Today’s guest is known as The Empathy Strategist. He is a sought-after social influencer, executive coach, and entrepreneurial advisor whose passion lies in facilitating profound human connection in a deeply disconnected world.

He is the Founder + Chief Question Asker of the 7:47 Club, an organization that helps elite entrepreneurs build, grow, and ignite their community. Since its inception, the 7:47 Club has awakened over 2,500 leaders and sparked over 210,000 relationships.

He found his calling in helping individuals and teams build strong connections through Authenticity, Empathy, Vulnerability, and Safety. In a world that’s starving for connection, he thrives on curating meaningful relationships.

Please join me in welcoming  Chris Schembra.

In this episode we explore:

• his thoughts on leadership: “The actions I take and the way that I empower people to be the best version of themselves is my leadership calling.”
• how inventing pasta sauce and bringing 15 strangers around his dinner table literally saved his life.
• how he reaches people in transition and who feel stuck, and how his dinner table works to awaken authenticity, empathy, vulnerability, and feeling safe.
• why 7:47 is significant in empowering 11 people to work together to get everything done.
• his thoughts on the importance of diversity: speaking to the same circle will keep your message in that circle only. It’s important to reach people who reach other people.
• the C-Con-C model he uses for community building: Conductor, Connector, and Community.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 75

Today’s guest is a fellow super-connector, serial entrepreneur, and author. Her first business, founded in 2009, is a credit card processing company that spans 38 states. She next launched Network Under 40 in 2011 to help people make valuable social and professional connections that lead to friendships and business. This endeavor is now hosting sold-out events in 7 U.S. cities.

She also founded Finance Whiz Kids in 2012 to teach elementary-aged kids the basics of financial literacy through fun and engaging stories. Her kids’ book series by the same name caught the attention of the World Economic Forum and she was invited to their Annual Meeting in Davos to present about youth financial literacy.

The through-line of everything she does is what she calls “net weaving” – connecting the dots between one person or business to another. She gets so much joy from helping others get closer to their goals and has learned, in turn, that what goes around, comes around. To inspire others to follow suit, she founded the social movement #GiveItForward, which aims to empower 1,000,000 people to intentionally give to one person in some way every day, with no strings attached.

Please join me in welcoming Darrah Brustein.

In this episode we explore:

• her thoughts on leadership: Leadership is assessing whether it is more critical to stand in the spotlight or to provide support for someone else taking the reins, and then working where you are needed to empower those around you.
• how her biggest piece of advice for others is to understand how valuable follow-through is, and how follow-through is the biggest differential between people who are consistently successful vs. those who are not.
• her motivation for starting Networking Under 40, which is now active in 7 cities, with over 30,000 people involved.
• how she was able to grow to a place in her career where she has flexibility with her time, and now gets to pursue her passion for teaching others through speaking, writing, and many other outlets.
• her definition of a super-connector – someone who can’t help but go into the world and pair people together based on their different needs and offerings.
• how she aligns her relationships to allow her to genuinely engage with people on a regular basis and uses Google Calendar to help her engage consistently.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 74

Today’s guest went from high school English teacher to Broadway producer in under two years. How? Relationships. He is a social catalyst who believes in the power of making meaningful connections for others.

His success led him to develop a methodology that he teaches through his company Small Pond Enterprises which specializes in relationship design for founders, authors, and speakers interested in playing a bigger game. He works with thought leaders to curate, extend, and leverage their existing networks.

He cemented his reputation as a connector by founding ConnectorCon, a conference for a powerful community of thoughtful connectors who recognize the power of living in a world of abundance rather than scarcity — and he co-hosts the Access to Anyone podcast.

Please join me in welcoming Michael Roderick.

In this episode we explore:

• how being a teacher taught him the art of truly understanding what another person is going through, and how important it is to offer empathy before focusing on your own wants and needs.
• his mnemonic device for adding value to other people’s lives: RISE-UP.
• his thoughts on diversity: “there are no diversity problems in interests.” If you connect with people around shared interests you can broaden the diversity of your network.
• how he separates his work environment from his home environment by not ever bringing his work stuff into his non-work areas of his house.
• his process for being a superconnector: how he uses a spreadsheet and analyzes conversations to help connect people who will bring value to each others lives.
• his views on connections, and how people often keep draining people in their lives for fear of hurting someone’s feelings. However, “we have complete control over who we have in our lives,” and when we let go of the ones who don’t fit, we make room for others who do.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 73

Today’s guest is a business strategy coach who wants to live in a world where entrepreneurs work sensible hours, customer service is amazing, and everyone eats cake at yoga class.

