GR8TR

Christy Lamagna on Living a Strategic, Fulfilling Life

I met Christy Lamagna through our mutual friend, Phil Gerbyshak. She is so much fun to talk to and really wants to help people. It is apparent as soon as you start talking with her. Below she was kind enough to answer some interview questions for our readers on her experience of using strategy to improve event outcomes and life outcomes.

You are currently working on a book on helping people be more strategic in their lives. What inspired that and what kinds of advice will be in it?

So much of what goes into a successful event applies to living a fulfilling life. The book gives readers an understanding of basic human psychology and behavior to position yourself for success when negotiating, job interviews, talking to a spouse or anyone for that matter. Once I made that connection I started sharing my theory and saw it help transform lives. When I realized what I’d stumbled upon, I couldn’t keep it to myself.

You have been a long time strategist for big events. Over time you have begun applying the same strategic thinking to your life. Give our readers some examples of this cross over.

Events are like life. You have people who show up and actively participate, people who show up and just take space, and some who blow it off. We all know people who fall into each of those categories when it comes to how they live their lives. From the planner’s perspective, an event can be planned focusing on just the logistics which are an endless list of “to-do” items that take up time and tend to the need directly in front of you.

Strategic events start with a well-defined, thought out goal in mind. A plan is created and every detail is specifically designed to support that goal. Most of us go through life crossing things off lists and are too busy to get any work done. Events, when planned without focus are much like life without a goal; lots of time and money are spent but there is nothing substantial or significant to show for it. Applying strategy to life results in goals being achieved, relationships strengthening, financial health improving and an overall sense of purpose and mission.

How do you suggest people stay motivated for continued growth and success?

Success fuels success. By creating a goal and achieving milestones along the way momentum builds and new habits are formed. Once a person realizes how much easier it is to exist in a life that has intention there’s no going back. Don’t let the word “strategic” fool you into thinking the process is difficult. The truth is, a strategic plan eliminating time wasting tasks, removes people who drain energy from your world, creates opportunities and makes it easier to exist. It’s so freeing!

Can you share an example of someone who got more strategic and has a good rags to riches story who you know.

A coaching client was living the epitome of a life mired in logistics. Her employer was content to pile on work beyond what was reasonable, and she kept taking it on. She was resentful and her unhappiness was obvious. Requests for additional staff were denied and she was passed over for promotions due to a bad attitude. She felt helpless. Her boss was tired of listening to her complain and her negative attitude made her unpopular. When we discussed approaching her boss with a way to help him more and offer ways to make his life easier, she balked.

Why take on more work and why reward him for treating her so poorly? We discussed one of the key pillars of strategic planning; knowing what your audience wants and delivering it. When you give people what they want they will give you what you want. Instead of complaining to her boss, she solicited projects. Instead of being unhappy she started dressing for the job she wanted and intentionally spread cheer. She is now being recommended for the promotion, has a new boss who appreciates her, has others commenting on her new attitude and she’s eliminated many of the time-wasting tasks she was burdened with. It took nothing but strategic thinking and a plan. Everything changed and all for the better. Anyone can do this!

What do you suggest is part of someone’s daily routine no matter what their goals are?

You have to remember that if you are not the answer to the question “what’s in it for me?” you aren’t going to get what you need. You also have to remember that people’s actions are not about you. If you internalize other people’s actions and opinions you’re forever their slave. Focus on your goals and how you can work with other people to achieve your goal.

Is there any technology you recommend to help people make meaningful changes?

It depends on the goal. For some having an app that tracks spend is invaluable. Sometimes an app that tallies calories consumed and burned is helpful. Most of the time it’s about declaring your goal, having an accountability partner and a calendar to mark milestone due dates. It doesn’t take a superior mind, huge bank account, fancy technology or a tremendous amount of time. If anything life lived strategically will give you more time, money, and happiness.

Tell our readers how to find out more about you.

Whether you’re an executive trying to create systems and infrastructure or shift corporate culture, someone returning to the professional world after a long hiatus, someone changing careers, vying for a promotion or who has any goals that feel too formidable to be possible, strategic thinking and planning will help. I offer webinars, coaching, corporate consulting and a host of other services to fit every budget. People can find me at [email protected]

About Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM

Christy is an award-winning Master Strategist, author, entrepreneur, speaker, coach, and intellectual philanthropist. For two decades, Christy’s strategic planning process has changed the business trajectory of corporations and the lives of people from all industries and walks of life.

Known for her approachability, teaching skills, sense of humor, vast expertise on achieving business and personal goals, expanding networks and marketing plans, Christy is one of the most sought after strategy experts in business, coaching and speaking circles.

