Episodes

  • Insights Through the Rearview Mirror, Season 1 Summary

    Insights Through the Rearview Mirror, Season 1 Summary
    Feb 18 2021

    Today’s episode is a wrap-up of season one. Over the past four months, Jon and Paul have been interviewing nineteen influential people, including Hollywood directors, politicians, business executives, and life and executive coaches.

    We address:

    What are the differences in making life-defining decisions versus career-defining decisions?

    How can I apply the framework of objectives, strategies, and tactics when making decisions?

    Once I’ve made a big decision, how do I stay focused on following through with it without regrets?

    Insights Through the Rearview Mirror has been a journey for the two brothers. Paul notes that, prior to starting the podcast, he and Jon had been estranged for years due to a decision Paul made that allowed his career to get in the way of his family. He and Jon had been treating their level of professional success as a competition, and that competition, until recently, defined their relationship. Today, Jon and Paul reflect back on lessons learned throughout season one and their takeaways to continue to move forward in a positive direction.

     

    3 MAJOR POINTS DISCUSSED

    • No decision before it’s time. Don’t make snap decisions, especially if the decision at hand brings with it a lot of anxiety. Take a step back and consider all of your options. If you let things ruminate and take time to think about them, you usually end up with better decisions.
    • Build and assiduously manage a network of resources. Your network, whether it’s made of friends or business associates, is your lifeline when making decisions. It’s critically important to build, manage, and care for that network.
    • Understand your goals and objectives. You’ve got to have a direction. You’ve got to understand where you’re going. When it comes to your career, you must first define your brand. Everything you do should in some way go toward polishing and projecting that brand.

     

    OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE

    • The podcast as a journey for Jon and Paul [02:10]
    • Jon’s takeaways from speaking with previous guests [04:17]
    • Paul’s takeaways from speaking with previous guests [06:10]
    • Does Jon believe that the framework of objectives, strategies, and tactics still applies? [11:45]
    • Guest comments that left an impact on Jon [13:42]
    • Guest comments that left an impact on Paul [15:51]
    • Living at PACE (Passion, Action, Conviction, and Execution) after making a decision [18:01]
    • Closing thoughts on season one [19:38]

     

    ABOUT OUR HOSTS

    JON  KRAMER:

    Jon Kramer, Managing Director JMK Solutions www.jmk-solutions.com is a marketing services veteran with 35+ years of experience working with leading agencies, and major consumer packaged goods brands.

    Most recently, Jon was the Enterprise Sales Marketing lead at WestRock, a $16B packaging and display company, responsible for interfacing with their largest clients. Earlier, he was CMO of the RockTenn Merchandising Division where he created a shopper-marketing team, and go-to-market strategies for the Henkel company. He was also responsible for providing the selling organization with insights into the evolving US retail environment.

    Previously, Kramer served for 10 years as CEO of J. Brown, the Shopper Marketing agency of Grey Worldwide. He was responsible for creating the organizational positioning and strategy, and led all new-business efforts. During his tenure, J. Brown became the leading U.S. shopper marketing Agency, virtually defining the discipline.

     

    PAUL KRAMER:

    Paul Kramer’s distinguished marketing career is characterized by a long track record of building high performance communication organizations. His expertise is a unique blend of creativity, technical marketing analysis, and a keen business sense for strategic positioning. Paul’s earlier career included being the CEO of Catapult Marketing, President and COO of Hyper Marketing Inc and President and COO of D.L. Ryan Companies and has sat on Epsilon’s Strategic Management Team.

    Paul is skilled in all areas of marketing. He is especially strong in strategic planning, national brand management, marketing communications, and business development. In addition, he has a solid management foundation with accomplishments in P&L management, intellectual property, forming and maintaining strategic alliances and building business.

    Today, Paul is the General Partner of Riverside Consulting, a strategic consulting company working with senior leadership to help guide their business’ success.

