Mike Kim is one of those guys who doesn’t need much of an introduction. He’s been an online force with his blog and podcast, and the wisdom he freely shares about his experience in leaving corporate America to become an entrepreneur.

Today, Jennifer and Mike talk about that journey and what you can learn from it, whether you’re just starting a business or you’re well into it.

• Mike shares the story of how he escaped the cubicle. It started with a simple question: is this the life I want in 15 years? He didn’t quit his job cold turkey like many others have done. Instead, he had a strategy to gently sidestep from the corporate life into one where he could do what he enjoys.
• Mike had a unique opportunity to grow his brand while growing his employer’s brand – even though he wasn’t educated in marketing. He hustled and read all he could, and what he learned from his own blog, he applied to his employer’s strategy – and vice versa. This opened the door for Mike to step away from the cubicle.
• Have you ever heard of Mike’s ‘sadistic selfie?’ It’s an antidote to the kool-aid that corporations serve at parties and quarterly meetings, where everything is viewed through rose-colored glasses. Even though he was paid well and did good work, it just wasn’t fulfilling. Mike explains how a dose of truth is what finally pushed him to do something else with his life.
• If you want to get out of cubicle nation and you want to share your ideas, this is what makes you a thought leader. It’s also where a lot of really brilliant people get stuck. Mike shares exactly what you need to do to make the step that will take you from brilliant to brilliant and successful.
• Mike didn’t just quit his 6-figure job cold turkey. Instead, he created a plan that required a small amount of sacrifice. He would continue with his day job until his side business income hit a certain level. Mike also had a plan for how to learn to make money from his audience. Could Mike’s strategy also work for you?
• As an entrepreneur, you have four freedoms: time, money, people, purpose. These four freedoms enable you to do amazing work. If you aren’t sure what you want to be doing, Mike has three questions for you: what ticks you off, what breaks your heart, and what’s the big problem you’re trying to solve? Understanding the freedoms and the questions is essentially mapping your path as an entrepreneur.
• Jennifer and Mike are both plugged into the world around them in terms of how they can learn and grow. Mike shares his best secret, one that he still uses to this day. Look for someone who is living the way you want to live. Then follow them, learn from them, and while you won’t become them, you’ll become a better version of you.
• Like Mike’s Influence and Impact event? He shares what the future of the event will be – or what he hopes it will be. He admits to dreaming big but if anyone can make it happen, it’s Mike Kim.

Resources/Links Mentioned:

Mike Kim website

Mike Kim LinkedIn

Mike Kim Facebook

Mike Kim Twitter

Mike Kim Instagram

The Brand You Podcast with Mike Kim

Influence & Impact Conference

Michael Hyatt

Ray Edwards

Eric Peoples

Book recommendation: Necessary Endings: The Employees, Businesses, And Relationships All Of Us Have To Give Up In Order To Move Forward by Henry Cloud

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Do you want to spend your personal and professional time making a lasting impact on others?
Do you want to be the kind of leader that people love? Subscribe today and we will bring you new ways to change the world every single week.

Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

William Tincup isn’t normal.

Neither was his marketing agency, which used its eccentricity to shake up an industry that had become boring and stale. You either loved them or hated them.

When Tincup stepped away from the agency, he continued marching to the beat of his own drum, with great success. Today he shares some career and life advice from someone who has never followed the rules, and has an unconventional way of doing things.

Are you ready to shake up your life?

• Believe it or not, Tincup really is William’s last name. He talks about the Native American origins of the surname, and the huge advantage it gives him in organic searches. It’s also a really good whiskey, and the company that makes it has been trying to buy the domain for years.
• Tincup is highly educated, and has three university degrees – including Art History. He shares the funny story of how he once got in-state tuition as a student from out-of-state by complimenting a woman’s earrings. He also shares the great advice that his Advisor gave him for how he should proceed with choosing a major – a very honest takes on what typically happens for students after college that’s career advice even more relevant today.
• After graduating, his first career choice was as a museum curator, but he quickly realized that they don’t make a lot of money, so he decided to back to school to get an MBA. William talks about the paths that were available to him: consulting, Wall Street, or entrepreneurship. To begin, he chose consulting, but that changed when he learned about the shortcomings of the services they offer, and he shares what inspired him to get into true entrepreneurship.
• Tincup’s agency was daring. They weren’t the ‘sweater vest’ type. At Starr-Tincup stripper glitter and cocaine references were normal – but there was a very calculated reason why. They put their marketing advice into a book that served as a manifesto, and their Led Zeppelin lifestyle blew up an industry that was known for being boring. He’ll be the first to tell you that they lost business by doing things the way they did, but those who did choose to become their clients would tell you that Tincup would walk through walls to help them succeed.
• It was a very simple interaction with the CEO of a business that his company helped to succeed that ended Tincup’s desire to do what he was doing – the lack of a “thank you”. After 10 years of it, he couldn’t take it any longer, and left the marketing agency to go out on his own, where he has continued to be his unique self. Now, in addition to serving on dozens of Advisory Boards, he’s the President of Recruiting Daily.
• Tincup believes that thought leadership is about actually about being a leader, and he shares his thoughts on what it takes to be what he considers actual “Thought Leader”. It’s more about being the one who is always asking “why”, and not paying attention to what other people are saying or doing. Find out why he thinks this approach is important.

