If Employees Could Talk

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TODAY?  The buzzword “quiet quitting” was coined during the pandemic when overworked employees felt underappreciated and struggled to find ways to achieve work/life balance.  We talk about this trend and how a similar leadership trend, #missingmanager, affects the workforce and your business.

WHAT TOPICS DO WE COVER?

* What is “Quiet Quitting,” and why is it happening
* What are #missingmanagers, and how do they affect their employees and business
* We discuss the Harvard Business Review article about why the workplace is changing, including a description of The Five R’s
* We talk about other employment changes occurring now and how they affect employees and leaders

WHAT’S THE TAKE-AWAY? 

Quiet Quitting isn’t about quitting. Instead, it is a mindset where employees are fulfilling their job duties but not going above and beyond to achieve work/life balance.  #missingmanagers  have a similar mindset where these managers do the bare minimum to get by at the expense of their employees.  Both of these trends affect your employees and business.

WE USED THESE RESOURCES:

Besides our experiences that directly relate to this topic, we found the following resources very helpful in preparing for this episode:

• FastCompany: The 25 best and worst work trends of the past 25 years: https://www.fastcompany.com/90558785/the-25-best-and-worst-work-trends-of-the-past-25-year
• TechTargetArticle: https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/feature/Quiet-quitting-explained-Everything-you-need-to-know
• Harvard Business Review (HBR) The Great Resignation Didn’t Start with the Pandemic https://hbr.org/2022/03/the-great-resignation-didnt-start-with-the-pandemic

WHO ARE DAVE AND KELLI?

An entrepreneur and intrapreneur duo with street smarts, ‘preneurial’ chops, and a penchant for storytelling.

Dave and Kelli met as teenagers and have a life-long story of their own. They took separate and contrasting career paths, both struggling with the challenges of business and celebrating their career successes differently. 

Kelli, who “worked for the man like a dog for decades,” and Dave, who “started or ran businesses all of his life,” quickly realized there may be substantial value for others based on those combined experiences. The “My Job Here Is Done” Podcast is the result. 

HOW TO WORK WITH US

Ultimately, you’re building a great business or moving up the career ladder of success, and we absolutely know we can help!

If you like what you hear in the podcast, we have more to share with companies that we work with. 

With the foundation of business experience from Dave and Kelli as a team, in concert with subject matter experts from the rich roster of smart people in our network, we have put these goals, culture themes, and operational processes you hear on the podcast to the test - and they work. 

If you have a complicated problem to solve, AND you like to play to win in business or soar to new heights in your personal career success - click here to learn how you can work with us.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TODAY?  Finding solutions to large problems or big goals is greatly simplified by using the One Percent Rule of tackling one small piece at a time to make the goal or problem more easily achievable.  

WHAT TOPICS DO WE COVER?

* What is the One Percent Rule
* How to apply the One Percent Rule to business or your personal life
* Examples of how some famous people describe the One Percent Rule to achieve success
* Dave shares his own personal One Percent Rule story
* Dave and Kelli demonstrate why they chose a career in business over singing

WHAT’S THE TAKEAWAY? 

The One Percent Rule is a great way to achieve goals or solve problems that seem insurmountable.  Break them apart into easily tackled small pieces and watch how quickly you successfully reach the finish line.  Famous people describe it, sing about it, write about it, and we’ve done it - you can too!

WE USED THESE RESOURCES:

Besides our experiences that directly relate to this topic, we found the following resources very helpful in preparing for this episode:

• Businessinsider article on successful people over 40: https://www.businessinsider.com/24-people-who-became-highly-successful-after-age-40-2015-6#julia-child-worked-in-advertising-and-media-before-writing-her-first-cookbook-when-she-was-50-launching-her-career-as-a-celebrity-chef-in-1961-14
• Article by James Clear on focus: 
  https://jamesclear.com/narrow-focus
• Bernie's Batteries episode on My Job Here Is Done Podcast:
  https://www.myjobhereisdone.com/bernies-batteries/
• Thanks to Greg for the Geeeeeeetar help!

