it took me a second to get to them, but once I, once I got there, I was really happy that I did. So, 10 things that you're grateful for. Then number two is I want you to take five minutes to record your. After you make your list, think about the feelings gratitude brings you. Think about the things on your list, how they make you feel. Perhaps it's joy, peace, or just simply feeling less stressed or accomplished. Here's the reason why we do it with emotions. Emotions are like, Best way to say data logs in our brain. And so we wanna connect what we're grateful for with emotions we wanna feel, because that emotions, when we unlock those positive emotions, that's where we unlock our best everyday innovator inside of us. So this will help us connect our brains to the happy feelings that come with gratitude, to the feelings that get us to that better place and lead us to actions. You know, we always talk about being logical creatures with some emotions, but the reality is we're emotional creature. with a little bit of logic or a little bit of action. Emotions drive not just our thinking, but our actions, and they happen fast. So we wanna connect those feelings that we get from the gratitude and the things that we're listing out to the actual emotions that they create, so that we can imprint those on our brain and we can access those quickly and when we need them most. So then number three is practice. Writing down what you're grateful for every day isn't just being about good person. That's all great, but also it's about continuing to open up those creative problem solving skills and positive emotions. It continually puts you into that frame of mind of being the everyday innovator that you are. Now, if you've taken our assessment and you know your everyday innovator style, it will access that. with a snap of a finger. So I'm a risk taker, experiential, so I'm all about bold, tangible innovation. So when I create gratitude, I go into my best self, into my most innovative self, almost instantly. For someone who's a collaborative, inquisitive, who's about whole and deep innovation, right? Doing their gratitude list is gonna access that and their way of being innovative and their think. instantly. For someone who's a futuristic, imaginative who's all about forward novel innovation, it's gonna tap that instantly. So I think practicing gratitude shouldn't just happen in the moments where you need it most. Absolutely use it there, but also if we start to do it every day, we get the compounding benefits of it. So number one, list out 10 things you are grateful for. Push yourself to really list out. Number two, take five minutes to record your emotions, imprint the emotions connected to that list into your brain so that you can tap those feelings, get the benefit of those feelings in that moment and all the other times you need it. And number three, with intention practice daily so that you can step into being an everyday innovator. Every single. All right, so as I was recording this just a few minutes before I hit record, actually, I wrote down the 10 things I'm grateful for today and the emotions that they connected that connected to them. So let me share these with you and you'll see what I mean about why 10 million matters. So number one is the sun window next to me while I work, I have a big, I guess it's called a storybook window. You know when it's kind of like a, so almost a floor ceiling window and it lets in the morning sun and it feels so good against my face, against my arm as I'm working. I love it. So number one, as I love this, I'm so grateful for this window and my little workspace. Number two, I'm so grateful that I can work virtually and from anywhere. And in fact, yesterday I got. From a, how long was I on four or five day trip? Here's the thing. I wanted to go check out this area, this beautiful lake, and um, but I had work to do, I had live events, right? I had a deep dive. I had an innovation jam session. I had some elite coaches, those who are certified, I had an event for them, but guess what? I can work from anywhere. So I worked from this Airbnb on this lake and. Amazing. So I'm so grateful. As tired as I am today, my first day kind of back at my desk, I'm grateful that really with some planning, I can work from just about anywhere. Number three, I'm super grateful for our new puppy barley, who is a St. Bernard. Um, My fiance and I went to Switzerland. In fact, that's where we got engaged and then we fell in love with the area we were in Lake Tune and with St. Bernard's. Oh my gosh, they're the most beautiful, big cuddle buns ever. So we got one, and she's amazing. And her name is Burley. So I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful. Number four, that I have a soon-to-be husband that shares the big dreams that I have, and not just always that they're the same, but. He like me, dreams really big, almost to others, unrealistic, but to us, something to go for. I'm so grateful to be with someone who dreams in a way that others seem unreal, seems unrealistic, and to both of us is like, yeah, that's what we're gonna go for. I love that. It's really important to be with someone who has that same level of dreams that you do. Okay. Number five. I'm grateful for the fact that when I got home last night, The house was only slightly messy. So this morning I only had to spend a little bit cleaning up. The, my two boys were here watching our dog and watching the house and hanging out. And, um, you know, I thought I was gonna come back to a hurricane, but I didn't. So when I woke up this morning, I was grateful that it just took me a few minutes to clean some things up. Thanks boys. All right, number six. I'm grateful for my CrossFit gym, Mach 9 83. I love that place. The community's amazing. The people are amazing. They. , even though I go at five o'clock in the morning, which I know sounds crazy to some people, I just always walk away happier than when I walked in. I just love being with those people. Number seven, I'm grateful for my coffee mug, which is this super cool mug that I got when I was visiting Alaska, and it's black and red and white and it's got that cool kinda like tribal pattern on it. I just love it. Number eight. . I am grateful for the pictures of my family that I have on the wall in front of my desk so that I get to look at them, and it reminds me of the people that I love. Number nine, I'm pretty grateful that the house is quiet right now while I'm recording this. You know, this whole open floor plan seemed like a great idea until we were all home all the time, and now I'm like, I don't know. I think I need a door. So right now I'm pretty grateful that the house is quiet and there isn't so much noise going on that I have to stop every five. I have those days too. Okay. Number 10. The last thing I'm grateful for is the fact that in, when I'm done with this recording, I've gotta pack up, take my boys out for spring break tomorrow. So we're headed on a little road trip and I'm pretty excited to, to get going and explore some new places with them. So I got a lot. That's my 10 to be grateful for. But you can see when you do 10, you gotta really stretch yourself and think about some things that maybe you overlook on a day-to-day basis, like my mug, things like that. I also wanted to share with you that the emotions that I connected with it and that I want to imprint in my brain. So there's 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of them. So the first one is I feel accomplished in myself. Like I built a business that allows me to work virtually, that I work with amazing people. I've got this globe full of everyday innovators. That's just so cool and all of you impact me and teach me so much so, but I feel accomplished that I worked hard to get to this place and I've got more than I wanna accomplish. But that sense of accomplishment actually keeps me going. The second emotion I wrote down is satisfied. I'm satisfied that I'm doing my best, trying my best, giving it my all going for those unrealistic dreams. Number three is happiness just makes me happy. My mug makes me happy. Drinking coffee out of it makes me happy. Looking at my family makes me happy, and that leads me to my second emotion, which of course is love. I look around, I'm surrounded by the people and the things that remind me of those people and experiences that I. The next one I wrote down was excitement. Um, you know, I've got some more travel coming, I've got more big things happening at work. So that leads to excitement. And that excitement for me is like a bunch of really excited butterflies that forced me into action because the butterflies are excited to get going. And then lastly, the other emotion I had was hunger, right? In an emotional sense to achieve more. So, I look at all these things and I get so grateful, and then I'm grateful for the fact that I'm gonna keep going and that there's more to achieve. And it makes me a little. So accomplished, satisfied, happy, love, excitement, hunger. Those are the emotions that are attached to these. And as you can see, I'm grateful for a lot of things, big and small for my 10 things here today. And those emotions really matter because those are the emotions that unlock. The creative problem solving the strategic thinking. I mean, just to really sum it all up, it unlocks your everyday innovator mind, which I'll tell you again, the research has shown as we dug into the neuroscience, behavioral psychology of it all. Being innovative is universal. We all do it. However, how we innovate is unique to each of us, and in fact, have you have not gone and taken the iqe, the innovation, quotion Edge assessment. And discovered your everyday innovator style. I would jump over to the website and do it. I'm sure there's a link in the show notes on our webpage everywhere else. Go to launch street.com as a website. You can find it there. I would encourage you to go do that because knowing how you innovate is gonna make it so much easier to access. Knowing your strengths. It's gonna make it so much easier, less stressful, less exhausting. For you to actually become that everyday innovator across work and life and being that everyday innovator is what gets you what you're going after. That was so not articulate, , but you get my point, right? It's what gets you to your goals and your dreams and what gets you around and under and through those brick walls that are holding you back, kind of both mentally and right in front of you, in reality, in real world. So go take the assessment. , if you haven't. There are nine triggers, ways that we as human innovate, and what each of us has is something called a unique everyday innovator style. No two are alike. Where we have two that are our top two power triggers, our wellspring of innovation, and then one dormant trigger, which is our least powerful play. So for example, I'm an a risk taker and experiential, that's my power. Those are my power triggers. My dormant trigger is collaborative. I will talk more about what that really means. What I want you to do, forget about me, is I want you to find out about you and how you. and when we're done with this podcast, how about you go write up 10 things that you're grateful for, write down those emotions and make gratitude a part of your everyday practice so that you can be an everyday innovator all day, every day. Tamara Out.
We've been told that the best approach to life (and work) is to only focus on what you can control and to accept what's out of your control. I think that's very wrong, and here's why... What's in our control is important as it is our internal emotions and responses to situations and some of the actions we can take. But, stopping there only minimizes our sense of confidence and momentum. I believe If we stop at what's in our control we almost become victims of our environment. I also believe, and have experienced, that there is this gray zone I call the "sphere of influence" that actually holds a lot of space for innovation, influence and impact. In your sphere of influence you have more ability to take action and impact outcomes. In this episode I'm going to break down the problem with in and out of control thinking, how to leverage the "sphere of influence" and 3 key questions to ask yourself to help you identify where you can innovate, influence and impact any situation. Tamara’s Everyday Innovator style is Risk Taker Experiential. Sticky Inspiration: If you focus on the "sphere of influence" you'll gain confidence, momentum and make an impact Lesson & Action: Ask the three influence questions to help you leverage the "sphere of influence" Connect with me on , , and Join our global Everyday Innovators community on Raw Podcast Transcript: Hello. Hello everyone. Tamara here, your host, creator of the Innovation Quotient Edge Assessment, founder of Launch Street and Experiential Risk Taker. Oh, and also lover of a good charcuterie board. As my kids know, because for the holidays they got me a charcuterie board. They know me so well. Love it. It's like the perfect foods all on. Wood slab, it's the best. So for today, I wanna talk about a topic, or I guess a mindset, a way of being that is pretty close to my heart right now. I've been going through a lot of changes, some of 'em, really positive and really exciting. Some of 'em a little intimidating, a little scary, you know, like on the positive side. We just had a thousand people this morning take the innovation quotient edge assessment and discover their everyday innovator style. I think that's the most we've ever had in one morning. That's exciting. On maybe a more scar or intimidating side, my oldest is going to college in a few months and we're in the process of doing the housing application, putting down the down payments, and just the realization that he's maybe in this house for a couple more. It's a change. It's a little bit scary. It's, it's exciting. At the same time, I'm happy for him, but also, you know, as mom, I'm like, oh, my baby's leaving. So a lot of change going on, and I think a lot of change in the world right now too. I think that's just a constant that we're dealing with. And so I wanna talk about a topic that's really all about tackling. Change with some confidence and some control. And in fact, I wanna talk about the concept of in control versus outta control. And I wanna bring to light the space in between that we often miss that I call the sphere of influence. I think understanding the sphere of influence can help you navigate forward with more ease, less stress, and a little bit more confidence. And. So here's the thing. I want you to visualize my sticky note for a moment. And there's a person in the corner of a stick figure and in their hand, they're holding a tiny little ball, and that ball represents everything that we feel is in our control. That tiny little globe of control and outside of that is everything that is out of our control. What we often talk about is don't worry about the things that are out of control. Only focus on on what you can control. The challenge I'm finding though, is that space of out of control seems to be getting bigger and bigger, and the space, that little globe that you can hold in your hand, that is everything that you have in control is getting smaller and smaller, or at least not growing. So let's, let's put some context behind it so you know what's out of our control. Well, we can't control the motives of others. We can't control how other people decide to. to see us. We can't control the weather. We can't control, you know, what's happening at the big global, even federal level. We can't control whether might your organization decides to reorg or lay off people or change the system. We can't control what's happening on the other end of the table. Sometimes the people that we're talking to, um, we can't control what happens with, you know, the coronavirus or any of those other things out there in the world. We can't control war that's happening in other c. , we can't control the greater housing issue or unemployment. You get my point, right? I could go on and on and on, but all the things that are out of our control, in fact, I'm pretty sure you could add a few to that list. But as you can see, the fricking list just goes on and on and on, and more and more is getting thrown into that area. So when I talk to people today, what they tell me and how I feel too is. what's out of control seems to be getting bigger and bigger and harder and harder to manage even more out of control, if that's possible. So, you know, if I were to do a word cloud and surround you with everything that's out of your control, not only is it getting bigger and bigger, but it's things that are scarier and a little bit more overwhelming because the, not only they're outta your control, but they have the possibility of impacting you. Great. , do you feel that? Do you sometimes feel like the weight of the world and all the things that are out of your control weigh on your shoulders even though you can't control them? I, I have to say, I really feel like that there are days where I just look around this and everything that's happening and all the things that are out of my control and it's spinning around me and you know, I know that I have no control over it and I know that pretty much anything I do is not gonna really impact it. And I get overwhelmed or I. Frustrated. It doesn't stop me moving forward. It doesn't stop me in doing the, taking the actions I need to take or making the decisions I am. I'm good at plowing right through. But there are days where, gosh, especially after I watch the news note to self, stop doing that. So every time I watch the news, I just think, wow, wow. All this stuff is so big, you so outta my control. And sometimes the things that are outta your control are things that are in your own home or in your own work. Reorganization, a new boss, a colleague that you're not getting along with. Like all those things that it's kind of feels like other people out there doing it to you or maybe in your home. Like, I can't control the fact that my son is going off to college. I mean, I guess I could, I could not pay for it, but I'm not gonna do that, right? That is part of the natural cycle of life, right? So of course that's gonna happen. But even the little things in your own world feel can feel out of your control. I'm gonna tell you right now, you know what feels most out of my control on a daily. My laundry, I cannot get it out of control. I used to joke that my laundry was like wildfire because we talk about it in how it was contained. Like laundry today is 10% contained, meaning I had too much to do. Or if I felt like I'd gone through a lot of laundry, it was 90% contained. So a lot of things in your everyday life, they feel out of control. So I think I've made my point. If you're feeling like your heart is racing a little bit and you're getting stressed out listening to this podcast, I think at this point you should, because we're talking about what you cannot control. So there's a light, by the way, at the end of this tunnel. So stick with me here. And then you've got that little globe that you're holding in your hand. That's what you can control. And most of that is what happens inside you internally, right? So I can't control the reorging, my company, but I can control how I think about it. I can control my mindset, I can control. Response. I can control my emotional response. I can control my words and how I choose to communicate with others. I can co choose the, I can choose the actions that I take. I'm gonna share a story about that in a little bit. But you see my point here, out of control is kind of everything spinning around you. And then what's in control is mostly internally, right? How you think, how you respond, how you behave, and I think a lot of what's in control. , it's about the actions that you take and the things that you think that help you sleep well at night, meaning you act in alignment with who you want to be. You know, when I let my emotions take control, when I don't put them in my little globe of in control and I respond in a way that I don't like later, right? It's an emotional outburst. It's a negative response that you know, has me playing the low ground versus the high ground. . I don't sleep well at night because I know that's not who I want to be. And I don't always, in fact, don't often let that happen, but it does. Every now and again, it gets the best of me. It does for all of us. And we just have to remember that that's the stuff that's in our control. And I think those things, by the way, are really important. So I'm not minimizing them with what I'm gonna say next. I think how you think your mindset, how you choose to respond to a person or a situation. how you choose to act in light of situations or outer your control, say a lot about you. And a lot of people abdicate that, and that's not okay in my book. And anytime I have not acted in a way that's in alignment, I, I feel it and I own it and I recognize it. And so we've gotta really hold on to those things that are in our control. They make us happier, they make us c. , they make us feel like we're moving forward. But I wanna talk about for the rest of it, and the part that we missed, because there's this area in the center that's like the gray zone. Cause we have all this stuff outside our control. We have this little very important globe in the holding in our hands of what's in control. But there's this gray space in the middle, and that gray space in the middle is what I call the sphere of. and the sphere of influence isn't places that are completely in our control, like how we respond, our mindset, our actions, but they are things that we can make an impact on greater than we initially think We can. Let me share with you some personal and professional examples for myself and others to really highlight what I mean by this sphere of influence. So I'm, I'm gonna start with a work example from one of our everyday innovators in our community, Colleen. Colleen. Was posting on the private platform that her company just did a reorg and she was very frustrated because this reorg meant there was another layer of people between her and the kind of the VPs, the, the high levels. So she used to have a direct line to the people that made decisions so she could influence, she could impact, she could connect. They knew her, she knew them, right. That was good for her work. It was good for her career. It was good for her, her personal and, and professional development and. , but this reorg put a whole nother layer of people, middle managers, between her and the people that were making the decisions. And so in her mind, she's one step away from the people that matter. She's gonna get less recognized, she's gonna be put on fewer of the important projects that she wants to be on, and she doesn't have a direct line to impact the decisions that are being made so you can understand her frustration. So we did this whole thing around sphere of influence in this, in this workshop that we did for our community and. She emailed me later. It was such a wonderful email. I was so, so excited when I received it because she basically said that this was game changing. She said, she told me, here's what she did. She goes, after that workshop, she actually decided that she was gonna influence the situation. She couldn't impact it. She can't control it, right? She can't change the fact that this reorg happened, but she can influence that she. So what she did is she went to her new bosses and to her old VPs and she said, Hey, because we now have this new organization and I think it's gonna work for our better, I wanna make sure we don't lose touch with each other, that we don't end up siloing communication and work and doubling efforts where it's unnecessary. So what I'd like to do is I'd like to host a monthly town hall meeting or team meeting with these new middle managers and the VP so that we can hear best practice. Hear challenges. I think it'll help everybody as we get used to this new structure. Stay in the loop, make smart decisions and connect with each other so that we don't silo. We don't double up. Well, they were thrilled because you know what? Guess what? They were having those same worries. They were worried about the siloing and the doubling up of work and being disconnected from the work being happen, happen from the work happening. Try that one three times. So she has this meeting and she said it was wonderful. They loved it. They got so much out of it. They asked her to keep doing it every month. So she couldn't control the reorg, but she did influence the outcome in a big way. So I want you to think about where do you actually have more influence than you think you do? May not be in your control, but you might be able to influence how it goes, and especially how it goes for. So let me share a couple personal examples in this way too. And it kind of goes to what I was saying earlier about being in alignment with who you are. So I have someone in my world who, hmm, at the best, doesn't like me. at the worst hates me. Probably more of the worst. And I'm not gonna say names, I'm not gonna give specifics cause I don't believe in throwing people under the bus, as you know. But I wanna share the story cause I think it highlights influence. And so, what's out of my control, her perception of me. It actually has nothing to do with me and everything to do with do with her fear of change, her situation, kind of being territorial, not wanting other people to step in. So this has nothing to do with me, and I know that. Right. I know. I, I have empathy actually for where she's coming from. I, I get it right. She, there's all this change happening around her. Things are moving forward without her, and she's feeling left behind. I totally get it. So I can't control that though. I can't control her situation. I can't control. . Her perception of me, what's in my control, well, how I respond to her when I interact with her. Right? I can't. And oh, and I can't control that. She's in my life in some way. So she is, whether I like it or not. So what can I control? Well, how I respond to her. I can control the actions that I take. So there was this one point where we were all gonna be meeting up and her included, and I have so much stress and anxiety going into it because I. Oh my gosh, I'm gonna have to spend time with this person. I don't like this person. Worst kid. The person doesn't like me. And she, she tends to show it. is probably the best way to say it. She, she's pretty clear in her dislike for me, and so I'm sitting there thinking, all right, so what's in my control? Well, as nasty as she is to me, I can just respond with a smile and just let it go. Right? Be like tough, long, let it bounce off. But I think you and I both know that as much as we say that in the moment. , it is extremely hard. It's hard, right? Because, you know, you're, you're bumping up against massive toxicity and resistance. So I get to this situation, I'm feeling all stressed out because what's in my control still makes me feel a little bit small, and I realize, all right, Tamara, go back to the sphere of influence. So what can you influence? All right, again, I can't control her perception of me or her situation. But I can influence how I behave at this party. So what did I do? Well, I was responsible for bring, bringing cupcakes to this party. And, um, without going into too much detail, the, the, the short of it is they were kind of customized cupcakes for the people that we were celebrating. So I thought, well, I could leave her out and not make cupcakes for her. Right? So each person that we're celebr. , they had their name on the cupcake, and I thought, well, I could just not make 'em for her. I know she doesn't like me. I know anything I do is gonna be taken the wrong way. So what's the point right now? I can, I can control my response and I can smile and I can not be negative, but I wanna go back to that sphere of influence. And I thought, you know what? I'm gonna do? I, I'm gonna put her name on the cupcakes too, because here's the thing, I'm not a mean girl. I don't wanna be a mean girl, and I will never. Put myself in a situation where I behave like a mean girl because I will not sleep at night. That is not in alignment with who I am. And so I thought, all right, in my sphere of influence, I can be inclusive, and how she chooses to respond or not respond is up to her. So I make these cupcakes for this party that everybody that we're celebrating, I add her name to it. Now, does she suddenly love me and I'm her bff? Not in any way whatsoever. not at all. Her feelings are still the same for me. Mine are still the same for her, but guess what? I influenced. That event cuz I walked in with more confidence and being inclusive like that made the party a bigger hit so everybody felt connected and there was no weirdness about who was in, who was out. Everybody had a great time at this party. I was able to influence that in my tiny little part with bringing these cupcakes. . I hope that story kind of resonates with some of you because oftentimes the situations that we're dealing with have to do with how we respond to someone in the room, and whether that person is at work, maybe they're a family member, uh, maybe they're a client, maybe they're a kid, maybe they're a spouse, maybe they're a family of your spouse. They're in-laws or connected. We can't control their response to us. We can't control how they think about us. We can't control what motivates them. We can't control their. , but we can influence the situations that were put in. And that's where I think the sphere of influence is so powerful. And sometimes I, here's the real deal, sometimes I overestimate my ability to influence. But in thinking about that sphere of influence, I always, always find a way to make the situation, to make the environment, to make the relationship, whatever it is a little bit. and I, so I think this narrative of only focusing on what's in control and forget everything else actually doesn't serve us because at least in my experience, it still leaves me frustrated and angry and not getting what I want out of the situation because I feel helpless, right? All I'm controlling is what's inside me, but if I can influence how things impact me, I can have a better. , I can get more of what I want and what I deserve. And that's what I think for you as well is don't just think about it as this little ball of control and out control. Think of your dotted line sphere of influence that goes a little bit out from that ball of control into the out of control world. And in that gray area is a lot of opportunity. And just like Colleen, the client who was talking about the reorg that actually ended up working in her, Ben, thinking through her sphere of influence and coming up with that idea for that monthly town hall team meeting, she actually now is being recognized for that effort and being promoted. Fear of influence. So think about your world, think about what's out of control. Maybe even write it all down. Don't hold back. Think about what's in control, but your internal world. Think about your sphere of influence, because that is where the action is. That's where you can take action to get to better results. Here's the other thing I found is feeling more in control and putting some action behind sphere of influence makes me happier. Maybe it's the momentum I get. Maybe it's the confidence I get. Maybe it's knowing that I've done my best. I'm not sure exactly where it comes from, but I can tell you that I feel more confident and happier when I focus on my sphere of influence. I really hope that you'll do the same as you move forward today and through this week. If you're not sure how to start thinking about your sphere of influence, if you haven't thought about it in this way before, let me give you some questions to get you started. One question might be, what can I do to influence this situation? Not what can I do to change the situation? Very different. What can I do to influence the situation? Another question might be, what's one action I can. To impact what's happening Again, not change, not control, impact what's happening. The third question might be, how can I change this into an opportunity for me? I think even asking that question, you start to see the gaps in the holes where you might actually be able to fill them in a very positive way. Tamara out.
Do you ever find yourself stuck, or even moving further away from your goals, despite your best efforts? You work harder than ever before to only find yourself stuck in the same place, or worse even more behind. You double down only to find yourself with your head barely above water. I think of these moments like rip tides in the ocean. In this episode I'm going to share my experience in getting stuck in an actual rip tide, what I had to do to get out of it, and how that experience became an invaluable life lesson about what not to do. I hope in hearing about my experience you'll learn a few things about what to do, why doubling down and working harder is the opposite of what you should do, and how to get out of those exhausitng rip tides of life. Tamara’s Everyday Innovator style is Risk Taker Experiential. Sticky Inspiration: Doubling down on what you've always done will only get you further away from your goals Lesson & Action: To get out of the rip tides of life you need to think (or swim) sideways Connect with me on , , and Join our global Everyday Innovators community on
You know that how you communicate with others can be the key to good or bad relationships. It can be the key to success or failure at work. It can be the key to getting momentum or getting stuck in life. In this episode I'm going to share the three words I've been using for years to propel me, my relationships, and my work forward. These three words will make sure that you aren't having conversations led by your primal brain that is reactive, have deeper more meaningful connections and get to the outcomes you are looking for. These three words have the power to change your life. Tamara’s Everyday Innovator style is Risk Taker Experiential. Sticky Inspiration: "Tell me more" are the three most poweful words and will impact your life Lesson & Action: Don't let the primal brain take over. Instead go deeper with "Tell me more." Connect with me on , , and Join our global Everyday Innovators community on Raw Podcast Transcript: Hey. Hey everybody. Tamara here, your host and risk taker, experiential, everyday innovator, and I think it's safe to say I enjoy running. Hmm. More on that later. I'm not sure. Yeah, you can tell the question in my voice. I've been doing a lot of it lately and I think I might be coming to enjoy. It just goes to show you that something that you think you hate or you're bad at may actually be something you enjoy if you give it enough. Okay, that's for another podcast today. The sticky inspiration behind this podcast is actually an experience that I had that actually changed how I communicate and really elevated my ability to get buy-in. So one of the struggles I often hear from everyday innovators across the globe is that, Struggle not to innovate. They've unlocked their ability to innovate. They are creative problem solvers, they're strategic thinkers. But it's then the second step, which is getting buy-in for your ideas. It's no fun trying to push a boulder uphill by your, by yourself or beyond an island, or whatever analogy you wanna use. , it's really does suck When you've got an idea that you know is a solution to a problem that you know is gonna propel you forward, that you know is gonna solve something in your work and in your life that you know is a great opportunity to go after, to only have whomever it is sitting across the table from you, give you the thumbs down, even though you know is a great idea. So I wanna share a story with you about an experience that I had that is what changed. As I was saying, how I communi. Innovative ideas and how I get buy-in for innovative ideas and how I get other people on the journey to being everyday innovators, thinking differently and seeing their own problems and opportunities. So early on in my career, I was recruited to head up the strategic arm of a marketing firm in New York City, and our parent company was one of the largest advertising agencies in the world, and they were based in Chicago. So when I was recruited to take on this job, not only was I the youngest person in an executive role that they had ever hired, so I had a lot to prove, but also the department, the strategic arm of this advertising agency. Hadn't been created yet. So my first job was to figure out what this department was gonna be about. Meaning what services did we provide? What clients did we go after? What type of pricing did we give to our clients? So all of the stuff, right, to set the stage. And then I had to go out and it and sell it and bring in the millions. So every couple of weeks I had to fly to Chicago and present to my bosses. Think of 'em as my internal board of directors. There were about six of 'em, and at every stage I had to go present to them what my thinking was, where I was, their research, all that, and then get to the next level. One time there was this really important meeting, so this was the meeting where I was gonna get the thumbs up that I needed to get the resources that were critical for actually launching this department. So this presentation had to go well. In fact, it had to go better than, well, it needed to be exceptional. I needed thumbs up from everybody in the room so that I could go back and actually make this thing happen. So I had about three months to prepare for this presentation, and I spent more hours than I can count, creating the most beautiful. PowerPoint presentation you have ever seen. I labored over every image. It mattered. What did it say? How did it say it? Every picture had to be right. Every word had to be just right. I'm telling you, this might be the most beautiful presentation I have ever put together to this day. And then I spent hours, hours, roleplaying in the mirror. I thought of every question they could possibly ask me, every objection they could possibly have, and I had answers. For everything. I practiced it all. So then the day of the big meeting arrives. So I fly to Chicago, I go up to the executive floor, open the doors to the green carpet. Now mind you, this is the only floor with this beautiful carpeting in it because it's the, you know, the executive suite. So I'm in the conference room with my internal board of directors, and I'm presenting, and I'm crushing it. I'm doing such a good job. I am c. , I am on point. My, my presentation is beautiful. It is drawing them in. So good. And as I'm finishing up the presentation, I look over and I see one of my bosses give me a thumbs up and I think, yep. Nailing it. And then I look over and my main boss gives me two thumbs up. So now I'm about to pat myself on the back. I'm thinking, yep, I'm getting the resources, the money, everything that I need to make this happen. This is, my dreams are coming true. , but then one of my internal board of directors raised her hand and she asked me a very challenging question, or at least I perceived it as very challenging and. I turned too mush. I went into freeze. My primal brain took over and I was panicking. I didn't know what to do. I was getting sweaty and hot and I couldn't see straight. I just, and all that research, all that confidence was just out of my brain. It was like scrambled eggs up in my head. I did not know what to do. I was so panicked and in an effort to just buy myself some time and get my feet under. . I stopped and I looked at her and I said, that's an interesting question. Tell me more. The most amazing thing happened. First of all, I had a chance to get my feet under me. So stress lives in the neurological system. And where research has shown is that it takes us about three deep breaths to calm our neurological system, get ourselves out of that unnecessary fight, flight, or freeze, and into our higher thinking, into a calmer self, you know, decrease our heart rate. So I had a chance to calm myself down, get my feet under me, compose myself, and pull back my thinking. but something else happened that was really interesting, and it's actually the point of this story. She started to talk. She started getting herself out of her primal brain. She started to tell me why she asked the question, the reason behind it, her past experience that led to her concern. She started to talk herself into solutions to her own obstacle. See, here's what. . We're not the only one in our primal brains all the time with our emotions and our lizard brain driving our decisions and our reactions. So are the people on the other side of the table, the people you're trying to get buy-in from. And oftentimes, particularly in today's world, where we've been dealing with unprecedented, unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety. this kind of primal brain stress living has become this insidious part of our lives. So while the primal brain and stress used to be this response, it was like, you know, fight, flight, or freeze, right? It happens in an instant and it goes away. Now we're living in this brain more than we like to think we are. And sh she in asking that question, was coming from a reactive place, right? Something set her off. But in asking her, oh, that's an interesting question. Tell me more. , it actually gave her a chance to open up. She got to calm down. She got her three breaths, and she talked and told me everything I needed and went deeper and deeper and deeper. And we got to have a real conversation about what matters and drive to some innovative solutions. Not only did I get buy in from my ideas that day because of that moment, because of, tell me more, but our conversation helped strengthen the ideas I was present. tell me more. Are the three most magical words when you put them together. And so if you wanna get buy-in for your ideas, if you wanna communicate in a way that gets people on board with your thinking, that takes them along for the journey, instead of trying to answer their question, instead of trying to resist their resistance, instead of trying to convince them, convey more inform. Just stop and say, Hmm, that's interesting. Tell me more. People will always talk if there's a vacuum to fill, believe me, people fill it. Tell me more. Has been my not so secret weapon in getting people on board with my thinking and opening up new ideas in moving things forward, getting traction, and it's so simple, isn't it? It seems so basic saying, tell me. , but we're humans. We wanna jump to solution. We wanna look smart. We don't wanna look stupid, right? We have a fear of looking like idiots and someone asking us us. A question feels confrontational. Remember at the beginning of the story I had said she asked a challenging question. So I think she did ask in a challenging way, but even more so, I took it really personally in that moment. That's why I went into freeze, because not only did I not have the answer, I often don't have the answer that doesn't rattle me. , but I thought she was challenging my authority and suddenly my panic of, oh my God, I'm not getting a yes. This is so stupid. What have I done? That is the voice that kicked in and that's why my brain went to scrambled eggs. So the next time you're in a situation where you're trying to get the person on the other side of the, of the table to buy into whatever it is you're talking. and they ask you a question instead of trying to answer it, even if you think it's obvious, in fact, especially when you think it's obvious, I want you to stop and just say, oh, that's interesting. Tell me more. Now, the story that I just shared is work. So let's talk for a moment about how powerful, tell me more can be in your personal life as well with your family, your friends, your relat. Have you ever been in an argument with your significant other or boyfriend, girlfriend, parents, siblings, kids, whomever it is. We, you probably argue with all of them. I know I do at some point in my life and it's just going nowhere. Everybody's digging in their heels. The, the volume's getting louder and by the end of it, it's that agree to disagree moment, which really doesn't resolve anything. And sure enough, six months. , that argument comes back. Here's what I found. The reason those arguments are so frustrating, don't go anywhere and never get resolved. And then of course, come back around at some point or another is because we are having a conversation on the surface. So in that work story I just shared about presenting my ideas and that one internal board member. I mentioned the fact that the, the challenge we were having is both of us were on the surface in our primal brain. So her question and where she was coming from was in her primal brain because she was set off. And then my response or lack of was also coming from my primal brain. And tell me more, gave us both the chance to calm down and dig deeper. Well, in your personal life, this applies doesn. , you get in an argument, you're on the surface. Nobody's really getting anywhere. Nobody's taking a moment to understand beneath the surface, and the entire argument is happening in your primal brain. Now, if you've known me long enough, you know that I've actually named my primal brain. Research has actually shown that if you name it, you take it out of the driver's seat, right? You can actually manage a little better. So my primal brain is named Bernard, and when I let Bernard take over, He is very stubborn. He digs in his heels and he wants to convince the other person why he is 100% right, and they are 100% wrong. But when I have a chance to calm down and when I have a chance to get outta my primal brain, brain and dig a little bit deeper, and Bernard gets a little quieter, instead of trying to convince a person that I'm a hundred percent right, I try to actually understand where they're coming. And get to a deeper real conversation that'll actually move us forward. When I lived in New York City, I had a boyfriend for part of that for about two years. His name was David. and every Friday night after a long week of work for both of us, we would go out to dinner and we got into this routine where I would pick the place to go to dinner. Now, just to date myself, this was before Yelp and TripAdvisor and really the internet. So you had this little book called Zag Getts, and Zagats was the end all, be all of restaurant reviews. And just so you know, if you had one of the latest additions of the Z. Restaurant guide you were considered super cool. It was like a badge of honor if you got it before everybody else. So funny to think about that. But on, so on the weekends we would go out to eat and I would pick the restaurant and so he'd get home from his job. I usually got home before him. We changed and I'd say, okay, here's the place I picked. Let's go. Well, what Friday? Never forget. He got so mad at me for. Picking this restaurant and out of nowhere, it's like we were walking down the street and he just starts, I don't wanna go to this restaurant. I've heard bad things from other people about this restaurant. I don't know why you picked this restaurant. And he's practically yelling at me on the street corner about this stupid restaurant. And I'm, I'm a little bit shocked. And so what do I do? Well, I start, are you going back? Well, the review said this, I heard this. The menu has this, we could do this another time. We could go to a different restaurant. Another time. We're going to this one. and I'm convincing him, well, don't you want some good pasta? Don't you want some good Capri salad? Right? So I'm arguing about the restaurant we're going to, and then I remembered what happened and my, tell me more situation that it happened in work not too long prior. And so I turned to him after his last yelling moment and I said, oh, that's interesting. Tell me more. So at first there was this moment of silence between us and I thought, uhoh, I'm not sure this is gonna work. But as we're sitting there in that moment of silence, first of all, once again, I got a chance to calm down. And that was good for both of us too, cuz I was getting severely riled up on that street corner. We were just going at it. And then he looked at me and he said, you always pick the restaurants. I never get a say in. , it would be nice if I could contribute to our Friday evening dinners and not just be told where to go and I sta I stayed quiet and then he said I spent all week being told directions, being told what to do, being given advice. It'd be nice if when I came home that didn't happen. Oh. . Well, that is something I could respond to. So I whipped out the Zagats book. I handed it to him and I said, you know what? You're absolutely right. I was simply trying to make it easy for you because I know your work is very stressful. You worked out on Wall Street. I said, so how about this? How about you pick one? I'll pick one. And then between the two, we'll decide which one we want to go to. The entire situation was diff. and we ended up going to this other re restaurant, which was absolutely delightful. But do you see the point of the story there? It wasn't about the restaurant at all. And most oftentimes, our arguments, our debates, our conversations with the people in our lives are not about whatever it is that started the conversation. Tell me more. Allows us to go so much. I'm so thankful I had that conversation because I was over there, you know, from my perspective, trying to be helpful, thinking, oh, this is making it easy for him, and he's coming home and thinking, why doesn't she let me make any decisions? We were coming from two different places and we didn't even know it. And when he realized that all I was doing was trying to make it easy for him, he calmed down. He became appreciative of my. and at the same time I calmed down and realized his perspective. Tell me more. Works in trying to get buy-in for your ideas. It works in debates and in arguments because you get all those layers deeper, so the next time you are in an argument, you're trying to get buy-in for your ideas, you're trying to make a decision to move forward in some way instead. Of trying to convince instead of digging in your heels, instead of instantly jumping to that primal brain, just stop and say, huh, tell me more. And with that, Tamara out.
