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