Inside Influence

In this episode, we are once again fusing the world of influence and rock n’ roll... However today’s question isn’t about what it takes to show up like a rock star - when all eyes are on you – and the stakes feel sky scraper high - but instead what it takes to STILL show up like a Rockstar – when one seemingly ordinary morning you wake up – and your entire audience has disappeared.In order to do that I once again called upon the incredible Mark Schulman – author, speaker, insightful human being and well and truly at the top of the performance tree as the lead drummer for P!nk.Mark has performed for over 1 billion people - touring with world class performers such as Cher, Billy Idol, Simple Minds, Beyoncé and Tina Turner. He is also the author of the very fitting Conquering Life’s Stage Fright. In which he interviews global powerhouses like Tony Hsieh (CEO of Zappos), Jeremy Piven (Actor from the Entourage) and Alan Bean (Apollo 12 Astronaut) - in order to translate the magic of world-class performance. In other words what it takes to show up, reframe your fears and own what you’ve got with every cell in your body. Marks number one super power – other than drumming – is his ability to maintain what he describes as a Rockstar mindset. A belief that the attitude and energy levels we choose - are the PRIMARY fuel of any world class performance - and that everything - down to the phone call you just took - and the Tweet you’re about to send - is a form of performance.Today we pick right back up again where we left off – however this time in a whole new world. Diving straight into…Why ‘world class’ always begins where our comfort zones end”How your attitude is both your vantage (or disadvantage) pointMark’s favourite equation (and lets face it it’s not often you get to discuss mathematics with a Rockstar): A x B = C (Attitude x Behaviour = Consequence)How to embrace the fact that you always have the ability to respond – even (and especially) when situations feel out of your controlHow Mark had to take a huge dose of his own advice in 2020 – when all his events, concerts and sources of income were cancelled within 48 hoursWhy it’s not about WHAT (you say/play) but HOW (you say/play it) – in other words how you show up and embody the impact your trying to haveAnd why Clarity + Capability + Competence …. are three steps to top performanceWhat I want to you to reflect on while listening to our conversation is exactly that – if the lights came on, the music started - and tens of thousands of people were about to watch you perform. How would you show up? Now turn off the lights, take away the audience and remove any element of certainty you had about the future – could you show up just as hard?With that, I’ll leave you to soak up the most curious, unstoppable, infectious human being that I ever met. The Rockstar himself – Mark Schulman.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If there’s a few words this year that have been played on loop – I think they would be the words pivot, reinvention and digital deep end.I feel like for many of us, as individuals and brands, there was a long list of activities we knew we needed to do in order to increase our influence in a digital world. However, the general consensus was that we had years right? At least a few years to figure out how to tell epic stories online, how to compete with Netflix by making our pitches and presentations utterly compelling, how to transition our sales strategies to include new market segments we can’t reach face to face. How to embrace different business models like subscriptions, memberships and digital tribes. And – perhaps most foundational decision – how to translate what we know, our expertise and message – in order to take your target audience on an Unskippable journey.Well those years, turned into months, which turned into weeks – which for many – eventually became days to turn around some of these changes.And those who did it well, who will come out with an edge for 2021 – having activated plans and strategies that may have taken years before the pandemic. If you look closely enough, they all tend to have one thing in common.They went out to the edges, to people and brands in completely different industries – who have been perfecting these tools for years – and they listened carefully.So that’s what we’re here to do today. My guest this week is Eric Bandholz. Eric is the Founder of Beardbrand, a men’s grooming company that I have been watching for years as they blaze a trail in a previously crowded space. Along with his co-founders, Eric bootstrapped Beardbrand to a high seven-figure company by focusing on (in their words) ‘badass’ products, digital storytelling, focusing on collaborations and building a community of fever pitch fans. In cracking the code of a new age of storytelling – Eric also built a Youtube channel dedicated to just answering the questions of his target audience – a channel that now has close to 250 million views, 1.5 million subscribers – and which in and of itself provides a pretty sizeable independant revenue stream.In this conversation we dive into:Pivoting from budgets to beards – his journey starting out as a financial advisor and finding his breakthrough ideaThe myth that if