Shock Your Potential

The Tough Topics Mom - Kimberly King

“Reinforce with your kids not keeping any secrets, and push for that open communication.” Kimberly King
Children worldwide are prone to suffer insidious forms of violence, exploitation and abuse. The key to stamping out these vices lies in educating both adults and kids on prevention and management of cases when they occur. Our guest today, Kimberly King, is no coward of conversations that center around tough topics on sexual abuse in kids. She believes that having these conversations protects children and families by getting ahead of problems before they happen. 
Kimberly King, “The Tough Topics Mom,” is the author of the best-selling, most highly recommended book for children on prevention called “I Said No! A kid-to-kid guide to keeping private parts private. https://amzn.to/3F1CjQE” Kimberly is a mom of three children, a survivor, a Sexual Abuse Prevention Facilitator with D2L.org, and a Sexual Assualt Crisis Counselor with The Rowan Center. She spends her time training adults and children on prevention strategies and sharing her expertise as a consultant, advisor, and media source.
Kimberly holds an M.S. in Education from Wheelock College and a B.S. in Child Development and Family Studies from the University of Maine. King is a kindergarten teacher in Westport, Ct and lives in Coastal Connecticut with her family and therapy dog, Alfie. Her award-winning books for children on tough topics have sold over 300,000 copies across the globe. King is the owner of Safe and Sound Kids Collaborative where she provides proactive parenting coaching and consulting. King specializes in helping parents gain the confidence to talk about tough topics before issues occur.
Her prevention-based, kid-friendly educational resources are available via books, online parenting classes, online kids classes, private zoom Family Safety Chats, Body Boss Bootcamp for Kids, Simply-Safe Camp Training, Author Visits, Book Readings, and Speaking Events. Her work has been featured in various magazines, podcasts, and blogs, including; ABC, NBC, Ticker News, The Chicago Tribune, Stop The Demand, Women’s Fitness, Child Mind Institute, Social Work Now, US News and World Report, The Health Journal, Modern Mom, PopSugar, Child Life Mom, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Thrive Global, Medium, Dads Divorce, Split, Consent Parenting, Pretty Wellness Podcast, iHeart Radio, and is highly recommended as a resource by national prevention organizations.
In today’s episode, Kimberly will discuss about the importance of training and educating children on their sexuality from a young age. She also provides insights on the role of adults in preventing and managing sexual abuse in minors.
 
Listen in!
 
 Social media handles;
https://www.kimberlykingbooks.com/ 
https://www.kimberlykingbooks.com/ 
https://tough-topics-mom.mykajabi.com/body-boss-bootcamp 
https://tough-topics-mom.mykajabi.com/body-boss-bootcamp
https://www.instagram.com/toughtopicsmom 
https://m.facebook.com/Isaidnoinfo
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlykingbooks
I call myself the tough topics mom because I do talk about a lot of tough topics. [3:27]
I help parents get comfortable talking about really tough issues in a collaborative, authentic way so that they can get ahead of problems before they happen and protect their families. [3:31]
I do that with my books and my online classes. [3:46]
I had trained my kids in the basics about like your body's private which saved my five-year-old on this night that I was away. [4:11]
What's interesting is that 70% of kids don't tell about abuse because they're not educated on the topic. [5:57]
My son’s experience triggered a lot of things for me and I developed the book with him. [6:17]
As a military wife, I had that problem of always moving so I decided to just write children's books and teach people how to keep their kids safe. [6:29]
When it happened, I was angry at everybody and myself and had to do something to cool the anger so I started journaling. [7:23]
My son also wanted to talk and write about it and in doing this, I realized there were so many things that we could teach other people that would help them. [7:53]
We put my journal and his together and we used his voice and I tried to weave that into the book that has talking points with little goofy things and a little sass that make it kid friendly. [8:06]
Most of us were not educated properly on normal sexuality or normal child development, consent or boundaries. [10:09]
We're in a different place now where it's okay to talk about those things and one of the critical things is for kids to know their body parts and their correct names of their private parts. [10:23]
In reporting, every single person knows the word penis or the word vagina and there's no confusion about it. [11:25]
Knowing those words is a detriment to abusers which protects the kids. [11:28]
During potty training is a good time to start teaching and modelling the terms, privacy and consents. [11:12]
Commercial break. [14:04]
A lot of the advice I give people even if they don't have kids is to learn the facts on this topic so that you can reduce the risks. [16:20]
One of the biggest mistakes everybody makes is assuming that this type of thing only happens in bad neighborhoods or only with strangers. [16:32]
90% of child sexual abuse happens within the inner circles of the people we already know where 40% of child sexual abuse happens from older, more powerful children. [16:46]
Another huge risk category is children of divorce, because they are exposed to different situations. [17:24]
Once you learn, you start talking to it with other parents and your kids start talking about it with their friends which causes a ripple effect. [18:14]
The other thing is, once your kid is educated in this, it's really important for parents to reduce the risks by being very upfront about what your kids with new people and your policies. [18:46]
When I did in person parent trainings before Covid, every single person indicated an awareness of someone they know who was sexually abused. [21:32]
There are so many tools for parents now and you can start really early and then have open communication with your kids, when they're started. [21:55]
Empowering your children and educating them absolutely can prevent abuse. [23:24]
Even with some of this stuff, abuse can still happen but if your kids know that it's okay to tell, you have a chance of them telling you which will prevent more abuse. [23:39]
Try to find five adults that your children can call in all emergencies no matter what and train those five adults in receiving a report. [24:32]
You have to teach that person a few steps like, listening to the child, thanking the child for telling you telling them they're very brave, telling them it's not their fault and then just having a calm conversation about it. [25:06]
This will encourage them to talk more and give you more details without feeling judged. [25:19]
It is really important to do a real quick body safety review and talk about your body parts and the private part rules. [26:49]
Reinforce with your kids about how you don't want them to keep any secrets, and then push that open communication. [27:00]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.
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Philantrotrecking - Jeff Rasley

