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65: Jonathan Parker – Art of the Conversation

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In this episode we speak with Jonathan Parker on the Art of the Conversation and creating great vocal art through curiosity, asking great questions, listening and sharing.

Jonathan Parker is a creative thought-leader and influencer who has a captivating story about why the Art of the Conversation became important to him. Originally from New England, Jonathan did not speak until almost five years old; and then became an adult who is known for engaging conversations and powerful public speaking. His own journey led him to research and value the incredible power of intentional conversations resulting in a compelling training around this topic that he takes to businesses and nonprofit organizations with great success.

Show Notes:

  • We are all artists and our conversations are our artwork
  • Need to once again give people the permission to be curious
  • An artist is first accountable to themselves, not the viewer
  • We’ve become so used to others telling us what we believe, that we become counterfeit artists
  • What you do comes from who you are, it doesn’t make you who you are
  • We are so hard on ourselves that self-reflection can be scary
  • In order to grow self-awareness, seek to understand why you do the things you do
  • You need a to build an inner circle who can be brutally honest
  • Prescribed authenticity versus true authenticity
  • Jonathan believes there are two universal things all people want:
    • The opportunity to communicate
    • The respect to be heard
  • Importance of creating margin and self-discovery
  • Social media is a powerful tool, but gives a false impression of connection and conversation
  • Need to learn how to truly communicate and actively listen instead of actively responding
  • Busyness versus productivity
  • “If you tell the truth, you don’t have remember anything” – Mark Twain
  • Leaders must model the behaviors they desire: you can only multiply what you model
  • No one can consistently act in a way that is inconsistent with how they view themselves
  • Jonathan’s desire to create a space for fellowship and connection outside of church for believers
  • Surprise and reward in stepping out and pursuing your passion
  • Optimism that we will come together for more conversations and that relationships will get deeper because of differences, not in spite of them

Connect with Jonathan:

Resources:

INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC (Used by permission):
Dreams Groove (© 2017 Tim Pecoraro)
Straight Drive (© 2017 Tim Pecoraro)
Uphill Conversations is an Uphill Strategies, LLC production
© 2017 Uphill Conversations

The post 65: Jonathan Parker – Art of the Conversation appeared first on Uphill Conversations.

64: Matthew Rollins – Going Up Against Giants

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Matthew Rollins joins us for an Uphill Conversation on his journey from playing baseball to his current life as an entrepreneur. He is carving his own path and going up against giants in a very established industry.

Matthew Rollins was a four-year starter for North Greenville University, playing centerfield and hitting leadoff the majority of his college career. After his time at NGU, he had the rare opportunity to play professionally. Though the majors never came calling, Matthew’s love for the game couldn’t deter his involvement in athletics somehow, some way. His work experience includes time with a performance research facility where he trained hundreds of professional and Division I athletes, members of U.S. Special Forces and first responders. But as the company and Matthew’s responsibilities grew, he found himself missing the baseball community, and understood a comeback was inevitable.

Show Notes:

  • Matthew’s journey from athlete to entrepreneur
  • At some point the game will tell you “it’s enough”
  • Intentionality and time it takes to discover your passion
  • Evaluating opportunities and choosing the path your life will take
  • Anchor Bat Company’s focus on quality and design
  • Story behind the meaning of “Anchor” in the company name
  • “We’ll make a bat for anyone, but we’re not for everyone.”
  • Bravery and grit it takes to follow your heart instead of your ego – and to stick with it when times are tough
  • Learning the ins and outs of a very specific industry with strong, established competitors
  • Power in owning your decisions + your circumstance
  • Underdogs and self-belief
  • Joys and challenges of working with family
  • What it feels like to see your product in action
  • Unexpected ways your product can positively impact the lives of others
  • Your life will be tough, but it’s all worth it – so keep fighting

Connect with Matthew:

Resources:

INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC (Used by permission):
Dreams Groove (© 2017 Tim Pecoraro)
Straight Drive (© 2017 Tim Pecoraro)
Uphill Conversations is an Uphill Strategies, LLC production
© 2017 Uphill Conversations

The post 64: Matthew Rollins – Going Up Against Giants appeared first on Uphill Conversations.

63: Melissa Knaus – Innovation Within Reach

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Melissa Knaus joins us for an Uphill Conversation on making innovation and technology approachable – especially for women and female entrepreneurs.

Melissa Knaus is an entrepreneur, patent expert, and business coach with a passion for helping women create the businesses they dream of leading. When she traded in her full-time office job to start a company and patent her first product, there was a lot she didn’t know. But what she did know was much more powerful – that she needed a massive lifestyle change. Full bio here.

