Jennifer McClure`

Empowering Organizations and People Leaders to thrive in the ever-evolving world of work

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Intentional Networking Strategies for Introverts (And Extroverts!)

When you hear the word “networking”, or someone tells you that you need to “network”, what comes to mind?

In general, if you’re extroverted, or gain energy by interacting with people, then you may feel as excited about networking – as you would if someone invited you to a theme park with lots of rides and roller coasters. That’s assuming, of course, that you like theme parks and roller coasters. 🙂

If you’re more introverted, or prefer to avoid situations where you’re around a lot of people that you don’t know well, you may feel as excited as you would if someone invited you to go to the dentist’s office. Unless, or course, you like going to the dentist’s office… which probably means that you’re a relative of the dentist. Or you’re a masochist. (Hey, no judgement here.)

I know, those are generalizations, but I think I can safely say that most people – whether they’re introverts or extroverts – aren’t that great at networking… even if they love it, or think they’re good at it.

Why is that? Well, it’s because most people aren’t approaching networking in a strategic way, and considering it a skill and practice that’s critical for their personal and professional development.

But, I’ve got good news!

That doesn’t have to be you! Whether you love networking, hate it, or don’t know what it means to be good at it, I can help.

In this episode of the Impact Makers Podcast, I’m sharing why it’s important to Always Be Networking, as well as who you should choose to network with in order to get and give the most benefit, and how you can network like a pro – whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert.

I’ll also share ten awesome questions that you can ask to start great conversations at networking events – and make others think that you’re the most interesting person in the world. 🙂

10 Questions to Ask at Networking Events:

  1. What brought you here today?
  2. What has been your biggest takeaway thus far?
  3. Who have you enjoyed meeting, or who would you suggest I connect with at this event?
  4. What is the best book you’ve read recently? Or, what is your favorite podcast?
  5. What was the biggest challenge that you faced in your job or career recently, and what did you do to solve it?
  6. What is your favorite thing about the work you do, or where you work?
  7. What do you do for fun outside of work?
  8. What is the best piece of career advice that you’ve gotten – or that you’ve given?
  9. What is the most exciting or interesting thing that you’re working on at the moment?
  10. What other conferences or events do you attend, or get value from?

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 33

Show Highlights:

  • Why you need to view your networking strategy just like you do anything else that is important and adds value.
  • Why your mantra when you go to an event should be, “I’m going to be interested, and not worry about being interesting.”
  • How to be intentional about networking.
  • Ten awesome questions you can ask to start great conversations.
  • Understanding the value and need for investing in yourself.

More Info and Resources:

Impact Makers Episode 7 — How I Became A Speaker and Entrepreneur

Mike Lynch – President, Mike Lynch Career Consulting

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Thanks to King University, who’s support makes this podcast possible! King is proud to offer sixteen online degrees with accelerated programs and affordable tuition so you can start a new career faster than ever. You can choose from programs in technology, communication, and business – like an online MBA with six concentrations including human resource management. And because the program is offered fully online, you can earn your degree on your own schedule in as little as 16 months. Visit https://online.king.edu/impactmakers to learn more about the King Difference today.

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Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and if you go through them to make a purchase I’ll earn a commission. Keep in mind that I only link to products or companies because of their quality, or my personal experience with them, and not because of any commissions I receive from your purchases.

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Why Self-Care Isn’t Selfish – and How to Make It a Strategic Priority

Maybe it’s because I’m getting older every year – which is totally unfair – but more and more, when I think about what I’m grateful for, it’s my health – specifically my body’s ability to move about the world and do the things I want to do, as well as my ability to see, hear, and use all of the gifts that God gave me. And I’m conscious of the fact that not everyone has full use of all of these blessings – regardless of their age.

So, I’ve been thinking much more these days about how to invest in my health. Because I ideally I want to be able to live an active and healthy life for years to come. While that may not totally be in my control, for the most part it is. And I have to admit, I haven’t always been the best at doing my part.

I don’t always eat right. Actually, I don’t choose the right foods to fuel my body often. I don’t exercise and move my body enough. (Did you know it’s possible to walk less than 500 steps in one day? I have it on good authority that’s true.) And probably the biggest area for improvement for me is related to prioritizing my sleep. I simply don’t. I see far too many 1:00 AM bed times, and for no real reason.

