Unconventional Leaders

It’s easy to make excuses that we’re too young or too old or don’t know what to do next. As leaders, we often need to simply step out and take action. The founders of Big and Mini (Aditi Merchant, Allen and Anthony Zhou) teach us to work through dull tasks, persist in spreading our ideas, and believe in our mission enough to keep going. Founded in early April 2020 by 3 teenagers in Texas, Big & Mini is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to combat social isolation and bridge the generation gap by connecting youth and seniors through video calls. This organization has more than 300 volunteers from 37 states and features in The Houston Chronicle, MSN, and SoulPancake.  They’ve been awarded the Blackstone Summer Startup Fellowship and have partnered with several aging and youth organizations, including the Texas Aging and Longevity Center and Aging Well. Going forward, they hope to further expand their platform to include more seniors in care homes and begin the implementation of local chapters to increase

As leaders, we deal with many types of people who have different beliefs. Federico Solmi joins us today and shares how to navigate controversial topics while still pursuing truth and helping others learn and grow. He reminds us that sometimes even our best work may be ignored for years only to be highly admired after we are more established.   Connect with Federico: https://www.federicosolmi.com/   QUESTIONS ASKED: Was there a time you were tempted to compromise? How do you develop patience as an artist? When do you know a project is done? How do we balance ambition and being in the moment?   FROM TODAY’S EPISODE: Understanding the rules of your field or industry Working hard even when your work is being ignored Being aware that life will end one day Help with focus on a task that needs to be done Trusting your instincts with unconventional ideas Why some of his favorite work is in storage RESOURCES: Text us! +1 (501) 214-4307 Join our Private Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/2lPut5A Youtube Channel: http

As leaders, we are constantly sharing our story and the stories of others even if we don’t realize it. Michelle Auerbach joins us today and shares details of research behind storytelling so that we can be more intentional in sharing stories that make an impact. She provides ways to improve our storytelling and therefore the world. Michelle Auerbach solves problems and creates change through story. She works with businesses on change management, leadership, and creativity through story. She works with communities on creating social good, connection and working across differences through story. She coaches and teaches individuals through workshops, training, and one-on-one explorations. She writes for the New York Times, The London Guardian, and is the author of three books: Resilience: the Life Saving Skill of Story, Alice Modern, and The third Kind of Horse.  Connect with Michelle: www.michelleauerbach.com. Tips and tricks on how to create change with story https://mailchi.mp/514ae9294cca/michelleauerbach

Sometimes we forget to do what brings us joy and makes us come alive, even though those paths can lead us unexpectedly to where we want to be as leaders. Sam Jones  joins us today to share his perspective on pursuing what we enjoy (and makes us curious) even if we don’t know how it will help in the future.  Sam Jones is an acclaimed photographer and director whose seminal portraits of President Obama, Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Bob Dylan, Kristin Stewart, Robert Downey Jr, Amy Adams, Jack Nicholson, and many others have appeared on the covers of Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Esquire, GQ, Time, Entertainment Weekly and Men’s Journal. Jones is also an acclaimed director, creating numerous national commercials for Skype, Sonos, Canon, Target, Dove and many others. Jones’ is a sought after music video director who won MTV’s music video of the year for Foo Fighters “Walk.” He has directed videos for Mumford and Sons, Tom Petty John Mayer, and many others.  In 2013 he launched Off Camera with Sam Jones on Direct

As leaders, we have a heart for helping people, but many times we don’t reach them with our message because we don’t know how to share the best we have to offer. Linda teaches us to value ourselves and communicate who we really are in a way that gets other people’s attention without sounding like we’re bragging. Linda Raynier CPA, CA is a Career Strategist, Speaker and Coach for corporate professionals who want to enhance their personal brand and pursue careers they'll truly enjoy. She is a former CPA turned top-performing recruiter/headhunter in Toronto where she's successfully placed hundreds of individuals in permanent career opportunities from Analyst up to C-Suite levels.   Now, Linda works with international clients globally, with a key focus on professionals in the US, Canada and Australia through her website, LindaRaynier.com. Linda is a thought leader in the career and professional development space and has a popular YouTube channel (with millions of viewers), where she shares her insights on anythin

