Are you experiencing confusion, uncertainty, and stress as you seek new clarity of purpose?  Looking for a way to get a new perspective, lift your spirits and enjoy the journey more? 

Consider an unexpected source of enlightenment:  HUMOR.

This weeks guest with Susyn Reeve and Rikk Hansen on the On Purpose radio show is jollytologist, Allen Klein – author of Mom’s the Word and The Art of Living Joyfully.

Through his books and his presentations, Klein shows people worldwide how to deal with everything from traffic jams to tragedies.

He got into this unusual line of work after his wife died of a rare liver disease at the age of 34. He saw how humor helped her, and those around her, cope. He also saw how humor helped him get through that loss. He now teaches others how to find some healing in trying times.

If you’re ready to find out how to use humor to deal with changes, challenges, and not-so-funny stressful stuff on the way to renewed purpose. then join us on Thursday May 16th at 10:00am pacific time on the Linked Local Network at:  http://bit.ly/0516Klein or listen to the podcast at http://bit.ly/PurposePodcast

Every Thursday at Noon Central

Join the On-Purpose radio show on the Linked Local Network with Susyn Reeve and Rikk Hansen as they open doors to discover & live a lifework that’s alive with purpose.

Susyn and Rikk share compelling conversations with midlife professionals, entrepreneurs, experts, and authors successfully doing work that expresses their purpose & passion. Learn the secrets and resources from their stories and experience to inspire your on-purpose success. 

Join the conversation on the show’s Facebook page: On Purpose Show

And to listen anytime via iTunes or subscribe to the weekly podcast click => http://bit.ly/PurposePodcast

 

 

Segueway to Success

Listen at – “Segueway to Success – Community News”

Previous Archived Shows - On Demand – “Segueway to Success” talk radio podcast

By: Brent Hamachek and Tom Kuchan

Our “Segueway to Success” show, talking about our blog, airs each Wednesday at 15:00 CST.  Find today’s show and the archives on our web site:  www.seguewaysolutions.com/Articles-and-Events.html

“I was eight years old, runnin’ with a dime in my in my hand;

to the bus stop to pick up the paper for my old man”

From “My Hometown” Bruce Springsteen

Newspapers have a tradition in the United States that goes back before our birth as a nation.  The first regular daily newspaper printed in the Colonies was the Boston News-Letter and it commenced on April 24, 1704.  Apparently one of the big stories during its early run was the reporting of the death of Blackbeard the Pirate in hand to hand combat.  American interests have changed little over the centuries.

Newspapers grew in influence in America over time playing a significant role in the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution and Theodore Roosevelt’s “trust busting” initiatives to name a few household examples.  The editorial pages of both large city and local newspapers had much to do with shaping the consciousness of American citizens.  Indeed, the New Deal of FDR may have turned out quite differently absent the support of some major editorial boards.

With the rise to power of William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) and his print empire, anchored in the newspaper industry, journalistic sensationalism came into play.  Hearst crossed the line between simply reporting or commenting on news and entered into the world of creating and outright fabricating news.  As is the case with many iconic figures and extremely powerful people the legend of the man far outstripped his actual greatness and his imprint on the world of journalism, not for the good, has never lifted.

Segueway principals grew up in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s when newspapers enjoyed immense popularity.  For kids it began with the Sunday “funnies” and migrated to the daily crossword puzzle.  Sunday newspapers were half-day destinations with all their feature sections and, at least for some, the interesting celebrity questions on the inside cover of Parade magazine.

For one Segueway principal, there is the distinct memory of his father calling home a half hour before he would leave work, mom putting a pitcher of martinis in the freezer and having the evening newspaper ready for him on his chair.  Conversation with dad was not really permitted until he had read the paper (and had that first martini).

So how lame does all this seem to a generation today that gets it news the same way this post is being typed – from a small high definition screen, a scrolling mouse and a few keystrokes?  They would likely laugh at people who said they missed the feel of black ink on their hands after reading the sports section.  Couldn’t imagine having to say “excuse me” to the person on the train next to them as they folded out their pages.  It is a different time.  Fewer and fewer newspapers seen; more and more “notebooks” present.  Progress!

