Mere Mortals Unite Podcast

This is it.  236 episodes and its now time to move in different directions and make an impact in different ways.  It has been illuminating.  Every person I have met and interviewed along the way has enriched my life forever.  Each episode has a lesson, an action, or both, for you to utilize, sometimes with a few tweaks to ensure your success.   Hard to let go of, but I leave evergreen information for all of you to utilize as you move into the future…whatever that may look like.  Thank you, Thank you.     For more information about Julie Ann: Julie Ann on Twitter Julie Ann on LinkedIn Julie Ann on Facebook 2 free months on Bonusly iTunes - Subscribe, Rate and Review Find us on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and anywhere you listen to podcasts

Daniel Ramsey is the founder and CEO of MyOutDesk, serving more than 5,000 clients with virtual assistants.  Leading teams of remote workers has its own challenges.  Working from home, even intermittently is growing with popularity.  Daniel shares his expertise and vision he has learned from outsourcing a workforce.  His key focus is on communication.  Remote workers and the businesses they work for need that component to survive    For more information about MyOutDesk (MOD): MyOutDesk Website MOD on Twitter MyOutDesk on YouTube Get Your Free Copy of Scaling Your Business 2 free months on Bonusly   iTunes - Subscribe, Rate and Review Find us on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and anywhere you listen to podcasts

Tristan White is the founder & CEO of The Physio Co, a unique healthcare business that has ranked as one of Australia’s 50 Best Places to Work for eleven consecutive years (2009-2019), along with being named one of the Best Workplaces in Asia from 2015-2018. No wonder I wanted him on my podcast.  Tristan White understands the importance of core purpose and core values. He has grown it through necessity. Tristan has developed a program called, Culture is Everything Kickstarter. It is based on four key areas: Discover the core Document the future Execute relentlessly   Show more love      For more information about Tristan and The Physio Co : Tristan's Website The Physio Co Website Tristan on Twitter Tristan on LinkedIn 2 free months on Bonusly iTunes - Subscribe, Rate and Review Find us on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and anywhere you listen to podcasts

My guest is Tonille Miller, Global VP of Culture and Employee Experience at Startek.  Tonille is passionate about improving the human experience at work while driving the optimal performance of people and organizations.  This combination is a focus of the Businesses that Care podcast.     Startek is a customer engagement business process outsourcing company.  Their goal is to deliver deeper relationships through better customer insights and interactions.  Startek has three goals: Influence positive behavior Shape brand perceptions Create loyal advocates   As an organizational psychologist, Tonille Miller has spent the past 15 years as a consultant, executive coach and researcher.  Her focus has been looking at what people need to be highly productive, engaged and flourishing. She believes, it is easier than you think.  In this episode, Tonille shares how this is possible.     For more information about Tonille: Tonille Miller's Website Tonille on Twitter Tonille on LinkedIn   2 free months on Bonusly iTu

Meridith Elliott Powell is an award-winning author, keynote speaker and business strategist.  She worked her way up from an entry-level position to earn her seat at the C-Suite table. Meridith's philosophy of accountability is not micromanagement.  Instead, she helps her clients shift their paradigm to use accountability to understand if processes are working or not.   Amazing that we were talking about this before we experienced the Coronavirus challenge.  This episode is so relevant to the continued changes that our society and your business is going through.   To create accountability, you need cookies for the people who do what is expected and consequences for those who do not.  For this to work, you need a set of behaviors and results and a way to track those as well.  Her website says it best; "Everything about today’s marketplace is different – your customers, competition, technology and employees. In a world that has changed so drastically, doesn’t it make sense you need a new approach to how you sell

