This Shit Works

Do you know why some of the best ideas come to you when you are on the shower or on your morning run? Or why sometimes, the solutions to your most unsettling problems seemingly come out of the blue, when you aren’t even thinking about it? This is because when your brain is not concentrating deeply on something, it is free to roam about and come up with it’s best ideas.Distractions are not necessarily bad, they can actually be much needed. Harvard University researcher and psychologist Shelley H. Carson, also the author of “Your Creative Brain” says that our “Aha!” or “Eureka!” moments happen when we are least expecting them, that is, when we allow ourselves to be distracted.The 3 benefits of distraction, as Carson explains are:Distractions foster creativityDistractions can deliver solutionsDistractions improve your moodIn March, as the pandemic took over the world, I was forced to focus on so many things, like staying healthy with the virus looming large, getting my book published, pivoting to giving all my speeches online, starting my podcast, staying updated on matters regarding the Presidential elections and a ton of other stuff that needed all my energy! I was desperately in need of a distraction, because distractions were completely absent in my life. So yes, I am telling you that distractions are a positive thing.Music, books, puzzles, podcasts and cooking are all comfortable distractions that can help you relax and be in the moment while also helping you escape anxiety and stress at the most disturbing times. I have suffered from heavy anxiety issues throughout my adult life. When I was 25, and suffering from anxiety and stress, my doctor suggested that I treat myself to a weekly massage and start reading the “Harry Potter” books. (The massage part was perhaps because I had also started to lose my hair because of the stress). Though it seemed wild and funny then, it really helped. Books transported me to another world each time I navigated through the pages, and narrowed my thinking into comfortable corners. Fun, positive distractions can provide escapes and help enhance your life as well.While at restaurants, I absolutely love getting distracted by new dishes and often find myself wondering if I can recreate the dishes in my own kitchen, and then I get lost in the activity of trying to replicate a special meal or treat.I completely support distractions and hopefully these 11 minutes will become your happy distraction today!The Drink of the Week is homemade Hot-Chocolate with Homemade Bourbon Marshmallows! I’ve included the recipes for both so that you can get lost in a good cuppa hot chocolate tonight!If you like this episode, please do remember to like, review and subscribe to the show.And if you would like to donate to the ever growing podcast bar tab click HERE!to leave a tip!Drink of the Week: Homemade Hot Chocolate½ C sugar¼ C Cocoa Powder4 Cups Milk (I use Oat Milk)¾ tsp vanilla extract⅓ C hot WaterDash SaltMix sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a medium saucepan; stir in water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly; boil and stir 2 minutes.Add milk; stir and heat until hot. Remove from heat and add vanilla (or whatever other flavored extract you like). Beat with a whisk until foamy.Pour into mug and top with Homemade Bourbon MarshmallowsRelevant LinksThis Shit Works - MY BOOK!WebsiteInstagramLinkedInYoutubeFacebookEmail: julie@juliebrownbd.com

Spooky content alert! Waking up in the dead of night to find an unknown blurry-faced figure lying right beside you in bed? Or how about a deceased relative changing the television channel while evidently sitting on his favorite spot on the sofa? Has your brain made the connection between networking and horror yet? Networking can be awfully scary to some people, and have I got for you some really bizarre stories from listeners in the show today. To ease the suspense, have you ever mistaken a woman’s fat for a fetus? One of our listeners did! Are you an introvert and scared of connecting with new people or do you despise eating at events? Are you forgetful about names? (I’ll definitely be helping you with this one in a later podcast) Creepy networking experiences often stay fresh in our memory, perhaps even giving us nightmares about this shit for the rest of our lives!Inexplicable incidents have happened in my life even, I can’t still figure out if those were actually scary or unnaturally astonishing. Listen in to hear my unexplainable story as well as ghost stories from several of our listeners. This episode is sure to give you chills that run down your spine!Also, how do you make a tissue dance? [Hint: **Joke!]The Drink of the Week is the Dearly Beloved I Thee Red wine, specifically chosen for the episode because of the bottle, adorned with a Mexican Day of the Dead skull. If you like this episode Please do remember to like, review and subscribe to the show.And if you would like to donate to the ever growing podcast bar tab click HERE!to leave a tip!Relevant LinksThis Shit Works - MY BOOK!WebsiteInstagramLinkedInYoutubeFacebookEmail: julie@juliebrownbd.com

