Michael Stich helps marketers understand and apply innovation to their work. He is an expert in combining applicable data with creativity.    After leading the global Dell business for WPP, Michael now serves as General Partner and CEO of Services for CourtAvenue, a new and rising operating network. On this episode of Why Not Now?, Michael talks about the transition and new challenges involved in leaving a big company for a small startup.   Michael also tells Amy Jo that there’s no formula for innovation, but he shares his process for making decisions that involves both an excel spreadsheet and listening to your gut. Michael shares the four phases of innovation waves that have hit the marketing world, and how you and your company can take advantage of this newest wave.    Michael and Amy Jo also talk about how the pandemic has affected innovation and driven change, finding a balance between staying in processes that work and creating new processes, and advocating for more women to get involved in investing opportunities.   Learn more about Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mstich Follow Michael on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mstich   Learn more about the Renegade Accelerator:  http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/   Get Amy Jo’s newsletter:  https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21   Follow Amy Jo… Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AmyJoMartin/ Why Not Now? Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/whynotnow/ Buy Amy Jo’s book:  https://amyjomartin.com/book

Nastia Liukin worked toward her goal of becoming a professional gymnast for the first couple decades of her life. She is the 2008 Olympic All-Around champion, a five-time Olympic medalist, the 2005 and 2007 world champion on the balance beam, and the 2005 world champion on the uneven bars. But a critical fall from the uneven bars shattered Nastia's 2012 Olympic dreams, and inspired a powerful Why Not Now? moment. Nastia is now an influencer and blogger with a following of more than 2 million people. She covered this year's Olympic gymnastics competition for NBC. In this episode of Why Not Now?, Nastia and Amy Jo talk about everything from navigating a 180 career shift to the topic of quitting, body shaming and mentoring. Nastia also shares something that her Mom always used to say to her when she wanted to quit, which will have you rethinking your decision when you want to throw in the towel.   Learn more about Nastia: https://nastialiukin.com Follow Nastia: www.instagram.com/nastialiukin/   Learn more about the Renegade Accelerator:  http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/   Get Amy Jo’s newsletter:  https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21   Follow Amy Jo… Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AmyJoMartin/ Why Not Now? Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/whynotnow/ Buy Amy Jo’s book:  https://amyjomartin.com/book

Angie Banicki is a tarot card reader to the stars. Her client list includes celebrities, politicians, entertainment industry executives, and CEOs of major corporations, some of whom she has guided to close multi-million dollar deals.   But Angie’s client list wasn’t always filled with such high-profile individuals. Her Why Not Now? moment involves leaving her PR job in order to pursue tarot card reading. She didn’t know how she was going to pay her bills, but she knew that this career path was made for her.   At first, Angie didn’t feel comfortable charging high prices for her intuitive services. She didn’t even want to promote her services because she was scared they wouldn’t be worth it to her clients. On this episode of Why Not Now?, Angie tells Amy Jo about her journey to owning her worth, slowly raising her prices and promoting her genius in the process.   Angie tells Amy Jo that the connections she made as a PR representative eventually turned into client leads, proving your experience and connections are always beneficial, even in the midst of a career-180.   Angie and Amy Jo talk about motherhood, listening to your inner soul, shifting your mindset, and showing up for yourself. Angie says that self awareness is the first step in changing anyone’s life.   Angie also performs a live tarot card reading for Amy Jo, and it’s very telling for where Amy Jo is in her life and business.   Listen to Angie’s playlist from this episode: https://spoti.fi/3jmASlB   Learn more about Angie: https://www.angiebanicki.com/ Follow Angie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angiebanicki/   Learn more about the Renegade Accelerator:  http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/   Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21   Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyjomartin Why Not Now? Instagram: https://instagram.com/whynotnow Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book  