you build it they will come – and the truth that roadmap is often more valuable to your target market than the destinationWhy focusing only on ‘How to’ videos on YouTube was the secret of their successHow to forget the idea that everything we produce needs to be high production and perfect in order to create engagement – and why what works on YouTube (and I would argue most other platforms) is actually the exact oppositeAnd finally, authenticity vs Intention. How, during one of the most difficult periods of his life, he made the decision about what – and what not – to share.What I want you to reflect on while you listen to Eric is how the path to cut through isn’t a straight line. It’s a series of listening to your gut, making moves, building things, reassessing and choosing to embody rather than hide behind a brand.The most significant moments – the ones where you take leaps forward you couldn’t have imagined – they aren’t the result of a ‘this plus that’ equation. You can rarely pin point that exact things that made those particular doors open.Apart from this one. You have to start. You have to accept that you will get it wrong – you might look or feel foolish - usually for a nano second before we all move onto the next attention grabbing thing. And in a digital world where everything feels so on display – that takes a level of courage and curiosity that isn’t easy. However – as we’ve seen this year – for those who are willing to consistently show up at that level, the opportunities are literally limitless.So, on that note, sit back, stroll on, find a quiet corner or open that packet of biscuits that you’ve been hiding for the next lock down. And enjoy my conversation with the one of a kind that is Eric Bandholz. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we jump into radical collaboration. Radical collaboration is the ability to hear both sides of an argument with curiosity and empathy and – and this is the pivotal part - an intention to resolve – rather than just beating the other person down with the surely obvious logic of our position. Or, and this is the terrifying truth of where we find ourselves at the moment – not showing up in the arena of debate at all - and simply retreating further behind our boundaries – whether those boundaries are global, national, political or digital.My next guest is no stranger to the arena. Jim Tamm is a former judge for the State of California, a role which enabled him to witness conflict unfold, resolve and of course stay unresolved over the course of two decades and more than 1,000 disputes.His most recent book, Radical Collaboration (co-authored with Ron Luyet) was on Amazon’s top seller lists for most of the past nine years. He is a former law professor and currently on the faculty of the International Management Program of the Stockholm School of Economics, the Management Education Program at NASA and the Wallenberg Institute in Sweden.As well as all of that, he is also a dedicated grandfather – which we’ll get into more later.In this episode, we dive into: Why now is not a normal time – and why it’s more important than ever to pay attention our triggers – and hard-wired responses when things don’t go our wayGoing into an empathetic space: Why role-swapping and learning to fight for the other ‘side’ is key to being a master collaboratorThe vital role of collaborative intention – and why stating your ‘intent to collaborate’ at the beginning of any negotiation can turn the whole thing aroundBecoming aware of your answer to this simple question - when someone makes a mistake - do you get curious, or furious?And finally – but most powerfully for me – how to identify which of the three faces of fear – being or being seen as unlikable, insignificant or incompetent - are currently running your life. This one seriously was a game changer for me.What I want you to reflect on here is that last part. What’s your primary fear? What’s the real trigger in those moments where you fight, freeze or run when the going gets tough – or when the conversations get hard? What’s the No 1. story that kicks you into furious – when all the solutions live in a place of staying curious?Is it that they might not like you if they knew the truth? Or that your voice isn’t important enough to be heard? Or that eventually, everyone will find out that you’re actually an imposter who’s surely not meant to be here.Figure that out – name it – learn to recognise the moment it kicks in – and that’s the biggest shortcut I know to the land radical collaboration – and radical results.On that note, I’ll leave you with the sage words and extraordinary insights from a career on the frontline of conflict. The incredible Jim Tamm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s conversation is about co-parenting – the good, the bad, the ugly and the achingly beautiful attempt to raise human beings together. There’s no assumption here about in which way you do this – in or outside of a traditional romantic partnership, in or outside the same home. It’s also not about IS NOT ABOUT 50/50 PARENTING – OR WHO WORKS AND WHO STAYS AT HOME. For me, the more important question is how we do it together.  