Professional Presence in the Workplace: Christine Zust

Christine Zust is an experienced professional who is an expert on facilitating meetings, getting things done and on helping people present a better professional image. I interviewed Christine about her book and advice on how to help people be more successful and avoid pitfalls, which are becoming more treacherous every day.

Christine, you have written a book about professional presence. Who is the book geared towards? What problems did you see, and how does your book address them?

My book, Everything I Do Positions Me: The Simple Path to Professional Success, was the culmination of what I experienced firsthand throughout my career. It was designed with three distinct primary target markets in mind for the following reasons:

Young professionals who are new to the workplace. They often have no formal understanding of what it means to be a professional or how to act in a professional manner. This book provides a primer on professional presence.
Experienced workers who want to reach that next level in their career. Often people who have been in the workplace for 10, even 20, years, find themselves “stuck” where they are. They may have applied for promotions several times and been turned down or may not have been asked to serve on special sub-committees or task forces. They may be at a point in their career where they need to evaluate themselves. This book helps them do that.
People returning to the workplace after a hiatus. This person could be someone who has been unemployed for several years or who put their career on hold to rear their children, take care of an aging parent, settle a parent’s estate, or resume their life after a challenging life event and are now ready to return to the workplace. This book provides advice and tools to help them ease back into the marketplace.

A strength of this book is that it was written as a resource guide and is very practical and easy to use. It includes simple strategies for success, along with models and ready-made templates.

What kinds of things should college students be doing to improve their positioning all through college?

Since the workplace is much more competitive today, here are a few specific suggestions:

Get to know professors. In addition to the required college courses is a core curriculum within every major. Whatever the field of study, professors know what is happening in the marketplace. They also know companies and organizations that may be looking for interns or part-time employees. Beyond just “showing up” in class, students benefit greatly by building relationships with their professors.
Complete multiple internships. Many college degree programs require students to complete one internship before graduating. The star students, the ones who really stand out, are those who pursue multiple internships. A few years ago, I met a marketing scholarship recipient who, by her senior year, had completed four internships, each one in a different area of marketing. It positioned her, in my mind, as someone who was a hard worker, diligent, and eager to work and learn more about her chosen field.
Get real world experience in one’s chosen field. A typical interview question is “What experience do you have in…” Many students are paying their way through college, often with minimum wage jobs. To stand out in a sea of competitors, students must find paid work in their field of study. For finance majors, for instance, it’s best to find a paid job in an organization that provides them with that experience. By the time they are graduated and enter the workforce, they already will have acquired valuable experience.
Think big. Whether it’s an internship or paid work, students need to think big and broad. Beyond finding work in their hometown, other opportunities may await them with prestigious professional sports teams, national media outlets, or top corporations.
Join professional organizations. Most college majors offer student organizations that are affiliated with professional organizations. By getting involved, students will meet professionals who are already working in their chosen field and who could potentially serve as mentors or even open doors to employment.

In the book, you reference a phrase called “Power Positioning.” What is that?

I define power positioning as “The art of putting yourself in a place that you want to be, which maximizes your talents, skills, and contacts. In other words, it reminds us that we truly control our own destiny, and that we can develop a strategic action plan to position ourselves as the true professionals we desire to become. Professionals often look at the goal of where they want to be without listing the important steps they need to take to get there. I use a simple model to get people thinking about their own positioning by asking three simple questions:

Where are you currently positioned? (Self-assessment)
Where do you want to be positioned? (Your ultimate positioning goal)
What action steps will you need to take to get you to your ultimate goal?

To get from where you are today to where you want to be in the future, you need to do the hard work by defining what specific steps you need to take to achieve your desired results. It looks simple on paper, yet success requires countless hours invested in creating and executing a strategic action plan.

How has the explosion of online and social media affected a potential employer’s process for hiring?

We live in a much more transparent world today, where potential employers can simply look you up on Google to learn more about you. Most likely, they will first review your LinkedIn page, since it is the most recognizable networking site for professionals, to check employment history, job responsibilities, volunteer experience, membership in organizations, articles or posts, and interests. They can also check other forms of social media like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and many others to glimpse an individual’s personal life. Sometimes the best way to get your foot in the door is to strategically position yourself online as a talented, qualified worker.

Remember that current employers also review employees’ social media platforms. How do you remain employed? Don’t talk negatively about your current employer on any social media platform. Individuals who talk poorly about their boss or co-workers may end up in the national news…not in a favorable light, and without a job.

What can professionals do to avoid negative backlash on social media?