Or is it?

Anyone who paid attention to their parents lamenting that the Beatles (or the Rolling Stones) were the end of civilization are mindful if they are careful not to confuse nostalgic feeling for the foreshadowing of the apocalypse.  I am certain there is risk in that because, for example, if the Beatles had never come along we likely would not have the E Street Band and that would have been a tragedy for humanity.

Nonetheless, the movement away from traditional newspapers to electronic media for news delivery feels just a bit wrought with peril.  People rave about how anyone now can be a journalist and post news and what a wonderful competitive balance that brings into the market.  Does it?  Just because anyone can write doesn’t mean anyone has anything worth writing.  The checks and balances that a complete news organization can bring to the reporting process theoretically leads to integrity of product.  The news that came from a printed paper was slow compared to the pace with which it appears today but that slower, deliberate process also provide a mechanism to heighten accuracy and reflection (Dewey Defeats Truman notwithstanding).

Sadly, it seems that the printed newspapers have to a large degree yielded on integrity in order to compete with the new electronic media.  The New York Times is a ghost of what it once was as a true newspaper and you will not find anyone to disagree with that who does not also watch MSNBC.

This isn’t offered as a means to suggest that electronic media is bad and everyone needs to keep bundles of papers horded in their attics or in the bottom of their bird’s cages in order to save the Republic.  It is to suggest that progress, like magic, comes with a price.  In this case as internet content promulgates news information are we learning more or just seeing more?  Did the deliberate act of sitting down and folding out the pages of a newspaper, hopefully compiled by trained, committed professionals, have some intrinsic value?

Bob Newhart once joked that if you take an infinite number of monkeys and an infinite number of typewriters they would eventually type all the classics.

They’re working on it.

Join Brent and Tom on Wednesday, May 15, as they continue their discussion from last week’s show with Elliot Silber and Mimika Papavasiliou from What’s Happening! Community Newspapers.  This week they’ll be talking about what Elliot and Mimika are seeing and hearing on the ground in the small business communities where they operate and network.

Segueway Solutions – http://www.seguewaysolutions.com/

+1 (847) 778-9474

Brent E. Hamachek spent the first 15 years of his professional life in banking, working in 6 different sectors including audit, credit and 9 years as a commercial banker.

After commercial banking, Brent formed Segueway Solutions in 2000 in order to assist privately held companies in transition. To date, he has worked in 40 different industries and has served in the capacity of CEO, CFO & EVP Sales for clients. Brent is a sought after consultant, speaker and trainer offering national and foreign expertise to clients.

brent@SeguewaySolutions.com

Tom Kuchan is a proven leader in global business expansion and effectiveness, risk management, finance and operations with experience in both Fortune 50 and entrepreneurial environments. He has a proven record of defining strategic objectives, translating them into operational tasks, and leading their implementation in diverse geographies and cultures across the globe.

Tom has lived overseas for over twenty years, including Switzerland, Germany and the United Arab Emirates, and has worked extensively across Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

tom@SeguewaySolutions.com

Heidi Feemster,Co-Host on Tamara Leigh’s TREND ON featuring Heidi’s Business Minute

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL the MOMS!!

INTRO:  As a single-mother of 5 children for the past 13 years with challenges more difficult than the usual divorce (including, but not limited to, homelessness and financial loss of approx. $1 million in assets–spoil alert:  there’s a story there in my upcoming book), the past 2 weeks of shows on my Tamara Leigh’s TREND ON with Heidi Feemster on the Linked Local Network were especially inspiring and candid conversations with a group of amazing women about women, work, motherhood, and the ever-changing work cultures.

PART I:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/linkedlocalnetwork/2013/05/01/tamara-leighs-trend-on-with-heidi-denise-hansard

PART II:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/linkedlocalnetwork/2013/05/08/tamara-leighs-trend-on-with-heidi-amazing-women-moms

Are women rewriting the present for the betterment of our futures while remaining true to our genesis of the past, particularly as mothers?

Where do you find yourself in this evolved home and work culture where roles and careers are no longer strictly gender specific, and the opportunities for women are ever-increasing?

