The Business of Meetings

Today, Eric Rozenberg is excited to share with you, the listeners, ten books that impressed and impacted him. He sincerely hopes that you will read and enjoy them and that they will inspire you as much as they did him!  Bio: Eric Rozenberg has helped thousands of entrepreneurs grow and manage their businesses better. His purpose is to inspire people with integrity and honesty, help them take action, get results, and develop their businesses and their lives. For two decades in his previous life, Eric consulted with Fortune 500 companies and produced award-winning sales meetings, incentive trips, product launches, and conferences in more than 50 countries across diverse industries. He believes organizations must create meetings and events that are not only breathtakingly memorable but also will bring corporate strategies to life and amplify team motivation/performance.  Eric is an acquisition entrepreneur, speaker, podcaster, and two-time Amazon bestselling author. His podcast, "The Business of Meetings", is the first podcast in the Meetings & Events Industry dedicated to business owners. Every Tuesday, listeners learn something new they can apply in their businesses and/or get inspired by amazing guests. His first book, Meeting at C-Level, is the first book on the Why of a meeting. It has been endorsed by 20 of the most influential leaders from the corporate and association worlds and helps professionals to position themselves as strategic partners. His second book, Before It’s Too Late, A Love Letter to my Daughters and America, is a story of grit, perseverance, and courage. It describes why and how he and his wife brought their daughters to America and why it is the greatest country on Earth. Eric is a current member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and of The Strategic Forum. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Demoucelle Parkinson Foundation in Belgium and was the first European to serve as Chairman of the International Board of Meetings Professional International (MPI), the largest professional association in the Meetings and Events Industry. Eric’s ten recommended books: The Joy of Success, by Susan Ford Collins The Business Model Generation, by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur The Hawke Method, by Eric Huberman Trust Me, I’m Lying, by Ryan Holiday Who Not How, by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy The Alter Ego Effect, by Todd Herman Building a StoryBrand, by Donald Miller The Psychology of Money, by Morgan Housel One Last Talk, by Philip McKernan Before It’s Too Late, by Eric Rozenberg The Joy of Success, by Susan Ford Collins Susan is a Co-founder of the Strategic Forum in Miami. She has been coaching people throughout her career. The Joy of Success: Ten Essential Skills for Getting the Success You Want was the first of the several books she has written. While writing the book, she looked into what made people successful and realized there are ten essential skills every successful person applies, regardless of their culture or country.  Eric found the ten skills she mentioned exciting and easy to apply. He particularly likes her idea of creating a Success File. The Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur (Designed by Alan Smith) Eric often refers to this book in his workshops or when people talk to him about their businesses because it is an interesting story. Alexander Osterwalder was writing a dissertation on business models, and that became his business. The idea behind it is to have different blocks to consider for any kind of business. You can download a tool called Business Model Canvas, where everything is mapped into one box to brainstorm a business model for a business of any size. It will eliminate the need to do market research for at least six months. The Hawke Method, by Erik Huberman Erik Huberman leads one of the fastest-growing digital agencies in America. He positioned the term “fractional CMO”. The book, The Hawke Method, is centered around the principles of awareness, nurturing, and building trust. The author gives concrete examples to illustrate ways to implement those principles. Eric recommends this book for anyone from beginners in the marketing field to seasoned entrepreneurs. Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator, by Ryan Holiday Ryan Holiday has written several books, including Stillness Is the Key and Perennial Seller. Trust Me, I’m Lying is a frightening book, but it is also enlightening. In the book, the author explains that incorrect information does get corrected after an article has been published. He also discusses what he did with a well-known retail chain regarding using social media to launch a product.  Who Not How by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy Dan Sullivan is a master coaching guru. Who not How is a principle that entrepreneurs and business owners who think they are irreplaceable and nobody can do things as well as they do, can apply to encourage them to move in the opposite direction. The Alter Ego Effect: The Power of Secret Identities to Transform Your Life, by Todd Herman   Todd Herman is a fascinating person who coaches athletes and individuals. He wrote The Alter Ego Effect to explain that athletes reach a point where they have to go above and beyond what they would usually do, and the person they become when they put their engine in overdrive is known as their alter ego. In the book, the author explains how to create an alter ego and how to leverage its power to overcome challenges and achieve way more than you would usually achieve in your life. Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen, by Donald Miller This book is a must-read for anyone considering starting a new business or who may be re-inventing an existing business. The book explains the entire methodology and journey of using seven steps to create a StoryBrand to help them define the StoryBrand for their companies.  The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth Greed and Happiness, by Morgan Housel This is a fascinating book about money. It contains impactful stories and themes to help readers reflect on their values and relationship with money. One Last Talk: Why Your Truth Matters and How to Speak It, by Philip McKernan One Last Talk is an invitation for readers to find their truth and speak it out loud to at least one person. The book gives a framework to help readers do it. It is called One Last Talk to challenge and inspire readers to focus their minds and open their hearts by making them face their metaphorical death. It is an inspiring and fascinating read! Before It’s Too Late: A Love Letter To My Daughters and America, by Eric Rozenberg Eric is very proud of his book! It is a legacy project. It is the story of why Eric and his family left Europe, the rise of antisemitism, the rise of Islamism, and the cowardliness of leaders. The book goes into the current situation that prompted them to leave for America and the similarities and differences they see in America. The book has many links and references to help readers fact-check and learn more about what Eric has written.   Eric hopes you will enjoy reading these books!  Resource: Business Model Canvas Books Mentioned Meeting at C-Level, by Eric Rozenberg Before It’s TooLate, A Love Letter to my Daughters and America, by Eric Rozenberg The Joy of Success, by Susan Ford Collins The Business Model Generation, by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur The Hawke Method, by Eric Huberman Trust Me, I’m Lying, by Ryan Holiday Who Not How, by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy The Alter Ego Effect, by Todd Herman Building a StoryBrand, by Donald Miller The Psychology of Money, by Morgan Housel One Last Talk, by Philip McKernan Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website

