Women Worldwide with Deirdre Breakenridge

On the show today we have Chris Winfield, CEO of Super Connector Media. Chris, also known as The “Super Connector and Media Matchmaker” is the creator of Unfair Advantage Live, the premier publicity event that helps entrepreneurs and experts make connections that will get them in front of the influencers in their industry that make things happen.

Chris has had other businesses over the years but he wasn’t passionate about them and he didn’t feel like he belonged. When his business imploded a few years ago he decided to change the way he did business. 

He wanted to help people connect with people that could help them be successful. So, he started Unfair Advantage Live to bring together entrepreneurs and media people and see if they could help each other. They went from a one-day event to many-days events and he hasn’t looked back since.

In this Women Worldwide episode, Chris and I chat about his story, how he became the “Super Connector,” why he created Unfair Advantage Live and what his advice is for entrepreneurs who don’t feel comfortable asking for help. 

Listen in and see if this conversation hits home with you and where you are in your business right now. Are you afraid to ask for help? You might just learn some new tricks and tools to get you where you want to be.

Show Notes:

  • [02:43] Welcome to the show Chris Winfield!
  • [03:20] Chris tells us that when you see someone or read about someone and you think to yourself that should be me, what’s stopping you?
  • [04:47] He chats with us about starting his own web design company even though he didn’t have any connections.
  • [06:32] Chris says he got his first million-plus dollar client from a small blurb that was written about him in USA Today.
  • [08:10] He started Unfair Advantage Live to teach entrepreneurs how to do the stuff that he did that made him successful.
  • [10:28] Chris discusses how he went out each day and talked to people, being open about what was going on in his life at the time, being honest.
  • [12:31] He found, when talking to new entrepreneurs, that he knew people he could connect them with.
  • [15:07] Chris tells us that word of mouth is how he gets people to attend his events. He doesn’t have to advertise any other way.
  • [16:05] He says that 95 percent of the entrepreneurs he knows won’t ask for help.
  • [23:52] Chris shares the challenges he faces every day in his businesses.
  • [25:16] Fear, ego and expectation hold us back when we don’t prepare ourselves for challenges.
  • [27:57] What is Chris surprised that he’s accomplished?
  • [29:56] Chris tells people to keep things simple and to keep reaching out to one person every day. He also has a program that will keep people on track.
  • [32:16] Listening and how you make people feel are so important to think about when building relationships.
  • [34:49] You will never build a real relationship on social media but meeting one on one will.
  • [37:32] Chris says the women in his life, his partner and his daughter have taught him so much.
  • [39:20] Chris’s advice to women in business is to promote yourself, believe in what you do, we are all just people.

Links and Resources:

Direct download: WW235.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Through her own experiences with addiction and depression, Mal Duane has transformed her life and recreated herself into a highly successful business woman. She is a certified midlife coach and helps women through midlife transitions to heal, reclaim their lives and gain great success where they never thought possible. Also a best-selling author, Mal says all of her books, coaching and speaking is designed to inspire and elevate those souls who feel unloved and unworthy.

Mal had no idea what life had in store for her but once she found her path and mission, she held on with both hands and made the decision to help others that were taking the same journey. 

Everything that happens to us in life is a learning experience, finding our triggers through meditation and journaling is how you grow and become a better version of yourself.

In this Women Worldwide episode I chat with Mal about her life, her success and her journey to self-awareness. She gives us the tools we need to become self aware. You won’t want to miss this episode so sit back, kick your shoes off and listen with an open mind. 

Show Notes:

  • [02:58] Welcome to the show Mal Duane!
  • [03:25] Mal speaks to us about her journey through addiction and depression to the light at the end of the tunnel.
  • [05:02] She tells us that everything we go through in life teaches us the path of negative patterns or character traits that we must heal.
  • [06:15] The pain that you are experiencing at this moment may inspire you to change your life and take a different path.
  • [07:15] Do you rely on others to give you your self worth? Validation from other people?
  • [09:12] We need to look under the hood and learn our truth.
  • [10:08] Once we learn what our triggers are we will find the pathway of personal development, meditate and journal.
  • [12:48] When you meditate you are getting out of your head and into your heart.
  • [13:40] Mal discusses her new book ‘Broken Open: Embracing Heartache and Betrayal as Gateways to Unconditional Love’.
  • [16:10] Unconscious pain and unfulfilled wishes lead to very poor conscious choices.
  • [16:45] Your ego tries to keep you safe but it will also hold you back.
  • [19:13] Mal says that all of the suffering and pain she carried for years was not about what people did to her it was about what she thought, her own ego.
  • [23:23] You can keep people in your life as long as your boundaries are not violated.
  • [25:13] Mal believes that life is a big classroom, you learn something everyday.
  • [27:00] She discusses the tools she uses in her toolbox for self-awareness.
  • [29:35] You have the power to change where your life is going, what is stopping you?
  • [31:15] Mal has a formula for going through life thinking positively, live everyday with intention.
  • [33:05] Helping others helps our personal growth more than anything.
  • [33:44] Mals formula spells FAITH - focus, acceptance, intentions, thoughts and helping others. If you practice these steps you will have unwaveringly faith in yourself.
  • [34:51] She still has challenges but she looks at them as taking her to another level.
  • [36:32] Mal tells us how dangerous social media can be, it needs to be monitored and filters need to be used because of how people use it.
  • [38:58] She gives us some final thoughts and advice about figuring out what we really want.

Links and Resources:

Direct download: WW234.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Leonard Kim an award winning marketer and author is on the show today chatting with us about showing the real you, making your life transparent so that your biggest failures can’t be used against you. He believes that if you control your brand in a proactive way you won’t have to be reactive down the road. Plus you might inspire others who are going through the same struggles you did.

He went from being almost homeless, failing at every company he tried to build to the successful businessman he is today. He had to step back from his failures and see what choices he made that caused him so much heartache. That’s when he realized he had forgotten what he had been taught about putting others first, focus on serving first. He was so focused on himself and what he couldn’t do that he forgot about all the things he could do to help others.

Listen in as Leonard takes us through the journey to success and the roadblocks and milestones he had on the way to transparency and being true to himself.

Show Notes:

  • [03:05] Welcome to the show Leonard Kim!
  • [03:55] Leonard chats about the journey from almost being homeless to an award winning marketer and author.
  • [11:08] His book is about ditching the regrettable moments in your life.
  • [12:35] Should you tell the world about the skeletons in your past or do you just need to reflect on it?
  • [15:05] Things can’t be used against you if you are transparent about them, control your own narrative.
  • [16:18] He talks about the exposure resume - sharing the bad and the ugly of your life.
  • [18:07] We live fragmented lives in business, personal and social media.
  • [19:16] Sharing the good, the bad and our version of our ugly on social media will make us more cohesive as a person.
  • [22:10] Why should you be the lead of a brand called “me”?
  • [26:55] There are 5 different levels of exposure around brand transparency.
  • [29:13] Which of the 8 steps of the brand process does Leonard recommend?
  • [33:00] Your Bio needs to reflect the real you even if you look vulnerable.
  • [37:25] We all feel closer to someone who shares the same experiences as we do.
  • [40:25] Leonard's final thoughts and advice about how to be more vulnerable and transparent. 

Links and Resources:

Direct download: WW233.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Sandra MacLeod, the CEO of Echo Research is on the show today to talk about how important our reputation is in business. She tells us how as women we can build our reputations by keeping an eye out and paying attention to what is being said about us. It is ok to be different but be strong and different, don’t let anyone keep you from doing what you think is right.

Sandra believes that being an entrepreneur today is about believing in yourself and managing your expectations, there will be ups and downs so just hang in there. Also, surround yourself with like-minded people and create an inner circle that will support you and keep you strong.

Sandra has accomplished many things in her career and she isn’t stopping now. When she looks back she remembers a friend of hers saying “Make a promise, keep a promise” and she has lived by that every day of her life.

