Play Your Position With Mary Lou Kayser

A veteran of the branding, advertising, and interactive marketing industry, John founded Gumas Advertising in 1984. Today, the award-winning firm is consistently named one of the top branding and interactive marketing firms by the California Business Times. John is recognized as one of the country’s foremost authorities on Challenger Brand Marketing®. He is the author of two books “Marketing Smart” and “Challenger Brand Marketing” which describe how challenger brands can effectively develop marketing strategies to take on their larger competitors. In addition, John has been an adjunct professor of branding, advertising, and interactive marketing, a sought-after speaker, and a regular columnist for several publications and blogs. John currently sits on many boards, including the San Francisco Giants CF, The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, The San Francisco State University Foundation, The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, and The Elios Society. John was recently inducted into the San Francisco State University

It's fitting to bring you James Cluskey today as the 2023 Wimbledon Championships are playing out right now in London. James is a former professional tennis player turned entrepreneur and private tennis coach to Sir Richard Branson. He represented Ireland in the Davis Cup from 2006-2015 and won 15 professional titles, with a career-high ranking of 145 in the world. In 2018, James and three others broke the Guinness World Record for the longest doubles tennis match, playing continuously for over 60 hours. Since retiring from professional tennis, James has carried passion for high performance and is the founder of Give Learn, an e-learning company that offers both LIVE and on-demand classes with global experts around soft skills. Give Learn links learning to social good and allows users to earn points to donate to different social causes. James believes in connecting people to develop their life and career. He is a passionate advocate of human interaction, whether in person or remotely. James authored the book

The recent rise of vulnerability as a conversation topic, as a characteristic of effective leadership, and as a concept we are now expected to understand and embrace is the subject of today's episode. People are talking about it everywhere -- as well as abusing it to gain favors and attention. It's become a thing and as such, it's worth exploring. = = = = = As always -- thank you for supporting the show! Your 5-star rating and review makes a difference -- it's easy to leave one and it helps spread the word about the podcast! = = = = = My latest book, The Far Unlit Unknown -- is available everywhere books are sold including Audble! Get your copy and learn more about it here Are we connected yet on social?  @maryloukayser (Instagram) https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlkayser/ (LinkedIn) = = = = = Listen to my conversation with Mario Lanzarotti: https://traffic.libsyn.com/playyourposition/Mario_Lanzarotti.mp3  Why Vulnerability Will Change Your Life: https://www.betterup.com/blog/vulnerability  The Best Leaders Are

Get ready for the fun energy! My guest this week is Mario Lanzarotti and he exudes excitement and enthusiasm for all of life! From CEO’s to Olympians and mission-driven entrepreneurs, Mario Lanzarotti helps high-achievers all across the globe gain the mental clarity and focus necessary to achieve what would normally take years, in 6 months or less. Mario is highly skilled in helping participants overcome mental and emotional blockages, which enables them to reach a much higher level of performance and well-being. He has been certified as an NLP, life-, executive-, body- as well as hypnotherapy-coach. He also completed the Landmark Forum Advanced Course, the Self Expression Leadership Program, as well as Tony Robbins signature, 4-day event, Unleash the Power Within. Mario has participated in a variety of spiritual plant ceremonies such as Ayahuasca, San Pedro and Psilocybin Mushrooms conducted by traditional shamans. Today, Mario travels the world on a mission to raise the consciousness of humanity through his

In today's solo episode, I dive into a topic we don't often discuss -- certainly not collectively or culturally. But it's an important topic and it's one that affects each of us throughout our lives. I'm talking about the way death impacts us as leaders -- of our lives, in our businesses, and at work -- and ways we can keep moving forward even when life as we've known it no longer exists. = = = = = Listen to my conversation with Dan Caldwell here: http://playyourpositionpodcast.com/dan/  = = = = = As always -- thank you for supporting the show! Your 5-star rating and review makes a difference -- it's easy to leave one and it helps spread the word about the podcast! = = = = = My latest book, The Far Unlit Unknown -- is available everywhere books are sold including Audble! Get your copy and learn more about it here Are we connected yet on social?  @maryloukayser (Instagram) https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlkayser/ (LinkedIn)