WHO ARE DAVE AND KELLI?

An entrepreneur and intrapreneur duo with street smarts, ‘preneurial’ chops, and a penchant for storytelling.

Dave and Kelli met as teenagers and have a life-long story of their own. They took separate and contrasting career paths, both struggling with the challenges of business and celebrating their career successes differently. 

Kelli, who “worked for the man like a dog for decades,” and Dave, who “started or ran businesses all of his life,” quickly realized there may be substantial value for others based on those combined experiences. The “My Job Here Is Done” Podcast is the result. 

HOW TO WORK WITH US

Ultimately, you’re building a great business or moving up the career ladder of success, and we absolutely know we can help!

If you like what you hear in the podcast, we have more to share with companies that we work with. 

With the foundation of business experience from Dave and Kelli as a team, in concert with subject matter experts from the rich roster of smart people in our network, we have put these goals, culture themes, and operational processes you hear on the podcast to the test - and they work. 

If you have a complicated problem to solve, AND you like to play to win in business or soar to new heights in your personal career success - click here to learn how you can work with us.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TODAY?  Rules. Why we need them, why they are important to our leadership, career, and business growth, and why people generally don’t like rules.

WHAT TOPICS DO WE COVER?

* Where rules started (hint - pretty long ago)
* Some of our first learned rules
* Meep Meep (the rules of the Roadrunner)
* A better way to communicate rules that help people follow them
* 111-year-old business rules that remain super-valid today

WHAT’S THE TAKEAWAY? 

Rules are necessary, but we communicate them in ways that make rules seem bad to some people. Fix the communication aspect, and rules will become just a common sense part of a happy existence.

WE USED THESE RESOURCES:

Besides our experiences that directly relate to this topic, we found the following resources very helpful in preparing for this episode:

• Hammurabi’s Code: An Eye for an Eye …:  
  https://www.ushistory.org/civ/4c.asp
• The Chicago Telephone Company's 1911 Work rules: 
  https://themonitoringassociation.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/rules-for-troublemen-chicago-telephone-company-october-28-1911.pd

WHO ARE DAVE AND KELLI?

An entrepreneur and intrapreneur duo with street smarts, ‘preneurial’ chops, and a penchant for storytelling.

Dave and Kelli met as teenagers and have a life-long story of their own. They took separate and contrasting career paths, both struggling with the challenges of business and celebrating their career successes differently. 

Kelli, who “worked for the man like a dog for decades,” and Dave, who “started or ran businesses all of his life,” quickly realized there may be substantial value for others based on those combined experiences. The “My Job Here Is Done” Podcast is the result. 

HOW TO WORK WITH US

Ultimately, you’re building a great business or moving up the career ladder of success, and we absolutely know we can help!

If you like what you hear in the podcast, we have more to share with companies that we work with. 

With the foundation of business experience from Dave and Kelli as a team, in concert with subject matter experts from the rich roster of smart people in our network, we have put these goals, culture themes, and operational processes you hear on the podcast to the test - and they work. 

If you have a complicated problem to solve, AND you like to play to win in business or soar to new heights in your personal career success - click here to learn how you can work with us.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TODAY?  There are many benefits to communicating with empathy both for yourself and your employees - and it’s free!  You already know how to be empathetic, so bring that to work and enjoy the benefits of empathetic leadership while you propel your career or business forward.  

WHAT TOPICS DO WE COVER?

* Resources available to learn about being an empathetic leader
* The difference between sympathy and empathy 
* Examples of communicating with and without empathy
* Benefits of incorporating empathy into your leadership style

WHAT’S THE TAKE-AWAY?

Empathy in leadership does not necessarily mean you become soft and ineffective, empathy can transform you into the best leader you can be, and your employees will respond with hard work and loyalty.