In a way that keeps everybody – I’ll repeat here – everybody – nourished and supported. I recorded this episode deep into the trenches of the first lock down. Both mine and Josh my husbands offices had closed, we were working from home - both our businesses needed some serious reimagining in order to survive – and we were trying to do all of this while wrestling two children under four in a home without with walls. Normal. Game plan. Out. Of. The Window. Needless to say it wasn’t pretty. But what it did do is shine a very intense light on all of the areas of our co-parenting approach - that maybe hadn’t been working for awhile. In one of my moments looking for answers, and also using my iphone to numb out the noise, I stumbled across an incredible TED talk by a man called Joel Leon. In it he talked about co-parenting as beautiful and hard work. Work that should be consciously created, rather than left to form as a result of whatever we witnessed as children. He had me hooked. After I finished watching, I told Josh I wanted to interview him for the podcast – to which he understandably replied: ‘I’m not really clear what parenting has to do with influence’.  So, for anyone else wondering about that link – here it is. There is no distinction between parenting and leadership. Anything that works in your home - I guarantee you the essence (don’t mistake the essence with the tactics) will work the people you work with or lead – and vice versa. There is also no distinction between co-parenting and negotiation. Our ability to balance two often competing needs and reach a mutually beneficial – respectful outcome – even when the going gets hard. Those tools, they don’t change between the boardroom and the loungeroom. And finally - for many of us - isn’t this the biggest influence job we will ever do? The one we will regret the most if we get it wrong - the one we are most fundamentally, universally and societally responsible for? I know for myself - how I influence and lead myself around the ones I love - is often an exact and sometimes uncomfortable mirror on how I am in the world at large. Curious, collaborative and clear - or distracted, fearful and forcing my own agenda. So – in true stalker style – I did track Joel down and in this conversation we go deep into the worlds of: Radical Honesty - What does it mean? And where should it be used? Clue for anyone that’s ever given this a try… not everywhere… The Beautiful and Hard Work of Co-Parenting – including mutual respect and monitoring ‘how we show up’  How to get through the killer phrase “I didn’t sign up for this” – anyone heard or said that before? And how to accept the fact that this job wasn’t meant to be a ‘fairytale’ How to handle and communicate our own capacity – and do the same for our co-parent And the struggle for relatable/relevant knowledge for co-parents. Why it doesn’t exist and how we can step up and start to lead the charge. We’re living in a world where the old rules of parenting no longer apply – for both genders. We need a new game plan, one that honors and respects the new shapes of our families. That in turn can help equip our children with better tools to build their own families. In whatever form that takes. On that note – sit back, maybe invite in your co-parent – and enjoy my conversation with the amazing Joel Leon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I speak with Nancy Duarte - CEO and founder of Silicon Valley’s largest and most successful communications firm, Duarte Inc. Nancy has spent the last 30 years immersed in the world of human story telling and has been behind the scenes of some of the most compelling speeches - or as she calls them’ impassioned pleas’ – that we’ve ever seen. Including Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth’. She’s worked with the thought leaders of global brands like Apple, Cisco, Facebook, GE, Google, HP, TED, Twitter, the World Bank – I’ll stop now. She’s also renowned author of ‘Illuminate’, ‘Resonate’ and ‘Slide:ology’. Her TED talk ‘The Secret Structure of Great Talks’ has also been watched over 3 million times.This conversation weaves between her observations as a storytelling expert - and her experiences as a leader since pandemic began. Where, like many of us, her skills as a communicator have been stretched to a WHOLE new place. If you want to dive into my original conversation with her, which was one of the most useful explorations of the structure of epic presentations I have ever had. I believe it’s episode:Today we jump straight into…The stories that resonate in the messy middle of a crisisHow to tell the hard stories – and there’s no getting around the fact that there are hard stories to tell right now. And why not every story is for everyone – and that’s just ok.The three act structure – why it works - and how to use it in a virtual settingAnd her take on what the epic stories – and story tellers – of the future will look like. And believe me – this woman is behind the scenes at many of the tech companies that are literally rewriting the future of storytelling as I say this. So if she speaks – I listen.What I want you to reflect on her is not necessarily the tools – although please do. But her reflections as a leader of her own team. There are no obvious answers for anyone right now – and it’s easy to imagine that the experts must have it down - right? What I took from Nancy is that all the tools and strategies in the world don’t matter – if we can’t first find the courage to be seen. To show up in the chaos when we don’t have the answers. Or to stand in the fire alongside our people when it counts.On that note – I’m going to leave you in the very safe hands of one of my own personal mentors – Nancy Duarte. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s we’re going to dive into that last word – Nation.What does it take to write a speech so captivating - so compelling – that it has the ability to stop a Nation in its tracks? Make the planet literally sit up and pay attention – or define an entire moment in history for generations to come. Would it be fair to say that the writing of that speech would take a level of mastery that’s worth knowing?I’ve worked with speakers and presenters for twenty years. And this bit, the crafting of the story itself – what’s too much – what’s not enough – what’s too simple – what’s too complex – what does justice to the ideas – and what will just get lost amongst the noise. That’s always the most underestimated part. Presentations skills you can learn – an instinct for the unparalleled power of words – that’s a level of mastery that takes years or decades to develop.Unless… of course… you learn from the best.My guest today is exactly that. Someone I have admired for years as THE master of the craft. Keenan is a professional speechwriter who, as Director of Speech Writing for President Obama - has written or edited more than 2,000 speeches for his boss. Including the historical March 2015 speech, when Obama spoke in Selma, Alabama, marking 50 years since "Bloody Sunday". More recently he also worked on Obama’s Democratic National Convention speech, which is still being described by many pundits as a ‘historically unprecedented’.So what does that take? Where do you start? What words do you use when there are no words? Or – in moments when every single word counts so much – that each will be dissected a million times by the media. What you’re about to hear is basically a masterclass in compelling communication.In this conversation, we dive into…One of the most powerful questions I have ever heard when it comes to owning your space in a room – or an arena… ‘Why are you the only one who can tell this story?’The importance of starting and ending a speech on purpose - how to grab the audience’s attention from the first word and send them home with a fire to move forward.Transitions and signposting – basically how to move seamlessly from one point to the next without losing your audience.Why the best speeches are like jazz – a piece of advice that came from President Obama himself – where the pauses and low notes are what allow the high notes to shine.Why you shouldn’t put anything in a speech that you wouldn’t say to a friend in a bar – try thinking about public policy this way and you’ll get what a mind flip that requires.And surprisingly, and reassuringly, that even for the man who writes to a nation, on some of the most pressing issues of our time... self-doubt and imposter syndrome are par for the course. The question is, can you put them to work for you - rather than letting them run the show.As a heads up – Cody does make a few references to mass shooting events - in the context of moments where it’s hard to find the words. I’ll leave you to decide how best to take care of yourself and your loved ones in those moments.What I do want you to reflect on here is that – as always - genius leaves footprints. Think of the last speech you witnessed that left you glued to your chair. That left you utterly committed to taking some action. Can you map out its basic structure? What caught your attention straight out of the gate? What were the core 3-5 points? How did they finished in a way that made sure you took action? Pay attention, all the clues are there.Oh and finally – if you write anything on a post it note and stick it to your desk today – let it be this: “What’s the story I want to tell – and why am I the only person who can tell it?”In the meantime, settle back and enjoy my conversation with the incredible mind that is Cody Keenan.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What in your life, business or industry needs reimagining right now? I’m guessing for many of us it’s a lot. In my world – the world of influence, speaking at events and working with clients to make an impact with their ideas and expertise. Well that’s a world that pretty much needs reimagining from the ground up right now.I’m of the belief that the those that will come out of this chapter - being held up as the influencers or authorities of whatever new age comes next – will be those able to reimagine. The ones with the grit and tools to translate the road forward – with clarity, certainty and no small amount of courage.Which sounds like a great strategy when the road ahead is clear. But what happens when it’s not? In those moments the big question becomes this – if this is a job you want to take on – that of the trusted authority or advisor in your space - and believe me there is a huge opportunity for those willing to do so at the moment. Then you need to pay attention to the answer to this question… How do I currently