As leaders, we have an audience whether it’s through social media, an email list, a congregation, or even our own family. Howard Ross encourages us to re-establish integrity so that we can lead people well and speak up about important issues in a healthy and effective way.   Connect with Howard Ross: https://howardjross.com/ QUESTIONS ASKED: How is our need to belong tearing us apart? What’s our personal responsibility in navigating change? How can we restore hope for this generation?   FROM TODAY’s EPISODE: Being part of something bigger than yourself Changes in agreeing and disagreeing with others Connecting and supporting each other and recognizing unconscious bias RESOURCES: Text us! +1 (501) 214-4307 Join our Private Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/2lPut5A Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady   BIO: Howard Ross is a lifelong social justice advocate and is considered one of the world’s seminal thought leaders on identifying and addressing unconscious bias.  He is the author of ReI

Being a leader fills our days with decisions that affect others. In this episode, we learn how to make helpful decisions and avoid reactions that damage our relationships and businesses. Known as the Disaster Avoidance Expert, intentionally-recognized thought leader Dr. Gleb Tsipursky is on a mission to protect leaders from dangerous judgment errors known as cognitive biases by developing the most effective decision-making strategies.  He has over two decades of consulting, coaching, and training experience as CEO of Disaster Avoidance Experts, and over 15 years of experience in academia as a cognitive neuroscientist and behavioral economist. Dr. Tsipursky writes for Inc. Magazine, Time, Scientific American, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur. A best-selling author, his new book is Never Go With Your Gut: How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters.  Connect with Dr. Tsipursky : https://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/NeverGut/ Free Assessment on Dangerous Judgment Errors in the Wor

As leaders, we often feel pressure to portray ourselves a certain way. Scott Miller joins us today to share how to lead well while being yourself and constantly improving. He reminds us that there are many kinds of leaders and leadership styles. He gives us permission to focus on what matters to us rather than what we think others believe we should care about.  Scott Miller is a 24-year associate of FranklinCovey and serves as the executive vice president of thought leadership. Scott hosts the world’s largest and fastest growing podcast/newsletter devoted to leadership development, On Leadership.  Additionally, Scott is the author of the multi-week Amazon #1 New Release, Management Mess to Leadership Success: 30 Challenges to Become the Leader You Would Follow, and the Wall Street Journal best-seller, Everyone Deserves a Great Manager: The 6 Critical Practices for Leading a Team.  Scott authors a weekly leadership column for Inc.com and is a frequent contributor on podcasts, and webinars. Previously, Scott wo

Today we are connecting with the author of The Shack, William Paul Young. Although this show is mostly about creativity and making a living doing what you love, one of the deeper issues underlying all the internal work we have to do as ambitious creatives is addressing spiritual pain and how we view God. Paul’s work has really impacted my life and it’s an honor to get to share his message with you.   WHO IS WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG?  Wm Paul Young, author of The Shack, Cross Roads, Eve, The Shack Reflections and Cross Roads Reflections, and Lies We Believe About God, was born a Canadian and raised among a stone-age tribe by his missionary parents in the highlands of what was Netherlands New Guinea (now West Papua).  He suffered great loss as a child and young adult, and now enjoys the “wastefulness of grace” with his growing family in the Pacific Northwest.   Connect with Paul Young: http://wmpaulyoung.com/ QUESTIONS ASKED: How do we explore faith without ostracizing ourselves? How do you know you’ve experienced t

Today we are talking about how you can develop a belief in yourself (no matter what your circumstances) and become UNSTOPPABLE. We have with us the incredible, “Unstoppable Tracy” who shares with us how she was able to disarm her own limiting beliefs and defy what others told her to be “impossible”.  Unstoppable Tracy Schmitt won a bronze medal in downhill para-skiing, climbed the Himalayan mountains, captained 110-foot-tall ships in the Atlantic, was named the #1 Female Transformational Leader by the John Maxwell Team out of 160 countries, a Corporate Consultant,  and mentioned in Oprah Magazine .   Oh, did I mention she was born a 4-way amputee?   Connect with Unstoppable Tracy: https://unstoppabletracy.com/   QUESTIONS ASKED: How do we say yes to your calling in the midst of setbacks How do we identify as a leader when we don't feel like one? What are the common practices for developing belief in yourself?"   FROM TODAY’s EPISODE: How she has used "relentless questioning" Going "all in" and making thing