The Business of Meetings – Episode 146 - From Corporate to Convention Bureau with Christoph Tessmar Today we have the great pleasure of speaking with Christoph Tessmar, the Director of the Barcelona Convention Bureau!  Christoph is well-known all over the world in the meetings and events industry. He has had an incredible journey, from pharmaceuticals to events to becoming the head of the Barcelona Convention Bureau. He joins us today to discuss his journey and to share many fascinating stories! We hope you enjoy listening to today’s inspiring conversation with Christoph Tessmar! Bio: Christoph Tessmar was born in Heidelberg (Germany) on the 3rd of May 1964. After his education, he started his professional career (always in the pharmaceutical industry) in Boehringer Mannheim as an area manager for some countries in South America. In January 1990, he moved to Boehringer Mannheim in Barcelona, where he started with the organization of some events and congresses. In 1999, he joined Sanofi-Aventis Spain, as congress manager. He was in charge of the organization and coordination of all the events of the company (national and international congresses, product presentations, symposia, sales conventions, and booth design) nearly 500 events per year, where he worked until January 2012. Since March 2012, he has been the Director of the Barcelona Convention Bureau. Since April 2019, he has been president of the ICCA Iberian Chapter and a member of the PCMA European Advisory Board. Christoph’s story Christoph started his career working for a pharmaceutical company in Germany while he was still studying back in 1981. In 1989, he went to Barcelona to work with an affiliate company. He liked it so much that he asked for a permanent position there. He was offered a job on the salesforce and had to go out selling to gain experience. The marketing manager contacted him saying they had a new product to launch, and asked him to help them organize an event in Berlin. The event was a success! As the company grew, he was asked to do more events. In 1998, the company was sold, and he had to leave. He then received an offer from Sanofi-Aventis in Spain to create a congress department. He remained with that company until he joined the Barcelona Convention Bureau in 2012.  The Barcelona Convention Bureau As someone from the corporate world, Christoph felt challenged when he was asked to join the Barcelona Convention Bureau, but he accepted the position because it was a chance for him to do something new and different.  Gaining trust Christoph gained the trust of those he had to represent because he was known to be open and present as a Congress Manager in the meetings industry. The Convention Bureau is within the DMO of the Barcelona Tourism Board. He was known by many people who had confidence in his ability, and they welcomed him happily. The Barcelona Football Club The Barcelona Football Club was a member of the Barcelona Convention Bureau. However, the membership is frozen while the stadium goes through a four to five-year process of reconstruction and renovation. Unexpected crises There have been many attacks, riots, and crises in Barcelona since 2014. The Barcelona Convention Bureau managed to get through all of the unexpected crises, including Covid.                                     Fortunately, Christoph has developed a good relationship with the police over the years, and they have been very helpful. When something important is about to happen in the city, the Convention Bureau forms a security committee, including the police, to plan and prepare in case something unforeseen occurs. Cancellation policies Since the pandemic, many cancellation policies in Barcelona have changed because clients have asked to cancel with a shorter notice period.   IBTM  Christoph recently closed one of the best and most successful IBTMs he has experienced in all his years with the Convention Bureau. He was surprised by how successful it was because he had no idea what would happen or how many buyers, visitors, and exhibitors would be there. They have subsequently signed a contract to have IBTMs (Incentives, Business Travel & Meetings) in the city for three more years. ICCA ICCA organized an event for students considering careers in the meetings industry. Three or four ICCA members will explain what they do, share insights about the industry, and answer questions, to convince the students to join the industry because the meetings and events industry needs new talent. The benefits of volunteering Christoph has found volunteering a way to bring his experience into various associations, open people's minds, and help them change and adapt. Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website Connect with Christoph Tessmar On LinkedIn Barcelona Convention Bureau

Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Cindy Lo, another rockstar in our industry! Cindy is the Founder and current CEO of RED VELVET in Austin, TX. Cindy is an incredible entrepreneur! She used to have a DMC and has planned meetings all over the world. She joins us to dive into her experience over the last twenty years, talk about coping with change during Covid, and discuss how she manages her time and team. We hope you enjoy listening to today’s inspiring conversation with Cindy Lo! Bio: When Cindy Lo started RED VELVET 20 years ago, she did so with the mission to Outplan, Outplay, and Outparty! RED VELVET is an international award-winning events agency that creates compelling human connections through design and collaboration for brands on the cusp of disruption. Cindy is the past Visit Austin Chair and a recent author of Behind the RED VELVET Curtain. Connect with RED VELVET on all the major social media channels (@REDVELVETEVENTS) to see behind the scenes what event life is like at RED VELVET. Cindy calls Austin, Texas home with her husband of 18 years, their 2 children, and Darwin their Frenchie Cindy’s story Cindy was working in New York City when 9/11 happened. Even though she enjoyed her corporate tech job, that event made her question her motivation for what she was doing professionally. At that time, she thought the only way to make money was to work at a venue, either on the hotel side or as a venue manager, neither of which appealed to her. So she applied for three different jobs and got rejected for all of them because she lacked formal experience. She found the rejection hard to handle, so she decided to start RED VELVET, and then reapply for the jobs a year later. Needless to say, she never reapplied! A book Looking back, Cindy wishes she had known how to scale RED VELVET faster because it took ten years to reach its growth stride. Several years ago, she wrote Behind the RED VELVET Curtain, a book to help people understand what to be realistic about while starting a business. Events Cindy loves the event industry because it’s all about solving problems and doing extraordinary things in a very creative environment.  