     

    RESOURCES

    • Visit our website: rearviewinsights.com

     
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    21 mins
  • Lisa Kramer: The Role of Internal Guidance in Decision Making

    Lisa Kramer: The Role of Internal Guidance in Decision Making
    Feb 11 2021
    Today’s guest speaks on how to navigate divorce while maintaining loving relationships with your in-laws, and the lessons she has learned from her experience on making better decisions. We address: How do I establish my own “internal guidance system” to make better decisions? What is the difference between “readiness” and “timing” when it comes to making decisions? How do I become comfortable with discomfort?   Jon and Paul welcome their former sister-in-law Lisa Kramer, who has led an interesting journey from social worker to executive and relationship coach, teacher, and yoga instructor. At this point in her journey, Lisa has made it her priority to continue to build a constructive and insightful life for herself and others.   3 MAJOR POINTS DISCUSSED Form your own internal guidance system. This is a navigational system that guides your decision-making—what one may call their inner GPS or roadmap. Whether you are making small or big decisions, your IGS is all about tapping into your intuition. Engaging your IGS starts with quieting your mind, perhaps through meditation, walking in nature, or journaling. It’s a shame to let fear get in the way. There are many decisions you will make, particularly big ones, where you just cannot avoid feeling fearful. However, you need to resist letting that fear stop you from pulling the trigger and following through on your resolution. Lisa recommends calling to mind your why, which will give you the courage to keep moving forward. Regardless of the decision you have made, things will be okay. Even if the outcome of the decision is not exactly what you hoped for, there are always learning opportunities to grow as a person. On the other hand, giving into fear and not making a decision will keep you stuck in place and stagnate your growth. Always remember that discomfort comes with the territory.   OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE Lisa’s decision-making framework [02:03]Why Lisa decided to pursue higher education [06:28]What Lisa means by, “It’s a shame to let fear get in the way.” [07:45]Leaving academia to become an executive coach [10:42]Why Lisa decided to separate from her husband after over 20 years of marriage [13:43]Opening yourself up to serendipity [16:33]The value in letting certain decisions percolate [19:14]The importance of your network and having a support group [20:30]Navigating the emotions and hurdles of a marriage separation [22:30]Coaching versus therapy [25:10]Becoming an executive coach without ever having been in an executive position [27:00]Maintaining a close relationship with former in-laws post-divorce [30:43]Decisions that Lisa would have made differently [32:10]   ABOUT OUR GUEST Lisa Kramer has more than a dozen years of experience as an executive coach, coach trainer and mentor-coach. Leading with Intention partners with organizations to achieve greater business and personal success by creating a coaching culture throughout the organization. The Coach Approach training and mentoring program builds capacity for leaders at all levels to be effective coach leaders. Since transitioning to full time coaching in 2002, Lisa has successfully coached senior leaders and managers from a variety of industries, including health care, higher education, information technology and non-profit organizations. Clients include Google, ABB, Medstar, Nissan, IKEA North America, Jefferson University Hospitals, University of North Texas Health Science Center, University of Pennsylvania, Susquehanna International Group, Swagelok Corporation, and a number of small to mid-size companies throughout North America. She has served as a mentor-coach and coach trainer for hundreds of coaches worldwide.   Lisa’s passion for coaching emerged from a successful career in clinical social work, and in social work education as a full-time faculty member at Widener University Center for Social Work Education. From 2010 – 2018, Lisa served on the faculty of the University of Texas at Dallas Master’s Program in Organizational Behavior and Executive Coaching where she trained both internal and external coaches. Lisa has been affiliated with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 2006 where she is an executive coach for various executive education programs as well as the Executive MBA and full-time MBA programs. She has also served as an executive coach with the Penn State University Executive MBA program.   Lisa received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania and her coaching certification from the Coaches Training Institute. She is a credentialed coach by the International Coach Federation. A long standing yoga practitioner, Lisa received her 200 yoga teacher certification from the Kripalu Center in 2013.   ABOUT OUR HOSTS JON  KRAMER: Jon Kramer, Managing Director JMK Solutions www.jmk-solutions.com is a marketing services veteran with 35+ years of experience working with leading agencies, and ...
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    37 mins
  • Jim Himes: A Political Perspective on Decision Making