approach the process of reimagining a new path? What currently happens to my mind, energy, team and processes when the road disappears? One of the wisest pieces of advice I ever heard is this: ‘How you do one thing is how you do everything’. How we handle the uncertainty of recreation in one area of our lives, is how we handle it everywhere. So, if the answer to the above question is not great – then well we need new tools.My guest today brings exactly that and more. Gabor George Burt is one of the leading experts behind Blue Ocean Strategy – which as many will know was one of the most influential business books and approaches to growth strategy of the last decade. As part of that he then spent 10 years working with companies across the globe to identify and build their own Blue Ocean. However, as time went on he discovered something strange. Although most companies loved ideas within Blue Ocean – they just weren’t able to implement. Confused as to why he set off on a journey of discovery that culminated in his latest book ‘Slingshot’. The principal idea being that – just like a slingshot – where there’s tension, there’s room for acceleration.In this conversation we dive into:·       Going beyond the wall. How to use the ‘slingshot principle’ to transform the tension of disruption into accelerated growth.·       Why ‘Infatuation wears off’ – and no I’m not talking about online dating here. And how to ‘re-infatuate’ your target audience with what you have to offer.·       How to break down your next blue ocean into manageable lakes and seas. Then systematically apply creative thinking to find the edge.·       How to get other people past fear and onto the journey of reinvention – this includes a six question test that exposes exactly how we limit ourselves on the possibilities·       Why our childhood creativity is this amazing resource - that we all too often neglect·       And why all of this isn’t just about business – but the framework of a creative, energy fuelled and resilient lifeWhat I want you to reflect on here is how you approach the process of reimagineering. Do you freeze, fight against it, collapse (internally or externally) at the enormity of it – or hold on for dear life onto what used to work in the thin belief that it’s possible things to remain unchanged. Even as change accelerates around you on a daily basis – as it is now. Or do you show up energized and curios, willing to experiment and share what you find? Are you able to let go of perfect and double down on progress instead – or in the words of a friend of mine recently: ‘Willing to get scrappy and keep moving’.For me – at the moment – I’m calling BS on myself. Although I’m pretty good at moving quickly – and fairly practised at disrupting myself – sometimes by choice – sometimes not. I’m also very good at fighting the process the entire way. Inviting in exhaustion by running the same mental monologues over and over again: ‘Why do things have to change again’ ‘I just built that, how can all that work now be redundant’ OR my favourite ‘I might just sit this one out, look busy and wait for it all to blow over’Oh I do it quietly – but I do it hard core.This episode is a call to become infatuated with the process of creation again – whether this is your first or 50th rodeo. Basically, falling back in love with the exploration – just like a child. Because when the stakes are higher than they have ever been – so too is the level of energy and curiosity we need to bring to the table.On that note – enjoy my conversation with the creative visionary that is Gabor George Burt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Greetings everyone, my name is Julie Masters and welcome to another episode of Inside Influence. In which I delve into the minds of some of the world’s most fascinating influencers – or experts in influence - to get to the bottom of what it really takes to own your voice - and then amplify it to drive an industry, a conversation, a movement or a Nation. Let’s talk about devotion. Songs, poetry and plays are written about it, films are made about it. We use it in association with family, children, partners.... But colleagues or employees...? Not so much. Sure, we want the best for the people we work with, but how many leaders can truly say they are devoted to the success of their people? And success is the key word here, because helping someone become the best person they can be, so they thrive under your stewardship - and long after - is one of the most vital forms of influence there is. My guest today is striving for more of us to do just that. Frances Frei is an American academic and author. She is the UPS Foundation Professor of Service Management and Senior Associate Dean for Executive Education at Harvard Business School. She is also the author of the recently released book: ‘Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leaders Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You’. On top of that – she also leap into Silicon Valley – and became the very first Senior Vice-President for Leadership and Strategy at Uber, brought in at a time when Uber was under fire from pretty much every corner of the planet. Her job description? To try and restore trust at a time when it was at an all time