“When getting involved in charitable work, find something that you enjoy doing that is helpful to the community.” Jeff Rasley
 The one-on-one experiences between people is what builds strong communities. At its core, community is anchored in the belief that people are part of something bigger than themselves, and that they have a right and duty to participate in its progress. His whole life, Jeff Rasley has been part of multiple communities and believes that it is all about experiencing life together by being present and contributing positively.
Jeff Rasley's commitment to social activism began in high school when he co-founded the Goshen Walk for Hunger. In law school he fought for renters' rights and organized the first rent strike in Indiana as president of the Indianapolis Tenants Association. As a young lawyer Jeff founded free legal clinics at two inner-city churches in Indianapolis. He was lead counsel on class action suits for prisoners which resulted in the construction of two new jails in Central Indiana. He spent five days working for NOLA Habitat for Humanity post Katrina. Jeff was plaintiff in a class action requiring clean-up of the White River after it was polluted by an industrial chemical spill. The Jeff and Alicia Rasley Internship Program was created by the Rasleys for the ACLU of Indiana in December, 2020.
Jeff is the founder of the Basa Village Foundation, which funds culturally sensitive development in Nepal. He served a term as president of Indianapolis Scientech, which promotes scientific inquiry and learning. Jeff is a director of six non-profits, including the Indianapolis Peace & Justice Center, University of Chicago Alumni Club, and Phi Beta Kappa of Indiana. He is U.S. liaison for the Himalayan expedition company Adventure GeoTreks Ltd. He has taught courses on "culturally sensitive development" and philanthropy at Butler and Marian Universities and memoir writing at the Indiana Writing Center
Jeff's BA is from University of Chicago magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, All-Academic All-State Football, letter winner in swimming and football; JD Indiana University Law School cum laude, Moot Court, Indiana Law Review; MDiv Christian Theological Seminary magna cum laude, covaledictorian and Faculty Award Scholar. He has been admitted to the Indiana, US District, and US Supreme Court Bars.
 Jeff has published numerous articles in academic and mainstream periodicals, including Newsweek, Chicago Magazine, ABA Journal, Family Law Review, The Journal of Communal Societies, and Friends Journal. He is an award-winning photographer and his pictures taken in the Himalayas and on Caribbean and Pacific islands have been published in several journals. He has appeared as a featured guest on over 100 radio and podcast programs.
In today’s episode, our guest will talk about building and upholding cohesive communities. He will give us an account of his experience travelling to Basa village in Nepal and his interest in culturally sensitive developments.
Listen in!
Social media handles:
Website: http://www.jeffreyrasley.com/
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Jeff-Rasley/e/B004Q3D6B2
Personal Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/jrasley
Facebook publisher site: https://www.facebook.com/JeffRasleyAndMidsummerBooks/  
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeffrasley  
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-rasley/  
Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4114763.Jeffrey_Rasley  
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pinner362436/
Midsummer Books link: http://www.jeffreyrasley.com/midsummer%20books.htm  
Basa Foundation link on my website: http://www.jeffreyrasley.com/Basa%20Projects.htm
I grew up in a town Goshen, Indiana that my ancestors were early settlers so I felt so rooted in that community. [4:00]
Because I felt so rooted in that community, it was deeply a part of me and from a really age felt involved in it. [4:27]
Community goes two ways where if you feel embedded in a community, you want to get back to it but you also have certain expectations of it. [5:04]
One of the aspects of our modern culture is that people don't stay in their home communities. [6:12]
One of the beautiful things I experienced in Basa Village is the fact that the villagers were so rooted in their community. [6:43]
For the west, we have to be very conscientious about developing and supporting community, because we don't have that organic embeddedness that the traditional communities have. [7:48]
Community leadership is so important when deciding about what is right for your community. [8:49]
When you have an established culture, it is risky to start changing really fundamental experiences for people in the community and especially for children. [9:55]
Learning how in the 21st century, there are still these communities which are so well integrated and the people looking out for each other was amazing. [12:37]
Commercial break. [18:23]
What really works, for almost anybody in terms of getting involved in charitable work is to find something that you enjoy doing that is helpful to the community. [21:19]
I had fallen in love with trekking and mountaineering in the Himalayas and so I combined going over there on a track or an expedition with doing some philanthropic project [21:53]
Each time I went back, I just tried to do something a little bigger and then I went from things to money to developing a foundation. [21:18]
It may take some introspection but anybody who wants to give back can figure out something that they enjoy. [22:47]
Hearing stories from from my great grandmother about what Goshen was like when she was young, it was very similar to the way people live in Basa today. [26:45]
There are real risks for Basa in the sense that a road has come to the village, the internet and cell phones have come and this worries the village elders. [27:37]
The kids are now being exposed to a world that is very different from what they have known for hundreds of years. [28:11]
This exposure can lead to a lot of them being attracted to leave the village and for those that will stay, they will want to change the village in ways that were unforeseen. [28:20]
The fundamental values of the villagers, including the kids have not changed and part of that is because they have such a strong tradition on environmental responsibility and a sense of community. [28:41]
I hope it stays, because not only is it a wonderful thing, but also in terms of happiness, the villagers have a very high happiness quotient. [30:10]
Find something that moves you and one that you enjoy, but will move you to be involved with your community in a productive giving way and it will give back to you. [32:11]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.
 