    Jim Himes: A Political Perspective on Decision Making
    Feb 4 2021
    Today’s guest has made many decisions throughout his career that not only affect him, but the entire country We address: How do I become aware of and check my biases when making decisions? What can I do to build up my social capital? How can I exercise more empathy in my decision-making process? Paul welcomes Congressman Jim Himes. He has been the U.S. representative for Connecticut’s fourth congressional district since 2009, and was recently named Chair of the Subcommittee on national security, international development, and monetary policy of the House Financial Services Committee.   3 MAJOR POINTS DISCUSSED Be wary of your “intelligence” and level of education when making big decisions. Thinking that you are smart and that you know all the answers is a weakness in making good decisions. In fact, it’s a liability. As humans, we’re always at the mercy of our biases. Adding an element of pride over your above-average intelligence or educational attainments will “turbocharge” those biases, because heaven forbid you’re actually wrong. Be aware of your biases, and that your experience is just a tiny part of the sum total of human experiences.Social capital is just as important as—if not more important than—monetary wealth. Jim’s entire career, from college to working at Goldman Sachs and The Enterprise Community Partners, to serving in Congress—every one of those steps was facilitated by friends, acquaintances, and former coworkers. Maintaining and building your network is a form of wealth that is widely underappreciated.Empathy is important in any situation. When making any decision, especially one that impacts more people than just yourself, you need to see how the situation looks in the eyes of others, and what the outcome of your decision will mean for them. In the realm of American politics today, there has been an alarming drought of empathy. Jim advises us to take a deep breath before making our big decisions, because if others are involved and we focus only on the benefits we or our team reap, these will likely become decisions we regret in the long run. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE Jim’s decision-making framework [02:54]How Jim’s unique upbringing influences his personal and professional decisions [06:52]Why Jim applied for a Rhodes Scholarship [09:29]Getting involved in the financial services industry [10:52]Making the pivot into politics [12:29]The importance of having a support network [14:21]Making decisions in the political sphere [16:08]Jim’s experience working on the insider trading bill [19:26]What decisions the two parties need to make to become more cooperative or bipartisan [22:05]Jim’s reaction to the storming of the Capitol [26:24]Decisions that Jim would have made differently [31:00]   ABOUT OUR GUEST Jim Himes represents Connecticut’s 4th District in the United States House of Representatives where he is serving his fourth term. He is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services, serves as the ranking member of the NSA and Cybersecurity Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and is Vice-Chair of the New Democrat Coalition.   Jim grew up as the child of a single working mom in a small town. As a member of Congress, Jim works hard to provide all American children the same opportunities he had to succeed: access to a first-rate public school, affordable and effective health care, a decent and safe home, and a supportive community.   Prior to his service in Congress, Jim ran the New York City branch of The Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the unique challenges of urban poverty. Jim’s team led the way in financing the construction of thousands of affordable housing units in the greater New York metropolitan region, often using new green technologies to achieve energy efficiency and reduce utility costs. Jim’s experience at Enterprise spurred his involvement in politics. Putting his expertise in affordable housing to work, Jim served as a Commissioner of the Greenwich Housing Authority, ultimately chairing the board and leading it through a much-needed program of reforms. Jim went on to become an elected member of his town's finance board, setting tax and budget policy for Greenwich. Jim has also served as Chair of his local Democratic Town Committee, organizing others in the community to become more active in the political process. Jim began his professional career at Goldman Sachs & Co. where he worked his way up to Vice President over the course of a 12-year career. There he worked extensively in Latin America and headed the bank’s telecommunications technology group. Jim lives in Greenwich with his wife Mary and two daughters Emma and Linley.   ABOUT OUR HOSTS JON  KRAMER: Jon Kramer, Managing Director JMK Solutions www.jmk-solutions.com is a marketing services veteran with 35+ years of experience working with leading agencies, and major consumer packaged goods brands...
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    38 mins
  • Jimmy Lynn: The Decisions That Drive Digital Transformation