Internships Internships are a way for people to see that although events are fun, they also involve a lot of hard work. Word-of-mouth Until 2020, Cindy’s business was entirely word-of-mouth. It was only in 2020 that they started doing paid ads. Virtual Cindy’s first virtual event took place in April 2020. She and her team learned a lot from that event! Lay-offs Cindy managed to keep all her staff on board until the end of December 2020, when she had to lay some people off. All of those not laid off quit because they were exhausted from working through the pandemic, and they did not like doing virtual events.   Raising her rates When business returned, it happened fast! That made things hard for Cindy because she did not have enough people and did not want to sacrifice the quality of her work. She then raised her rates to ensure she only worked with qualified clients who valued her work. Getting back into production Cindy had not been involved in the production side of events for about five years until 2020. In 2021 and 2022, however, she became the lead producer because her team burned out and she wanted to retain her business. She is now working on finessing various aspects of production because she intends to step back into her previous sales role in 2023. Time tracking Cindy feels that time tracking is essential if business owners want to know how much effort they are putting into each program and how much time their teams spend on sales leads, event executions, and recruiting people for events. In-person Cindy prefers meeting people in person because people are usually more relaxed when you have a conversation with them over a cup of coffee or a meal.  Finding balance Finding the right balance between all aspects of your work and home life requires integration. If you have a life partner, he/she must match you, and support you. You also need to employ enough people and follow a strict schedule.  Avoiding burnout To avoid burnout, you have to know what works for you. When Cindy feels she is approaching her burnout point, she mixes some leisure with her work. So, rather than becoming completely unreachable, she sets a range of times during which she will respond to her emails. Changing her business model Cindy began changing her business model in 2017 because she wanted to move away from DMCs (Destination Management Companies) and strategize more. When the pandemic began, she took the opportunity to expedite the process.     Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website Connect with Cindy Lo RED VELVET Events On LinkedIn Cindy’s book, Behind the RED VELVET Curtain, is available on Amazon

The Business of Meetings – Episode 144 – BounceBack Leadership with Brian Wagner We are delighted to be speaking with Brian Wagner from Radical Vision today!  Brian experienced a major setback at 43 that left him blind, apart from having a slight bit of vision in one eye. He joins us to share his unique and encouraging story and to discuss how he uses his life-changing experience to influence and motivate leaders to keep moving forward! We hope you enjoy listening to today’s inspiring conversation with Brian Wagner! Bio: Embrace your own personal blindness to drive better performance. That's what Brian Wagner has done through BounceBack Leadership. He is the founder and CEO of A Radical Vision. His mission is to help people embrace their own personal blindness to achieve a greater focus and drive better performance. Brian has worked with boards and organizations to clear the path for growth. On March 4, 2011, he awakened on the couch and couldn't see. For the next six months, he was blind. Only brain surgery and multiple eye surgeries have allowed a portion of his vision to return. Since then, Brian has become the author of the semi-autobiography book Sometimes It DOES Take a Brain Surgeon. Brian is the Immediate-Past President of the National Speakers’ Association, Ohio Chapter. Brian’s journey Brian’s journey began when he was ten years old. He had fluid on the brain and a shunt was inserted into his head to drain the fluid into his abdomen. When he was 43, a malformed blood vessel in his brain began to bleed, and the pressure on his nerves caused him to go blind. In 2011, he had brain surgery to remove one of three malformations on his brain stem. Recently, however, the remaining two malformations bled, putting pressure on the nerves that control his voice, so he now has a speech impediment that comes and goes.  What Brian does All Brian wants to do is help people along in their journeys. He has a disability, so he encourages others to recognize their disabilities, whether visible or not and helps them bounce back.   Driving Brian was able to drive a motor vehicle for ten years. He no longer does so because his eye with vision sometimes tends to close during the course of the day. Speaking Brian spoke at his high school graduation when he was seventeen and that helped him realize he wanted to be a speaker. So, he went to Toast Master meetings to practice speaking in front of crowds. He also had opportunities to speak at NSA.  Managing his life day-to-day Brian has worked at the Ohio School for the Blind for the past five years and finds it incredible to see how well blind people can cope! He sometimes finds it hard to do day-to-day things like writing emails and making phone calls, but he is motivated to do whatever he can to get by because he knows there is a good reason for his disability.    Making a better experience for people with disabilities To those with disabilities, it means everything to them when workers at hotels and function venues ask them what they can do to improve their experience!  Inspiring and influencing leaders When speaking to leaders, Brian encourages them not to discount or disregard their disabilities. He hopes to inspire them to be more confident in doing whatever their work requires and to become successful without becoming boastful or cocky.  We can all make our own past Looking at our past, reliving it, and telling others about it, helps us to engage and tell our stories in the way we want them to be heard. Helping executive leaders Brian enjoys speaking to executive leaders looking to inspire their teams. Apart from speaking to groups, he serves leaders via his book, and through retreats and workshops. He has also done a TEDx Talk. Empathy versus sympathy Brian does not want sympathy from others. Even though he does not want anyone to feel sorry for him, he appreciates it when others authentically try to put themselves in his shoes. Bouncing back Brian advises people facing challenges to embrace their setbacks, to do whatever they can to avoid being pitied and to ultimately find purpose and meaning from their setbacks. Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website Connect with Brian Wagner A Radical Vision Call Brian on 614 946 1635 On LinkedIn Brian’s TEDx Talk