Are you ignoring the professional world’s most rewarding and recognizable networking and social media platform? LinkedIn today has over 610 million members, 300 million of them are active monthly users and 40 percent of those visit the site every single day! It’s high time you boss up and start building an attention-grabbing yet formally laid out profile. In this podcast I swiftly and tactically guide you through the process!In a fun yet fact-filled episode, you’ll get to know why LinkedIn networking is one of the pillars to your professional growth and why you do not have an excuse to not use the platform to benefit you professionally. Powerful individuals and businesses are using LinkedIn everyday as a way to connect with people, find employees and market their expertise and disseminate valuable information. 5 Proven Tips to get the most out of Networking in LinkedIn:Boss up your LinkedIn profileMake sure you are connected to the people you already knowResearch who you want to connect with on LinkedInGet recommendations from people in your networkShare your expertise by posting, commenting and writing articlesStart with your bio! Your profile photo, headline and “about” section are all to be seriously considered, no sh!t tolerable! Equally important is making “worthy” connections and seeking “worthy” recommendations. Sharing engaging and informative content on a daily basis and frequently connecting with your connections is also at the core.Tune in to get the most out of another power-packed episode!In today’s episode Julie takes a trip down the memory lane, as she shares her ceaseless love for rosemary bushes and shares her memories of the same.Today’s Cocktail Recipe comes from David Lebovitz and is the Rosemary Gimlet .To hear more about JB’s love for the rosemary bushes and to get her recipe for the rosemary gimlet, listen to the complete episode of today, and please do remember to like, review and subscribe to the show. And if you would like to donate to the ever growing podcast bar tab click HERE!to leave a tip!Relevant LinksThis Shit Works - MY BOOK!WebsiteInstagramLinkedInYoutubeFacebookEmail: julie@juliebrownbd.com

The economic forecast for 2020 looked great for about two months and then SLAM! The shit hit the fan and it all came to a screeching halt. We can’t go into the office, kids can’t go to school, you can’t find toilet paper, I’m washing my fucking groceries before I bring them in the house.How are we supposed to sell to people and companies during this time, when we are so on edge that we are washing our fucking groceries? Is it even appropriate to try to sell?The answer is yes, yes, if you adopt the idea that selling is serving. If you are actually helping people along the way.Here’s some Do’s and Don’ts for how to sell and stay connected to your potential clients during Covid19. Do’sGet in touch with them.Remember to be humanBe honest and transparentThink of creative ways that you can be an asset Be PatientDon’tsDon’t let anxiety take over your valuesDon’t put your needs before your clientsDon’t aggressively pitchDon’t send unnecessary communicationsYes, you can sell during the pandemic, yes, you can do business development during the pandemic. Yes, you can create a pipeline of leads during the pandemic, but you have to Embrace all the tools that make you an asset to your clients and your potential clients and use those tools to serve first and then sell. People will choose to do business with you because they want to. Your clients can always find someone else doing the same thing as you or selling the same product. In the end it will be the personal connection and how you treat them that will ensure that they chose you. This is your time to stand out against your competition, to be the person that helped them fix something, came up with a solution to something else, treated them like a person going through a pandemic and not a potential sale. Drink of the Week: The Cherry Drop Martini4 oz vodka 2 oz fresh squeezed lemon 2 oz simple syrup 1 splash of seltzer water Maraschino Cherry.Fill a cocktail shaker shaker with ice, add the vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup. Shake until frost gathers on the outside of the shake. Strain into a martini glass with a cherry on the bottom, top with a splash of seltzer. Please remember to like, review and subscribe. To donate to the podcast bar tab simply click HERE!Relevant LinksThis Shit WorksWebsiteInstagramLinkedInYoutubeFacebookEmail: julie@juliebrownbd.com