When it comes to building networks, many believe that you need to know a lot of people or spend a lot of time networking, but Alice Tang has proven otherwise. As a Vice President and Partner at a full service multi-generational full service financial planning firm in Oregon, a top female producer in the financial industry, and a sought-after speaker, she has built her business and success by focusing on creating and deepening relationships one connection at a time. Originating from humble beginnings in Hong Kong, Alice quickly realized that relationships are the key to success as she watched her father build his business. As the first in her family to earn a college degree, Alice graduated from the University of London, where she met her husband, Horace. She immigrated to the U.S. without a network, family, or a community and started a career in financial advising. After years of following the “tried and true” advice for networking and building a business, Alice realized it is not scalable, there are only so

Marybeth Gregg is the President and Founder of the International Center for Women’s Leadership. Throughout her 30+ year career, she has worked in human development for several global corporations in addition to her extensive individual coaching work with clients in the business and not-for-profi t arena. In 2012, Marybeth founded what is now The Inter- national Center for Women’s Leadership. This woman-owned-and-operated organization is dedicated to supporting women during personal life changes, mid-life journeys, partnership transition, retirement, or simply for women who are in search of a more meaningful and fulfilling life. In our conversation today, Marybeth shares her story of personal transformation from working in corporate to becoming an author and founder. Connect with Marybeth on her website: https://ticwl.com/pyp-podcast-free-gift/  Get her book here: https://ticwl.com/how-to-soar-with-broken-wing-book/  = = = = = As always -- thank you for supporting the show! Your 5-star rating and review make

Imagine working on the leadership team for a renowned organization that services thousands of customers -- only to learn that not everyone on the team is operating ethically or morally. What would you do? Today's guest found himself in this position and his story of what happened after his discovery is the topic of his book -- and of our conversation. If leadership matters to you in any way, you don't want to miss this episode. Gordon Graham gives us a front row seat to what happens when corruption infiltrates an organization -- and it's a wild, insightful ride.  = = = = = Gordon Graham is a former information technology professional with over 30 years of experience in the electric utility industry. During his career, he was recognized by peers and industry trade associations as an authority on information technology management issues and was a sought-after speaker on information technology strategy and aligning technology with business. In addition to his decades-long career, Gordon earned an AAS degree in c

In today's episode, I reflect on a poignant self-leadership lesson I learned as an adolescent about sun exposure -- and the impact foolishness can have on our lives. = = = = = As always -- thank you for supporting the show! Your 5-satr rating and review makes a difference -- it's easy to leave one and it helps spread the word about the podcast! = = = = = My latest book, The Far Unlit Unknown -- is available everywhere books are sold! Get your copy and learn more about it here Are we connected yet on social?  @maryloukayser (Instagram) https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlkayser/ (LinkedIn)

What does it take to optimize a small business for scale? For many small business owners, scaling can feel overwhelming and out of reach. In today's episode, I talk with Paul Jackson who sees things very differently. Paul is the Founder and CEO at Method — the complete process automation tool for businesses that use QuickBooks and Xero. He believes that building small business software with a one-sizefits-all mentality is lazy and outdated. This firm belief, paired with his experience as a self-taught coder and entrepreneur, resulted in Paul’s empathy for small business owners. It also sparked his passion for changing the software landscape. While living in a bike shed during university, Paul built and sold his first business, QXpress (a field service scheduling app).  After that, Paul started Method, a company driven to equalize the future of small business technology. Method is an entirely customizable platform for small businesses that want to simplify their unique way of working. Method is best known for