Find William Tincup:

LinkedIn

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Recruiting Daily

Give us a hand getting the word out:

Do you want to spend your personal and professional time making a lasting impact on others? Do you want to be the kind of leader that people love? Subscribe today and we’ll bring you new ways to change the world every single week.

Not long ago, Jennifer went to a conference in Australia, where she was a chairperson and keynote speaker. During the event, two young women approached Jennifer with the desire to improve their careers, but they didn’t know where to go to get the support they needed. This inspired today’s episode. If you’re stuck where you are in your career, you don’t want to miss this one.

Listen to the episode now, or subscribe on iTunes!

• Jennifer shares the story of the two young women. One referred to herself as ‘just the payroll person.’ The other wasn’t sure how to approach older, more successful people in order to learn from them. During her 25 hour journey back to the US, Jennifer reflected on those issues and the root of what caused them. Do you also feel this way?
• Before you consider the following actions, think about the people who have had an impact on your life. They don’t wait for others to create a plan. They also give time, money, or attention, especially when it’s about a challenge they’ve faced that you’re experiencing, too.
• Action 1: Send random calls, texts, or tweets of random kindness. It’s a small thing but it’s something you can accomplish in little time, and it can change the course of a person’s entire day. Not sure what to say? Jennifer shares some great ideas, so get in the habit of doing this!
• Action 2: Create systems for success and automate them! There’s a great little app called IFTTT (If This Then That). There’s virtually no limit on what you can do with it. Jennifer shares a few ‘recipes’ to use that will help you make an impact, almost on autopilot.
• Action 3: Jennifer shares a personal tip, something she learned to do when she was first growing her network. She identified people she wanted a relationship and started studying their work: books, blogs, podcasts, videos, even their websites. Essentially, she got to know them through their work. What she did next is a prime example of how to have a meaningful impact on others with a simple, daily routine.

Do you want to spend your personal and professional time making a lasting impact on others? Do you want to be the kind of leader that people love? Subscribe today and we will bring you new ways to change the world every single week.

Resources/Links Mentioned:

Communicator Academy podcast

Michele Cushatt

“Undone: A Story of Making Peace With an Unexpected Life” by Michelle Cushatt

John Nykolaiszyn

Steve Browne

Lars Schmidt

Random Tweets of Kindness

Chalene Johnson

“Push: 30 Days to Turbocharged Habits, a Bangin’ Body, and the Life You Deserve!” by Chalene Johnson

If This, Then That / IFTTT

Kevin Monroe

The Higher Purpose Podcast with Kevin Monroe

Daniel Pink

Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Steve Browne is a connector in every sense of the word. From a young age, he’s always felt at home ‘swimming in people.’

Today, Jennifer and Steve discuss what makes him a connector, and some of the unique insights he has as a leader and impact maker, including his involvement with the Society for Human Resource Management.

Do you want to be the type of leader whose employees love them, and whose businesses thrive because of it? Find out how in today’s episode.

• Steve talks about how his mother’s suggestion took him from studying engineering into a more people-centric profession. When he’s with people, Steve feels like he’s home, right where he needs to be. He shares a funny story about college, where his classmates voted that he should be… you’ll never guess.
• You know how some people have ‘rules’ before they let you into their lives? Steve doesn’t, and he shares his philosophy on being an open book, and how it’s helped him make an impact on others.
• One of the big obstacles to leadership is when a person is an introvert. Jennifer asks the tough question: how can an introvert lead other people? Can they do it effectively? Steve believes so, and his ideas about introverts being stronger leaders might surprise you.
• Steve shares a harsh truth about being in the people management sector. However, if you’ve ever been an employee with a bad manager, you’ll be nodding your head along with him. He explains what it takes to be a great leader. Part of it has to do with understanding that ‘a tiger never changes his stripes’ and learning to work with those stripes.
• Kathy Coleman impacted Steve in a very deep way. She taught Steve that valuing the whole person matters more than only valuing what they bring to work. How do you allow your employees to grow personally, and how does that make them better employees?
• Years ago, one of Steve’s peers gave him a bit of advice that hasn’t left him, and it was delivered with a pointed finger to the chest. It began with Steve complaining endlessly about an organization. It ended with him leading that organization and creating a legacy that fulfills him to this day. The story will inspire you.
• Steve’s final lesson comes from his daughter’s basketball coach. What she did when his daughter didn’t make the team impacted Steve and changed his entire thought process for making people feel valued in all types of organizations. It’s a lesson that you can take with you, too.

Get in touch with Steve:

LinkedIn: Steve Browne, SHRM-SCP

Twitter: @sbrownehr

Website: Everyday People

Book: HR on Purpose: Developing Deliberate People Passion

Do you want to spend your personal and professional time making a lasting impact on others? Do you want to be the kind of leader that people love?

Subscribe today and we’ll bring you new ways to change the world every single week!

Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”