WE USED THESE RESOURCES:

Besides our experiences that directly relate to this topic, we found the following resources very helpful in preparing for this episode:

• Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
  https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu
• Center for Creative Leadership article https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/empathy-in-the-workplace-a-tool-for-effective-leadership/
• Forbes - 8 Habits of Highly Empathic Leaders https://www.forbes.com/sites/melodywilding/2019/08/05/8-habits-of-highly-empathetic-leaders/?sh=6e635aaf6de7
• Southern New Hampshire University - Empathy in the Workplace https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/career/empathy-in-the-workplace
• The Center for Creative Leadership - Empathy in the Workplace - A Tool for Effective Leadership* By: William A. Gentry, Todd J. Weber, and Golnaz Sadri https://cclinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/empathyintheworkplace.pdf?webSyncID=e4781152-5d5e-ee90-bba9-b515d6193e00&sessionGUID=4b9a9487-12ac-056a-421b-e482a0a4823d
• WWD - Women Wear Daily - The Many Benefits of Leading with Empathy https://wwd.com/business-news/business-features/empathy-leadership-report-1235063067/

WHO ARE DAVE AND KELLI?

An entrepreneur and intrapreneur duo with street smarts, ‘preneurial’ chops, and a penchant for storytelling.

Dave and Kelli met as teenagers and have a life-long story of their own. They took separate and contrasting career paths, both struggling with the challenges of business and celebrating their career successes differently. 

Kelli, who “worked for the man like a dog for decades,” and Dave, who “started or ran businesses all of his life,” quickly realized there may be substantial value for others based on those combined experiences. The “My Job Here Is Done” Podcast is the result. 

HOW TO WORK WITH US

Ultimately, you’re building a great business or moving up the career ladder of success, and we absolutely know we can help!

If you like what you hear in the podcast, we have more to share with companies that we work with. 

With the foundation of business experience from Dave and Kelli as a team, in concert with subject matter experts from the rich roster of smart people in our network, we have put these goals, culture themes, and operational processes you hear on the podcast to the test - and they work. 

If you have a complicated problem to solve, AND you like to play to win in business or soar to new heights in your personal career success - click here to learn how you can work with us.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TODAY?  The competition is not scary, and we explain why in this episode.  Your competition is merely other people with a range of competencies.  Most of us grew up thinking certain jobs or careers were for special people only.  Not true!  Don’t allow fear to hold you back in your career decisions or choices.  

WHAT TOPICS DO WE COVER?

* There are no careers or jobs reserved for special people only
* There is a range of competency in every job category
* We share personal stories about competition in careers and endeavors that can propel careers
* We describe how fear of competition can mask your abilities and hold you back 
* We discuss how the competition is not that scary!

WHAT’S THE TAKE-AWAY?

The competition in your workplace is not scary.  Be confident in your abilities, and don’t let fear get in the way of your career success.

WE USED THESE RESOURCES:

Besides our experiences that directly relate to this topic, we found the following resources very helpful in preparing for this episode:

• Celebrities who own Islands (People Magazine)
  https://people.com/home/celebrity-private-islands/

WHO ARE DAVE AND KELLI?

An entrepreneur and intrapreneur duo with street smarts, ‘preneurial’ chops, and a penchant for storytelling.

Dave and Kelli met as teenagers and have a life-long story of their own. They took separate and contrasting career paths, both struggling with the challenges of business and celebrating their career successes differently. 

Kelli, who “worked for the man like a dog for decades,” and Dave, who “started or ran businesses all of his life,” quickly realized there may be substantial value for others based on those combined experiences. The “My Job Here Is Done” Podcast is the result. 

HOW TO WORK WITH US

Ultimately, you’re building a great business or moving up the career ladder of success, and we absolutely know we can help!

If you like what you hear in the podcast, we have more to share with companies that we work with. 

With the foundation of business experience from Dave and Kelli as a team, in concert with subject matter experts from the rich roster of smart people in our network, we have put these goals, culture themes, and operational processes you hear on the podcast to the test - and they work. 