You might remember Zack Slingsby of Human Factor Media from my previous conversation with him. I invited him back to the show recently to talk about a short film he and his team made called "26" -- A guy considers getting married at 26 (watch it on YouTube here): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKeBbagtOoQ&t=764s  In today's episode, Zack and I discuss this creative project along with the power of storytelling through short films; how the landscape of filmmaking has changed since the Internet showed up; why movies still matter; why so many people have a hard time to commmitting to anything these days; the state of marriage as an instituion; and a ton of other thought-provoking ideas sure to inspire and entertain you! Connect with Zack here: https://humanfactormedia.co/ Listen to my conversation with Zack about his leadership journey here: http://playyourpositionpodcast.com/zack-slingsby/  = = = = = As always, Team PYP -- thank you for supporting the show! = = = = = My latest book, The Far Unlit Unknown

Get ready to be inspired! With us today is Melissa Hughes, founder of Live Rich, Spread Wealth—a business (and movement) that is all about helping people live richer lives as a result of becoming their best selves. Melissa is a best-selling author, speaker, and master business coach that became a self-made millionaire by the age of 31! Known as The Guru of Implementation®, Melissa’s success, and that of her clients, is a result of her practical, proven systems for business and life success. Her clients include companies like Microsoft, Motorola, ESPN, and globally recognized speaker Lisa Nichols, star of the hit film, The Secret, as well as small start-ups and individuals. Large corporations around the world hire Melissa to advise them on projects and initiatives to the tune of $20 million, and she specializes in helping to ensure culture, communication, project scope, and implementation are successful across divisions, departments, and business units. = = = = = As always, Team PYP -- thank you for suppor

As the co-founder and CEO of Groove, an online coworking community and mobile app for solopreneurs, Josh is building on his passion for community to help transform the way people on wavy career paths (solopreneurs, freelancers, creatives) can find support and human connection to help them accomplish great things. Josh’s career itself follows a wavy path — after working as an engineer, he studied meditation as a way to combat his burnout, spending time learning at ashrams in India. He brought together his spiritual practices with bringing people together through cultural events and programming as Managing Director at London’s Village Underground and working on festivals like Wilderness Festival. He continued freelancing as a strategy and innovation consultant. He believes in work-life harmony — how we work shapes how we live, and vice versa. He experienced this firsthand as an exec at WeWork in the office of the CEO working across the business. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Josh and his co-founders saw that th

Artificial Intelligence is here, and it's not the problem. Let's get real about what the problem really is. = = = = = * Attention mid to senior level professionals! Have you answered the call to leadership and are thinking about leaving a meaningful legacy that makes a difference? Registration for the Inspire Impact Lead Workshop is now open! *  (secure your spot now -- space is limited) = = = = = As always, Team PYP -- thank you for supporting the show! = = = = = My latest book, The Far Unlit Unknown -- is available everywhere books are sold! Get your copy and learn more about it here Are we connected yet on social?  @maryloukayser (Instagram) https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlkayser/ (LinkedIn) Here are three more ways I can help you: Share this episode with one person who could use a boost of inspiration and positivity today. Bring me in to speak at your next event. Book a free call with me today to discuss that book you finally want to write in this year.

The business landscape gets noisier every day which makes getting found, getting noticed, and getting bigger problems most face. What's a company to do? According to Kevin Maney, the answer is category design. In today's episode of the Play Your Position Podcast, Kevin explains just what category design is, why it matters, plus so much more about what it takes to succeed today in business. Kevin Maney is co-author of Play Bigger and has been a bestselling author and award-winning columnist writing about technology for three decades. That allows him to bring broad and deep context to Category Design conversations. Kevin’s most recent book is Intended Consequences, co-authored with his long-time collaborator, Hemant Taneja, who runs the VC firm General Catalyst. His other books with Hemant are UnHealthcare: A Manifesto for Health Assurance, which proposes a new category of healthcare, and the 2018 book Unscaled: How AI and a New Generation of Upstarts Are Creating the Economy of the Future. He also authored