The Business of Meetings – Episode 143 – How to Keep Your Best People with Mike Desjardins We are delighted to be speaking with Mike Desjardins today! Mike is an amazing development leader! He created a company called ViRTUS that works with large corporations to help them with leadership development.  Mike is with us today to discuss his business and developing a company culture.  We hope you enjoy listening to today’s fascinating conversation with Mike Desjardins! Bio: MIKE DESJARDINS: At the heart of ViRTUS is our CEO, Mike. Mike is emotionally intelligent and driven. His core motivation is to make a difference in the lives of others. That is to say, his passion is creating positive change for his colleagues, clients, and community. With a Bachelor of Commerce from UBC’s Sauder School of Business, a CPHR designation, and over two decades of experience transforming businesses, he is a master in the realm of strategy and leadership development. From entrepreneurial businesses to large public companies and public-sector organizations, Mike focuses on driving return on investment in every client engagement. In June 2002, the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) invited Mike to become a member. After spending six years on the board, he served as President of the Vancouver Chapter. In January 2006, Mike was the recipient of the BIV Top 40 Under 40 Award. From 2010-2016, Mike sat on the board of directors for the Human Resource Management Association of BC (now CPHR BC). Since 2017, Mike has been a member of the Advisory Board of Robinson Group. Mike focuses on strategy, growth, and vision for ViRTUS. Passionate about leveraging his team, he engages them all in co-creating ViRTUS’s future vision and determining their role in it. Above all, ViRTUS is his vehicle to empower leaders, both within the company and among our clients. Mike is passionate about skiing, yoga, running, CrossFit, and anything in the self-improvement bucket. In his community, his focus is on what he can do for others, and he loves nothing more than spending time with his daughter and wife. Mike’s journey Mike’s story began when he was in his second year of college when a company offered to pay for the rest of his business school tuition in return for him working for them after he graduated. That turned into a ten-year journey, which led to him becoming president of the second-largest division of that company.  A journey of personal exploration Mike achieved all the goals he wanted to have by the time he was thirty, just after he turned twenty-six. Although his life looked great on paper, he realized he did not enjoy the life he had created. That sent him on an eighteen-month journey of personal exploration to figure out what he truly wanted. Then an opportunity arose for him to do a startup. So he quit his job in 2000, joined the startup, and leaped into an uncertain future. A new business model  Over the next few years, Mike bought out all four other partners in the original business, which focused on developing leaders in peer groups. He did not want to replicate his previous life in which he traveled all the time, so he decided to go after what was ten percent of the business revenue and grow and expand that so he would not have to travel so much.  Surviving the recession When Mike’s company lost half its revenue in September of 2008, he gave himself four months to get things working again. Just before his deadline, a utility company in British Columbia asked him to do some work for them the following year. They also asked him to pre-invoice them, which covered all his outstanding costs, and kept the company going. Big brands Soon after that, they landed five big brands. That put them on the map, so they leveraged those brands to get as many other companies as possible. That allowed them to spend the next ten years focusing on doing the work they love, developing leaders, from CEOs and executives to VPs, directors, high-potential leaders, and managers, with a firm grounding in emotional intelligence.  Mark’s decision to build a great life Part of Mark’s decision to build a great life came from him recognizing that his father’s premature decline and early passing as a result of Parkinson’s disease; Lewy body dementia, could also happen to him.  Holidays Mark insists everyone on his team takes their vacation every year rather than getting paid out for it, and everyone gets to take off the week in and around Christmas. In the summer when they are not so busy, he also gives his people “Half-day Friday’s” so they get more time to enjoy the good weather! Flexibility Mark’s employees are given the flexibility to take time off during the week to get their hair cut, do some shopping, or pick up their kids from school. Accountability Mark's business has a very high level of accountability, and everyone looks out for everyone else. That is why it works so well! Culture A big challenge with company culture is not letting things slide. When they are allowed to slide, it says that things are okay and that eventually becomes part of the culture. Similarly, exceptions must get recognized as exceptions.  A deeper level of empathy As a result of the pandemic, there's been a fundamental shift over the last two years that resulted in a need for leaders to have a deeper level of empathy.   Mark’s prediction Based on what we are seeing today, Mark predicts that the business world will change to a hoteling model in the future. That means people will no longer be expected to work in centralized offices from nine to five, Monday to Friday. Instead, they will work with a flexible hybridized model that allows them to come and go as they choose between their homes and company-owned offices, with empathy from their boss. Changing occupations He also thinks that many people will leave companies that are inflexible or change their occupations entirely and get into different lines of work.  Narcissistic leadership When fear gets in the way, people tend to do bad things. The same thing can happen to leaders with strong personalities.  Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website Connect with Mike Desjardins On his website On LinkedIn Books mentioned: Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth, Making by Tony Fadell