catastrophic low. Her first decision in that role says a lot about who she is – committing to wear an Uber T-shirt every day, until the people working alongside her were as proud to wear it as she was... but more on that later. What brought her first into my world was actually her TED talk ‘How to Build and Rebuild Trust’. Where her insightful and – more than anything else - practical views on building trust in a world where it’s in short supply, became the first time I began to view trust as something tangible – that we can all build – quickly and predictably.In this interview, we cover… Unapologetic leadership – what it is, what it looks like and why it has nothing to do with refusing to take responsibility – in fact quite the opposite.Devotion – yep that word again. If it makes you feel uncomfortable then stick with it. What does it take to be deeply devoted to the ‘wild success’ of another human being? More success than they could possibly achieve on their own. Then – if we can do it once – which we can – how do we take that impact and harness it to create a cascade effect - where it goes on to transform a team, an entire organisation (reference again her time at Uber) or a whole Nation. How to set and hold high standards without disconnecting from the person you’re trying to support. Basically, how to play bad cop and still have someone feel like you have their back.The taking and giving of radical responsibility – this one I have not stopped thinking about since this interview. It’s become almost a filter through which I run decisions. Total game changer.The Trust Triangle; what the three points of the triangle are, how to achieve them and how to maintain them. And how to look, square on and without flinching - at what Frances calls, the ‘devastating data’. This being where you currently sit in the eyes of your team, client base or community. And how to then use the information – rather than a brick to beat yourself with – as a benchmark to know when to celebrate.Leadership is hard at the best of times – in the middle of a pandemic, on the edge of a recession, when you’re miles away from those you’re trying to serve and support. I’m not sure it gets much harder. If I took anything from this conversation, it’s the calm and wholehearted way in which Frances approaches the tough stuff. If nothing else, I hope that carries with you into your day.In the meantime, sit back and enjoy my conversation with Frances Frei. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever been in the situation where you had limited time to pitch an idea? A moment where you knew you had to immediately capture attention, establish credibility and build a compelling enough argument - and that your ability to do so would literally make or break what comes next? I’ve found myself on both ends of this situation more times than I can count over the years. Having both made and received hundreds of pitches. Some successfully - some so unsuccessful I still have difficulty thinking about them without shuddering. But the ones that went well - that ultimately ended up changing the course of my businesses and career - and the ones where I have been in the position to change the course of someone else’s business or career. Those successful ones all had a few things in common. The largest of those? Is an epic FIRST 2-3 minutes.So when someone sent me a book recently called ‘The 3-Minute Rule: Say Less to Get More from Any Pitch or Presentation’. I was ALL IN.That book was written by my next guest - Brant Pinvidic - award-winning film director, veteran television producer, keynote speaker, top-rated podcast host (Rob Lowe being one of the most recent guests I tuned into) and columnist for Forbes.With over 20 years of experience in producing, creating, and directing household TV shows and movies - Brant is widely recognized as one of the great creative leaders in Hollywood. Having given over 100+ successful film and television pitches over his career, Brant learnt that if he didn’t get them in the first three minutes - chances are he wouldn’t get them at all. Taking those business and storytelling lessons he developed a proven blueprint for leaders wanting to position their message with impact.In today’s conversation we delve into the mechanics of what it takes to get your ideas over the line. Including:Why three minutes is the key to creating an ultra-concise, ultra-compelling pitch for any idea, product, service or company.The Fire Alarm Test – If someone pulled the fire alarm after three minutes of your presentation or sales pitch, have you done enough to make people want to come back and hear more?The four core questions every successful pitch needs to addressWhy being passionate about everything - often means you are credible about nothing.How to close with a hook that guarantees action.And the difference between situational doubt and self-doubt - in particular why one of those mindsets is self-defeating - and the other is self-preserving.If now is the time to get others on board with your ideas, product, company or vision - those potentially hold the power to making it happen - then this episode is for you.Enjoy my conversation with the master of the pitch - Brant Pindivic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.