In all this discussion, do we “Lean In” as Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg asserts, or do we emulate more man-like leadership as Marissa Mayer of Yahoo did in reeling in remote workers (an appealing and practical work option to women or men assigned the primary home caretaker task).

OR, do we carve our own path, creating what works for us as individuals, as my Tamara Leigh’s TREND ON guests the past 2 weeks have done:

Denise Hansard, Certified DreamBuilder Coach, Chicago, IL

In PART I, on 5/1/13 of  Tamara Leigh’s TREND ON, Denise Hansard, Dream Builder Coach–Transforming Your Dreams Into Reality, set the stage for the following week, 5/8/12 TREND ON by asking our audience (as she does with any audience when she speaks) to first define what their dreams are and then work through a 4 point process to give life and form to those dreams.  As children, or sometimes world leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. and President John F. Kennedy – who had dreams of racial equality and putting a man on the moon, respectively, our dreams are concrete, actual obtainable, goals that often get lost along the way to adulthood.  Denise has devoted her life to helping others find and fulfill their life dream.  For many women/mothers, the dream is as simple as staying asleep long enough to have one.  I know it was mine for a couple decades and counting!   To contact Denise go to:  http://denisehansard.lifemasteryinstitute.com/

Jill Salzman, Founder The Founding Moms, The Founding Kit, Found It: A Field Guide For Mom Entrepreneurs, Chicago,IL

On PART II, Jill Salzman, a life-long entrepreneur, mother of two pre-school children, and Founder of Founding Moms — Helping Moms Get Down to Business — began the organization to bring together other innovative women launching enterprises or careers.  Local chapters of Founding Moms provides resources and support for women and their businesses while understanding that they’re also mothers managing the responsibilities of parenting.  Jill exemplifies the up and coming generation of women who don’t see the need to polarize career and family.   Rather, Jill and Mom Entrepreneurs like her, integrate work in and outside of the home into the whole of who they are.  Why wouldn’t they use their education when they worked hard to earn it, or why wouldn’t they build a cottage-industry when they’re capable of doing so successfully and still maintain their most important job as mom, especially when the internet has made it  more possible to do so?  If you’re interested in joining a local chapter of Founding Moms, or availing yourself to the Founding resources, go to:   http://foundingmoms.com/

Gia Claire, Author of Head First & speaker/trainer on Igniting – Achieving – Living your PERSONAL BEST and Women’s Empowerment,     Chicago, IL

My next TREND ON guest, Gia Claire, Author of “Head First, A Memoir”, Speaker, and Improv Comedian, worked in corporate for a decade plus, with all the demands of a 12 hour day in a 9-5 job that never is!  Gia persevered professionally with great success, in spite of personal hardships of miscarriage, infertility, and divorce.  Whether there was a cause-effect or mutually exclusive relationship for Gia between office and home, Gia defines her “release” from Corporate, for which she is thankful, as a pivotal point that lead to her path now–exactly where she is meant to be.  Gia takes all of her past sales and leadership experiences to deliver honest insight to audiences.  In Gia’s words,  her “gigs are 100% rich in content, part comedy, inspirational… with a healthy dose of spirituality to get un-stuck in life and achieve your personal best.”  Listen in for more on ou TREND ON conversation and check out Gia Claire’s website at:  http://www.giaclaire.com/

Mary Chambers-Pienta, Soul Reintegration/Master Life Coach, Success/ Inspirational Speaker, Denver, CO

“Women work in a world predominantly and historically created by men,” says Mary Chambers-Pienta, CEO/Pres., Soul Reintegration Coach, Success/Inspirational Speaker MonUmental Moments, Inc., Master Life Success Coach, The Secret to Life Coaching and also our guest on TREND ON.  That’s not necessarily the modern man’s fault or cause to be a man-hater.   From cave days forward, men forged a society to function as they did -–to validate their existence in a world of work and one in which labor, hunting and gathering were necessary for survival.  In only very recent history has this changed, although not always across work cultures everywhere.