This has been and continues to be a hot topic…how to avoid sabotaging your career success through social media. Here is a short “What to do/What to avoid” checklist that professionals of all ages can follow:

What to do:

Think before you post. Choose your words and tone very carefully.
Have something important to say. Useless information clogs social media space. Make what you say count.
Avoid strong opinions on controversial topics. Unless you are a political pundit or social commentator, remain neutral and be careful about sharing strong opinions. You could alienate friends or lose followers.
Post appropriate visual content. Remember, employers and prospective employers view your social media content. (Extra tip: What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, until someone posts it online. If you have friends who love to take group photos and post them online, ask that they check with you first before posting).

What to avoid:

Stop whining online. It positions you as a negative person.
Avoid hard selling. Social media is a platform for sharing, not selling. Cut the hype.
Posts are not intimate conversations. You may think you’re speaking with one person; in reality, you are speaking to potentially thousands of people through your posts.

Can you give us an example of someone who did a major positioning overhaul and got great results?

There are several standout professionals whose careers I have watched over the years. Here are some commonalities these people share:

Set a goal. The goal needs to be a clear one. If you want to lead a department or an organization some day, you first must get experience and work your way up in the organization. If there is no room at the top for you in that organization at that time, then move to another organization that offers you a higher position. Keep moving up until you achieve the goal of leading a department or an organization.
Find one or several mentors. Those people who have had the greatest career success are those who have tapped into the wisdom and sage advice of mentors. Mentors offer a unique perspective, especially when they have achieved the kind of success that you desire. Mentors offer unlimited access to ideas, opinions, advice, and can often assist in furthering your career.
Assume greater responsibilities. Those who stand out are those who, at pivotal points in their careers, decided to take a giant leap to take on a higher level of work. This could include working on larger projects, supervising more people, or expanding to a national or international market. The caveat, of course, is you must do an excellent job!
Become more visible. People who rise to leadership positions are also actively involved in their professional organizations and in the community.
The more people who see the good work you do, the better your chances are of getting someone’s attention…a future employer or a community board, perhaps?
Expand your network of contacts. Technology makes it easy to connect with people and expand your base of contacts. If a potential employer is searching for a dynamic, well-connected vice president of marketing, and reviews your LinkedIn site only to learn that you are connected to only 45 people, you will not get the job. Cast your net wide, and diversify your network.
Remain humble. Sometimes success is accompanied by an inflated ego. Truly successful professionals are people who, amidst their great achievements, honors, and recognitions, have remained humble, willing to help others along the way.

How can people find your book and find out more about you?

The link to my book, Everything I Do Positions Me, The Simple Path to Professional Success can be found only through the Zust & Company website: http://zustco.com/christine_zust_books.html

Through my website, http://www.zustco.com, you can find information about my keynote presentations, training programs, and coaching services. You can also find a link to the archives of my monthly newsletter, Q-Tips: http://zustco.com/christine_zust_Q_tips.html

In addition, here are other important links:

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-zust-6019373/

Twitter: @ChristineZust

Email: [email protected]

Office phone: (440) 777-8373

8 Tips to Keep Your Indoor Cat Happy and Healthy

Are you wondering if you have a happy cat? Happy cats are easygoing and rarely do they scratch sofas, draperies, or bed linings. They rarely “misbehave” and are usually eager to find companionship with the pet owner. If they are happy, they seem to have more energy and are more active during the day. Assuming you have an indoor cat and want to keep them healthy, here are 8 tips for you. These tips will help you keep your cat from getting bored and help you keep them healthy.

Cat Care Tips #1 – Choose the Right Cat

Although adopting a kitten might seem easier than bringing in a stray cat, it can be difficult. Cats are just like people. It is important to choose the right type of cat to be your pet. Are you looking for an energetic kitten to adopt? Would you prefer a senior cat who isn’t as active? Would you be willing to adopt an older cat who has grown accustomed to being on the streets? A senior cat might be better than a kitten depending on the circumstances. Older cats are less likely to damage or climb on things in the house. They are calmer and do not need the constant attention kittens usually need. If you choose a cat with FIV (feline immunodeficiency viruses) and FeLV (feline lymphoma virus) you must remember to keep them indoors. However, this doesn’t mean that they are all suited to living in your home. Spend some time with your cat before you bring it home.

Cat CareTip #2: Neuter or Spay Your Cat to Improve their Behavior

Spaying or neutering your cat is a great way to help prevent hormone-related behavior. This will prevent your cat’s search for a mate and from destroying your furniture. Also, spaying or neutering your pet will reduce their risk of developing reproductive diseases. But most importantly, it will prevent unwanted litters of kittens and help reduce the cat population.

Cat Care Tip #3: Fresh Water and Diet

Following your vet’s recommended diet for your cat should be enough to have a healthy cat. Indoor cats do not get enough exercise and tend to be bigger than outdoor cats. That’s why it is important to follow the veterinarian’s recommended diet for your pet. If you play with your cat and keep them active, it will help them keep trim and healthy. Keep the water in their bowls fresh and avoid giving them human food.