The Spare Room - Emily Chang

“You're especially designed to do something because no one's here to do nothing.” Emily Chang
We are all part of something bigger than ourselves, the larger community. Better and functional communities are not built in a day but rather, it is about consistently performing acts of service that uplift others. Emily Chang has been enthusiastic about supporting and building her community, and says it is not so much about the big things, but rather, it is the small acts that really contribute to a thriving community.
Emily Chang is the CEO of McCann Worldgroup, China. Prior to accepting this new role, she took a year off to write a book called The Spare Room, the topic of her first TEDx Talk. Before that, she served as CMO for Starbucks China, where she cared for the teams that helped open the first Starbucks Roastery outside of Seattle and commercialized the brand’s digital gifting and delivery programs. Lotus (Chapter five) lived with Emily’s family while she worked at Starbucks.
A strategic business leader with over 20 years of experience, Emily is known for globalization, cross-cultural team leadership, and innovative brand building. Recognized for her ability to drive change and renew organizations, Emily approaches opportunities with an entrepreneurial mind set to establish a culture, set a vision, and build capability. She is known first and foremost as a people leader and team builder.
Prior to Starbucks, Emily was the Chief Commercial Officer for IHG, Greater China, where she looked after 320 hotels and an extended team of 5,200 members. While she was at IHG, Emily’s family cared for five kids, including Teo (Chapter four). Moving to Shanghai in 2011, Emily led the marketing organization that established the face of Apple Retail in Asia Pacific. While working at Apple, Emily’s family cared for three young people, including Jaesin (Chapter three).
She first developed her General Management, Marketing and Brand expertise at Proctor & Gamble. Five young people shared her spare room in the 11 years that Emily worked at P&G. Today, Emily sits on the board of SOS Children’s Villages and has spoken at select conferences and events, including the Fortune Most Powerful Women’s Summit in Hong Kong, C2 in Montreal, and has delivered three TEDx Talks.
In her free time, Emily loves to teach, read, and write. She challenges herself to learn a new “big thing” every year (2019 was all about the book, and she’s spent much of 2020 straddling a cajon drum). Most of all, Emily enjoys spending time with family: her husband of 20 years, her 12-year old daughter Laini, Holly Berry their rescued mutt, and Jellybean, their pygmy hedgehog.
In today’s episode, our guest will talk about how she found her positive thing that contributes towards her community. She will also discuss her book and what it entails.
Listen in! 
Social Media Handles:
Author Website: https://social-legacy.com/  
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/emilychang8621  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emily.chang.925602  
Instagram: https://instagram.com.thespareroombook
The first thing is that for me, it's never been about work life balance but about work life integration. [4:11]
As I've gotten older, one of the things I realized was I had an opportunity to better integrate my personal life with my professional. [4:36]
We always had these kids in our spare room and it was something that we certainly didn't hide, but also didn't really bring to the forefront either. [4:42]
As we identified the spare room as a social offering to our community, we started to realize that talking about it isn't really about ego. [5:14]
We embraced the idea of talking about the spare room with a TEDx talk and then took a year to write the boo [5:36]
We believe this builds into our community and pays tribute to each of the people that we've had the privilege of sharing our spare room with. [5:43]
You don't have to do very big things but something that you are specially designed to do that will actively support and build into your community, however you define it. [5:53]
I don't think it's the best use of time to try and convince somebody else of your thing, everybody will come into it on their own. [7:28}
If everybody starts identifying their offer and their offense, we can create communities that go after improving their communities. [7:43]
I did a talk a few years ago called ‘The power of And,’ which was all about the power of paradox and how you can take two ideas that seem in congruent and find the mutuality in the middle of them. [9:26]
Sometimes we look at people who look like they've arrived and it looks like they have it all togetherand think that they have these intentions but usually it's not [10:26]
It doesn't always have to be intentional or some grandiose gesture, sometimes it's your heart saying, I can do something about this. [11:07]
We are capable of so much more than we can possibly imagine but we don't have to go after the grand gesture or the fully designed, well orchestrated, intentional, purpose driven thing. [11:27]
We can do what helps us feel like we're doing something positive and when you find that moment, then you've hit on something where you can naturally add value to your community. [11:40]
You want to position yourself in a way to maximize the value contribution that you can leave in the place around you without the risk of falling into the ego trap. [14:21]
Commercial break. [15:40]
When we talk about community service, or CSR, sometimes it feels like something that has to be sacrificial and that is human nature. [17:54]
If we take an abundance mindset where we want to contribute more than we consume. We want to leave something more than what we've taken from this world. [18:06]
The format of the book is written in very much a self reflection, action-oriented mindset and I don't want this to be a book but a movement. [18:58]
If this can become something that's good for the world which helps people articulate how they contribute more than they consume, then that is something that I would feel really good about. [19:34]
I do believe people are good and generally want to contribute more than they consume but may not know where to direct that attention or what they can [19:44]
The construct of the book is a Venn diagram where in chapter one, you've got your offer and the second chapter talks about offense, then chapter three is the intersection of 1 and 2. [20:00]
Chapters four and five talks about the action plan and the last part of the book is about, what I want to look back on that can have people say something about me after I've passed. [21:38]
I've always believed that defining the end state helps you become much more intentional, with your time, priorities, and your investment. [21:54]
There's positive power in positive words so we want to define the things that we're good at and embrace [23:56]
Nobody should do nothing and nobody wants to do nothing, so feel empowered even if you do a small thing. [25:48]
People came from very ordinary and said, I think I can go do something about this and they ended up changing the world for somebody. [26:14]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.
 