Even with all these positive changes, often women must still leave money on the table to tend to primary childcare responsibilities, perhaps even more so, with the ever-increasing number of female head of household families, not unlike my own situation.  Ironically, as I was working on writing this blog post this past week, I had the opportunity to listen in on a sales training by a successful male mentor who in his earlier career, would make his last sales presentation on his home bound  journey.  At that point, he told his trainees, he would also then call his wife to let her know he was 20 minutes out from home so she could start dinner.

In the real world of women’s work, women usually don’t have such luxuries.  It’s much more likely that as a women tries to get 20 minutes out from home to work, she is going to get that call to come back for a kid’s lunch, or will  at the end of the long work day have to run into the store to grab something for dinner 20 minutes out on the way home, or will have to put work calls on hold throughout the day to avert some crisis on the home front!  As Jill recommends (and provides resources to do so through Founding Moms), getting organized, scheduled, and getting help (i.e. delegate tasks and be thankful they get done vs. doing it all yourself) are keys to being successful both in both career and family.

Mary Chamber-Pienta added, that “Success is defined in many forms; however, success is about whom you must be in order to create what you want. It takes the willingness to grow.  Creating balance should be a goal in your life, but is based on the individual, meaning there is not one set of rules. It is for the individual to decide what balance is in his or her own environment.”

Since the conversation on TREND ON with Denise, Jill and Gia opened up great dialogue and Mary had much more to offer listeners in teaching new thought processes and providing encouragement focused on well-being, we’re going to have Mary return as a guest in a few weeks on 5/29/13.  Listen LIVE &/or call into the show at: 1323-580-5755 or  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/linkedlocalnetwork/2013/05/29/tamara-leighs-trend-on-with-mary-chambers-jeff-percival  For more on Mary Chambers-Pienta go to : www.linkedin.com/pub/mary-chambers-pienta/39/204/77b

In TRIBUTE to my own Mother (& Father), my Granny (who lived to 102 yrs. old), my Sisters, my Daughters (& Son), & Mother-in-law (in Hawaii) who loved unconditionally through life’s paradox of  Joys and sorrows.

Birthday/Mother’s Day card from my biggest fan—my Mother.

Inside card Inspiration!

Never too old to be loved and encouraged by Mom!

Happy Mom (me) with a rare moment of all 5 kids home

Have you been hitting your head against a wall with some large life problem or issue? Money issues, relationship problems, mental and physical suffering…

Looking for a new way forward?

Sometimes on the way to lifework purpose we feel really STUCK. And this doesn’t necessarily mean we’re off track… Join us Thursday, May 9th at Noon Central for the On Purpose radio show when we talk with the Rev. Leslie Nipps about the topic, “When Being STUCK is a Good Sign”

She’ll share some unexpected approaches to getting to the root of old painful issues, and even how your ancestors might be able to help…

The Rev. Leslie Nipps is a Masters Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Family Constellations Practitioner. She has also been an ordained Episcopal minister for almost twenty years.  She works with people who are intelligent and heart-based, but who sometimes wonder if they are going crazy (even though they know they’re not) because of the painful issues that keeps coming up in their relationships, work or health – and helps them to finally have the life they want.

To listen live, or to hear the replay click => http://bit.ly/0509Nipps

And we’d love to hear your experience with feeling stuck, and getting unstuck on your path to lifework purpose. 

Every Thursday at Noon Central

Join the On-Purpose Blog Talk radio show with Susyn Reeve and Rikk Hansen as they open doors to discover & live a lifework that’s alive with purpose.

Susyn and Rikk share compelling conversations with midlife professionals, entrepreneurs, experts, and authors successfully doing work that expresses their purpose & passion. Learn the secrets and resources from their stories and experience to inspire your on-purpose success. 

Join the conversation on the show’s Facebook page: On Purpose Show

And to listen anytime via iTunes or subscribe to the weekly podcast click => http://bit.ly/PurposePodcast

 

 

“What Do You Say When You Talk to Yourself ?” 

