Welcome to Season 1, Episode 5 of She Talks Radio podcast. In this episode, Sue Guiher and I discuss how to thrive in life and in your careers.

Sue Guiher, Business Coach Extraordinaire on her journey from corporate America to owning her own successful coaching practice which led to her invitation to teach for the prestigious Wharton School of Business of University of Pennsylvania.

A communications expert , Sue offers her insight into the Entrepreneurial Leader and how they impact the corporate landscape today. Listen to the Audio

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My favorite part of doing these podcasts is participating in the conversation they provoke. Each week, I ask one question. This week, it is this:

Question: What's one area in your life that you would like to Thrive in the next year? Share your answer on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

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Did you Download?: Win at Work, Succeed at Life or Sue's 100 Top Tips for Better Business Communication"

About Us

SheTribe is the place to be if you are ready to take your career to the next level and connect with amazing women. Designed to help every women tap into her inner career warrior and grab those opportunities that will propel her career forward. Interested in moving ahead, subscribe now at www.she-tribe.com

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If you have a question, comment, thought or concern, you can do so by sending an email to info@kelliedandrea.com. We'd love to hear from you.

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This week's program is an exciting one as Kellie interviews Kimberly Ferguson of KFerg Training. Kimberly is a specialist in learning and development and helps women utilize various tools that will help turn them into career warriors and advance to the next level. The secrets she shares on this week's program is sure to leave you with a juicy tip or two.

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Show Notes

Q. What are the leadership qualities that are important for women are:

Reflection: Do an honest assessment of self – helps women reflect and see areas of differences that could be enhanced

Accountability – you are responsible for your success. Look at how you are making yourself accountable to what you want. What are you passionate about? What are you doing to make it happen?

Be Smart – Have a plan in place. Use SMART Goals:

S – Specific M -Measurable A - Achievable R- Realistic T – Time bound

Q. How critical is it to have a written plan?

Very Critical. Once it is written it takes on a new form. It is like having a contract with yourself and putting it down in writing and making it visible to yourself, will help you propel your plans faster.

Q. What are your ABCs of Knowing Your Value?

As women, we often don't' recognize the value we bring so I encourage women to know their value. – Know your ABCs

A stands for Alignment – aligning your vision and goals with the vision and goals of your companies.

B stands for Building Your Network. Surround yourself with people who are positive and moving us in the direction we want. Also with people who have achieved what we want to achieve. Find a mentor who can offer you guidance and feedback on your career.

C stands for Create Your Brand. – Personal branding is what makes you uniquely you and what people identifies with. – Control peoples perception. From our knowledge, our appearance, our opinions ect.. What impression are you leaving upon people.

Q. How are employers using social media and Google to research candidates?

Employers are getting more savvy with doing research on potential candidates. They go beyond just researching the candidate, but their friends. There are also tools out there to go way back – so if you don't want your employer to see it, don't put it on line.

Q. How important is it to have an effective Linked In profile? And What are the Key Elements.

Very. Here is an example of where social media doesn't have to be evil. Linked In is a great way to brand yourself professionally and to showcase your talents and opinions, in a professional manner. Remember it isn't Facebook. So keep it professional.

Q. What is Myers Briggs? How Is This Useful in A Career?

An instrument that helps you understand, give and receive information. Based upon a series of questions, the Myers Briggs helps individuals understand how they communicate in the workplace.

Based upon preferences, a candidate can identify how to interact with others in the workplace.

To find more information about Kimberley Ferguson:

Go to www.kferg.com

info@kferg.com

Q. What would your top three pieces of advice be if you went back in time to talk to your 20 something self?

1. Limit your limitations. – Too many times we let our limitations hold us back. It is so easy to give up over forging ahead. Do not let your limits hold you back.
2. Developing a brand and being that brand. – Controlling perception and make it work for you.
3. Take advantage of every opportunity.. Especially those that will get you closer to your goals and those that are in alignment with my goals.

About our Guest:

Kimberly Ferguson, founder of K-Ferg Training has more than 17 years combined experience in the areas of training, career development, education, marketing and leadership.

She has worked with public, private, start up, non-profit companies as well as in Secondary and Higher Education. She is a Myers-Briggs Indicator Type (MBTI) Certified Practitioner, a Certified Teacher of English and a Certified Teacher of Internet Technologies.

Mindset, Motivation, Marketing & Mentorship | Master the 4 M’s to Advance Your Career

In my free CD “Top Ten Strategies to Get Ahead in Any Industry”,  I introduce the 4 Key Concepts to becoming a Career Warrior and the She Tribe Warrior cry:

1)   Get your head in the game

2)   Build a powerful gameplan

3)   Keep you eye on the ball

4)   Play to win 

“I deserve success, I am executing my plan, I know what I want and I am In it to Win It”!

This episode keeps you focused on that mantra.  Recorded during one of my previous programs called Marketing Monday – a teleclass series offered to entrepreneurs and business owners who want to grow their business (and back in time when I carried the brand “the all stuff, no fluff marketing authority”)…… I held this class on the 4M’s and although I am speaking to a similar audience, you as business leaders for your companies can listen to these tips and apply them to your careers right away.