20 Minute Communities - Neil Kitching

“I don't think tackling climate change is anything to fear. It's really something to embrace.” Neil Kitching
As climate change threatens to progressively transform the world, concerns are being directed on human activity and how it contributes to worsening the situation. Despite the hurdles faced in tackling this issue, many proponents of the matter still believe that it is possible to address climate change. Neil Kitching has a passion for climate change and believes that it all starts with every one taking personal responsibility of their actions and making an effort to choose better alternatives.   
Neil Kitching is a geographer and energy specialist from Scotland. He has written his first book, Carbon Choices on the common-sense solutions to our climate and nature crises; https://amzn.to/39cOETs. He works for a public sector agency promoting the opportunities for business to benefit from low carbon heating and water technologies. Neil had a mid-life career change from accountant to working in sustainable development then energy. This book arose from Neil’s frustration that so many people lack a basic understanding of climate change and its serious impacts. Education is the first step towards taking action. Community is one way to galvanize that action.
In today’s episode, Neil will discuss more about the state of climate change and some of the simple actions that can be done by individuals in an effort to reduce their carbon emissions.
Listen in.
Social Media
https://www.carbonchoices.uk    
https://www.instagram.com/carbonchoices   
www.facebook.com/carbonchoices  
https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-kitching-55833314/
I was brought up in Paris at the centre of Scotland at the edge of the highlands and I always enjoyed the great outdoors. [2:28
I completed a geography degree at Edinburgh University, and then came out during the midst of one of the great recessions when there was no jobs available. [2:43]
I was desperately looking for work and I applied to be an accountant because I was always quite good at maths and numbers. [2:56]
I trained to be an accountant in London and then worked away visibly as an accountant for 20 years, but always had in the back of a rage that I wasn't very satisfied with this career choice. [3:02]
Eventually, 20 years later, I had a midlife crisis, and did successfully change my career and moved into sustainable development policy and now I work as an energy specialist. [3:16]
I learned about climate change 30 years ago in geography and it was all very factual as I could see how sensitive they sheets were to a changing climate. [3:45]
For the time I was working in business, nobody seemed to care and no one was acting on it and I could never understand why that was the case. [4:04]
When I moved into the environmental area, I seeme to be speaking to the same people all the time ad so I just thought it was good to write a book. [4:12]
My aim was to try and influence and change some people and some government policies I also wanted to get the book out prior to Glasgow conference on climate change. [4:27]
A few years back there was a lot of scepticism but we've seen the effects of climate change hitting all over the world. [5:38]
Unfortunately, climate change will affect us all, either directly, or indirectly and there's no escaping that. [6:45]
My book really lays out the role of the different players and overlaps between all of them. [8:12]
It's up to individuals and communities to influence leaders act on climate change and businesses to act in more sustainable ways. [8:36]
Commercial break. [10:47]
In terms of what we can do as individuals, the starting point for me is where you choose to live and also cut on carbon impact by changing lifestyle. [12:54]
We have a concept here called 20-minute communities where all services or nearly all services are accessible within walking or cycling 20 minutes from your house. [12:24]
In the West, we consume so much stuff and that's been ever increasing but it just means we buy lots of stuff that we use once and then throw away. [16:55]
That's probably getting worse globally because other countries are copying the bad habits. [17:23]
For every good thing you see, there's another bad thing and so they almost balance each other out therefore we just need to do more of the good things. [18:20]
Consumption is a big thing and the worrying thing is if you go to developing countries, you just see a sea of plastic rubbish along the roads. [18:28]
We have landfills that were on the coast and now with rising sea levels and coastal erosion, the waves are washing out these landfills. [19:10]
The third big area in our lives that we could change is our choice of diets with regards to how much we eat and food wastage. [19:54]
The big issue around our diet is eating beef, mutton and dairy products basically because cows and sheep are ruminants and they produce methane which is a strong, powerful greenhouse gas. [20:33]
That's the big area that governments don't like to talk about due to fear of upsetting businesses and the farmers but as individuals, it's an area we can change overnight if we choose to do so. [20:49]
All our food waste should be composted because if you don't and choose to put it in a plastic bag, and it goes to landfill, it rots down and starts to produce methane. [22:25]
I think people think of the environment as being a problem but to me, going for a low carbon future is better. [24:34]
We can start by making lifestyle changes as all are good choices that we should be striving for. [24:43]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.
 
 

Promoting Women in Tech - Raj Goodman Anand

“Let us try to give other people opportunities and chances to shine and to be the best version of themselves.” Raj Goodman Anand
Often we get caught up in the endless pursuit of things and forget to look around for the opportunities to touch people’s lives and make a difference. By being more thoughtful, we get to slow down and deliberately look out for ways in which we can contribute towards making life better for another person. This is according to our guest today, Raj Goodman Anand, whose realization of the need to make a difference led him to a passion of creating self and career development opportunities for women around the world.
Raj Goodman Anand is the founder of Goodman Lantern, a team of native English content writing services that help businesses sell better and grow faster. An engineer by profession, he has founded three start-ups, raised capital, and taken one venture from zero to acquisition. He has not only had a flourishing career within start-ups but also with large and mid-sized organizations, working on launching start-ups or new products within them. Products he has built have made companies an income in excess of £45m.
Raj has also won BusinessWeek’s Europe’s Young Entrepreneur (2007) and has been named one of Revolution Magazine’s 50 Most Influential People in Digital (2009). He has spoken at various venues including the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, British Library, and several universities including LSE. Raj and his entrepreneurial ventures have had coverage in The Telegraph, Guardian, BusinessWeek, and Observer.
In today’s episode, Raj will talk about his journey and the events that led him to what he does today which is providing opportunities for women to grow and flourish and the freedom of working remotely.
Listen in!
Social media handles:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajanand/   
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajanand/
I am a father and a husband and we love traveling as a family and I'm currently traveling from London and currently in Bangkok. [3:12]
I talk about travel first was because in all my life, I worked pretty hard to get where I am and for a purpose which for me one is personal and another is to give back to the world. [3:58]
I worked incredibly hard at university and got into engineering and then AI and later got into marketing. [4:10]
After eight years of working really hard, I realized that I was taking 320 flights per year for the companies I was working for and it was just painful. [4:20]
I thought that it will be really good to actually live in a way where I choose my terms and the thought about remote working came up. [4:43]
I started a company eight years back now to kind of focus on helping people in business to content writing. [4:50]
I challenged the world I live in and decided to set a company where I can work from anywhere in the world. [5:01]
Goodman lantem, is my company has been remote from day one and all our team members are all remote and have the freedom to work on what they are good at. [5:09]
It is about bringing team members who have the same passion as you do and I'm a big believer of having that sort of same passion and the same core values. [6:42]
When I hire people, I hire them on basis off the values as much as I hire them on basis on their skills. [7:02]
Before Goodman Lanten, I was all about making money but somewhere, I felt that I'm missing out the human element. [7:13]
I started to do some soul searching and saying, what can I actually contribute to this world and to the community I belong to. [7:34]
I have seen several times that women who much smarter than I am not make it to the top because they weren't given the right representation. [7:41]
I thought that I should make it my mission to help women in a particular way and for the last seven, eight years we have hired a lot of women in a company in our departments. [8:18]
This is an opportunity for them to work on awesome projects at their comfort and really be inspired to grow themselves and the family as well. [8:45]
Some countries such as South Africa has the largest statistics on women-based violence in the world meaning it is not safe for women to go out. [9:22]
We're trying to do what we can from outside to make them safe and earn a good living. [9:38]
As company, we are really focused not only in what we bring to the world, but also to our clients so we only work for subscription-based customers. [10:12]
Most of our customers are B2B and what we do for them is to create content to help them tell their story as well as rank higher on search engines. [10:38]
The other side of story is we bring in women into our company and we train them in the space of software service so that they can then start working with these awesome companies. [10:59]
We're growing really fast and we are getting a lot of new projects and so we need a lot of people on board. [13:11]
Commercial break [13:39]
Prior to writing content for an organization or individuals, there is a lot of effort, which goes behind it which includes thinking about the mission, the vision, the values and the tone. [15:48]
Content is only good if it hits multiple points, which tick marks different things for you as a company, your audience, and the SEO part as well. [16:36]
Planning is super important but people forget that planning step and jump right into execution. [16:46]
Most customers today we target at least are ones who have a team and bringing in 10 to 500 million in revenues and so they know what they're doing but they need to scale up. [18:14]
This is because scaling up is not easy and needs team members who have the right skills and who understand that the company's vision, mission and core values. [18:40]
When we come in, we help our clients scale up their art in production in all areas. [18:54]
It's important to build a business to earn income but let us try to focus on the greater good and give other people opportunities and chances to shine to be the best version of themselves. [20:03]
It goes a long way not only from the point of view of making revenue, but also read karma as well. [20:30]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.
 
