Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do

In this solo episode of Making Waves at C-Level, keynote speaker and leadership strategist Thom Singer returns to the mic to address a vital question for today’s business world: What is the evolving role of the CEO in a time of massive technological and societal transformation? As artificial intelligence, automation, and other disruptive technologies accelerate change across every industry, leaders in the C-suite are facing a new responsibility... not just to steer their companies, but to help guide their teams, communities, and broader society through an uncertain future. Thom shares his insights on how CEOs can lead with intention, compassion, and clarity during times of disruption. Drawing from over a decade of working with executives and tech leaders, he outlines four powerful actions every CEO and senior executive can take right now to elevate their leadership: Model calm in the face of uncertainty Stay visible and engaged in your organization and community Talk openly about the human impact of tech

In this episode of Making Waves at C-Level, Thom Singer interviews Rick Harris, CEO of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP). Rick shares insights from his 35+ years in association leadership, including his journey from radio DJ to running successful organizations like the Maryland Tech Council and APMP. They discuss the pivotal role of proposal management professionals in driving revenue, the evolution of associations in a changing world, and the importance of human connection in leadership. Rick highlights APMP's innovative certification programs and how they position members for success, as well as strategies for fostering growth, adapting to generational shifts, and creating a culture of inclusivity and respect within organizations. Packed with actionable advice for leaders, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to make an impact in business and beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this video, discover why prioritizing human interaction is essential for a successful career in law. Join [Thom Singer] as he shares key insights on how building relationships not only enhances your reputation but also drives client loyalty and firm growth. Whether you're aiming to grow your network, strengthen client connections, or advance your legal career, these proven strategies will help you stand out in a competitive industry. Watch now to learn how authentic engagement and networking can transform your practice and position you for long-term success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Making Waves at C-Level, Thom Singer dives deep into the power of networking and human interaction in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. With over 15 years of experience as a keynote speaker, author, and CEO of the Austin Technology Council, Thom shares his unique insights on how real human connections are the key to unlocking new opportunities, building business relationships, and fostering community. He explains why, despite the rise of AI and technology, face-to-face interaction is irreplaceable when it comes to creating trust and long-lasting relationships. Thom also discusses the concept of "uncommon connections" and how leaders can cultivate environments where these meaningful relationships can flourish. He breaks down the importance of getting out of your comfort zone at events and offers practical advice on how to maximize your networking efforts at conferences and business meetings. Tune in to learn how human interaction remains one of the most powerful tools for business succ

Welcome to Making Waves at C-Level! Hosted by Thom Singer, this podcast has been shaking things up for a decade, evolving from Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do into a show that inspires professionals at all levels to make waves in their careers. You don’t have to be a CEO, CFO, or CIO to gain insights from Thom’s candid conversations and solo episodes, packed with actionable advice. In this episode, Thom dives into the challenges and opportunities of career reinvention after the age of 50. Drawing from personal experiences and coaching others, he shares practical tips on how to leverage experience, embrace lifelong learning, and network like your life depends on it. Thom reminds us that, regardless of age, it's never too late to make a big change in your professional journey. Tune in for valuable insights, real-world advice, and a dose of inspiration as Thom helps you navigate the twists and turns of building a successful career—whether you’re just starting out or seeking a fresh start later in life. Learn more

Lead by Example C-Suite Should Be Engaged in Community What if every company chose 3 leaders to get engaged in one community, business, or civic industry group each? Imagine the visibility boost for your company. Leaders giving back would elevate your brand, showcasing a commitment to more than just profits. Employees would feel pride and inspiration, seeing their leaders make a real impact. This engagement would be a powerful tool for recruitment, attracting talent who value community involvement. The community would thrive. And real leaders who were there to serve something besides themselves would cultivate a positive culture that trended the company. A stronger, more connected community where businesses and people interact together is a region that will keep growing and offering new opportunities. Does the leadership of your company volunteer, serve on committees and boards, and mentor up and coming civic-minded leaders? Thanks for Watching this video. If you like it, please make sure to subscri

