I’m a huge fan of continuous learning and a voracious reader and information gatherer. It sure helps when you’re working with clients and speakers from around the world! It’s funny how communication and learning has changed so much through the years though isn’t it? Long before the internet, social media, and the perpetual news cycle? As professionals, especially, much of the information we consume these days is “on the fly” – as busy lives and full calendars shrink our downtime.
That’s one reason podcasts are so popular. According to a new CBS News poll, two-thirds of Americans listen to podcasts at least once in a while, including 23% who do so a few times a week. That’s up from the year before where a majority said they never listen to podcasts. Why the popularity jump?
According to Carrie Ryan, Co-Author of Serial Box's Dead Air, “It’s information and entertainment, in bite-size chunks, right at our fingertips. While many of us might not take the time to sit down and read a 20k word length article, we can listen to that article in bite sized chunks during our commute to work, especially if it’s presented in an entertaining, narrative way.”
I totally agree and I wanted to share podcasts that are blazing new trails by two of our amazing keynote speakers, Mike Walsh and Ty Bennett.
Mike’s podcast takes listeners on amazing exploration of our world and the compelling technology changes that are shifting the way we work, live, communicate, and relate. You’ll find insightful topics such as The Unexpected Economics of the Data-Driven Future, Ethical AI and the Digitally Transformed Insurance Company and visionary ideas such as Future Life in 2030. Learn more here.
Ty’s extraordinary guests captivate, educate, and deliver expertly powerful insights. He moderates discussions such as The First Woman to Ski Across Antarctica Solo with world-renowned explorer Felicity Aston, Exploring Limitless with author Laura Gassner Otting, and even life-affirming dialogues such as Our Journey with Stage 4 Cancer with Dan & Charity Lighten. I believe you’ll find each episode moving, informative, and transformative. Learn more here.
If you love learning as much as I do, I hope you’ll add these two wonderful podcasts to your listening portfolios. You won’t be disappointed!
The secret behind successful digital transformation from Mike Walsh.
Sadly, the news of mass killings rocks our news waves again and again in today’s world. One is too many, right? The aftermath of the recent tragedy in New Zealand is heartbreaking and solemn. We should do better, we think. We can do better. Where does that start?
Recently, Keynote Speaker and good friend Sam Silverstein shared his powerful thoughts on the extraordinary example of accountability leadership displayed by New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in a moving article. He perfectly sums up how and why her profound response to tragedy in her country makes her a leader of exceptional grace, empathy, and vision.
It is that leadership and vision that led her country to take swift and definitive action in the wake of tragedy. As reported in Vox, “After just one mass shooting, New Zealand’s Parliament on Wednesday voted 119-1 to ban most semiautomatic weapons and assault rifles in the country.” Her statement, “New Zealand stands apart in its widespread availability of weapons of such destructive nature and force. Today that anomaly ends.”
Ardern received praise from all around the globe for her strength and passionate response and quick action to the shooting.
Action in the wake of tragedy. Action in the presence of her grieving citizens. Action in response to senseless tragedy. Action with compassion. That’s the kind of leadership the world needs a whole lot more of.
Thank you, Sam, for your brilliant spotlight on the Prime Minister’s incredible accountability leadership. May we all learn from her steadfast examples.
Sam Silverstein: delivers leadership strategies, mindsets, and tools to organizations around the globe – helping them to leverage change, communicate more purposefully, and lead with accountability.
Great Leaders Multiply People's Value from Tim Sanders a top keynote speaker on Leadership, Technology, Customer Service, Sales and Marketing, Business Growth, Engagement, Culture, Collaboration & Communication.
We’re so excited about the IASB (International Association of Speakers Bureaus) 2019 Convention coming up on April 4th in Vancouver. “This premiere event of the year is the largest gathering of speaker bureau, agency and speaker management professionals in the world. The annual convention provides members with unparalleled opportunities to learn, engage and build relationships.”
We have so much respect for the bureaus we work with, and truly look at them as significant partners who help our extraordinary team of talented keynote speakers to deliver empowering and significant messages all across the globe.
I was recently asked what made us a good fit for IASB members. My answer lies in three words that are at the heart of who we are at cmi speaker management: Caring, Responsive, and Transparent.
First, caring. We treat people with compassion, great care, and appreciation. To me, that’s a golden rule that is vital in any industry, and definitely in ours. I’m so fortunate to have an extraordinary seven-member team in place that are just as passionate about service as I am.
Second, responsiveness. Our clients tell us that we have some of the fastest response times in the business. Often, we answer back within mere minutes of an inquiry coming in. That works for everyone involved. No one likes to be left waiting for an answer, and in our day of information inundation – quick response is a must so that nothing gets lost in the abyss!
Third, transparency. We are an open book – and for good reason. We know that truth builds trust, and trust is the foundation for effective relationships. That’s why we are always forthcoming in terms of our negotiations, availability, fees – all of it. This quality has earned us high marks from bureaus all over the world. It takes the stress out of working with people when you know their integrity is always above board!
I look forward to seeing colleagues at the April event. I know it will be filled and fuelled with lots of laughter, learning, and leveraging new and interesting strategies! Until then – here’s to amazing partnerships!
If there is ever anything we can do for you – please don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’re here for you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7FKEWTvc04
In the wake of the new Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland and the subsequent interview with Oprah Winfrey, keynote speaker Jason Hewlett is retiring his Michael Jackson impressions and even taking the extraordinary steps to remove footage from his wide volume of videos.
That’s a bold move, at considerable time and expense for Jason – but it doesn’t come as a surprise to us, nor his growing audience base. Jason’s entire career, speaking and business foundation, and his life is now and has always been “family friendly first”.
In his revealing post regarding the decision, Jason shares the inherent pull of integrity that has him walking away from “the moonwalk” and all things Jackson in his performances and keynotes. He also describes the decision as less from a place of judgement and more from a place of empathy and his own internal compass of what he feels is right for himself and his audiences.
Jason’s powerful keynote topics often revolve around what he calls “The Promise” for leaders, teams, innovators, and organizations. The often hysterical, always entertaining, and even emotional messages have attendees asking themselves deep personal questions about their own personal and professional promises and what that means when leading a purposeful life.
As one of our valued keynote speakers, we fully support Jason’s decision and applaud him for being tapped and tuned in enough to the world conversation, as well as his own integrity level to make this move.
Our world is a very complex one, especially in today’s advances of 24/7 news cycles and often embroiled social media spirals. There are rarely easy answers or simple black and white situations. What there is a lot of however are compassionate, promise-filled people like Jason Hewlett who are constantly reaching to produce the highest value with integrity and honor. We’re proud to be the team that helps him bring his messages to the world.
If you or someone you know needs help there are support centres you can reach out to. RAINN is a great one. Call 800-656-HOPE.