Enjoy this week’s episode.

Lesson Objectives:   

•  Learn the BLAST 4 M Method to Business Success
• Master strategies to creating ultimate success and behaviors that create long term patterns.
• Kellie’s simple marketing strategy to building a million dollar business

I.          Mindset

What is important about having a business mindset?

There are two different ways I want you to look at mindset:

1)  Business Acumen

2) Positive Thinking

 

Business Acumen

Lesson 1: You believe that the purpose for being in business is to make money – either you have a business that requires you to strategize about profits, or you have a hobby that may or may not make you extra income…

Lesson 2:  Make your own decisions.  To have a business mindset (or business acumen) you need to think for yourself vs. letting other people make decisions for you.  There are no successful “wishy washy” entrepreneurs out there… even if it is the wrong decision, make another one and forge ahead.

Lesson 3: Understand that your job is to work ON you business not IN your business so every decision you make, every action you take, every process you put in place and every system you develop… should live to support one thing:  Your Brand Promise!

Positive Thinking

A business mindset means that you have to be positive, clear and confident!  If you don’t believe in yourself, how will your customers? 

 

What do I believe to be the basis behind The Law of Attraction?

First, I don’t believe that if we all close our eyes right now and wish for a million dollars that when we open them, a pile of money is sitting there

Second, I believe that if you have a positive focus (meaning not allowing obstacles, challenges or problems bring you down)  If you have positive focus on what you want to achieve and believe 100% that you can achieve it and you take action every day towards your goals, you will get there.

II.   Motivation

What is the definition of motivation?

The definition of Motivation is the energization of goal oriented behavior…  You have to be motivated, you have to love what you do or you won’t have the energy to do it.

What is the “Why” in Goals Achievement?

If what you do feels like work, then there is a disconnect… you need to re energize and find what I call your “why” – That deep rooted reason for you to reach your goal.  It is about finding your passion.  Read Susan Creale’s blog post on Finding Your Passion at http://kelliedandrea.com/blog 

What else can I do to stay motivated?

 Surround yourself with people who are positive and energize you.  I have a saying that I ask all of my clients:

“Do you create energy when you enter the room, or when you leave the room”…..

IIIMarketing

What is the best form of marketing?

Word of mouth… Create the ultimate customer experience that WOWs your customer and allow them to get to know you and see your passion, your excitement and your focus on what you do and why you do it.  The best form of marketing is to show people your passion and your excitement about what you do.  It becomes infectious!

What is the biggest myth in business?

That you are in the business of the “thing” that you do, or the “service” you perform. 

First, let me dispel the myth:

You are not in the business of doing the thing that you do…. Building a widget, servicing the client whatever……. You are in the business of Marketing that thing that you do….

Do you see the difference?

What is the best way to market my business?

Build relationships.  Be authentic and allow people to get to know you. 

What is strategy when marketing your business?

My marketing strategy is simple:

1)    Provide real value and be able to communicate that value. = I help business owners double their profits in 6 to 12 months by teaching them branding, leadership and selling techniques to attract and retain more customers.

2)   Connect with your customers, prospect and partners by being authentic and helpful.  Do not always be selling….  My lesson was ABM – always be marketing, not always be selling.  Nobody likes to be sold to, so allow your prospects to develop a relationship with you so the end result is that they will refer you.  Word of mouth marketing is the best marketing tactic out there.

3)   Provide the most exceptional customer experience that you can.  Reach your comfort zone and provide even more value.  All clients should be given gifts, and treated like royalty.  No matter what price point they come in at and that includes free…

IV.      Mentorship

What is a Mentor?

A mentor is an individual who has achieved what you are trying to achieve and provides you insight, suggestions and solutions to problems before they become problems.  They coach you and provide guidance to steer you in the right direction.

A mentor is somebody who has access to resources and can help you achieve your objectives.

A mentor keeps you focused and on a path that brings you clarity and achievement

And lastly a mentor keeps you motivated and accountable to taking the actions you committed to taking.

 

What is the one thing all successful million dollar business owners have in common?

They ALL have mentors.

What is another common trait of a successful business owner?

They ALL mentor others.

To be successful, you need to give back… even if you don’t have somebody in your world that you could mentor, you could join a mastermind group and provide support and guidance to that group.

What is a mastermind group?

Introduced in Napoleon Hill’s best selling book “Think and Grow Rich”, a mastermind  is  the coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people for the attainment of a definitive purpose.  It is the multiplication of brain power, resources and goals to achieve a greater result.

Recap

We discussed Mindset

1)   Business acumen – basically you are in business to make money and everything that you do is to be strategic and develop relationships and systems that support your brand promise..  Every decision you make is yours and based upon numbers, facts ..not emotion.

2)   Positive Thinking – we discussed that you have to remain positive and to discover your passion. 

