37. Built from Scratch: Brad Karsh’s Failed It! Journey

“Realize and recognize that no one knows what you're going to say, people are pulling for you, and that thing that you're feeling is adrenaline, not nerves.” - Brad Karsh (in reference to overcoming your fear of public speaking).

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur? Perhaps you are in the corporate world, but have a dream of building your own business?

If this sounds like you, then get ready - because we are taking you through Entrepreneurship 101 with today’s amazing guest.

Failed it! Fam, please give a warm welcome to Brad Karsh, Founder and CEO of JB Training Solutions to the show!

In today’s episode, Brad tells us all about:

• His career journey and how he built his business from the ground up (can’t forget the business #fails)
• The importance of hiring, recruiting, leading and developing teams
• How to overcome your fear of public speaking, and why leadership and employee development is crucial to any organizations’ success

Links from show discussions:

• JB Website
• Brad's LinkedIn
• JB LinkedIn
• JB Instagram
• JB Facebook
• JB Twitter
• Check out improve it!’s workshops

About the guest: Brad Karsh is the Founder and CEO of JB Training Solutions. An accomplished public speaker and generational expert, Brad has been featured on CNN, CNBC, and Dr. Phil, and has been quoted in all-but-one of the following publications: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fortune, USA Today, and Tiger Beat. Brad is also the author of three business books including the critically acclaimed Manager 3.0: A Millennial's Guide to Rewriting the Rules of Management, which you can read in Mandarin (assuming you can read Mandarin).

Prior to creating JB Training Solutions, Brad spent 15 years at advertising agency Leo Burnett in Chicago. Today, Brad travels the world speaking at major organizations including Google, Marriott, Discover, Eli Lilly, and The Chicago Blackhawks, among many others. Brad presents annually at the Society for Human Resource Management National Conference and was ranked #1 out of more than 200 speakers. When he’s not enjoying a copious buffet, you can find Brad playing racquetball or drafting the perfect fantasy football roster. Brad is left-handed.

About the Host: Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the failed it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award.

This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.

When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl.

You can follow the failed it! Podcast on Instagram and facebook, and you can follow Erin here on Instagram. We can’t wait to connect with you online!