 
 

Power With Vs. Power Over - Eddie Zacapa

"You can learn communication skills, but if you don't know how to pause and slow down, the skills won't matter." Eddie Zacapa
Communication is at the centre of all functional relationships. How people communicate can bring a significant difference in the quality of their lives individually and within communities. Our guest today, Eddie Zacapa, has years of experience training people on how to communicate differently and says that it's all about the lens with which people view issues.
Eddie Zacapa is the co-founder of Life Enriching Communication and a certified trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC). He has facilitated nonviolent communication workshops, trainings and programs with individuals, families, parents, schools, and organizations and worked in the domestic violence field for over 19 years.
Eddie also offers coaching to executives and managers and helps volunteers and employees discover their full potential on the job. He has worked with volunteers for over 20 years with various non-profit organizations providing volunteer management. He lives in Sacramento, CA, with his family. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from San Jose State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Bible and Theology from William Jessup University.
Eddie is the author of two books: Principles and Practices of Nonviolence: 30 Meditations for Practicing Compassion; https://amzn.to/3kjKboo and Essentials for Cultivating Passionate Volunteers and Leaders: Guidelines for Organizations that Value Connection-https://amzn.to/3zjLHLo.
In today's episode, Eddie talks about nonviolent and effective communication. He will also present the steps to communicating and making meaningful connections in any given situation.
 
Listen in!
Contacts:
Website: www.lecworks.org
I'm the founder of Life Enriching Communication, an organization dedicated to ending domestic violence and the cycle of violence. [2:40]
We work with individuals who come to us voluntarily or sometimes through the court, and we help them discover their power over tendencies and how they can change that. [2:50]
I also teach nonviolent communication, which is rooted in nonviolence to organizations, couples and families. [3:20]
Sometimes we use the power that we have to get what we want without thinking about the other person necessarily and what their needs are at that moment. [4:50]
Everybody has power, and it is not a bad thing since it allows you to do something. However, collaboration happens when you use that power with the resources others have. [5:29]
I was working in ministry, but then I decided to change my career, and my mom introduced me to someone at her church who did this work with. [6:07]
The first time I got there, I connected with the individuals who were there and I got hired there, so that started my journey. [6:35]
I was also drawn to it just because I could relate to it in some ways from my experience growing up. [6:47]
Along the way, I got introduced to nonviolent communication by a certified trainer, and that process just blew my world, and I started living it out and teaching it. [7:11]
One of the things I try to get across early is, if you do anything because you have to, you will pay for it. [7:48]
I tell the people I teach that being there was an opportunity for them to learn and grow regardless of whether they deserved to be there or not. [8:16]
It is really important to continue doing this because it makes a difference by bringing awareness to what abuse is and making people feel comfortable and safe reaching out for help. [10:05]
We need to work together and have the police department and fire department to be able to be in touch with the needs of each community and to just feel comfortable with each other. [11:53]
Commercial Break. [12:18]
One of the first components of nonviolent communication focuses on differentiating between what's happening and the story we tell ourselves in our heads. [14:31]
Being able to differentiate and get down to what happened can be helpful. [15:22]
The next step is connecting with what happened and assessing your feelings about the truth, and then finding out what you value in the situation. [15:30]
The last part is just making a request that is very specific and doable. [16:15]
Another valuable piece is if you're struggling to connect with someone else, you can close your eyes and just imagine what they might be feeling and their needs. [16:32]
By doing that, you're able to see that person's humanity, and you're not creating an enemy image with that story and that a lot of times helps you find a solution as well. [16:48]
You can learn communication skills, but if you don't know how to pause and slow down, the skills won't matter. [17:58]
We're trying to see what people wish for and what their value is in a particular situation. [19:39]
When we make a request, remember that when we hear a 'NO', it is a gift because it tells us that there's something really important to somebody else. [22:10]
There's a need behind that NO, and if we can discover what it is, we can find a solution that works for everybody. [22:40]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.
 

