Let's Fix Work With Laurie Ruettimann

Punk Rock HR Episode 118: Lauren Davis was a marketer, community organizer, and record store owner. Her real claim to fame, though, is that she does social media for conferences speakers like me. She helps speakers really connect with their audiences in a different way.  Lauren has been named as one of the "20 People You Should Know" and a "Person to Watch." She has also received US Senate recognition for her passionate dedication to helping businesses succeed. Her expert social media advice has been featured in articles by Huffington Post and Readers Digest. She hosts her own podcast, The Business Event Playbook, that helps people grow their presence so they can focus on sales, exposure, leadership, and community impact. Lauren is all about community in a virtual world. I needed to bring her on today to talk about what is going on in the world of conferences. Many of us have questions about how speakers are doing and what the future of networking and events looks like. Today we talk about this and what it me

Punk Rock HR Episode 117: JeVon “JT” McCormick is the CEO of Scribe Media, a publishing company that helps authors write, publish, and market their books. More importantly, he is someone with an incredibly interesting backstory.  JT grew up amidst chaos, never went to college, and started his career in labor-intensive jobs. Yet, through these experiences, he managed to understand society better. That eventually became his avenue to success. Now, he runs a company that published the most sought after book in America last year: Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins. He also recently wrote a piece that appeared on CNN.com and went viral. In today’s episode, we talk about work, power, politics, money, the Coronavirus, Black Lives Matter, and what it means to be a leader in uncertain times. In this episode you’ll hear: What got JT to where he is today. His chaotic origin story that helped contribute to his business success. The 3 rules of leadership he lives by. Why the future of work should be a combination of remote a

Punk Rock HR Episode 116: Today on the podcast, I’m talking to my best friend, Jennifer McClure. We have one of our BFF chats, Jennifer’s first on this iteration of the podcast.  During COVID-19, a lot has changed in Jennifer’s life. She has moved into her new house, navigated through the sickness of a family member, and rebooted her business. Like many of us, these life changes brought on by the pandemic have taught her many life lessons. Jennifer shares those with us today.  Jennifer is a full-time professional speaker, business advisor, and host of the podcast Impact Makers. She has spoken at over 350 industry-related conferences, helping international leaders embrace the future of work and leverage their influence. In this episode, she updates us on her life and provides valuable wisdom on all different areas of work. In this episode you’ll hear: Jennifer’s experience selling her house in a pandemic. The story of how her mom became sick in March and what that taught her about herself. The capacity of hum

Punk Rock HR Episode 115: This week, I’m joined by Karina Schultheis. She is a manager of human insights and HCM evangelism at Ultimate Software. However, even though Karina has an amazing job now, it hasn’t always been that way. She has worked in other jobs with other bosses and therefore brings a unique perspective to the table.  Currently, Karina is a newly promoted employee at an amazing company. Ultimate Software really gets it right on so many levels and they have been recognized for it. It is one of the best companies to work for, not just in America, but the world. Karina is also a working mother who is about to give birth to her second child.  In this episode, Karina and I talk about the future of work post-COVID. If you like insights on human behavior and what it’s going to take for companies to turn it around, listen in to this conversation with Karina Schultheis. In this episode you’ll hear: How integral the human element is to a company’s culture. Why personalization is going to become crucial

Punk Rock HR Episode 114: Reverend Wendy Hamilton joins me to talk about the storm before the calm. In other words, the process of dealing with recurring problems and tackling the root cause of what's happening in our society, to get to a place of social justice. Reverend Wendy is a D.C. area activist, minister, and mother who's holding workshops on grief and trauma in the age of civil unrest. Wendy helps us work through grief, addresses faith, and the intersection of the two. This episode covers power, politics, money, race, and God. Yes, we cover a lot. I hope you enjoy our conversation.    In this episode you'll hear: Universal basic income and why everyone deserves to have their basic needs met. The intersection of social justice and faith. Reverend Wendy's perspective around grief and trauma and what she's doing to address it. We discuss the various PR statements distributed by businesses around racism and equality.  The many opportunities available to leaders in this moment of societal and civil change

