Unconventional Leaders

Raise your hand if you ever promised yourself that you would do something, only to find yourself feeling guilty for not fulfilling that promise. Maybe you planned on going to the gym 5 times this week, but you only went 3 times instead. There will be days where you may not feel like showing up. But that is okay. So often we get hung up on the shortcomings that we tend to forget about the small leaps that we have accomplished towards our successes. Our guest this week, Gregg Clunis, believes that as long as you are taking tiny steps every day towards your goal, you will achieve the success you want for your life. Author, entrepreneur, and podcast host of Tiny Leaps, Big Changes, Gregg Clunis is dedicated to helping people achieve their goals, one step at a time. When we allow ourselves the freedom to be human, we are able to learn and grow from our mistakes and shortcomings. Instead of allowing your inner self-critique to dictate how you feel about your failures, try being kind to yourself and celebrate your s

At the age of 17 years-old Dureti Tadesse was imprisoned and tortured for trying to flee her country. After escaping and coming to America she decided to start a nonprofit to reach women who like her, were discriminated against in Oromia, Ethiopia. These women are “systematically denied rights and resources, making it impossible to achieve economic security” (From her website).   In this episode, we talk about how Dureti used her experience as a driving force to make an impact in the lives of other women. We also talk about the process for starting a non-profit and building a passionate team. Dureti encourages us that we do NOT have to have all the resources, knowledge, or expertise to make a difference. We simply need a burning passion and determination to make an impact.   Topics Discussed: Her imprisonment and torture in Ethiopia How to motivate others to get behind your vision. Selecting board members and leadership. How to make a difference even when you feel overwhelmed.   Connect with Dureti: Websit

Imagine you are in an inflatable boat, surrounded by all of your close friends and family. You are told not to rock the boat so that you may stay safe inside. There are people all around you who tell you that you are able to go to any island that you would like to go to, just as long as you don’t venture out too far. Seems boring, huh? Well, what they don’t tell you is that you have a compass and a paddle. The truth of the matter is, we all have an island that we are called to. Each one of us has our own boat and our own destination.Our guest this week, Sagi Shrieber, believes that in order to find our own island, we must have a clear vision of where we want to go to. Sagi shows us that when we reprogram our minds and surround ourselves with greatness, we are able to withstand any storm that comes against us. In those moments of suffering, we find our greatest triumphs.   Resource Mentioned: Fish Out of Water by Calvin Wayman (Check out when I interviewed Calvin here!) Social Media Marketing World Conferenc

Sometimes life happens and tragedy strikes. Maybe it’s the loss of a loved one, a rough childhood, or maybe you’ve had a life-altering accident. These things can inhibit us from seeing the bigger picture. It can become so easy to succumb to a negative mindset because we feel like we can’t move past our circumstances. So many times we feel like giving up when things go wrong over and over again. As for our guest this week, however, hard times are just simple bumps in the road to be learned from. Alex Plaski is a quadriplegic motivational speaker, author, and life coach. Though Alex has been in a wheelchair due to an accident in the 9th grade, he is not bound to his limitations. Alex is able to see the positivity all around him, even through tough situations. By helping other people understand their greatest assets in the midst of tragedy, Alex is able to help others create the life they want to live. Alex teaches us that there is always room for growth and that you can build from any life situation. Resourc

Attaching your self-worth to your achievements. Struggling with insecurity when admitting that you want to do “your own thing.” Ever struggled with these things? I have! Our guest this week not only shares with us the importance of young professionals and entrepreneurs to build a platform on LinkedIn but also digs into his own story of stepping away from the 9-5 and going down an unconventional path. After spending a few years working at technology startups and larger companies like LinkedIn, Hayden realized he'd been living his life for other people, doing the "smart thing" and the "right thing", instead of what spoke to his soul. In 2017, he decided to venture off on his own. He now works in the personal development space, empowering people to redefine what's possible, step into their unique power, and a life a joy-filled life on their own terms. Hayden is an avid improv enthusiast and currently lives in Chicago, IL. You can find out more about him on his website: www.HaydenHumphrey.com Topics Discussed: S

Too often men are shunned from showing their emotions. Traditionally, society has taught that men who express their feelings are weak. However, by taking away the ability to show emotion, we have essentially dehumanized men. Men are forced to forego their responsibility for how they feel which often leads to isolation, loneliness, disconnect, and fear of vulnerability. But, according to our guest this week, emotions are what makes us human. Mike Sagun is a life coach, creating a safe place for men to be able to process through their emotions. Not only does Mike help men understand the world around them, he wants to highlight the power of vulnerability. When we allow men to truly articulate their problems and process and understand how they feel, we are giving men the ability to be able to connect with those around them on a deeper level.   Topics Discussed: Teaching men how to come back to their body and listen to what they’re feeling. Taking responsibility for your emotions. Teaching men how to ask for he