Cat Care Tip #4: Personal Space and Sleeping Area

Cats are territorial, especially when there are multiple cats living in the same house. On the other hand, there are some cats that are very friendly and social, and they need companions to play and chase around. But keep in mind that cats are independent animals and they need to have a safe place to sleep or retreat if they feel threatened. Allowing your cats to have a safe place for themselves can save you a lot of behavioral problems like spraying and destructive scratching around the home. If you can provide a window shelf for your cats, you will realize how much they love them, and how much time they spent sitting on them.

Cat CareTip #5: Cat Exercise

To encourage your cat to exercise, place horizontal and vertical cat scratching boards throughout your home. Cats love to chase long strings of material they can grab with their paws, cut a couple of strings of material, and wave them around for them to chase.

Cat Care Tips #6 – Cat Toys for Entertainment and Fun

Interactive toys and games for cats are very popular. To prevent your cat from becoming bored, rotate toys at least once a week. You can give your cat a ball, a shoelace, or laser light pointers to entertain it. This will make your cat happy and keep it in great shape.

Cat CareTip #7: Brush up

Regularly brush your cat’s hair and trim its claws. If your cat is long-haired, you should brush it more often to prevent hairballs. Do not bathe your cat as it is allergic to water. This is quite different from a normal dog who will likely enjoy a bath.

Cat CareTip #8 – Cat litter boxes

Place litter boxes in accessible and safe places. Keep them clean and free from scents. You should provide at least one litter-box per cat. Clean them daily. You should experiment with different types of litter boxes and cat litter from the beginning. Once your cat decides its preferred cat litter brand do not change it. They will pee everywhere if their preferred brand is changed arbitrarily.

Cats are easy and enjoyable pets to have. They can be moody and aloof but they can also be funny and loving. Enjoy your healthy and happy pet.

Teens and Technology

The time our children spend glued to their phones seems unhealthy to many parents, and although it is an activity we all do, it seems it is not as unhealthy as we thought it was for a teenager. According to recent studies about the impact, the use of technology has on the well-being of adolescents found it is not as harmful as we think it is. Mainly, because such adolescents do not view their technology usage as harmful. And, secondly, according to the review, global mental health problems have not increased in recent decades. In other words, the increased usage of technology-driven gadgets-smart phones, tablets, laptops, etc.,- by teenagers is not considered to negatively affect their mental health.

Notwithstanding such studies’ findings, the time teenagers spend on their smartphones or tablets might keep them away from other constructive endeavors. If you are a concerned parent and want to minimize their time spent using their iPhone, here are 8 tips to help you breach the subject.

If you are a concerned parent and find your teens’ smartphone usage unhealthy, read bout recent studies about the topic before engaging in a losing battle with your teen. Instead, try to have a calm conversation with your child or teen about their smartphone usage and ask them what they think it’s the right amount of time for them.
Compromise but do not set rules they will find unfair. If they have done their homework and extracurricular activities and they are relaxing, let them do it peacefully. Respect their free time, even if they choose to spend it with their smartphone.
Encourage them to practice an activity to help them build a skill instead of using their smartphone. Music, painting, drawing, or a physical activity class will keep them away from the smartphone while developing a life skill they will appreciate later in life.
Ask them to read a book. There are lists of books for teenagers that will surely capture their interest. You can research a library’s teen recommendations together to find the perfect book to read.
Exercise together if you can. Biking and hiking are two activities teenagers can do with their parents without feeling embarrassed about spending time with them.
Be an example to follow. If you cannot put your own smartphone down, you cannot ask your teenager to do it. Grab a book or seek your child to start a conversation. Ask them about school, friends, or even the videos they are watching on their smartphones. You can always start a conversation and ask your child to join you.
Have a daily meal together with your teenager. The diner table is a neutral, peaceful place to have a conversation where everyone can join in. If you have more than one child, ask about their day individually and offer a comment or two before going on to the next. Everyone should get a turn to speak and to be heard. Ask for silence from the other members of the family till the speaker is done.
Respect your teenager and listen to what they are saying. Even if you think they are spending too much time with their smartphones, listen to them before you complain. You are the manager of your teen, not the boss.

Every teen is different. They have different needs and different problems. Many of them can easily adapt to any situation and never have a serious problem. They can have excellent grades but be depressed about an issue. As parents, we can form a healthy relationship with them by listening and guiding them, instead of imposing rules and forcing them to follow. Let’s put away our smartphones and begin a healthy conversation.

Have You Been Rejected?

Avoiding rejection could be crippling your life. The fact is, if you are not being rejected you are either not asking for things, or you are not trying to ask for big things, the kinds of things some people will say no to.