Conferences work if you know how to work them and can be an important part of your business development strategy. But, what are we to do now that the in person aspect of conferences are gone? No chances to serendipitously meet someone in a session, no booths to entice people into by handing out shitty tchotchkes at, no hotel bar to saddle up to, throw back a few drinks at and make new friends, no after parties, no after, after parties? None of it. Virtual conferences do not have to suck. They can still be a wildly effective networking and business development tool, even when they are virtual.5 Tips For Getting the Most Out Of Your Next Virtual ConferenceOrganize Your Conference Schedule in AdvanceFamiliarize Yourself With The Conference TechnologyBe Fully Present During the ConferenceBe An Active Participant and NetworkerFollow UpBonus Tip: Email the conference organizers after the event and thank them for putting together and organizing the conference.Drink of the Week: Campfire Sling2 oz. rye whiskey¼ oz. pure maple syrup3 dashes chocolate bittersGarnish: flamed orange twistCombine all ingredients in an Old Fashioned glass with a large piece of ice, stir and garnish.Please remember to like, review and subscribe. To donate to the podcast or it’s bar tab simply click HERE!Relevant LinksThis Shit WorksWebsiteInstagramLinkedInYoutubeFacebookEmail: julie@juliebrownbd.com

Love them or hate them it looks like virtual meetings and events are here to stay. Now that we know that this, how can we make sure that we are looking our best in this online world? Have you ever done your hair and your make up and you are looking fly, then you take a selfie and you’re like how the f*ck do I look like Hagrid from Harry Potter in this picture, and where did that third chin come from? This has happened to me more times than I care to mention to you lovely people, which is why I am giving to you my five hacks for looking and feeling your best in your next online meeting or event.5 Tips For Looking Your Best in Zoom Meetings or EventsUse Soft Diffused LightingHave the Correct Camera AngleWear Make-up or PowderHave An Interesting BackgroundLook at the Camera, Not YourselfBonus Tip: Utilize the “touch up my appearance” tool within the Zoom settings.Drink of the Week: Southern Right Sauvignon BlancYeah! Save the whalesPlease remember to like, review and subscribe. To donate to the podcast or it’s bar tab simply click HERE!Relevant LinksThis Shit WorksWebsiteInstagramLinkedInYoutubeFacebook

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has not diminished the importance of networking, in fact it has shone a light on how important networks are. Creating and maintaining virtual relationships is as fundamental to maintaining mental health as it is to business success. Yes, you can still connect with others in a pure and authentic way. Yes, you can still meet new people and grow your network. Yes, you are allowed to look for new business during the pandemic. In this episode we discuss the 5 virtual networking tools you’ve always had at your disposal and how to get the most out of each tool while we continue to network virtually. Five Networking ToolsYouYour Existing NetworkIndustry OrganizationsEventsSocial Media PlatformsDrink of the Week: Blue Gin & Tonic2 oz Six Dogs Blue GinFever Tree Tonic WaterIn a glass filled with ice cubes, add gin and tonic.Please remember to like, review and subscribe. To donate to the podcast simply click HERE!Relevant LinksThis Shit WorksWebsiteInstagramLinkedInYoutubeFacebook

In this episode, we talk about the invisible but very omnipresent ceilings that occur in work cultures that can hamper one’s ability to succeed. You already know about the glass ceiling; today we are discussing the Lavender Ceiling.The lavender ceiling exists when a person who identifies as LGBT encounters more resistance toward promotion or moving upward in a company than a straight person would.It takes courage to come out in any industry. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to come out in a historically white hetero male industry. My guest today is my friend Bryan Furze. Bryan is the Vice President of Leasing for WS Development, the largest New England based retail developer, ranking 32nd overall on ICSC's Top 100 retail developers.In 2004, after 6 years working in commercial real estate and building his network within that industry he came out to his colleagues and his network. I’ve invited Bryan here to talk to us about what that process was like, how his relationships changed and developed through that process, and how individuals and companies can be better advocates for the LGBTQ community. Drink of the Week:   Cabernet Sauvignon from Daou Vineyards in Paso Robles SponsorA big thank you to our interview sponsor Lehrer Cumming. Lehrer Cumming, a division of Cumming, is a widely respected owner advisor that offers strategic, hands-on guidance to owners, developers, and institutions in the New England region. For more information, please visit lehrercumming.com.Time stamp: 00:30 Intro1:00 - The Lavender Ceiling05:00 - Bryan’s early professional life.09:00 - Coming out to colleagues15:00 - Affinity groups- A safe space.20:00 - The LGBT community in Real estate29:00 - Creating better diversity32:00 - Openness to LGBT community33:30 - OutroRelevant LinksBryan Furze WS DevelopmentJulie Brown This Shit WorksWebsiteInstagramLinkedInYoutubeFacebook