NASA Astronaut and Marine Corps Colonel Douglas Hurley is on the show this week!   Doug was the Spacecraft Commander on last year’s SpaceX Crew Dragon. It was the first crewed spaceflight from American soil in almost 9 years.   Doug’s Why Not Now? moment involves applying to the astronaut program, and how that decision changed the trajectory of both his professional and personal life. Doug’s favorite part about his time in the program is that he met his wife who is also a NASA Astronaut and they now have a son together.   Doug tells Amy Jo about the week-long interview process and what NASA looks for in its candidates. He also talks about that surreal moment when he got the phone call telling him he would be an astronaut.   Doug and Amy Jo discuss how Doug overcame the mental challenge of living in space for extended periods of time. A lot of the ways he kept his mind healthy in space can easily be applied here on earth.    Doug also shares that he’s at an inflection point in his career. He recently retired from NASA and is planning his next move.   One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is when Amy Jo asks Doug to describe some of his favorite moments from any of his three space flights.   It’s no surprise that Doug can’t pick just one, but he describes some of the most impactful moments, and it almost feels like you’re right there with him up in space.   Learn more about Doug: https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/douglas-g-hurley/biography Follow Doug on Twitter: https://twitter.com/astro_doug   Learn more about the Renegade Accelerator:  http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/     Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21   Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyjomartin Why Not Now? Instagram: https://instagram.com/whynotnow Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book

Kyle Nel injects innovation into everything he does. He’s the President of Singularity Labs at Singularity University, the former CEO and co-founder of Uncommon Partners (acquired by Singularity University in 2019), and the former Executive Director of Lowe’s Innovation Lab.    On this episode of Why Not Now?, Kyle tells Amy Jo about applying neuroscience research to help organizations break out of incrementalism. He says innovative technology like virtual reality can disrupt education by speeding up learning, including making strides in diversity and inclusion by increasing empathy.    Kyle’s Why Not Now? moment involves leaving a comfortable job when he no longer felt challenged or fulfilled to start his own company. He tells Amy Jo about an exercise he uses to manifest his goals and avoid distractions that you can try out yourself. Every December, Kyle writes the narrative for how he wants the year ahead to unfold.    Kyle and Amy Jo also discuss surrounding yourself with people who will push you to be your best, manageable discomfort, and sustainable development goals.   Learn more about Kyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylenel Follow Kyle on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kyle_Nel   Learn more about the Renegade Accelerator:  http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/     Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21   Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyjomartin Why Not Now? Instagram: https://instagram.com/whynotnow Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book

Cindy McCain, widow of the great John McCain, is a powerful Businesswoman, Philanthropist, Humanitarian, a retired Special Education Teacher, Author and US Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture nominee.   During this conversation with Amy Jo, Cindy shares two huge Why Not Now? moments. The first being the risk she took to cross political lines in the 2020 Presidential Election, why that move was so far out of her comfort zone and her advice to you when tough decisions need to be made.    Cindy also shares how the pandemic allowed her to slow down and take the time to grieve the loss of her husband, Arizona Senator and 2008 presidential nominee John McCain. Shortly after his funeral, she had gone back to work and hadn’t given herself the space to process his death and adjust to life moving forward. It was in this time of looking back through old photos and memories that led her to her second Why Not Now? moment; writing her new book “Stronger: Courage, Hope, and Humor In My Life With John McCain”.    She discusses how she’s dealt with loss in her life and the lessons that have come each time. From the importance of not letting the opinions of other people get in the way of allowing yourself to process changes in your own way, to working through unexpected intimidating situations.    Cindy also talks about the importance of women in leadership, how she invests in herself and what she recommends for those who are disenchanted with our current political environment.   Purchase Cindy’s book “Stronger: Courage, Hope, and Humor In My Life With John McCain”: https://amzn.to/3r10DeQ Follow Cindy on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/cindymccain   Learn more about the Renegade Accelerator:  http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/   Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21   Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyjomartin Why Not Now? Instagram: https://instagram.com/whynotnow Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book

On this episode of Why Not Now?, we're diving into the archives and revisiting a conversation with Suzy Batiz. Suzy is the wealthiest person I know. When I say wealthy, I don't just mean money. Yes, she's got plenty of that, but I mean spiritually wealthy & rich in energy. Suzy is also my mentor. In this episode, Suzy & I discuss mentorship, how to approach finding a mentor & I share the key things she has taught me over the last two years, including why a mentor will rarely give you answers & how you can learn to mentor yourself. Suzy's mentorship has literally changed the way I approach business and life. Suzy debuted on the Why Not Now? podcast back in Episode 28 and that episode is still hugely valuable today. Suzy Batiz, founder and creator of Poo Pourri, declared bankruptcy twice before the age of 40 and vowed to never deal with business again. Since then she has built Poo Pourri into a $300(plus) million dollar company.   Learn more about Suzy: https://suzybatiz.com/ Follow Suzy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzybatiz/   Learn more about the Renegade Accelerator:  http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/   Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21   Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyjomartin Why Not Now? Instagram: https://instagram.com/whynotnow Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book