So, when I was asked recently to deliver a keynote presentation on Self-Care as part of Paycor Inc’s online web summit, I first said no. Because as the self-appointed poster child for the not-so-great self-care crowd, I didn’t think I was the right person to deliver that message.

But after thinking about it for a bit, I realized that I am exactly the right person to deliver that message. Why? Because it’s an area that I’ve both failed in, and one that I’m regularly researching ways that I can improve.

I don’t like to fail. And I want to take care of my body, mind and spirit. I’ve also made some changes that have dramatically improved my well-being. Some of those changes were my choice, and some were forced upon me.

As is often the case, the student can become the teacher. 🙂

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 32

As we enter the last few weeks of the year, where many will be spending time being thankful, as well as planning and setting goals for the new year, I wanted to share some information and research about the importance of self-care, as well as 5 key areas I believe we should all consider for intentional self-care in order to live our best lives, full of positive impact.

Self-care isn’t selfish. It is necessary. We truly can’t pour from an empty cup and we can’t help others if we’re emotionally worn, completely stressed out, or too sick to help.

My goal is to help you understand the importance of self-care and how to practice it, proactively, without feeling guilty. I hope you enjoy today’s episode!

5 Key Areas For Intentional Self-Care

Show Highlights:

  • What is self-care? I’ll give you my favorite definition and share a great quote to help you remember why it’s so important.
  • I share the five key areas of self-care and give you tips for each area.
  • Our bodies speak to us, sometimes loud and clear. If we don’t listen, the consequences can be devastating.
  • We’re talking about self-care, but I believe that caring for others is also a form of self-care.
  • Self-care has a physical, mental and emotional impact on our lives, our bodies and on those around us.

More Info and Resources:

King University Online

Paycor, Inc.

Paycor, Inc. Self-Care for the HR Pro web summit presentation by Jennifer McClure

Paycor, Inc. Web Summit (On Demand)

The Five Rules for Self-Care By Shelly Tygielski

Michael Hyatt

Ideal Week Excel Spreadsheet by Michael Hyatt

Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want by Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy –

Full Focus Planner

Oprah Super Soul Conversations: Tom Brady on Life After Football: “I Think About It More Now”

National Sleep Foundation Recommends New Sleep Times

Shawn Achor

Shawn Achor 6 Daily Happiness Exercises

The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life by Shawn Achor

Before Happiness: The 5 Hidden Keys to Achieving Success, Spreading Happiness, and Sustaining Positive Change by Shawn Achor

Oprah Super Soul Conversations: Oprah & Shawn Achor on the Secret of Happy People

Get More Done With Calendar Blocking – Amy Landino YouTube

The Importance of Scheduling Nothing by Jeff Weiner

Oprah Super Soul Conversations: The 5 Keys to Happiness That LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner Lives By

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Thanks to King University, who’s support makes this podcast possible! King is proud to offer sixteen online degrees with accelerated programs and affordable tuition so you can start a new career faster than ever. You can choose from programs in technology, communication, and business – like an online MBA with six concentrations including human resource management. And because the program is offered fully online, you can earn your degree on your own schedule in as little as 16 months. Visit https://online.king.edu/impactmakers to learn more about the King Difference today.

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Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and if you go through them to make a purchase I’ll earn a commission. Keep in mind that I only link to products or companies because of their quality, or my personal experience with them, and not because of any commissions I receive from your purchases.

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How to Choose Speaking Topics and Create Great Presentations

By far, the most frequently asked question I get is “How do I become a speaker?”, or something similar.

And while I’ve written blog posts on the subject, and have been interviewed on other people’s podcasts, and shared about the beginnings of my own journey as a professional speaker in Episode 7 of this podcast, there’s always more to learn, and everyone is at a different place in their speaking career, so I don’t think that I’ve run out of things to say on the subject.

Recently, a good friend of mine – Bruce Waller – reached out to me and asked if he could schedule a call to talk about Speaking. Specifically about how to choose speaking topics, and ideas for creating great presentations and slide decks.

I asked Bruce if he’d be willing to allow me to record our conversation, and share it with you on the Impact Makers podcast. Because it can likely help many people who are either interested in improving their speaking skills as a part of their current job, or who are interested in developing a speaking business either as a side hustle or full-time occupation.

Thankfully, Bruce agreed, and you’ll have the opportunity to learn right along with him in this coaching session. He asked some great questions, and it was lots of fun!

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 31

 

 

How Do You Decide On Topics For Speaking?