All day long we talk to ourselves. Are you even aware of that and what you say to yourself? Most of us aren’t. Yet at least several hundreds times a day we say things, comment, compliment, criticize and sometimes put ourselves down. The conversations we have in our head are important. They help define who we are and what we are? They are an important part of creating the self-image we have about ourselves. Unfortunately, if you are not aware of your self talk then most of it is probably negative. You know what I am talking about, you are doing something and you make a mistake and the little voice in your mind says to you, “How could you be so stupid?”. This self talk and commentary we have is happening all day long and until you become aware of it, you can’t change it. We become what we say to ourselves all the time. So if we are saying negative things to ourselves, our lives most likely reflect that. Where did it come from? Many times it comes from our childhood, growing up. We hear things like; Your… Stupid…Dumb…To Fat…Ugly…Not Good Enough…Worthless…Unlovable…and there are many more. Our subconscious minds are very powerful and if you tell it something enough times, it will believe that it is true…even when it isn’t. When we hear those negative words enough times, we start acting that way and the world starts treating us that way. Fortunately, if we say great things about ourselves over and over, we believe that we are great and the world treats us that way. Positive or negative either one is and can become your reality.

How do we change our self talk? The first step is to become aware of it. You cannot change anything that you are not aware of. Being aware of who you are, what you are and what you think are the most powerful tools of change. Without them you are forever destined to live the current life you are living. Today’s Success Homework will allow you to become; awake and aware of your internal dialogue and then be able to change it. What should you be saying to yourself? Look at the picture in this article, “Strength” read the words surrounding it, those are great examples of what you should be saying to yourself, all day long, everyday. You are Amazing…accept that about yourself.

Your Success Homework

Every time you catch yourself saying something negative to yourself, freeze, stop what you are doing and repeat these words: CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL…and then replace your negative statement with a positive one. Here is an example: You make a mistake doing something and you say to yourself “Am I stupid”….Freeze…say: CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL…”I am learning new things everyday and getting wiser”. Does that sound simple, it is. At first you will not catch yourself that much because you are not that aware of your thoughts. Soon you will be aware and you will be “cancelling” yourself all day long. Eventually you negative self talk will subside and you will think more positively and you will be “cancelling” yourself  less and less.

Scott Schmaren’s Bio

Scott Schmaren is a nationally known speaker, hypnotist and author. He has spent over 20 years learning powerful success technologies. He has used what he has learned and created to transform his life, losing 180. He has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show.  Oprah said, “If Scott can do it, I can do it and so can you! Scott’s techniques are being used for business, weight management, overcoming obstacles, achieving goals and many other things. Scott is co-author of the book, Stepping Stones to Success, along with Jack Canfield , Deepak Chopra and Dr. Denis Waitley. Scott’s forthcoming book is titled, “Your Ultimate Visionary Mind: Transforming Your Life in 30 Minutes a Day”.

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? Or it no longer mattered what other people thought?

Is there a book in you waiting to be born? Or a message you care deeply about and feel heeds to be shared?

“Living an authentic life means standing firm in our dreams!

It means not settling for something less out of fear or desire for security.

It means being true to ourselves and releasing what no longer fits or serves us.”

~ Davina Kotulski

Join us Thursday, April 25, for the On Purpose radio show when we’ll interview Davina Kotulski, a psychologist, life coach, and internationally known author and speaker in the field of marriage equality.

Hear Davina’s journey of courage to find her own voice, and to share a message that’s touched thousands of lives.

You’ll also hear some of the secrets she discovered to help others live a courageous and authentic live, get their book written, and have their message make a difference in the world.
To listen live, or to hear the replay click => http://bit.ly/0425Davina

And we’d love to hear your experience with and learning about Courage. And what is is to “Find Your Voice.” 

Every Thursday at Noon Central

Join the On-Purpose Blog Talk radio show with Susyn Reeve and Rikk Hansen as they open doors to discover & live a lifework that’s alive with purpose.

Susyn and Rikk share compelling conversations with midlife professionals, entrepreneurs, experts, and authors successfully doing work that expresses their purpose & passion. Learn the secrets and resources from their stories and experience to inspire your on-purpose success. 

Join the conversation on the show’s Facebook page: On Purpose Show

And to listen anytime via iTunes or subscribe to the weekly podcast click => http://bit.ly/PurposePodcast

 

 

Do you have a dream that sparks your passion, but you worry that it’s too late? 