Where are you on the roadmap to Innovation and Influence? In working with tens of thousands of Everyday Innovators in our global community, I've discovered that there are 5 stages on the road to "Innovation & Influence" and 3 insights that help people move forward. These 5 stages move you from unhealthy habits and behaviors that don't serve you to being a confident Everyday Innovator that ignites innovation, influences others, and makes an impact. In this episode I'm going to deep dive into the five stages so that you can move forward, faster in your work and life. I'm also going to share three critical insights that I've found help you minimize resistance and progress forward with more ease and speed. Tamara’s Everyday Innovator style is Risk Taker Experiential. Sticky Inspiration: Your roadmap to being an Everyday Innovator includes 5 stages Lesson & Action: To progress forward you must remember these three key insights: don't compare yourself to others, each stage is not created equally, and the end is never the end. Connect with me on , , and Join our global Everyday Innovators community on Raw Podcast Transcript: Hey everybody, Tamara here, your host, creator of the Innovation Quotient Edge Assessment Guide at the Everyday Innovators Online Toolbox, and according to my kids average cook. All right, today I wanna talk about your roadmap to innovation and influence. I've worked with tens of thousands of everyday innovators. They're in our global community through the clients that we've reached, and one of the things that I've discovered is that there are five stages to your roadmap, to innovation and influence, and. Three insights that help people move forward. And I wanna share the five stages and those three insights with you today. Cuz I think whether you're starting the journey in the middle of it towards the higher levels of it, it's gonna apply to your work and to your life no matter where you are. So let me back up for a second and just talk a little bit about what I even mean by the road to innovation and influence to me. This is really all about getting to that place where you live your life, make your decisions, guide your behavior, your mindset through the lens of being an everyday innovator. That's someone who sees opportunities. CR, a strong creative problem solver, strategic thinker, great at making decisions when they need to be made. An innovator is the one that leads in uncertain and challenging times. and influence is all about influencing others, making an impact that ripple effect out, not just getting buy-in for your ideas, but also that's very important of course, but also being that rising tide that lifts all boats. So innovation is about you being that everyday innovator, unlocking that incredible talent you have inside of you. And influence is about amplifying your voice and your. . And what we want in these five stages is to go through the journey that makes that innovation and that influence being an everyday innovator, something that happens naturally. You know, oftentimes people will say to me things like, oh, Tamara, um, I'm not the innovative one. It's um, Xander down the hall with his cool glasses and his purple hair. Like he's the innovative one, not. What I know what they're really saying is, and they may not realize it is, I've not. Engage that skill that I have inside of me. And so it's hard and it's dormant and it feels exhausting and it feels not for me. And I think unfortunately, we've developed this narrative in the world that says that being an innovators for the select few, you know, these elite geniuses with their, you know, people like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk and JK Rawling, and they're all, don't get me wrong, they're all incredible. I. , but they're also geniuses. And as someone said to me once, it was actually a neuroscientist I spoke to, he said, here's the thing, Tamara. He said, genius is rare, but creativity is common. And I love that because what our research and our work has discovered is that everybody ha is an everyday innovator. But as you know, how we do it is unique to each of us. And what our research uncovered is that there's nine triggers or styles, ways that we as humans innovate and what we all. Is the combination of two power triggers our wellspring of innovation and a dormant trigger, and that's our least powerful play. That's our unique everyday innovator style. And when we leverage that, we get on the road to innovation and influence. So no longer do we say that's Xander down the hall. We say, yep, that's me. I'm an everyday innovator. I solve problems. I move further faster. I think sideways. I seize opportunities. Change and uncertainty are. Fuel for the recipes that I build. All right, let's dig into what those five stages to innovation and influence look like. Um, and I recently posted about this actually yesterday as I'm recording this, and it got so much conversation. That's why I'm talking about this on the podcast today. And I think understanding the five phases really helps people move through them and then the insights will help you. , I think help you go further faster as well. All right, so let's talk about 'em. So the first phase is discover. Discover is all about reframing your mindset and discovering this powerful new innovation framework that serves you and that's your unique everyday innovator style and the method that goes along with it. Here's what happens in this phase, this is where we recognize that business as usual, no longer works for. So we're finally saying, you know what? How I'm doing things isn't working. The approach that I'm using, what got me to here is not gonna get me to there. I need to make a change. That in itself can be very hard for people, don't you think? So at this point, we go, okay, what I'm doing isn't working, and I know that innovation could be my greatest advantage. I know that innovators are the ones that lead during change and uncertainty. , but I don't necessarily have the right framework to make it happen, or Right. I would've done it already. So now we're gonna reframe the mindset around what it means to be an everyday innovator and accelerate that success. So discover is all about uncovering the habits, the routines of behaviors, the mindsets that aren't serving you, and starting to really shed those. Think about for a moment what it would be. , if you shed that mindset, that belief, and the actions and behaviors that are keeping you stuck, what would it be like to shed those? I think it would feel pretty great, and what I've dis what I've found in this discover phase is that reframe. Allows you to see the world through a different lens. So once we get through discover, and we're reaming those mindsets and we're discovering that powerful new innovation framework, what we have inside of us, we go to unlock. And that's where we start to actually shed old habits that keep us stuck. And add innovator habits that propel you forward. Think of it like this. If you've got a B, um, let's say you've got a bunch of bricks inside of you and these are holding you up. These are like your bone. and you wanna remove the bricks that aren't serving you. But you can't just leave blank space, you crumble. And in fact, when there's a void, oftentimes the old habits, the negativity, the things that aren't serving us are what try to sh rush back in. So in this case, right, we're going to take new bricks that serve us, those innovator bricks, and we're gonna put those in. So here you're ready to unlock your hidden or dormant innovation skills. By unlocking your unique everyday innovator style, you know, in this phase, and unlock number two, that diving deep into your natural innovation talent is the key to solving your sticky challenges, unearthing new opportunities, and feeling more joy and satisfaction. So in unlock, We're shedding the things that don't work for us, and we're starting to really explore and delve into those incredible natural talents and strengths that we have inside of us, particularly about being an innovator that do serve us. So we've gone through discover where we're reframing. We've gone through unlock, where we're shedding and adding new ones, new habits. Now we move into activate. Activate is where we start to experiment, actually put into motion. Your powerful innovator talents, sharpening and strengthening your skills daily. Here's the thing, your brain, while not technically a muscle in this way, acts like one. So the more we sharpen it, the more we strengthen it, the more fuel we give it, the stronger it gets. So here as we experiment and build and test and grow, we are actively strengthening our innovator muscles. We've gotta do it consistently and with, in. So here you start to get excited to put who you are at your best. That's what an everyday innovator is. It's you at your best into action daily, and you begin to explore and experiment with your newfound innovation skills. It'll start to feel like things are getting easier as you sharpen your natural innovation talents. So no longer does being an innovator feel exhausting, hard for someone else, frustrating. It starts to get a little easier and a little easier as you sharp. These natural talents inside of you. So the activate stage is all about practicing and bringing your style of innovation to life daily. It's very, that's why it's called active. It's very in motion. We are starting to take these things that we now understand about ourselves and put 'em into practice daily. Like I said, it's like going to the gym of Innovation every single day. And when we do that, you can't. , but get to the next phase. Number four, which is command. Command is where you achieve new levels of innovation mastery as you heighten your abilities and the success you're getting from it. Think of it like this. It's kind of like being a black belt in martial arts. So you now have this new level of mastery, and it shows other people can see it in you. You innovate daily with intention, applying your skills to your challenges and opportunities, big and small, and you continue to invest in yourself because you recognize that in order to maintain mastery, you must continue to learn and grow. In this phase command, I mentioned being like a black belt in martial arts. Well, if you've ever done martial arts or know anything about martial arts and you know that when you hit black belt, you don't stop. It's not game over. You haven't learned everything there is to know. What happens at the black belt level is you continue to train. You just do it differently, right? You have to maintain your level in your skill, just like any other skill in life. And we, we've done that and we are masters of being everyday innovators and we're continuing to grow and. We move up to the final stage, which is influence, and this is where you elevate your game as you become an innovation influencer, amplifying your voice and value. So in this phase, now that you own like truly own, from the inside out, from mindset to action, to environment, to all. Your everyday innovator style, you can focus on how to amplify your VO voice and value. Here you are moving from not just being a rockstar, everyday innovator, but also in learning the skills to lead and influence others. You elevate your game by igniting innovation, influencing others, and making a massive impact influence. This stage is about the ripple effect out that you can create. Remember I was saying about an everyday innovator that not just you get buy-in for your ideas? Yes, that's part of influence stage. Also, you become that rising tide that lifts all boats so that people around you are impacted in a positive way by you and they become stronger innovator. Because of you, your value is recognized. You have a strong voice in your work, in your community, wherever it is. So lemme go back real quick and just highlight these. For you, and I want you to be thinking about where you are in the phase. And then I wanna get to the three insights because I think this is a part that's really important to remember as you start to really map out your journey. So one is discover. So this is where you reframe your mindset and discover a powerful new innovation framework that serves you. Two is unlock, this is where we actively shed those old habits that keep you stuck and add in innovator habits to propel you. , then we move up to activate. This is where we start to experiment. Start to intentionally go to that gym of innovation and use your powerful innovator talents, sharpening and strengthening your skills daily. That moves you up to command, which is where you achieve whole new levels of innovation. Masteries, you heighten your abilities and success. This is that black belt of martial arts. Then up to the top is influence where you elevate your game as you become an innovation influencer. amplifying your voice and your value. So think about where you are on this. Now, I've interacted with tens of thousands of everyday innovators across the globe, and I've learned some really important and very interesting things about being on this journey. And I wanna share three really important insights that have come out of this that I. Can also help you move yourself forward. So let me share with you what they are and then I'll dig into each. Number one is you can't compare yourself to others. Number two is each phase is not created equally. And number three is the end is not the end. So number one, you can't compare yourself to others. You might be in the unlocked phase while someone you admire is in the command phase. It's not better. It's just at a different phase of the journey you'll get there and in the way that works for you, and they got there in a way that works for them. I know in our social media, instant gratification, let's all put our best self online world that we live in. It's comparison is very easy and it's very hard not to do. But I really, I've learned that people who don't compare and just do their. are the ones that win. You know, I'll tell you on a side note, I was swimming today. Um, My partner and I were, we were swimming, we were training for an Ironman, and so we're in the pool. We're doing the same program, so we're, we're doing the exact same swimming, right, the same speed, same distances, all that. And he is faster than me. And I started getting really frustrated because I couldn't catch up to him, and I kept trying. I don't think he even knew I was competing by the way he was doing his thing. And at one point about halfway through the training, I had to realize, okay, ta. You're not even competing against him in the race. You're doing this race for yourself. Why are you competing against him in the pool? Why are you comparing yourself to him? Now, I'm all about friendly competition, but I was comparing like, why is he faster than me? Well, also, he's been doing this for five or six more years of me. I didn't even have my first swim lesson until I was 49 years old. That's right, you heard it, right? 49. So why am I comparing myself to someone who's been doing iron? For, I don't know, is it 10 years now? I'm not even sure. And has done, oh my gosh, almost 12 of 'em, and he's amazing. But why am I comparing myself? It's not worth it. Don't do it. We all go through the journey at different phases, different paces. We experience different success. We hit different roadblocks. What bonds us all together in this case, and the innovation influence journey, and what matters. is that we're all working towards unleashing 1 million everyday innovators across the globe so that we can innovate, influence, and make an impact on the personal, local, and global scale, meaning the things that we wanna do. So it's great to have that bond. It's great that he and I are training together towards this event that we're both doing, but comparison is the enemy and your journey is your journey. Okay? The second insight is each phase is not created equally. We often need more time to shed old beliefs and eliminate the behaviors and patterns that don't serve us before we can begin to build new mindsets and habits that transform us into everyday innovators. So sometimes that initial discovery phase or even the phase right after that, the unlocked phase, sometimes people need a little extra time and attention. . And when we do that, the other phases go faster. But you know, from being on other journeys in life progress and the speed of progress changes as you move through your journey. So don't get frustrated when one phase seems to be taking a long time and maybe the one before move quickly, but now this one you're struggling. That's how it works. Progress and speed of progress changes. So each phase is not created equal. and it's def definitely different for each person. All right. Third, insight is the end is not the end. So like I said, just like playing a, being a black belt in any martial arts, you don't stop training. When you hit that elite level, you just start training differently. So, in fact, not many people know this, but I have a black belt in TaeKwonDo, and I'll never forget my sensei coming to me when I got my black belt and after the ceremony, and he said, you know that this now. That you are gonna work harder and have more responsibility for others in this community. I took that very seriously. He's absolutely right. I needed to continue to train. I needed to continue to perfect my skills or create pro. I don't know that perfection ever happens that maybe as progressed my skills, but I heard his point, right? We just start training differently. Being an innovator becomes. , but we have to continue to train so that we don't lose it and that so that we get stronger as the masters that we are. So the end is not the end. And you know, I'm so proud of the thousands of everyday innovators in our community that have reached command and influence phases. But you know what? I'm even prouder of the fact that they continue to grow and evolve. They continue to put in the work to be everyday innovators because they know the benefit of it. They know how valuable it is. In their own lives when they do that. So don't compare yourself to others. Each phase is not created equally, and the end is definitely not the end. I hope. After listening to this podcast, you'll do two things. One is if you don't know your everyday innovator style already, take a second and go find out. I think you'll find it really worth your while. It is. At your best, how you perform at your peak, how you add value, all of it. And then I want you to go onto any of my social media accounts. The links are on the website page, and if you type in original tomorrow or Launch Street, you'll find us. And I want you to look at the infographic I put up with this journey, and I want you to think about where you are and what you need to. I bet you have the answer. And sometimes I think that internal voice is there and it's calling to us and it has the answers, but we never just sit down and give it a chance to speak. We never just think about it. So discover your everyday innovator style and then think about where you are in the journey and how to map it out for success. Tamara out.
My mentor once said, "You can step in the sh traps, but don't get stuck in them!" In this episode I'm going to talk about the sh traps we all face. Those traps include obstacles big and small, sabotagers, distractions, and bad mindsets. The thing to know about sh traps is that they are inevitable. No matter your journey, if you are pushing forward, you are stepping in sh traps. The key is to have a strategy to get out of them as fast as possible. I'll also share the simple 3-step strategy I've developed over my many years of getting sh** on my shoes. It includes #1) face it (don't fake it), 2) innovate, 3) act. Tamara’s Everyday Innovator style is Risk Taker Experiential. Sticky Inspiration: You can step in a shit trap, just don't get stuck in it Lesson & Action: When you step in it, 1) face it (don't fake it), 2) innovate, 3) act Connect with me on , , and Join our global Everyday Innovators community on Raw Podcast Transcript: Hello. Hello, Tamara here, your host, creator of the Everyday Innovator Method and zombie movie Aficionado. I love, love a good zombie movie and TV show. All right, today's topic. Today's sticky inspiration is all about what I call the shit. Now I'm gonna warn you right now that if you have kids in the room while you're listening or, uh, swearing is not your thing, I totally get it. But I'm gonna say the phrase shit trap a lot because it highlights exactly what I'm talking about today. So I actually drew this out for a friend of mine the other day when we were talking about getting stuck. Feeling like things weren't going as planned and kind of why and what that feels like and how frustrating that is. And I drew this, um, map for her that explained kind of what we think things are gonna be like when we decide to take action, to be innovative, to move forward versus what they really look like. And that's where this kind of shit trap comes from. So let me, let me. oftentimes, and I know that I have most definitely been guilty of this. When we decide to take action and we know it's the right thing to do, we know it's gonna get us where we, where we wanna go. Maybe it's innovative, maybe it's bold. Maybe it's just the right thing to do. We think it's gonna be a straight lineup. Right Point A is where we are now. Point Z is where we're trying to go, but clearly we're doing the right thing. So it's gonna go well. It's gonna be a straight line up. Maybe there's a few bumps in the road. Maybe there's a little bit of a squiggly line, but hey, we're on the right path. However, I think as we all know from our own personal experience, that is typically not , how it goes in real life. What I have found is that along the way, we hit a. Of shit traps. And as my mentor once said to me, you'll always step in the shit traps. But the key is to not get stuck in them. So if you see my stinky inspiration, my little doodle that goes with this that I drew for my friend, that's on social media everywhere. And on the podcast page, you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. Let me explain what a shit trap is. And I want you, as I'm talking about this, to visualize if you have a piece of. and on the bottom left you have point A, which is where you are now, right now in this very moment. And at the top right of that piece of paper, you drew a dot that was Z, and that's where you're trying to go. So here's where you are at the bottom left and on the top right is that goal you're trying to achieve, that decision you made of kind of what you're going for and members I said, . Typically, we think it's a straight line up, but I have found that you start at point A, that bottom left and you go up and then you kind of veer off into these little shit traps. Sometimes those shit traps get really big. Sometimes they get really long and they're filled with a lot of poop, and other times it's just a little bit, but we veer off, we hit these traps, and it's our job to try to get back on track. Move forward with what we've learned, what we've discovered the experience, right? Maybe we've had to pivot a little bit, but then we hit another one and then another one. And all along the way this path is filled like that until we get up to our goal. Now, what exactly is a shit trap? Well, I think can be one of many things. It could be. A big obstacle, often one that's not expected. Maybe it's a big brick wall that's kind of thrown up in front of you that's keeping you from moving forward. But like I said, oftentimes it's not expected or maybe it's a lot of little obstacles or problems that start to wear you down and make you exhausted, or maybe that shit trap is full of sabotage. You know those people, they love mediocrity. They don't love that you've decided to move forward. And sometimes those sabotages are verbal is how, how they talk to you and they try to pull you down. And sometimes it's physical. And what I mean by physical is they actually sabotage your efforts. They block your ideas, they shut down things. They make it impossible for you to move forward for one reason or another. They just, they sabotage what you're trying to do. So sometimes a shit trap can be full of sa sabotages. Sometimes it's mindset. Maybe things aren't happening fast enough. So you start to get frustrated. You start to doubt yourself, oh my gosh, so much doubt comes in, doesn't it? Or maybe you just start to get overwhelmed and exhausted, so you start to almost slow down. Let the shit take over you. Let that smell go everywhere and just stop putting in the effort you should be putting in because your mindset is not in a good. , or maybe the shit trap is full of distractions. You know, those distractions, all those other things that get in the way of your, of what you're really trying to accomplish. And that makes you feel disheartened. Like, I'm never gonna get th to this. This is never gonna happen. Maybe it's a bad idea. I'll get to it later after I focus on all these things. Now you and I both know that later never actually happens. So all these shit traps that you experience along the way can be like, I. Big obstacles that make it really difficult to move forward oftentimes are ones you didn't expect could be a lot of little obstacles that start to, or problems that start to wear you down. It could be those sabotages, either verbally, they're jabbing at you. . Well, tomorrow that'll never work. Why would you do that? Here's all the reasons why it won't work. Or maybe they're physical sabotages, meaning they're actually sabotaging your efforts. They won't sign off on your idea. They make it impossible for you to move forward. They throw up so many roadblocks that you can't get that next step. Or maybe it's mindset, it's not happening fast enough. You start to doubt. You start to get exhausted or distractions, all that other stuff that gets in the way of what you really wanna be going. So you start to get disheartened and you start to slow it down. It could be one sum or all of the above. Your shit trap could have a little bit of distraction, a little bit of mindset, and a lot of sabotages. It could have a big obstacle and also distractions. I know that I've stepped into a lot of shit traps in my day, and they have had a lot of, all of the above, all of the. So the question then becomes, if we're gonna experience these shit traps, is how do we get out of 'em? Because I think the biggest challenge that a lot of us face, and myself included, is that once we get into a shit trap, it's hard to get out. And the more and more bogged down by the shit that we get, the harder and harder it gets to move forward. You start to almost accept. , what is that old phrase? I'm probably gonna get it wrong. You know, I always mess up my analogies and my phrase is, but it's something like, you know, when you've been surrounded by shit for so long, you stop smelling it. Isn't that it? Or something like that. You know what I'm talking about? You ever walked into a person's house that has like, and I love dogs by the way, but they have like 10 dogs. They can't smell the dog anymore, and you're like, whoa, this couch. Ripe, right? It's the same kind of thing. So sometimes when we're in it, the problem we have is either we get too exhausted and we start to accept it as our reality, or we simply stop smelling the shit. We don't even realize that we're in it until one day we wake up and we go, oh my gosh, why am I still here? How did I get here? I was moving this way, and now I'm stuck over on the left, over here on the right, in this shit trap that I can't get out of. , let me tell you the lesson or insight that I've had about how you get outta shit traps. And here's the thing about what I, I'm about to tell you. It's super simple, but it isn't always easy. It takes some effort, it takes some shifts in your thinking, but it's a hundred percent possible if you just follow these steps every time. And over the years, I have come to implement this every time I fall into a shit trap and. We all have 'em all the time. I will have more in my life. You will too. So we gotta have a strategy to be able to get out of it because man, it's no fun. It feels exhausting and overwhelming and it brings in a lot of self-doubt. And it's frustrating and it's, uh, for me it's anger. Like there's a rage. There's a lot of things to go into the shit trap. So we gotta have a strategy to get out of it. So I'm gonna share with you mine, the one that I've develop. over my many years, it has really helped make sure that not only can I get out of the shit traps, but I don't have the anxiety about getting into them anymore. So here it is. Number one is face it. Don't fake it. So what I used to do in all truth, is I would get super. be like, no, this challenge is an opportunity. Oh my gosh, I'm gonna see the good in all this. This is not as bad as I think it is. So I'm all about optimism, but BS positivity keeps you stuck because you're not facing. The reality that you're in and you're in it, you're in the shit trap. So just freaking own it. And I find that if we really, as someone once said to me, one of our everyday innovators, Mia actually in our, I was interviewing her for our, um, membership, for all our online events, our webinars, and where our community comes together. They're pretty cool. I love it because we get to bring all these people from across the globe. with the drive of being innovative come together. And I was interviewing her and she said, my motto is, face it till you make it. Not fake it till you make it. and actually interestingly, some people in the kind of mindset growth mindset research area have shown that fake it till you make it doesn't work because our brain has this little BS meter that's like, it's not all, okay, Tamara. That is a problem. Tamara, that is poop on your shoe. Tamara, I don't know what you're talking about. It's not chocolate. So fake it till you make it doesn't work. And that's the reason it's so frustrating and I, it drives me nuts when I hear the people out there talk about like, you just have to be positive. You'll just be positive. I'm positive I can get outta the shit trap with these strategies, but the situation isn't always rosy and we have to accept it. There's nothing wrong with that. So face it till you make it. We need to really dig into what's real about the situation. If we wanna get outta the shit. We just have to own what's really about it. And again, maybe it's tiny, maybe it's a little shit trap. It's one piece of poop. Maybe it's a whole pile of it. But either way, we just have to be honest about the situation. Optimism, in my opinion, comes from knowing you can deal with it, not thinking that everything's rosy all the time. I think that's a huge, uh, mistake and something that really keeps us stuck actually. And I don't know if you've ever experienced that. Tell me in the comments section on our webpage, if you, if you're listening through, . I find that that positivity feels good for a moment, but it doesn't really move us forward. We gotta face it. So that's number one. Face it till you make it. Not fake it, no bs. Number two is innovate. You don't wanna think or do what you've always done to get outta the shit trap, because whatever those things are probably dug you in a little bit deeper inside. To begin with, right? What is, what's that old phrase? What got you here won't get you there. So whatever problem got us into the shit trap and is keeping us stuck there is not gonna get, get us out. We need to think differently. Otherwise we just end up deeper. So we're gonna think differently to get out. We need new ideas, new approaches, new behaviors, new mindsets, new. You know, um, in another podcast I talk about getting out of a riptide in the ocean and how you have to go sideways, which is not your normal inclination. When you are stuck in a riptide in the ocean, your natural instinct is to double down, swim harder, right? Move your arms faster, kick your legs harder, but that actually pulls you under and further away from shore. and what we actually have to do to get outta that riptide is actually go sideways, get out of that lane. Right? If you kind of visualized it in the ocean. Well, this is the same way to get outta the shit trap. We gotta think differently. We gotta go a little bit sideways. So we've gotta use our everyday innovator mind, our talents to think differently about the situation so that we can actually get out of it for good. What I find is that if I do what I've always. I think I'm getting out of it. Like I got one step out, but the shit trap pulls me right back because I'm not actually moving the needle. I'm not actually changing anything enough to really walk away from it and get out of it. So number two is you've got to innovate. And then number three to no surprise is take action. If it all loves, it lives up in your head, you're just standing in place in the shit trap, then you're gonna end up like those people I was talking about before where either you're so far in deep, you accept it as your reality, or you stop smelling the shit and everybody else around you is like, hello, Tamara. Do you, do you smell that and you don't? Now here's the thing about the action. I find that the action can. Tiny, tiny, tiny. It can be small like little, or it can be big or a mix of all of the above. It can be a, you know, a lot of little steps. It can be one big leap, it can be a mixture of all of it, so don't get hung up on. It's gotta be this huge big leap to move myself forward. I've doctor found that's not the case for me. I found it's a mixture of a couple small steps, a couple big, brave, bold leaps. Couple small steps, and here's the. , the first step is the hardest because you're fighting inertia and you've got 10 pounds of shit at your feet weighing you down. But as you keep moving and keep moving, it gets easier and easier. And I've also found that those first steps don't always get you completely out right. It, it loosens up your foot a little bit. Get your leg in front of you a little bit, and then over time, hopefully quickly, you move and move until you. But like I said, sometimes it's a bunch of tiny, sometimes it's a big bold move. More often than not, it's a blend of all of 'em. So the way to get outta the shit traps that you are experiencing and going to continue to experience is to face it, to innovate and to act. That's what I've found for me anyway, and for a lot of people that I've talked to and shared this with. That's what gets us out of the shit trap. Now, here's the thing, I have to remind myself of all the. . The shit trap isn't a one time thing. In fact, it's a constant thing. So once you get out of one shit trap, you get on track, and then eventually you'll find yourself in another and then another, and then you'll get back on track, and then you'll find yourself in another. Then you'll get back on track. Life is full of obstacles, sabotages, distractions, struggling with your mindset. Those things never go. So now you're thinking, well, tomorrow, why are you giving me tools to get out if they're always there? Well, because you don't, as my mentor said, it's okay to step in it. You just don't wanna get stuck there. So here's what I'll say about that. I used to have a lot of anxiety about getting stuck in the shit trap. , I was afraid that I couldn't get out. I was like, it used to just put me not in a panic, but let's say high anxiety and pretty stressed out. When I found myself there, I used to have a very emotional reaction to it. Or if I got out of the shit trap, I'd be panicked about what was around the corner, the next shit trap that was coming, that could I handle it? Could I not handle it? And it's like I expected every time I got out that it would be smooth sailing from there, and it never ever was. And the anxiety was about not being sure I could get back on. and not feeling confident in my abilities to handle the situation. Now I know that whatever shit trap comes my way, I have the ability to get out quickly. And I think, let me go off on a tangent for a minute here. I think realizing and owning the fact that your journey is gonna be filled with a bunch of shit. makes the whole thing a lot easier because your expectations are right. You know it, you may not know what those are. You may not even know h exactly how you're gonna handle it, but you know they're coming. Don't you find oftentimes when people are really thrown off, it's because they weren't expecting it and something happened, right? An obstacle got thrown up, a distraction came along, whatever it was. Um, it's because we don't expect it. So now, Whatever comes my way, I'm like, I'm good. I know. I know it's coming, number one and number two, I know I can handle it. And it's not because I'm like, oh, the worst is always in front of me. It's not that. It's much more of a realism perspective of, all right, it's coming and when it comes, I'll handle it and. Please know that, um, shit traps bother me. It's not that. I'm like, okay, here we are again. Smells horrible. Love it here. It's just that I know they're coming and so they don't bother me the way they used to in any way. And of course, I have emotions when I'm in there. Sometimes I get angry, sometimes I get frustrated. , but it's a point in time. I feel that emotion and then I move quickly into face it and then into innovate and then into action. And I think those who know me will tell you that I don't get stuck in shit traps very long. No matter how big they are. I find a way out and that's the innovative mind by the way, if you really wanna get outta that shit trap fast, especially the big ones. It's innovation. I always get out and I think now with my str my simple strategy and just really years of experience under my belt, I have the confide. That I'm gonna be able to get out, and I don't always know how, because sometimes the ones that come up are ones that I would never kind of have imagined. But I know that I'm gonna face it. I know that I'm gonna innovate and I know that I'm gonna take action. And just having that in my back pocket keeps me from getting stuck in the shit trap for too long. And I hope that you. Use this very simple strategy and I hope you think about your work and your life and kind of, you know, that blank piece of paper of A in that small corner and Z up on top where you're trying to go and know that there's a bunch of little traps along the way, but also know that you have the tools, the mindset, the ability to get out of it. That I know for certain. Tamara out.