Speak about your area of expertise. Think about what questions people ask you the most.

It’s a good idea to keep a question log, and update it as people ask new questions through emails, messages, tweets, or other conversations. So, when you’re considering the content for a speaking engagement, look at your question log. It’s a great resource for a new speaking engagements, a keynote, a blog post, a book, or other topics. If several people are asking you the same question, you are already being viewed as a person with expertise!

Don’t just try to speak on a hot topic. Instead, plan to speak on something in which you have expertise. One way to identify those areas is to look at the themes of what people are asking you.

What Is The Process For Creating A Presentation?

One thing is to consider is that there are at least three different types of presentations. These are breakouts/seminars in which you’re teaching, workshops in which you’re both teaching and involving the participants, and keynotes which are more story-based, and typically provide inspiration.

To create a presentation, one idea is to start with slides and think about the images you’ll use, as well as the visual flow of the presentation. Ask yourself – what does the audience need to know about the topic? What are the questions people ask about the topic, and what are your answers? Share examples from your own experience, or examples of how others have solved those problems, and end with action steps. Participants typically want to be able to write down some takeaways to plan their next steps.

What Are Some Great Resources For Presentation Images?

When it comes to images for your slides, be careful not to use Google images, or images that are copyrighted, because that could lead to a lot of trouble. The good news is that there are several good sites where you can get free (and copyright-free) images, such as Unsplash or Flickr.

Personally, I use Adobe Stock Images, which is not free, but allows me to license a specific number of images for a monthly fee. To up your speaking game, it will be important to either invest in images, or use to find a good source where you can use copyright-free or creative commons use images. If you notice, big-name keynote speakers typically use a minimal number of slides during their presentations, which usually contain only high-quality images, their own quotes, or statistics from their own research. The focus is on what they’re saying, versus the slides that they use (or don’t).

How Does Someone Get Started As A Speaker?

Take a step back and consider who “your people” are. It’s important to be intentional about your audience, and your message. Who is the audience that you’re targeting, and what is the message that they need. Once you’ve determined that, then look at your relationships and ensure that you’re making connections and building relationships with meeting planners in that industry.

A first step might be to attend the events you’re targeting, and maybe even volunteer to help or support the event organizing team. Once you’ve developed some relationships, and become known by the meeting planner, you can submit ideas to be considered for breakout sessions, panel discussions or workshops in your area of expertise. Make sure that the message that you’re pitching is focused on what the audience needs, versus the story you want to tell. You’re there to serve the audience, not yourself!

More Info And Resources

Kary Oberbrunner’s Igniting Souls Conference

 

Thanks to King University, who’s support makes this podcast possible! King is proud to offer sixteen online degrees with accelerated programs and affordable tuition so you can start a new career faster than ever. You can choose from programs in technology, communication, and business – like an online MBA with six concentrations including human resource management. And because the program is offered fully online, you can earn your degree on your own schedule in as little as 16 months. Visit https://online.king.edu/impactmakers to learn more about the King Difference today.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and if you go through them to make a purchase I’ll earn a commission. Keep in mind that I only link to products or companies because of their quality, or my personal experience with them, and not because of any commissions I receive from your purchases.

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Where In The World Has McClure Been?

IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST – EPISODE 30

Well, hello there!

Did you miss me? You’re probably like, “miss who? New phone, who dis?” 😉

Well it’s your old friend, or in some cases, you’re new friend, and I’m back with a new episode of the Impact Makers podcast!

 

 

And just as before, my goal is to help you create maximum impact at work and in life through building a career that you love, and living a life that matters. If you’re a prior listener, then you know that this is actually Episode 30 of the Impact Makers podcast. And if you’re brand new – I’ve got great news for you – there are 30 fantastic episodes prior to this, that I’d encourage you to go back and listen to.

There are episodes on how I got my start as a professional speaker, tips and strategies for you to build effective relationships and a powerful personal brand, as well as interviews with some fantastic practitioners and entrepreneurs that you can learn from, who are using their expertise and influence to make a difference in the lives of others. If you haven’t already, please hit pause, and make sure that you’re subscribed to this podcast on your favorite podcast platform, so you don’t miss any episodes going forward!

Since I started podcasting in early 2018, I’ve heard from so many of you who have enjoyed the interviews, and the solo episodes, and I really appreciate your feedback. It makes me so happy to see someone posting online that they’re listening, or sharing their takeaways. It’s also been great to see people connecting with some of the guests on the show, and finding ways to help each other grow their careers or their businesses.

