“If They Really Knew Me, Would They Like Me?” Exploring “Headtrash” with Jon Keel, Business Development Expert

Jon-Keel

If you’ve not heard the term, “Headtrash,” before… you’ll recognize it as “stinkin’ thinkin’” or the voice in your head that tells you you’re not good enough, not able, not worth it… what have you. Laura thinks of that voice as a personal Gremlin and it taunts us with self-limiting beliefs far too often. It’s the stuff that keeps us smaller than we are meant to be, and from taking risks, exploring new things, and going on adventures.

Jon jokingly says, “If you’re going to make excuses, as least make them World Class!” He shares the story of how he recognized his personal headtrash and over time was able to overcome and release much of it.

It starts in numerous ways, but shows up when we compare ourselves to others, berate or belittle ourselves and accomplishments, use words like “never” and “always…” anything that turns into negative self-talk. Looking back, Jon recognizes his intense experience with it began when he was only 11 years old.

His belief that no one could possibly like him if they knew what he was really like shaped his thinking, his behaviors, and his actions over much of his life. He spent an enormous amount of time, effort, and energy in building just the right persona – wearing the right clothes, doing the right kind of work, having the right address, driving the right cars, and belonging to the right groups.

As you can imagine, it was exhausting and hard to maintain. It wasn’t doing much for his personal relationships, either.

Listen in and learn how Jon discovered his personal headtrash, the practices he’s put in place that helped him release that line of thinking and step into his life in an authentic way, and which allow him to do the work he does today – helping businesses increase revenue.

Jon’s Bio

Jon Keel has developed a reputation as a results-oriented Business Advisor, having been involved in this arena since January 1997. In addition to being CEO and Founder of Improved Results (www.Improved-Results.com), which he founded in 1997, he co-developed the Xavier University MBA E-Business program, where he taught Online Marketing and E-Commerce.

He frequently speaks to audiences about performance-based marketing for online and offline businesses. He has written numerous articles and has appeared on several TV and radio news and talk programs. He co-developed the first pay-per-click search engine bid management software and wrote the first book on pay-per-click search engines, “Instant Web Site Traffic.”

With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Engineering, Jon moved to Cincinnati in 1971, with the Procter and Gamble Company. He left P&G in 1973, to work for The Henry P. Thompson Company, and over a 22-year period became the owner and President/CEO. He sold his interest in the company in 1995. In 1987, he received an MBA from Xavier University. He currently resides in Dublin, Ohio, with his wife of 48 years, Colleen.

Connect with Jon:

Jon online

The 14-Day Slingshot Challenge

5 Marks of a Man – book

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What Does “Mastermind” Really Mean? And How Does It Work? With Business Explorer – Builder, Dave Dean

dave-and-michelle-dean

The term “Mastermind” is used in a lot of different ways by a lot of different people, which makes it hard to know what someone really means when they say it. Laura asking Dave to define it from his perspective is the start of another engaging conversation on this week’s episode of Making Space for Conversations that Matter.

Dave references Napoleon Hill’s work, from Think and Grow Rich, which says that a mastermind is a coordinated effort toward a definite purpose; a group of like-minded individuals coming together to think, explore, learn, grow, maybe even solve a few problems along the way. And says his thinking about what structure it takes has loosened up a bit over time.

These days it could be a group of people engaged in a book study. It might be a group of people who engage in deep discussions on a consistent basis, exploring the meaning of life or other such topics. It might be a focused group of business owners who come together to grow themselves, their businesses, and each other’s businesses in the process. Whatever the details of the members and the focus, it’s often marked by deep bonding between members and the development of a safe space in which to be vulnerable. There’s also an element of accountability built in, which creates an environment of real progress over time.

“We all have flaws and challenges,” he says. “We need to know we’re in an environment which is safe for growth.”

Laura and Dave dive deeper into how a mastermind might function and Dave shares a process and format he’s used in groups he’s facilitated and participated in. That leads into some discussion about online marketing strategies and tactics, values-based behaviors, and more.

