The Keynote Curators Podcast

Having a high-performance mindset doesn’t necessarily mean having a positive attitude. It means having a clear mind. While positivity is a characteristic that can benefit one’s physical and mental well-being, having a high-performance mindset allows one to keep emotions in check to yield the clearest, most productive perspective possible. It allows one to face adversity with clarity and appreciation that the highest highs can follow the lowest lows. While in film school, Scott Greenberg received a cancer diagnosis that forced him to face adversity at a very young age. As he underwent chemotherapy, he witnessed firsthand how some cancer patients faced the disease with greater tenacity and clarity than others. Their mindset was in a different place. It was an eye-opening journey that revealed a sense of purpose for Scott later in life. Tune in as Scott Greenberg, internationally-renowned business speaker, executive coach, and cancer survivor, shares some of the lessons he learned early on about the power of a high-performance mindset in life and business. By training leaders to think at a higher level with a peak performance mindset that keeps emotions in check, Scott helps them lead more effectively so they develop high-performance teams and create emotionally satisfying experiences that customers will remember and want to repeat. #highperformancemindset #mindsetmatters #humanelement #emotionalelement #keynotespeaker #events #eventmanagement

Did You F*ck Up This Week? Why That’s Actually Good News Billion-dollar ideas aren’t the only ones delivering big results when it comes to innovation. Micro-innovations are less risky, accessible to everyday people, encourage creativity, and build critical skills. And high velocities of little breakthroughs can result in substantial, meaningful outcomes. Take the story of a guy in Central London who was tired of seeing cigarette butts in the streets. He had a simple, innovative, low-tech, low-cost idea – “Ballot Bins” that collected butts and posed intriguing polling questions. They reduced litter by 80% and the concept spread to 27 countries. Tune in as Josh Linkner, tech entrepreneur, hyper-growth CEO, venture capitalist, and podcast host, shares stories from his bestselling book Big Little Breakthroughs. Josh explains how the habits, tactics, mindsets, and hard-wired human creativity of everyday people can lead to extraordinary things. Takeaways: • Implement “F*ck-up Fridays” where people share setbacks. Mistakes don’t equal failure, they lead to growth. • Everyone is an artist with room for creativity. • Give yourself an “untouchable” day once a week to be creative. • Start before you’re ready. Don’t wait for permission or the perfect sign to act on an idea. • Consider a 2-minute creativity ritual every morning for ‘guzzle inputs’ and ‘unrelated problems’:     •    Minute 1 – Soak up creativity from others (watch music videos, admire art, read a poem).     •    Minute 2 – Identify any problem in the world right now. How many teeny ideas can you generate that could help solve it?

There are no roads for improv actors, only possibilities. The ability to be flexible and "go with the flow" allows them to handle curveballs with grace and agility, respond freely and creatively, and change not what they think but how they think. As Comedian Tina Fey once said, "Just say yes, and you'll figure it out later." Since the 1990s, businesses have turned to improv centers to learn essential social-emotional skills and techniques used by stage performers and to support their employees with the same team-building and communication exercises that improv actors use. Tune in as Joel Zeff, Improvisational Humorist, Author, Actor, and Emcee, talks about improv as an art form that teaches us to be present in the moment, prepares us for change and disruption, and reminds us that our ultimate achievements come from our choices. Takeaways: • Leadership, like improv, doesn't come with a script. You encounter unknowns daily. How you handle curveballs speaks volumes and defines your leadership style. • Improv develops leadership skills. It teaches people to take risks, listen carefully, read cues, work with others, and trust their instincts. • Adaptability and flexibility are skills that will equip you for any task you encounter. • "Leap, and the net will appear." Too often, our thoughts get in the way. Improv is an excellent way of forcing someone's hand (or your own) to be spontaneous and enjoy the ride.