In this episode, we discuss linguistic code switching, natural black hair, navigating a male dominated industry as a woman of color and how to get into good trouble.The definition of code-switching is, “the modifying of one’s behavior, appearance, etc., to adapt to different sociocultural norms.” Code switching is a part of everyday life for most people. Between interacting with friends, family and strangers, your demeanor and language can change to match different situations. In my book This Shit Works I have a line that states that you can 100% be who you authentically are and still be wildly successful? But is that true for people of color? Harvard business review conducted a study on code switching and their research clearly shows that minorities who code-switch are likely to face a professional dilemma: Should they suppress their cultural identity for the sake of career success? Or should they sacrifice potential career advancement for the sake of bringing their whole selves to work?To be or not to be? Is the question for many people of color in corporate America; do you bring your authentic selves and your heritage to the office and potentially miss out on career growth opportunities or do you alter your identity in the hopes of moving forward in your career. My guest today is Summer Martin, Summer is the host of the Unconventional Woman Podcast. In this episode, Summer takes us on her journey of discovery as a black woman, growing up in Los Angeles, moving to Louisiana for college where she first experienced being told that she “didn’t sound black” and was often referred to as a Valley Girl, and then into her corporate life navigating the male dominated industry of sales, and now as an entrepreneur. Summer tells us about a mindset shift, which began in her 30’s when she started moving away from code switching and how she evolved from straightening her hair, to having “magic” hair and now to rocking braids while stepping fully into her bad ass, staying in good trouble, authentic self. Timestamps00:30 - Introduction 00:50 - The history of code-switching 08:00 - History comes to life in the south15:00 - Natural black hair23:30 - Navigating male dominated industries as a black woman  30:00 - The American Caste system33:00 - The mindset shift of turning 4040:00 - How to get into good trouble41:30 - OutroDrink of the week: Paloma2 ounces tequila2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice2 ounces sparkling water (or soda water)½ ounce lime juice¼ ounce agave nectar Coarse sea salt, (or Tajin) to rim the glassIceRelevant Links: Cast - The Origin of our DiscontentsThis Shit WorksThe Unconventional Woman PodcastJulie Brown SocialWebsiteInstagramLinkedInYoutubeFacebook

It took a man’s life and millions of people protesting in the streets amidst a global pandemic for me to realize (and then a lot of courage to accept) the fact that I am a silent participant in the centuries old problem of racism. I have been networking for more than two decades. After more than 20 years meeting people you would think that my network would be diverse. You’d be wrong. Among the hundreds of people I knew, I could count the number of people of color in my network on one hand, One hand!In episode 2, I talked about Analyzing your network, that analysis has not only taught me about the type of people in my network, but how homogenous my network really is!We can't change what we refuse to see. So I refused to not see the lack of diversity anymore and decided to call one of the women I had in my network to ask her how I could network with the people who don’t look like me.Enter Cleonie Mainvielle & Pearl Farquharson. Founder of D.I.C.E (Diversity and Inclusion for Community Empowerment) and founder of TOAST (To Obtain Anything Start Thinking) respectively. Two women who believe in the power of networking and are helping me understand the networking experiences of women of color, the power of affinity groups as well as how we can begin to diversity our networks and organizations.As humans we gravitate towards things that are familiar to us, it's in our nature, we do it because we feel safe when things are known. This is part of the problem. We need to move out of our comfort zones in order to grow. We need to treat Multi diversity networking the same way, as a place to grow and make the world a better place for everybody by focusing upon people’s personality, respecting their beliefs and life experiences instead of how they look.You might assume if someone doesn’t look like you, that you might not have things to talk about because they have different life experiences and grew up differently than you. Let me tell you this! The biggest commonality we share is that we are all human beings for fucks sake. So talk about being a human being, learn that there is beauty in our differences if you take the time to learn about them.Drinks for this week:Jamaican Mule1.5 oz Appleton’s Estate RumJuice of ½ limeGinger beerDirections:Fill highball glass with ice.Add rum.Squeeze lime wedge.Fill glass with ginger beer.Cleonie: White Russian (I can’t even)Pearl: Sancerre Quote: Do the best you can until you know, better. And then when you know, better. Do better. - Maya angelou Relevant Links:Cleonie Mainvielle LinkedIn Inspired OutcomePearl Farquharson LinkedInDesigned by DelsieJulie’s LinksWebsiteInstagramLinkedInYoutubeFacebookThis Shit Works