When I asked Dave for his Bio, here’s what he shared with me…

“What the hell have you done?” my wife was a little suspicious as I handed her the bunch of flowers…

As it turns out her suspicions were correct, I’d just quit my job as a systems analyst and borrowed £13,000 to buy my father’s failed print finishing business from the liquidators. If I’m honest, that may well have been the first nail in the coffin of my first marriage.

That was the start of my entrepreneurial journey, now fast forward to today…

As a visionary and strategist, I enjoy starting and working with others to start new ventures from the ground up and then handing them over to my management teams to run day-to-day because they’re usually better than me at doing that!

I’ve started, developed and grown over 30 small businesses in many different sectors! Fact is, I love doing what I do and was once described as a “serial entrepreneur”… though I’m not sure whether that was a compliment or not?

One of my mentors, John Maxwell, says “Sometimes you win and sometimes you learn!”

Well, that’s certainly been the case for me. I’ve had several failures in business – some of them catastrophic, but every one of them provided valuable lessons and helped me grow and develop. This development led me to realize I had experiences valuable to others in similar situations, but I didn’t know how I could help them.

The solution presented itself in 2011, when I joined LEAD Wales and experienced coaching for the first time. My coaching journey progressed and led to my earning ICF accreditation then Certification by the US-based, John Maxwell Team.

The result: My team and I have launched an exclusive co-working space and business club for entrepreneurs who want to develop themselves so they can, in turn, develop their staff and their businesses.

Come visit us in Llantrisant (UK) and see what all the fuss is about – contact me to arrange a visit.

Resources discussed and connect with Dave here:

Dave on Facebook

Dave on LinkedIn

729 Renegades Mastermind Groups

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“How Can I Help?” A Simple, Yet Powerful and Maybe Life Changing Question with Sherrie Dunlevy, “Inspirationista,” Author, Speaker, and Podcast Host

Sherry-Dunlevy

It’s been many years ago, but once upon a time, Sherrie Dunlevy had a baby boy named Brandon. He lived just 29 days. “He made a greater impact on so many lives in just 29 days than some have in a lifetime,” she explains.

The aftermath of Brandon’s passing was unexpected in so many ways. Lifelong friends vanished. People they would never have imagined would, showed up. Instead of allowing herself to get caught up in the obvious question of “Why did this happen to us, to me?” Sherrie moved on to asking: “What now?”

She took a close look at her life, her work, her marriage, her relationships, and decided she wanted to live a life of purpose and passion. And she wrote a book – How Can I Help? – to offer others insight into how they might help someone in grief, or going through difficult times, when the right words are elusive.

She’s since done a lot of work helping others understand, sit with, and move through grief. “Grief is the loss of anything we hold dear,” she explains. “It might be death, a divorce, loss of a job, a medical diagnosis… and we need to learn that it’s ok – healthy – to talk through these things, even when it’s hard or the words fail us.”

And, feeling called to be an inspirer, she’s focused on being what she calls an “Inspirationista”! Not only does she share the “inspiration strikes” she receives, but she seeks out other sources of inspiration and shares them, as well. Striving to live an authentic life – who she was truly meant to be – and hoping to model that behavior for others, Sherrie is a dynamic force of energy.

Sherrie’s Bio

What is an “Inspirationista”? Well, for Sherrie Dunlevy, it’s a way of life. A calling. A symbol for stepping into greatness and helping others to be their best selves despite what might have happened in the past. Sherrie is a bereaved mother, author of the book, “How Can I Help?” and has leaped headlong into this vocation following a lengthy career as a Radio and TV news personality.

Sherrie now spends her time putting good into the universe and bringing positivity to people through her Facebook Group All Things Awesome, as host of the Grief Anonymous Podcast, and through her talks and workshops. She believes all of us have the power to make a positive impact in this world if we choose to step into love!

Connect with Sherrie:

Sherrie Online

Sherrie by email

Sherrie on Facebook

Sherrie on LinkedIn

Get the Book – How Can I Help?

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