She spent 20 years doing visual effects in film and TV – winning an Emmy and two projects she’s worked on have been multi Oscar nominated. At one point her work was on every bus and subway stop in NYC, and plastered all over Times Square.

She’s taken her decades of experience and now teaches others how to get focused and not derailed by the million things screaming for your attention. She does this through one-on-one coaching and online courses, but is best known for the Masterminds she runs that are ridiculously fun and highly effective. She brings her skills from film to create supportive mastermind teams so members work less and earn more.

Her British accent belies her Irish roots. She has lived all over the globe, growing up in Nigeria and Pakistan, and most recently living between London and New York City.

Please join me in welcoming Liz Scully.

In this episode we explore:

• her definition of leadership: “Leadership is strength, clarity, and kindness.”
• what working for 20 years in the entertainment industry taught her about leadership and her metaphor that life is like a cocktail party – where sometimes things go terribly wrong.
• the benefits and joy of being part of a mastermind – getting an “a ha!” moment and then spending time implementing this new idea.
• the elements that every quality mastermind addresses: mindset, dealing with fear, self-care, goals, and accountability.
• how asking people about masterminds is a great opening question at events – they know it and share tips or don’t and want to know more.
• her Christmas networking tip – you’ll have to listen to find out!

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 72

Today’s guest is an executive advisor, business coach and motivational speaker who has been called the “business whisperer” for his skilled and compassionate insights into what can keep a corporate culture from thriving. At age 23, he created one of the first internet marketing companies in America, then went on to great success at several national real estate firms. He has built, trained, expanded and restructured both sales teams and corporate structures, but after 20 years in a C-Suite, he knew it was time to make a business out of being himself. Now he teaches the secrets, hard work and discipline required to Think Big. Very Big! A prolific business blogger, he is the author of The Think Big Movement, a fable about getting unstuck and transforming a business.

Please join me in welcoming Jon Dwoskin.

In this episode we explore:

• how he defines leadership: “Being a positive influence in other people’s lives.”
• what do you want to be known for? Are you doing something today to meet that vision? “Small things everyday that compound over time into something big.”
• the influence of being surrounded by a family of entrepreneurs and how his father gave him Brian Tracy’s “The Psychology of Success” tapes and told him
• his early career pursuits and how they led him to take the leap into being his own boss.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 71

Today’s guest is a world authority on executive stress. She is currently CEO of a leading UK Stress and Wellbeing consultancy and Chair of the International Stress Management Association UK. In 1988, she founded Stress Awareness Day which is celebrated around the world. She is a well-respected authority on building resilience and managing organizational change.Through her work as an international motivational speaker and coach, she has worked with global companies in the US, UK and in the Middle East. She is often called by the media to provide comment around issues of workplace stress and bullying and has appeared on BBC, CNN, and Studio One-Dubai – to name but a few. Her latest book “Show Stress Who’s Boss!” has been translated into Arabic and is available in the United Arab Emirates.

Please join me in welcoming Carole Spiers.

In this episode we explore:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Leaders know that the people following them are every bit as integral to the team as they are in leading them.”
• how she started a conversation about stress management within companies in the 1980s long before it was the topic du jour.
• how she ended up working in The Middle East despite not knowing anyone in the area and what it taught her about the value of a diverse network.
• lessons learned from offering stress management in war zones and the reality check it provides to the everyday stress of white collar workers.
• how she sees opportunities for her business around every corner and how that challenges her ability to “turn off,” although she values her downtime with family.
• how she builds her diverse network: “I am endlessly curious. If you are curious about people and if you are an interesting person yourself and you are interested in other people – then people will be drawn to you.”

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 70

Today’s guest has been called “the Johnny Appleseed of fundraising” since the only thing he loves more than asking for money is teaching people to ask for money! Over the past 16 years, his organizational and leadership coaching and trainings have helped tens of thousands of nonprofits advance their missions, meet revenue goals, and improve the lives of their staff and supporters. He is the founder of The Concord Leadership Group and of FundraisingCoach.com.

