Archive for October 28th, 2007

Podcast 22: Stand Out! with Simon Vetter

Published by
Greg
at October 28, 2007 in Consulting Organizations, Great Books, Leadership Courses, Personal Growth Courses, Podcasts and Resources. 0 Comments

Years ago I was attempting to get Dale Carnegie and Associates to look at a software system I had developed for sales representatives, when I met Simon Vetter. At the time, Simon was working for the San Diego office of Dale Carnegie as a sales associate. That was quite a few years ago and both Simon and I have moved on to other ventures. However, Simon always kept in touch with me over the years and as a matter of fact I hired him do some marketing consulting for a company that I owned. I have always been impressed with Simon’s tenacity and thorough approach to everything that he does. He is a master at marketing and has developed those skills through study and application in the field of sales. Currently, he is coaching people and organizations on marketing and branding themselves.

Simon’s recent book entitled, “Stand Out! Branding Strategies for Business Professionals“, is an excellent book for anyone wishing to learn more about personal branding. Simon can help anyone find their unique qualities and talents which will help them in differentiating themselves from the rest of the crowd. In my interview with Simon, he reveals what he learned from the following professionals, who Simon believes are amongst the best at personal branding. Simon interviews are with professional speakers and business people such as: Nido Qubein, Tony Alessandra, Beverly Kaye, Marshall Goldsmith, David Allen, Gayle Carson, Brian Tracy and Jim Kouzes. Simon learned something different with each of these professionals and articulates how they built their strong personal brand. In my interview with Simon he reveals the top ten (10) rules of personal branding, five (5) insights and five (5) commandments.

Simon states that, ” Whatever we do, we leave an impression. We send out signals all the time. It’s like walking through fresh snow. We cannot hide the footprints behind us. People all around us-at work, at home, in the gym, at a restaurant-see and observe us. Our brand is based on the experience people have with us. Every action, every word, every element of our appearance is noted, recorded, and judged by everyone we meet. Ultimately, we always leave a mark and at the same time this is the process of brand building.”

Simon VetterI encourage you to listen to the informative interview on personal branding. Simon discusses important issues as it relates to building a better personal brand and image. I love the quote in his book by Gandhi , ” Be the change you wish to see.” If you want to build a better YOU, then I encourage you to visit Simon Vetters’ site and pick up a copy of his book, Stand Out! Branding Strategies for Business Professionals.

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.

Podcast 21: Master Storytelling Coach Karen Dietz

Published by
Greg
at October 28, 2007 in Communications, Consulting Organizations, Great Books, Personal Growth Courses, Podcasts and Resources. 0 Comments

I first met Karen through a good friend, Joe Sterling. Joe had started a non-profit organization in San Diego called, “The Free Agent Ecosystem“. During its formation, Karen was one of his partners and an original founder. I was intrigued not only by the work they were doing together, but by Karen’s knowledge around corporate storytelling.

Karen ultimately left San Diego a few years ago and headed to Tennessee to become the Executive Director of the National Storytelling Network, where she was responsible for growing the organization’s membership. While at the National Storytelling Network, she became friends with Lisa Silverman and Karen helped author a book with Lisa entitled, “Wake Me Up When the Data Is Over: How Organizations Use Stories to Drive Results“. In this book Lisa and Karen explore how storytelling can help create clear direction, increase energy, and save millions in decreased costs while helping with the retention of talent.

In this interview with Karen, we explore the power of storytelling for the listener, and how it can transform an organization’s culture. I personally have been coached by Karen and her ability to help you take your story and transform it into a compelling, engaging and enlightening talk is truly amazing. Within a matter of a few sessions, a story that what was once dull and unexciting becomes something that your audiences will be moved by and desiring to know more. She truly knows how to coach you and so that you obtain incredible results. I found working with her to be one of the best investments I’ve made in my personal career.

If you don’t know much about the art of storytelling and you want to learn more to help you convey your message with vivid pictures and moving examples, then you have come to the right place. I welcome you to set back, relax and enjoy this great interview with a lovely woman who knows how to craft words into more than just words, they become moving pictures in your mind.

Karen Dietz If you would like to learn more about Karen’s coaching practice please visit Polaris Associates web site. She has information about her workshops and consulting services.

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.

Podcast 20: The Accidental CEO with Tom Voccola

Published by
Greg
at October 28, 2007 in Consulting Organizations, Great Books, Leadership Courses, Personal Growth Courses and Podcasts. 4 Comments

I met Tom Voccola in a very serendipitous manner. I happen to be attending a reunion for my graduating class at University of Santa Monica and had the wonderful fortune of setting next to Tom and his lovely wife Frances with whom I graduated in 2005. As the evening progressed our dialogue become more intense and I become quite interested in what both Tom and Frances were doing through a company they jointly owned called CEO2, Creating Extraordinary Organizations. I found out that Tom had just authored a book entitled, “The Accidental CEO - A Leader’s Journey from Ego to Purpose“, which is about a leader’s journey from Ego to Purpose. Tom, having been a CEO for several different companies, certainly speaks from a position of experience and authority. He has coached and consulted with many other CEOs. It is his own personal journey and the journeys of those other CEOs that make up the content for this new book.

In my interview and podcast with Tom we explore many different and interesting subjects. All of it focused on the personal growth and mastery of a leader through finding purpose. One of the areas I found quite informative was what Tom refers to as the Reactive Identity (Ego Self) and the Creative Identity (Purpose Self). He does a wonderful job in his book of providing the reader with clear examples and diagrams that help you understand the differences. He states that our default operating system is what runs us long before we’re aware that we have one. Our reactive identity pretty much dominates who we are. Without clear knowledge of our purpose, there is little free choice, and our responses to life are simply a reaction-automatic, mostly invisible and dominant-although much can be changed by the user if they ever knew it existed. “Real choice occurs only when we’re aware of the distinctions Ego, Self and Purpose. Until then we are pretty much stuck in the automatic reaction of Ego.”

Tom Voccola How do we navigate through the rough waters of leadership and maintain our course with integrity, purpose, authenticity and humility? What does it take to become a great leader? What sets apart the great leaders from the mediocre ones? These questions and more are the subject of my interview with Tom. I invite you to explore with me a fascinating man and leader in this wonderful interview. You’ll learn what it truly takes to become a leader on purpose. Please visit his web site CEO2 for more information on his workshops, book, and coaching programs.

Want more resources and information on personal growth? Try the resources page.