Have you ever wanted to create change but never knew where to start? Maybe you have gifts, talents, and a vision, but you don’t know how to make a large impact. If you know your calling but haven’t yet figured out how to get there, this episode is for you. Sometimes, the greatest impact happens when we start out small. This is exactly what our guest this week, Chris Marlow, realized when starting the non-profit, Help One Now. Chris knew that if he was going to help reach orphaned children globally, he had to start with the 32 orphaned children he met on a mission trip in Zimbabwe. By using his gifts, resources, and community of friends and family, Chis Marlow’s organization now helps over 50,000 a day. Topics Discussed: How starting out small can make the greatest impact. Stepping into your calling by utilizing the resources you already have. How creating a strong community can help you achieve your goals. How to implement past experience in your current position.  Connect with: Website Organization Websit

Have you ever wondered how your overall food health contributes to the way you feel at work? If you feel sluggish after eating a heavy meal, your body might be trying to tell you something. Understanding where our food comes from and how it is produced is a key factor for the health of our population. Sometimes, dietary restrictions inhibit us from eating on-the-go. Our guest this week, Joni Kindwall-Moore, is passionate about creating a healthier, cultural norm regarding the food we eat. From her medical background being an RN, to her scientific research on dietary health, Joni is able to provide us with different ways we can improve our dietary habits. Resource Mentioned: Women’s Business Center Business Accelerator   Topics Discussed: How food health can improve your workflow. How to bridge the gap for people with dietary restrictions. Creating a healthy cultural norm for the food industry. Understanding consumer’s needs when it comes to overall food health.   Connect with: Website Email Instagram Faceb

The other day I was DM’ing Adrian Zaw over Facebook messenger asking him a million questions. I was learning so much in our conversation that I asked him if we could just record what we are talking about so that I could share it with you.   I originally reached out to Adrian, founder of Zaw Studios in LA to ask about his internship program. He was kind enough to answer a bunch of my questions about selecting and training interns and how to use training and education in an internship program to impact this next generation. Adrian drops a ton of value in a short amount of time about growing a team, the importance of a “nonprofit heart” and using speed as an advantage to growing your business.   Resource Mentioned: Adrian’s GoFund.me A Journey Back to Myanmar    Topics Discussed: How we can use speed to grow our business. How to overcome perfectionism. How to train team members for effectively.   Connect with Adrian Zaw: Website Instagram Facebook --   Sign up for: How to Build an Audience Summit --  

This week we spoke with Shane Breslin, a digital communications consultant based in Ireland. Shane shares with us about his struggle with depression and how a series of events led him on a path to discovering happiness. He talks about the power of small choices, why authentic conversations are the best drug, and how everything changed when he started taking his health seriously. This episode is a powerful one for those who have struggled with mental illness or for those simply wanting to be more present and authentic in their work. You can check out Shane’s TEDx talk on happiness here.   Download Shane’s Happiness Quadrant here: ShaneBreslin.com/parady   Connect with Shane: Website Twitter   --   Sign up for: How to Build an Audience Summit   --  

Have you ever been in a place where you allow your past to creep back in and keep you from pursuing what you feel called to do? Do you ever feel overwhelmed with self-doubt and wonder if it “matters” to even show up and try? This week’s guest has a POWERFUL story of overcoming her own inner dialogue and walking into her purpose. Delia Perry is the host of the “Girls 4 Greatness” podcast where she studies women who have overcome hell and are now using their story to impact the lives of others.  Topics Discussed: How to start (and finish) when you feel overwhelmed. How to conquer the difficulties along your path. How to turn struggle to triumph.   Connect with Delia Perry: Podcast Instagram Facebook Website -- Sign up for: How to Build an Audience Summit --

This week's guest has interviewed hundreds of men and women and asked them a simple question, "What does it mean to be a man?" What started off as a simple idea while watching an interview, has completely changed Timothy Wenger's life. He shares with us about his project, The Man Effect, and why we should take immediate action with our dreams. He also shares why he believes men struggle with engaging with their hearts. And how he hopes this project provokes men to become more authentic. Connect with Timothy: Website -- Sign up for: How to Build an Audience Summit --

Anyone else afraid to be on camera? But want to do a better job at using video in their marketing? Nowadays, content marketing is where most people are placing their attention with video dominating the online world. Not all of us have access to professional equipment, but we all have our phones. Our guest this week, Mark Pasternack, is passionate about teaching his audience how to use nothing, but their phones to tell their stories in a compelling manner. -- Resource Mentioned: Free Filming Guide Online Course: Compelling Phone Videos -- Topics Discussed: How to create compelling videos on your phone. How to balance authenticity in our work. How to niche down and be specific. --  Connect with Mark Pasternack: Instagram YouTube Website -- Sign up for: How to Build an Audience Summit --