Several years ago, I interviewed the CEO of Acceleration Partners (AP), Robert Glazer.  They have grown exponentially since then. Friday Forward, Robert’s inspirational musings, has grown from 17k to over 120k.  I wanted to take a look from the inside of this organization to see if what you hear is what is lived. So, in this episode I am talking with Dana Aigotti, who has been with the company for a year and a half.   We touch on AP’s interview process, onboarding, how the workforce is reviewed and what they call mindful transitions, which is their exit strategy. It was a lot of fun and in the end Dana and I realized we both like real cheese with our nachos.     For more information about Dana Aigotti, Friday Forward and Acceleration Partners: Dana on LInkedIn Visit Acceleration Partners Visit Friday Forward Follow Acceleration Partners on Twitter Listen to Robert Glazer's episode 2 free months on Bonusly iTunes - Subscribe, Rate and Review Find us on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and anywhere you listen to p

FranklinCovey is the world leader in helping organizations achieve results that require lasting changes in human behavior, often the most difficult challenge any organization faces. When accomplished, it is also the most durable competitive advantage. Scott Miller is a 23-year associate of FranklinCovey and serves as the executive vice president of thought leadership.  Besides being a best-selling author, Scott authors a weekly leadership column for Inc.com. On this episode, Scott shares the importance of creating a safe environment.  At FranklinCovey, they believe in making a safe place for others to tell you the truth. He believes as a leader, you need to create a culture where those on our team can tell us the truth, offer us feedback, and seek guidance without fear. This is key for engagement, retention and where great ideas come from.    For more information about FranklinCovey and Scott Miller: FranklinCovey Website FranklinCovey on Twitter Scott Miller on LinkedIn Buy Management Mess to Leadership Suc

When I looked on Amazon to see how many books have been written on leadership, it said over 30,000.  On top of that there are countless speakers, conferences and membership organizations that profess to have the answer to the best type of leadership. But do they really?  Leadership, like culture is a never-ending journey. What type of information you need when you start a business is completely different from what you need when you get ready to exit.  In this episode I talk about some of the basic underlying fundamentals of effective leadership. These sometimes get lost in the detail of changing environments, but they affect everyone, in any position, at any point in time.     For more information about Julie Ann: Julie Ann on Twitter Julie Ann on LinkedIn Julie Ann on Facebook 2 free months on Bonusly iTunes - Subscribe, Rate and Review Find us on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and anywhere you listen to podcasts

Laurie Guest is an award-winning customer service expert, Certified Speaking Professional and a good friend.  This overarching conversation looks at customer service from common sense to generational differences. Laurie believes that success comes from a deep understanding that everyone comes from a different background.  The more we understand the personalities of who we work with and respect those differences, customer service is enhanced.     Laurie shares with us the 5 key attributes that create what common sense means to each of us: The environment you were raised What era you were born into The environment where you used to work Personality type Who you work next to today.    For more information about Laurie: Laurie Guest's Website Laurie Guest on Facebook Laurie on Twitter Laurie on Instagram Laurie’s previous episode 10 Cent Decision - Free Chapter 2 free months on Bonusly   iTunes - Subscribe, Rate and Review Find us on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and anywhere you listen to podcasts

In this episode I interview my guest, Tom Walter, Chief Culture Officer of Tasty Catering based out of Chicago.  They produce over 10,000 events yearly. WOW! Tasty has been recognized as the Best Small Workplace in the US according to Forbes Magazine, Inc. Magazine, and the #1 Best Place to Work in Illinois.  Tom is going to share with us the journey of Tasty’s millennial cultural revolt that happened over 13 years ago and the changes Tom and his leadership had to make. We might even get some information on the hedgehog concept and the Flywheel.  Thanks, Tom for taking the time to share your expertise.     Here is Tasty Catering’s Core Values: #1 always moral, ethical & legal #2 treat all with respect #3 quality in everything we do #4 high service standards #5 competitiveness: strong determination to be the best #6 an enduring culture of individual discipline #7 freedom & responsibility within the culture of individual discipline   For more information about Tasty Catering and Tom Walter: Company Webs