Currently, he is the executive director of TheNonprofitAcademy.com and an Advisory Panel member of Rogare, a prestigious international fundraising think tank. He is the author of several books on fundraising, including “Ask Without Fear!®” a step-by-step guide on how to build authentic relationships with your donors. His expertise and enthusiasm engages audiences around the world and has caught the attention of media organizations as diverse as Al Jazeera, SUCCESS Magazine, and Fox News.

Please join me in welcoming Marc A. Pitman.

In this episode we explore:

• his thoughts on leadership “Influence has always been a big part of my understanding of leadership.”
• how his parents included him as they learned about leadership and selling as an Amway family – encouraging him to read Dale Carnegie and Frank Bettger classics – and the influence that has had on how he educates his children.
• his framework for leadership: Observe – Experiment – Analyze – Focus “People often get stuck in the experimenting and analyzing stage, not feeling confident enough to say ‘That doesn’t work for me.’”
• hardships don’t disqualify you as a leader – leadership is forged in the hottest fire.
• how he intentionally sends thank you notes to rock stars in his field AND his wife – which is his most important relationship that he needs to nurture.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 69

Today’s guest is a leader in the fields of executive communications, leadership development, and talent management.

She began her career in retail and import industries, which included working extensively in Asia, Latin America, and Africa to negotiate with manufacturers and inspect factories for U.N. Health and Safety violations. She also led customer service for over twenty domestic and international member stores and ran a multi-million dollar warehousing service.

Her international experience provided the foundation for her subsequent leadership development work, helping senior executives communicate more effectively across cultural, generational, functional, and regional boundaries. She shows her coaching clients how to communicate with greater impact and increase their leadership presence. She has overseen organizational effectiveness for a Fortune 500 company and consulted with numerous corporations in the pharmaceutical, advertising, publishing, and financial services industries.

Combining pragmatism with customized solutions, she brings authenticity, determination, humor, and insight to everything she does. A frequent blogger, she has been quoted extensively in Fast Company, Forbes, Fortune and numerous other publications.

Please join me in welcoming Nancy Halpern.

In this episode we explore:

• how she views leadership: “Leadership is like being a duck. Ducks glide effortlessly across the pond and yet underneath the water, where no one can see, they are pedaling furiously to not even go very quickly. I think that people rely on leaders to have that sort of calmness but also to be these engines that drive everything forward.”
• lessons learned early on when she was trying to prove her worth as a new manager are now the lessons she teaches her clients.
• young managers should take advantage of being young by seeking mentors, doing so will make you seem open to feedback and learning.
• strategies to broaden her professional network includes hosting a variety of events at her home. “I’m better at being a host than a guest.”

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 68

Today’s guest is an entrepreneur, TED speaker, and award-winning author who has been named USA Today’s “Most Connected Millennial” after spending years identifying and connecting hundreds of the world’s smartest and most talented Millennials.

His first book “2 Billion Under 20” was voted the “#1 Entrepreneurship Book of 2015” and his second book, “3 Billion under 30” just came out in January and shares seemingly superhuman stories of millennials who collectively have started companies worth billions and influence hundreds of millions of people each week through their inventions, media companies, social media accounts, and movements.

All of this has led him to become a go-to marketing and business development consultant for venture-backed startups, Fortune 500 companies, New York Times bestselling authors, Olympians, and many others.

He’s been featured by almost every major media outlet including Mashable, FOX, ABC, Washington Post, Forbes, Fortune, and Fast Company. He’s even been called a “Champion For Humanity” by the United Nations.

Please join me in welcoming Jared Kleinert.

In this episode we explore:

• how he defines leadership: “Leadership is uniting other people in solving bigger problems than themselves, like problems in society or challenges in business.”
• growing up in an entrepreneurial family gave him a “priceless exposure to business and entrepreneurship” and inspired him to start his first business at 15 years old.
• the importance of choosing mentors wisely and developing strong relationships with leaders in your field.
• the emphasis he places on having a very diverse set of influences, people in his network are in different stages of life, different industries, etc.
• how he thinks strategically to figure out how to make connections that will pay off in 3-10 years.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 67

Today’s guest is a marketing leadership advisor, keynote speaker, and award-winning author who helps courageous CEOs and CMOs accelerate growth and innovation.