As leaders, we often create products and services to help others. Then we find ourselves trying to sell these items that have the potential to change people’s lives. But because we don’t enjoy or understand sales, we can find ourselves stuck. Bob Burg joins us today and reminds us that selling is not about us or our products but rather about those we’re serving, their problems, their values, and their trust. Bob Burg is a sought-after speaker at company leadership and sales conferences sharing the platform with everyone from today’s business leaders and broadcast personalities to even a former U.S. President. Bob is the author of a number of books on sales, marketing and influence, with total book sales of well over a million copies. His book, The Go-Giver, coauthored with John David Mann, itself has sold over 950,000 copies and it has been translated into 28 languages. His and John’s newest parable in the Go-Giver Series is The Go-Giver Influencer. Bob is an advocate, supporter and defender of the Free Enter

As leaders, we have the power to help others feel seen and heard. We have the ability to bring out the greatness in others and put a stop to damaging treatment of people around us. We have the opportunity to lead by example. Brandon Farbstein joins us today and challenges us to develop deep empathy for not only others, but for ourselves.  Brandon Farbstein inspires millions of people across the globe with his universal message of living life on your own terms and innovating your own solution. At just 20 years old, he is a renowned empowerment speaker, Gen Z activist and author. Brandon was diagnosed with a rare form of dwarfism at the age of 2, and has turned his life experience of suffering, isolation, and victimhood into empowerment, impact and influence. After a severe battle with cyberbullying in high school, Brandon decided to share his story- to both offer hope and to enact change. Whether on tour with his recently published book Ten Feet Tall, sharing his message with students at schools across the cou

Today I had the honor of connecting with Chris Guillebeau about the unconventional approaches we can take towards money and why we should LEAN IN when things get uncomfortable. Chris Guillebeau [Gil-a-bow] is the New York Times bestselling author of The $100 Startup, Side Hustle, The Happiness of Pursuit, and other books that have been translated into more than thirty languages. During a lifetime of self-employment that included a four-year commitment as a volunteer executive in West Africa, he visited every country in the world (193 in total) before his 35th birthday.   His daily podcast, Side Hustle School, is downloaded more than two million times a month. He is also the founder of the World Domination Summit, an event for cultural creatives that attracts thousands of attendees to Portland, Oregon every summer.   Connect with Chris: chrisguillebeau.com Buy Money Tree: https://moneytreebook.com/ QUESTIONS ASKED: How do we unlearn unhealthy money mindsets? How has traveling the world influenced how you vi

“No one is so far removed from healing that we cannot find it.”  That comes from today’s guest, viral blogger, pastor, hospital chaplain, and someone you need to be following on Instagram, the J.S. Park. Today we dive in deep to talk about the multiple voices we carry, how we can find our one true voice, and unapologetically use it. We also have an important conversation about validating and listening to the stories of those around us and finding the TRUTH in the midst of the noise. JS. PARK, (BA Psychology, Univ. South Florida; MDiv, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is a hospital chaplain, viral blogger, and teaching pastor. As an interfaith chaplain at a large hospital in Tampa, he provides grief counseling and assists with end-of-life care.  He also serves as a community care chaplain at Metropolitan Ministries, one of the largest nonprofit charities on the east coast, which serves the homeless in Tampa. He loves to play the drums and guitar, and has a sixth-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He l

Today we are talking with confidence expert, Heather Monahan about how we can step into our power and overcome insecurity.   Heather Monahan is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, TedX speaker and founder of Boss In Heels.  Having successfully climbed the corporate ladder for nearly 20 years, Heather Monahan is one of the few women to break the glass ceiling and claim her spot in the C-suite.    As a Chief Revenue Officer in Media, Heather Monahan is a Glass Ceiling Award winner, named one of the most Influential Women in Radio in 2017 and Thrive Global named her a Limit Breaking Female Founder in 2018.    Heather’s new book Confidence Creator shot to #1 on Amazon’s Business Biographies and Business Motivation lists the first week it debuted on Amazon.     Heather’s new show, Creating Confidence  , debuted on the Top 200 shows on Apple podcast. Her guests include Sara Blakely, Gary Vaynerchuck, Ryan Serhant, Kaitlyn Bristowe among many other noteworthy celebrities and entrepreneurs.     Heather’s has been