Rich Bracken has worn many hats, from emotional intelligence expert and award-winning marketing guru to acclaimed storyteller and self-proclaimed LinkedIn nerd. His role as a former meeting professional and miracle maker has afforded him a unique perspective into the industry, and the stress planners face daily. Studies have shown that 58% of performance is attributed to emotional intelligence — your ability to recognize and understand emotions in yourself and others and use that awareness to manage your emotions and behavior. Not surprisingly, people with high emotional intelligence rate higher on measures of stress management, leadership, and interpersonal skills. Listen in as Rich dives into emotional intelligence and why it is a critical skill that needs attention. Insights worth knowing: Emotional intelligence means self-awareness (what are you feeling?) and self-management (what are you doing with that feeling?) Social media can be detrimental to your emotional intelligence, addictive, and self-destructive. Are you spending time with the wrong apps? When you’re feeling bombarded, go back to your game plan. Focus on the task at hand. Breathe deep before talking or acting to ensure you react calmly. Practice self-care. Do little things that make a big difference. Add music to your day. Exercise/meditate daily. Don’t overschedule. Use social media wisely. The journey of self-identification and self-happiness will never lead to fulfillment if you’re chasing unrealistic aspirations. Those who blend self-vulnerability with their business and personal brand online connect with more people. Authenticity is everything. Do you focus attention on developing your emotional intelligence? Listen in and learn! #emotionalintelligence #lifeskills #selfawareness #selfmanagement #mindfulness #keynotespeaker #events #eventmanagement

Did you know “how to” are the two most searched words online? People want to know how to do something and do it the best way possible. In the events industry, influential speakers know precisely how to activate their audience and move them to action. And like search engine surfers, audiences want meaningful, digestible, actionable plans to accomplish a task, reach a goal, or start a new initiative. Kelly McDonald’s profound business and communication insights have served my clients for nearly two decades. As founder of McDonald Marketing and an expert in diversity, equity & inclusion, leadership, marketing, and sales, Kelly excels at authentically connecting and communicating with others and teaching uncomplicated approaches to starting and leading uncomfortable but essential conversations in the workplace. Her proprietary STARTING method from her recent bestseller, “How to Talk About Race at Work,” helps organizations apply critical thinking when it comes to the following components of meaningful, authentic, enduring DE&I initiatives in the workplace: ·      Sincerity ·      Transparency ·      Acknowledgement ·      Respect ·      Trust ·      Investment ·      Nurturing talent ·      Goals Whether you’re an employee, a leader, or an employee wanting to lead, you won’t want to miss Kelly’s reflections on the changing role of today’s speaker, unconscious bias and its impact on hiring and employee retention, the importance of advocacy and mentorship at work, and how to root DE&I initiatives into corporate culture, so they grow into perpetual achievements. How does your organization approach DE&I and race?  #diversityequityinclusion #communication #conversationstarters #leadership #keynotespeaker #events #eventmanagement

"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." Wise words from Aristotle that still ring true. So, why do many of us still struggle to find satisfaction and meaning at work? A Deloitte report revealed only 12% of people are passionate at work — a startling number for employers striving to retain staff and deliver impactful customer experiences. Learn how a positive mindset creates an atmosphere of goodwill that motivates others and demonstrates engagement and enthusiasm to customers, prospects, and employees. Tune in as Business Leader, Thought Leader, and Maestro Musician Felipe Gomez explains how to apply core virtues of music in business, so you discover pleasure at work. When you turn your passion into a purpose that serves the world around you, extraordinary things happen. Key takeaways: Attitude is everything. Be a magnet for positivity. Appreciate a positive mindset's power and its impact on yourself and others. Recognize that emotions influence actions. Have passion for whatever to do. You do great work when you love what you do. Play your own "music" in life. Philosopher Lao Tzu said, "Music in the soul can be heard by the universe." Find your song – your passion and purpose – practice it daily, and play it so well that you become the masterpiece you were created to be. Don't miss this uplifting podcast as Gomez reveals how to tune your mindset to the right channel, so you find your song and transform it into meaningful work that inspires you and those around you. Do you find passion and purpose at work? Listen in and learn! #positivity #businessvirtuosity #followyourpassion #positivemindset #keynotespeaker #events #eventmanagement