She is the Chief Energy Officer of EnergizeGrowth® and the founder of several private peer groups, including Marketing Leaders of DC™ and Marketing Leaders of Atlanta.

Innovative companies such as Adobe, LinkedIn, Google, and Hilton hire her to gain fresh insights and launch breakthrough marketing ideas.

Please join me in welcoming Lisa Nirell.

In this episode we explore:

• how she defines leadership: “The ability to inspire others to take action.”
• early opportunities to work in retail, especially a family business, is a great learning ground for understanding sales, upselling, and work ethic.
• how her business is ever-evolving: “80% of my revenue today is for services & products that didn’t exist two years ago.”
• work/life integration (not balance) because she doesn’t have a personal life and a professional life – she has one life
• her advice to those getting started in their career: “Surround yourself with the people you aspire to be one day.”

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 66

Today’s guest is a top internet influencer, a true podcasting pioneer.  In 2005, he launched the first podcast devoted to internet business and online marketing. To this day “Internet Business Mastery” is one of the most profitable business podcasts on iTunes – generating millions of dollars in direct sales.

He believes in the collective power of the self-made influencer to elevate the world with their story, message, and wisdom. He helps these thought leaders to turn their brilliance into effective internet content and courses so that they can reach more people and generate a greater impact with their ideas.

He has spoken around the world inspiring thousands to launch and grow their own personal brands, having personally launched more than 60 online courses, taught 7,000 students and seen his podcast downloaded 8 million times.

Please join me in welcoming Jason Van Orden.

In this episode we explore:

• his definition of leadership: “Leadership is knowing what you stand for, knowing who it is you want to serve… and having a message to bring to the world.”
• how his motivation to become an entrepreneur was his passion for teaching AND freedom.
• the origin story of how his podcast got started back in 2005, when the medium was barely known, and what’s motivated him to keep it going.
• how having a legacy has become more important to him: “How do I show up best in the world? How can I do that as fully as possible?
• How can I use that to create the best value?”
  how, as an introvert, he made reaching out to colleagues a habit and now can’t imagine building his business without these conversations each week.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 65

Today’s guest is a storyteller whose career began at age 12 when she scored her first paid writing gig. Her writing career has only gained momentum since, with regular contributions to Inc., Entrepreneur, and Huffington Post.  She is also no stranger to radio and television. Her work has been featured on CNN, ABC, CBC, The New York Times, Reader’s Digest…just to name a few. She is also a keynote speaker, TV personality and host of her own podcast.

I mention all of her success getting visibility through different media channels, because through her course Baby Got Booked, she teaches others how to grab the attention of a busy producer, editor, blogger or podcaster, and make an audience fall in love with you.

So much of what she shares and how she built her business is about relationship building that I had to have her on On the Schmooze. I’ve had the good fortune of meeting her in person so I can also confirm that her approachable and fun personality is who she is off stage as well as on.

Please join me in welcoming Geeta Nadkarni.

In this episode we explore:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Everybody has the ability to lead, everybody is a leader in their own way.”
• how her parents saw and helped develop her talent at presenting and storytelling.
• what it means to be “full of yourself” – when it’s no longer about you, it’s about how can you show up for other people.
• the incredibly powerful story of how Spanx founder Sara Blakely’s belief in her product made it a phenomenon – after years of effort.
• her “impact filter” that helps her decide whether to move ahead with a project that she wants to take on – to avoid shiny object syndrome.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 64

Today’s guest is an “astrophysicist turned new media whiz” who has earned five Ivy League degrees and holds six patents. He helped build an X-ray observational satellite for NASA, and has co-founded and led several ventures.

A serious athlete, he has completed six marathons and competed at the World and National level of Ultimate Frisbee. He has swam across the Hudson River, and has done burpees every day for six years, 90,000 and counting.

Although his passions are dramatically diverse, his dedication to excellence in them all has established him as a thought leader in fields that include science, invention, entrepreneurship, art, leadership, coaching, and education.