Can an accounting firm actually be a fun place to work? Years ago I interviewed Bill Hagaman, CEO and Managing Partner of WithumSmith+Brown. Since I’m a recovering accountant, I was very intrigued to have Bill on the show. We don’t think of an accounting firm as a place where people have fun, but they have established a business culture that is enjoyable and growth-oriented.    Since including Bill in my book, I decided to revisit this culturally elite company and talk with one of their employees, Aaron Slaughter.  Adam is a Senior Manager in Withum’s Washington, D.C. office. He specializes in providing top-notch assurance, auditing, tax, and accounting services to multiemployer benefit plans and labor organizations across the U.S.   This is an interesting conversation because not only does he work for Withum, but the office he is in is one they bought to expand their territory.  Adam, therefore, had to move into the Withum Way. I found out, WithumSmith+Brown really does walk their talk.   As a refresher, her

Contrary to popular thought, gratitude does have a place inside of every workplace.   For more than a decade, researchers have been studying the effects of a positive mindset and its byproducts of increased productivity, creativity, and engagement.  Gratitude creates an optimistic way of thinking.  Are you aware that grateful people can have 10% fewer stress-related illnesses?  That translates into lower absenteeism at work. Workers who feel well, work harder and smarter too.  Individuals who find more to appreciate in their lives become better problem solvers and produce higher quality work.  That’s how gratitude shows up in the bottom line of any business.  We humans have it backwards.  You might think that success will drive your happiness, but we have discovered that it is just the opposite.   For more information about Julie Ann: Julie Ann on Twitter Julie Ann on LinkedIn Julie Ann on Facebook 2 free months on Bonusly iTunes - Subscribe, Rate and Review Find us on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and anyw

Rhonda Spencer is the Chief People Officer at Barry Wehmiller.  She oversees two critical teams that inspire personal growth of team members, cultivates leaders within its ten divisional companies, and foster Barry-Wehmiller’s dynamic people-first culture: Organizational Empowerment and Culture & People Development. The Organizational Empowerment Team is focused on furthering the company’s highly successful leadership development institute, Barry-Wehmiller University, its continuous improvement initiatives, Living Legacy of Leadership (L3), and numerous sales motivation programs. Culture & People Development directs wellbeing initiatives, safety initiatives, team member benefits and recruiting efforts.   For more information about Barry-Wehmiller (BW): Barry-Wehmiller's Website BW on Twitter BW on Facebook BW on Youtube Barry-Wehmiller on LinkedIn   iTunes - Subscribe, Rate and Review Find us on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and anywhere you listen to podcasts

In this episode, I talk about the importance of flexibility. Being flexible is having the ability to adapt to new, different and changing environments. Since our world is constantly in flux, the skill of flexibility is mandatory for a successful and happy life. In today’s quickly changing world, the ability to think and act differently is essential. This can be applied to every aspect of your personal and professional life. To point out the necessity of this skill, let me ask you this.  Have you ever had a day completely go according to what your plan was? Probably not. Most of you don’t live in isolation, so there are thousands of factors every day that can change your plans.  Even a hermit in the woods relies on the weather and nature for their shelter and food supply.  For more information about Julie Ann: Julie Ann on Twitter Julie Ann on LinkedIn Julie Ann on Facebook 2 free months on Bonusly iTunes - Subscribe, Rate and Review Find us on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and anywhere you listen to podcasts

Rhonda Leeman Taylor is a native of Canada.  She was one of the founding pioneers of woman’s Canadian hockey as it was being reborn in the 1980s.  She is now involved in assisting companies with their marketing and recruiting with specialized software at Advos, the HR Marketers and Fuel 50. This is a candid conversation about women in the workplace, women in sports and women in the boardroom.  Rhonda shares some incredible stories that you might think come from the dark ages, but happened not that long ago.  Her experience in women’s hockey gave her more power to counteract the disturbing treatment that she experienced. Her perseverance will help generations of women in the future.     For more information about Rhonda: Rhonda's Website Rhonda on Twitter Rhonda on LinkedIn Check out Fuel 50 Buy Offside, A Memoir 2 free months on Bonusly   iTunes - Subscribe, Rate and Review Find us on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and anywhere you listen to podcasts