The Business of Meetings – Episode 142 - Find Your Voice with Caroline Goyder   We are delighted to be speaking with Caroline Goyder today! Caroline is a well-known speaker coach who helps her clients find their voice.  Caroline is based in the UK and is known internationally and is the author of three books. She also did a TED Talk that has reached more than nine million people! In today’s episode, she shares some practical tools to implement immediately to help you find your voice and have more impact within organizations.  We hope you enjoy listening to today’s captivating conversation with Caroline Goyder! Bio: Caroline’s global reputation as a speaker and voice coach is built on her warm, engaging, relaxed, and highly practical style, and her expertise is honed by her work with actors, teachers, broadcasters, and the corporate sector. She worked for many years at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama as a voice coach. Her skill is to take ideas previously known by performers and broadcasters and make them immediately usable when facing personal and professional challenges. She is regularly sought after by the media as an expert in her field. Caroline’s work has been featured on television and in numerous national and international newspaper articles. Her TED Talk on speaking with confidence has had many millions of views. On Caroline’s website, you will find information about booking Caroline to speak and signing up for her ‘Find Your Voice’ events. You can also download and take short audio courses to help you speak with confidence.  Caroline’s story Caroline attended Oxford University with plans of becoming an actor.  She then went to drama school only to discover that it was hard to be on stage and look relaxed.  Change is possible Caroline has spent the last twenty years unpacking what it means to get told that you have no presence or your performance was terrible. In those situations, people tend to think they cannot change. But they can! Some speaking advice If you feel nervous and speak too fast, or you mouth-breathe when speaking, it is best to close your mouth and breathe in a feeling of relief whenever you hit a full stop. That will allow your system to reset and get out of fight or flight.  If your tone is flat, spend some time before you speak, imagining that you are in the audience listening, and consider what you need to do to engage yourself. Or imagine that you are talking to a clever fourteen-year-old. Then slow down and simplify what you are saying. Being yourself Caroline has spent many years working out quick ways for people to stand on stage and be themselves.  Changing course Acting did not come naturally to Caroline, but she realized she could learn to do what others, to whom it did come naturally, were doing. She changed course because her heart was in acting. She also knew that as an actor, she would not be in control, and she wanted to have more agency. So she decided to become an entrepreneur instead. Entrepreneurship To be successful as an entrepreneur, you really need to want it because it is hard. You need to know that you have a skill no one else has. You also need the drive and energy to get back up and keep going after getting knocked down. Caroline’s advice about changing course Caroline loved voice, so she trusted her instincts and trained as a voice teacher. She advises people in their twenties to keep flipping when things don’t feel right and to keep going until they find something that really lights them up! Dialects If you would like to know how to speak a dialect different from your own, you need to listen carefully to the patterns and absorb them.  Flood your ears If you are American and get invited to speak in the UK, there are a few things you should do to prepare yourself beforehand. Firstly, do your research and have an informal mini-focus group with a few people who will be at the event so that you can flood your ears with whatever drives them. You can also go to YouTube to listen to the dialect, energy, and speech patterns so that you can take on some of the language and dialect and use words that reflect the values of the people in the area in which you will be speaking. TEDx Caroline prepared extremely well before her TED Talk because she understood the jeopardy of being a speaker coach who “messes up” a speech.   If you are thinking of doing a TED Talk, Caroline suggests you ditch Powerpoint and find a prop that engages the audience and brings your idea to life. Selecting ideas Caroline’s coaches helped her select the best and freshest ideas from those she had in mind for her TED Talk. She urges anyone working on a speech to be open to feedback. Her idea process starts with a mind map. She uses voice notes on her phone to hear what her ideas sound like when spoken. She also tries them out on people. Showing up as herself As an actor, Caroline learned that when her body and breath were centered, she showed up as herself. She advised speakers to look after their bodies, keep fit, and learn how to breathe diaphragmatically so that their voices can develop authenticity.  Caroline’s books Caroline’s latest book, Find Your Voice, is about the voice and its potential to express whatever you feel in life and allow you to step up, speak up, and stand out. Her previous book, Gravitas, is about how speakers can find authority and credibility. Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website Connect with Caroline Goyder On her website On social media: @Carolinegoyder Caroline’s books Find Your Voice Gravitas The Star Qualities  

The Business of Meetings – Episode 141 – The Challenges Faced by Senior Planners with Shawna Suckow   We are delighted to speak with Shawna Suckow today! Shawna is the founder of SPIN (Senior Planners Industry Network). She is also a writer and speaker.  Shawna joins us today to share her insights, discuss her take on what is happening within the industry, and talk about mental health, finding balance in life, and how to care for oneself.  We hope you enjoy listening to today’s enlightening conversation with Shawna Suckow! Bio: Shawna Suckow, CSP, CVP, CMP, is a former planner who became a professional speaker in 2012. She speaks to salespeople, marketers, C-Suite, and business owners across all industries seeking insight into the shifting marketplace and how to reach customers better.  What Shawna is proud of: Her latest book was recommended by Forbes as a top-six marketing book of 2022 (woohoo!). She has spoken in 17 countries on 5 continents (c’mon, Australia and Antarctica!). In 2019 she earned her CSP (like a Master's in professional speaking).  Three memorable things about her: She is so good at parallel parking, she should get a trophy. Her first car was a Volkswagen Bug that caught on fire on her way to school. Also, she once did a turkey call for the Jimmy Kimmel audience. (She’s still embarrassed about it).  