My guest co-founded Submedia, which brought to market one of his inventions – a technology to display motion pictures for subway riders to enjoy between stations, thereby pioneering the field of commercial in-tunnel media. Submedia has grown worldwide to install dozens of displays in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

His book “Leadership Step by Step” is a powerful and practical guide to help readers cultivate key abilities, behaviors, and beliefs through experience. This isn’t your run of the mill leadership book.

Please join me in welcoming Josh Spodek.

In this episode we explore:

• how he defines leadership: “To influence at least one other person to achieve a common goal.”
• his poor people skills early in his career was a blind spot that led to him losing his company and a humbling “ah ha!” moment in business school
• not being born with leadership skills doesn’t mean you can’t acquire them - through experiential learning. “You can’t read to get integrity. No amount of lectures you can listen to to get persistence.”
• the challenge of communicating how different his leadership lessons are from traditional learning. Curious? Watch this video: NYU Students Speak About Joshua Spodek’s Entrepreneurship and Leadership Courses
• how work/life balance is a misnomer - Keith Richards doesn't worry about work/life balance, he loves what he does all of the time.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 63

Today’s guest is a speaker and advisor who helps companies tap into the human side of business. Over the course of her expansive career, she has experienced her fair share of disruption and corporate upheaval. Surviving all manner of corporate restructuring, reorganization, and multi-billion dollar acquisitions, she has seen firsthand how growth objectives suffer because people strategies fall short of expectations. That’s why she’s made it her mission to help companies cultivate the human point of view in today’s data-driven era.

An internationally skilled C-suite marketing executive, she has over 25 years of experience working in global advertising, marketing, and corporate communications for a variety of industry-leading companies such as Kraft, Unilever, Nokia, Cadbury, Coors, Gerber’s, and NAVTEQ.

She is currently writing the book, Now What? A survivor’s guide for navigating and thriving through acquisition, which will help companies and their workforces flourish through mergers and acquisitions.

Please join me in welcoming Jennifer J. Fondrevay

In this episode we explore:

• how she defines leadership “The most impressive leaders have a sense of humility.”
• benefits of building trust in your team and getting positive peer feedback: “I really enjoy working with you, I do my best work when working with you.”
• her “philosophy of pay it forward and give. Always look for how you can give to others.”
• how writing a book is only the first step if you want to have a true impact on the world
• the benefits of being inclusive when networking and strategies for connecting at events – “The onus is on you. You can always get something out of a conference. If you go at it with the right mindset.”

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 62

Today’s guest is a 5-time bestselling author and the CEO of an online publishing business that grew to $1.3 million in the first year and is now on pace to do over $3.2 million in 2017. He’s helped thousands of people on their journey to writing and publishing their first book through his company Self-Publishing School.

He wrote and published his first book while in college and it was such a success that he dropped out of school. Realizing he could earn thousands of dollars a month in passive income was a huge epiphany. His life’s mission became helping other people unlock that same experience.

He was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug at an early age when he saw that he could make a lot more money working for himself. While his friends were off searching for jobs, he was out starting businesses. By age 20 his businesses earned over $320,000 and he received the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from Young Entrepreneurs Across America.

Please join me in welcoming Chandler Bolt.

In this episode we explore:

• his definition of leadership: “Leadership means growing, coaching, and building people up.”
• the wake-up call that made him realize he needed to become a better leader or risk losing it all.
• how he finds time to read a book every week – and the growth he’s seen because of this practice.
• the daily practice he did for a year that helped him grow and deepen his professional network.
• three simple things to live a very healthy life that everyone knows and hardly anyone does.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 61

Today’s guest created her first website at age 12 when she was living in Poland – a site that had 40,000 views in just a few months.  Eight years later, she was a successful photographer in Chicago when she began to experience the power of social media and the impact the internet can have on a business. This led her to found a health and wellness blog in 2012, which attracted over 100,000 monthly views and 45,000 monthly readers.

After she sold this site, she focused on growing a business to help entrepreneurs blow up and scale up their businesses to become true leaders online. She teaches her clients and community how to leverage their own natural personalities into strategic marketing campaigns that are both profitable AND fun.

To say that she is a digital native seems like a huge understatement. She lives and breathes digital marketing and is known as the “Blow Up, Scale Up” Marketing Strategist.