You've probably heard that exercising in the morning has many benefits, including upping your energy and metabolism all day. Well the mind works in a similar way. All it takes is 5-minutes of mental exercises in the morning to make the other 1,435 minutes of the day more innovative. Imagine if all you had to do is schedule 5-minutes in the morning to stretch and warm up your mind and for the rest of the day you'd be a stronger problem solver, better strategic thinker, and decision maker? That's exactly what we are going to talk about in this episode. I'm going to break down what it takes to be an Everyday Innovator all day. It's much simpler than you think it is. Tamara’s Everyday Innovator style is Risk Taker Experiential. Sticky Inspiration: 5-Minute Morning is all it takes to be more Innovative All Day! Lesson & Action: Schedule 5-minutes every morning to stretch, warm up and strengthen your innovative mind. Connect with me on , , and Join our global Everyday Innovators community on Raw Podcast Transcript: Hello, everybody. Hey, Tamara here, your host, creator of the Innovation Quotient Edge Assessment, author of the books. Innovation is Everybody's Business and Think Sideways. I just want to give a moment of gra gratitude. A little bit of a shout out to all you listeners out there. As you all may remember, if you listen to the last two episodes, um, this is our, what we're calling our season two. We took a little bit of a break to kind of take a breather, figure out what, what we wanted to focus on for the podcast moving forward. There's some other parts of the business that were, have been really taking off that needed our attention. and we're back. And what I'm most excited about is I was looking at the numbers yesterday and Wow, they were better than they were the first season, which was already incredible. So, Thank you. Thank you. I am, I'm honored that you're still here and that you're sharing it with friends and still getting value out of it. That is amazing. Now, for those of you who are just listening in and going, I don't know the difference between this and last time, Tamara, let me just tell you. The way the podcasts are structured for season two is twofold. One is a sticky inspiration, and the second one is the lesser action that you can take. Now, the sticky inspiration, the reason it's called that is because I. love my sticky notes and I use them for everything. For my to-do list, my to be list, my goals, my plans, my notes, love 'em. And I also tend to doodle ideas on them. And these ideas that I've been doodling and giving to people and sharing have become the. inspiration for the podcast. So when we release the podcast, we release the doodle that goes with it on the sticky note. Um, they're often stick figures. I'm not an artist, so, and you know, which to me is proof that you can be an everyday innovator and not be creative in a traditional sense of, you know, being an artist or a dancer or photographer, or anything like that. I am none of those things, but I love my stick figures and my sticky notes. That's how the podcast is structured. So what do you say? We dig in. Today we're gonna talk about how five minutes, just five minutes in the morning can make all the difference in the rest of your day. Now, this is not a fitness podcast, and if you know me, you know I do love me some exercise, but today I actually wanna connect fitness and the mind for you in a bit of a different way than people normally talk about. I wanna talk about how five minutes of mental exercise in the mornings ups, your innovation, metabolism all day. Kind of like working out in the morning ups, your physical energy and metabolism all day. So I think to do this, we need to first talk about why morning fitness is so beneficial and then we're gonna apply that to our mental fitness and being an everyday I. Actually, this is great timing because it's, what time is it? It's about 10:00 AM mountain time when I'm recording, and on this day I went to my 5:00 AM CrossFit class and I'm feeling all the things we're about to talk about. Here's the thing, we've heard it many times that exercising in the morning is super, super beneficial. So I dug into why that's the. because I found it to be true. I know a lot of people find it to be true, and frankly, the research backs it up. So here's the interesting thing about working out in the morning. So according to Hackney, who's a researcher, says in the early morning hours you have a hormonal profile that would predispose you to better metabolism of fat. So people naturally have elevated levels of cortisol and growth hormone in the morning, both of which are involved in metabolism. So you'll draw more energy from your fat. So what this tells me is if I exercise in the morning, I get more of the benefits from it, and that energy keeps going and going all day long. I love that, by the way, about working out in the morning. I know the difference in the days that I don't and the day I do, I can feel it. and when I don't work out in the mornings, I definitely feel more of a mental fog or a lull all day long. And when I do in the mornings, everything just feels like it's humming a little bit better. And I think that's because of what he is saying about what it taps into. Here's the other interesting thing, by the way, about working out in the morning. A study published in 2019 in the Journal of Physiology found that exercising at 7:00 AM Now I'm a five Amer, but I'll consider 7:00 AM still the morning. May actually shift your body clock earlier, meaning you'll feel more alert in the morning and get tired earlier in the evening, potentially priming you to get enough rest to wake up and do it the next day. So, , it suggests that it's easier to stick to healthy habits if you do it in the morning. So let's just think about that one for a second because I think this is really important what this, what this study has found. So if you know me, you know that because I get up at four o'clock in the morning on most days, by about eight o'clock I'm, my head is like ready to hit the pillow. , but, and I used to actually by the way, get really, I dunno if I wanna say embarrassed by this, but you know, I got people texting me at nine o'clock at night. I got, my kids are up and I'm like, oh my God, I gotta go to bed. But what this is telling me is that, that's good because it means, it is putting me into the right habit. And if I do, if I exercise in the morning, those healthy habits are easier to obtain, easier to sustain. So I thought that was interest. Here's some other interesting thing. This is where it gets really relevant to what we're talking about here. Actually, it's all really relevant. I'm gonna, I'm gonna connect the two in a minute. The mental and the physical, so a morning sweat may also lead to better mental health and productivity throughout the day. So because why? Because exercise is actually great for reducing stress. So we go into the day less stressed, more focused, and more productive when we exercise in the morning. And you're gonna find, as I talk about it, this is true for your mental exercise as well. Exercise improves circulation and unleashes endorphins that leave you feeling energized and ready to start your. So how great is that You exercise in the morning, you get your circulation going, you get your blood flowing, which by the way goes directly to your brain too. So your brain has, is more energized, you're clearer, you're thinking better, and it unleashes us feel good endorphins. So no wonder on the days we exercise in the morning, we feel better all day. So when, and because you're less stressed, you start your day less stressed, and the entire day you're just able to manage situations better. Research also shows that early morning exercise helps regulate your appetite for the remainder of your day while also improving your concentration. How great is that? So making good decisions gets easier. I definitely think this is true. By the way, on the days where I exercise in the morning, I make better food decisions and I make better business decisions. How great is that? Okay, now you're going tomorrow. Are you just trying to sell me on getting up early in the morning? Okay. Maybe a little bit. I love my morning exercise, but I wanna parlay this over into the mental exercises. Here's the thing. When we exercise our brain for just five minutes in the morning, we get all those benefits we are just talking about from fitness, but for our innovative mind, we up our innovation metabolism. All day long if we just spend five minutes at the gym of innovation in the morning. Research has shown that doing a creative exercise like journaling for just five minutes clears your mind. Builds your confidence and creates a path for greater creativity all day long. So while the brain is not technically a muscle in this way, it actually acts like one. So if we open it up, give it that circulation, give it that focus and attention in the morning, if we exercise it, that metabolism and all those benefits. Come to us directly in the moment and then all day, there's this great story I heard of this general in the military who kept winning these idea contests. So the military would have these contests where people could, um, submit ideas on how to solve things or how to do things. He would constantly win and someone on the committee came to him once and said, how are you so innovative? How do you have all these idea? and he said, don't. I'm no different than anyone else, but every morning I take a blank piece of paper and pen and before I get to work, before I answer phone calls, before I look at email, before I have meetings, I spend five minutes and I just get everything I can think about on paper. Sometimes that's filled with ideas. Sometimes that's just thoughts randomly in my head, but I spend every morning, five minutes. Five minutes. That's what he does at the Gym of Innovation, and he gets the benefit of that all day. So when people are coming to him with problems and challenges, he's trying to figure out his day, his workload, the problems he needs to solve, he's got it because he unlocked that in the morning. So when I was talking about exercise earlier, I was talking about how it minimizes stress, it increases concentration, you make better decisions. Um, you have feel good endorphins, so you feel better all day long. . All of that is true. All of that, by the way, helps your innovative mind as well. It helps it going for sure. But also when we mentally exercise, we get those benefits and on top of that, it is easier for us to step into being an everyday innovator. We can be more innovative. We get into that zone more. You know that that the zone that they talk about where you're kind of at peak performance and all engines are fir. We walk through the world as everyday innovators. All we have to do is go to the Gym of Innovation for five minutes every morning. So, you know, everybody talks about these morning routines and it's usually, you know, don't hit snooze, which I totally agree with by the way. So get up early, drink water, um, walk around the block, like get some movement going. Uh, right. That's kind of what they talk about, but they're missing this one thing I think, and I think this is. Critical for success during your day to be more productive, to be more innovative. That morning routine should always include five minutes of a mental exercise, something that's gonna spark your innovative mind. And all it takes, by the way, is one simple exercise, five minutes. And you'll be more productive. More innovative. You'll have more confidence, you'll make better decisions. You will see opportunities and solutions in front of you all day long. because you did this one little thing in the morning that helps you throughout the day. Now, if you know your everyday innovator style and you've received your custom report, there are actually exercises in the back of that report, four of 'em that speak directly to your power triggers to how your brain works. That is going to naturally unlock your innovative. . So for me, for example, I'm an experiential risk taker. So the experiential side is all about innovating in motion, innovating in action, seeing things kind of in 3D and innovating that way. And the risk taker side of me is all about innovating in the uncomfortable leaping and figuring it out is actually where I thrive and how I innovate best. So that combination means that my value to the world and the strength that I bring is tangible and bold in. could be very different for you. It should be. But what that means for me in the morning is my five minute activity usually includes building something, mapping out my day with sticky notes, putting something actually physically together, because I'm all about that physical and the tangible, you know? Now I'm thinking about it. I think this is why CrossFit, in particular for an exercise for me in the morning really works because if you do CrossFit or if you see it on tv, you know, Every exercise is a, is a little bit uncomfortable and you're pushing yourself, um, and you're kind of pushing limits and try to go to that next place. So it doesn't just make me feel physically uncomfortable, it makes me feel mentally uncomfortable too. But I think it taps because of that. And because being uncomfortable is where I thrive as a risk taker. It actually taps the risk taker side of me. But all I need to do to really, for my five minutes is give me some sced markers, some sticky notes, maybe even, I don't know, um, some other regular pens and. I'm on it, right? Just five minutes of building in the morning. For someone who is a collaborative instinctual, spending five minutes playing, kind of what do these things on my desk have in common or what's different about them will unleash incredible innovation all day. For someone who's an inquisitive, imaginative, Something like taking a random photo and creating a story around it will up their innovation metabolism tenfold because it taps their desire to dig, to question things, right? Figure things out. What's this picture about? And then the imagine imaginative side of creating novel ideas. If you don't know your every unique everyday innovator style, go to our website and take the five minute assessment. It really is five minutes online and the rewards of knowing how to perform at your peak and elevate your value will last a lifetime. So go take that. That is number one. Let me give you three examples from everyday innovators in our community. So first, let's talk about Max. So here's what Max does. This is what he told me. He takes a blank piece of paper and he fills it with just random thoughts every. For him. This unlocks his innovative mind and gets all that clutter out so that he can start to clear his head, see the connections, and get focused. So he's a fluid, imaginative to no surprise. So Jesse loves to doodle. She says every time she spends five minutes doodling, the ideas just flow flow for the rest of the day. . Interestingly about doodling by the way, is that, um, what studies have found is that it taps our brain in a different way. So, you know, usually we write or we speak, but doodling is actually a visual medium and physical cause. We're using our hands, we have to create it, and that taps our brain in a whole different way. Doodling has also been found to up concentration. So if you're in a meeting and you're struggling paying attention, turns out doodling can help you with that. So Jesse loves to doodle. . Bill loves to take sticky notes, Legos and what other funky fun building stuff he has on his desk and build something. He said that sometimes he has something specific he's trying to create, like a toy car. He said most of the time that's the case, but if he can't think of anything, he just starts building and it comes together. He says the days he does this, he just spends five minutes building. He is more productive and more innovative. I think that's worth spending 20 bucks at the store to get some materials to be able to build every day. He's an experiential futuristic. It makes sense. So here's the thing I really want you to consider now that we're talking about all this, all those benefits of upping your physical metabolism apply to your mental metabolism as well. But it can't be left a chance if it's left a chance it doesn't. So build these five minutes into your calendar. You schedule your workouts, your meetings, your evening out with friends. Why not schedule this? What I found is that when things get on my calendar, they get done. They don't get on my calendar, and I'm like, oh, it's just five minutes. I won't, I won't worry about it. I'll remember, I don't remember. This is five minutes. Just it. That's it. Five minutes. that makes the other 1,435 minutes in the day more productive and more innovative. You'll work smart. And oh, by the way, we're not even getting into the compounding benefits of doing it daily. We're gonna leave that to another podcast for now. I want you to go to your calendar, put in five minutes in the morning. If you can make it consistent across every morning, great. If not, go look at your calendar and see where you can fit it in and get the benefits of going to the gym of innovation up your innovation metabolism. See solutions, solve problems, make better decisions every single day. Tamara out.
It sucks being the only innovator surrounded by status quo minds. As I learned in my thirty plus years, it sounds good to be the solo disruptive innovator out there pushing the limits and seeing opportunities everyone else misses. But, in reality it's lonely, and not much gets done. In fact all you are left with is frustration and ideas that never get realized to their full potential. In this episode I share for ways to build a team of Everyday Innovators around you so that you can get the traction and support you need to accomplish anything. In these four of 1) knowing the difference between wrong and different, 2) allowing small wins, 3) focus on the why, not the idea and 4) speak their language, I'll delve into stories, inspiration and tactics for you to do the same. As I share, my efforts to push that boulder uphill alone usually led to failure. And, doing it with a team usually led to success. Tamara’s Everyday Innovator style is Risk Taker Experiential. Sticky Inspiration: You can't push your idea uphill and succeed alone Lesson & Action: Know the difference between wrong and different, 2) allowing for small wins, 3) focus on the why, not the idea and 4) speak their language Connect with me on , , and Join our global Everyday Innovators community on Raw Podcast Transcript: What's up everyday innovators. So today I wanna talk about something, maybe a little personal, but I think relevant to a lot of us who are out there pushing the limit, trying to get things done, trying to go a little further, a little faster, trying to kind of push the boundaries out. And that is feeling like you're on an island. you know, early on in my career I think I took a lot of pride in being the disruptive innovator. And I say that laughing a little bit now, by the way. Cause it sounds so silly cuz you just don't do it alone. But back then I, I took a lot of pride in being the one who thought differently than everybody else. And, you know, being the one who was out on the ledge and making it happen and other people just didn't. , I, maybe that's part of being in your twenties too. I don't know. I think, you know, you, there's a little bit of bragging rights and like, oh, I'm, I could do this so much better than everybody. And those people don't get it. And they're all jaded and they're all too experienced and, you know, stuck in status quo. And that might have been true for some of 'em. But the reality is when I look back is that I actually didn't get much done. I was pushing water uphill by myself. and you know, that whole narrative about the innovator being that lone inventor in the garage, you know, up until three o'clock in the morning doing crazy things is untrue. And in fact, if you look at the great innovators of our time, and by the way, we all, we're all everyday innovators, all of us, our innovators make a massive impact in our world. And there are. that are also on the genius level that we know about because they've done things like Steve Jobs and invented the iPhone. But even if you look at someone like Steve Jobs, some of the people that we revere, they didn't do it alone. Steve Jobs had wosniak, he had a whole team of people. Nobody does it alone. And I don't remember when that switch flipped, but I can tell you that at some point, , I realized that, you know, standing up on my righteous pedestal of being an innovator by myself wasn't getting me or my ideas anywhere. In fact, all I was really getting was resistance. Do you feel that way sometimes when you're out there on the ledge by yourself and you're trying to push an idea forward, make things happen, and all you're getting are nos and resistance and yes. But. and things getting stuck in the bureaucracy of things. Well, I think what my career has taught me is that part of, that's the system, part of that's some legacy thinkers, but you know what? A lot of that was me taking pride in perpetuating the problem because I wanted to be up on this pedestal as this disruptive innovator that was, you know, different than everybody. And when that switch flipped, I realized that I need other people to move things forward. I can't do it alone. I need other people to up their innovation game with me. I needed to be less of that, you know, solo innovator on an island and more of that rising tide that lifts all. and there's a little bit of selflessness and a little bit of selfishness in that, you know, the selfish part of it is my ideas get moved forward. I get traction, I get buy-in for my ideas. I get recognized for being an innovator. And that's is a little selfish. Yeah, maybe. But for a good reason. And the selfless side of it is I get to help other people be innovators too. To get them to. change their game and to get more satisfaction in their work and be more innovative and solve their biggest problems. So I think it takes a little bit of both sides of that coin, selfless and selfishness. And I would encourage you to think about when you are tackling a problem, whether this is personal or professional, if you're going in there kind of guns blazing, like you're the solo innovator and everybody else's lame, or if you're going in there really working, To elevate everybody's game and getting everybody on board the journey with you. It is no fun pushing a boulder uphill by yourself. I think that's the analogy I'm gonna stick with. As you can tell, I tend to muddle my analogies quite a bit and go back and forth, but if I really visualized what it felt like, I've got this boulder, and this boulder needs to be at the top of the hill. In fact, it's the right place for it is up at the top of the. but I'm the only one pushing it and it's too big and it's too hard. And maybe I move the needle a little bit, but then I get pushed back. I move it a little more up the hill, then I get pushed back and I kind of get stuck in place. Do you ever feel like that? Have you ever had an experience where you know, you've got your idea, this big boulder, that's awesome, it's gonna take some work, some effort, and you're pushing it uphill to where it should be. you're kind of either spinning your wheels or you're not getting anywhere. Or maybe it's even going backwards. It's not. It's not only is it not going forward, but you're getting further from your goals could be cuz you're pushing alone. I would really encourage you to start thinking about how can I be that rising tide that lifts all boats, the people around me? And you know what? It feels good. It feels really good to go into a meeting, into a conversation, into a relationship. into a presentation with that perspective in mind, and it's ama. It's been amazing to me as I've gone through my almost 30 year career now, the difference that I've seen in people's responses to me and to I, my ideas when I shifted from I am the disruptive innovator. Look at. to, Hey, we're all innovators. So let me figure out how to bring you on board for the journey. Let me figure out how to tap into you. So why don't we talk about, why don't we talk about doing that? I've got four ways that you can elevate the innovation and the vision and the energy of the people around you that are are proven. I know they work cause I've used them in my career. Throughout in many, many different ways. I've used them in my personal life throughout, in many different ways. And let me share these four with you and some stories behind them. Cause I think they're really gonna help you get more of what you are looking for out of work and life too. Get more traction for your ideas, get more yeses from the people on the other side of the table, from you. Okay? So let me tell you what the four are and then I will back up and explain them. So the first one is different. Isn't. . The second one is allow for small wins. The third one is focus on the why not the idea. And then the fourth and final one is speak their language. So let me dig into all these because I know from the people in our everyday innovator community that these have made a massive impact on their world too. Okay. The first one different isn't, There's this great TED Talk out there by a man named Derek Sivers, and if you haven't seen it, I'd encourage you to go find it. I think it's, I think the title is, is It Wrong or Different? And I think it's a Three Minute Ted Talk and he talks about how in the US if you ask for directions, people tell you the street, oh, it's on 23rd and Maple. But if you go to Japan, they say Block one house five. Right. Talking about is the things that people present to you, are they wrong? Are they just different? When I was leading this consulting firm in Denver, one of the mistakes I realized I was making is if it wasn't. an idea that fit into my mold of what an idea should look like. It was wrong and we shouldn't do it. I wasn't able to recognize other people's innovative ideas cuz they didn't fit my vision of how that solution should look. And consequently, because of that, I was shutting down the innovation in the room and then, What happened? I turned myself into that lone disruptive innovator narrative that I love so much, and I'm up on that pedestal by myself, and I'm pushing that rock uphill by myself and nothing was working. And I, I remember walking to the office one day and just having this epiphany of, you know what, maybe their ideas aren't wrong. Maybe they're just d. and maybe if I allow them to pursue those different ideas, not only will they work, they might even work better than what I had in mind. And sure enough, that was true. One of the mistakes that we make as humans, and it it's natural, is that if it doesn't fit our mold of what assumption something should look like, we see it as wrong. We've gotta open our eyes and recognize that it's not wrong, it's just d. This happens at home to me all the time, by the way. Like I'll say to my kids, Hey, we need to clean the house. And my vision of how we need to get that done looks a very specific way if you know, you know, that's very specific. And my kids on the other hand, have their way of doing it. And for the longest time I fought it, I wanted 'em to do it my way. and one day I just said, Hey, I'm leaving. I'm coming. I'll be back in an hour. Clean the house. And they did it and it looked fantastic. And the way they did it is in no way the way I would would've done it. But it wasn't wrong. It was just different. And we both got, all of us got to the outcome that we were looking for. So be careful. You might be shutting down people. innovative ideas. You might be shutting down their drive to be innovative with you because you're seeing what they're saying as wrong, when really it's just different. That's all. It is just different, and I think there's a lot of benefit of that if we open our eyes because we start to see things from different perspectives, different approaches, different angles, and there's some benefit to help us grow our innovative minds in that as well. So, . Remember, it's not wrong. It's probably just different. Go check out that Ted Talk from Derek Sivers. It really nails it the way he talks about it. I find though, that when I start to allow for those differences and start to see them a as if not more valid than kind of how I would've approached it, people become more innovative with me, right? They help me move that boulder up that hill. The second one is allow for small wins. So often time we see innovation as this big blue sky disruptive, crazy thing that we're going after. And so people come to us, right, with these big, crazy, innovative, disruptive ideas, and we're supposed to yes or no them, and oftentimes there's a no that is attached to that. How many times have you had that? Well, Your team or the people in your life work in the same way. If every time they go to you with an innovative idea, you shut it down, you stop it, then they're gonna stop and they're gonna resist more of your ideas. So what I've found is the best way to overcome that and to give people the confidence that they need to continue to innovate alongside with you, is to give them small wins. I will absolutely say yes to my kids, to my partner, to my team, to my clients on something that they really wanna go after. When I know that it's low or no risk, when I know that going after it means more to them than it does to. , I will give 'em all the time. The small win. And you know what? You never know where it's gonna end up. Sometimes those small wins turn into really big opportunities, but to start, just give the people around you some small wins. It has helps so much with people's confidence, their sense of independence, their desire to wanna help and support you. They deserve that. We all deserve small wins. So if one of my team come to me and says, Hey, Tamara, I wanna try so, and here's a tiny little thing I can do to to experiment with it. You better believe I'm gonna say yes, even if I don't see the value in the idea yet. I'm going to give them the small win and see where it goes. But I know for a fact that not only could that idea be something, but more importantly for me in that moment, it's gonna help build confidence and trust and relationship, all the things that we both need to move those boulders up. Allow for small wins. It doesn't hurt you. I've never understood why, you know, people are so quick to shut stuff down that's insignificant or that, I don't wanna say insignificant, that's not the right word, because it all matters, but doesn't have a massive impact on outcomes in the moment. Or, you know, doesn't harm or hurt them in any way. Why not give them the small win and just say, . You know, one of the things, I think my doctor just did this to me recently, by the way, because, and I love it. I love him for it. He's one of the, he's the best doctor. So I had gone to him and said, Hey, I'm having some trouble losing those last pounds. I'm struggling. And I'm wondering if, you know, with my, I've been doing a lot of reading on glucose and kind of blood sugar and what it does to your weight, and I'm, you know, I'm headed into doing a lot of training for some upcoming events. I'd love to really optimize my performance. I'd like to get a continuous glucose monitor. You know, one of those ones you put in your arm and then it's connected to an app and it monitors your blood sugar. And he emailed me back and he said, well, you're definitely not diabetic or even pre-diabetic. He said, you know, your numbers don't show that in your blood work. He said, um, and here's a different monitor you could use that doesn't require a continuous, like you, I think you prick your finger or whatever. And I responded back with, yeah, but like, I don't wanna prick my finger or whatever. And so he responded. . If this gives you the information that you're looking for, or that's gonna help you customize your nutrition the way you want, then let's go for it. I've written you a prescription. It's waiting for you at the drugstore. Okay, let's break this down for a minute. The doctor didn't need to say Yes. This continuous glucose monitoring is for people with diabetes, of course, right? Who really need to monitor their blood sugar. . I wanted it for lifestyle purposes. I wanted it for data really. I really wanted to see, you know, what, how certain foods affect me and what I can do to optimize my physical performance. And he gave me the small win. He didn't have to say, yes, of course not. Now, remember what I was saying before? If it doesn't do any harm, why not? If it helps the person kind of feel, trust, and rapport and connected, and get them what they need to move forward, why? . Well, that's exactly what he did. Doesn't harm knowing that data. It doesn't harm at all. I just want it for a couple months. Right? And made me feel like, yes, this is a thing I wanted and I got it. Small wins. That's all it takes. Okay. Number three is focus on the why not the idea. I think ideas are like icebergs and all we see is the tip of 'em and. Yay or nay, the tip of 'em. And we focus on what we think is gonna work or not work. You know, based on that little bit of it we see. But the thing that we miss is underneath that water, as you know, with an iceberg, is a lot more. A lot more. And to me that's the why. And if we want people around us to minimize resistance, be innovators with us instead of focusing on the idea focus. on the why. Why do they love this idea? Why are they passionate about it? What are they really trying to solve? Why does this matter to them? Why are they going to bat for this idea? Often I found that that's where the gold is. It's underneath. It's not on that tip or thing that we can see the idea. It's the why behind it. And. . It's also been my experience that when we understand the why, we get to stronger, more collaborative ideas together, because we're digging into, well, what is this really trying to solve? What are we trying to accomplish? Why does this matter? Who does this really impact? Right to all those things, but really seeking to understand the why behind what people are saying behind their ideas. Also behind their resistance too. I'll do a whole nother podcast on minimizing resistance. One of the most powerful things that you can do to minimize someone's resistance around you is to understand why they're resisting. So don't fight the resistance, understand the why. So focus on the why not the idea, and they're more likely to focus on your why back as well. But somebody's gotta start that conversation. All right. Lastly, speak their language. So simple. . Here's the reality. We speak the language that we know, and that we understand the language that motivates us. That gets us energized and excited, and then we bring that language to other people and it doesn't motivate and excite them. How many times have you said, Hey, oh my God, I'm so excited. There's this new restaurant, we should go try it. Like, I've never had food like this before, and the, you know, your wife or husband or boyfriend, girlfriend, whatever, is that. The other side of the kitchen counter is like, eh, I don't know. Because that's what excites us, not them. How many times have you been in a meeting where you've put together a beautiful PowerPoint presentation, you've presented your thinking and you're like, yeah, this is gonna pave new ways and build new opportunities. And even though you know it's the right thing to do, you get the most lackluster res response from the people on the other side. Yeah, it's cuz you're speaking your language, not theirs, by the way, , did you, I just realized this. Did you notice in both of those, example, I gave you examples that would speak to me. I'm a risk taker, experiential, so I want bold and different and new. I wanna push boundaries, right? I wanna carve new paths all the time. That totally speaks to me. Those two examples were exactly it, which by the way, I have a collaborative tweaker on my team, and if I go to her with those, it's like, want, want? . But if I say to her, Hey, this is gonna help you build connections, you're gonna really have to kind of embrace a lot of different perspectives to get this idea done. Um, you're gonna, I would suggest taking what we've already done and springboarding off of that, optimizing it. She's all in. That's her language. So if you know the People's Everyday Innovator styles around you, this becomes very easy. In fact, one of our most downloaded documents in the online Everyday Innovators online toolbox is our personality, one page cheat sheet, because it has what motivates everybody, what drives everybody, the type of language they use. So you can recognize them, but you know, awareness. half half of it. So if you're just simply aware and listening to the type of language the people across from you use, what tends to light them up and what doesn't, you'll start to adjust your language to match what's gonna make them the most receptive. To me, this is one of the most important things we can do as a leader, as a partner, as a friend, is just listen to how people talk so that we can actually speak their language. and connect with 'em in a way that works for them and for us. All right, so let me back up for a second. Let me summarize these four. And again, just a reminder to us all. The point here is let's not push that boulder uphill alone. It's exhausting and it often never works. Often never works. Wow, that didn't sound right. It often doesn't work. , that was a little bit of an anchorman moment. What was that? 60% of the time it works every time. I think I just did that. All right, let, let me back up. I'm making myself laugh over here. Pushing that boulder uphill alone is ineffective. It's exhausting. , it usually leads to failure. And even if you get that boulder uphill by yourself, yay you, that's no fun. The reality is we need other people to be pushing with us. We need help. We need other people that can build tools that'll pull that boulder uphill faster. We need people to help sh bear the burden. We need people to help do the things that we don't know how to do. And the four ways to do that very simply are open up your eyes. And be aware of and recognize that things aren't wrong, they're different. Be open to those differences. The second one is allow small wins. Give people the confidence and the connection they need to move forward with you. And the third one is focus on the why not the idea. Here's the other thing with the why that I didn't mention before. It's been my experience that people don't need to be right, but they need to feel valued and they need to feel heard and digging into their why does both of those things. And like I said, underneath that water in that iceberg, there is so much goodness there to pull from. And then the fourth one is speak their language. Know their everyday innovator style and speak to that. Acknowledge, recognize, listen to the words that they use, listen to. They tend to say yes to what? They tend to say no to. Look at their body language, pay attention, and then make sure that you're speaking their language, not yours. All right. I gotta say I, uh, I feel very strongly is not coming across that we can't do it alone. And like said, my almost 30 years now, that is my 30 years have proven that. when I made that change of kind of, you know, doing it by myself to trying to kind of be that rising tide or get other people on board, man, I've gotta fix my analogies, . But when I flip that switch, not only did more things get done more effectively, and the outcomes were stronger and better, but also it's more satisfying. It's more rewarding to lift up other people in the process and to do it together. Tamara out.