If you have a complicated problem to solve, AND you like to play to win in business or soar to new heights in your personal career success - click here to learn how you can work with us.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TODAY?  Speaking to others clearly and effectively, in a way to make your point simple and memorable, is an art of communicating. Conveying messages to your business team in a concise fashion means better career success and faster business growth. Think, “One Thought to a Rap” - we explain it all in this podcast episode.

WHAT TOPICS DO WE COVER?

* Kelli insists on embarrassing Dave by digging up some of his old DJ airchecks
* Dave’s experience as a Disc Jockey provided a valuable life lesson on communicating
* We discuss the “One Thought to a Rap” rule and tell a story or two
* Tips on how to apply One Thought to a Rap in your career

WHAT’S THE TAKE-AWAY?

If you apply the rule “One Thought to a Rap” you will find that people respond better to the point you're trying to make.

WE USED THESE RESOURCES:

Besides our experiences that directly relate to this topic, we found the following resources very helpful in preparing for this episode:

Following the careers of Casey Kasem, Wolfman Jack, Ryan Seacrest, Rick Party, and Delilah, as disc jockeys.

• Brainworld Magazine
  https://brainworldmagazine.com/how-your-brain-processes-language/
• Lesley University
  https://lesley.edu/article/why-brain-overload-happens

WHO ARE DAVE AND KELLI?

An entrepreneur and intrapreneur duo with street smarts, ‘preneurial’ chops, and a penchant for storytelling.

Dave and Kelli met as teenagers and have a life-long story of their own. They took separate and contrasting career paths, both struggling with the challenges of business and celebrating their career successes differently. 

Kelli, who “worked for the man like a dog for decades,” and Dave, who “started or ran businesses all of his life,” quickly realized there may be substantial value for others based on those combined experiences. The “My Job Here Is Done” Podcast is the result. 

HOW TO WORK WITH US

Ultimately, you’re building a great business or moving up the career ladder of success, and we absolutely know we can help!

If you like what you hear in the podcast, we have more to share with companies that we work with. 

With the foundation of business experience from Dave and Kelli as a team, in concert with subject matter experts from the rich roster of smart people in our network, we have put these goals, culture themes, and operational processes you hear on the podcast to the test - and they work. 

If you have a complicated problem to solve, AND you like to play to win in business or soar to new heights in your personal career success - click here to learn how you can work with us.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TODAY?  Recessions and the adverse effect they can have on unprepared businesses. Thankfully, on average, recessions last less than a year and rear their ugly head only once every 5-6 years. Recessions are always temporary, and survivable, but you plan way ahead. Plus, that planning will help your business in the long run and during the good times too.

WHAT TOPICS DO WE COVER?

* Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg made headlines with panic messages.
* We look at the damage that can be done to your workforce if there’s panic. 
* We define the term recession and look at occurrence statistics.
* Why you should look at preparing as a business problem that needs no recession.
* Ways to mitigate the impact on employees and business during bad times.
* How outsourcing can help
* The ABCs of Cultivating, Closing, and Cutting

WHAT’S THE TAKE-AWAY?

Don’t panic when you hear a recession may be imminent, it’s just like experiencing a bad year in business. But if your prepare ahead of time for the eventuality of a bad year, you’ll soar past the competition and win.

WE USED THESE RESOURCES:

Besides our experiences that directly relate to this topic, we found the following resources very helpful in preparing for this episode:

• Article in the New York Times about Mark Zuckerberg’s warning to 78000 employees: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/01/technology/meta-facebook-mark-zuckerberg.html
• Article in Business Insider on Elon Muck’s “super bad” feeling and superbad message to employees: https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-is-sacking-staff-who-recently-started-withdrawing-job-offers-2022-6
• Wikipedia definition and statistics on recessions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_recessions_in_the_United_States

WHO ARE DAVE AND KELLI?

An entrepreneur and intrapreneur duo with street smarts, ‘preneurial’ chops, and a penchant for storytelling.