Jia Jiang’s book Rejection Proof is available here. This is what he says he learned doing these experiments.

Rejection is a muscle. If you don’t constantly work outside your comfort zone, you’ll lose it and you’ll become weak and timid.
Rejection is a numbers game. Fight through enough no’s and you will eventually find a yes.
Avoiding rejection is worse than receiving it. Most people believe avoiding rejection is a good thing, by avoiding something bad we’ve dodged a bullet and we are somehow net positive, but that’s not true. When we shy away from rejection we reject ourselves and our ideas before the world ever has a chance to reject them. This is the worst form of rejection and as a result, we are ignored by the world.

The video is a great 15 minute course in why you should embrace rejection. Enjoy.

Asian Black Bean Burger Slider Recipe

While the entire family is not vegetarian, some people are close so it is important for us to have vegetarian dishes often. This Asian Black Bean burger makes low-calorie sliders that can be part of a fun, tasty meal.

I suggest you do not dress the vegetarian sliders yourself because some people will like the wasabi mayo and other people will not.

What makes this dish Asian is the ginger, cabbage, sesame seeds, red chili paste and sesame oil in the dish which gives it an Asian flavor. It also has more rice and less bread crumbs/flour than a traditional recipe. However, it is not an overwhelming vegetarian slider taste. Most people will enjoy the subtle flavors.

I also use whole wheat pitas with flax seed as the bun, which can bring down the calorie count substantially on this dish compared to using slider buns. That way the Asian Black Bean Burger is low cal and very different.

When I do serve this dish to the family, I need to have some truffle fries or chile adobo hash on the side to give it a bit more heartiness. Just warning you in advance, this is tasty but also a light dish you will want to have a good side dish with.

This dish is inspired by black bean burgers and Asian flavors, along with a Mediterranian Pita flair that makes the whole dish lower-calorie, healthier and a combination of flavors you have probably never tried before.

Print Recipe

Vegetarian Asian Black Bean Burger Slider

Make healthy vegetarian sliders with an Asian flair. This dish contains traditional Asian ingredients with healthy black beans and pita quarters to make a low cal healthy slider option that pleases the whole family.

Prep Time20

Cook Time20

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: asian, slider, vegetarian

Servings: 3 people

Cost: $5.00

Equipment

Oven
Mixing Bowl
2 baking sheets
food processor

Ingredients

1 cup Black Beans with some juice
1/2 Bell pepper Any Color, Diced
1/2 Onion Diced
3 Cloves Garlic Peeled and Crushed
1 Tbsp Red Chili Paste
1 tbsp Ginger
1 tbsp Sesame Oil
1 tbsp Sesame Seeds
1/4 cup Cabbage thinly sliced
1/2 cup Rice Cooked or Instant
2 tbsp Bread Crumbs or Flour As needed to bind
3 Whole Wheat Pitas
2 tbsp Mayonnaise
1/2 tsp Wasabi
3 leaves Romaine Lettuce thinly shreaded
1 Tomato Thinly Sliced

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Mix black beans and instant rice (or cooked rice) in a mixing bowl
Dice onion and bell pepper, add to food processor with garlic and sesame oil, blend until a chunky paste
Mix with bean rice mixture. Add cumin, ginger, cabbage and sesame seeds. Mix more
Add egg, mix. Add small amounts of bread crumbs or flour until mixture is thick enough to form patties. Form patties on baking sheets.
Cook at 400 degrees for 7-10 minutes per side, until firm like a burger
When you flip patties, add pitas to oven to heat for 3-4 minutes. Pull out and cut into 1/4 wedges for slider buns.
While baking, cut lettuce and tomato for sandwich toppers
Make mayo and wasabi sauce by either mixing them, or putting side by side so people can mix their own.
Serve on pita wedges. Diners can build own toppings and sauce.

Notes

Depending on taste, some diners may want pickles, siracha, mustard or sprouts to top the slider.

You can use canned black beans for this dish, but you can also make your own black beans in an Instapot and enjoy having more black beans for less cost, plus you control the levels of salt and additives.

5 Non-Traditional Forms of Travel

The traditional trip can be fun but can also feel a little bit stale if you have been there, done that. While people are all aware of the traditional “vacation” of one or two weeks, I wanted to come up with some alternatives to travel for you to consider. Not all of these will work for most people, as they depend on your current life situation as well as your tolerance for adventure.