Show Notes

  • How an eye infection launched Melissa into her path toward innovation
  • Meaningful coincidences in discovering + launching new ideas
  • Misconceptions around patents and design requirements
  • Importance of questions + research at the front end of any idea or project
  • Overcoming fear + uncertainty through knowledge
  • Tendency to get overwhelmed by your own thoughts and overthinking
  • Utilize a journal to collect, collate + navigate thoughts
  • Find a mentor who can help you avoid pitfalls
  • Women can be overly competitive, but are incredibly effective when they work together
  • Disparity in number of women holding patents compared to men
  • Just because you can’t do it all at once, doesn’t mean you can’t have it all and go after your dreams
  • There are always trade offs when seeking balance
  • Shifting your perspective from “I have to” to “I get to” can have tremendous positive impact in our lives
  • Love is a remedy
  • Embrace the time that you’re given and live intentionally
  • “The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
  • Melissa’s desire to inspire girls to be leaders and innovative, especially in math and science

Connect with Melissa

Resources

INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC (Used by permission):
Dreams Groove (© 2017 Tim Pecoraro)
Straight Drive (© 2017 Tim Pecoraro)
Uphill Conversations is an Uphill Strategies, LLC production
© 2017 Uphill Conversations

The post 63: Melissa Knaus – Innovation Within Reach appeared first on Uphill Conversations.

62: Greg Centineo – Living a Life by Design

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Greg Centineo joins us for an Uphill Conversation on living life by design and continuously seeking and discovering who are and who you want to be.

Greg Centineo is the man CEOs call upon to turn great ideas into reality through thoughtful team leadership and the ability to attract large numbers of people to a common goal. Greg is a frequent public speaker, including at the University of Miami, and a highly sought after consultant by large ventures – primarily advising C-level executives on leadership and fundraising that leads to company growth. Greg also leads large live streaming events and teaches his leadership secrets at GregCentineo.com.

Show Notes:

  • How Greg has built and designs his own life
  • Self-awareness + having a “no limits” mentality
  • Embracing meaningful coincidences
  • Emotions shouldn’t be defined as positive or negative – when it comes to fear, ask if it’s appropriate or inappropriate
  • How to overcome inappropriate fears to move forward
  • Your mindset is incredibly powerful
  • Righteousness versus wickedness – willingness to fail and try again
  • You are responsible for your own life
  • “If you do nothing, I guarantee you, nothing is going to happen”
  • Failure is the major ingredient to success
  • The way you view events – positively or negatively – defines what your life will ultimately look like
  • Inspire yourself by inspiring others to believe in themselves
  • Be transformational, not transactional, in how you live your life and how you engage others
  • Belong people into believing, then release them to grow
  • Even when you give your best and exceed your goals, a project can still fail
  • When everything seems meaningless, it can be incredibly hard to find meaning again, but first you must embrace the darkness
  • Greg’s optimism to reach and inspire millions

Connect with Greg:

Resources:

INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC (Used by permission):
Dreams Groove (© 2017 Tim Pecoraro)
Straight Drive (© 2017 Tim Pecoraro)
Uphill Conversations is an Uphill Strategies, LLC production
© 2017 Uphill Conversations

The post 62: Greg Centineo – Living a Life by Design appeared first on Uphill Conversations.

61: Chris Breen – Selling it all to Build Your Future

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Chris Breen joins us and shares his journey of self discovery and entrepreneurship. He greatly values continuous learning and realizes the power of investing in oneself.

Chris and his wife Amy have been successful entrepreneurs for 20 years.  They currently operate 2 construction companies, a construction management firm and coach other entrepreneurial couples like themselves. Chris is a Certified Trainer in Training with Wake Up Warrior and has a passion for men to live up to their purposes. They live in upstate South Carolina with their 3 children.

Show Notes: 

  • Being happily “unemployable”
  • Raised with entrepreneurial spirit and encouraged to build something
  • Chris’s journey from a landscaping company at 14 years old to now owning a construction management firm and operating two companies
  • Value of supporting and feeling “called” to mission work
  • Sold first business, their home and almost all of their belongings to travel across country with their three children for five months
  • Discovered that “you can be serving and kingdom-minded within an industry”
  • “Instead out of doing something out of my desire, I felt it was my obedience to my calling”
  • Tendency to move in the direction of what you want to do – what gives you pleasure – rather than following your calling + purpose
  • Stepping away from something can provide incredible perspective on your gifts and purpose
  • Beginning with core values and a clear vision in building a business – being intentional
  • You can’t do it on your own – must surround yourself with great people to free yourself up empower others
  • You must learn to lead yourself before you can lead others
  • Creating space and opportunities to truly connect + be present with your loved ones
  • Importance of investing in yourself – it can be contagious to those around you + ROI is what YOU do with it
  • Chris’s advice for younger generations: “Develop a routine that’s going to put you in a place of power every day.”
  • Coaching provides an opportunity for perspective you can’t gain on your own + challenging you to see things differently

Resources:

Connect with Chris: 

INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC (Used by permission):
Dreams Groove (© 2017 Tim Pecoraro)
Straight Drive (© 2017 Tim Pecoraro)
Uphill Conversations is an Uphill Strategies, LLC production
© 2017 Uphill Conversations

The post 61: Chris Breen – Selling it all to Build Your Future appeared first on Uphill Conversations.

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