This week on the On Purpose Radio Show Susyn Reeve and Rikk Hansen interview Melinda Lee, the creator of the Sexy Over 50 Book Series.  After turning 50 Melinda left her executive position in the corporate world to begin an exciting new career – one most people would have thought they were too old for.  Today she live in Los Angeles where she finds great pleasure in assisting women with inside-out-head-to-toe-make-overs.  And when not working with clients she is a sought after model and has begun an acting career.

If you’ve ever thought it’s too late for you to step into your dream, make sure to tune in and be inspired by Melinda’s journey.

To listen live, or to hear the replay click =>http://bit.ly/Lee0418

To listen via iTunes or subscribe to the weekly podcast click =>http://bit.ly/PurposePodcast

And we’d love to hear your experience with and learning about stress. What is your challenge?

Join us Every Thursday at Noon Central

Join the On-Purpose Blog Talk radio show with Susyn Reeve and Rikk Hansen as they open doors to discover & live a lifework that’s alive with purpose.

Susyn and Rikk share compelling conversations with midlife professionals, entrepreneurs, experts, and authors successfully doing work that expresses their purpose & passion. Learn the secrets and resources from their stories and experience to inspire your on-purpose success. 

Join the conversation on the show’s Facebook page: On Purpose Show

Feel like there’s no time for anything anymore?

Overwhelmed with tension and anxiety, even on your days off?

This week on the On Purpose radio show Rikk Hansen and Susyn Reeve interview Adam Timm, a Stress Consultant, Meditation Coach, Award Winning Speaker, and Bestselling Author.

Hear Adam’s own journey from stressed-out to on-purpose.(And as a 911 operator, Adams knows a few things about stress!)

Learn his secrets for kicking the stress habit and opening to a lifework rich in purpose, balance, and enjoyment!

To listen live, or to hear the replay click => http://bit.ly/Timm0411

And we’d love to hear your experience with and learning about stress. What is your challenge?

Every Thursday at Noon Central

Join the On-Purpose Blog Talk radio show with Susyn Reeve and Rikk Hansen as they open doors to discover & live a lifework that’s alive with purpose.

Susyn and Rikk share compelling conversations with midlife professionals, entrepreneurs, experts, and authors successfully doing work that expresses their purpose & passion. Learn the secrets and resources from their stories and experience to inspire your on-purpose success. 

Join the conversation on the show’s Facebook page: On Purpose Show

 

 

 

Segueway to Success

Listen at – “Tipping the Marketing Guerilla”

Previous Archived Shows - On Demand – “Segueway to Success” talk radio podcast

By: Brent Hamachek and Tom Kuchan

Our “Segueway to Success” show, talking about our blog, airs each Wednesday at 15:00 CST.  Find this week’s show and the archives on our web site:  www.seguewaysolutions.com/Articles-and-Events.html

A number of years ago, we were engaged by a company in the sports nutrition industry to serve as their interim president.  The company had a milk-based, sports energy & recovery protein shake that had been sold into universities for a number of years and they were looking to take the product into various retail and institutional classes of trade.

The company had a small staff and upon arriving we were introduced to the newly hired head of marketing and business development for the company, Phil Joffray.  Phil, around 40 at the time, had an impressive catalog of achievements in the world of brand building having been a key player in the rise to prominence of such brands as Centrum Vitamins, Jose Cuervo tequila and Sam Adams beer.  We felt as though we had just been given the opportunity to go to graduate school in marketing and brand development while being paid to attend.

The company was operating on a shoe string budget and every marketing and business development strategy had to take into account the financial constraints; there were to be no TV ad campaigns.  After six months at the company, we had a board meeting and Phil came in to present where he stood in terms of penetrating the 11 different classes of trade that had been identified.

To start his presentation, Phil put on a pair of loafers, lit a cigar and pulled out a small mirror.  He then started to do a simple dance and blew a puff of smoke into the mirror.  The mimed metaphor was an attention grabber.  He informed the board that what he was about to report, which was extraordinary, had been accomplished with smoke, mirrors and a little soft shoe routine.