Dave and Kelli met as teenagers and have a life-long story of their own. They took separate and contrasting career paths, both struggling with the challenges of business and celebrating their career successes differently. 

Kelli, who “worked for the man like a dog for decades,” and Dave, who “started or ran businesses all of his life,” quickly realized there may be substantial value for others based on those combined experiences. The “My Job Here Is Done” Podcast is the result. 

HOW TO WORK WITH US

Ultimately, you’re building a great business or moving up the career ladder of success, and we absolutely know we can help!

If you like what you hear in the podcast, we have more to share with companies that we work with. 

With the foundation of business experience from Dave and Kelli as a team, in concert with subject matter experts from the rich roster of smart people in our network, we have put these goals, culture themes, and operational processes you hear on the podcast to the test - and they work. 

If you have a complicated problem to solve, AND you like to play to win in business or soar to new heights in your personal career success - click here to learn how you can work with us.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TODAY?  Comp Creep - Runaway Pay - Compensation plans that hurt your company and your employees. We ask … How can a person earn a $100K annual salary for being a receptionist in a small company? We show you how it happened,  why it shouldn’t happen, and how to fix it before it happens in your business.

WHAT TOPICS DO WE COVER?

* Meet Archie and April, a couple we met on the beach who inspired this episode
* One started as a new receptionist 20 years earlier and was let go recently
* Their ending salary for the receptionist position was over $100k annually
* We discuss compensation plans that can promote pay-band anomalies
* We offer a few ideas on how to create compensation plans that work for today

WHAT’S THE TAKE-AWAY?

Compensation plans can be complicated to the point where you lose control of costs or disincentivize employees. We discuss ways to make compensation and incentives rewarding, controllable, and fair.

WHO ARE DAVE AND KELLI?

An entrepreneur and intrapreneur duo with street smarts, ‘preneurial’ chops, and a penchant for storytelling.

Dave and Kelli met as teenagers and have a life-long story of their own. They took separate and contrasting career paths, both struggling with challenges and celebrating their career successes differently. 

Over the years, they noticed similarities in their stories about their work, the people they interacted with, and how business was conducted. Kelli, who “worked for the man like a dog for decades,” and Dave, who “started or ran businesses all of his life,” quickly realized there is substantial value for others in those combined experiences. The “My Job Here Is Done” Podcast is the result. 

HOW TO WORK WITH US

Ultimately, you’re building a great business or moving up the career ladder of success, and we absolutely know we can help!

If you like what you hear in the podcast, we have more to share with companies that we work with. 

With the foundation of business experience from Dave and Kelli as a team, in concert with subject matter experts from the rich roster of smart people in our network, we have put these goals, culture themes, and operational processes you hear on the podcast to the test - and they work. 

If you have a complicated problem to solve, AND you like to play to win in business or soar to new heights in your personal career success - click here  to learn how you can work with us.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TODAY? The old verbiage of the customer is always right and the customer comes first can actually damage your business, employee morale, and customer satisfaction. Businesses must determine whether potential customers are a good fit for them and if the business is a good fit for the customer for both to be successful.  When employees come first, they will delight customers who will feel as if they come first.  This is a win:win for the business, customers, and employees.

WHAT TOPICS DO WE COVER?

* Challenging the old sayings, the customer comes first and the customer is always right

* Personal stories about the consequences associated with these philosophies

* Where the phrase, “the customer is always right” originated

* Examples of how taking on a customer who is not a fit can damage your business success and employee morale

* How implementing an “employees come first” mindset is a win:win

WHAT’S THE TAKE-AWAY?

We believe the customer is not always right nor do they always come first.  Customers must fit your business and your business must offer products or services that fit customer needs.  When businesses put employees first, the employees provide a customer experience where customers feel like they come first and everyone wins!