Work Abroad – It will take months to arrange, but there are many countries that bring in native English speakers to teach English. This is often just a matter of having a degree in anything and being a native speaker. Living a summer or years in another country teaching is very rewarding if you get with a good school and a nice location.
Study Abroad – Don’t want to teach? Get taught. Take an educational trip. These are sometimes lead or might be just taking classes in a university in another country.
Extended Business Trip – This one is not as involved, but it is a must if you can swing it. If you have a business trip, negotiate a swap and take your family or friends along for free. When I was touring the country as a national speaker, I would frequently trade extra nights in the hotel in exchange for airfare. Then we would drive and get a paid vacation for the cost of gas and food. Had a lot of nice 3-4 day trips like this.
Coach Surfing – If you are young and hungry to hit the road, coach surfing can be fun. You talk to your friends and line up places to stay and then travel from place to place staying with friends of friends. You meet a lot of great people. Just be careful to not end up with anyone who is not highly recommended by people you trust.
Airbnb – You can save a lot staying at Airbnb locations and I have heard of one writer living in Airbnb locations. He stays until he gets tired of the location and then moves to a new location. Not quite vagabonding but close.

Any of these options can lead to some nice experiences without doing the traditional vacation.

Daniel Moneypenny, Star Networker & Dealmaker

Daniel Moneypenny is a rockstar at networking, making deals happen, and naming companies and their products. I know a lot of people and can honestly say no one is even a distant second to the hustle and value exemplified by Daniel Moneypenny. I have had numerous conversations with people who have just met him, and then been introduced to me as we have some things in common. They always start by asking, “Is he for real?” My answer is always the same. Yes. But you better be serious because it is drinking from a firehose. He is going to connect you with a lot of great people and make things happen, and you must be ready to keep up.

I had a chance to interview Daniel Moneypenny, Founder of Emaginit and Capture Qwest, in his home.

How did Daniel Moneypenny get started and develop himself into a top networker?

In high school, I got “C’s and D’s.” Then “went to the military, the 82^nd Infantry Airborne, in Wiesbaden, Germany. I ran track for the army track team. And I was part of the Prix LeClerc team.” After he came back from the service, he did his undergrad from 26 – 30 and got almost all A’s. An English professor noticed he was excelling at writing and encouraged the skill.

Before long, Daniel had “a couple of businesses, a running store, an antique shop, had the first Finish Line running store in the country.” This led to him developing ads for his businesses and other businesses and doing some branding work. Within a short period of time, people recognized his talents and his fees escalated, turning into a lucrative branding business. “We ramped it up from $500 in the name up to 30, 40, 50k for a name, which is a fact, and for large names of billion-dollar companies. We’ve named many billion-dollar companies around the world and hundreds of products.” The whole time, he was also building his Rolodex and developing his network.

Resources

Daniel continued to go into more detail, “So I took all the branding, all those relationships. Because they are very discreet, they are very personalized relationships, people must trust you, you’re going to go away and create for them. I was always a zero-fee guy, meaning if I did not get a trademarkable entity, I did not get the fee. We have a 94% success rate. So that was a good way to build a reputation. You cannot charge people money for stuff they can’t use, although a lot of people did that back in the day. So, I had all these relationships over the first 18 years of branding and talking to people, and networking. I starting to do professional networking, even while still doing branding. “

Over time, Daniel explained he developed relationships with over 41,000 companies. I asked him how he manages so many relationships.

“We network with about 41,000 firms and make connections with about 1,200 people that are in an exclusive network. They pay a front-end fee to join and then commissions on the back end. So, the branding lead into the networking and that led to the M&A.”

So, branding leads to networking, which naturally leads to helping people with bigger deals, and a Mergers and Acquisitions service. We have a “big wheel of buyers and sellers and my partner Sean Coleman and I are currently in about 70 deals. So, branding and relationships are turned into networking. That turned into deals, buying, selling, finding, doing recaps. And we get a finder’s fee.” Daniel went on to stress it is always a win, win, win relationship.

How do you manage your network of people who you work with?

Daniel answered, “It is almost impossible… but we have some good people in the network. We vet them before they come in. And we watch them as we go along. Occasionally, somebody will cheat us, we kick them out. We do not sue them. But we kick them out, they can never come into our network again. It’s the 80/20 rule of 50 years ago, almost still goes today in anything, but it’s more like 85/15, I think has moved into that. I think there’s 50% of people that can still provide you with most of your revenue.”

How many things have you branded roughly, and do you have some examples?

1000s. We have samples all over the website, all through the website so you can see them. Lots of company names, lots of product names, lots of product extension names, lots of corporate identities, product campaigns taglines that campaigns. I started out they were called slogans in the 70s. a slogan was $500 in corporate positioning statements $20,000 there is a difference in language there.

How many businesses have you been involved with that people have bought, sold, or raised money for?

“I have been part of many deals. People have bought many nice-sized businesses through us. Smaller deals where a business was sold or raise money for, another 30+” replied Mr. Moneypenny.