How Shawna got into the industry After college, Shawna joined a commercial real estate company. She worked her way through PR and into the training department they were launching, where she helped create a training curriculum for real estate professionals. She fell into the industry through the meetings she planned to deliver the curriculum. It was hard initially because she had no one to guide her, but she loved it! Leaving the industry After she wrote the tell-all book, Planner Pet Peeves: Straight Talk for Meetings Industry Suppliers to Understand How Planners Really Think, Act and Buy, people began asking Shawna to speak. So she left the industry and transitioned to becoming a speaker. Speaking on stage She learned that when stepping on stage, only the first few minutes were about her. After that, it was about what she had to offer and how she engaged with the audience. Mentorship Shawna is always there to help up-and-coming speakers and answer their questions. SPIN Shawna started SPIN in 2008 because she wanted a more senior and distilled type of conversation than she was getting at the industry associations, where they speak to planners at multi-levels. SPIN currently has 2500 members. It also has a free Facebook group for planners with more than ten years of experience. Stress One of the top five most stressful occupations nationally is being a planner. It became even more stressful for planners when the pandemic hit because they had to cancel live meetings without knowing when they could reschedule them. Shawna points out that unplanning a meeting is almost as complicated as planning one! Self-care Many planners failed to practice self-care during the pandemic. As a result, they suffered mental health challenges including depression and anxiety. Brain, body, being, and business People need to speak about what they are going through, especially during difficult times like the pandemic. Soon after a well-known SPIN member took her own life, Shawna appeared on stage at SPINCON and spoke about it because, at that point, no one in the industry was talking about mental health. That was when they, in addition to business, began focusing on the brain, body, and being. Board of advisors Shawna joined a mastermind with two other speakers about six years ago. Since then, all of their businesses have grown exponentially. They look out for one another and help each other physically and emotionally. The other two speakers have become Shawna’s board of advisors. Balance Shawna has been feeling more balanced since she stopped traveling and started focusing more intentionally on her self-care. Speaking Shawna speaks about sales and marketing from the customer's perspective. She loves helping people in businesses better-understand their prospects. A new course Shawna believes that now is a good time for small business owners to compete, especially if they focus more on telling their stories. She is creating a new course to help small business owners rethink branding, improve marketing, and enrich their stories.  Trust People care about what others do. That is why Shawna advises speakers, coaches, and meeting planners to regain trust by rebuilding their brands, humanizing themselves, and telling their stories. That will help them avoid getting perceived as commodities and being put into the same category as everyone else. SPINCON The SPINCON annual conference took place virtually during the pandemic. This year, it will be happening live in Tempe, Arizona, from the 11th of December through the 13th. It will focus on self-care and great conversations!   Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website Connect with Shawna Suckow On her website SPIN   Books mentioned: Touching Two Worlds by Sherry Walling Planner Pet Peeves: Straight Talk for Meetings Industry Suppliers to Understand How Planners Really Think, Act and Buy by Shawna Suckow

The Business of Meetings – Episode 140 - All About Psychedelics with Matt Zemon Today, we are speaking with Matt Zemon, the Founder, and CEO of HAPPŸŸ. He is joining us to discuss a fascinating topic most of us know nothing about, even though many are curious about it. Matt has just written a book called Psychedelics for Everyone. He has a degree in psychology and neuroscience and is a member of EO. He joins us today to share his knowledge, experience, and understanding- and some unexpected and eye-opening statistics, on psychedelic treatment for PTSD! Matt’s entrepreneurial journey Matt is good at building businesses. He built several before qualifying for EO and a few more while in EO. However, nothing changed after hitting different goals and milestones, and it did not satisfy him. Then, about three years ago, some trusted friends suggested trying a guided psychedelic experience. He liked the idea of learning about himself differently, so he took part in one, and it blew his mind wide open! That sparked his interest as an entrepreneur, and he wanted to learn more about it and get involved. Psychedelics for Everyone Matt dove right in, getting a Master’s in psychology and neuroscience and attending many different psychedelic conferences and webinars. Then, about a year ago, he built a company called Psychable to create a directory of psychedelic-friendly practitioners with hundreds of pieces of easy-to-find relevant content. Then he put that content together in a medically-reviewed book, Psychedelics for Everyone, along with some personal stories, to give those who know nothing about psychedelics an understanding of how psychedelics could impact them, the people they love, or their communities. Ketamine Ketamine is the only psychedelic that is legal in all fifty states in the US. It is a powerful medicine that we can use for depression, anxiety, OCD, and substance-use disorders. Clinical trials The FDA allows MDMA (Ecstacy) and psilocybin use in clinical trials. MDMA There has been a 67% success rate in clinical trials using just two sessions of MDMA for people with treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder. So MDMA should be legal federally as a medicine within two years.  Psilocybin Psilocybin is the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms”. There have been some incredible results in clinical trials using psilocybin for people with treatment-resistant depression and anxiety. It has also been proven effective with terminal patients and substance abuse.  Drugs In the 1970s, there were campaigns to lead people to believe that all drugs, including psychedelics, were addictive and bad. Those campaigns were not truth-based, however. They were just a political tactic that had nothing to do with science. Research Before 1970, researchers were doing thousands of studies on the power of psychedelic medicine. But they were forced to stop due to the prohibition. In the last ten years, however, there has been a resurgence of academic research, and currently, 309 institutions are studying the benefits of psychedelics. Anti-depressants Anti-depressants are ineffective for 40% of those who try them. Even when they do work, there are lots of side effects, including sexual dysfunction, gastrointestinal problems, and suicidal ideation in young people. So another option is sorely needed, especially for veterans returning from wars unable to function normally. The side-effects of psychedelics There are very few short-term side effects from psychedelics. Sometimes, people may experience some nausea, and there is always dissociation which is a necessary feature. But they have no long-term side effects, and many psychedelics have no lethal dose. Risks Drugs like ketamine are serious and must get treated with respect. Recreational use has led some people have become addicted to it. However, it is the only psychedelic with an addiction risk, and no one using it medicinally in clinical studies has become addicted.  