Please join me in welcoming Kamila Gornia.

In this episode we explore:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Anybody that thinks just of themselves is not a true leader.”
• how she went from a shy girl in Poland with the love of Japanese manga and anime to running a successful website about it at age 12 (and now an experienced marketing strategist at age 27).
• the rewards of being able to empower people to actually take action.
• the growing pains she experienced as she went from solopreneur to managing a team and scaling her business.
• how to use dinner parties to create stronger connections with your network

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 60

Today’s guest arrived in the United States in 1989 with 194 dollars in his pocket and a very limited ability to speak English. He is now known world-wide as the Millionaire Marketing Mentor.

He is the go-to guy for coaches, consultants, and other successful service professionals who want to attract more clients, convert more high-value sales, build an authority brand, and grow a lifestyle business that makes a bigger impact while generating more income.

His clients and students have experienced incredible success, often doubling and tripling their businesses. He is a zealous believer in free enterprise, entrepreneurship and that only you determine the limits of your success!

Our guest believes that success is not just about financial rewards from your business, but also about health, family, friends, spirituality, and contribution to others combined all together to create a balanced, fulfilled life.

Please join me in welcoming Adam Urbanski.

• how he defines leadership: “The ability to paint pictures that allow people to open up to their potential.”
• his first days in the U.S. with $194, limited English, and no plan B.
• his fear of being judged for his accent and the culture shocked he experienced.
• how he’s addicted to results for his clients and achieves a 95% success rate
• the importance of client selection. “Every bad client you take is going to derail you and delay you for weeks, months, possibly even years and slow down your growth and your progress. Don’t do that. No matter how desperate you are.”

Listen, subscribe, and read show notes at www.OntheSchmooze.com - episode 59.

Robbie Samuels hosted a Q&A webinar to answer questions around networking and relationship building. He shared many networking tips and techniques and invited participants to sign up for a phone call with him to discuss joining Empowered Networking, his pilot group coaching program. Sign up for a call at www.meetme.so/Robbie.

Today’s guest is a successful podcast host and influencer, not so long ago she was a correctional officer. Many days she would wake up unhappy and realized if that was going to change she needed to make it happen. She cast aside her self doubt and fear to create a job that she loves. Like many successful entrepreneurs, she shows us that with determination and perseverance you can find a career that is fulfilling and makes you happy.

To date she has interviewed over 220 high-achieving business owners and CEO’s on her own podcast, The Business Building Rockstars Show. She knows a thing or two about what makes an interview guest stand out and how to turn listeners into leads. She took that knowledge and launched a second podcast, Get Guest Ready, and her venture, Interviews that Convert. She inspires and helps business owners increase their visibility exponentially through podcast guesting. For her achievements, Huffington Post has recognized her as one of 50 Must-Follow Women Entrepreneurs in 2017.

Please join me in welcoming Nicole Holland.

In this episode we explore:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership for me is being authentic.”
• her journey from correctional officer to becoming a major player in the world of podcasts and entrepreneurs
• how she shifted from being extremely private online to having a very public persona
• how she created her first virtual summit, despite not knowing anyone or having ever interviewed someone before
• she offers a free resource to learn how to become a guest on podcasts: www.interviewsthatconvert.com/schmooze

Stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear what I thought were the key takeaways you could put into practice this week and benefit from for years to come.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchoomze.com - episode 58

Today’s guest believes that no matter what obstacles we face, what burdens we bear, what trials we’ve experienced, we can all be content with our present situation and optimistic about the future.

He is Chief Business Officer at Google’s [X], an elite team of engineers that comprise Google’s futuristic “dream factory.” In 2001, he realized that despite his incredible success, he was desperately unhappy. A lifelong learner, he attacked the problem as an engineer would. Starting with his understanding of how the brain takes in and processes joy and sadness, he applied his superior skills of logic and problem solving to the issue of happiness. The result: he discovered the equation for permanent happiness.

He shares his algorithm in his book Solve for Happy, where he questions some of the most fundamental aspects of our existence, shares the underlying reasons for suffering, and plots out a step-by-step process for achieving lifelong happiness and enduring contentment.

Please join me in welcoming Mo Gawdat.