I do want to give a shout out to a few people, who are not only great supporters, but who also have not let me forget that they’re listeners of the podcast, and are waiting for new episodes. Your encouragement – and prodding – has really helped me to get back on track, and I appreciate you more than you know.

So, thanks to my brother – Dr. Jeffrey H. Johnson, who has always been the biggest Fan of this podcast. Jeff is a well-known and respected cardiologist in Knoxville Tennessee, and not only does he keep my 84-year-old mom up-to-date on the latest with my podcast, he’s probably shared it with more people than any other listener. I appreciate you so much for doing that Jeffrey!

I’d also like to thank Bruce Waller. Bruce is an author, speaker and relocation executive from Dallas Texas, and we originally connected online, because each week he shared his top takeaways from the Impact Makers podcast on social media. We’ve since met in person at several events, and he never fails to mention that he’s waiting for the Impact Makers podcast to come back soon. Thank you for the encouragement, Bruce, and good-natured prodding!

Another person who has not let me forget that I have a podcast that needs new episodes is Wendy Daily. Wendy is an HR and recruiting practitioner from Brookings, South Dakota, who also has a weekly podcast called The HR Social Hour Half-Hour Podcast, along with her co-host Jon Thurmond. Wendy listens to podcasts every day on her commute to Sioux Falls. I’ve driven that route, and while the corn and hay fields of South Dakota are lovely, it’s not super exciting. So, I’m happy to get the Impact Makers podcast back in her rotation!

Of course, there have been others, and I’ve definitely heard you. And I’ve missed being in your ear buds, in your car, or with you on the treadmill at the gym each week. I’m really excited to be back with you, and I look forward to being a part of your weekly personal development practice.

Quick Life Update

So, what’s been up with me while we were apart? Plenty of good things, and of course, some challenges along the way. In other words, life as a human. 🙂

2019 started off with a bang, and I landed my largest client to date, after almost 10 years of running my own business. Since then, we’ve partnered together on a number of awesome things this year, and I look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.

In May, I knocked another state off of my goal to speak at an event in every state, by speaking at the Montana SHRM Conference. Montana had been at the top of my goal list for quite awhile, and thanks to the Montana conference team, we were able to make that happen. (Now, I’m looking at you Alaska!)

I’m also National Park lover, and avid road tripper, so I was also able to schedule a few extra days to drive through the lovely state of Montana, and to visit Glacier National Park. The park wasn’t fully open yet for the season, so of course I’ll have to go back, but I’m not sad about that. It was gorgeous!

On another note, some of you may know that I also have a second “day job” with my other company called DisruptHR, where I’m the Chief Excitement Officer. If you’re not familiar with DisruptHR, you can learn more at disrupthr.co. We help local organizers around the world to plan and organize events where people can share their ideas, and get their messages heard about the workplace and the future of work, by giving 5-minute Talks.

DisruptHR started right here in my city – Cincinnati  – in December 2013, and this year, we licensed our 157th city! DisruptHR events have now been held in 37 countries, and in multiple languages around the world — AND over 4,300 DisruptHR Talks have been given. You can view and share any of those 4,000+ videos right from our website.

DisruptHR is truly a labor of love for me and my business partner – Chris Ostoich – and it’s been a real joy to see what it has become for so many people around the world. I’ll be sure to share more about DisruptHR in a future episode of this podcast.

On a not so good note, I had a horseback riding accident in July 2013 that absolutely knocked me off my game physically and mentally – for longer than I would have liked. I’ve been riding horses for over 50 years, and my equine partner Roxxy is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. However, this was a freak accident where she was spooked by something unseen, which ended up with me on the ground unconscious while she ran away without me.

I was extremely thankful to be able to get up and walk away – and thankful that she ran back to her stall in the barn. I tried to dismiss the idea that I seriously hurt for awhile, but after experiencing some issues with temporary vertigo, and considering the fact that I might have one or more broken bones, a visit to the emergency room was in order. Ultimately, it took several weeks after the head injury for me to be able to focus, and my body is still healing physically in some ways.

I’m extremely grateful to be on the mend, and also to have an adult son who likes to remind me that I’m not bouncing back the way I used to, because I’m “old.”. (Thanks, Andy.) You gotta love a kid who will always keep you humble. Too bad, he doesn’t remember where his inheritance may or may not come from.