A mind is sort of like a balloon. At first it's stiff and impossible to blow up (parents with little kids know what I'm talking about) but with a little extra it stretches and grows, never to return back to its tiny, out-of-the-package, shape. A mind stretched by new ideas, new experiences and new perspectives will never go back to its original dimensions. In this episode I share my experiences about feeling stale and stuck, how stretching my mind with new experiences is the antidote to that, and several easy ways you can keep growing and evolving. Tamara’s Everyday Innovator style is Risk Taker Experiential. Sticky Inspiration: A streched mind is forever changed Lesson & Action: Small actions that stretch your mind can add up to big changes. Get lost, try a new restaurant, talk to a new person, travel, explore, and seek out differing opinions. Connect with me on , , and Join our global Everyday Innovators community on Raw Podcast Transcripts: Hey. Hey, Everyday Innovators across the globe. Tamara here, your host, creator of the Innovation Quotient Edge Assessment, author of the books. Innovation is Everybody's Business and Think Sideways. I'm a risk taker, experiential, everyday innovator, and a lover of nehi socks. Welcome to the show. Today we are gonna be talking about your brain. I know. Is there anything sexier than that? No, I don't think so. Actually, the thing specifically that I wanna talk about today is how when you stretch your mind, it never goes back to what it was. In fact, there's this great quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. That says exactly that. It says, A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimens. Isn't that cool? So think about that for a second in your work and life and about being an everyday innovator. If we wanna keep growing and evolving and having those innovative ideas and being able to communicate innovation in a way that moves us forward, we need to keep growing and stretching our mind. I think sometimes when we feel stale or stuck, , it's because we haven't stretched ourselves in a while. I know for me personally, that is very, very true. I tend to not do as well when I get stuck in routines and habits without any, anything new or any variables, any surprises coming in. Now, here's the thing with habits, routines, and repetition. I think they can be really good for you. They make us efficient. I think they give us a sense of security, of knowing. I think without that we have too much uncertainty in our world. So we need a little, a baseline of habits and routines and repetition so that we're not always thinking about how to do the things we know how to do or, or how to schedule our day in a way that's gonna work for us. We got that covered and that's good, but it can also be. Bad. I think it's what ends up leaving us lacking or is stuck in the mundane or maybe even feeling listless. So we wanna keep stretching and growing our brains like Oliver Wendell Holmes said, so that it doesn't go back to its old dimensions, so that we keep learning and growing and evolving and changing as life around us changes. I think of it a little bit like a rubber band. Our brains are a little bit like rubber bands. Here's how, so, you know, when you pull a rubber band out, um, to go first use it and it's really stiff and it's got like a certain size to it, but then you stretch it a little bit and you stretch it a little bit, and over time it becomes really loose and it never goes back to that original resistance, that original size or I guess strength. I don't know what the language is, but you know what I mean. Well, I think our brains are like that too, right? We stretch it and we stretch it like a rubber band, and over time, right, it, it gets stretched out and it never goes back to what it was. Here's another funny analogy that I just thought of. I don't know if this works go with me, but it's like blowing up a balloon. if you have kids, you know what I'm talking about and how annoying it is. And that first, like you go to blow it up and that first blow, you're like, huh. And it's so tight and the balloon is so small and you're like, this is never gonna work. And then with a little more effort and a little more effort, the, you know, balloon starts to stretch and grow. And it never goes back to that original, annoying, frustrating size than it was when you pulled it out of the bag. All right, I'm done with analogies now I think. I'm not sure how all those worked, but you get the point. , a mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimension. So we've gotta keep stretching and we've gotta keep growing. And what I have found, what I think is really exciting about that, is when we stretch our minds, when we make a an intentional effort to grow in one area, it impacts everything else as. So you may grow and evolve in one part of your life, but that's gonna impact everything else. So maybe you grow and evolve through travel, and that's awesome. But travel, as you know, anyone who's traveled, knows, travel, doesn't just stay with travel, travel goes with you. And in fact, there's another great, great quote that I love that I wanna pull up. I'm full of quotes today by F Scott Fitzgerald. This is one of my favorites. It says, . It's a funny thing coming home. Nothing changes. Everything looks the same, feels the same, even smells the same. You realize what's changed is you. I think that's so true. I love that quote. Our minds need to stretch and evolve and grow, or we get stuck. We get stale, we get trapped in mundane. If you're feeling that way, it could simply. that you've got a little too much repetition and a little too much routine in your life and it's time to break free a little bit and get some new experiences. So recently, um, my man and I decided that we were just going to, we were gonna go do like a little mini road trip for 24 hours. Nothing fancy, nothing big, but we found this super cool container like shipping container. They turned into an Airbnb in Taos, New Mexico, and that's not far from where we live. So we decided to go there for the night. , what a cool new experience. We're being stretched by going to this new contain experience in this place that I hadn't really explored before. I'd spent a lot of time in Taos before in this container, so that's a whole new way to be in. It's, I gotta tell you, if you go to my Instagram account, you'll see some photos from it. It was so cool. But the other thing that we did, which was so much fun, is we decided to sign up for an. Photography class, so great class, and if I can find the link to it, I'll put it in the show notes. I, I get nothing for it. I'm not a sponsor. I just, it had a lot of great video lessons. Some of it were technical, some of it weren't more about angles and lighting, and it was just, Super cool. So we decided we would take this class, this iPhone photography class. So we, we got to the air and b, Airbnb and we watched some videos. Then we went out and took some photos, we watched some more videos. We went out and took more photos, right? And the next day we kind of rinse and repeat. We did the same. And it was so much fun to learn a new thing. Now, are either of us gonna be iPhone photography experts or get paid to be photographers? No, that's not in our wheelhouse. It's not what we. , but that whole experience of traveling, of staying in this kind of funky little place, this contain shipping container that they turned into a little apartment of taking this iPhone class. It just stretched our minds. It just so much, you can probably hear it in my voice. I absolutely loved, loved the experience and, but that came back with. and it just, it gave me some new ideas. It gave me some new insights. It gave me a renewed sense of energy because I was growing and I was evolving, and it wasn't even something specific that I took away and thought, oh, I learned this in my iPhone class. Now I'm gonna apply this over here in my podcast. It wasn't even that specific. It was just the energy and the growth that I felt from doing that translated into everything. It's actually why I love TikTok, and I know, right? I shouldn't be on here talking about go spend hours on social media, wasting your time away. But you know what? Sometimes when I scroll through TikTok, I find things that I just would've never known about before, that I would've never considered before. And I love it. Now I gotta manage myself. What TikTok, cuz. I could go down a rabbit hole or two on TikTok, but sometimes I just find things that surprise me and delight me and then I take that knowledge and I apply it somewhere else. So I think there's a lot out there that we can explore and experience to help us continue to, to stretch our minds because a stretched mine is always growing a stretched mine is never. , it's never in the same place. It's never bored because it's always growing and stretching. And in fact, here's where kind of we, let's move into from the sticky inspiration. That's what all that was. You'll see the little sticky note going out with this podcast due with my drawing on it. But let's move that over to the lesson and the activity. So here's the interesting thing. Um, neuroscience shows that our. Have something called neuroplasticity. And what that means is our brains have the ability to grow and evolve. So while our brains aren't technically a muscle in this way, it actually acts like one. So the more we exercise it, the more we stretch it, right? The stronger it gets, the less the weaker it gets. . And I think we can correlate that back to what I was saying earlier about, you know, when you stretch your mind, you're not stale, you're not stuck, you're not mundane or listless. Both cuz your brain's growing and evolving and making new connections and learning new things. And you know, when I'm continually stretching, I am more inspired, I'm more innovative. Everything seems to flow more. when I'm stuck, when I'm not leveraging that neuroplasticity that my brain has, I feel it. Do you feel it? I definitely feel it. Now, here's the thing, we can't always travel the world, and maybe it's not in our budget or time. Maybe we have kids. Maybe we have a demanding job and we certainly don't wanna spend all our time. Watching other people travel the world on Instagram now, great. You get some great ideas from it, but that's not the only place you wanna do it. But there's a million ways that you can stretch and grow and evolve without having to leave your backyard or maybe traveling a few steps out. So let's talk about those so that we can continually be those stretched minds, be those everyday innovator. Okay, so number one is get lost. So have you ever noticed when you are in a new city, let's say you've rented a car, you're traveling somewhere, maybe it's for work and you don't know where you are, and your brain goes into create a problem solving mode, it's like, okay, there's that gas station over there, the sun is sitting over there. That means that's west and the highway numbers are going up, so that means I'm going in the right direction. Right? Our brains actually kick into kind of a more creative problem solving gear, getting lost. is like a lot of little new experiences in your brain. So take a new path to work. Um, walk the dog in a different direction and see new things and notice new things in your neighborhood that you didn't notice before. Go in a different direction. Getting lost actually helps us stretch and grow. The other thing we can do is try a new restaurant or a new recipe. . I totally get stuck in ruts when it comes to restaurants because you know what? I find my favorites and then I just keep going to them. So a little tradition isn't bad, but venture out every now and again. Try a new restaurant, try a new dish at the restaurant you love. Try a new recipe. Anything that gets us, again, stretching our brains and experiencing new things. Do a little close in travel. , do an Airbnb for a night somewhere else. Go to a hotel down the street, go take a road trip, whatever it is. But there's a lot of places in where most of us live. I'd say I actually, I'd venture to say all of us have little mini road trips that we could do that would be really energizing and inspiring, even if it's just for one night. Learn a new skill, learning a new skill. It can be really powerful in stretching the brain and never going back. And here's the thing, you gotta learn the new skill for the experience of the learning, not because you're gonna become an expert at it. So my two right now are, as the one I mentioned, iPhone photography. I happen to love taking pictures, so there's a little bit pardon of me that wants to be good at that, but I'm loving the experience of trying it out, of going out and taking photos and seeing what worked and what didn't work. It's so much fun to put that skill into motion. And then the second one I've picked up is mixed media art. You know, where you use like paint, but also you cut out things from pictures and put 'em together. It's just like a lot of different materials. I'm not good . I'm not gonna pretend that I'm mildly good, but I love the experience of it and it makes my brain work in a totally different way. I mean, most of the time. I'm talking or I'm writing, I'm not creating in that way. So this stretches me in whole different ways I hadn't experienced before. So find a skill, find something that you can do. You can pull up stuff on YouTube, on Pinterest, on TikTok. I mean, there is, there is no shortage. of things for you to learn for how to, so just type in how to be a bird watcher, right? Um, how to make cheese, how to create a mixed media art, how to learn iPhone, photography, um, how to make coffee. I mean, everything is out there, but that learning, that new skill, if I could say, do one thing right now, it would be that because you don't need a lot of time, you don't even need money. Most of the time you don't even need new materials, but it'll stretch, stretch your brain in a whole different. The other thing you know that you could do too is, I was just thinking about this, is you could ask questions you've never asked. So you know, I'm a big believer in questions and is answers out. So how about instead ask different questions. If you ask different questions, you'll get different thinking, different conversations, different ideas, and you'll be stretched by that. One of my favorite things to do is to talk to people I know about their opinions or things that they. , let me back up and explain this one. I find often that we have people in our lives that we think we know well or that are continual parts of our lives, but we've never actually spent the time to ask them a lot of questions and dig under the surface of who they are. We just kind of wait for them to tell us, and oftentimes people don't, and I find my brain is so stretched by. instead of even responding to people, just asking questions of who they are, what they love, why they believe, what they believe, and I don't have to agree or disagree. It's not even about that. It's just listening to someone with a different opinion or perspective or experience. Share it from their view. Your mind is stretched. You can't help it. It's such a powerful thing to do. So this is something you could do with your spouse, with your kids. With colleagues that you work with all the time, with aunts and uncles, with, um, your clients. I mean, anyone in your life you can do this with. , but that'll stretch your brain talking to someone you know about something different. And if you wanna stretch, you really wanna stretch, talk to somebody different that you don't know, you can do that as well. So there's a lot of different ways that you can stretch and grow your brain and be that rubber band that just expands and expands. And I think it's really magical actually, because it is an instant relief to boredom, to the drudgery, to the mundane. It's just getting out there. Gathering new experiences because as Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr said, A mind that is stretched by new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. I think that's pretty powerful. It is so easy to be an Everyday Innovator and to see those opportunities and find the solutions that make your life easier and better to put those things out there that really work and get you moving forward. when you are constantly stretching and growing. So avoid getting stuck in the rut. Be that mind that is forever stretching and never going back with that. Tamara out.
I'm back! It's been a minute, but as I explain in this podcast, I took a step back so that I can come back on FIRE! I've got a new format, new content, new conversations and new value for you. I explain all this in the podcast and then I dive right in! I talk about the relationship between fear and resistance. As fear dials up, so does resistance. And conversley, I talk about how to minimize your resistance by recognizing and understanding where your fear is coming from. You can't be fearless. But, you can push through and even harness fear to move forward Tamara's Everyday Innovator style is Risk Taker Experiential. Sticky Inspiration: Increase fear = increase resistance Lesson & Action: Don't be fearless! Instead, learn to recognize where your fear is coming from so that you can push through it. Connect with me on , , and Join our global Everyday Innovators community on
Let's face it, failure is a part of life. Failure can often feel devastating, and worse, it can feel final. In today's episode, I'm going to go open up, get a little vulnerable and share a recent failure I had and the lessons around mental toughness, not counting yourself out too early, and cheering on your supporters. Of course, I'll also talk about why this failure, while it hurt, isn't final and what I'm going to do to bounce back. I hope in sharing this you'll get some inspiration and determination to push through your next failure. I'm also going to share a technique I often use to solve my biggest problems, and how to leverage the little quirks of your brain to work for you, not against you. This format is a little different than my usual Friday wrap-ups. This is experimentation so let me know what you think.
Tamara's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Experiential
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Are you playing to win or playing not to lose? As our Everyday Innovator guest, Evans Mehew shares that mindset difference is also the difference between innovating and moving forward or falling behind. It changes how you think, act, the goals you set and so much more. As the founder of FastFulcrum, a content design and creation firm, Evans shares his passion for driving innovation and how the culture you set often determines your outcomes. He also digs deep into how to shift with relevancy in today's uncertain world, and why it's important to recognize that pivoting is now a part of life. He also gives some great advice on how to not give in to the power of inertia, aka staying still. And, he talks about the power of value stacking, understanding what you believe in, and how to let that guide you to a more fulfilling personal and professional life.
Evans' Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Instinctual
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Disruption can be a positive force for helping you find your value. In fact, keeping up with disruptors on the edges takes a real understanding of the value you bring to the table. Our Everyday Innovator guests, Mike Kenevan and Jessica Howard share how they see the human role in a technology-driven world, and how to define the value you bring. As leading branch managers at Spire Financial, they talk about how they've adapted to change in their industry and being nimble when necessary. They also dig into how to keep moving forward when the obstacles you face feel insurmountable and being the person that helps others ease their stress and make good decisions. They also talk about how "this is the way we've always done it" is the worst phrase you can think and say in the face of uncertainty if you want to be innovative and why you need to get comfortable being uncomfortable. They also open up about the negative consequences of sweeping things under the rug and avoiding the tough conversations and situations, and why you can't lead from a place of fear.
Mike's Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Inquisitive Jessica's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Risk Taker
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Being the absolute best you can be doesn't mean being good at everything. In fact, it means recognizing where you aren't the best and letting go of those things. Today's Everyday Innovator guests, Matt DeLuzio and Turner Williams share how they've learned to work in their genius zones, not project what they love or hate to do on others, and why meeting people where they are is the key to tapping the human potential of themselves and those they lead. As the top producing loan officers at Spire Financial, they share how going back to the basics, focusing on what you can control, and adjusting your sails is the key to their success in changing times. They also share how the fear of loss can actually drive strong innovation. We dig into how the key to leading through change is about recognizing the signals before they become an undertow that sweeps you out to sea. Matt and Turner also open up about what they think it takes to continue to be top producers in changing times, including understanding your personal value propositions, and what motivates you to keep going.
Matt's Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Tweaker
Tuner's Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Risk Taker
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The winter season always comes. It's inevitable. Today's Everyday Innovator Dan Brown shares with us how he thinks about preparing for the winter seasons and uncertain futures. As the Regional Director of Spire Financial, Dan shares how he's always working on contingencies to prepare for the future. He also talks about what it took to get out in front of the quickly changing and highly competitive real estate market in a way that gave their customers the competitive advantage, and why you shouldn't wait until you are disrupted to think about change contingencies. He also shares some major insights into how to put your customer and their needs first by offering products and services that your competition doesn't and sets your customers up for success. And, a story of creative ways to serve their customers that brings in the fun and the value. He also opens up about the arc of inspiration, motivation, and determination, and why you actually need all three to succeed.
Dan's Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Inquisitive
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Today’s uncertain and volatile world requires more than hard skills – it requires soft skills. In fact, soft skills have become essential to your success. In this episode, I’ll share the six soft skills essential to success in complex times. Then I share the major insight I received from each of the Everyday Innovators. First is Toni Shelton (Collaborative Inquisitive) in the public schools and education space, then Mark Flint (Futuristic Instinctual) the CEO of Escape Game, Emilia D’Anzica and Sabina Pons (Tweaker Risk Taker & Instinctual Collaborative) in the technology space, and Justin Bieganek (Instinctual Futuristic) owner of Mercury Creative.
Tamara's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Experiential
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As I always say questions in is answers out. Asking good questions is the difference between incremental, useless answers and big breakthrough solutions. But, what makes a question a “good question?” Our Everyday Innovator guest, Justin Bieganek, shared with me that in his view asking the right question is not actually about the answer, it’s about asking questions that make people think. As the Creative Director & Founder of Mercury Creative Group, Justin talks to me about how he wants people around him that tell him “no” and the struggles he’s experienced with stepping away from the weeds of the work and more into a leadership role and what he’s done to work through that. We also have a lively conversation about teaching others to read and respond to the energy of a room, making you a better listener, facilitator, and collaborator. He also opens up about the importance of curiosity in a time when we can re-think everything, and the power of deeper conversations and allowing yourself thinking room.
Justin’s Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Futuristic
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None of us achieve our goals alone. We need support, help, and people that push us forward. Our Everyday Innovator guests today, Emilia D’Anzica and Sabina Pons, don’t just work together, they’ve created a connection of trust and support that helps them both go further, faster. As the authors of Pressing on as a Tech Mom and Managing Director and Operating Partner of the technology consultancy, Growth Molecules, they know first-hand how a partnership is more than one plus one equals two. In their experience, one plus one equals exponential growth. They also talk about how to overcome the fears that hold you back and how the biggest obstacles they faced in their lives became their biggest motivators – even when everyone around them told them they couldn’t do it (actually that just motivated them more). Sabina and Emilia also talk about what they’ve learned about themselves in working with each other, and how learning that has helped them grow into their best selves, together. They also give some great advice about creating the time to “go for it” and “trusting your gut.”
Emilia’s Everyday Innovator style: Tweaker Risk Taker
Sabina’s Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Collaborative
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Sometimes we forget how much we ask of those around us during challenging times. We ask people to take on more work, work longer hours, deal with new and unknown challenges, drive more innovation, and do it all with a smile. Our Everyday Innovator guest, Mark Flint, understands that in a challenging time when we ask for more withdraws from our people than ever before, we also need to add more deposits. This is how you keep people motivated, engaged, and moving forward. As the CEO of the Escape Game, Mark shares how they thought about innovation as something that is good for their customers and their employees, and how that thinking led to breakthrough ideas - including one that allowed customers to play Escape Game in person or at home through avatars. He also opens up about how he never thought of himself as a risk-taker because he prefers to be more calculated and thorough, but how in fact that is a form of risk-taking, in his world. He also talks about how desperation can lead to great innovation, how innovation and structure go hand in hand, and why your values are your guideposts in challenging times.
Mark’s Everyday Innovator style: Futuristic Instinctual
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When I was first promoted into a leadership role I was paralyzed. I was good at my job but I had no idea how to lead others to do the same. Our Everyday Innovator guest today, Toni Shelton, realized that setting people up for leadership success before they actually took on the roles is essential for their success. As the Manager for the Office of Professional Development for Denver Public Schools, she created a program that allowed people to get skills and experience their future selves will need as leaders. Toni also talks about how important being humble and shifting the focus from self to others is in becoming a leader. Toni also opens up innovation in education with how the last two years have forced the school system to change in areas they previously thought were unchangeable, and why massive transparency is key to removing the resistance to change, especially when you are stepping into the unknown. She shares how the “can’ts, don’ts, won’ts” turned into “cans, ares and wills,” and how to change that in your organization too.
Toni’s Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Inquisitive
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Sometimes rules are good for us, and other times they are just other people’s way of doing things. And, sometimes rules are used to keep people small-minded and in place by other small-minded people that don’t want to move forward. In this Friday episode, I share my personal experience with feeling held back by the rules, a teacher squelching my dreams, and what my dad taught me about breaking the rules to get to my goals. Then, I share my major insight from each of the Everyday Innovators. First is Lizza de la Garza (Tweaker Imaginative) in the oil and gas, economic development space, then Tony Jamous (Fluid Imaginative) global workforce and talent space, Taylor McCarten (Inquisitive Collaborative) in the composting space, and Yuri Elkaim (Instinctual Imaginative) an expert health-preneur.
Tamara's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Experiential
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Having a growth mindset is the key to leaning into the challenges you are inevitably going to face. Our Everyday Innovator guest, Yuri Elkaim, shares his keys to growth which include obsessing about your clients (not your competition), making the painful recognition that no one cares as much as you do, and realizing that you don't get full effort by giving fractional energy. As the founder of Healthpreneur, Yuri shares his hard-knock lessons about how to balance the dangers of delegation with working in your zone of genius, and how the key to avoiding commoditization is in your client's pain when they leave you. He also opens up about how you can't grow a million-dollar business doing ten-dollar tasks.
Yuri's Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Imaginative
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Have you ever found yourself frustrated by a persistent problem? Or have you ever wondered why something you do is so complicated or never quite meets your needs? Our Everyday Innovator guest, Taylor McCarten knows all about taking one of those frustrating moments and turning it into a global business opportunity. Taylor shares with me how his frustration with the clunkiness and challenges of composting, along with his passion for working on climate change, led him to seek out solutions that didn't exist today. As the founder of BinBreese, he shares how his willingness to be open to the surprising opportunities, not the ones you planned out, often leads to the greatest success, why asking for help is his superpower, and balancing what needs to be done today with moving towards his big vision helps his team stay on track and innovate at the same time. He also shares how the idea for BinBreeze didn't come from what existed in the market today; in fact, it came from walking away from current options.
Taylor's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Collaborative
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It's amazing how far a little initiative and imagination can take you. Our Everyday Innovator guest, Lizzy de la Garza Putegnat shares with us how she combines both to drive innovation that provides massive value. She also shares how she thinks about delivering real value to her leaders, her team, and the community. Lizzy gives us her key to success which is really a simple question that drives everything. As the Executive Director of Marketing and PR and Total Fuel, Lizzy shares her story of turning company values into innovative programs that serve her community and engage employees. She also opens up about how she deals with being afraid to take bold steps and how she thinks the biggest thing we should fear is lack of progress, i.e. staying in place.
Lizzy's Everyday Innovator style: Tweaker Imaginative
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Self-doubt can be debilitating. It seeps into your subconscious and then shows up in how you think, act and respond to the world around you. In this Friday episode, I share my personal experience with self-doubt, how it impacted my life and what I did to overcome it and move forward. Then, I share my major insight from each of the Everyday Innovators. First is Richard Fertig (Risk Taker Instinctual) in the real estate and investing space, then Ayal Annac (Imaginative Inquisitive) in the healthcare innovation arena, Stephan Parent (Collaborative Tweaker) in the meetings and events industry, and Matt Ley (Collaborative Inquisitive) an expert in leadership and people development.
Tamara's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Experiential
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As founder of Flip The Script, Matt Ley describes himself as a lover of people and a chaser of shiny things. His goal in life is to have interesting conversations with interesting people, and in his eyes, everybody is interesting, in some way. He shares how he's learned that when people fight things it's not a cue that they are disengaged but in fact a cue that they are incredibly engaged. As he says, it takes a lot of energy to fight ideas and people. He also opens up about how most failures or misunderstandings start with a lack of clear or explicit expectations. He also gives some great advice about moving from right versus wrong to optimal versus suboptimal. Matt also digs into how for him being an innovator is about growing on the edges, not in the center.
Matt's Everday Innovator style is Collaborative Inquisitive.
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We throw around the words "pivot" or "adapt" a lot. But, what does it really mean to do either of those things? Our Everyday Innovator guest, Stephan Parent, shares his stories of having to truly pivot and find new opportunities for himself and his business when COVID pulled the rug out. He opens up about how almost overnight he had to rethink his business and in doing so found surprising ways to add value to his customers. As the President of Novam Interactive, he helps us see how the questions you ask at the front end can drastically change how the solutions you create on the back end. He also opens up about how pushing your ideas and thoughts on people actually pushes them away and why respect and value are a give and take.
Stephan's Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Tweaker
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When you are a pioneer in your field you have to recognize that lack of recognition and acceptance is the price of being ahead of your competition, But, like our Everyday Innovator guest, Ayla Annac shares with us, being a leader is highly rewarding in other ways. As the CEO and President of InvivoSciences (innovation in heart care) Ayla shares with us how she leads from the heart both in terms of her passion and how she leads her team. She also opens up about how she thinks about taking risks, the power of intent, and how you differentiate between the naysayers and the supporters. She also talks about why as a leader it's important to be and show positivity to your team so that you can get through the good and tough times. Ayla also opens up about how her personal experience of losing her dad to heart failure is the driving force behind her work.
Ayla's Everyday Innovator style: Imaginative Instinctual
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One of the hardest things to do is admit you are wrong, or made a mistake? It's hard on our identities and our egos. But, as our Everyday Innovator guest, Richard Fertig, shares with us, admitting you are wrong pays off ten fold. He also digs deep into his strategy for building a global lifestyle. Richard also talks very honestly about the highs and lows of finding a new job after the 2008 crash and how his exciting ride on Wall Street put him in uncharted territory. Richard also shares his approach to getting unstuck with includes asking, "How do I move towards what I want?" not "How do I get away from that?" He also shares how he's always willing to be wrong, even rewards it and why having the right metrics of success will keep you from getting trapped chasing the wrong goals.