I am well aware that Kamala Harris and her team will not listen to my little podcast....but I use her current situation as an example for businesses who have to lead in chaotic times. Situations often happen that allow for leaders to rise to the occasion. I recorded this 24 hours after Joe Biden stepped out of the run for president....so we do not know who will fill the top of the ticket for the 2024 election --but at this time it looks like the VP will need to step into the spotlight and lead her party and this nation. But business people have to reinvent and lead all the time. In this episode of "Making Waves at C-Level," we dive into the essential strategies for leading through times of change and transition. Using the potential shift in the Democratic Party from President Biden to Vice President Kamala Harris as a case study, we explore how leaders can guide their teams with transparency, vision, and empathy. Drawing from personal experiences, I share insights on changing the direction of my speaking

Epiisode 675- You can train ChatGPT to work as a business advisor, consultant, or coach to help you identify areas to grow your business. I was part of a group of entrepreneurs who sat an played with ChatGPT as a business coach for an hour, and got some good information. And I see that it will keep giving me good advice. A few years ago I spent nearly $10,000 on a business growth coach and got almost zero value. The person always was rushed, not really prepared for our calls, and the advice was nothing I had not heard before. It was a giant flushing sound of money going away. I got more value in an hour from a deep back and forth conversation with ChatGPT. I asked it to interview me and ask key questions about how I had grown my business, and asked it to go deeper on the advice it provided. While just an experiement...it was a good one. And I encourage business leaders to try to set their ChatGPT up as an ongoing business adivsor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Community Building matters. Get involved in your community. Join a local business group / non-profit. If in Austin, TX - think about supporting the Austin Technology Council. But even if it's not my organization even if you don't live anywhere near Central Texas make sure that you're supporting somebody some group that is fighting for the common good of building community in your area. Same thing is true in your industry. I'm super active in the National Speakers Association because in addition to running ATC I'm a working professional speaker who will give about 25 keynotes this year around the country and I will tell you That I never could have found success in that very weird lonely business if it hadn't been for me getting involved and supporting and volunteering with the National Speakers Association. So if you're a plumber get involved with the National Plumbers Association. If you're a locksmith get involved with the National Locksmiths Association. Whatever industry you're in make sure that you're

This week's episode of Making Waves at C-Level talks about building community. Sometimes it is the right thing to join your local or national trade associations, and other times it is the time to start your own informal community. Get with some like minded friends and spend time together. Relationships are build via shared experiences....so get with people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another insightful episode of "Making Waves at C-Level." I'm Thom Singer, CSP, and in this episode we're exploring why it's essential for CEOs to encourage their employees to participate in industry trade groups and events. With over eight years of podcasting and a wealth of experience in the business world, I'm excited to share three compelling reasons why this strategy can lead to significant benefits for both your company and your employees. In this episode, we cover: Boosting Brand Visibility: Discover how your company's active participation in the industry can enhance its reputation and visibility. I'll explain why being seen as a committed industry player can positively impact your relationships with vendors, customers, and competitors. Investing in Professional Development: Learn about the importance of fostering professional growth and development among your employees. I'll share insights on why providing opportunities for learning and career advancement can lead to higher job satisfact

H.I. (Human Interaction)-- The Secret to Career Success Welcome to another episode of Making Waves at C-Level, hosted by Thom Singer. In this episode, Thom explores the vital role of Human Interaction (HI) in our increasingly AI-driven world. With over 10 years of experience hosting the show and speaking at conferences, Thom emphasizes that meaningful human engagement is the key to achieving lasting success. The episode delves into the true essence of HI—beyond just human intelligence, it's about forming genuine, impactful connections. Thom, a seasoned keynote speaker and author, shares his insights on why real human engagement is the ultimate secret weapon for outshining the competition and excelling in your career. This episode is a must-watch for young professionals aiming to get ahead and for anyone seeking to understand the power of building authentic relationships. Thom highlights the importance of going beyond superficial digital connections and emphasizes that true career magic happens through meani

In this episode of Making Waves at C-Level, Thom Singer dives into the power of connections and their crucial role in career success. Reflecting on the pandemic, Thom notes the significant disruption to networking and community engagement, which left many professionals isolated. While the world has reopened, enthusiasm for in-person networking hasn’t fully returned to pre-pandemic levels, and membership organizations and business nonprofits have struggled to regain their momentum. Thom emphasizes that real career opportunities come from meaningful connections, not just from social media interactions like tweets, TikTok videos, or getting likes and shares. While digital engagement has its place, it cannot replace the value of personal relationships. He stresses that those who fail to re-engage in their industry and community may miss out on career advancements, inadvertently allowing these opportunities to go to others. To maximize networking potential, Thom provides insights for both event planners and attend