Back to the good stuff, I expanded my team by hiring a Project Manager this summer, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the work we’ve been able to accomplish thus far. Thanks to both Angie Kline, and also my podcast producer – Danny Ozmet from Emerald City Productions – Team McClure is stronger than ever, and we have some great things in store for the rest of this year – – and beyond.

More recently, I knocked the number one item off of my bucket list in September, with a dream vacation to Ireland, for the sole purpose of galloping a horse on a beach. Thanks to a Friesian cross mare – Honey – from Dingle Horseriding in Dingle, Ireland, I was able to accomplish this goal in grand fashion.

Dingle Horseriding

I had so much fun on a half day mountain, trail and beach ride. I can’t believe I waited so long to visit Ireland. I definitely plan to head back to the Emerald Isle, and no doubt horses will be involved once again!

Of course, I’ve also been doing my “day job” throughout the year, speaking at conferences and corporate events around the world. I’m truly blessed to be living my dream, while also living the hashtag “the speaker life”. If you’d like to keep up with some of my on-the-road shenanigans, and equine adventures, you can follow me sharing only the best parts of my life (like most everyone else) on Instagram at jennifer_mcclure.

I’m excited about heading to Panama City, Panama next week, to join a corporate client at their annual HR conference, so while I’m there, I hope to be able to sneak a peek at one of the seven wonders of the modern world – the Panama Canal!

So that’s what’s been up with me. Life is not only good, it’s great. And I’m extremely grateful.

What’s Next?

So, what’s next for the Impact Makers Podcast?

I’ve got good things planned for us here. While there will still be interviews from time to time with people who are making an impact with their lives and careers, I’ll also be doing more solo episodes, where I’ll be teaching about topics related to building your expertise, growing your relationships and influence, and communicating with impact.

I hope you’ll subscribe, and tune in each week. I truly appreciate you being a part of the Impact Makers community, and I wish you all of the success that you can stand throughout the next week!

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Success, Leading To Win and Faith with Eric Peoples

What you feed will live and what you starve will die – the same principle applies to leadership. If you want to be a great leader, you have to feed your fire to serve and inspire. Today, Jennifer and Eric to talk about success, leadership, and coaching – and how it led Eric to his calling as a man of faith.

  • Eric Peoples is a public speaker, certified leadership coach, and founding pastor of Legacy Church in Farmington, CT. Eric has led over 1,000 people on 45 international trips to pioneer social change and humanitarian relief efforts in nearly 27 countries.
  • He attributes his penchant for helping to his family’s strong support of philanthropic endeavors. Helping others, working hard, and doing your best – these were the family’s core values.
  • How did Eric enter ministry work? His journey actually started in the corporate world. He had done work in sales for Xerox, where he moved up the corporate ladder pretty quickly. He enjoyed the job, earned and learned a lot. But after meeting his pastor, Peter Bruno, he began to take an interest in ministry.
  • Eric found himself on a mission to help others discover their true selves so they can start their journey as purposeful leaders, too. His attitude toward stewardship guides him in giving his best effort as a man of faith, public speaker, and leadership coach.
  • But how can he juggle his calling as a pastor and as a leadership coach? Eric shares how a pastor and leadership coach share some of the same qualities. They are both surrounded by people that have huge potential. They both serve others by empowering them so they can awaken that potential. And since he is someone who’s attracted to potential, there is no better way to touch and change lives than being both a pastor and a leadership coach.
  • Eric reveals why most high achievers have the inclination to underestimate themselves. People think that leaders can ‘read their own labels.’ In reality, most of them don’t have anyone to help them read their labels and see their true worth. This makes them, more or less, blind to their own influence and accomplishments. Eric helps these leaders identify who they are and reframe their perception of what they believe is possible.
  • Jennifer and Eric analyze one of the biggest questions a leader must reflect on, “If I had no limits, what would this look like?” They also investigate how this transforms their mindsets and helps them overcome limiting beliefs.

Quotes from this episode:

There’s always going to be more than enough to take care of you, and that’s why you can take care of others and help others to achieve something big. – Eric Peoples

Are you going to live so powerfully that people can’t forget you? – Eric Peoples

Want a little help creating your personal brand?

Jennifer has a free resource for you. The Personal Brand Workbook will help you figure out what your personal brand is today and what you want to be known for in the future, as well as how you want to impact the world. Download it today!

Eric Peoples

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