WE USED THESE RESOURCES:

Besides our experiences that directly relate to this topic, we found the following resources very helpful in preparing for this episode:

• Harry Gordon Selfridge
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Gordon_Selfridge

WHO ARE DAVE AND KELLI?

An entrepreneur and intrapreneur duo with street smarts, ‘preneurial’ chops, and a penchant for storytelling.

Dave and Kelli met as teenagers and have a life-long story of their own. They took separate and contrasting career paths, both struggling with challenges and celebrating their career successes differently. 

Over the years, they noticed similarities in their stories about their work, the people they interacted with, and how business was conducted. Kelli, who “worked for the man like a dog for decades,” and Dave, who “started or ran businesses all of his life,” quickly realized there is substantial value for others in those combined experiences. The “My Job Here Is Done” Podcast is the result. 

HOW TO WORK WITH US

Ultimately, you’re building a great business or moving up the career ladder of success, and we absolutely know we can help!

If you like what you hear in the podcast, we have more to share with companies that we work with. 

With the foundation of business experience from Dave and Kelli as a team, in concert with subject matter experts from the rich roster of smart people in our network, we have put these goals, culture themes, and operational processes you hear on the podcast to the test - and they work. 

If you have a complicated problem to solve, AND you like to play to win in business or soar to new heights in your personal career success - click here to learn how you can work with us.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TODAY? Employee feedback and why it’s often sugar-coated or not fully honest; and by honest we mean brutally honest. It’s essential for leadership career success and business growth for employees to not fear anything when asked to provide input and opinion, but often they feel there will be consequences if they speak out. We look at this problem in detail.

WHAT TOPICS DO WE COVER?

* Trust in Leadership and its importance to employee feedback

* Our Top 5 FEAR factors and some mitigation strategies

* When not to ask for feedback; wrong venue - wrong time

* Some troubling statistics about how employees view managers

* Is it true “You can’t handle the truth!” as a leader asking for feedback?

WHAT’S THE TAKE-AWAY?

Employees have valuable - read critical - information that leadership can use to better the business fast, but often it’s sugar-coated or withheld due to a set of real employee fears. If you break those fears down, address them properly, and change a few old-fashioned ways, you’ll be surprised at what you can learn.  

WE USED THESE RESOURCES:

Besides our experiences that directly relate to this topic, we found the following resources very helpful in preparing for this episode:

• Forbes: Ten Shocking Workplace Facts You Needed to Know
  https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidsturt/2018/03/08/10-shocking-workplace-stats-you-need-to-know/?sh=169716af3afe
• Harvard Business Review: Why Employees Are Afraid To Speak
  https://hbr.org/2007/05/why-employees-are-afraid-to-speak
• My Job Here Is Done podcast episode: Lookie Here - It’s Dunning-Kruger
  https://www.myjobhereisdone.com/lookie-here-its-dunning-kruger-in-the-flesh/

WHO ARE DAVE AND KELLI?

An entrepreneur and intrapreneur duo with street smarts, ‘preneurial’ chops, and a penchant for storytelling.

Dave and Kelli met as teenagers and have a life-long story of their own. They took separate and contrasting career paths, both struggling with challenges and celebrating their career successes differently. 

Over the years, they noticed similarities in their stories about their work, the people they interacted with, and how business was conducted. Kelli, who “worked for the man like a dog for decades,” and Dave, who “started or ran businesses all of his life,” quickly realized there is substantial value for others in those combined experiences. The “My Job Here Is Done” Podcast is the result. 

HOW TO WORK WITH US

Ultimately, you’re building a great business or moving up the career ladder of success, and we absolutely know we can help!

If you like what you hear in the podcast, we have more to share with companies that we work with. 

With the foundation of business experience from Dave and Kelli as a team, in concert with subject matter experts from the rich roster of smart people in our network, we have put these goals, culture themes, and operational processes you hear on the podcast to the test - and they work. 

If you have a complicated problem to solve, AND you like to play to win in business or soar to new heights in your personal career success - click here  to learn how you can work with us.