Our Impact Leaves a Footprint - Lucy Munga

“In life, your footprint that you leave is the impact that you made in the society.” Lucy Munga
The awareness of the struggles that people around your community face, and findings ways in which you can be able to assist is what community is all about. Our guest today, Lucy Munga, chose the path of impacting the community in the best way she knew, and in the process found a way to change multiple lives through encouraging and facilitating the art of story-telling.
Lucy Munga is a life and business coach and her company is Amara Capital. Over the past she worked as a senior manager doing data analytics, IT risk and advisory services for companies like PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst and Young. Lucy also cares for her community by giving back not only as a Rotarian, but also helps the children in her community be tied very diligently education.
In todays’ episode, Lucy will discuss about her business, and how her previous career experiences led her to discover her passion for working with families and children to improve their lives.
Listen in!
https://www.lucymunga.com   
https://twitter.com/lucymunga?lang=en
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-munga-0089087
 
I'm a certified coach and I'm recognized by the International coach Federation as a certified coach. [2:36]
I mainly focus on business owners that are struggling because last year I realized that a number of employees lost their jobs and closed businesses and many people were struggling. [2:52]
As an IT consultant with leading organizations, I realized that I had a skill that could help families get out of the woods, and start generating their own income. [3:15]
I started helping those who have lost their jobs, and those who were leaving employment do something out of their own talents. [3:31]
Amazingly, so many people have built a business based on the gifts and the talents that they have, and that has helped them start generating some income and start to live better. [4:05]
In the process of giving back to those parents who have lost their jobs, I came across some parents or guardians who did not have an education but had bright and needy children. [4:21]
I collected all these children, and together with other Rotarians we got some money and we took some of them to secondary school in 2020. [4:51]
We got much less money in 2021 and had to use my own money which prompted me to come up with the idea of helping them build their own income by writing their own story. [5:11]
The whole idea was started by my 12-year-old writing her own stories and now we are rolling it out to all the children and parents in this program. [5:54]
By telling their story, it is helping them improve on their language, writing and computer skills and eventually the books sold will generate some income for them. [6:55]
We are just starting with telling a story at this point in time for the purpose of generating an income to be able to sustain themselves and his families. [8:02]
I have had so many requests and I am trying to find ways on how we could build this community where we help build a sustainable income for these families through the storytelling. [8:52]
Commercial break. [ 9:43]
Some of the impacts we are seeing is increased levels of confidence in these children that comes from knowing that they can change the world through their stor [11:43]
We have come together with the publisher and illustrator who did my daughter's book to mentor this whole community that has come up. [13:02]
Our dream is to impact the country that we are in starting with the Nairobi town because there are a lot of bright children in informal settlements who are in difficult situations and need mentorship. [13:25]
We are hoping to get people to partner with us so that we can build this program and have the dreams of these children come true. [15:30]
In life, your footprint that you leave is the impact that you made in the society and touching these little ones is the best that one can do. [18:26]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.
 

Changing The World - Two Feet At A Time - Brad Jackson

“It doesn’t matter why someone doesn’t have shoes, if they need shoes, they need shoes.” Brad Jackson
Simple things aren’t that simple. They bring comfort and meaning to our lives and without them, life would be unbearable. Our guest today, Brad Jackson, dedicates his time to make the lives of people around his community easier by providing shoes to those who need them the most.
Brad was born in Dayton, Ohio, and grew up in Muncie, Indiana, where Ball State University is located, and from which he received his teaching degrees. Him and his wife are residents of Fishers, Indiana. Brad taught junior high biology and U.S. history for 43 years, and retired 4 years ago. Before that final school year, he had been looking for a volunteer opportunity that had the positive aspects of teaching and more. It needed to be a service-type non-profit in which he could see results of his efforts.
Brad got introduced to Changing Footprints by his long-time friend whom they worked together in one of the facilities of that organization. The mission of the organization is to put shoes of the feet of those who need them. In his spare time, Brad leads nature walks, especially for special-needs students, help rehabilitate old cemeteries, raise funds for Camp Tecumseh and Right Sharing of World Resources which helps women in Sierra Leone, Kenya, and India establish small businesses.
Brad also guest speaks in Spanish classes about his trips to Guatemala, and, with his wife Naomi, and Tom, his friend and excellent pianist, and sometimes special guests, perform music programs at retirement homes, featuring songs from the early 1900s through the 1950s. Brad’s retirement has turned out to be busier than he had envisioned, but truly exciting to him.
In today’s episode, Brad will talk about the work he and his colleagues are doing at Changing Footprints that touches their community in a positive way.
Listen in!
Contact
www.changingfootprints.org
A few years before I retired I talked to a person at church who worked for Changing Footprints and a month after retirement I went to work as a volunteer. [3:15]
Our statement that we use is that we are changing the world two feet at a time and our logo is a bare foot print with a shoe print on top. [4:18]
The theme in how we're using shoes is that it doesn't matter why somebody doesn't have shoes, the idea is they need them to carry on life functions. [4:36]
It started in 2005 after a reporter did a story about children in Afghanistan escaping the war and injuring their feet because most had no shoes on. [4:56]
A couple of people that worked at Emerson industries in Indianapolis watched the report and decided to start collecting some shoes to send there. [5:34]
They collected a few 100 shoes and sent them to Afghanistan and later realized that there were people locally who needed shoes and so they kept on collecting [5:49]
The number of pairs collected grew over the years and now we're feeling pretty good about the numbers. [6:26]
It's not a contest about numbers but they indicate how we're doing and how we're growing. [7:32]
We just passed the 400,000 pair Mark from when they started in 2005 and the goal is by the end of 2022 to do half a million pairs. [7:42]
We concentrate on agencies coming to us to request shoes for their clients and we are currently working with about 90 different agencies. [9:07]
We get shoes through shoe drives and so part of my job is to go out to the schools in my county and initiate the drive [9:45]
I work with schools that have community service requirements for their students make use of this opportunity and now we have 21 schools in my school district which makes the numbers incredible. [10:20]
The really cool thing about kids coming to our facility to sort shoes, is that they get to see the second step in the process. [13:49]
The process entails collection, sorting and pairing, inspection, labelling, grouping, boxing and stacking awaiting orders. [14:07]
Commercial break. [17:24]
Sometimes we give shoes to men and women who are being released from prison and are going into the construction industry. [20:04]
When some shoes come in and they're not in very good shape, we take the reusable parts such as laces and inner soles and give the remaining shoe parts to Nike Corporation for recycling. [20:28]
We also have resource officers from the Metropolitan Police Department of Indianapolis who get some shoes to give out to homeless people that they come across. [23:10]
We have trouble sometimes placing our dress shoes both men's and women's but we were given an idea by some teachers, and we started giving them out for free to schools to use them for their concert [23:42]
We do look for financial contributions because we have two places that pay rent and also buy items that we use in in our processes. [27:41]
We would love to see some other locations start their own organizations like ours because it is not that hard to get started. [29:02]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.
 