Punk Rock HR Episode 113: The hospitality industry has suffered tremendously because of COVID. The jobs the industry provides, well, they're the backbone of American families. This week, Jim Knight joins me to talk about the recession, staying motivated, and being resilient in hard times. We go deep into the retail, hospitality, and foodservice industries because that's the area of the economy that Jim knows best.    Jim Knight is a training and development veteran with over 30 years of experience. He trains people to be their best. While I find the term 'rockstar' often overused, Jim Knight is a rockstar in every sense. I hope you enjoy my conversation with him.   In this episode you'll hear: Jim breaks down what is going on in the hospitality and foodservice industry today, how many within the industry are discovering what it means to be resilient. Tension around wages, earnings, and unionization; Jim shares his take. How safety and engagement are related. With more and more foodservice workers going on un

Punk Rock HR Episode 112: So, what does a Canadian millennial entrepreneur know about making a comeback? This week's guest, Emily O'Brien, founder of Comeback Snacks, is going to tell us. In today's episode, Emily opens up about her journey from a sales professional at a global corporation to an entrepreneur, to a convicted felon, and then back again to an entrepreneur. She is someone who is trying to give back, make amends, and help her community.    Many motivational professionals like to say the setback is a setup for the comeback. And often, it sounds over-sensationalized. But in the case of Emily's story, I think that's true. If you'd like to hear about a person who overcame their worst instincts and how they turned it around, I think you're going to love this conversation with Emily O'Brien.   In this episode you'll hear: Emily's story of graduating college with honors, starting her own business, and how things took a left turn when she got arrested. She shares openly about life after her arrest, being

Punk Rock HR Episode 111: If you want to be an executive or career coach, you have to approach doing so like a business, not a side hustle. You need a business plan, you need to know how to run a business, and you need to determine who you can help and who you cannot help. In this episode, I am sharing four pieces of advice for those interested in starting a coaching business of any kind.   In this episode you'll hear: Why creating a business plan is a necessity, plus some resources to help you write one. The importance of knowing your "Why?" Understanding and acknowledging your skills and why you need to be ready to turn down clients you know you cannot help. Why executive coaching is not a side hustle.    Resources from this episode: Score.org Business Plan Template Small Business Administration Jennifer McClure Laurie on Instagram Laurie on LinkedIn Read more from Laurie Work with Laurie   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my produce

Punk Rock HR Episode 110: Podcasting is a little bit of art, a little bit of science, and a lot of hard work. Today, HR podcasters, Wendy Dailey and Jon Thurmond, hosts of the HR Social Half Hour Podcast, join me on the show. If you've ever wanted to know what it takes to host a podcast about Human Resources, buckle up because this episode is for you.    In their podcast, Wendy and Jon talk to ordinary individuals working in the trenches of Human Resources, who are doing extraordinary things. Wendy and Jon are two examples of humans doing it right, so I invited them to come on to Punk Rock HR. They give us a behind the scenes look into their podcast, which inspires them to keep going, and how community is the driving force in everything they do.  I respect what Wendy and Jon are doing. I think at the end of this conversation, you may admire them too.   In this episode you'll hear: How the name HR Social Half Hour Podcast was born out of a Twitter Chat, and why the word social is so important to show's online

Punk Rock HR Episode 109: If you've ever wondered, am I qualified? Or am I the right person for this role? You are going to enjoy this week's conversation with Amanda Nachman. With graduation season upon us, Amanda is perfectly positioned to talk about looking for a job in a pandemic. She is an author and professional speaker who is passionate about helping emerging professionals become career strategists and achieve their dream careers. She's also a motivational speaker at Find Your Passion Career and the CEO of the College Magazine.    In this conversation, Amanda and I talk about her new book #Qualified: You Are More Impressive Than You Realize, her journey developing College Magazine, and the growth of her career. Amanda has lessons for you, whether you're a new grad or someone who has been doing your job for twenty years. You don't need to wait around for someone to tell you that you're qualified. You can build this experience on your own.   In this episode you'll hear: How Amanda turned her idea to cre