Danger Psychedelics are unlikely to cause any danger for those using them or for others.  How ketamine works in the brain Ketamine alters glutamine activity and increases BDNF in the brain. That increases neuroplasticity and synaptic strength. It also turns down the default mode network in the brain. So it can provide relief from worry and anxiety. Disassociation side-effects unlock subconscious thoughts and repressed memories, and emotions. So it removes shame, blame, and guilt, and with some people, it also awakens a spiritual effect. Connecting and caring Psychedelic medicines can help people to connect better with one another and care more for others.  Different models Many different models are available for entrepreneurs to provide psychedelic therapy through business-controlled health centers. Various financial and ethical issues still have to be ironed out. But Matt believes that thousands of opportunities exist for entrepreneurs to create businesses to provide mental health care in America. Microdosing Microdosing means taking a minute dose of mushrooms or LSD. It is very popular. If done correctly, you will not feel it, so you can still work and do whatever you usually do.  Download Matt’s free guide to microdosing to learn about the different protocols and the latest research. Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website Connect with Matt Zemon On LinkedIn Download Matt’s free guide to microdosing https://www.happyy.me Instagram Recommended books: A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage My Life by Ayelet Waldman  

Episode 139- Representation Matters with Kevin Iwamoto Today, we are delighted to speak with another icon in our industry, Kevin Iwamoto!  Kevin has received many awards! He is the Chief Customer Officer of Bizly and is also a speaker, singer, and writer. He joins us today to talk about our industry, changing careers, and racism against Asian people and people from the Pacific Islands. We hope you enjoy listening to today’s engaging conversation with Kevin Iwamoto! Bio: Condensed Bio for Kevin Iwamoto, GLP, GTP | Chief Customer Officer | Bizly Inc.:  Kevin Iwamoto is an award-winning speaker, industry influencer, author, educator, and subject-matter expert consultant in business travel, GDPR, SMM, the meetings/events marketplace, and personal branding. His progressive industry expertise is featured regularly in industry trade publications, such as Business Travel News (BTN), Northstar Meetings Group, and MeetingsNet. He was President and CEO of the NBTA (now GBTA) from 2001-2003 during the tumultuous 9/11 aftermath.  Kevin is the recipient of many industry awards and recognition, including the 2015 Travel Weekly Gold Magellan Award for Best Overall Industry Blog, which is now syndicated and featured as Industry Insights via Northstar Meetings Group online. Kevin is also the 2016 MPI RISE Award for meetings industry leaders, and in 2014 he received a rare honor from GBTA with a designation as Industry Icon. Throughout his career, he has also been included in numerous industry Top Most Influential Executive lists.  He has two published books to his credit, Strategic Meetings Management: From Theory to Practice published in April 2011, and, Your Personal Brand, Your Power Tool to Build Career Integrity, published in October 2016. Both are available via Amazon. Before joining Bizly, Kevin was Sr. VP at GoldSpring Consulting and VP of Industry Strategy at Lanyon, Active Network, and StarCite. As a buyer, he was a Sr. Global Category Manager for HP’s global travel and meetings team and Sr. Travel Account Manager for Disney Worldwide Services. Kevin’s journey Kevin received a scholarship from Hawaiian Airlines to attend the University of Hawaii’s Travel Industry Management School and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in business. While at college, he made a living and contributed to his tuition fees by performing in nightclubs and working part-time for Hawaiian Airlines. His business degree helped him focus on the business side of his entertainment career. He did several recordings, collaborated with other local artists in Japan and California, and later created a label of his own. After retiring from live performing, he transitioned to a career in business travel, meetings, and events.  Regaining ownership Kevin recorded three vinyl albums. Many years later, he saw that others had placed his music online without his permission. During the pandemic, he finally had the chance to regain control by successfully monetizing his music after remixing and digitizing it, re-registering and re-copyrighting it, and then making it available on the internet. Racism In the 1980s, after moving to California, a high-profile manager informed Kevin that he would not represent him because there was no market for Asian or Pacific Islander performers. Kevin had grown up in Hawaii, where people were mostly Asian and Pacific Islanders. So that was the first time he ever encountered racism. Even though he chose to overlook that incident, he decided to stop performing, and look for something different.  From business travel to meetings and events Kevin moved into business travel and became a travel manager for various companies, including Walt Disney and Hewlett-Packard, where he successfully managed global travel programs for big corporations.  A corporate standard After that, he transitioned to meetings and events and wrote a book about initiating the Strategic Meetings Movement. He got a lot of recognition for that. Then he helped to institutionalize a corporate standard for how big corporations and enterprises should manage their meetings programs on a global level. After that, he took to the road to evangelize the corporate standard globally and won some awards along the way. The 9/11 President Two months after Kevin got elected as the president of the National Business Travel Association (now the Global Business Travel Association), 9/11 happened. The industry came to a halt, and Kevin and his board of directors managed to get business and leisure travel up and running again. Since then, he has become known as “The 9/11President”. No problem is unsolvable After pulling the travel industry out of the 9/11 global crisis, Kevin realized that no problem is unsolvable. Kevin’s role at Bizly  As the Chief Customer Officer Head of Enterprise at Bizly, Kevin leads the customer and enterprise efforts and guides sales and customer success teams. Focusing on others Kevin has always focused on what is good for everyone else rather than what is good for him. Diversity equity and inclusion Kevin believes that DEI awareness occurs in people at different points in their careers. Some people get it when they experience racism directed toward them. Others get it after hitting a glass ceiling when trying to advance their careers and attributing it to racism. Overcoming scapegoating and racism Kevin points out that scapegoating is easy when people look different from you. People need to realize that second or third-generation Asian Americans are American on the inside.  