Richard's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Instinctual
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Do you feel like you have to wait to stretch your mind? Are you waiting for that right moment appear? Our Everyday Innovator guest, Margie Mauldin, shares with us how she finds way to tap her creative mind in the most mundane tasks, why pivoting is essential to success in uncertain times and how to get over decision-fear when dealing with changing times. As the President of Executive Forum, Margie also shares a story of adapting to the new needs of her customers while maintaining what her organization does best.
Margie's Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Inquisitive
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Does it ever feel like there's a big gap between where you are and where you want to be? Or perhaps you big goals that almost seem almost too daunting? Our Everyday Innovator guest, Emmanual Bello shares with us how focusing on the first step, and then the next step has helped him accomplish more than he thought possible. He also talks about how he thinks about learning new skills, how he searches for inspiration all around him, and why sometimes you just need to take a break. As a software engineer and designer he also opens up about the challenges he faced in learned a new skill and how he had to think differently than his competition when it comes to pounding the pavement to get new clients in a field that is crowded and cluttered. Emmanuel's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Tweaker
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There comes a time when the path we are on no longer serves us. Or perhaps the goal you worked so hard to achieve didn't come through. Or maybe you are bored, feeling like you've mastered your current role, and are ready for a new challenge. Our Everyday Innovator guest, Robin Glickstein, shares with us her journey of reinvention, why being bold often works out, and sometimes doesn't, and why sparking her creative mind is a top priority (and how she does it). Robin also gives us her unique journaling technique, that we can all do, that has helped her build her dreams and execute on them. She also opens up about what traps she sometimes falls into that sabotage her and how keeping your eyes and ears open to new ways of thinking is essential to being an innovator.
Robin's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Instinctual
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It's easy to miss the ideas and opportunities all around us. Tunnel vision, stress and everyday tasks keep us in our lane. Our Everyday Innovator guest, Sandy Lardinois, shows us the power of always having your eyes open for problems to solve. She even shares with us a story of how she is trying to tackle a challenge that's much bigger than her. Sandy also opens up about what it feels like to be filled with ideas with no outlet to make them happen, and why getting older is both an advantage and disadvantage when it comes to launching new ideas into the world. She also gives some great advice for how to recognize opportunities for new ideas.
Sandy's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Imaginative
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This week's insights are all about problems as benefits, being certain, listening to your ahas and taking out the fear. I also share a story and a few insights around staying ahead, as an innovative leader.The Everyday Innovators came for a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds and Everyday Innovator styles. Dawnna St. Louis (Instinctual Risk taker) founder or FyreBrand, Jenny Glick (Instinctual Inquisitive) marriage and sex counselor, Philip Winter (Risk Taker Fluid) founder of Nebia, and Jonah Lupton (Tweaker Inquisitive) founder of Soundguard paint. I'm going to share my big insights and experiments and in doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Click and listen to any of the episodes.
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There are many factors that make or break the success of a new idea, especially an innovative one that bumps up against a traditional industry. Our Everyday Innovator guest, Johan Lupton, shares how to solve a big enough problem that you create a massive market for your product, and how to actually leverage instead of fighting the traditional players in the industry. As the founder of SoundGuard, Jonah open sup about his mistakes, successes, and how he thought differently about where his product fits in the bigger picture. He also opens up about and why staying focused on who you serve is key. Jonah's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Tweaker
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Aha moments often happen at the most surprising moments - in the shower, while driving, doing the dishes, or going for a walk. As our guest Everyday Innovator, Philip Winter, discovered his aha moment came in the shower. He shares with us how he realized there was an opportunity to change water consumption, why we need to think of ourselves and "innoventors," and why he thinks doing the same job you did six months ago is a sign of stagnation. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Nebia, Philip digs into his process of ideation and how he believes the key to momentum is actually in narrowing down your choices. He also opens up about the importance of listening to your intuition, especially in the face of resistance.
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Did you know that desire has a lot to do with creativity? Our Everyday Innovator guest, Jenny Glick, shares with us how desire is actually source energy for your creative mind, why you should get out into nature and decouple from the conditioning created by the noise in this world, and how she approaches innovation in her work and life. She also digs into how holding certainty lightly has helped her walk away from the “someone has to be right or wrong” narrative and be open to new perspectives. As a licensed marriage, family and sex therapist, Jenny shares how part of going after what she wanted in life also meant taking her business to a place she never thought possible, and the success and impact she created. She also opens up about the resistance and push back she got for going after her desires, and why slowing down to speed up has been a blessing in her life.
Jenny’s Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Inquisitive
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The world seems full of challenges, some in our control, and a lot out of our control. Our Everyday Innovator guest today, Dawnna St.Louis shares with us how a shift in focus can turn any challenge into an opportunity, if you look at it differently. She also talks about why you need to keep innovating in a world that commoditizes everything and how she faced her biggest challenge head on. As the founder of Fyrebrand.net she digs into some real world stories of turning obstacles into big opportunity and she opens up about how to get through the moments that scare you most. Dawnna's Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Risk Taker
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This week's insights are all about going big, putting failure behind you, getting motivated and being transparent. I also share some insights around getting buy-in from legacy thinkers and the power of empathy.The Everyday Innovators came for a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds and Everyday Innovator styles. Juliana Whitney (Instinctual Inquisitive) in the cannabis industry, Jason O. Harris (Inquisitive Imaginative) Air Force and commercial airline pilot, Tamara Ghandour (Experiential Risk Taker) founder of LaunchStreet and creator of the IQE assessment, and Thor Olof Philogene (Inquisitive Tweaker) founder of a technology company in the market research space. I'm going to share my big insights and experiments and in doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Click and listen to any of the episodes.
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Radical transparency can be very uncomfortable. It's challenging to admit the good, bad and ugly, both personally and professionally. We are afraid of being judged or even looking like a failure. But, the output is trust and trust is the foundation of collaboration, innovation and success. Our Everyday Innovator guest, Thor Olof Philogene shares how he uses radical transparency to grow his team, why he believes you should show the way and then get out of the way, and why you should stop listening to others and start listen to yourself. As the CEO of Stravito he also digs into disrupting and industry and helping his clients look the future. He also opens up about the challenges he faced during the 2008 recession and the questions he asked to help pivot his business in a way that found innovative paths to new opportunities. He also shares how tapping into your own experiences and trusting your inner guide is the real key to personal growth and success. Thor's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Tweaker Connect with Thor on LinkedIn
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Often times it's the assumed rules or "ways of doing things" in our work and life that hold us back and keep us from innovating. They keep us in a defined box that is crowded, noisy and competitive. In this episode I'm going to share how to break free from those handcuffs that hold you back, my experience realizing how the rules weren't for me, and why it's so important to create a culture of solutions, not problems. I also open up about my most recent challenges staying motivated during chaotic times, and how I found 5 daily habits that keep me from staying in bed and binge watching Arrested Development all day. In fact, they keep me energized, excited and moving myself, my family and my work forward.
Tamara's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Experiential
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It's so easy to let yesterday's failures get in the way of tomorrow's successes. Our Everyday Innovator guest, Jason O. Harris, shares with us how he views failure in the rear view mirror and how that has helped him lead, innovate and move forward. He also shares how leading is more about leaning out to listen than leaning in to speak, the importance of collaboration with like minded individuals, and why it's so easy to sabotage your own success. He also shares an incredible story of innovation as a commander in the US Air Force, in having to learn to fly a plane based on entirely new technology, and leading others to embrace the change too. Jason's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Imaginative
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Sometimes it's hard to distinguish between that voice that's telling you something isn't right for you and your fear voice. Fear of failure, fear of looking stupid, fear of putting yourself out there. Our Everyday Innovator guest, Juliana Whitney, shares how she differentiates between the two voices, her bold journey into a booming industry and why it's important to know who you are. As the founder of Cann Strategy and co-founder of LeafSheet Juliana opens up about her incredible story of seizing an opportunity others were afraid to take, the successes and failures along the way, and how thinking differently than her competition helped her get ahead. She also shares a great example of innovative thinking when she "read between the lines" of a new business pitch...and won! Juliana's Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Inquisitive
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This week's insights are all about being solution minded, trusting yourself, and making it feel easy. I also share a story and some insights around overcoming decision fatigue, something so many are facing right now. The Everyday Innovators came for a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds and Everyday Innovator styles. Susan and Paul Kadilak (Tweaker Experiential & Experiential Inquisitive) in home remodeling, design and construction, Denise Allman (part one and part two) (Instinctual Inquisitive) co-owner of kid's strength and conditioning - Mighty Movement, Mariekie Quinn (Instinctual Collaborative) program coordinator at Linkedin and health coach. I'm going to share my big insights and experiments and in doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Click and listen to any of the episodes.
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It's funny how you know when things aren't right. It feels difficult and uneasy. But, as our Everyday Innovator guest, Mariekie Quinn, shares for her when it feels right it also feels easy. She also talks about how transformation comes from being willing to do things in a new way, and how being willing to learn a new skill is essential to success. She also opens up about how looking to other's positivity helps her when she struggles to have a positive mindset. As a program manager at LinkedIn, and health coach, Mariekie also digs into the importance of transformation and the struggles and wins along the journey.
Mariekie's Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Collaborative
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It's so easy to put all the different aspects of our lives in different and separate boxes, each to be treated individually. But as our Everyday Innovator guest, Denise Allman, shows us, we must view our work and lives as a whole and integrated system. She shares how creating shifts in one area impacts the other areas, how distraction is comfort seeking in disguise, and why worrying about other people's opinions is a waste of time. As the co-founder of Mighty Movement she also shares how she and her husband found a way to leverage technology to serve their clients. And, she opens up about why it's important to both serve your goals and massively support others in reaching their goals, and how people that ask questions, are the ones that get the answers they seek. This is part two of an incredible interview so be sure to loop back and check out the first episode if you missed it.
Denise's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Instinctual
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If you truly knew what you wanted in life would you be willing to make the hard sacrifices? According the our Everyday Innovator guest, Denise Allman, the answer is yes. In fact she is proof that when you get clear about what you want, the sacrifice becomes just a step towards your goals. Denise shares with us some of the tenets that have led to her life transformation, the importance of the voice in your head, and how we actually all have the script for success inside of us, we just need to remember it. As the co-founder of Mighty Movement she also opens up about the innovation they've leveraged to build a thriving business in the face of all the crazy changes the world has experienced. This is a two part episode because our conversation was so good that we went way over the usual time. Today is part one, and tomorrow is part two.
Denise's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Instinctual
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Success doesn't happen overnight, but knowing who you are and your worth can definitely accelerate it. Our Everyday Innovator guests, Paul and Susan Kadilak, share with us how running their business their way was a major key to success. They also dig into why being the solution provider in a world of problems drives innovation and results, how setting expectations is the key to navigating change, and why knowledge is no longer power. They also open up about some of the challenges they've faced and big wins they've earned as owners of Kadilak Homes, and what they've done to continually add massive value to their clients and the world.
Susan's Everyday Innovator style: Experiential Inquisitive
Paul's Everyday Innovator style: Experiential Tweaker
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It's easy to think that all innovation comes from big, disruptive ideas that shake up everything we know. But, as our Everyday Innovator guest, Anthony Lambatos, shares with us, sometimes the best innovation comes from small daily improvements that add up. Anthony shares with us what it takes to build and grow a business, how to overcome some of the hurdles around implementing new ideas, and how to create a team that focuses on daily improvements that lead to big innovations and a competitive advantage. We also talk about his 80/20 rule and the importance of understanding the J curve. As the President of Footers Catering and MIBE consulting, Anthony opens up about what it really takes to navigate change and lead a team of innovators. Anthony's Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Tweaker Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn
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You’ve heard me say it before. Having an innovative idea is only half the battle. The other half is getting buy-in for your ideas. Many brilliant innovations come to a dead stop at the presentation phase. It got me thinking, “What are we doing so wrong?” Our guest, Everyday Innovator Oren Klaff, breaks down how he gets people to sign over multi-millions of dollars on his idea pitches. We have a fast-paced conversation where he breaks down the difference between our presentations and the lizard brain, why “winter is coming” is the start of every presentation (i.e. get ready for a change), and how to show excitement without desperation so you can craft an irresistible presentation or pitch to anyone. As the author of Pitch Anything and Director of Capital Markets at investment bank Intersection Capital, he know how to how to get people to listen. Oren also opens up about how people only want what they can't have and how to be both excited and scarce at the same time. Oren's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Futuristic
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This week's insights are all about right versus wrong, positive mindset, saying no, and solving the root cause. I also share a somewhat embarrassing moment that proves people need to feel the pain to see the possibilities. The Everyday Innovators came for a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds and Everyday Innovator styles. Alan Stein Jr (Inquisitive Collaborative) performance coach, Ranel Smith (Instinctual Imaginative) meeting planner in the credit union space, Jon Ostenson (Instinctual Imaginative) leader in the franchise business world, and Jessica Hinman (Experiential Imaginative) director of corporate responsibility for a global company. I'm going to share my big insights and experiments and in doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Click and listen to any of the episodes.
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Sometimes I rush to get buy-in for my ideas. And, when I do that I find that things tend to fall apart on the back end. Our Everyday Innovator, Jessica Hinman, shares how sometimes pressing pause and even the frustrating delays are good for deeper buy-in and and progress on your ideas. As the Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer at FCP Euro she shares a great example of innovation when she solved for the root of a problem ( 3 levels deep), not the symptom on the surface, the difference between empathy and sympathy, and why you should approach life with an inquisitive and curious mind, and how to get through imposter symdrome. She also opens up about how her personal values came from not just what she wanted, but also from the negative experiences that showed what she doesn't want.
Jessica's Everyday Innovator style: Experiential Imaginative
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Do you ever find yourself over extended? Do you struggle to find the time to get it all done because you say yes to every request of you? Our Everyday Innovator guest, Jon Ostenson, shares how he learned to say no so that he could say yes to the right things. As the CEO of FranBridge Consulting in the franchise world he also shows us how business opportunities present themselves in the most unlikely places, and why sometimes you have to put your personal desires aside in the best interest of moving forward. He also opens up about holding his time sacred and how to use stacking and writing to make that free time happen.
Jon's Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Imaginative
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A positive attitude can make a big difference in any situation. In fact, a positive attitude helps you see solutions to challenges faster, come up with creative ideas, and minimize the stress of any situation. Our Everyday Innovator guest, Ranel Smith, shares with us how she relies on positivity to handle the fast-paced stresses of her job as the VP of Relationship Management, Montana Credit Union Network, handle any challenge that arises with ease, and navigate her way through continuous change. She also opens up about the importance of making connections, why leadership is about attitude and skill, and how her morning routine keeps her moving forward. Ranel's Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Imaginative
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The truth is, there are no short cuts in life, no hacks to success, no side steps that get you to your big goals. Our Everyday Innovator, Alan Stein, walks me through how he, and the champions he's worked with, recognize that continuing to sharpen your basics is how you leap forward. Alan Stein is a performance coach that has worked with NBA all-stars like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant and now speaks and writes about top performance. He also shares how innovation is often about understanding what you can control is your response to the world, not the world itself, why getting rid of the narrative of right and wrong is essential to innovation and success, and how minimizing the outside noise helps him be more focused. Alan's Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Instinctual
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This week's insights are all about getting time back, pain and innovation, balancing acts and taming the struggle. I also share the three life lessons that came out this weekend's experience doing a triathlon. The Everyday Innovators came for a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds and Everyday Innovator styles. Ashao Freesky (Experiential Risk Taker) expert in time and life management, Casey Beck (Imaginative Collaborative) leader in the automotive aftermarket industry, Donnie Boivin (Instinctual Risk Taker) founder of a networking business, and Ari Kleinberg (Inquisitive Imaginative) thirteen year old 8th grader and new experience seeker. I'm going to share my big insights and experiments and in doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Click and listen to any of the episodes.
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Do you ever feel like the obstacles in front of you are too daunting, or frankly came out of left field? Do you ever feel like the road ahead is so massive that it's hard to even get started? Our Everyday Innovator guest, Ari Kleinberg, is going to shed some light on how to think differently about your struggles, and why takin the first step to your goals is really the only one that matters. Ari is a thirteen year old eight grader, who just attempted his first Olympic triathlon. He opens up about what it's like being the one no one expects to be there, how he prepares for new experiences and most importantly how to not just anticipate but tame your struggles. Full disclosure, Ari is my son so this episode is special to me. He's quite the monologuer and often times I'll record our deep mother son conversations. Some real brilliance came out of this car talk that I know you'll enjoy.
Ari's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Imaginative
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Have you ever gotten frustrated because the path to success wasn't a straight line up? Or do you try to avoid mistakes at all costs because you are afraid it will lead to failure or worse, embarrassment? Our Everyday Innovator, Donnie Boivin, shares his journey to success and it includes a lot of trial, error, mistakes, wins, and most importantly, lessons. As the founder of the Champion Success Network, Donnie shares with us how actively looking to "break things," and hiring people that are the opposite of you have been the keys to his success. He also digs into how he started a business he was actively trying to avoid for years was the best thing he ever did, and how his wife challenged him to fix the industry gave him the fuel he needed to get going. And he shares two elements of a championship mindset that has helped him and his team thrive.
Donnie's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Instinctual
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Do you have that fire inside of you that wants more? Or, has that flame gone out and you are looking to reignite it? Today's Everyday Innovator Casey Beck, shares how she steps up to the challenges and opportunities in front of her. She also opens up about the importance of being surrounded by cheerleaders that push you forward and how to think creatively in the face of extreme challenges. As a senior category manager in the largest automotive after market retailer in the USA, and across the world, she shares an incredible example of innovation at work where despite incredible challenges, she, and her team, found ways to actually add value and expand their customer base. She also talks about how sometimes people need to feel the pain before they see the possibilities and buy-into your ideas, and how her outside passions fuel her work and life.
Casey's Everyday Innovator style: Imaginative Collaborative
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What if time didn’t feel like a scare commodity you were always fighting to get more of? What if you didn’t feel too busy, didn’t have to much on your plate or didn’t feel overworked? Our Everyday Innovator guest, Ashao Freesky shares how he not only thinks creatively about time, but how he finds ways to do better work, in less time. He also opens up about the hustle culture impacted health and he shares some great advice on how to improve your day-to-day tasks in a way that makes them both more efficient and effective. Ashao’s Everyday Innovator style: Experiential Risk Taker
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This week's insights are all about going analog, resiliency through imposter syndrome, the unknown and making yourself irrelevant. I'm also going the share the cold slap in the face that accelerated my work in human-centered innovation and reminded me to always "fill the gaps." The Everyday Innovators came for a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds and Everyday Innovator styles. Paul Vorrieter (Futuristic Risk Taker) leader in Canvas Credit Unions, Casey Clark (Instinctual Imaginative) CEO of Cultivate Advisors, Nelly Yusupova (Inquisitive Collaborative) Founder of Technology for Entrepreneurs, and David Kon (Inquisitive Futuristic) President of RipSaw Wealth Tools. I'm going to share my big insights and experiments and in doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Click and listen to any of the episodes.
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What if you were always looking for a better solution, a better way to do your job or live your life? What if all those little opportunities to innovate added up to create massive impact? My Everyday Innovator, David Kon, shares how he innovates in everything from rearranging his desk to democratizing financial knowledge. He talks about how as the CEO of Ripsaw Wealth Tools, and in past jobs, he sees his team's real job as solving problems all the time and his job as a leader is to get out of their way and let them do just that. He also opens up about how to think about how to leverage your resources, especially how to make your time and money work for you, and why automating yourself out of a job is a good thing.
David's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Futuristic
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What if you saw every opportunity to say yes as a chance to grow? What if you viewed technology as a tool that gives you room to innovate? My Everyday Innovator guest, Nelly Yusupova, shares with me how she sees everything that is thrown her way as a chance to grow and stretch. She also digs into how artificial intelligence allow us as humans to be more creative, why you need to know what matters most to you when going through transitions, and how scaling yourself has more to do with team values. As the founder of TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs, she shares her insights on developing people and ideas. Nelly also opens up about her belief that you should never fear what you don't know and how getting punched in the face is good if you are prepared.
Nelly's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Collaborative
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You could throw a bunch of stuff at the wall and see what sticks, or you could hone in on exactly what you need to do to drive growth. Today's Everyday Innovator, Casey Clark, shares with me how to find that sweet spot of innovation and growth and how to ask for help in a way that gets people to take action. Casey also shares his views on getting through imposter syndrome and why taking the blinders off will help you grow your mindset and your business. As the CEO of Cultivate Advisors, Casey also shares where some leaders get stuck and what it takes in today's world to build your business.
Casey's Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Imaginative
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Have you ever struggled to get your idea across? Or have you had a hard time relating a concept to the people on your team so it gets stalled out or even ignored? Today's Everyday Innovator, Paul Vorreiter, shares how the times he's gotten the most buy-in for his ideas are also the times he's made things tangible and real for people. They are also some of the ideas that have gotten the most traction with his work as a Learning Leader at Canvas Credit Union. He also opens up about the mindset shift he needed to make to move himself and his work forward and what keeps him innovative and not too far in the weeds. He also talks about how to not ignore the often overlooked ideas that make a big impact.
Paul's Everyday Innovator style: Futuristic Risk Taker
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This week’s insights are all about letting in a little ease, making things tough on yourself, never assuming and being in a relationship with reality. I’m also going the share the 2% to 98% rule and how to join the 5-Day Innovation Challenge. The Everyday Innovators came for a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds and Everyday Innovator styles. Kevin Allen (Fluid Imaginative) advertising executive and leader, Dana Wilde (Instinctual Risk Taker) direct marketing success story and mindset coach, Kyle Murray ( Tweaker Inquisitive) Vice Dean at Alberta School of Business, and Merit Kahn (Instinctual Collaborative) sales coach and trainer. I’m going to share my big insights and experiments and in doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Click and listen to any of the episodes.
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It’s one thing to have a great and innovative idea, but it’s a completely different ballgame to be able to communicate it and get buy-in for the idea. Whether you call it persuasion, getting buy-in, or plain old sales, this is something we’re all doing in one way or the other, and we could all do with some tips and tricks to make this process more effective. Merit Kahn is the CEO of SELLect Sales Development, one of the best salespeople I have ever met, and someone I really admire. She has been doing sales, sales management training, and speaking professionally on business development topics since 1998, and has worked with entrepreneurs, and business leaders from a variety of industries. She brings a wealth of expertise to the table about how to persuade and influence others. Merit explains more about why influencing others starts with understanding the things that have an influence on us. We also dig into having a relationship with reality, and how we can ensure that we’re focusing on addressing our clients’ current challenges. Merit shares more about what emotions have to do with persuasion, why questions are a powerful tool to influence others, and more, in this jam-packed interview. Merit’s Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Collaborative
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Learning from failure is integral to innovation and success. And it’s best if it’s someone else’s. It’s a free lesson. And that’s exactly what Kyle Murray did with the epic failure back in the day of Crystal Pepsi. He dug deep to understand why it failed and how we can learn the most valuable lessons from their experience. We talked about how you should never assume customers understand the why behind your innovation, why out-innovating your customer is one the biggest traps you can fall into and what behavioral economics has to do with innovation. Kyle Murray is the Vice Dean at the Alberta School of Business and a Professor of Marketing. Kyle's Everyday Innovator style: Tweaker InquisitiveListen in!
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What if I told you that action is NOT the way to be successful? What if I told you that it is possible to be more successful, just by thinking about it? That’s exactly what today's Everyday Innovator guest, Dana Wilde, has proven in her experience and what’s more — she has the science and evidence behind how and why her method works. Dana is the bestselling author of Train Your Brain, CEO of The Mind Aware, speaker and radio host. Dana shares how she realized what the Reticular Activating System (RAS) has to do with your mindset. We talk through the “peacock feather” exercise, and Dana’s simple mantra to get started on changing your mindset. If you think that positive affirmations don’t work, Dana explains how the simple word ‘BUT’ can reframe your perceptions. She breaks down the four-step process to get out of a negative state of mind and help yourself feel good and gives us a simple strategy for dealing with other people. Remember, every thought is making the case for us or against us.
Dana's Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Risk Taker
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Certain skills aren't taught in school yet they are essential to your success. In fact, I would say that the people I've met that have emotional intelligence are successful, regardless of their title, hard skills, or experience. Today's Everyday Innovator, Kevin Allen, helps us understand what it means to be an emotionally intelligent leader. He shares what makes you stand out in a cluttered world, and how to create ground-breaking work. Kevin has had a wildly successful career both creating advertising campaigns that changed industries and leading teams to great success. He is the embodiment of true leadership, everyday innovation, and seeking to make an impact on the people in his community, both personally and professionally.
Kevin's Everyday Innovator style: Fluid Imaginative
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This week's insights are all about not letting go, intention in tough conversations, innovation everywhere and being quiet. I'm also going to share a story about wine, innovation and asking inciting questions that challenge assumptions. The Everyday Innovators came for a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds and Everyday Innovator styles. Matthew Fischer (Instinctual Futuristic) physical therapist and wellness instructor, Nicole Di Pietro (Collaborative Experiential) vice president at Jeremiah's Italian Ice, Jack Haldrup ( Instinctual Risk Taker) founder of Dr. Squatch, and Robyn Bolton (Instinctual Inquisitive) past intrapreneur and Procter & Gamble and innovation leader. I'm going to share my big insights and experiments and in doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Click and listen to any of the episodes. Tamara's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Experiential
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Have you ever felt extreme frustration because the old "playbooks" aren't working? Have you ever found yourself asking questions and then answering them before others even get a chance to talk? Today's Everyday Innovator guest, Robyn Bolton shares how she learned the power of silence and how letting others talk is one of the most powerful things you can do to uncover innovative ideas. As a former intrapreneur at Procter and Gamble and innovation leader, Robyn also shares how curiosity fuels her innovative mind, the importance of making innovation more than a talking point and how innovation requires you to throw away the old playbooks, even if they worked in the past. She also talks about why she thinks innovation is both important and a real struggle for most. Robyn's Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Inquisitive
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It takes a certain kind of person to see opportunities where others see only gaps. Lucky for men all around the world, Jack Haldrup is one, and when he saw that the marketplace was missing a natural, skin-nourishing soap targeted at men, he stepped up to fill that need. Just over six years ago, Jack founded Dr. Squatch Soap Co., a company that produces healthy, all natural and nourishing hygiene products targeted at the male demographic through funny branding. Today, Dr. Squatch is the top subscription-based soap company in the U.S. How did Jack approach a target audience that doesn’t know what they need? In a really crowded category where there is an overwhelming number of competitors, how did Jack position his products to really stand out? The secret is really innovating at different levels, and Jack shares more about his innovations in marketing to capture their target audience at the right moment. He also reveals his approach to growth, competition, and encouraging innovation within his company, and what it takes to maintain that balance between customer feedback and vision in a way that’s innovative yet true to the brand.
Jack's Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Risk Taker
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All it takes is one person to make a difference so big it ripples out across an entire industry set in its ways. My Everyday Innovator guest, Matthew Fischer, is that person. He shares with me how he's working hard to change the narrative around healthcare and help people get lasting results from the inside out. As a physical therapist and the founder of the Core Reprogramming system, Matthew shares his experience of battling the system, how his passion for helping others keeps him pushing forward, and how believing in something bigger than yourself, especially in the tough times, is essential for the soul. He also opens up about his beliefs around the mind body connection, and how attitude, and specifically stress, can have a massive impact on your health.
Matthew's Everyday Innovator style: Futuristic Instinctual
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The only way to truly grow and change is to start within, with yourself. The only way to innovate, adapt and win is to own your reality and what you need to do to move forward. Today's guest, Everyday Innovator Monika Philp, embraces a growth mindset in everything she does. Monika is the Director of Tech Leadership and Member Development at the AIM Institute. She talks to me about the importance of growing yourself in order to grow your world, the power of taking those small brave steps, and how she did a major pivot in her work that lead to measurable results. She also digs into why positivity is a powerful driver and how being solution-minded is the most essential skill in today's ever-changing, fast-paced world we all live in.
Monika's Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Futuristic
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Your self talk is powerful. It can bring you down or boost you up. As my Everyday Innovator guest, Sharon Moskowitz, shares your self-talk is who you become. It drives how you think and how you act. As a human performance coach, Sharon knows how integrated mindset is into our results. She also digs into how innovation doesn’t happen inside a perfectly defined box, how being uncomfortable is essential for growth, the difference between being gracious with ourselves and letting ourselves off the hook, and how she figured out a way to use what she had right in front of her in new ways to create breakthrough results. She also shares how the most important relationship you can nurture is the one with yourself.
Sharon’s Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Tweaker
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Sometimes life requires trade-offs. At first those trade-offs can seem like you are losing something. But what if those tough decisions actually lead to a better outcome? According to today's Everyday Innovator guest, Rachel Greiman, her tough choices were extremely hard at first but turned into some of the best decisions she made. Rachel, a photographer and website copywriter for other photographers, shares how she had to make some really tough choices in order to balance what she needs, her family needs,and what her clients need. She also talks about how she realized excitement and optimism don't have to go hand in hand, how she's not afraid, and even encourages, people to not want to work with her, and how most of our goals do nothing but stress us out. Rachel also opens up about embracing being different in a market full of sameness.
Rachel’s Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Inquisitive
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This week's insights are all about efficiency vs. effectiveness, the power of stress, inexperience as a positive & gap thinking. I'm also going to share a story about rearranging the box you have to find your big ideas - hint, it has to do with hairy legs, vodka and razors. The Everyday Innovators came for a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds and Everyday Innovator styles. Paul Ace (Inquisitive Collaborative) technology & conversational commerce leader, Roy Redd (Experiential Tweaker) business coach and entrepreneur, Sean Richard (Collaborative Inquisitive) engineer and leader at Schneider Electric and Gary Peyton (Experiential Tweaker) leader in the IT events space & owner EFM Events. I'm going to share my big insights and experiments and in doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Click and listen to any of the episodes. Tamara's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Experiential
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Do you find yourself following the crowd, trying to mimic or keep up with those around you? Or do you copy what others do successfully hoping it will work for you? If you answered yes, you aren't alone. As the owner of EFM Events, today's Everyday Innovator, Gary Peyton, shares his insights on realizing that there was more opportunity in the gaps, than riding the wave with everyone else. He also shares how building something beyond himself helped him find his purpose and dial up his impact. And, he talks about how serving "the underserved" people in your market holds tremendous potential.