Phil’s efforts had placed the company in a position to capture opportunities in virtually every class of trade.  What was even more impressive is that none of those opportunities had been “bought.”  They had been developed through creativity and what is now referred to as guerilla marketing tactics.

One aspect of what had been done involved getting the product placed on grocery store shelves to test its appeal with the public.  Grocery store shelf space is one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in the entire world of business; it comes at a premium and the better the spot, the higher the premium.  The company got a small, independent Chicago-area grocery chain to let them have shelf space, demo their product in-store, and see if they could prove it would turn.  The experiment went well.

One of the reasons it went well is that the company used local people to visit the health clubs near the stores.  Using the principles so well illustrated by author Malcolm Gladwell in his book “The Tipping Point” (simply one of the greatest marketing and general insight books ever written), representatives sought out at each health club the members in those clubs considered to be “mavens” (looked to by others as experts regarding health and training supplements) and those considered to be “salespeople” (people who need to persuade everyone to use something they are using if they like it).  Once those people were identified, they were given free samples of the product and information about its nutritional and utility advantages over other products.  Then we waited to see what would happen.

Sales in the stores near those health clubs increased.  The guerilla tactic worked.  The right people in the right environment were influencing the decisions of others and a buzz started.  The increased sales turns at the local store provided valuable evidence to the company that its product really could sell in that class of trade.

In today’s challenging economic climate spending on marketing dollars has become more and more tenuous.  Companies are concerned about budgets and are very uncertain as to how to maximize the bang for their buck.  While every industry is different, one unifying theme and question is “I want to maximize the awareness and exposure of my product or service to the right potential buyers.  How do I do that without spending a fortune?”

Join us on Segueway to Success this coming Wednesday when our guest will be Larry Rosenthal, founder and owner of Unique Carpet, Upholstery & Rug Cleaning.  Larry is a fixture in the North Shore business world of Chicago and has established an amazing brand presence.  He has done so by both spending big ad dollars and now by using the kind of guerilla tactics that can create Gladwell’s Tipping Point.  He will share his experience and ideas that will be valuable to any business person in any industry who wants to think about how to increase market awareness without spending a fortune.

Segueway Solutions – http://www.seguewaysolutions.com/

+1 (847) 778-9474

Brent E. Hamachek spent the first 15 years of his professional life in banking, working in 6 different sectors including audit, credit and 9 years as a commercial banker.

After commercial banking, Brent formed Segueway Solutions in 2000 in order to assist privately held companies in transition. To date, he has worked in 40 different industries and has served in the capacity of CEO, CFO & EVP Sales for clients. Brent is a sought after consultant, speaker and trainer offering national and foreign expertise to clients.

brent@SeguewaySolutions.com

Tom Kuchan is a proven leader in global business expansion and effectiveness, risk management, finance and operations with experience in both Fortune 50 and entrepreneurial environments. He has a proven record of defining strategic objectives, translating them into operational tasks, and leading their implementation in diverse geographies and cultures across the globe.

Tom has lived overseas for over twenty years, including Switzerland, Germany and the United Arab Emirates, and has worked extensively across Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

tom@SeguewaySolutions.com

Segueway to Success

Listen at – “Professional Development – Segueway to Success”

Previous Archived Shows - On Demand – “Segueway to Success” talk radio podcast

By: Brent Hamachek and Tom Kuchan

Our “Segueway to Success” show, talking about our blog, airs each Wednesday at 15:00 CST.  Find this week’s show and the archives on our web site:  www.seguewaysolutions.com/Articles-and-Events.html

Could there possibly be a less understood, more oft misrepresented, hologram-like element of business than that of various training, coaching and mentoring programs that can all be brought into the general tent of “professional development?”

This is an area that has fascinated Segueway principals since their early careers.  Any professional, with an interest in bettering themselves, and with a remotely open mind, finds the idea of having some sort of coach or mentor appealing.  Everyone with half a brain knows the other half needs filling if they want to reach their full potential.  The rub comes when you say to someone, “If you want help, go get help.”  That’s because when they realize that to get it they might just have to pay for it, suspicion and skepticism replace their desire for self-actualization.