The Power of Theatre to Transform - Nina Meehan

“The power of theatre to transform and shock potential is so huge.” Nina Meehan
Theatre has long been perceived to be a powerful tool that spurs conversations as well an avenue in which societal matters can be explored and understood. Nina Meehan has been in the arts space for quite a while and says that theatre helps people to view the world differently and deepens their self-awareness.
Nina Meehan is an award-winning director, playwright and producer, and a dedicated arts educator, with expertise in youth development and non-profit management. Her work focuses on nurturing innovation in children and connecting people in our increasingly digital world. Nina’s award-winning theatrical work for young people as CEO of Bay Area Children's Theatre has reached more than 1 million kids and adults and has toured nationally and internationally.
Some of Nina’s most recent credits include: the adaptation of Chelsea Clinton's book, "She Persisted," Grace Lin's "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon," and the New York Times bestselling "Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site" series. She has received the Alumna of the Year Award from Head-Royce School in (2020), the Diablo Valley Innovation Award (2020), the Theatre Bay Area Award Best Director and Best New Musical (Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site, 2018). She was an invited speaker at Visioni in Bologna, Italy, and an invited speak at a conference hosted by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Nina also serves as Board President for TYA/USA and was named as one of Red Tricycle’s “Moms Who Rock.” She holds a BS in theatre from Northwestern University and a Master's of Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco. She is also a certified yoga instructor. Her work has been spotlighted in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, American Theatre Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Barron’s, Red Tricycle, ABC News, NBC News, and CBS News.
Nina is our guest today and, in this episode, she will talk about the transformative power of theatre to both children and adults.
 
Listen in!
Social Media
www.facebook.com/ninameehan    
https://www.instagram.com/nmeehan/ instagram.com/bactheatre   
https://www.instagram.com/bactheatre  
https://www.facebook.com/bakctheatre   
I am the founder of Bay Area children's theatre which me and my friends started 18 years ago and we have produced enough shows to reach literally a million people. [2:58]
The part that I think is the most exciting for me is the growth from where we started to now having professional adult actors for family and student audiences and also working with young people. [3:35]
The growth of the organization has truly been because of the demand from the community. [4:07]
What I have learned over those years as a theatre creator is that art and creativity bring all the soft skills into our world. [4:26]
Kids in a lot of ways are far more willing to take that risk of getting up there on stage than adults. [6:40]
The power of what it looks like to see a kid stand up and own their art, reflects self-confidence and independence which are skills that children need. [7:35]
We did online theatre during the pandemic and interestingly, the same transformative moments were experienced, where participants owned and took charge of their performances. [7:52]
The power of theatre to transform and shock potential is so hug [8:10]
What I've seen with the adults that we engage with that is interesting, is the conversation that their children’s performances initiate afterwards. [8:15]
As adults we are often putting limitations on ourselves with the excuse that we are not artists yet maybe we are. [12:27]
I have loved working with kids for 18 years and it's been so beautiful seeing adults try to take the step to be creative. [12:55]
The more that we can open that potential and that opportunity to redefine what it is to be a creative in our current modern world the more we can be creative and express ourselves. [13:50]
We are programmed to be creative beings and that comes in lots of different shapes and forms. [16:26]
Encouraging the people around us is important because that is our power, considering so much of being creative is about just allowing ourselves the permission to do it. [18:22]
The more that we can say how we feel and appreciate art, the more we can have moments where we can value the creativity in the people around us. [18:52]
Commercial break. [20:25]
In terms of giving back to your community, I think it is so important to look around and see who in your community is doing work that is inspiring the next generation to become creative leaders. [22:43]
We all want empathetic humans taking over from us in the next generation. [
We are all working on a shoestring but there is a whole world of non-profit organizations out there that would love to have support in different ways. [23:45]
The other part of it is really looking into your own being and finding your own creative moments that brings you joy, and bring that into your adult world. [24:23]
For entrepreneurs, for those who run businesses, board service for non-profit organizations is an insanely huge and powerful gift you can give back to your community. [26:23]
The way non-profit sector is set up, we cannot function without a dedicated arm that is our board of directors. [26:44]
Find time today to try creative play and just see what happens. [28:31]
…………………..…..
TopDog Learning Group, LLC is a leadership, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting firm based in Orlando, FL, USA but with “TopDoggers” (aka consultants) throughout North America and beyond.
They focus on training programs (both virtual and face-to-face), keynotes and “lunch and learns,” group and 1:1 coaching, and off-the-shelf solutions.
One such solution is their Masterclass on The Top 3 Strategies to be Resilient in Times of Change.
This thoughtful self-paced online training will guide you through three tactics you can immediately use to—not just survive—but thrive when change comes at you.
Use the code RESIL50OFF for 50% off the program! Just go to https://bit.ly/3a5mIS6 and enter the code RESIL50OFF, in all capitals, to redeem your 50% off coupon. The link and code will be available in our show notes for easy access.
 