Gary's Everyday Innovator style: Experiential Tweaker
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Innovation doesn’t happen alone. In fact siloing of innovation to the select few only hinders innovation. Our Everyday Innovator guest, Sean Richard, Innovation Leader at Schneider Electric, shares with us how he and his organization has really embraced the idea that innovation is everybody’s business inside the company. Sean gives us some examples of innovative ideas that have come forth from unlikely places, and how other members of the team have responded to this. He also explains why at Schneider, winning business is not about lowering prices – it’s about adding value, and how that drives innovation. We also dig into his innovation playbook and portal that serves to promote innovation, why a culture of innovation is so important, and how Sean has pushed for a more human-centered approach at Schneider.
Sean’s unique Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Inquisitive
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Do you ever feel like you are working hard, maybe even harder than you ever have, yet the results don't show it? It's as if your productivity is through the roof, but the outcomes are still lackluster. My guest today, Everyday Innovator Roy Redd, shares with me a concept he lives by called "Workability." In short it's finding what works, what gets results, and doing more of that, and getting rid of the busy work. Wouldn't that be nice?! Roy and I also dig into fear of failure really being fear of looking like a failure, our misperceptions of stress, and how he went from homeless to a successful business man.
Roy's Everyday Innovator style: Experiential Instinctual
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A lot has changed personally and professionally in recent years. New technology has automated many functions humans used to be responsible for, the internet gives people instant access and global choice for just about anything, and teams have become virtual, as a way of doing business. In order to stay on the forefront of these massive shifts, you must open your minds to new ways of being and doing. As the leading voice in conversational commerce today's Everyday Innovator, Paul Ace, is on the forefront of change. He talks about where he sees online commerce going, why you should focus on effectiveness, not efficiency, and how tracking has helped him grow his business and his people. He also shares his top two favorite questions to ask his team that help them both reflect back and progress forward.
Paul's Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Inquisitive
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This week's insights are all about questioning success, giving it your all, listening to nudges, & rethinking what's in front of you. I'm' also going to share a surprisingly positive experience I had that taught me about the power of the "wow." The Everyday Innovators came for a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds and Everyday Innovator styles. Maeve Webster (Futuristic Inquisitive)food service leader, Mohan Ananda (Collaborative Tweaker) tech entrepreneur & past CEO of stamps.com, Emily Breeden (Imaginative Risk Taker) leader in workforce upskills in the smart homes industry and Gardar Stefansson (Futuristic Instinctual) founder of GoodGood Foods. I'm going to share my big insights and experiments and in doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Click and listen to any of the episodes.
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It takes a lot of guts to stand up and be different than the crowd. And, it takes even more guts to stick to it. Today's Everyday Innovator, Gardar Stefansson, talks to me about how his journey to launching GoodGood started with a love of picking blueberries and a vat of almost expired sweetener, and how he had to dig deep to find the courage to be different (and how that's paid off). He also talks about the importance of constant experimentation, what he's learned from some of his wins, and failures, and why small improvements are sometimes more important than the big ones. Gardar also opens up about how the best time to reflect isn't when you are at a high point, but when you are at your lowest. As he explains, it's when you are the most critical and honest with yourself. Gardar's Everyday Innovator style:Futuristic Instinctual
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Have you ever found yourself saying, " I knew I should have listened to my gut!" Or, have you had a moment where you've stopped yourself from doing something because of a feeling you couldn't describe? Today's Everyday Innovator guest, Emily Breeden, shares how listening to that little nudge may be one of the most important things you can do. Emily is the Corporate Account Executive at Smart Building Academy talks to me about her journey from Ohio to Peru to Florida got her crystal clear on what matters to her, gave her the space to innovate her life, and helped her find the time to explore her various passions. Emily also open up about what happened when she didn't listen to that subtle voice that tell you "that's not for you." and treating life like. a series of experiments makes like more fun and leads to more success.
Emily's Everyday Innovator style: Imaginative Risk Taker
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How would it feel to be a part of some of the most used innovations of our times? Not the ones we always talk about or bless the covers of magazines, but the one we actually use daily. As someone that continually finds himself on the forefront of trends and technology, my guest today, Everyday Innovator Mohan Ananda, shares his experiences, recognizing big opportunities for innovation, the power of persistence and why it's important to recognize the needs and challenge of the people you need buy-in from. And, as the past CEO of Stamps.com he talks about his journey from bold idea to getting big buy-in from an agency that resists change, the lessons a 4pm meeting on a Friday taught him about always being ready, and what he's up to now with his new company that is working to create a bridge for organizations looking to go public.
Mohan's Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Tweaker
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How do you ensure you stay relevant and avoid falling into the trap of playing catch up? How do you look at the totality of your work and find the hot spots of innovation? Today's guest Maeve Webster, food service consultant and cafe owner, shares her key lessons for ensuring you stay proactive and ahead. She talks about questioning everything, especially what made you successful, how the last two years have weeded out the weak players in her industry and strengthened the good ones, and how being able to compartmentalize has helped her run two businesses. She also talks about her journey from doubt to confidence in running her own businesses.
Maeve's Everyday Innovator style: Futuristic Inquisitive
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This week's insights are all about the daily grind, rules that foster innovation, combing the old and the new, and seeing obstacles. I'm also going to start the episode with an experience I once had with rental cars that reminded me that disruption is around the corner for all of us. The Everyday Innovators came for a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds and Everyday Innovator styles. Michelle Jeske (Collaborative Tweaker)head librarian from Denver Public Libraries, Julie Holmes (Inquisitive Futuristic) technology, new product & innovation expert, Maureen Berkner Boyt (Instinctual Risk Taker) president of Moxie and Everyday Inclusion, and Richard Gentner (Fluid Imaginative) online shopper and e-commerce leader. I'm going to share my big insights and experiments and in doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Click and listen to any of the episodes. Tamara's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Experiential
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It's easy to ignore the "yes but" people, but what if that person is exactly who you need on your team? My guest today, online shopping and e-commerce leader Richard Gentner, recognizes that identifying and solving for those obstacles is exactly what an idea or project needs to succeed. Richard talks about how being that person is a gift and challenge, and the lessons he's learned along the way. He also talk about the importance of trusting the process while having room for change, the need to bring others along for change, and the power of pausing. Richard also talks about some of his biggest challenges and the big project that taught him a lot about how to solve problems that actually impact the business.
Richard's Everyday Innovator style: Imaginative Fluid
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Just because your idea is innovative and meaningful doesn't mean it will be successful. In fact, what I've found is that the most successful ideas don't just push novel concepts into the world, instead they combine the new with the old. My guest today, Maureen Berkner Boyt - president of Moxie and creator of the Everyday Inclusion app, knows this better than anyone. Maureen and I talk about how an experience and realization she had about how people interact with their phones led to a business break-through. She also shares how she hacked existing human habits to deliver her new product idea, how the neuroscience of the brain helped her understand the best way to deliver her content in a way that would be sticky (aka create real behavior change), and why pivoting means momentum. She also opens up about how she knows when the people sitting on the other side of the table are open to innovation, or not. Maureen's Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Risk Taker
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Waiting for lightening to strike or that magical aha moment to hit you isn't actually the best approach to innovation. As my guest today, Julie Holmes, technology and product expert, will tell you, it doesn't help you become a repeat innovator. Julie shares with us her processes for driving continual innovation, always finding the opportunities to innovate in the "ahs" and "ughs," and how rules actually help her be a stronger innovator. She breaks down her process for ensuring that she has a process that generates innovation, keeps strong ideas moving forward, and weeds out the bad ones. Julie also talks about the realization that not all of her products have mass appeal and how her idea of success is a lot of smaller ideas realized to their full potential.
Julie's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Futuristic
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It's so easy to let the daily grind keep us from working on what really matters. The constant pressures, tasks, and uncertainty can easily derail our days and suck our mental energy. Today's guest, City Librarian at Denver Public Library Michelle Jeske, shares how she led her team through change and didn't allow the pressures of the day distract them from their bigger vision. Michelle talks about how an organization as old and embedded as libraries tapped the power of innovation to bring community, connection and value to the neighborhoods they serve. She also talks about the importance of teamwork and how the creation of strategic guideposts kept their eyes on the prize and helped them become stronger on the other side of the challenges they faced. She also shares how she had to get more present and better understand the new challenges her team faced was essential to their success.
Michelle's Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Tweaker
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This week's insights are all about being 10% better, building partnerships, focusing on who you can be, and understanding motivators.The Everyday Innovators came for a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds and Everyday Innovator styles. Marcy Eastman (Collaborative Imaginative)the top real estate agent, Jeff Reisig (Futuristic Inquisitive) the district attorney in California, Kris Boesch (Instinctual Imaginative) president of ChoosePeople, and Duncan Seawell (Futuristic Inquisitive) board member of Forging Youth Resilience. I'm also going to start the episode with an experience I once had that proved to me that innovation is from everyone and everywhere. In doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Clink and listen to any of the episodes. Tamara's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Experiential
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t's so easy to tell someone what to do, what they should believe, and even what they are capable of. But often times those words fall short. Past experiences, skepticism, and doubt can keep someone from living up from their potential, even if you see it in them. As my guest today child psychologist and board member of Forging Youth Resilience non-profit (FYR) knows, this especially true for at-risk or disadvantaged youth. In our conversation, Duncan shares how lip service doesn't get you far, but giving kids a chance to overcome challenges they didn't even think there were capable of trickles out to confidence across other areas of their lives. Duncan also talks about how he has inspired so many to volunteer and give their time to the program by understanding their motivates and finding ways to connect the dots back to their vision. He also opens up about how his passion to impact individuals is what keeps him so dedicated.
Forging Youth Resilience (FYR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers young people to build physical and mental strength for life by providing access to a network of community-based fitness programs and mentorship.
We use fitness to teach imperative life skills like perseverance, grit, determination, resilience, and confidence through teamwork, leadership, and goal setting to prepare our athletes to face the challenges life throws their way with grace, maturity, and strength.
Duncan's Everyday Innovator style: Futuristic Inquisitive
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Often times the best results don't come from your actions, your tactics, or your to-do list. As my guest, president of ChoosePeople, Kris Boesch, told me, her real success came from elevating from a person of doing to a person of being. Kris explains how this subtle but important shift opened up new possibilities and more happiness. She also shares how she's gotten comfortable with incompletion, and in fact feels like it's part of living a rich life. She also digs into how we never really manage time and should instead be focused on priority management. She also shares how her move from muscling through things to being more in a state of flow led to both ease and velocity in her work and life. She also shares some good nuggets about the power of presence.
Kris's Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Inquisitive
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When you combine passion, drive and innovation, you become a role model of transformative change for those around you. Our Everyday Innovator guest, Jeff Reisig, is the district attorney in Yolo County California, and the leader of a team known for pushing innovative solutions and programs forward in a field known for being bureaucratic and resistant to change. Jeff shares with me how the combination of passion, partnerships and calculated risks can lead to measurable results. Jeff also shares how he built a culture of innovation where ideas from all corners of the office, and the field, are not only welcomed, but encouraged. He also opens up about how he looks at failure inside the process of getting to success.
Jeff's Everyday Innovator style: Futuristic Inquisitive
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How do you build a successful career in a complex and ever-changing industry? How do you keep yourself from being a legacy player and actually innovative and ahead? My guest today, real estate agent Marcy Eastman, knows exactly how to do this. In our conversation she shares her keys for building a highly successful career by focusing on the 10% better rule, only making choices and decisions that feel good and right to you, and why she doesn't really pay attention to all the noise. She also talks about how understanding the new motivators of your key stakeholders is the key to getting a win-win. Marcy's Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Imaginative
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This week's insights are all about the power of little wins, active listening, helping others move forward, and decision-making.The Everyday Innovators came for a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds and Everyday Innovator styles. Tommy Bagwell (Experiential Risk Taker) the salon owner, Keith Belling (Tweaker Instinctual) of RightRice, Enrique Rubio (Risk Taker Inquisitive) founder of HackingHR, and and Keith Renninson (Futuristic Collaborative) the TRIP speaker and coach.I'm going to share the aha moments that spoke to me and how they impacted my work and results. I'm also going to start the episode with one of the most powerful lesson I've ever received - Jump on 2! In doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Link and listen to any of the episodes.
Tamara's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Experiential
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What do you do when you hit a wall? When you feel like you are spinning your wheels or feeling you can't quit get to the next level? According to my guest, Keith Renninson, you drink some wine, grab a white board and start to map out the future. Keith is the creator of the TRIP (tenacity, resilience, imagination, purpose) Method and Assessment. In our conversation he shares with me how he knew he needed to think differently about how to bring his expertise to market, how having a tangible product helped him differentiate himself in a very crowded space, and why looking to the future and working backwards was the start of a new path to success. Keith dives into the importance of decision making, believing in yourself and pushing forward, especially in the tough times. He also shares why a whiteboard is the key to new ideas.
Keith's Everyday Innovator style: Futuristic Collaborative
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When you are trying to lead change, you hit a lot of resistance. That resistance comes from people fearing being left behind, people afraid of what change might mean for how they do their job, or just confusion around what change means for them. My guest today, Enrique Rubio, as the founder of HackingHR, has a lot of experience dealing with the resistors of change, and pushing through them. In our conversation Enrique shares how he had this vision for what's possible in the human resources field, and how that gap in where they are today versus where they need to be tomorrow drove him to "hack HR." He also talks about how he recognizes people's fear of change and instead of leaving people behind, works to help people see what's possible and the role they have in the future. He also dives into how he handles rejection, what he learn from it, and why he thinks all the nos he's received have made him and his ideas stronger. Enrique also talk about the power of building community and momentum to ignite lasting change.
Enrique's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Instinctual
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Have you ever looked at a product or seen an ad and wondered how someone thought to come up with that idea? Whether it’s good or bad, these are the ideas that are innovative and groundbreaking and they stick with us. One of those such products is RightRice, and its founder, Keith Belling joins me on this interview to share more about how he took on a big and traditional industry in a new and innovative way. Keith Belling is the Founder & CEO of RightRice, a product that reinvents the concept of rice, and which sold over one million bags in its first year. Keith is a proven entrepreneur and innovator, and RightRice is his second foray into disrupting the F&B industry — his first being Popchips, a wildly successful food product. He is a master of following a frustration he has, figuring out how to solve it in a unique and meaningful way, and turning the solution into a business.Keith explains how to approach a really established, traditional marketplace with alternative products, and why it’s so important to bring to market something that’s meaningful and differentiated. We also discuss what it takes to cast off the baggage of past failures in the industry when trying to innovate and why innovation is essential in a fast moving industry. Keith's Everyday Innovator style: Tweaker Instinctual
We throw around innovation words a lot - pivot, adapt, shift, disrupt. But what does it really mean to actually achieve any of those in changing times? My guest today, Tommy Bagwell co-owner of Fleur Salon, knows exactly what it takes because he's done it. Tommy shares how his life was totally disrupted, personally and professionally, and what he did to push through, find the gaps, and create new opportunities for himself and his business. Tommy talks about how he does his research and then jumps in, tinkering and adjusting until he gets it right. He also shares how for him it wasn't about the big wins, but about finding gratitude and momentum in the little wins each day. Tommy also talks about how he drastically had to rethink his leadership and his business model as the situation evolved. He even shares the big lesson he got from his dad and what to do when you just don't know what to do next. Tommy's Everyday Innovator style:Experiential Risk Taker
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This week’s insights are all about shifting focus, giving people a voice, transition points, and finding meaning in problems. This week’s Everyday Innovator interviews were very different -Dave Scott(Futuristic Tweaker) the Ironman 6x champion, Kelly Foster (Collaborative Tweaker) leader in the Army Research Laboratory, Randy Pierce (Inquisitive Tweaker) the sports doctor and boxing academy owner, and Drew Munro (Imaginative Collaborative) the startup of healthy food in vending machines – Upmeals. I’m going to share the aha moments that spoke to me and how they impacted my work and results. I’m also going to start the episode with one of the most powerful lesson I’ve ever received – Jump on 2! In doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Link and listen to any of the episodes. Tamara’s Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Experiential
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Thinking differently in an industry that has been the same for a while is something that applies to all of us. Drew Munro is someone with a passion, and a vision of disrupting the food category but not in the way we're used to — all because he saw a need in the market that wasn’t being fulfilled — and he joins me on the podcast to share his journey of approaching a traditional industry from a new angle. Drew Munro is the Co-Founder and CEO of UpMeals, a Canadian food technology startup that's on a mission to make healthy food accessible 24/7 through technology. UpMeals focuses on providing customers with healthy food through customized smart vending machines that are powered by great management software. He shares more about his journey to starting UpMeals, and the innovative business model of the company that helps provide customization for each client while scaling up. Drew also shares insights about how he framed the value proposition of UpMeals to prospective clients and adapted its positioning in light of the pandemic. We also dig into breaking into a competitive landscape, dealing with a steep learning curve in customers, and Drew’s vision for the future of healthy food and the role technology will play in it.
Drew's Everyday Innovator style: Imaginative Collaborative
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What do the Ironman Triathlon and life have in common? A lot, it turns out, and there are so many lessons we can take away from the Ironman competition that also apply to life. When I decided to try my hand at the Ironman Triathlon, all my research led to Dave Scott, six-time Champion of Ironman Hawaii who is the Ironman Hall of Fame. Dave started doing triathlons in 1976, and first competed in Ironman Hawaii in 1978. He won six times in the ’80s, came in 2nd thrice as well, and finally ended his Ironman career in 1996.
The Ironman Triathlon is not a short race — it takes stamina and mental fortitude, in addition to physical strength and conditioning to complete it, much less win. To me, this is a great analogy for life — which is why Dave’s lessons from his experiences with the Ironman Triathlon are so relevant. Dave and I discuss why we need more than motivation to do something tough and he shares some of his strategies for getting over the fear of failure (hint: Recognize that it's mostly in your head!). We also explore why changing your perspective on obstacles is key to tackling them — and how Dave does it, as well as how to avoid letting external conditions dictate how you behave and perform. Dave also has some insights on the importance of being spontaneous, and why worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet can be a huge hindrance.
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This week's insights are all about being a newbie, playing big, getting through the first day, and forgetting balance. This week's Everyday Innovator interviews were very different - Gina Schreck (Inquisitive Imaginative) the coworking business owner, Connie Warden (Instinctual Experiential) the mindful kindful yogi, Dre Baldwin (Collaborative Risk Taker) the athlete and business advisor, and Naomi Sakin (Collaborative Instinctual) the mom, chiropractor, and shampoo hustler. In this Friday wrap-up, I'm going to share the aha moments that spoke to me and how they impacted my work and results. I'm going to share the secret sauce to communicating new ideas for buy-in. In doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Clink and listen to any of the episodes.
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What do you do when your entire world gets upended overnight? How do you keep moving forward and getting what you need out of life? Today's guest, Naomi Sakin, shares her experience of having to shift how she worked, parented, and managed her life in what felt like an instant. Naomi is all about clean beauty from the inside out. She is a chiropractor, shampoo hustler of Monat products, and a mom of two young kids. She shares what it took to find success in new ways by getting uncomfortable, and expanding her network. She also talks about what she thinks awaits us all on the other side of change, why balance is overrated, and how going for perfection is pointless. Naomi's Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Instinctual
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Were you taught to play small growing up? Taught that keeping your head down and not making noise was the right thing to do? My guest today, Connie Warden, knew she had to work to overcome her desire to shrink into the background and learn to play big if she wanted to make an impact. Her yoga platform around "mindful kindful" demanded that she step up...and she did. Today, Connie shares with us how she had to learn to play big, stay curious, and differentiate herself in an authentic way in the wellness space which is cluttered with me-too people, programs, and noise. She also gives us some insights into how being doubtful and confident at the same time, is not only natural, it's a good thing.
Connie's Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Experiential
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Do you have an idea you can't stop thinking about? Maybe it's been days, weeks, or even years but no matter how many times you move on, it keeps popping in your head. My guest today, Gina Schreck, thought about her unique collaboration workspace idea for ten years before she was able to take action. But when the time was right, she went for it. In this episode, Gina shares with us how her curious mindset helped her leap into an entirely new business. She also opens up about the fear of making a big decision and what she did to minimize her risk and increase her confidence. She also gives us some insights into where to apply innovation to create a stellar customer experience (hint- it's everywhere). She now successfully runs two collaboration workspaces with a third on the way.
Gina's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Imaginative
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This week's insights are all about Experimentation, friction, taking control, and borrowing innovation. This week's Everyday Innovator interviews were very different -Savanna Givens (Inquisitive Risk Taker) the assistant at a credit union, Chris Chopyak (Instinctual Risk Taker) the innovation and visual strategist, Supriya Surender (Imaginative Inquisitive) the alopecia advocate, and Jake Dunlap (Collaborative Inquisitive) the sales professional. In this Friday wrap-up, I'm going to share the aha moments that spoke to me and how they impacted my work and results. I'm going to share the secret sauce to communicating new ideas for buy-in. In doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Link and listen to any of the episodes.
Tamara's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Experiential
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This week's insights are all about Experimentation, friction, taking control, and borrowing innovation. This week's Everyday Innovator interviews were very different -Savanna Givens (Inquisitive Risk Taker) the assistant at a credit union, Chris Chopyak (Instinctual Risk Taker) the innovation and visual strategist, Supriya Surender (Imaginative Inquisitive) the alopecia advocate, and Jake Dunlap (Collaborative Inquisitive) the sales professional. In this Friday wrap-up, I'm going to share the aha moments that spoke to me and how they impacted my work and results. I'm going to share the secret sauce to communicating new ideas for buy-in. In doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. Link and listen to any of the episodes.
Tamara's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Experiential
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We spend so much time with our heads in the weeds or exhausting ourselves trying to create that new-to-the-world idea. But, as today's guest shows us, the best ideas come from keeping your eyes open for what already exists. Jake Dunlap is the CEO of Skaled Consulting and past VP of Sales at Glassdoor. He shares how he built his career on finding best practices and innovation around him, and bringing them into his work. He also talks about how old processes and identities keep us from finding success in the future and why the future is about research and critical, not information. And, he gives some phenomenal advice about staying present and open to innovation beyond your day-to-day
Jake's Everyday Innovator style: Collaborative Inquisitive
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Most of us have life-changing experiences that either feels like they are going to break us or become the fire for our success. The question is what you do with those moments in your life. My guest today had a life-altering experience that became the foundation for living her best life. Everyday Innovator Supriya Surender is an alopecia advocate, online influencer, and all-around amazing human. She talks about her desire to make an impact started with connecting with one person in a meaningful way, how she thinks differently about the content she puts out into the world and why overthinking leads to being left behind. She also shares how she went from feeling out of control to fully in control but finding small chunks to control that added up over time.
Supriya's Everyday Innovator style: Imaginative Risk Taker
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Navigating change can be really challenging. Often it's the tension created when working with others that stops us from moving forward. In an effort to avoid conflict, it seems easier to just give in or meet in the middle. But, as Everyday Innovator Chris Chopyak explains, that tension can actually be an advantage if you lean into it. Chris also talks about predictability, not as an opposite to change, but as a tool to help people embrace change. Chris also shares wisdom around what you can (and can't)control versus what you can influence, and how she manages her energy so she continues to innovate and do good work. Chris is the founder of Arlosoul, a visual strategy and innovation firm and Elite IQE Certified Coach. She has spent years moving her business and her clients forward through change and uncertainty.
Chris's Everyday Innovator style: Instinctual Risk Taker
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Do you ever find yourself saying, "there must be a better way," under your breath? Is there a process or task at work that makes you frustrated because it's inefficient or unnecessary? If you nodded yes, then this is the episode for you. Hear how Everyday Innovator Savanna Givens decided to take one of her biggest frustrations and turn it into a moment of powerful innovation. In this episode, she shares with me what led to her idea and how she got buy-in from leadership. As you'll hear, the solution saved the organization a lot of time and money. And, Savanna shares some great insights around how to think about feedback, even the negative stuff! Lots of insights in this one!
Savanna's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Risk-Taker
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This week's insights are all about self-negotiation, falling in love, callusing your mind, and listening to whispers of inspiration. This week's Everyday Innovator interviews were very different - Sergio Nazzaro the Realtor(Inquisitive Instinctual), Jennifer Beechen the marketing director in pet food (Futuristic Collaborative), Tyler Millstein the Crossfit gym owner (Risk-Taker Instinctual), and Traci Brown the body language trainer (Inquisitive Risk-Taker). In this Friday wrap-up, I'm going to share the aha moments that spoke to me and how they impacted my work and results. In doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. On our website, I'll also link back to these interviews so you can access them.
Tamara's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Experiential
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What if business as you knew it went away overnight? What if your business model suddenly came to a screeching halt in a matter of weeks? But, what if you used that shift to evolve with the times and actually set yourself up for more success? Today's guest Traci Brown rode the roller coaster of 2020 with the rest of us and found ways to innovate, adapt and seize new opportunities. She shares with us her story and how knowing who to listen to and who not to listen to is a key part of her success. She also learned how to listen to the whispers of inspiration that kept nudging her into new directions. She also talks about the experience of taking the big leap and shifting her business focus, what it really took, the struggles along the way and why she thinks it's worth the effort.
Traci's Everyday Innovatory style: Inquisitive Risk-Taker
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How do you take a step towards making your dreams a reality when you don't know what to do or have all the skills to do it? How do you train yourself mentally to do the hard work and push forward? That's exactly what I cover with today's guest, Tyler Millstein. Tyler owns Crossfit Hierarchy, two gyms in the Washington D.C. area. He shares the importance of knowing what you are good at and getting help everywhere else, and how dreams don't mean much without action, specifically micro-steps. He also shares how he callused his mind for success, and how he's differentiated his gym in a crowded me-too marketplace.
Tyler's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Instinctual
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The best ideas are usually right in front of you, just one insight away from being discovered. The key is being open to listening for them. As the vice president of marketing at Champion Petfoods, and Acana Dog Food, the only dog food specifically for rescue dogs, Jennifer Beechen knows what it takes to build innovative products that make a meaningful difference. She is a shining example of learning through listening and collaboration. She also shares with us a really powerful tool for uncovering your key differentiation in the marketplace - love letters in your business. And, she talks about how getting feedback can also lead to authentic stories that create connections.
Jennifer’s Everyday Innovator style: Futuristic Collaborative
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Do you ever feel like you struggle to achieve your goals or get frustrated because you can't seem to stick to a plan? I think today's conversation with Everyday Innovator Sergio Nazzaro is going to shed some light on this. He's a real estate agent in Denver, Colorado who has done a phenomenal job elevating his own life, differentiating himself in a very noisy marketplace, and delivering real value in a commoditized industry. He shares how the moment he got "sick of his own sh**" and stopped negotiating with himself was the moment he changed his life. He shares his insights around who you should be competing with to get better (hint - it's not other people), how you should be in the benchmark, not the comparison game, and his expectations around failure. Also, listen for his views on turning your life circumstances into your greatest superpowers. As a real estate agent, MBA and veteran, Sergio Nazarro shows us how your principles and commitments to yourself are what matter if you want to leap forward.
Sergio's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Instinctual
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This week's insights are all about obstacles, motivators, frustrations, and your ego. This week I interviewed three very different Everyday Innovators - Sara Meaney (Inquisitive Risk Taker) with a successful career pushing innovation in traditional industries, Jacob Weinstein (Risk Taker Inquisitive) launching two businesses in healthcare that work to solve massive frustrations, and Jenn DeWall (Instinctual Inquisitive) with a career in leadership training that isn't afraid to have the tough conversations. Each interview is full of great stories and insight. In this Friday wrap-up, I'm going to share the aha moments that spoke to me and how they impacted my work and results. In doing so I hope you find ways to take what you are learning and transfer it into action. On our website, I'll also link back to these interviews so you can access them.
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Curiosity is the springboard for new ideas and innovation. The ability to seek to understand, ask questions and not assume. And, according to Jenn Dewall, it's the key to strong leadership and teamwork. Jenn has used her straight-talk style and willingness to get vulnerable to propel her success and the success of those she serves. She shares with us how in order to get curious and innovative you have to get rid of the ego and stop personalizing everything. She also shares how she used to get shut down for being so inquisitive but later discovered that her ability to ask challenging questions is actually her superpower. Jenn also shares how calling out elephants in the room leads to deeper conversations and stronger collaborations.
Jenn's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Instinctual
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It's easy to get complacent, even about the things that frustrate us the most. We simply accept them as part of life. But, as today's guest Everyday Innovator Jacob Weinstein shows us, there's no room for complacency. In fact, the "there's got to be a better way" moments are the foundation for innovation and opportunity. Jacob figured out how to solve some of the biggest frustrations and challenges that face both practitioners and patients in healthcare. In this episode, Jacob shares his journey from frustration to opportunity, how solving problems that we assume can't be solved or simply accept as part of life is the key to success, and how he views innovation as figuring out the bridge between your idea and your client or key-stakeholders needs. As you'll hear, in his eyes there's a powerful bridge between the two that hold the key to moving forward. Jacob also talks a lot about the need for real listening and empathy in daily business.
Jacob's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Risk Taker
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Sara has a long career shaking things up. In fact, most of her career has been about driving forward new ideas in industries known for their traditional thinking. Today, Sara shares with us how she gets buy-in for her ideas with "legacy" thinkers, and how understanding the real motivation by those placing and removing obstacles in your path is the key to influence. She also talks about how she realized that her style of innovation and leadership could make others uncomfortable, and how to find the sweet spot of success. Sara's career spans the aviation industry, tourism, non-profit and social media marketing. Hence, her experience and insights span not just years, but also industries.
Sara's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Risk Taker
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Moving into 2022, there's one thing we know for certain - things will remain in flux and uncertain. But, I feel more optimistic about 2022 than ever. I don't think it's because COVID is suddenly going to disappear or that all the issues that have arisen in the past two years will magically disappear. I don't even believe the dust will settle. However, I do believe two things. First I believe that I'm more set up to navigate and harness change and uncertainty than ever before. It took a lot of experimentation and twists and turns, but I'm there. I also believe in the power of all of you - Everyday Innovators out there igniting innovation and inspiring others. With that, we have a big change coming to the podcast in 2022. From here on out we'll be interviewing Everyday Innovators, not experts all week. No blah blah platitudes. Instead, you'll hear real stories of triumph, overcoming challenges, and tackling obstacles by thinking differently and rejecting the status quo. I couldn't be more excited to share these extraordinary people and their real-world stories with you. Listen in to learn more.