We discussed Motivation

1)   And How important it is to Take the time to peel back the onion and find your why

2)   And to surround yourself with others who make you feel good, make you feel strong like you can conquer the world

We discussed Marketing

1)   How your passion and your story is the best marketing… how you #1 focus is to develop a relationship with your customers, partners and employees and to develop the ultimate customer experience beginning with your brand promise… If you don’t have a promise in your business today,,, your homework is to go create one… send me an email and let me know what it is.

We discussed Mentorship

1)   The importance of having a mentor or a coach to bring you down a path and keep you focused along the ways.

2)   The importance of belonging to a mastermind group to share and mentor others.

 

What if I have more questions?

Please send me an email at info@kelliedandrea.com

 Patricia Miller, COO, Nobel Learning Communities| Secrets to Advancing Your Career

 

Patricia Millerjoined Nobel Learning Communities, Inc., as chief operating officer in January 2004.  With more than 35 years of experience in building brands through leadership and strategic development, her career has spanned the university environment, retail, franchising and for-profit education industries. As chief operating officer of Nobel Learning, Miller has responsibility for more than 155 preschools in 15 states and the District of Columbia.

 Accomplishments:

 ü  35 Year Career in University, Retail, Franchising, and For Profit Education.

 ü  As SVP Of Sylvan Learning Systems ,grew franchise operations from 650 centers to 1200 centers over 8 years

 ü  Now, COO of Nobel Learning Communities with responsibility over 155 Preschools in 15 states.

 ü  Serves on the board of Pathways PA – an organization dedicated to helping women, teens and family achieve economic independence & well-being,

 ü  A sought after panelist for the Grant Thorton Executive Forum, The Philadelphia Women’s Roundtable, and The Association for Corporate Growth.

 ü Recognized by Women’s Biz.com as one of the Women to watch

 ü  One of 2011 Philadelphia Business journal Women of Distinction.

Outside of the office, Miller serves as a mentor to professional women and is active in community service. She is on the board of Pathways PA, an organization dedicated to helping women, teens, children and families achieve economic independence and well-being. Her other commitments include The Forum for Executive Women, The Ohio State University Alumni Association, Chester County Fund for Women and Girls, and Women’s Way.  She is a graduate of The Ohio State University and resides in Wayne, Pa

Patricia believes that real lasting change can happen when we want it bad enough and we commit to making it happen.  She begins by telling us the story of her first job.  She wanted to be a lifeguard but back in the 1950’s, girls were not lifeguards especially when the program was being run by the high school football coach.  Be inspired by her story and how she overcame the challenge of being told “A girl is never going to be a life guard”.

Listen on as she moves through her career sharing wisdom, inspiration and down to earth tips for how she was able to power ahead to the position she holds today.

The lessons Patty shares throughout this program is priceless! And surely going to leave you wanting to learn more.

Her top three (or four in Patty’s case) pieces of advice for women wanting to advance their carreers.

 

Tip 1:  Find a Mentor – and be sure to formalize that relationship with clarity so each party knows what is expected of them in this relationship.

 

Tip 2:  Form your own networks or groups to surround yourself with likeminded women who share in your interests and can offer you the support and guidance you will throughout your career.

 

Tip 3:  Always ask questions to learn the most you can about people, their situations and their life stories and more importantly always listen.

      >>Do not fall into the rehearsal effect when listening – learn all about it in this episode.

 

Tip 4:  Make a difference every day – ask yourself everyday if you are making a difference and if you are not, do something that does make a difference.

 

 Topics discussed in this episode:

 -       How Patty overcame the man/woman stereotype.

-       The top qualities Patty looks for when interviewing upcoming leaders.

 -       Patty’s advice on how to stay true to yourself and grounded in who you are.

 -       Learn the importance of surrounding yourself with strong people and building a support system

 -       How Patty’s tenacity and drive got her exactly what she wanted!

 -       Learn Patty’s words of wisdom including:

 o    “I’d rather you try something new and ask for forgiveness later” when speaking about taking risks

 o    “You forced me to think about my story” when talking about rewriting your own story – one of Kellie’s Top Ten Strategies.

 

Links in this episode:

 Ø  Nobel Learning Communities:    http://www.nobellearning.com/

 Ø  The Forum for Executive Women:  http://www.forumofexecutivewomen.com/

 Ø  Patty’s Charity – Pathways http://www.pathwayspa.org

 Ø  SheTribe Community:  http://www.she-tribe.com   

 Ø  SheTribe Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/shetribe1

 Ø  Kellie D’Andrea’s twitter  www.twitter.com/keldandrea
 

 

 

For months, I've been working on a project that is near and dear to my heart.  Empowering women to do more, get more and have more has been a key mission of mine for some time now and I am happy to announce the official debut of SheTalks Radio^TM.. a fabulous weekly radio show for women who want to move ahead in their careers, businesses & lives.   Join me as I interview top women of industry and share all their secrets to getting ahead in any industry!

 

Each episode is designed to give you strategies and simple steps you implement today to become a happier, better version of yourself.  One that is strong, empowered and ready to get her game face on and become a Career Warrior!