Educating people about racism Kevin has realized that it is up to him to overcome his cultural programming, speak up, correct people, and take the time to educate racist individuals on why racism is not okay.  Representation Kevin feels that representation is essential for Asian American and Pacific Islander actors because, without it, most Asian American and Pacific Islander actors will never believe they can become lead actors. Fighting racism in the industry Representation starts with a voice. For Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to have a voice within the industry, associations, or corporations, there should be a sub or separate group that accepts responsibility for education and awareness.  Mentorship Mentorship programs are vital for creating easier paths to the top for underrepresented individuals.   Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website   Connect with Kevin Iwamoto On LinkedIn Bizly  

138: From Cinderella to CEO with Cary Broussard Cary Broussard, the Founder, and CEO of From Cinderella to CEO is today’s guest! Cary is an amazing industry leader! She started her career in Corporate America and is now an entrepreneur. She joins us today to talk about her journey and share her insights and experiences as a woman in the industry and an entrepreneur. We hope you enjoy listening to our inspiring conversation with Cary Broussard! Bio: Cary J. Broussard Cary is well known for establishing award-winning diversity, inclusion, and communication programs in several organizations, including Wyndham Hotels, Aimbridge Hospitality, Bank of Tokyo (now Union Bank MUFG), Carnival Cruise Line, Meeting Professionals International, and other organizations.  She has been interviewed by The New York Times, CNN, Bloomberg, CBS This Morning, The Wall Street Journal, and other national media about her successful women's marketing programs. Cary’s business book: From Cinderella to CEO (Wiley) features business lessons learned while climbing the business ladder and has been published in 10 languages. Interviews included in her book can be heard on her podcast Cinderella CEO On Air. She recently launched a nationwide tour for the Cinderella to CEO™Awards.  Dow Jones described her work as "the gold standard of women's marketing for Wall Street companies." Aimbridge Hospitality and Union Bank MUFG have implemented Broussard’s Cinderella to CEO curriculum and mentoring program to rapidly increase the number of women in senior-level management positions. Cary has also designed a leadership curriculum for New York University. Cary Broussard provides business courses, corporate training, executive coaching, and business mastermind groups for equitable, career opportunities with positive, measurable outcomes for individuals and organizations.  Cary’s background Cary had three sisters and went to all-girls schools. She came from a background of valuing women’s opinions and input, but deep down, she wanted to be a boy because they could do a lot more and seemed to have more fun. After she started working in a hotel, however, she was thankful to have ample opportunity to share ideas and contribute to the overall business. How Cary joined the hospitality industry Cary unofficially began her career as a banquet waitress at the Hyatt at Lake Tahoe one summer while in college. Officially, she started her hospitality career as the Director of Public Relations at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Cary moved to Dallas and started her own PR business after leaving the Peabody. She later applied for a position as the head of PR at Wyndham Hotels and got the job because she was ambitious and had tons of experience in communication.  From Cinderella to CEO Carey wrote From Cinderella to CEO after creating the Women on Their Way woman’s leadership program at Wyndham and through the MPI program. Her book is a reminder of how, with the help of women, the hospitality industry was able to transform and better itself.  The Cinderella to CEO brand  After launching the Cinderella to CEO awards, Carey created the Cinderella to CEO brand. It is a coaching, training, diversity, and inclusion effort to share advice from her own experience and the experience of others.  Transforming the industry through women In the past, few women used to travel on business. After Cary launched Women on Their Way, research showed that more women leaders and decision-makers in the meeting and corporate travel industry were traveling on business. Using ideas from women travelers, Wyndham transformed its image and how it operated as a hotel company.   The pandemic The hospitality industry dipped during the pandemic. Things are picking up now, so people are looking to hire a more diverse selection of candidates. This is an excellent time to join the industry because smart companies require diversity of thought, age, talent, and everything else it takes to make an organization great!  Some advice for women: Take control of your destiny.  Find a company to work for that matches your culture and values.  When traveling, always be sure to select a hotel that is clean and feels safe. Tips for traveling safely Plan your trip.  Contact hotels ahead of time to let them know what your needs are.  Ensure your room is easily accessible, away from dark corners, and close to the elevators.  If someone at the front desk says your room number out loud, ask for a different room. Take some time to look at reviews online before making a hotel booking. Use a VIP car service, like Alto. Be prepared to spend a little more for a safer travel experience.  Ideally, get someone to help you plan your travel arrangements and make your bookings to ensure your experience is safe and effortless.   Competition amongst women  In the past, women were considered too so soft or too family-oriented to cope with managerial positions. So there were few opportunities for women, and women used to compete against one another for the few available “breadcrumbs”. We have come a long way since then. Today, at least 50% of all general managers of hotels are women.  Good leadership Good company leaders offer training to help everyone collaborate and work together. Good leaders also ensure that nobody feels like they are competing against external competition. Advisory boards Entrepreneurs can sometimes be isolated and could benefit from having advisory boards. People interested in creating an official advisory board need to know that it requires a structured approach. Corporate experience As an entrepreneur, Cary has benefited from her corporate experience. Others could also benefit from learning about the systems and processes of the corporate world before deciding to become entrepreneurs.   Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website   Connect with Cary Broussard On her website On LinkedIn