Sometimes we get so focused on our organization’s daily operations that we forget the vital role of a timely, clear, actionable succession plan during a crisis. It's no surprise that behaviors and feelings are rooted in communication. Unclear communication creates uncertainty, distrust, and angst. Clear, authoritative communication forms the bridge between confusion and clarity. Listen in as Lt. Col. Robert Darling, USMC (Ret.) and Leading Crisis Leadership Expert, shares his crisis management experience from the White House on 9/11. Robert explains how having all of the knowledge and power in the world is meaningless if there is no crisis management plan in place and no clear communication that follows. Robert’s biggest lessons learned? Clear communication is your lynchpin in times of crisis; it's essential to maintain trust. When the chain of command knows its roles, individuals feel empowered to make decisions and rise to the occasion during stressful times. If a member of an organization strays outside the decision-making structure that's been established, success is at risk. Organizations should participate in crisis management role-play and practice lack of authority/loss of communication, so everyone is prepared. Have a Plan B in place to tackle communication breakdowns. Successful crisis management and succession plans allow leaders to assess, decide, and act. Don't miss this fascinating 9/11 insider perspective from Robert Darling as he remembers that fateful day, how communication and a crisis management plan influenced leadership and decision-making, and how our country was able to unite during tragedy. #crisismanagement #successionplan #contingencyplan #leadership #communication #keynotespeaker

What does it mean to grow older today compared to 20 or 30 years ago? Developments in science and medicine over the past few decades have dramatically decreased the gap between life span and health span. Today, 50% of the children born in 2007 are projected to live until 104. That’s an astonishing statistic. But is it a state full of hope for everyone? That depends mainly on your mindset, not just genetics and health. During COVID, Kim Lear, a leading generational research consultant, and trendspotter, and her colleagues set out to study the 55+ demographic during the pandemic. They wanted to capture the emotional state of this particular demographic hit hardest by COVID. Their biggest surprise? Forced reinvention. In an age of longevity, Kim shares her thoughts on: How society has neglected to create purpose-driven opportunities for a growing, aging population How COVID served as a personal disruptor and societal accelerator How forced self-reinvention among our aging population gave birth to a new “thrive span” – an indicator of how long you can live a fulfilling life Don’t miss this fascinating, timely podcast as Kim Lear sheds new light on the expression that age is just a number and explains why making life worth living will drive wellness, well-being, and healthcare in our future.

“Helping people live more authentic, inspired, and successful lives.” That’s the mission of meetings and events guru Annette Gregg.  As the former SVP of Experience at MPI and today, its Chief Revenue Officer, Annette is a force to be reckoned with in the meetings and events industry. She’s served in executive-level positions for corporations, associations and non-profits, delivered hundreds of keynotes and workshops on a variety of topics such as communication skills, branding and marketing, negotiation, and professional development, received dozens of professional awards for her training and speaking, and been elected Instructor of the Year at San Diego State University.  Not long ago, I sat down with this beacon of female empowerment to learn how she connects with audiences on important topics including:    Leadership  Empowering women in the workplace  Unlocking teams  Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives  Groundbreaking research into unconscious bias  Psychological safety in the workplace Groupthink vs. freedom of collaboration and their effect on the creative process My conversation with Annette was insightful and inspirational and one that you shouldn’t miss.

There's a saying that your perspective will either be your prison or your passport.  Being open-minded and willing to listen to the stories and opinions of others without judging and closing doors is an admirable trait that will open many doors in life. Those actions often reveal connections and similarities that you would never have known existed. An unwillingness to listen to other perspectives can create damaging and often unnecessary distance between people.  Not long ago, I was privileged to speak with race relations advocate Daryl Davis for an in-depth, eye-opening discussion about humility, confronting fears, and overcoming prejudices. Tune in to this fascinating conversation with a celebrated musician, inspiring TEDx speaker, and unlikely interviewer of Klu Klux Klan members to discover what it takes to close a gap and build a bridge. #humility #perspective #openmind #bridgebuilding #keynotespeaker #events #eventmanagement