Every leader knows doing everything ourselves is a cardinal sin...yet so many of us continue to insist "no one else can do what we do as well as we can do what we do." Yikes. This mindset gets a lot of us into scalding hot water when we could be leisurely swimming in a pool that's at just the right temperature. In today's conversation with the Chief Revenue Officer for BELAY, Lisa Seal guides us through the process of handing over tasks and systems to capable allies who want to help us grow our businesses. And here's the thing -- delegation is a skill we can use in EVERY aspect of our lives, including running our homes, managing our families, and the like. Lisa utilizes her vast experience in growth management across several industries and various sales environments to work with sales professionals, empowering them to achieve – and exceed – their targets and help organizations grow. A major goal of Lisa’s is helping clients climb higher by giving them the space, time, and energy to grow their business. Aimin

John Ovrom is the President and Founder of Exit Consulting Group, Inc. (ECG). He founded the company on a simple principle – the desire to help fellow entrepreneurs. What started as John helping friends and previous business connections, quickly evolved into a consulting business, and the creation of The Ovrom Group, that became the Exit Consulting Group, Inc. in 2009. John has an entrepreneurial spirit, and is constantly coming up with new, inspiring, creative, and innovative ideas. A serial entrepreneur, John founded his first company OSSO Construction, Inc. in 1991, and ran the custom home remodeling company, along with several additional construction-based companies, for 14 years with his dad and cousin. After going through the process of selling his company, he realized the need for a service provider who can step into the business, develop a strategic exit plan, and manage the transition. John is truly passionate about helping people and solving problems. His fearless persistence, openness, honesty, and

In Part 2 of my conversation with MiMi Chau, a Business and Transformation Coach + Reiki Master, MiMi and I dive into some deeper topics about success, embracing change, and love including: The differences between masculine and feminine energy and what we need to know about each kind for generating success in business and life; Why everyone has both kinds of energy present at all times regardless of how you identify;  What each kind of energy means to us as leaders at work and in the home; "Third Love" -- what it is, how to find it, and why it's the most powerful kind of love of all Moving beyond trauma to fully receive our truest calling Plus, MiMi leads us through a fantastic meditation so if you can, listen to this episode in a place where you can safely close your eyes to get the full experience. Please don't close your eyes if you are driving! Catch Part 1 of my conversation with MiMi Chau and as always, thanks for being a part of Team PYP! = = = = = My latest book, The Far Unlit Unknown -- is out now!

MiMi Chau first appeared here on the Play Your Position Podcast in 2014. A lot has happened in MiMi's life since then! In Part 1 of my conversation with MiMi Chau, MiMi shares the latest iteration of her leadership journey. Not only did she meet her soulmate Henry since the last time we talked, but she had her son and a few business experiences that didn't work out. Today, MiMi is a Business and Transformation Coach + Reiki Master who helps clients honor their Divine Feminine in all aspects of their lives, including health, business, and love. Through business coaching combined with holistic healing methods like Reiki to create balance, and manifest true potential for a fulfilling life, MiMi guides clients to trust their intuition, get clear on their soul purpose, and take action to create the life they desire. The traditional concept of hustle is associated with masculinity and a focus on achievement, often at the cost of personal well-being and maybe at the cost of your piece of mind. Balancing this with fe

One of the biggest barriers to experiencing more fulfillment, more joy, and more happiness in life is the lack of skill we have in talking to ourselves intelligently. We talk to ourselves all day long...and what we say can definitely use some improvement! I work on developing this skill every day and it does make a difference.  In today's episode, I share a couple of ways to do this so that you can benefit from an increase in intelligent self-talk. = = = = = My latest book, The Far Unlit Unknown -- is out now! Get it everywhere books are sold including Amazon Engage wtih me on social: @maryloukayser (Instagram) https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlkayser/ (LinkedIn) Here are three more ways I can help you: Share this episode with one person who could use a boost of inspiration and positivity today. Bring me in to speak at your next event. Book a free call with me today to discuss that book you finally want to write in this year.