Recently one of the Segueway principals had an opportunity to watch a “Life-Coach” give a presentation at a luncheon event.  The speaker was charismatic, had lots of energy in his voice, injected occasional profanity so that nobody could drift off to sleep and, in general, seemed quite excited about whatever it was he was going to teach us all to do better.  Amidst his theatrical presentation, however, when you listened carefully you realized that he wasn’t actually saying anything.

His talk was littered with clichés about self-empowerment, attaining your highest potential, the seven steps of something of which there only seemed to be six, etc.  At the end of his talk, he made a pitch as to how all of the fascinating things he had touched upon could be developed for participants separately if they wanted to hire him as their coach.  In fact, for people attending that day he would give a discount of some amount for buying his CD, which of course would lead to buying a group session, which of course would lead to individual coaching.

Good grief.

Here’s the problem, this sort of late night infomercial pitch-person has become the businessperson who tries to coach/development/mentor/train others.  The parody replaces the serious professional when a business owner or manager contemplates professional development services.  This often discourages them from proceeding and that is unfortunate.

We have written in this space before about the false presumption of the synonymous between entrepreneur, business manager and leader.  The three, or some combination, are far too often used interchangeably.  The truth is that they are all very different.  What is also true is that is that just because a person has any one or two of the above traits doesn’t mean that they can grasp the other without help.  Further, why should we assume we can continuously improve the skills we have or unlock additional talents by continuously relying only upon ourselves?

Our observation over many years is that many business owner-operators view the use of professional development assistance as either a sign of weakness, which by their nature they are loathe to expose, or they see it as “touchy-feely nonsense” better left to Dr. Phil.  As a result, they bull ahead, relying only on whatever tools they have in their own toolbox.

It’s unfortunate.

When done right, by professionals who have the right combination of life experience, business success stories, business failure stories, and the wisdom to sort, analyze and articulate all of it, professional development coaching can be incredibly beneficial.  In fact, it can be the difference between mediocrity and greatness.  Perhaps it is as simple as stopping to realize that Tiger Woods still has a swing coach.

It does have to be done right, however.  In today’s market there are lots of people out there calling themselves a “fill-in-the-blank” Coach.  They do this because it sounds better than “unemployed” when someone asks what they do at a networking event.  If you are going to find someone to help you with your professional development, which we strongly encourage exploring for most business people, be sure to ask them the kinds of questions that will let you know if they have substance or only style behind their rhetoric.  Let Ron Popeil do the late-night infomercials.

This week on Segueway to Success our guest will be Linda McCabe, founder and CEO of Optimal Level, located in the Chicago suburbs.  Optimal Level is a center for professional development, which applies coaching, mentoring, and training for professionals to set goals, discuss challenges, and produce results. Optimal Level members meet to share experiences, exchange ideas, contribute to others and realize their inner dreams. They use a peer advisory board meeting platform to propel members to improved performance and the achievement of their personal and professional goals. Their individual coaching and consulting programs provide an extra boost toward building confidence, honing business skills, and designing creative solutions.

Linda made it big in the manufacturing world prior to forming this company.  She knows the difference between instilling confidence and a confidence man – someone we are certain we saw at that luncheon a couple of months ago.

Segueway Solutions – http://www.seguewaysolutions.com/

+1 (847) 778-9474

Brent E. Hamachek spent the first 15 years of his professional life in banking, working in 6 different sectors including audit, credit and 9 years as a commercial banker.

After commercial banking, Brent formed Segueway Solutions in 2000 in order to assist privately held companies in transition. To date, he has worked in 40 different industries and has served in the capacity of CEO, CFO & EVP Sales for clients. Brent is a sought after consultant, speaker and trainer offering national and foreign expertise to clients.

brent@SeguewaySolutions.com

Tom Kuchan is a proven leader in global business expansion and effectiveness, risk management, finance and operations with experience in both Fortune 50 and entrepreneurial environments. He has a proven record of defining strategic objectives, translating them into operational tasks, and leading their implementation in diverse geographies and cultures across the globe.

Tom has lived overseas for over twenty years, including Switzerland, Germany and the United Arab Emirates, and has worked extensively across Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

tom@SeguewaySolutions.com