What is the most fun thing you do and what is the least fun thing you need to do?

“The most fun thing I do is obviously see my family happy. I like to work out, I have a lot of friends I work out with. I love history. I love to travel. The least fun thing to do. Accounting, end of the year, things like that. Anything to do with a myriad of numbers. I do not like that. But I like connecting. Literally, we connect 1,000s of people in a year.”

Does Daniel Moneypenny stop networking on vacation?

No. Much, much to the dismay of my wife. No, I mean, I do back off. No, I mean, as soon as we go to the beach or go for sushi, I take cards with me. I am never not networking. And that is a good thing. And a lot of ways. I mean, I do turn off. And when I am at home I do decompress quite a bit. But I am always networking and I mean ALWAYS.”

What does an average day look like for you?

My routine would be I’m up really early, like 5:00 to 5:30. I read the papers and work on some emails and things like that. Light stuff. Then working out. I like to kick back on Sundays and stuff like that. But my days are chopped up between in-person meetings, lots of electronic correspondence, some phone calls. I don’t really like phone calls or Zoom calls. I really like to be with someone, look at them and see them. But an average day is just a very robust busy day doing a lot of things, often including travel, for a lot of people and taking care of my family, they take care of me.

Do you do Pro Bono work?

We also help a lot of people out. It is not all about us. We are sharing our success with people all the time. On our website under who we are, there’s a pro bono page with several hundred, 501 C3 and entities that we give time, money, creative and all those things to. Daniel made sure to point out that “Time is money, and money is time.”

Who should reach out to you and how can they find out more about you?

I think that is a good point to make for something like this where people might see the word networking and think you just want to meet anyone. You generally will make money on any kind of transaction that you help create. That is how you make your money.

Daniel Moneypenny explained, “That’s how I make my living. I still do the branding, and then the network, where receiving commissions on things from people that were placing new business, the network is when people have a business, and they want to have more business driven into it. Instead of spending a lot of money for a sales team, they can have us come in for a small front-end fee and commissions on the back end of everything that we send them.

But yeah, so almost everything can be sold. Almost everything has a price. Not everyone is for sale, till sometimes you ask them. I have no problem asking someone if they would entertain an exit. And sometimes they say no. And the next day they are calling you. You never know. It is all strategic. It is all timing.

We all know that timing is everything, and it could not be truer than today. And with the baby boomers like me, coming out of 911, the 2008, 2009 real estate problem, and then COVID, there are a lot of transactions going on right now. People between 60 and 80 have had it and they want to maybe settle down and spend some of the hard-earned money that they have spent a lifetime building. So that is why it is very robust right now. And everyone knows that. And it is a good time. It is a good time to be out there. And you never know who you are standing next to. You never know who you’re going to meet. So, it is always good to be nice to people. Talk to everyone. If you can, if you have an opportunity, help them out – you just might be standing next to your future.“

Sage advice from Daniel Moneypenny. I want to thank him for taking the time to invite me to his home and do this interview. If you want to find out more about Daniel Moneypenny’s Branding service, Network Service, or M&A service, follow those links. His website is a wealth of information from his client, his pro bono work, and his network. It only takes a few minutes to see how wide his personal network is.

Daniel Moneypenny Interview by GR8TR Today Magazine

Meet JJ DiGeronimo, The President of Tech Savvy Women

JJ DiGeronimo created Tech Savvy Women to help bring together women in tech, build relationships and to advocate for one another’s career goals.

DiGeronimo, the president of Tech Savvy Women, came from Buffalo, New York to Ohio University with a desire to learn and find career opportunities. After graduating with a Communication Systems Management degree, DiGeronimo landed her first Information Technology position in 1995. With a vision and dedication she poured herself into her professional journey, which has taken many exciting twists and turns throughout the years.

Often one of the only women at the table, DiGeronimo created Tech Savvy Women in 2008 to connect women in technology. DiGeronimo is known for her leadership skills and promoting inclusion in tech workplaces. “Tech Savvy Women is commonplace for women in tech to communicate,” DiGeronimo said.

While at Ohio University, DiGeronimo took the time to excel in the classroom and scheduled meetings with college advisors to prepare for the future. “I had very specific discussions with my advisors about degrees and job offers. Many shared that computers and the related degrees were a solid choice,” DiGeronimo said. “I did really well in my classwork which helped me align internships early, as professors recommended me. Those internships lead to many offers.”

Although tech is a great career option, there are fewer women that pursue technology or stem-based careers than their male counterparts. The organization was originally meant to bring women together and have a strong network in Northeast Ohio, but has evolved into a group of women, over 2,500 nationwide, which allows them to share ideas, network and connect.