Scott is one of the most successful and decorated sports executives out there. He's currently the CEO of Philadelphia 76'ers, New Jersey Devils, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and the author of the book "Be Where Your Feet Are". On this episode of Why Not Now?, Scott recounts his complicated feelings following the loss of one of his closest friends to suicide, and how this emotional event inspired him to write the book.   Scott O’Neil has been through extreme ups and downs in his life, but finds joy in the struggle, connections, and lessons learned along the way.    Scott and Amy Jo have an in-depth conversation about mental health and social media’s effects on happiness. One of the main themes in Scott’s book is that isolation is kryptonite. He urges listeners to ask for help during times of struggle and reach out to loved ones to check on them. Scott shares some exercises he uses to help compartmentalize and connect in order to stay truly present.    Scott also tells Amy Jo about getting fired from his dream job. Because he was no longer consumed with work, Scott says the vacation he took with his family following this was one of the best trips he’s ever taken. Scott also talks about his failed startup, losing 15 million dollars, and making 200 phone calls in a few days in order to land a job at the NBA.    Scott and Amy Jo also talk about underestimating what you can accomplish in a year when you have a vision and starting small in order to get into investing. Learn more abut Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-o-neil Follow Scott on Twitter: https://twitter.com/scottoneil   Learn more about the Renegade Accelerator:  http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/   Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21   Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyjomartin Why Not Now? Instagram: https://instagram.com/whynotnow Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book

Kristen Bell and Monica Padman join Amy Jo on Why Not Now? this week! Don’t miss this incredibly honest conversation about gender equality, mentorship, confidence, and asking for support.   Kristen and Monica share some insight into their upcoming podcast, Shattered Glass. They’ll interview inspirational women like Oprah Winfrey, Gloria Steinem, and Malala Yousafzai about how they have put cracks in the glass ceiling.   The women share their Why Not Now? moments. Monica’s involves getting out of a situation that was too comfortable in order to see growth in her career, and Kristen’s involves finding more independence in quarantine.   The three women also talk about including men and accepting imperfect allies in the fight for gender equality. Kristen and Monica also say how important it is to continually lift other women up, citing each other as mentors. Kristen says one of her main goals is to help women see what have traditionally been viewed as weaknesses as their strengths.   Kristen and Monica also talk about imposter syndrome, confidence, and how that plays into negotiating. Monica and Kristen talk about the mindset shift from feeling greedy to asking for what you deserve. Kristen says her husband, Dax, supports her while negotiating.   Follow Kristen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenanniebell   Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mlpadman/     Learn more about the Renegade Accelerator:  http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/   Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21   Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyjomartin Why Not Now? Instagram: https://instagram.com/whynotnow Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book

Rachel Drori was gainfully employed and pregnant when she had the idea for Daily Harvest. She says she had all the reasons not to start the company, but knew the perfect “right time” would never come.   Beside saying “Why Not Now?” to her idea, Rachel shares the more tactical strategies she used to measure whether she was ready to start her company. She identified the worst possible case scenario that could come out of this journey (one of Amy Jo’s five Renegade Rules!) and realized it was worth taking the risk. When Rachel’s customer base was 5x the size of her inner circle, she knew it was time to go all in on Daily Harvest.   Rachel shares so many tangible tips for entrepreneurs on this episode of Why Not Now? She says she learned more from starting a company than she did during the two years of her MBA program!   Rachel also tells Amy Jo about the responsibility she feels toward her customers and her employees, the pros and cons of raising money from investors when starting a business, and investing in female founders.   Learn more about Rachel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/racheldrori Follow Rachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/racheldrori/ Learn more about the Renegade Accelerator:  http://www.renegadeaccelerator.com/   Get Amy Jo’s newsletter: https://amyjomartin.activehosted.com/f/21   Follow Amy Jo… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjomartin/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amyjomartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyjomartin Why Not Now? Instagram: https://instagram.com/whynotnow Buy Amy Jo’s book: https://amyjomartin.com/book