In this episode we explore:

• how he defines leadership: “Leadership is to be aligned with the value system and the destination of those you lead.”
• the need to be adaptive and adjust our style of leadership depending on the situation
• his view of success isn’t measured by Silicon Valley expectations: “What you really need to enjoy life is to be aligned somehow with that core inside you that keeps telling you every morning, “I should be doing this, because this is what I believe in, this is how I see the world, and how I see the world should become.”
• how he and his family dealt with the death of his son “with flying colors” by using his “Solve for Happy” formula
• the importance of being present and meditating on everything, “…because presence truly is the most powerful tool we have as executives and leaders.”

Listen, subscribe, and read show notes at www.OntheSchmooze.com - episode 57.

Today’s guest has been called an ‘energizer powerhouse’ by event planners and meeting organizers worldwide. Her high-energy keynote speeches are filled with rich content that empowers her audience to take action.

It’s safe to say that she is not a run of the mill speaker. She has leveraged her sassy style and Aussie accent to become a ray of sunshine in an otherwise grey corporate world. Doing so, she has earned the respect of a wide range of clients, including Comcast, Johnson & Johnson, the FBI, and Virgin. She brings to them her vast experience in retail, banking, telecommunications and the oil industry.

As a thought leader in the area of productivity, she is obsessed with helping clever people get more done so they can create more significant moments in their lives. “You don’t have time to do everything, only time to do what matters.”

She often appears in the media sharing her expertise and is a published author and contributor to eight books. In 2017, she will publish “Attention Pays!” which shares one of her core messages, that the art and practice of paying attention holds the key to greater success, higher sales, phenomenal customer service and unlimited referrals.

Please join me in welcoming Neen James.

In this episode we explore:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is paying attention to what matters. It’s really easy to get distracted by everything and everyone around you. But true leaders know how to distinguish between what is happening and what really matters. Busy is not productive.”
• the benefits of being a host and making everyone around her feel comfortable at events
• time management was a hot topic, then productivity because of the influx of devices and inboxes, and now Neen says attention is where we need to focus our efforts.
• powerful lesson learned from a 5 year old to “Listen with your eyes.”
• Neen’s amazing tips for how to make great connections at conferences – some of which are in my newly released book “Croissants vs. Bagels: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking at Conferences.”

Stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear what I thought were the key takeaways you could put into practice this week and benefit from for years to come.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchoomze.com - episode 56

Welcome back to On the Schmooze! This week, I’m reading the Introduction to my new book “Croissants vs. Bagels: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking at Conferences.” Download the Kindle book today – it’s free for a few more hours and then 99 cents the rest of this week (regularly $9.99).

The night before my book launch this past weekend, I was up late refreshing my Amazon page over and over again. I had set an audacious goal of 100 reviews before my public launch and was incredibly close to achieving it. The number of reviews remained at 94 now matter how many times I refreshed. Then I remembered that some of my team were posting on Amazon sites in their home countries. I found a list of these sites on Wikipedia and checked my book page on each one of them. I found 7 more reviews! 

“Croissants vs. Bagels: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking at Conferences” launched two days ago and there was a tremendous response with 1240 downloads in one day! Over 2,000 downloads since it soft launched a few days ago.

The number of reviews on Amazon.com is currently 125 and new reviews are posted regularly. I'd love you to read my book and write an honest review. My next goal is to reach 200 reviews.

My book even cracked the Top 100 Free list for a bit – was at #95 Monday morning! Huge thank you to the nearly 350 people on my launch team.

Get your free Kindle book at www.robbiesamuels.com/bookstore. The free promotion ends at 3 pm ET today and will be 99 cents the rest of this week. The paperback will be available in a few weeks (once the audiobook is done since the paperback includes a free audiobook).

I’m offering a special bonus bundle for the first 100 people who join my email list. The bonus bundle is all of the transcripts from the solo shows I recorded in my first year of podcasting. That’s 25 networking tips and techniques spelled out in detail with specific steps you can follow to help you achieve your success. Plus, quotes from my first 25 podcast guests – their answer to the question about how they define leadership. Their answers ranged from inspirational to cautious. I hope their wisdom and these networking tips help achieve your personal and professional goals.