Today’s episode is a special one. I had the honor of connecting with THE Jack Canfield to talk about how to move past fear, take control of unhealthy thoughts, and lean into the success he believes we are all capable of.   Jack Canfield is the co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He has developed 42 New York Times bestsellers, and holds a Guinness Book World Record for having seven books on the New York Times bestseller list simultaneously.    Known as “America’s #1 Success Coach,” Jack has studied and reported on what makes successful people different. Over the last 40 years, his compelling message, empowering energy and personable coaching style has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals achieve their dreams. He has been a featured guest on more than 1,000 radio and television programs in nearly every major market worldwide. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.   Buy Jack’s latest book: https://www.jackcanfield.com/success/the-success-principles-workbook/sp/launch.html QUESTIONS ASK

Being a leader is an adventure. It opens us up to criticism but also gives us opportunities to serve others. John reminds us of the importance of creating more options in our lives and tells us how to do that. He shares the role of divine intervention and vulnerability in his own life.   John is a proven combat leader with over forty years’ service in the United States Army including active duty and in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. John is a leadership and peak performance expert, a motivational storyteller, and a much sought-after speaker and leadership seminar leader.  John is a thoughtful leader and he has a reputation as a servant leader.   The Ride of Our Lives is a true story of John Gronski’s bicycle ride across the United States with his wife, Berti, and fifteen-month-old son, Stephen. In the 3-month adventure the Gronski family experience trials, triumphs, and learning lessons. They discovered incredible people from Tacoma Washington to Scranton Pennsylvania. They faced wind, rain, traffic, a

We often hear the phrase “servant leader,” but Glenn gives us a clear picture of what that looks like. He reminds us that we are leaders no matter what. The question is whether we are leading people where they need to go or not. Glenn shares how his study of successful people led him to focus on giving to others and how we can put that to practice in practical ways.  He is a husband to 1, a father to 7, and the host of the wildly popular Facebook Live show #RiseAndGrind. He’s been seen at places like Hustle and Grind Con, Grow Your Business For God’s Sake! and many more stages across the country. Glenn has been spotlighted on ABC, NBC, and CBS, and is an expert in dealership culture development, and leadership training.  With 20 years experience in the automotive industry, Glenn lead a dealership from 120 cars a month to an 800% increase in sales in five years, becoming the 2nd largest used car franchise in the country. His unique style makes him one of the most coveted GM’s in the business. Glenn has the uni

As Unconventional Leaders, we can feel like we don’t belong. It can make us shrink back. Adri reminds us of the importance of pressing on in those circumstances. She gives us practical advice for switching gears when we’re in a slump. She shares healthy ways to respond to situations beyond our control. Adriana Kyser is an international wellness expert who has spent the past 15 years helping highly-driven women stop feeling stressed and overwhelmed and start living a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life. Using her Enlightened Alchemy™ method, she has helped thousands of women worldwide achieve everything from reduced pain and stress to increased confidence and productivity.  Rather than drawing from only one modality, her extensive list of certifications (including NLP, coaching, and yoga) allow her to create a customized wellness experience for clients. As a brand ambassador, she has worked with Athleta and Larabar. When she’s not busy hosting retreats around the globe in exotic locations like Bali, Gr

We as leaders often end up in a different place than where we set out from the start. Terry shares how an unwanted project was dropped into her life and turned into her passion. She closed her business in exchange for opening a nonprofit. Her work with women reminds us that we have more in common than we may think.   Connect with Terry: https://www.enchantedmakeovers.org/   QUESTIONS ASKED: What prepared you for this calling? How do you create an intentional home environment? Do you have moments of regret about dedicating your life to this even though you were hesitant in the beginning?   FROM TODAY’s EPISODE: The power of naming your home Being a leader even when you don’t feel like one How we’re in the same boat as the people we serve Serving from the place of your passion RESOURCES: Join our Private Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/2lPut5A Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unconventionalleaders/message