Punk Rock HR Episode 108: David Burkus is one of the world's leading business thinkers and speakers, focusing on topics such as leadership and innovation. He's also the best-selling author of an audiobook called Pick a Fight: How Great Teams Find a Purpose Worth Rallying Around. I like a good battle. I love a good cause too. So David is on the podcast this week because I am someone who is motivated by a fight.  In his book, David asks great questions like, "As an organization, what are we fighting for?" Or "What are you doing to change the world? And why are you doing it?" It's such a great perspective to have, especially in the age of a pandemic. If you're not fighting for something, if you don't know your purpose or your mission, what are you doing? So if you are looking for some motivation, want to think about your job in a more significant way or find your purpose, I think you're going to enjoy this conversation with my friend David Burkus. In this episode you'll hear: Why David decided to release his bo

Punk Rock HR Episode 107:   One of the weirder stories to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis is that we might have a bacon shortage. Yeah, seriously. Now, I'm a vegetarian, and I have a lot of assumptions about how meat is made. But, a lack of bacon? That didn't sound right to me.    So I reached out to my friend Jesse McCoy, who is an expert in biosecurity, specifically food and animal health. He keeps animals from getting sick, so we don't get sick. And when it comes to bacon shortages, it turns out that animals aren't the problem, it's humans. We're not washing our hands. We're not wearing masks. We're spreading COVID-19 to individuals who work in the meat industry. And then when they go to work, they're getting their colleagues sick. And that's having an effect at many different production facilities, which has a downstream impact on the supply chain.    Jesse joined me to discuss whether or not the individuals who work on the line are indeed victims. Are they low paid? Are they working in terrible environme

Punk Rock HR Episode 106:   How are brands like Warby Parker or Casper Mattress re-shaping the way we make purchases in the 21st century? Well, Larry Ingrassia, my guest this week, is going to tell us. Larry is a former journalist, and editor turned author of the book, Billion Dollar Brand Club: How Dollar Shave Club, Warby Parker, and Other Disruptors Are Remaking What We Buy. Together we discuss the online brands you know, with billion-dollar valuations. We also talk about customer experience as a critical differentiator for many of these brands. And finally, we talk about COVID-19 and how it may or may not change our shopping habits. In this episode you'll hear: How the questions, "How did this happen?" And "How did what I thought was impossible become possible?" were the inspiration for writing the book, Billion Dollar Brand Club. Consumers shop differently today than they were even a decade ago. Larry shares some of the changes that have taken place in our shopping habits, even before COVID-19. What i

Punk Rock HR Episode 105:    If you are like many, you may be wondering what you would do if you came down with COVID-19 and how you would maneuver the testing process, treatment, and recovery. Well, April Matan, my childhood bestie, is on the podcast today to share her experience. April is an HR-professional turned dental hygienist. She caught the novel coronavirus from her husband, who got it at work. She has since recovered, and of course, I am very relieved.    In today's episode, April talks about navigating her COVID-19 diagnosis, her testing experience, her recovery, and shares her thoughts on returning to work. We also talk about what an absolute mess the COVID-19 response has been. My challenge for you today is to learn from April's experiences.   In this episode you'll hear: April shares how and when she began to feel sick, as well as some of her symptoms. She wants everyone listening to know the most important thing to understand is that you might not get the classic symptoms. You might be sick

Punk Rock HR Episode 104: Have you ever wanted to do something, but just kept getting in your way over and over again? Yeah, me too. This week, I share my experience with writing my upcoming book, "Betting on You: How to Put Yourself First (Finally) And Take Control of Your Career," and how one simple statement by a colleague changed my outlook on writing, completely. Tune into to get a brief glimpse into what my book is about.    In this episode you'll hear: My early ambitions of being a writer and some of my writing failures The one thing a colleague said to me that changed the trajectory of my writing, completely What you can expect from my book, including who it is for and how it can help   Resources from this episode: Laurie on Instagram Laurie on LinkedIn Read more from Laurie Work with Laurie   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruite

Punk Rock HR Episode 103:  I'd like you to meet Joey Price. Joey is the founder of Jumpstart: HR, LLC, and host of Business, Life, and Coffee, a weekly entrepreneur mentorship podcast. He focuses on creating effective HR systems for small businesses and startups across the country and serves on the Advisory Committee of the Forbes School of Business and Technology's Human Resources Degree Program. Joey Price is a thought leader in the very best sense of the word.    We are all feeling a sense of anxiety in the face of the unknown. In today's conversation, Joey joins me to offer his perspective on what it's like to be a leader and to be human during this crazy time. We also discuss the effects on work, life, and business on the COVID-19 generation. As you listen, I hope this episode offers a healing conversation to you. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this episode of Punk Rock HR.   In this episode you'll hear: Joey shares his thoughts on how people are reacting or coping with life and work during the COVID-19

Punk Rock HR Episode 102: My guest today is Michael Bungay Stanier, author of The Advice Trap. Today, he helps us think differently about advice, giving advice, and receiving advice. He also talks about some ways to avoid those pesky advice traps. Michael is also the author of The Coaching Habit, and his recent TEDx on how to take your advice monster is a must-watch. He's got a ton of tips and resources, so be sure to check out the show notes for links to many of them. I have been following Michael for many years and was thrilled to have him as my guest. I hope you enjoy our conversation.  In this episode you’ll hear: Michael's attempt at creating a coaching practice and his discovery that he didn't enjoy coaching people all that much. How Michael helps people stay curious a little bit longer. Coaching is not an occasional formal intervention.  Helping you reframe your default response to advice-giving. We discuss the magic of social contracting. And, how to tame your advice monster.   Resources from this e

Laurie Ruettimann is a mentor to dozens of emerging and seasoned leaders. All of her mentees are just like her—spinning their wheels and working from home. How do you your best work in an environment that has you hyperfocused on COVID-19 and worrying about your finances? The answer lies in staying true to yourself and creating products, services, and content that is consistent with your values. This episode shares Laurie's insights on what it means to be productive and helpful when the world is freaking out.   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Punk Rock HR Episode 101:    This episode covers some of your questions about Coronavirus and how your employer should and shouldn't behave. To help me explore this topic, Minneapolis-based employment attorney, Kate Bischoff joins me. She's an expert on work and in the world of politics. She understands how power works at an organization, and she definitely knows a thing or two about sticking up for the underdog. We also talk about unemployment, COBRA Health Insurance and some considerations employers should think about when laying off their workforce. If you want to hear two-midwestern women talk about what is going on in the world of work right now, you won't want to miss this episode.   In this episode you’ll hear: COVID-19 and work: the questions on the minds of today's leaders, employees, and organizations Healthcare coverage concerns in the face of a global pandemic We discussed the incompetence by the federal government when they had months of forewarning Kate explains unemployment and addresses the n

Punk Rock HR Episode 100: People keep saying that we're living in an unprecedented era of disruption. While this is new for us, humankind has lived through war, pestilence, plagues, and we have persevered. We persevere because we hustle, and we move quickly. We think about innovative solutions, but we also rely on our community. So when a member of my community told me about Lorna Borenstein and the work she is doing to help in this time of crisis, I knew I needed to have her on the podcast. She is a business owner, an entrepreneur, and is at the epicenter of helping people do their best work and feel great at a time when that's under assault.   Lorna Borenstein is the founder and CEO of a well-being company called Grokker. Her company has created a platform where credentialed experts can offer videos and teach people how to live better. They focus on five aspects of well-being; fitness, mental health, sleep, nutrition, and financial wellness. Up until last week, Grokker was not available to everyone; it was