Listen, Subscribe and Read show notes at www.OntheSchmooze.com - Episode 55.

Today’s guest is a leading expert on real estate damage and has consulted on major catastrophes around the globe. He consulted on the World Trade Center, the Flight 93 Crash Sites, the BP Oil Spill, Hurricane Katrina, and several tragedies including Jon Benet Ramsey, OJ Simpson, and the Heaven’s Gate mass suicide mansion. Earning him the nickname “Master of Disaster.”

Currently, he leads Landmark Research Group. Prior to this, he led a national practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers, the world’s largest consulting firm. His extensive research has taken him to all 50 states and the seven continents. He is known for his ability to gather complex information and present his findings in a straight-forward, intelligent way.

His book “Me We Do Be” shares principles that are the result of his research at the intersection of sociology and economics. He interweaves classic behavioral research with his own work on high-profile cases―to reveal why some dive, some survive, and others thrive.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Randall Bell.

In this episode we explore:

• how he defines leadership: “The greatest myth out there is that leadership is some kind of position, title, or degree. Leadership has nothing to do with any of that. Leadership is essentially doing things in a way that others will want to follow.”
• his journey over 25 years that resulted in the creation of his Me We Do Be principles.
• how he maintains relationships across vast geography and disciplines with the help of technology you have in your pocket.
• the simple truth that building great relationships is based on kindness and empathy.
• the power of the phone calls in an age of digital connection

Stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear what I thought were the key takeaways you could put into practice this week and benefit from for years to come.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchoomze.com - episode 54

Today’s guest is an executive leader with international experience who has worked at the most senior levels of two Fortune 100 companies and is known as a strategic collaborator who brings people together to do great things.

What caught my attention was her groundbreaking, paradigm-shifting, transformational book, “True South.” This book will teach you how to master the art of faking authentic leadership. You’ll have your employees, customers, and shareholders eating out of your hands with these tricks and tips designed to save you time and prevent uncomfortable displays of vulnerability.

Yes, it’s as funny as it sounds. It’s her hope that her readers will be able to use this parody of corporate life, and the shared laughter that results, to spark conversation and change in the workplace

This book is one of the ways she shares her passion for designing strategies and conversations that engage people, creating holistic solutions, and transforming organizations. All of this is built upon her expertise in communications, culture change, collaboration, executive effectiveness and team leadership.

Please join me in welcoming Elizabeth George.

In this episode we explore:

• how she defines leadership: “Having self-awareness to know who you are and who you are not, and then having the courage to be who you are.”
• what she did when her leadership style was called out when she was just getting started in her career.
• how the qualities of a leader have changed over the years and how she didn’t see herself as a leader under the old definition.
• what led her to write a humorous take on leadership books and how it ended up becoming a parable that unintentionally shares serious takeaways.

Stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear what I thought were the key takeaways you could put into practice this week and benefit from for years to come.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchoomze.com - episode 53

Today’s guest is a builder. He is best known for building a multi-million dollar business with his childhood friends, ShipOffers, which has been an INC 5000 Company for the past three years in a row. In 2015, he launched a podcast to build a community where struggling entrepreneurs know they can achieve anything they want despite their past.

The journey to self-fulfillment wasn’t easy. He almost lost it all in 2008 after years of struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. Facing the near destruction of his marriage and the sad realization that he was negatively affecting his children’s lives, he made the decision that year to get sober, and he has stayed sober ever since.

As he got clean, he also became clear about his vision to help others find their passion and achieve more. With this in mind, he launched his podcast, The Tony G Show, that brings together his love for business, radio and life.

Please join me in welcoming Tony Grebmeier.

In this episode we explore:

• his definition of an authentic leader: “I made all of these faults and I’m here to tell you that you can get out of anything you’ve done if you have the willingness, the capacity to be honest and admit your faults.”
• the teachers and coaches who have pushed him to think differently, including his friend who said, “Your life has meaning and purpose, but what you are doing right now doesn’t.”
• how he changed his attitude and now embraces life and loves finding ways to help others succeed.
• the investment he has made in himself to go from a “diseased mindset to an empowered mindset.”

Stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear what I thought were the key takeaways you could put into practice this week and benefit from for years to come.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchoomze.com - episode 52