Today’s guest is not self-made… he’s Community Made.

He has a strong desire to "rise the tide" for everyone and is passionate about supporting community builders who focus their energy on under-resourced communities.

Named one of Forbes “Top Networkers to Watch” he founded one of the world’s most exclusive communities for entrepreneurs. With just shy of 19,500 applications since its inception in 2013, the invite-only MastermindTalks Community has a lower acceptance rate than Harvard University. MMT Community brings together brilliant minds from various industries for curated networking, targeted troubleshooting, and custom live and virtual events.

His work has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, Forbes, Lifehacker, Business Insider, and in Tim Ferriss's New York Times bestseller, “Tools of Titans.” He is also the founder and host of Community Made, a top-rated business podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Please join me in welcoming Jayson Gaignard.

In this episode we discuss:

• his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is creating an alignment of strengths that make weaknesses irrelevant.”
• how he didn’t consider himself a leader until the pandemic.
• his capacity for empathy and why he considers that a unique ability.
• how finding his mentor at 18 helped guide him down his current path.
• how academics did not play a huge part in his development.
  the importance of surrounding himself with people who think bigger than him.
• his start as a personal concierge being everything to everyone.
• his start in a product-based business sourcing and selling tickets to concerts and sporting events.
• how attending a Seth Godin event about connecting value changed his trajectory after his business failed (aka he burned it to the ground).
• how his first conference, which was planned more like a wedding, led to the present day MMT Community.
• how resourcefulness plays a huge role in his success.
• how he nurtures and sustains the outer layers of his network.

This week's On the Schmooze episode is the 250th episode – wow.

That means I’ve produced 50 episodes a year for five years. I almost gave this all up three years ago and I’m so grateful I stuck with it. The show has only gotten better since then and I learned it’s not about just meeting but surpassing milestones to experience my full impact on the world.

For this special episode, my virtual assistant Peya Robbins interviews ME. That’s right, the tables were turned so you can learn about the host behind the mic.

Please join me in welcoming today’s guest host Peya Robbins.

In this episode we discuss:

• his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is showing up and adding value. It’s about moving forward.”
• how and why Robbie hired Peya in February 2020.
• how saying yes to something smaller can create opportunities for something bigger.
• Robbie’s definition of success.
• Robbie’s realization that he is actually an Emcee (and Peya’s shock that he did not know that before).
• learn about how professional speakers abdicate their authority while speaking.
• how Robbie’s ideal clients found him.
• his experience with coaching and how he had the opportunity to work with a wide range of entrepreneurs on their pilot offer.
• one of the biggest lessons during the pandemic.
• why Robbie shares his knowledge and experience generously.
• how hosting is his answer to how he nurtures and sustains his network.

Today’s guest wants women to live their most epic life every day.

She is a master facilitator, leadership trainer, joy instigator, and community strategist who first fell in love with transformational leadership as a camp counselor. Two degrees and 15 years of facilitation training later, she decided to give herself permission to be the Professional Camp Counselor she knew she was born to be.

She is the founder of The Magnetic Leader™ Collective, where she trains leaders and speakers to connect powerfully with their audience through creating EPIC and engaging meetings, workshops, and events. Her mission is to empower, inspire, and motivate leaders to cultivate confidence and create transformational experiences that change people's lives.

Please join me in welcoming Marli Williams.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is making something happen that wouldn’t already be happening. It is seeing what’s possible.”
• her ability to bring people together, host, and build community as a kiddo on the playground.
• her inclination to always be involved in school.
• her 50-day experiment to find herself and how that led her to change directions and study Outdoor Education.
• her path to grad school and how she incorporated getting outside with building community for incoming students.
• how she decided on entrepreneurship.
• how immersing herself into entrepreneurship and attending events led to her moving to Portland to be around her newfound colleagues.
• her passion for helping women live in their power to share their gifts with the world.
• how she nurtures and sustains the outer layers of her network and community.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 249.

I have a special treat for you this week. This is only the second time I’ve had a guest back on the show. Today’s guest is a super-connector who brings brilliant minds together.

You can read a long list of his accolades in the intro for episode 67, I’ll put a link in today’s show notes. For instance, he spoke at a TED@IBM event the day before his 20th birthday, was a delegate to President Obama's 2013 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Malaysia, and has been featured in Forbes, TIME, Harvard Business Review, and Fortune.

His latest company, Meeting of the Minds, brings together "super-connectors" and subject matter experts at invite-only events. Members of the MOTM network include CEOs of 7, 8, and 9-figure businesses, creators of globally-recognized brands and social movements, New York Times bestselling authors, founders of pre-IPO tech unicorns, and c-suite execs from Fortune 500 companies.

He has written multiple books including the "#1 Entrepreneurship Book of 2015.” I’ve invited him back because he just released his latest book “How To Build A World-Class Network In Record Time.”

Please join me in welcoming Jared Kleinert.

In this episode we discuss:

• his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is being a super connector. It is someone well connected and well regarded in their industry. It’s someone who shares value in any industry.”
• his positive and negative experiences getting started in entrepreneurship in his teens.
• how he planned for his business during the pandemic.
• how he explored and deepened his current connections.
• the importance of your network to gather information and learn new things.
• the mindfulness he keeps about his clients, customers, and relationships and how that changes how he networks in certain situations.
• how he builds his network.
• his new lifestyle business venture and a sneak peak into his new book.
• how he nurtures and sustains the outer layers of his network.