There is often advice given to leaders that they need to "protect their time" and that they should only attend "curated events" as to not have to be bombarded by people wanting advice, etc... Sometimes people ask if they can "pick your brain" and many people get mad as they see it as someone just wanting "free consulting". But instead of being up off when someone wants your advice... how about reframing their request into a giant compliment. Think about it, if you find someone mediocre (or worse)....do you ask them for advice? We only ask to "pick the brain" of someone we admire. Plus, if you are a leader, you have to be active in your community. A community can be geographic or an industry... but if you see yourself as a leader, and yet you hide from the people you claim to lead, then you are not really a leader. A true leader cannot lead from behind an office door or while sipping bourbon from their pool. Real leaders are in the arena. Ask yourself...."when is the last time I really attended an i

In this episode we look at the power of community and how the people you meet are the only way to learn and find new opportunities over you lifetime. When speaking at a conference of young professionals, Thom Singer offered up the secret weapon to their future of career options. It is networking now, building real connections and friendships, and helping others. In a world or remote work and digital networking, those who engage will win in the long run. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a long time away, the "Making Waves at C-Level" podcast is trying to come back into regular production. Host Thom Singer has been serving as the CEO of the Austin Technology Council, and has been hosting that organizations show "Austin Tech Connect". But this show has been around for 10 years, and it has had a good following over the years. Thom is ready to come back and share ideas and promote his message of community, collaboration, and conversations. In this episode he talks about building friendships and business relationships over the age of 50. Check out his short episode and share with him your thoughts. https://thomsinger.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We hear a lot about "Collaboration"...but too often we see selfish people just using the word. Collaboration is a two way street. If you always start with "What's in it for me" you are not a collaborator. If you use collaboration as a buzz word for "Sales", you are not thinking win / win. In this short episodes Thom shares his beliefs about what is collaboration. To really collaborate you need to have shared vision, open communication, mutual respect, and trust. But people enter collaborative situations and then want full control, they don't share important information, and they withhold resources. Some believe you have to be all out for yourself if you want to win. Thom Singer thinks in the long run you are more satisfied in life when you embrace collaboration. Ask yourself if you really see advantages to collaboration. If yes, live by example. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Authentic leaders win in the long run. If you are pretending to have leadership success... people see through the lies. This episode talks about how to not only highlight your victories, but how great leaders admit their faults. Thom Singer recently received six emails from people showing how someone told a blatant lie in their bio. They claimed something that was entirely made up, and people in the community knew this was just BS and were forwarding the bio around to others showing how this leader, known to be narcissist, had graduated to just making things up in their resume. If you are not authentic, people will know. While nobody had the guts to call this person out in public (we still live in a mostly polite society that is resistant to conflict), people were circulating the lies with long chain emails about this person. Not good. Does your resume have blatant lies? This episode of "Making Waves at C-Level" will make you rethink. Like we have not learned enough from Congressman George Santos who s

You are at the top of your game. You are a c-level executive. Why in the world would you go to a networking event? The networking events have people who are not as impressive as you, and you only want to hang out with the cool kids. Why should you network? You need to network for many reasons, and you should not prejudge people whose job titles do not start with a "C". It is good for your own career and the reputation of you company if you are seen as participating in your community. Over the long run, non-famous CEOs who keep engaged in their community will find more ways to collaborate and uncover opportunities. Too many are thinking if they go to a Chamber of Commerce event or Industry Conference that they will be annoyed by up and comers who want to talk to them. But many of those same people might inspire you. The best leaders I know want a lot of diversity in their conversations. Hide in an Ivory Tower and your company may lose. Who is better at reputation management and community engagement..You o

Community, collaboration, and conversations can solve all problems. But not everyone leads with community. Too many people look at everything they do as having the need to be 10x'd. Yes, these young leaders who are disciples of Grant Cardone or Gary Vee tend to look at everything as their personal investment that must 10x. One young entrepreneur told me he could not join an industry association unless he could see a guarantee to 10x his dues to his bottom line. Ummmm, that is not how supporting a greater cause works. I am not saying you should do everything for charity. You should focus on making money. But if everything is about how you make money, or if every relationship is about whom you can be friends with who can help you....life becomes phony. The fakest person I know lives this way. The funny things is their close friends admit they have seen them dump people who are not "up" the food chain, and all know they can be pushed out of the friend circle on her whim. This is a bad way to live. One of her clo