Shock Your Potential - 2022 Preview - Michael Sherlock

I wanted to take some time today to talk about some of the exciting things that we have going on at both Shock Your Potential and Kukuabiz, which is our sister company. [00:52]
I will give you a little highlight as to what we are going to see for the last quarter of 2021 and a little projection into 2022. [1:07]
In most businesses, quarter four is the time for planning, budgeting, aligning, setting next year's goals and working towards what builds the organization. [1:35]
If you've been following along, you know what happened to Shock Your Potential at the beginning of the global pandemic which was a hit for many people. [1:51]
In my little corner of the world prior to that pandemic, the majority of my business at Shock Your Potential was me travelling around the world to speak and train mostly on leadership and sales. [2:13]
I had really worked hard to get to a number of great and frequent programs, I was working on some training contracts with some very big companies and looking to expand what I was doing. [2:37]
I still knew that it was probably not a good idea to be a one trick pony and to have to manage everything. [2:54]
Everything worked well and a lot of speaking gigs were coming in and then all of a sudden, the pandemic happened and there was nothing. [3:34]
I questioned myself on what I was going to do and how I was going to come back from this. [3:57]
After some reflection and a lot of discussion with my husband, I made the decision to double down all those things that I wanted to do or knew I should be doing. [4:34]
It was in those moments of the first days after I came out of my crying fit that I realized I had an opportunity here. [5:11]
Over the next few months, we did some amazing things for my business and I decided to double down and add more team members who are all based in Kenya. [5:27]
My guests and my colleagues in the entrepreneurial world were taking notice more specifically of what was happening with my team that was growing. [5:49]
I was taping several podcast episodes and in one day, I had three people request me to find them people from Kenya and I realized there was an opportunity here. [6:11]
That’s how we started the second company, Kukuabiz, that matched other people in Kenya to be virtual assistants or support small businesses like me around the world. [6:50]
We made our very first placement in August of 2020 and now a little more than a year later, we have a handful of people that are connected and matched with businesses all over the globe. [7:16]
My focus changed from speaking on leadership and sales to me building opportunities, not just for myself, but seeing what we're doing right and helping other entrepreneurs to do it right as well. [7:51]
It is also about helping other people, especially talented professionals from Kenya, to operate on a global scale. [8:11]
 In the last two months, I've really grown both businesses in some new and unique ways. [8:51]
 I went through the process of getting Shock Your Potential certified as a woman owned business enterprise and a woman owned small business enterprise and I'm very happy I did it. [9:03]
I made the decision to try and get myself out of the day to day details of both businesses, which meant that I had to promote some people. [9:29]
My team is fantastic and I have three incredible women who have been with me literally since the beginning and that's Mercy, Lorna and Jossie who I promoted to be Vice Presidents. [9:40]
It has been an incredible honor to work with these women and help take them to the executive level of their careers. [10:08]
I'm trying to teach them all my experience as fast as possible without overwhelming them and terrifying them. [10:25]
If you are an entrepreneur, and interested in other ways to help promote your business, we may have a couple things that will be interesting to you. [10:38]
I have written and published two books, ‘Tell Me More: How to Ask the Right Questions and Get the Most out of your Employees,’ and ‘Sales Myxology: Where the Most Potent Sales and Customer Experiences Follow a Recipe for Success.” [10:54]
We wanted to create something new when we created the Shock Your Potential Bookstore and we have a couple dozen authors in there right now. [11:27]
To be a part of our bookstore, if you're an author, we want to create with you a little video where you talk about why you wrote your book and what it means to you. [11:44]
We have different ways that we promote authors throughout the month as well as picking an author of the month each month. [11:58]
Starting in 2022, we're going to have some really great fun, new and unique interactions with the authors. [12:06]
If you're listening and want to have more opportunity to be a go to person in your area of expertise, I would encourage you to reach out to us about Shock Your Media Potential. [12:36]
It's going to provide a direct access to media producers, and media writers where you can be seen directly for media opportunities. [13:06]
If you have a podcast or you're thinking about a podcast, but you don't like to manage all the parts of the podcast, we now have Shock Your Potential podcast management services opportunity. [13:53]
We manage everything from the entire podcast and guest booking and production process to as little as editing. [14:06]
 If that's something that you're looking for, then reach out to us for that. [14:26]
For the 2022 podcasts for Shock Your Potential, We are looking forward to have some fun new opportunities throughout the year. [14:32]
We will have great monthly themes and high level and quality guests on for our podcasts and showing you directly how our guests can help you. [14:45]
We are fully booked through all of 2021 and we have a waiting list for 2022 right now and for people interested to be on our podcast, please reach out to Josie at  Josie@shockyourpotential.com . [15:18]
If you want to be on more podcasts, we have an opportunity where with very low entry cost, we can match you with a podcast to be on that matches your goals and expectations and where you get a new podcast connection once a week. [15:42]
Finally, I just want to thank you for listening and being a part of what we're doing. [16:02]
When I first started the podcast several years ago, I didn't know what it was going to do for me. [16:07]
There were definite, direct results where speaking opportunities came from the podcast for me, but I didn't really use it to its full potential. [16:25]
Now it has turned into something that is the driving force behind actually both of our businesses. [16:36]
If you are interested in exploring how you use a podcast to really grow your business and to grow true and meaningful connections, you can reach out for that as well. 16:43]
To get a hold of us, reach out at;
info@shockyourpotential.com,
 Michael@shockyourpotential.com, will get you directly to me.
Jossie@shockyourpotential.com, for anything related to the podcast.
Mercy@kukuabiz.com  for anything related to Kukuabiz.
As always make sure to send us your comments, thoughts and feedback. [18:12]
Social media handles
https://www.shockyourpotential.com
https://www.kukuabiz.com
https://shockyourpotentialbookstore.com/