What emotions come up for you when thinking about money? What are the spiritual implications of that? We can agree that money itself is way more than just balance sheets. Our guest this week, Jordan Youngblade, interest in money started as a young child. Only after graduating with a Finance and Economics degree, four years of successful work in a financial planning company did she realized that there were two problems in her life. One, she was spending her income as fast as she was making it and two, despite her financial success, she was not fulfilled. Around this time, Jordan developed an interested in personal development and now her goal is to help others experience true fulfillment and purpose while making money. In this episode, we go into depth about how to control our spending, how to overcome the scarcity mindset and the spiritual side to money.  Topics Discussed: Going into debt for courses and coaches. The first steps to take in financial planning. The importance of having an “investor’s mindset”.

Are you currently creating video content for your business? How can you use it more effectively to spread a message and impact those you are trying to reach? Tod Plotkin, founder of Green Buzz agency, a three time Emmy award winning video production company, joins us this week to share all about video creation and how we can start using to make an impact. In this interview, Tod shares about how he was able to go from part time freelance work to running a company serving clients such as the Make a Wish Foundation, The American Red Cross, and Upworthy. We talk about how to build your client base, create authentic video content, deliver better interviews, and how to have the slight edge over others in your industry.   Topics Discussed: How to apply storytelling in the corporate world. How to make a compelling video at low cost. How to successfully build a team for your business.   Connect with Tod Plotkin: Website Facebook LinkedIn --

There are many fears that keep us from pursuing our own curiosity and desires. A huge reason why I started this podcast was that I saw many people afraid to simply do what they wanted to do because of fear, self-doubt, and insecurity. Our guest this week Claudia Nigrelli lost all of her sight by the age of twenty-four. She is on a mission to share her story with others and inspire them to pursue their own dreams (even if they have to do it afraid). Claudia has an incredible story that I know will inspire you to take more chances, eliminate your excuses, and take full advantage of the beautiful life we were given. Resources Mentioned: Claudia's blindfold challenge -----

How do you write a clear and compelling mission and vision statement? What about establishing values for your business? Does any of this matter if you are simply building a personal brand? If you are wanting to expand, how do you use your vision and values to create the kind of culture that you want to see in your company? This week’s guest, Jessica Kinsey is a co-founder of Prodigy & Co, a company dedicated to helping organizations build the strategy needed for maximizing their impact. Jessica shares with us the importance of establishing a clear mission and vision statement and how to put words to the vision that you have on your heart. Topics Discussed: How to increase your impact. The importance of a mission and a vision statement. The effect of mission statements on personal branding.   Connect with Jessica: Website Instagram LinkedIn --

What does persuasion have to do with impact and leadership? On this episode, Jeff Tippet joins us to answer that question. He is a speaker, author, and entrepreneur, and founder of the award-winning public affairs & communications firm “Targeted Persuasion”. Jeff’s corner-stone story is about adopting his youngest daughter from Haiti. This experience led him to revelations about persuasion and how to use it for your own gain without ever taking advantage of others. He shares those lessons with us to help us achieve our goals by persuading, but more importantly, by helping other people. Topics Discussed: Are persuasion and manipulation really synonymous? How to achieve your to-do list without ruining personal relationships? How to simplify your message to make it stick with people?   Connect with Jeff: Website Instagram Twitter   --

It's one thing to lose weight and look the way that you want and it's another to love and accept yourself for who you are. Fitness coach and personal trainer Country Durr joins us today as we talk about self-acceptance and the mental/emotional side to fitness. Courtney is changing the dialogue in the fitness industry from that of perfection to that of love and acceptance. We also talk about aligning with your purpose and using meditations to uncover our truest selves. This is a powerful episode for those wanting to lead change in their industry and shift culture to see things in a healthier way. You can connect with Courtney at bodylove.co.nz/ ----- Connect with Courtney at http://bodylove.co.nz/ ----- For access to our free Morning Habit Tracker click here https://www.heatherparady.com/morning/   Connect with us! Facebook group: https://bit.ly/2lPut5A Website: heatherparady.com Social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCwUvrwJB_0ahNqrcBHP-TA --- Send in

This topic was a special request from a listener! How do you use Instagram to grow your business? Social media can either be used as a distraction or it can be a powerful tool to help you spread your message. This week we are talking with Max Weber, an online fitness coach, co-founder of Nibble, and a social media influencer with more than 75,000 engaged followers. At the age of 19, Max dropped out of school to start his own business.  Max shares with us how he has used social media to grow his business and make an impact on his audience. Resource Mentioned: Max Free Book: The Beginner's Guide to Fitness Topics Discussed: How to use social media for monetization. How to manage your time when using social media. How to leverage personal branding.  Connect with Max Weber: Website Instagram Facebook  --