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Sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture, how the pieces all fit together when you are in the thick of it. I’ve spent time researching, looking at what’s going on around us, and pulling out what I think are the big shifts we are experiencing. I’m sharing them with you because I think understanding the shifts we are experiencing will help set you up for success in 2022 and beyond. You can’t innovate, add value, and get ahead if all you are doing is reacting. In taking a look at what happened, and is happening in 2021, you’ll begin to see how to move forward in 2022. The 6 big Shifts I want to focus on today are: simplicity, defi, virtual world, the great resignation, the big judgment, the squeeze.
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Did you know only 10% of distractions come from your external world? The dings, the pings, the beeps, the pop-up messages...only 10%. As Nir Eyal and I talk about, the real distractions come from what he calls internal triggers, or uncomfortable emotions we are trying to avoid. That's why we are busy, but not productive. It's why we avoid the heavy lifts and focus our efforts on the easy and comfortable tasks. And as Nir explains, time management is actually pain management. We also talk about the real opposite of distraction, which isn't focus, it's traction. This interview with author, researcher, and entrepreneur, Nir Eyal will help you move away from distraction and move towards traction. It will help you stop doing the things that move you away from your goals or who you want to be and towards the things that move you towards your goals and the life you want.
Nir's Book: Indistractable
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This will really resonate with you if you feel like you are fighting legacy thinkers, bureaucracy, or even leaders unwilling or slow to change. Want to know what it’s like to push the boundaries of an industry? To do what others are afraid to do? And to see the payoff of a willingness to change and innovate? Me too! That’s why I had Brian Benstock of Paragon Honda on the podcast. He’s in the auto sales field, which hasn’t changed in longer than I can remember. But his business has and customers are flocking to him, and competitors are trying to catch up. This is a great lesson in what’s possible, even in legacy industries. Brian shares how shared control forces change, why constantly asking questions that challenge assumptions are the key to progress, and how frictionless experiences are the key to success.
Brian's Everyday Innovator Style: Inquisitive Tweaker
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If you’ve ever wondered why some product launches succeed, and so many fail, this is the episode for you. If you are looking to launch your own internal initiative or product launch, you’ll learn a lot from my guest, Felicia Anderson. is the vice president of product management at Epiq and was the senior director of the product management at Pitney Bowe. She talks with me about how to create a culture of innovation, why watching, not just listening, to customer behavior is the key to great insights, and how to drive bottom-line results from your team. She also shares how to create cross-functional teams that create both feedback and buy-in.
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Innovation doesn’t just have to be disruptive. Oftentimes, the best innovation comes from thinking differently about what's right in front of you. When faced with a lot of leftover tomatoes, Laurie Nadeau stumbled upon an incredibly innovative (and delicious) use for them. It was a pleasant surprise for Laurie when the Bloody Mary Mix she shared with her friends and family was a huge hit. Yet, as with any business endeavor, it was filled with obstacles and hurdles — Laurie reveals some of the biggest challenges in her business and how she overcame them, as well as some surprising lessons she learned along the way. We also dive into what it is that makes Smokin Mary so innovative, and how it stays ahead of the competition. Laurie also shares some advice: don’t take feedback personally, and always be open to new uses for your product that you may not have imagined.
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Are you looking for innovation in the wrong place? My guests Joel Clark and Cameron Smith, owners of the knocking it out of the park food brand Kodiak Cakes, think we might be. In fact, they grew Kodiak from a boutique to a $100 million business. The key? They look at categories in decline as an opportunity versus chasing high growth areas that we think we want to jump into. Definitely a mind shift and there’s proof to back it up. We talk about managing doubt from others and in yourself. We even validate some of your gut decisions when we talk about how decisions that don’t have data are often the times you see the trends and patterns before someone has the chance to turn them into data. Joel and Cameron also share how they built a culture of innovation on passion and transparency.
Joel Clark's Everyday Innovatory style: Risk Taker Collaborative
Cameron Smith's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Tweaker
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How do you create a high-performing team where people are leaning into you as the leader, rather than you leaning into them? As a leader, what can you do to ensure you are creating an environment where your team thrives? There’s no better person to tap for insights than a former commander of a nuclear submarine, David Marquet.
Apart from serving as a nuclear submarine commander, David is a student of leadership and organizational design, author of the Amazon #1 bestseller, Turn the Ship Around! and one of Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Leadership Speakers for 2018. Today, he gives keynote speeches on the topics of leadership, how leaders can create workplaces where everyone engages and contributes their full intellectual capacity, and nurturing teams where everyone is a leader.
David's Everyday Innovator style: Inquisitive Risk Taker
As leaders, we often blame our people for not speaking up, but the problem is we have created environments where speaking up is unhealthy, unwanted, unwarranted, and unappreciated. David highlights some other deadly ingredients that make organizations ineffective and how to overcome them. We also dive into the shift of the role of leader from 'obey the clock' to 'control the clock,' from coerce to commit, from conform to connect. David shares his personal experience of what it was like to admit that he as a leader didn’t know all the answers and how that contributed to the change in the atmosphere of the team and some strategies for leaders to give up control and empower your team to lead. Find out how intent-based leadership makes the doers also be the deciders, and what this can do for your organization.
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Turn the Ship Around!, by David Marquet
Leadership is Language: How Small Changes in What You Say Can Make a Huge Difference to Your Team’s Results, by David Marquet
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Have you ever wondered how to take your team or organization from no or low levels of innovation to high levels? How to get people to buy into the idea that innovative thinking and processes are important to success? Heather Kluter, innovation thought leader, did that at Hyundai and she’s here sharing her experience and how she helps companies continue to think big. We talk about how to break down silos, the “not-created-here” mentality that kills innovation, and why doing small things may actually be the right approach at first. Heather introduces us to the term "assertive grace" and how that will help you get buy-in for your ideas. We even talk about cake and huskies.
Heather' Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Inquisitive
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You're small and you have fewer resources than your competition. In fact, you are entering a crowded playing field with dozens of options that the customer can't figure out already. But, you've got an innovative product, service, or business model. How do you use your size to gain an advantage? How do you use your lack of resources to get massive results? Whether this is your business or a product or service launch inside a bigger company, how do you think like a successful entrepreneur? Today's guest is going to cover all that and more. Mike Dubin is the founder of Dollar Shave Club. As you may remember, DSC shook up a billion-dollar industry, gained millions of customers, and changed that cluttered aisle in the grocery store forever. Did I mention that he sold Dollar Shave Club for 4 Billion dollars?
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The U.S. Army is not really the place you would think of to find innovation, but at the Army Research Labs, it is an important part of their mission and how they operate. Innovation is infused into the DNA of the entire organization, and Dr. Philip Perconti joins me to share some insight into this unique part of the U.S. military. Recently retired, Dr. Philip Perconti was the Director of the Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (ARL). He has been doing research, working with the U.S. military for 39 years since enlisted in the Navy right out of high school. He led the Army’s corporate research laboratory which is responsible for foundational research to do with the U.S. Army, i.e. keeping our soldiers safe and give them the competitive advantage on the field. How can you drive innovation across an organization as traditional and bureaucratic as the military? Dr. Perconti shares his vision for ARL and why the balance between short-term demands and long-term intention is so critical. He reveals more about the biggest challenges ARL faces in terms of talent acquisition, and how the unique model adopted by the ARL in fostering collaboration and partnerships to integrate with local communities to leverage and absorb as much of the culture in the national innovation hubs has been revolutionary to the organization. We also talk about the five core attributes of the ARL culture, why they picked them, and how Dr. Perconti ensures that they’re being implemented.
Dr. Philip Perconti on LinkedIn
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Evolving expectations, changing demands, and a world moving forward faster than most of us can keep up with can make innovation challenging. It's easy to stop, put our heads in the sand, and wait for things to settle. But, we both know that's not going to happen, especially in business. As the Managing Director of Consumer Goods - Europe at Accenture, Nevine El-Warraky has in-depth knowledge and experience helping her company and clients navigate major change. She helps us make sense of the shifts and trends impacting business, how to think about innovation in changing times, and how observation is the key to knowing what to do next. Nevine also shares with us the questions we should all be asking ourselves to stay relevant.
Nevine's Everyday Innovator style: Futuristic Inquisitive
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A good night's sleep is a game-changer. It improves energy, recovery, health, and even mood. But, getting the elusive deep rest is something many of us struggle with. Dr. Jason Loth and I go deep into why sleep matters, what happens to our bodies and minds when we don't sleep, and how correct sleep alignment can help us in getting a good night's sleep. Jason also shares his experience launching a new invention into the world, the ups and downs, and how to leverage being an Everyday Innovator.
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Why do so many innovations fail? The most recent stat I read claims that 97% of new product ideas fail before they hit the one-year mark. Those are pretty low odds. But, not for Taylor Dawson, co-founder of GE's First Build Innovation Lab. They had a high rate of success, especially given they were operating inside a large system with lots of processes and bureaucracies. Taylor stopped by to share with us how to increase your success rates and drive innovation that sticks in the marketplace.
Taylor Dawson's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Tweaker.
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Structure and innovation — can they work hand in hand? Can a big company teach us more entrepreneurial spirits about innovation? Michael Arena, now VP of Talent at Amazon and previous Chief Talent Officer at General Motors talks about just that. He shared how he thinks differently about his work and what GM does to stay innovative, as well as his mantra "positively disrupt or be disrupted." We also talk about the importance of scaling and why that's important no matter your size. Whether you feel like you are a cog in a big wheel or the sole innovator, this podcast has some interesting lessons around how structure can foster innovation, not hinder it.
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Do you ever feel like you are just going through the motions? Or maybe you know there is more potential inside of you that you aren’t tapping. I know we can’t be ON all the time but it wouldn’t it be great to feel energized and at your best at the place where you literally spend most of your life — work? I’m not talking about health, although that's important, I’m talking about leadership potential, the potential we all have in us. Today’s guest on Inside LaunchStreet, Jason Treu, is a leadership potential expert, executive coach to leaders and rising stars, and a TEDx speaker. We chat about why leadership is more than just a title and how to get past just “showing up” to work.
Jason's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Instinctual
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There’s no denying that we live in an increasingly digital world where a lot of our communication takes place via text on screens, i.e. email. That’s why human connection is ever more important in helping us build those relationships. Steve Pacinelli has just the insights to share on how we can use videos to stand out in a cluttered inbox and rehumanize our businesses.
Stephen's Everyday Innovator style: Risk Taker Futuristic
Stephen Pacinelli is the Chief Marketing Officer of BombBomb, a tool that helps users create and send simple videos via email. As a Sales Manager, Vice President of Events, and the National Speaker for Realtor.com, Steve has immense experience in sales, marketing, and speaking, which he taps into to help people improve human connection. Recently, Steve co-authored the definitive guide to better business communication, Rehumanize Your Business, which explains how to dramatically improve relationships and results in your business through video.
What are we missing by communicating via email? It’s not just about conveying your tone to the other person, but also overcoming their current feelings at the time. Steve explains how BombBomb allows people to make email as warm and personal as a face-to-face meeting through connecting people, and rehumanizing business. We discuss how to harness video as a tool even in regular communication, and what makes video such a powerful tool to influence decisions — you can ignore the text on a screen, but not a person. Steve shares some case studies of how videos help to make communication personal and human, and his tips and strategies for leveraging video to stand out and grab attention amidst all the distractions.
BombBomb
Stephen Pacinelli on LinkedIn
Rehumanize Your Business: How Personal Videos Accelerate Sales and Improve Customer Experience, by Ethan Beute and Stephen Pacinelli
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Steven Sashen is a maverick entrepreneur, SharkTank contestant, and founder of the thriving barefoot running company, XeroShoes. Steven shares how he built his company one shoe at a time, turning his experience and passion into a thriving international business. If you've ever had a passion for something unconventional or a perspective that goes against the norm, this is the podcast episode for you. Stephen likes to shake things up so you'll hear a lot of "breaking the rules" stories in this interview. He also shares how he never sets goals and how being on SharkTank impacted his business.
Get XeroShoes: www.xeroshoes.com
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Getting buy-in for your ideas is as important as having the ideas. What's the point of being innovative if you can't get any traction. This episode is all about helping you get that traction by giving you a better understanding of the "early adopters" curve that so many use to get buy-in both internally and in the marketplace. However, there is one thing missing from the traditional Early Adopter model that can make all the difference. In this episode, I'll show you what it is and why it matters. I'm going to dig into the age-old Idea Adoption Curve and show you a more up-to-date take on it that will improve your idea and product buy-in for both leadership and in the marketplace.
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Here's the real deal, the past two years have been filled with unexpected challenges and obstacles. For some it led to exponential growth, and for others it meant having the rug pulled out from underneath them. In these situations what has always inspired me are people that even against the odds find new opportunities to pursue. People that create opportunities where they didn't exist before. Today's guest is no exception to that. Eli Harris may be young, but his vision and experience is wise beyond his years. As the Co-Founder and President of R-Zero, Eli is looking to totally disrupt the disinfection industry, lead the way in the new field of bio-safety, and change a field that on one hand has experienced massive change, yet on the other hasn't seen innovation in years. Listen in as we talk about how to reframe your thinking, view legacy industries and pursue a massive vision.
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Check out R-Zero as they transform an industry.
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In your lifetime you've probably experienced the power of a movement. Maybe you saw it on the news in a political movement. Perhaps in a cultural shift. When a majority of people with a singular focus take power, amazing things can happen. But, have you ever thought about how to leverage the power of a movement in your work and life? If you haven't yet, you will after this episode. Today, Greg Satell, author of Cascades and innovation thought leader, joins me to talk about the power of movements in creating transformational change, building cultures of change, and driving innovation in uncertain times.
Definitely check out Greg's book, Cascades: How to Create a Movement That Drives Transformational Change, on Amazon
Connect with Greg on his website, and check out his services. He has a wealth of resources for leaders and organizations.
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It's easier to be attached to the things we know, even when they aren't good for us than to deal with the fear and discomfort of the unknown. At least it used to be for me. In this episode, I share my experience about being attached to the wrong emotions, the ones that weren't serving me because I could anticipate them. And, it's when I broke free from those emotions, or the attachment to what I know, that I began to experience tremendous success in work and life. In fact, everything started to really fall into place when I changed this part of my life. I hope when you listen to this episode, you'll also realize a few negative or toxic emotional attachments that aren't serving you.
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One of the most important aspects of any business is your customers. Not just getting customers, but keeping them. In fact, most failed businesses spend a lot of time and money on acquiring new customers but not a lot of energy on keeping them. Showing your customers some love is a great place to innovate as well. The element of surprise and delight goes a long way with your customers or clients. In this episode customer experience guru, Shep Hyken, gives us some real-world stories and tools to keep our customers coming back for more. As a reminder, you may have customers, clients, members or even internal customers inside your organization. No matter where you are coming from, this episode will help you think differently about your customer experience.
Definitely check out Shep's website. You'll find a wealth of resources and learn more about how to connect with Shep. And his latest book, I'll Be Back, can be found on Amazon, his website and most retailers.
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Do you ever feel like you are having an internal war between your head and your heart? Between moving forward and standing still? Between your comfort zone and your growth zone? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. So many of us struggle with this continual battle between what we know we want to do and what we actually do. In my twenty-five plus years of work I've come to identify the three major sabotagers of your own progress - fear, comfort and constraint. And, they don't always show up the way you think they do. In this episode I'll deep dive into all three, how they show up, and what you can do to ensure they don't hold you back from achieving your best.
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Emotionally intelligent leadership, understanding what makes you stand out, mindset, and approach to creating ground-breaking work. These are just a few of the things my guest Kevin Allen and I discuss. Kevin has had a wildly successful career both creating advertising campaigns that changed industries and leading teams to great success. He is the embodiment of true leadership, everyday innovation, and seeking to make an impact on the people in his community, both personally and professionally. I learned a lot in this interview and I know you will too.
Kevin Allen was the creative mind behind the iconic "priceless Mastercard" campaign, the founder of EI games, an award-winning online leadership development platform that focuses on emotional intelligence, and the author of The Case of the Missing Cutlery: a leadership guide for the rising star.
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Innovation is Everybody’s Business Book
Do you look at kids and think, "they are so naturally creative?" Yet somehow as adults, we've lost our way, and most of us would describe ourselves as missing the creative bone that only the select few possess. Interesting that as kids we all have it, yet as adults-only a select few do. Why is this? Well, it's because creativity, or as we say here at LaunchStreet, being an innovator, is actually a skill we all have, but over the years it gets minimized, ignored, or even taught out of us. My guest today, Shafik Mina believes that not only is everyone creative but that it's a skill we must teach and foster in our kids so that they develop strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration skills in the future. And, as he shares, some of the things they do in Crayola Imagine Arts Academy and Mad Science translate into strong leadership.
Check out both Crayola Imagine Arts Academy and Mad Science. These programs serve an incredibly important role in fostering creativity in tomorrow's leaders.
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Today's episode is going to help you avoid being derailed by difficult people who stall or slow down your work. Whether you like it or not, you will lead, manage or be on a team with difficult people. Aside from being annoyed, what do you do? What I've learned in my 25 plus years of work is that what you can't do is ignore them. In fact, as an innovator, you need to get them on board or get them out. But trying to move forward by ignoring or brushing their difficultness under the rug won't work. In fact, it will work against you. Our guest today, Jonno White is dedicated to creating strong relationships at work that move and business forward. We dig into what to do with difficult people, and situations, and how to not let things fester to the point of no return.
Check out Jonno White's book, Step Up or Step Out. As we talk about in the podcast and he goes into detail in his book, you can manage a difficult person to either get on board or get out in just 4 weeks.
Jonno White's website also includes the 7 questions and other things we discussed.
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Innovation is Everybody’s Business Book
Have you ever looked at someone who risks it all for big rewards and thought, "wow, I wish I was more of a willingness to take risks like them. I tend to play it safe!" Here's the thing, risk isn't an all or none skill, it's actually a muscle you build over time. Now, if you are thinking, I don't need more risk in my life, I'd like you to be open to a new perspective. In this episode I'm going to suggest a few reasons why we all need to dial up our risk muscles. I'm also going to share some activities you can do to begin to flex and strengthen your risk muscles.
This podcast is the recording of one of my weekly 10-minute bursts of innovation. If you'd like to join the conversation live, click here.
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A lot has changed personally and professionally in the past year. New technology has automated many functions humans used to be responsible for, the internet gives people instant access and global choice for just about anything, and teams have become virtual, as a way of doing business. In order to stay on the forefront of these massive shifts, it's also important we open our minds to the latest trends and technology. This episode with my guest, Paul Ace, will help you do just that. We dig into the new business and customer model of "conversational commerce" that is gaining. alot of traction. Fortunately, Paul is on the forefront of it all. He also shares how he keeps his global and virtual team motivated and why he focuses on effectiveness, not efficiency. We also dig into how he ignites innovation and gathers ideas that keep his business moving forward.
Take a moment to check out Paul's business, Amplify C-C. He might be able to help you get unstuck and grow. He's helped a lot of online business leaders amplify their businesses and could do the same for you.
You know I’m all about getting into the Zone. It’s where I get my best work done. Of course I’ve perfected the external triggers that get me into that creative and focused space, and my favorite is FocusatWill.com. No joke, every time I turn it on the distractions around me disappear and my energy and my mind just flow. Try it today!
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Do you ever feel like you are working hard, maybe even harder than you ever have, yet the results don't show it? It's as if your productivity is through the roof, but the outcomes are still lackluster. My guest today, Roy Redd, shares with me a concept he lives by called "Workability." In short it's finding what works, what gets results, and doing more of that, and getting rid of the busy work. Wouldn't that be nice?! Roy and I also dig into fear of failure really being fear of looking like a failure, our misperceptions of stress, and how he went from homeless to a successful business man.
You know I'm all about getting into the Zone. It's where I get my best work done. Of course I've perfected the external triggers that get me into that creative and focused space, and my favorite is FocusatWill.com. No joke, every time I turn it on the distractions around me disappear and my energy and my mind just flow. Try it today!
Today's guest, Roy Redd is a real rock star. If you want to connect with him, get his book, book him to speak, or just continue to learn from a person that's out there doing it, go to his website. You'll find everything you need and more there.
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Innovation is Everybody’s Business Book
How much time do you waste trying to convince your doubters your ideas are right? Do you know how to facilitate a meeting or conversation to get the best results? Are all those meetings you and your team attend actually moving the business forward? What would it take to actually build a culture of innovation where people know how to connect and collaborate? Great news! My guest Douglas Ferguson and I talk about all of these things and more. He makes a compelling case for ignoring your doubters, building influencers and becoming a master facilitator.
Douglas Ferguson is the president of VoltageControl, an innovation consultancy focused on design thinking and giving you the skills you need to become a master facilitator. What's important to note here is that Douglas sees being a strong facilitator as an essential skill of success. After you listen to this episode I think you'll see why!
And, don't to get my favorite motivational water bottle, HydroMate. It's a water drinking game changer.
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Innovation is Everybody’s Business Book
Soft skills are not your technical skills that show up as a bullet point on your job description. They are the interpersonal or behavioral skills you actually rely on to do your job, live life, and get ahead. The ones that are hard to track but are equally, or more important. In fact, I'd argue that the technical skills you rely on to do your job are cost of entry and can become irrelevant. But, soft skills are lasting and critical. In this episode I'll share the 6 soft skills that lead to your success - innovation, resilience, communication, decisiveness, leadership, openness. These are the critical soft skills for success in our complex, rapidly changing times. I'll even give you a quick activity you can do to dial up your soft skills in these 6 areas.
Don't forget to get your Hydromate and drink up. When we are dehydrated we easily get exhausted and have mental fog. Being hydrated is foundational to your energy and your success.
Go to the podcast website and get your 6 Soft Skills to Success bonus. Use it to remind yourself, activate your soft skills, or share with your team.
I mentioned Indeed.com. This is one of the major talent and recruiting matching marketplaces. If you are looking for a new job, this may be a good place to start.
I talked about Infinite Monkey Urban Winery and their once inciting question that lead to an industry revolution.
One of the exercise's I gave you is from motivational master, Mel Robbins. It's here 5 second countdown. Her website has more on this exercise and lots of other great activities.
Discover your Everyday Innovator Style
Become a sought after Everyday Innovator coach and trainer. If you are looking to be a high-demand coach or trainer that commands top dollars, this training is for you. Add the IQE and the Everyday Innovator method to your toolbox.
Innovation is Everybody’s Business Book
Do you ever feel like you are not just working in your strengths, but actively against them? You are not alone. So many people feel that way. Maybe in school we were told we had to think and work a certain way, and that way didn't match our way. Or maybe a boss or work environment didn't allow you to bring your best self. Or perhaps you have been conforming to other people's ideas of what success looked like and you've lost sight of what might work for you? Well, if any of those resonate with you, this is the podcast episode for you. I'm going to dig into how you can rediscover your best self by rediscovering how you think and work, in the way that works for you. Here's a hint, it links to your unique Everyday Innovator style. Your best work environment begins on the inside, with you!
Don't forget to go get yourself a Hydromate water bottle. As I said, keeping your energy high and your mind and body healthy is foundational to reaching your full potential and being an Everyday Innovator.
This is the book I mentioned, Born To Run. A great read regardless of whether you love or hate running.
Discover your Everyday Innovator Style
Become a sought after Everyday Innovator coach and trainer. If you are looking to be a high-demand coach or trainer that commands top dollars, this training is for you. Add the IQE and the Everyday Innovator method to your toolbox.
Did you know only 10% of distractions come from your external world? The dings, the pings, the beeps, the pop up messages...only 10%. As Nir Eyal and I talk about, the real distractions come from what he calls internal triggers, or uncomfortable emotions we are trying to avoid. That's why we are busy, but not productive. Why we avoid the heavy lifts and focus our efforts on the easy and comfortable tasks. And as Nir explains, time management is actually pain management. We also talk about the real opposite of distraction, which isn't focus, it's traction. This interview with author, researcher and entrepreneur, Nir Eyal will help you move away from distraction and move towards traction. It will help you stop doing the things that move you away from your goals or who you want to be and towards the things move you towards your goals and the life you want.
I highly recommend Nir's latest book, Indistractable. This book is so much more than a way to manage your to-do list. It's a way to take back control of your life. It's helped me be intentional, focused and achieve my big goals.
Also, if you haven't already go to Nir's website and get the BONUS 80-page workbook that will help you gain back hours of lost productivity.
If you haven't heard me rave about this already, go get your Passion Planner today! It helps me stay on track, organize my day and my thoughts and it even has space for new ideas and reflection.
LaunchStreet website
Innovation Quotient Edge Assessment
LaunchStreet TV on YouTube
Everyday Innovators Masterclass & Academy
Innovation is Everybody’s Business Book
You may be able to do it alone, even get pride out of being a solo winner, but I promise you that you are white knuckling it way more than you need to, and you have major blind spots. You are most likely leaving opportunity and even greater success on the table without knowing it. One of the most important things you can do to go further, faster in work and life, is surround yourself with other high-performing people - to build your high-performing team. We all have teams, or can build one. Teams come in a lot of different forms. It could be your employees, your partners, your mastermind, your study group, your colleagues. In this episode I break down the key aspects to building your high-performing team: what a team really is, why it matters, the mistakes to avoid, the way to build your team, and the stages of a high-performing team.
#1 What a team really is. Hint, it's so much more than a group of people with common goal. And, a team isn't just your employees or direct reports. Team shows up in a lot of different ways, depending on where you are in work and life.
#2 What building your high-performing team matters:
- How it's selfish and selfish to build your high-performing team (this was a little bit of a rant)
- Speed. High-performing teams solve problems faster and seize opportunities faster. Marketplace demands speed. Time is no longer a luxury any of us can afford
- Leverage you full bench: get people off the sidelines and onto the playing field. And, people want to contribute, it's human nature.
- Stronger solutions. High-performing teams build stronger solutions. Turns out you can do it alone, but it won't turn out as well
#3 Mistakes we make:
- Normalize versus diversify: Taking a diverse team of A-players and trying to make them all think, act, work in a certain way. This turns teams from great to good, not the other way around
- Instant gratification: Assuming a high-performing team happens overnight is false. This is where people jump ship too soon.
- Foosball and kombucha: Thinking that a few drinks or a foosball table is going to elevate performance. Fun is important, but it's not what builds a high-performing team
#4 How to Build your high-performing team:
- Be a Football Team: In sports, each player is bringing their best, in their role, and working with everyone else to be their best. They need each person to be the best, in their way, and then bring that to the team goal. You can't have all quarterbacks on your team
- Embrace friction: Don't deny or run away from friction, embrace it, even sit in it. Friction is good for performance. Consider friction an opportunity to seek to understand
- Make it like a daily coffee: You don't build a team and the ignore it. High-performing teams require ongoing nurturing, or they go backwards
# 5 Stages of your high-performing team:
- Forming: building, coming together, figuring each other out - strengths and gaps
- Falling: identifying and addressing the challenges, working through the sticking points
- Fusion: the team is gelling and coming together, you are seeing the payoff of your efforts.
- High-Performing: high-five each other because things are paying off, all engines are a go. Here you need to continue to nurture the team.
I LOVE my Passion Planner. It's planning, organization, exploration and more. It's the perfect system for visual organizers like me. I couldn't recommend more.
This is the link to Derek Siver's Ted talk I mentioned about the first follower and how to start a movement. One of my all time favorite ones. You'll get a lot out of just 3 minutes.
Discover your Everyday Innovator Style
Learn about the Everyday Innovators Masterclass and Academy
Contact LaunchStreet about building your high- performing team
Imagine for a moment that your mind is like the music playlist on your phone. Yet in this case, you didn't add the songs. They were put there by your parents, siblings, bosses, neighborhood, teachers, etc. As my guest, Elan Divon shared with me, this playlist becomes your beliefs and behaviors, and it's often what leads to self sabotage and limiting beliefs. In this episode Elan and I delve into how to change that playlist, and reach your full potential. We also talk about the relevancy of soft skills in today's marketplace, and the new skills you need to succeed. Also, Elan makes a great point that knowing skills is good, but being able to integrate them into your work is powerful. As Elan says, "your value is in the soft skills."
If you haven't heard me rave enough, FocusAtWill is my all time favorite tool to focus, dial up the innovation and improve my work. It's a music app and website. I highly suggest you check it out. Individuals use it, and team's subscribe as well.
As Elan mentioned, Devon Academy works with young leaders and students to improve their soft skills. This couldn't be more essential. Invest in yourself or those you lead.
If you want to reach out to Elan Divon directly, go to his website. There are plenty of good resources there as well.
LaunchStreet website
Innovation Quotient Edge Assessment
LaunchStreet TV on YouTube
Everyday Innovators Masterclass & Academy
Innovation is Everybody's Business Book
In a culture that rewards busyness, many of us have lost sight of how important it is to pause. Science and studies show that pausing is actually one of the most productive things you can do. In fact research shows that for optimal performance we need both times of intense work and times of recovery. In this episode I cover how the culture of busyness is like a 100 to 1 tennis match you'll never win, and how the power of the pause is proven to increase productivity and innovation, while helping you avoid burnout. I also share 4 ways you can add the power of the pause to your daily work and life. And, I cover how the pause is actually a highly active brain state that helps us be thoughtful and innovative.
The four ways I mention in the episode to add pauses to your day:
#1 3 Deep Breaths
#2 Sit In Inquiry Longer
#3 Walk Away
#4 Doodle
And don't forget the tips I mentioned about ending meetings at forty-five after or padding your work time so you can add the pauses as you are doing the work.
And take advantage of the 3-minute built in pause in this episode!
I love my Passion Planner. It helps me sty organized, map out my day and work, take a pause often, and move forward. It's more that just a to-do list or calendar, it's a method that helps you own your day, month and year.
I mentioned Kacey that uses doodling to help him pause. He's part of our Academy. That means he's gone through our masterclass to be a rock star innovator and then into our year long academy to get the ongoing tools and resources to sharpen his innovation skills. If you are interested, check it out.
Today I'm answering three big questions. First, what's going on in the world that makes the skill of innovation so essential and sought-after? Second, why have your efforts to be an innovator or drive innovation in your clients or teams lead to lackluster or even failed results? Finally, what is this Everyday Innovator method and why does this fresh approach to innovation that work? I dig into how your paper skills become irrelevant, but the ability to adapt does not. How most innovation initiative silo innovation and demoralize the team. Also, how process-first innovation like design thinking and agile lack engagement and long-term buy-in. Why launching strong doesn't always work. How a narrow definition of innovation actually hinders innovative thinking and why the Everyday Innovators at LaunchStreet definition of innovation works. I also share how being an Everyday Innovator (and certified coach or leader) helps you differentiate yourself and create value that is own-able and defendable in a cluttered marketplace. I'll also share how this human-centered innovation approach works and why it gets results you can leverage. I cover a lot of innovation nuggets in this one.