It’s important to understand that no matter where you are on the organizational chart, at some time, even if not all the time, you ARE a leader that someone is looking to for guidance, approval and permission.  That comes with some responsibilities, for instance, how do you empower those that ARE looking to you for guidance?  The definition of empowerment means to promote the self-actualization or influence of someone.  The best leaders are those that empower others to become what they can be, beyond even their own expectations.  They can see what others don’t see in themselves.   For more information about Julie Ann: Julie Ann on Twitter Julie Ann on LinkedIn Julie Ann on Facebook 2 free months on Bonusly iTunes - Subscribe, Rate and Review Find us on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and anywhere you listen to podcasts

Gethin Nadin is the Director of Employee Wellbeing at Benefex. They believe that everyone deserves an exceptional experience at work, every day and they build workplace technology that makes this happen.  They are the producer of OneHub which is an award-winning employee benefit, reward, recognition and communications platform. We are going to be talking with Gethin about how Benefex uses its own philosophies internally to create a superb workplace culture.  That is where Gethin comes in.   Think about how great it would be to get communication that was directed to you and not have to filter through 100 emails that don’t pertain to you.  Benefex knows its employees and speaks to their needs. In this way, your employee experience is raised along with productivity and loyalty.   Gethin is a psychology graduate who has been helping some of the world’s largest organizations to improve their employee experience and wellbeing for almost two decades. As a frequent writer and speaker on employee experience and employ

Shep Hyken is the CAO (Chief Amazement Officer) of Shepard Presentations. As a customer service and experience expert and keynote speaker, Shep works with companies who want to build loyal relationships with their customers and employees. His focus is on delivering amazing customer service, customer engagement, managing the customer experience and creating customer loyalty. He is a hall of fame speaker (National Speakers Association) and a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author.  The direct correlation between internal culture and customer experience is what we dig deep into on this episode.  He imparts his knowledge about, Moments of truth, Moments of magic and his golden rule, “Do unto your employees as you would want done unto your customers.”   For more information about Shep: Shep Hyken's Website Shep on Twitter Shep on Facebook Shep on LinkedIn   Get 2 free months of Bonusly iTunes - Subscribe, Rate and Review   Find us on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and anywhere you listen to podc

Welcome to 2020.  It is a new year and you are probably filled with personal and professional goals.  Unfortunately, some research has shown that less than 25% of you will keep your personal resolutions past 30 days and only 8% of you will keep them over time.  Of course, in business, this would spell disaster. But it is still a struggle, mainly because not enough time and thought is put into shaping business goals, planning for their execution and being open to change.     In this episode, I am going to help you look at three strategic necessities to have success in your new business goals, with an emphasis on internally growing your culture.      For more information about Julie Ann: Julie Ann on Twitter Julie Ann on LinkedIn Julie Ann on Facebook 2 free months on Bonusly iTunes - Subscribe, Rate and Review Find us on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and anywhere you listen to podcasts

Today I’m highlighting the importance of disengagement and how it can heighten your ability of resilience.  This episode is not about you being disengaged from the work you do.  On the contrary, the type of disengagement I’m going to talk about will actually raise your engagement in everything that you do.   It may seem contradictory, but listen through and you’ll find that downtime creates more valuable work time. Disengagement is a way of detaching from something.  And the something I want to discuss is the parts of life that may make you irritable, unhappy and frustrated.    In a world where more than 200 million emails are sent each day, it’s no wonder there seems to be no time to relax and disengage. You may think about work when you awaken or on your way to the office if you don’t work remotely. There are emails, meetings, and phone interruptions that further complicate ways in which you can be creative and productive.  In fact, just talking about this makes me want to scream.  It isn’t a coincidence th