“We’ve helped each other get jobs, references, and other opportunities,” DiGeronimo said. “It’s made the industry seem smaller because we have more people connected in more places.”

As the organization has evolved, DiGeronimo has written two award-winning books to help elevate women in the workplace. From this success, she has been asked to keynote locally and nationally to positively impact the field of technology. She speaks to women about advancing their professional objectives and speaks with tech organizations on how to cultivate male allies to promote diversity. “Diversity is business impact tool and companies are striving to not only get women at the table but have them as equal contributors,” DiGeronimo said. “This takes advancements on both sides.”

Throughout DiGeronimo’s work she has shared strategies to elevate women into leadership positions while guiding them through common career challenges. Her second book, Accellerate Your Impact, has given readers a playbook to glide through some of the challenges women have faced in the past.

DiGeronimo has numerous blogs, videos and posts with advice for women working to advance with their careers. “Women generally wait (to apply) until they’re 100 percent qualified, men apply when they have 60 percent of the requirements,” DiGeronimo said. “You don’t have to check every single requirement for the job, and you should not. There is little opportunity to learn and grow if you only apply to jobs you feel confident you can land.”

Through all of DiGeronimo’s research, she’s found that career catalysts are necessary for women to align leadership positions and shares the three most important.

DiGeronimo believes in professional coaching to get their professional goals straight, document and defined. “I think more women need to pay for professional coaching to help them get their ducks in a row,” DiGeronimo said.

Having a mentor that will focus on providing advice and guidance as professionals move through the many stages of their careers is a necessity for female and male professionals. Mentors will often give advice while you’re with them to help with personal career journeys.

The final catalyst DiGeronimo recommends are sponsors, professionals that leverage their own social capital to help cultivate desired goals. A sponsor could setting up a meeting on your behalf or connecting you with other professionals in the field. Sponsors are often the best career catalyst, according to DiGeronimo.

“I think women are taught to work really hard but it’s important to network and develop relationships,” DiGeronimo said. “Make time to foster an effective network, get to conferences and get out of the office and do things for yourself. Anything you can do for yourself outside of the office, in a meaningful way to advance your career is important.”

DiGeronimo believes women with an interest in solving problems, adding value and continuing to learn should consider a career in tech. She reasons this with the possibility of great financial gain, endless opportunity and the ability to work with great people.

DiGeronimo is an active LinkedIn user and leverages the tool in many ways to connect, learn and showcase her personal work. She encourages young professionals to bundle their value and continue to develop their professional connections. JJ DiGeronimo can also be found on Youtube, and on her website.

Interview by LynAnne Vucovich : A journalist who studied at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. She has a passion for culture, community and cats.

Exploring Local Unknowns

Are you resisting living in a bubble or happily basking in a homogeneous vat of comfort?

News isn’t the only place people are selectively choosing only what they want and not a broader experience. It is also how people live their life in their local neighborhoods.

People who want to live a GR8TR life actively seek out fresh, broad experiences. You do not have to travel to other cultures to try new things most of the time. If you are even in a mid-sized city, you can find many multi-cultural experiences close to home. Here are some ideas for exploring other cultures while not travelling to other countries.

Restaurants – This is the obvious one. Do not got to the big chain restaurants and expect an authentic experience. Instead, seek out locally owned, authentic restaurants where the immigrant families probably make up most of the employees. And do not just go Chinese or Mexican. Ethiopian, Greek, Nepali, Indian, Japanese, Lebanese and Russian restaurants can all provide unique experiences.
Teach ESL – If you want to make a lot of friends from other places, consider volunteering for ESL, which stands for English as a Second Language. Sometimes you may need to be certified, but if you volunteer at a library you may just oversee conversational practice classes. When I have done this in the past, I have had people bring food and become good friends. Even though their English language skills may be limited, they are going to get you outside of your comfort zone and get you to learn more about people from all over the world.
Go to Festivals – Keep and eye out for those festivals different cultures have. They are celebrating their heritage and when you go you will get to taste the food, hear the music and meet some of the people. A great way to dive into another culture.
Visit Neighborhoods – Many cities have areas where a certain ethnic group will live in and open businesses in. Going to these places can be a lot of fun. The grocery store will have different foods, the restaurants and bars will be mostly local people and the whole feel can seem like you are in another city or country. Go once and if you enjoy it, become a regular. Learn to cook some dishes on YouTube and go to the grocery store regularly for your exotic ingredients. Talk to people there and find out some other things to try.

This is good for you to appreciate other cultures and get out of your bubble – and it is even more important for young kids. Kids growing up with an appreciation for other cultures and many different foods starts with exposure at a young age. This all takes effort, and it is far easier to stay in your own community. But you will be a more interesting, more whole person when you have a broader human experience.