And, if you are a leader or coach that wants to add this incredible innovation tool to your toolbox, schedule your discover call before the masterclass closes.
If you haven't taken our proprietary, research-bases Everyday Innovator assessment, click here, and discover your unique Everyday Innovator style
We glorify being busy and declare anyone that isn't double booked and overworked a slacker. But what if being busy isn't only the wrong benchmark of success, what if it's also working against you? Author of Done By Noon, Dave Ruel, and I talk about how to reframe your mindset around productivity and being busy, how working hard and working smart aren't actually an either or, the 3 type of freedom we are after, and the cost of drift. He also breaks down the main tasks you should be doing to be productive, how to get the wrong task that are weighing you down off your plate, and the power of calendar blocking. And, I'll remind us all that busyness makes it harder to innovate, but being productive fosters innovation in your mind and work.
Don't forget to check out his book, Done By Noon. It's full tangible how-tos to help you master your schedule and get the right things done, without being busy.
Dave's website is also a wealth of great resources.
As I sit here on this Thursday afternoon I find myself more exhausted than usual. At first I thought it was the heat and a few late nights, but as I started to reflect I realized something else was going on. This week has been full of tasks that require building and creating new things. It's required developing proposals for new clients, scripts for new videos content, developing new marketing language - you get the point. Here's what I realized, all these tasks also require more energy to complete. Here I am expending more energy than usual, but I haven't balanced that out with dedicated time to replenish that energy after I've depleted it. Hence, a Thursday full of foggy brain and exhaustion.
Think of it like the apps on your phone. Some don't take any battery life to use and others suck the life out of your battery and before you know it, you are down to 15% and need to plug-in. Well, same goes for your tasks and your energy. In this episode I talk all about this.
I mentioned our new 3-week Innovation Masterclass for coaches, entrepreneurs and organizational leaders. I encourage you to go check it out. It might be just what you need to differentiate yourself and gain the edge.
You heard me talk about my Everyday Innovator style and how that lends itself to loving the act of creating. Your style may lend itself to something different. In fact it probably does. If you would like to discover your Everyday Innovator style, take our research-based proprietary assessment and find out.
It sucks to be stuck. You can be stuck in a big way, spinning your wheels and having no idea what to do next, or feeling so foggy you can't even see what's next. Or, you can be stuck in a lot of small ways, or in parts of your work and life. This usually shows up as spinning your wheels, having a sticky problem continually rearing its ugly head, feeling like you are trudging through mud, or just not getting the progress you need to feel like things are moving forward. In this episode I'm going to walk you through 7 simple, and innovative steps, that will instantly get you unstuck (if you follow them). And believe me, the steps aren't what you think. In fact, they include:
Own Access Move Plan Trash Build Act
Don't worry, I won't ask you to remember all the steps or what's included. I've created this bonus one-pager for you to download and follow.
Also, if you are ready to leverage the high-demand innovation tool to be in high-demand and command top dollars, it's time to learn about our Everyday Innovators masterclass and academy.
And if you are ready to add organization, communication and scale to your work, check out Basecamp. Basecamp provides my business with the structure and organization we need and frees up our time to focus on our work and innovate.
A key element of a high-performing team is recognizing, respecting, and leveraging the diversity of thinking on your team. In this episode, I interview Kelly McDonald about how to create a workplace that fosters inclusion, recognizes diversity as a strength, and cover some important "how-tos" from her newly released book, It's Time to Talk about Race at Work. We also cover how to deal with "nay sayers" and "de-railers," and how to make the business case that now is the time to make diversity and inclusion a number one priority.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Kelly's Book - How to Talk about Race at Work
Kelly's Website - McDonald Marketing
I challenge you to do three simple tasks a day, for seven days, and watch how you transform into an Everyday Innovator. I promise if you do what I talk about in this podcast, your beliefs, behaviors and actions will all align with your ability to innovate. Here's the thing, the brain's number one job is to confirm what you already believe. The brain likes to be in alignment so it matches the outside world to your internal world. When your internal world, or beliefs, believe you aren't innovative, your brain will find all the examples and reasons to validate that belief. But, in this seven day challenge I'm going to give you three simple tasks that will shake up, even flip those beliefs on their head. In fact, what you'll begin to believe strongly is that you are an Everyday Innovator. In fact, you'll begin to believe, as you should, that you are a high-performing, high-value innovator! And your brain will then begin to reinforce and validate that belief. It's just seven days. Try it!
Mentioned in this Episode:
Zencastr
Innovation Quotient Edge assessment
3-Week Innovation Courses (next class starting soon)
I find myself constantly saying to people, "I can't believe it's June already." Now that we are just about half way through the year, it's time to do some reflecting. I sat down and thought about the big lessons I learned in 2021, or lessons that popped back up in my life. Some of these are personal, some are professional, some are super tangible, and some might feel like a ran. But I hope all of them help set up up for success moving into the back half of the year.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Zencastr
3-week innovation courses
Tim Grover’s books – Winning & Relentless
Initiative fatigue, lack of buy-in, an unwillingness to change. This is what I hear from frustrated leaders when they call me to discuss why their innovation efforts are not getting results, or outright failing. You've probably experienced it: a new initiative to get innovation off the ground, an innovation process that you are now supposed to follow, and magically get break-through results, or a shift in culture that suddenly values innovation and all the collaboration and risk taking that comes with it. And, none of them last. Today, I'm breaking down process-first innovation, why it fails, and the how, what and why human-centered innovation succeeds.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Innovation Quotient Edge Assessment
Everyday Innovators Online Academy
Pop Up Webinar - How To Get Buy-In For Your Ideas
Flow and peak performance can feel elusive and unattainable. And it can feel like they are only for elite athletes or those with with life coaches and meditation rooms. But, today's podcast guest is going to change all that for us, and make flow and peak performance understandable and attainable for all of us. Steve Kotler is the founder of the Flow Research Collective and the author of the most recent book, Art of Impossible. He shares with me how to trigger flow, the impact of flow on everyday life, how dopamine can play tricks on us and how to look at the 4 pillars of peak performance.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Flow Research Collective
Art of Impossible Book
Steven Kotler
Does it ever feel as if your efforts to be an innovator keep meeting extreme resistance? Or have you ever felt like trying to be innovative feels more like an exercise in jumping over unnecessary hurdles? And finally, do you look around you and think, "wow, there are so many hurdles to innovation at my work." If you are nodding your head to any of the above, you are not alone. In my 25 years of experience I've come to see a pattern in the things that hold us back from being strong and confident Everyday Innovators. They fall into four camps, and I call them the "4 Traps of Certainty." In this episode I'm going to break down the 4 traps so you can avoid and overcome them.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Innovation is Everybody's Business Book
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to be natural born innovators, while others don't seem to have a creative bone in their body? Or have you been under pressure to be more innovative but can't seem to find the right tools to make it happen in a way that works for you? Or perhaps you are just tired of playing a mediocre game and want to dial up your performance. Here's the good news, in order to be an innovator you don't need to "become" anything. In fact, you were born with everything you need. You just need to access it. In this episode I'll show you how.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Hoka One One
Innovation Quotient Edge Assessment
Do you remember playing tug-of-war as a kid? It was a game of two teams holding on to either side of a rope, and each team had to try to pull the other over a line down the middle. When it comes to change and innovation, that’s exactly what happens individually, in our teams, and in our organizations – it’s a constant tug-of-war between the resistors and drivers of change.
On one side, you have the resistors of change, that hold change and innovation back. On the other side, there are the drivers of change, that push them forward. In almost every organization, there is a constant interaction (and conflict!) between the resistors and drivers of change, and that can become very frustrating
If we don’t balance out this tug-of-war game to have more, and stronger drivers, than resistors, we will never get the change and innovation that we need to succeed in today’s dynamic and fast-paced marketplace. In this episode I'm going to break it down from the individual, team and organizational level
Bonus Resistors & Drivers Worksheet
BombBomb.com
IQE LaunchStreet Partner Affiliate Opportunity
Whether it's putting together the perfect team, experimenting with your messaging, or finding your competitive differentiation, today's guest has been through it. As the co-founder of Kayak, the top travel site, and founder of Moonbeam, podcast platform, Paul English has incredible experience and insights to share. We even delve into how to be productive when there's so much to do.
Mentioned in this Episode:
bombbomb.com
kayak.com
moonbeam.fm
Xiangqi.com
Have you ever held two conflicting thoughts? On one hand you believe you are a strong leader, yet on the other hand you believe you aren't worthy. Those conflicting thoughts, or beliefs, can cause anxiety, frustration, anger, discomfort and even self-sabotaging behaviors. It's called "cognitive dissonance" and it's the subtle sabotager keeping you from your goals. In this episode I break down what it is, how it hows up and 3 tool to overcome it. Don't forget to go to our website and get the download for this episode.
Download Top 3 Tool To Overcome Cognitive Dissonance
Our mindset, our behaviors, and our actions either push us forward towards our goals, or pull us back, and keep us in place. Today's podcast interview is going to show you how to stack your positive habits, and minimize your negative habits across the 5 foundational areas of your life. My guest, Will Moore, is out to create a momentum movement and once you listen to this interview, I know you'll want to be a part of it. His "gamification" of habits will help you shift your momentum immediately.
Focus At Will
Moore Momentum with Will Moore
Moore Momentum App
Book - How To Win Friends & Influence People
Your Innovator Style Personality Test
Vulnerability is often cited as a key factor in deeper connections and open communication. Yet, after a year of working virtually, it can feel like real communication and connections being lost, and in addition to that, the concept of vulnerability has changed and left us feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Hilary Blair, an expert in the area of communication, joins me to talk about the downsides of vulnerability, and what we can do to adapt.
Hilary Blair is the CEO, Founder, and Lead Coach at ARTiculate Real and Clear, an arts-based communications firm that helps professionals fine-tune their communication. Hilary is a former actor, and is obsessed with communication and human connection, particularly in terms of executive presence, from one-to-one and team communication, to facilitation and storytelling. She focuses on helping people show up and be present, be seen, and be heard, using the techniques of the performing arts.
How does feeling like we’re losing real communication and connection play out in the workplace? Hilary sheds light on some of the pressures and challenges of vulnerability and how we navigate that in the workplace, as well as how we can reframe vulnerability as availability to maintain clear boundaries. She also has some great insights around how we as leaders can drive the transition to availability, addressing the elephants in the room, and balancing vulnerability, availability, and transparency in this virtual world.
If you are ready to:
- get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea
- be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change
- foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities…
Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com
Mentioned in This Episode:
Canva
Hilary Blair on LinkedIn
ARTiculate Real & Clear
ClubHouse
Brené Brown
“Receiving Feedback Well: Boundaries and Clarity”
Do you have a problem that keeps rearing its ugly head? No matter how many times you solve it, it just won't go away? Or do you have a task that's been on your to-do list for months, even years, yet never gets completed? And, not completing it is causing wasted time, energy and effort? The issue you face isn't the problem or the task, it's the size. When what you face is too big, your brain can't wrap its head around it. Your actions can't catch up with the effort it would take to get to completion. Today, we are going to talk about how to identify if size if your issue and how to break it down so you can finally get unstuck and move the needle forward. I'll give you a hint, the magic number is 10.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Big Ideas Innovation Challenge - Begins April 5th
Innovation Assessment - IQE
Hoka One One
One of the things we don’t talk enough about is money. However, money and financial intelligence can push us forward or hold us back from reaching our goals. Why? Money and the way we think about money tends to control and cloud our emotions, as well as influence how we go through the day, and having a handle on it can help open up new paths for yourself. Henry Daas, Financial Intelligence guru, joins me on the podcast to give us some insights and tips into understanding our money.
Henry Daas is a serial entrepreneur who started his first business in 1991 as an Apple reseller. Today, he is an entrepreneurial coach who does one-to-one coaching for $1 million to $10 million businesses via Zoom, in addition to running a 20-week financial literacy course that covers all the need-to-know aspects of financial intelligence from your first savings bond to your last will and testament. He is also the author of FQ: Financial Intelligence where he shares many basics of money, mindset, and more.
Why do people often avoid understanding or talking about money? Money is a hugely emotional topic, and it has a lot to do with mindset and psychology. Henry shares more about the psychology behind money and some of the things that work against us. We also dig into how to manage a money mindset when our reality may be starkly different, the importance of sitting down and really looking at your finances, as well as risk tolerance and where emotions fit in in financial intelligence (hint: they don’t). Henry has a lot of insights and tips that will help you get on the journey of being more confident with your money, so be sure to tune in.
If you are ready to:
- get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea
- be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change
- foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities…
Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com
Mentioned in This Episode:
The Pattern App
Henry Daas
FQ: Financial Intelligence, by Henry Daas
FQ 20-Week Course
Berkshire Hathaway
Dr. Alex Elder
Million Dollar Listing New York
Big Money Energy, by Ryan Serhant
There are a million change models out there...and most of them don't work. As I discuss in this quick rant podcast, they fail because of two simple reasons. First, "models" are point-in-time exercises, and second, they are missing the most important element, the contribution roadmap. This is the why, what and how your teams contribute to the change. How they make a meaningful difference and support the bigger vision. This matters up, down and sideways on the organizational ladder and is often the first to be overlooked. Hence, failure.
Mentioned in the episode:
Big Ideas Innovation Challenge
What do the Ironman Triathlon and life have in common? A lot, it turns out, and there are so many lessons we can take away from the Ironman competition that also apply to life. When I decided to try my hand at the Ironman Triathlon, all my research led to Dave Scott, six-time Champion of Ironman Hawaii who is the Ironman Hall of Fame. Dave started doing triathlons in 1976, and first competed in Ironman Hawaii in 1978. He won six times in the ’80s, came in 2nd thrice as well, and finally ended his Ironman career in 1996.
The Ironman Triathlon is not a short race — it takes stamina and mental fortitude, in addition to physical strength and conditioning to complete it, much less win. To me, this is a great analogy for life — which is why Dave’s lessons from his experiences with the Ironman Triathlon are so relevant. Dave and I discuss why we need more than motivation to do something tough and succeed over and over again, and dissect the definition of failure. Dave shares some of his strategies for getting over the fear of failure (hint: Recognize that it's mostly in your head!).
We also explore why changing your perspective on obstacles is key to tackling them — and how Dave does it, as well as how to avoid letting external conditions dictate how you behave and perform. Dave also has some insights on the importance of being spontaneous, and why worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet can be a huge hindrance.
If you are ready to:
- get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea
- be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change
- foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities…
Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com
Mentioned in This Episode:
Dave Scott
Train with Dave (Training Program)
Ask The Man
Ironman
Hoka One-One Shoes
Mark Allen, Ironman Triathlete
Whether you're in the food business or not, disruption and thinking differently in an industry that has been the same for a while is something that applies to all of us. Drew Munro is someone with a passion, and a vision of disrupting the food category but not in the way we're used to — all because he saw a need in the market that wasn’t being fulfilled — and he joins me on the podcast to share his journey of approaching a traditional industry from a new angle.
Drew Munro is the Co-Founder and CEO of UpMeals, a Canadian food technology startup that's on a mission to make healthy food accessible 24/7 through technology. UpMeals focuses on providing customers with healthy food through customized smart vending machines that are powered by great management software.
Drew has a background as a professional chef, but how did the intersection of food and technology come together for him? He shares more about his journey to starting UpMeals, and the innovative business model of the company that helps provide customization for each client while scaling up. Drew also shares insights about how he framed the value proposition of UpMeals to prospective clients and adapted its positioning in light of the pandemic. We also dig into breaking into a competitive landscape, dealing with a steep learning curve in customers, and Drew’s vision for the future of healthy food and the role technology will play in it.
If you are ready to:
- get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea
- be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change
- foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities…
Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com
Mentioned in This Episode:
IQE Assessment
Drew Munro
UpMeals
UpMeals on Instagram
Kodiak Power Cakes
Online Innovation Academy
Why do the innovation & creativity "experts" make it seem like being in "flow" or achieving "peak performance" is a magical accident that only a few ever access? Because it makes them feel special and worth their overly priced fees. But they aren't worth it and flow isn't a magical accident. In fact it's something you can activate any time you need it. In this episode I talk about how you can get into flow: that place of peak performance, all engines firing, you lose track of time.
Mentioned In This Episode:
IQE Assessment
FocusAtWill
There’s no denying that Amazon has changed the way we live. It’s not just about the ease and convenience of buying things on Amazon that I’m talking about — Amazon, as a company, has completely changed our perceptions about shopping online, and elevated customer expectations. That’s why it’s so important for us to understand Amazon, regardless of where you’re coming from, and Jenna Lieber is just the expert with insights about Amazon you need to hear from.
Jenna Lieber is the Client Service Director at Turnkey Product Management, an all-inclusive Amazon marketing agency. She started working at Turnkey as Client Manager from its inception and has worked across different categories and brands. Today, Jenna oversees all the services offered, including full-service management, inner circle coaching, and PPC management, and she has some insights on what it takes to be successful on Amazon.
One of the reasons why Amazon is so important to businesses, especially those just starting, out is the market and customer base that already exists on Amazon. It’s ripe with opportunity if you know how to tap into it. Jenna shares her insights into one of the largest search engines in the world and how the pandemic has changed people's perceptions, expectations, and relationships with Amazon and increased their reliance on it. We also dig into mistakes people make when trying to sell on Amazon, what businesses can do to stand out from the competition in a highly saturated marketplace like Amazon, and more.
If you are ready to:
- get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea
- be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change
- foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities…
Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com
Mentioned in This Episode:
Basecamp
Jenna Lieber
TurnKey Product Management
TurnKey Product Management — Schedule Session with Amazon Experts
TurnKey Product Management on Facebook
Have you ever experiencing that moment where you wanted to speak up and do something bold but that little voice in your head stopped you? Or maybe you have a burning desire to go after a dream but you can't seem to get out of your own way long enough to pursue it? Me too! That's why today's episode is all about confidence. I've learned the hard way that being a strong innovator and all around powerful person has less to do with skills and more to do with confidence. Today, I'm going to delve into the 4 traps that hold you back and what to do about it so you too can be bold and live up to your fullest potential.
4 traps:
#1 Paralysis
#2 Fear
#3 Abdication
#4 Baggage
Have you ever received a piece of advice from a mentor that was so profound that it stuck with you for years? It may have influenced your behavior or decisions, and over time, you may have internalized it and started to live it to the point where you’d forgotten it came from someone else. In my career, I’ve come across three of those pieces of advice that have really changed my perspective and way of thinking and stuck with me for years, and I’d like to share them with you.
- The decisions about you and your career are happening when you aren’t in the room, so you better speak up when you are.
- Too many people waste their energy trying to outsmart the competition before they even get to the arena. You can’t win if you aren’t on the playing field.
- There is more confidence in not knowing than being all-knowing.
I share the stories behind these three powerful pieces of advice that I have taken to heart and used to take my career to the next level, as well as a bonus lesson that I learned during my years of amateur boxing. Trust me, they will change your outlook!
If you are ready to:
- get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea
- be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change
- foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities…
Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com
Mentioned in This Episode:
Basecamp
Email Tamara — team@gotolaunchstreet.com
When it comes to innovation and creativity, sometimes having a vision bigger than yourself and your self-interest can be the driving force that pushes you to take your ideas to the next level. Kate Sullivan, powerhouse of experience, insight, and personality, joins me in this episode to dig into what makes people innovative and successful.Kate Sullivan is the creator ofTo Dine For, a program on PBS that is currently in its third season. On her show, Kate brings together her personal passion for food and her background in journalism with more than a decade of experience to interview remarkable guests at their favorite restaurants. She showcases a different side of her guests, who are at the intersection of creativity and innovation and have brought something to life through their hard work and hustle.It was not smooth sailing for Kate’s show from the start. She shares more about the inspiration for the show, and how she managed to get through the initial period when it seemed like her idea was not working. Kate also reveals her criteria for selecting guests and has some great tips on becoming a better active listener and how to move forward when your ideas get rejected. We also explore the role of mindset in creativity and innovation, and strive to explain why having a vision beyond yourself can be critical to innovation.
If you are ready to:
get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea
be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change
foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities...
Join us on LaunchStreet —gotolaunchstreet.com
Mentioned in This Episode:
To Dine For On PBS
To Dine For On Amazon Prime
Sara Blakely of Spanx
“We forget the fact that they came from humble beginnings and put so much hard work into their visions.” — Tamara
If you type in “decision maker” into google the first 4 results that come up are random decision generators. You put in the question or your options and the decision makers decide for you. It’s on the top of the page because people are searching for it. Why? Because many people are dealing with massive decision fatigue. Rapid changes produces decision fatigue. In this episode I'm going to dive into how decision fatigue shows up (paralysis, stagnation, aimlessness)and 3 keys for flipping it into strong decision making, more innovation and progress.
#1 Reframe the problem #2 Play the elimination game #3 Redefine perfectionism
Mentioned in this episode:
FocusAtWill
Everyday Innovators Online Academy
Whether you are operating in a startup space or a part of a huge company, something that has a huge impact on innovation is the culture of experimentation. Yet, this is not easy to cultivate in a company and requires careful and thoughtful actions from everyone. Brian Ardinger has some insights about how best to build cultures of experimentation, and the methods to do it.
Brian Ardinger is the Director of Innovation at Nelnet, most commonly known for being a student loan service, but which also operates in other financial services. At Nelnet, Brian is involved in innovation externally, in startup investing, and internally, in helping build a culture of innovation across the different business units. Brian is also the founder of InsideOut.IO, a podcast, newsletter, and event series that brings together innovators, entrepreneurs, people who are interested in innovation, the new world of work, and the new world we are living in.
What’s the difference between innovation inside the company and outside of the company? Brian shares his thoughts on how these types of innovation complement each other and integrate with each other. We also dig into why ideas often go nowhere and innovation gets stuck, as well as the appropriate metrics to be using in the early stages of innovation. Brian also talks us through how he thinks of building a culture of experimentation with a unique methodology and why everyone needs to equip themselves with skills of innovation and entrepreneurship.
If you are ready to:
- get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea
- be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change
- foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities…
Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com
Mentioned in This Episode:
Brian Ardinger on LinkedIn
Brian Ardinger on Twitter
Nelnet
InsideOutside.io
IQE Assessment
Innovation Is Everybody’s Business: How To Ignite, Scale And Sustain Innovation For Competitive Edge, by Tamara Ghandour
Everyday Innovators Online Academy
AIM Institute
The key to being a real innovator is simple: speak less. In this episode I share how "shutting up" is the key to uncovering innovative ideas.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Facebook group
Everyday Innovators Online Academy
Inside LaunchStreet Podcast
One question I keep getting from a lot of people is, How do I get people to listen to my ideas? And the interesting thing is that these people are coming from two very different ends of the spectrum. On the one hand, I have people who are struggling with being seen as too young or inexperienced, and so their ideas aren’t being taken seriously. On the other hand, I have people who are “overly experienced” and who have been on the job for a long time and are perceived as being stuck in their ways and resistant to innovation.
I have five great tips for you, regardless of whether you’re on one side of the spectrum or the other about how to get buy-in for your ideas and influence others. It all starts with how we think about convincing others.
Tip #1: When thinking about getting buy-in and influencing others, we often think about how to convince people. However, what I’ve discovered is that it’s not about convincing others — it's about convincing yourself and showing that confidence and belief in your own ideas!
Think about how you’re presenting yourself — do you have the confidence and conviction in your own ideas before you put them forward?
Tune in for four more tips about how to get people to listen to your ideas, whether you’re new and inexperienced, or are a legacy leader who is “overly experienced.”
If you are ready to:
- get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea
- be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change
- foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities…
Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com
Mentioned in This Episode:
“Burst of Innovation — How to Get Legacy Thinkers On Board With Change”
Inside Launch Street Podcast Episode: Strategies to Get Legacy Thinkers Behind Innovation
Somehow, kids just have a way of being blunt, direct and insightful without even trying. This podcast is a treat and full of value bombs. My sons and I often sit on the couch and chat before they go off to school. Sometimes what they say is so wise beyond their years that I started recording them. I don't often share or bring my kiddos into my work but this conversation with my 12 year old was too good to keep to myself. So, here's Ari in a moment we call, "you got me monologuing," talking about the difference between healthy and unhealthy mindset, not listening to toxic people and the power of focus.
We’ve all been there. We get started on a new project and we’re all excited and brimming with new ideas, but over time, we tend to fall back on old tricks and habits. It feels like the magic fades and it becomes so hard to keep it going, especially when the doubting and naysaying comes in. So, how can we keep our magic from getting stale as time passes?
It comes down to Kelley and Conner’s Emotional Cycle of Change — that’s why we start off with magic and excitement but then it dips down, and this applies to any change cycle, whether it's changing our habits, behaviors, mindsets, or driving a new idea or innovation. I share more about the five stages in this cycle — uninformed optimism, Informed pessimism, hopeful realism, informed optimism, and completion — and where we often get stuck or start to feel unmotivated.
I also have some strategies that you can put into action right away that can help you push through and keep the magic going in a realistic way, just by moving into the mindset of hopeful realism and informed optimism. By allowing us to keep the magic going but have a relationship with reality, we can keep changing and keep innovating. Find out five ways of how you can keep the magic alive too.
If you are ready to:
- get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea
- be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change
- foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities…
Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com
Mentioned in This Episode:
Free IQE Assessment
Everyday Innovators Online Academy
Focus@Will
Everyday Innovators Tribe
Leadership and Innovation with Tamara Ghandour Facebook Group
Kelley and Conner's Emotional Cycle of Change
Inside LaunchStreet Podcast Episode: Pushing Through the Bottom of the J-Curve
I'm often asked why I focus so heavily on human-centered innovation and why I know that's the difference between mediocrity and amazing. Well, in this quick episode I'm going to tackle that question and give you some quick but eye-opening context to how I know you have more to give too.
Most of us start off the new year with some ideas or resolutions of things we want to achieve, improve, or change from the previous year. However, not a lot of us make it to the end of seeing our resolutions through an entire year. What’s stopping us?
The reason for this — and the reason why most innovation efforts and behavior change efforts fail is that we reach the bottom of the J-curve and give up when faced with negativity, doubt, and frustration. We often think that change and innovation is a straight line accelerating upwards. Unfortunately, that's not how it works. It’s actually a J-curve where it starts off well, then it dips for a while before picking up again. And we often give up at the bottom of the J-curve, but that's exactly where we need to persevere and push through to reap the benefits of our hard work.
I share some of my own stories both in business and in my personal life about what it was like to hit the bottom of the J-curve, and what you can do when you're exhausted and frustrated at the bottom of the J curve, and feel like giving up. Hint: Use the things that weren't working as fuel to improve your idea.
If you are ready to:
- get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea
- be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change
- foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities…
Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com
Mentioned in This Episode:
Free IQE Assessment
Everyday Innovators Tribe
Everyday Innovators Online Academy
The Ed Mylett Show Podcast The Ed Mylett Show Podcast Episode: “Daymond John — Rise and Grind”
I used to believe that being innovative or considered an innovator was only for the select few. You know the ones with the blue streaks in their hair, the funky glasses and cool shoes. Turns out, I was totally wrong. Steve showed me the hard way that innovation is for everyone, even me (and you).
This is actually a flip interview where one of my IQE partners, Chris Chopyak is interviewing me for a Client she is working with.
Mentioned in this episode:
Chris Chopyak's company - Arlosoul
Innovation Quotient Edge for teams
Everyday Innovators Online Academy
Why do some people elevate to their highest level, and some people don’t? How can we all tap into our incredible ability to innovate and put it to work to perform at our maximum potential?
In reading and researching the topic of human performance, I realized that the foundation to elevating human performance lies in our ability to innovate, and there are three keys to unlocking it.
- Find a story that works for you and stick to it: What’s the story you tell yourself to keep you hungry and fighting to reach a higher level? Find it, and stick to it!
- Turn wants into needs: Do you fight harder for things you need or things you want? Reframe your goals from wants to needs.
- Understand and align with your strengths: You can avoid your weaknesses, but you can’t really win without leveraging your strengths, but that starts with really uncovering your strengths.
Here’s the thing. Being innovative is universal, but how we innovate is different. By using these three keys to unlock your human performance, you tap into your unique innovation abilities, reach new heights, and get to the next level.
If you are ready to:
- get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea
- be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change
- foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities…
Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com
Mentioned in This Episode:
Free IQE Assessment
Everyday Innovators Tribe
Tony Robbins on YouTube Burn The Boats: ONE OF THE BEST SPEECHES EVER A must Listen Tony Robbins
12 Week Year
Inside LaunchStreet Podcast Episode: “Play to Your Potential”
Have you ever worked with or met someone that is clearly on top of their game? They have the energy, the ideas and the voice to make things happen? That would describe today's Everyday Innovator Spotlight, Kelly Foster. I write about her in depth in my book, Innovation Is Everybody's Business, and I'm excited to share what she's up to in my podcast as well. I think we can all learn something from how Kelly understands and aligns with her Everyday Innovator strengths ( Collaborative Tweaker) to break down the silos that were hindering innovation and be a respected and valued voice in her organization and community.
Mentioned In This Podcast:
Book - Innovation Is Everybody's Business
Everyday Innovators Online Academy
Innovation Quotient Edge Assessment
The Mentorship Lab Blog Page
Kelly Foster on LinkedIn
Are you playing to your highest potential or are you just playing to the level of those around you?
I was watching my football team the other day and had this startling realization: When my team plays a good team, they're on fire. But when they play a weaker team, they make mistakes and mess up. What was happening? I realized they were playing to the level of the ability of their opponent, not their own. And what’s more - I realized that this is something we all do.
We have all enormous potential and ability, but too often, we let the playing field and our opponents dictate our own level of play. We fall into cycles of mediocrity because that’s what we’re used to seeing around us. But when we shift our mindset and decide to play at our highest ability instead of letting circumstances dictate what should happen, we will start seeing the rewards, despite the challenges.
If you are ready to:
- get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea
- be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change
- foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities…
Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com
Mentioned in This Episode:
Free IQE Assessment
Everyday Innovators Tribe