Show Notes:

  • [02:27] Deirdre introduces today’s guest Sandra MacLeod.
  • [03:59] How did Sandra go from communications to research?
  • [08:35] In her opinion you need a sense of numbers and an understanding of statistics to be good at research.
  • [11:04]  Are companies coming to her before they are at a crisis? Listening?
  • [12:49] She feels that social media is a wonderful power but there is also the dark side that can hurt individuals and organizations.
  • [17:04] Building a following on social media can be very helpful in your business.
  • [18:27] How can women build their reputation among their peers and as a leader?
  • [20:58] Dare to be different, you can be different and be a strong woman at the same time.
  • [22:20] What does it mean to be true to your brand?
  • [25:15] Sandra thinks what it takes to be an entrepreneur today is belief in yourself and managing your expectations.
  • [27:57] Who do you surround yourself with? Who’s in your inner circle?
  • [30:46] When looking back on your career of the things you have accomplished, what surprises you?
  • [32:40] She had a friend that used to always say “Make a promise, keep a promise.” This has stuck with her over the years and she tried to always follow through.
  • [36:15] What resources does Sandra use to keep up to date with current ideas?
  • [38:46] Does she think young professionals should get involved with their industry associations?
  • [39:32] How does she manage her time? Does she have “me” time?
  • [40:55] Her final thoughts on reputation management and staying on your brand.

Links and Resources:

Direct download: WW232.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Keeping in touch and building bonds with people takes communication, patience and dedication. In business and in your personal life consistency in communication is a must. My guest today has a network of 5,000 lawyers to communicate with. She says that there are many ways to communicate with people if you take the time and put in the effort. 

Lindsay Griffiths is the International Lawyers Network Director of Global Relationship Management. She works closely with the Network’s Executive Director on oversight and management of day to day operations of the ILN. 

In her role, she develops and facilitates relationships among INL member firm lawyers at 90+ law firms in 67 countries. She seeks opportunities for member firms to build business and relationships while ensuring member participation in Network events and initiatives.

Today we talk about how relationships are needed at every level and what we do now can ensure that we have the best people around us later. We also chat about how her future promotion is affecting the people around her and how having a tribe of good people in your circle can keep you on track.

Show Notes

  • [02:39] Lindsay Griffiths started her path to Global Relationship Management when she asked the Executive Director, her father, if she could work with him at ILN.
  • [04:53] To maintain a good relationship with your members it takes consistency. You must know, like and trust each other for it to work.
  • [06:09] Everyone is busy, prioritize what is important. When you make people feel important, they are more willing to create that level of business that is important to you.
  • [08:05] In relationships with clients communication and responsiveness are key. Clients want to hear from you. Even if the news is bad, communicating the issues and having a plan to fix it is always better than silence.
  • [11:48] They encourage everyone to use as many different types of communications as possible. There are 5,000 lawyers in the International Lawyers Network (ILN) all over the world, so many different types of communication are utilized.
  • [13:26] They use all of the social media channels now, 10 years ago they only used LinkedIn. It’s been a long road but now there are lawyers even on Facebook.
  • [14:32] Being a woman in a man's world is challenging some days. She says it’s harder in the US than it is internationally.
  • [15:22] There is a women's group in the ILN, they just had their biggest showing at a conference, 30% of the attendees were women.
  • [15:53] Lindsay is being promoted to Executive Director, there was some push back but the majority of people have been very supportive.
  • [17:16] She feels like she has to prove herself but it just might be because she hasn’t really promoted herself the way men do. Because she is taking over from her father some might not think she can do it until she is in the role.
  • [22:44] When men promote themselves they are seen as go-getters. When women promote themselves they are seen as showy or bragging too much.
  • [24:50] She recommends that you have a very strong support network of women who want the best for you and will give you honest feedback. It can be very tough to find those kinds of women but keep looking because you will find your tribe.
  • [27:03] Don’t be afraid to stop being friends with someone who isn’t a fit for you, if they don’t support you or have your best interests at heart you don’t need them.  
  • [29:52] She is a photographer so when she isn’t working she is taking pictures of animals and posting them on Instagram. She also enjoys crocheting hats for cancer patients because cancer has affected her family.
  • [33:18] A fear of failure is what Lindsay says gets her up in the morning. She is a perfectionist and loves the idea of figuring out how to better help her lawyers collaborate and layer relationships.
  • [35:52] Social media for her is about relationships if you are careful, it can be a good tool.  
  • [37:28] She spends about 2 hours a day on social media. She used to use it more but now she has someone managing social media for her.
  • [38:24] She goes to at least one industry conference a year to keep up with the changes in the industry, she also reads a lot to see what other industries are doing to get ideas.
  • [40:02] Lindsay’s advice for building and maintaining really important bonds is consistency, make sure the people you want to be close to are being communicated with on a daily basis, reach out, stay in touch so they know that they are a priority to you.

Links:

Direct download: WW231.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

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