    Jimmy Lynn: The Decisions That Drive Digital Transformation
    Jan 28 2021
    Jimmy Lynn: The Decisions That Drive Digital Transformation Today’s guest is a leader in social and sports digital marketing and a highly engaged philanthropist. A visionary whose decisions have continuously placed him at the front of the line of digital transformation in the sports entertainment and commerce industry. We address: How can I discover my vision-mission in life that can make me more decisive? What can I do to adapt to and thrive in unfamiliar work environments? How can I make every role in my career contribute to my brand as a professional? Paul welcomes Jimmy Lynn, Co-Founder and Vice President at Kiswe Mobile, whose cloud-based platforms transform live videos into interactive, personal and social experiences. Jimmy spent over 14 years at AOL where one of his positions was leading AOL Sports' partnerships and strategic developments. He forged relationships with the NFL, MLB, NBA, and others at a time when these properties were just discovering the power of digital engagement.   3 MAJOR POINTS DISCUSSED Always keep your eyes on the big picture that is your brand. Jimmy encourages us to ask ourselves: “What’s the long-term marketing plan you’re building for yourself?” He says that everyone should pick a lane—a passion—and stick to it, saying “no” to everything else. If you know what you want, not only will you be happier in the long run, but you’ll also have an easier time making decisions—precisely because you know what you want. Have a personal advisory council. The people you choose as your closest friends should always be playing devil’s advocate on your behalf. Your friends should be there to support you; but they should also be there to question and challenge your thinking. Having people who you consider mentors is also a great way to stay accountable and make sure that the advice you’re getting is truly objective, so that you can ultimately make more informed decisions. Getting out of your comfort zone may lead you to opportunities you never expected. Jimmy was challenged working full-time at a radio station, and that experience paved the way for an opportunity to do marketing for a TV network only six months later. Both jobs were out of his comfort zone, but they stretched him and primed him for growth for future career prospects. Starting his own business was itself a totally new experience, but perhaps he never would have been ready for that challenge if he didn’t experience growth from the early days of his career.   OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE Jimmy’s decision-making framework [03:12]How Jimmy realized that sports marketing is his calling [04:53]Joining AOL [08:59]Jimmy’s involvement in M&A of AOL and TimeWarner [15:18]Why Jimmy left AOL to start his own business [20:10]What Jimmy looks for in a mentor [23:32]The decisions that went into creating Kiswe [26:29]Where Jimmy developed his passion for philanthropy [33:20]Serving as a senior advisor/adjunct faculty at Georgetown University [38:11]Decisions that Jimmy regrets, and his parting thoughts on making decisions [42:00]   ABOUT OUR GUEST Jimmy Lynn, a veteran of more than 30 years in the Sports and Entertainment sectors, is one of the pioneers of the Digital Sports space and is regarded as one of the leading relationship brokers and connectors in the sports industry. He is a co-founder and Vice-President of Kiswe Mobile, an interactive mobile video start-up focused on bringing a rich viewing experience for live media content such as sports and entertainment events to mobile devices. Previously, Lynn was the managing partner of JLynn Associates, a global strategic advisory firm focused on sports-related digital media, marketing, and retail for a diverse set of clients including teams, athletes, leagues and associations, media outlets, and other businesses. Prior to founding JLynn Associates in 2009, Lynn served as Vice-President, Strategic Development and Partnerships at AOL, where he and his team were responsible for the strategic development and account management of AOL Sports’ strategic partnerships and organizations including the NFL, NBA, NASCAR, MLB, WNBA, NHL, PGA Tour, ABC Sports, CBS Sports, HBO Sports, Sports Illustrated, Turner Sports, NFL Players Association, WWF, The Sporting News, STATS, SportsTicker, etc. During his 14-year career at AOL, he was instrumental in developing AOL Sports into one of the leading global sports destination internet sites. Lynn also served as a Vice-President, Diversity Partnerships and Strategic Relationships for AOL's Office of Diversity and Inclusion. In this role, he managed AOL's employee affinity networks and partnerships with community service organizations. Lynn also was a member of the Time Warner Sports Forum, which included executives from Sports Illustrated, HBO Sports, Turner Sports, AOL Sports, Time Warner Cable, Time 4 Media, and Warner Brothers Licensing. The group focused on cross-company sports initiatives for Time Warner. Previously, ...
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    47 mins
  • Jim Weinstein: Charting The Path From Advertising to Advising

    Jim Weinstein: Charting The Path From Advertising to Advising
    Jan 21 2021
    Too many people equate decisiveness with urgency and snap judgements. This often leads to decisions that they quickly regret making. Today’s guest makes the case that the more time you take in making big decisions (within reason, of course), the more perspective you gain and, in turn, the more confident you become when you finally pull the trigger.   We address: How can I set principles for myself to abide by when making tough decisions? Why should I let the decision-making process play out as opposed to having a sense of urgency? What can I do to minimize anxiety when making big decisions?   Jon welcomes Jim Weinstein, life consultant, career coach, and psychotherapist. Jim goes down memory lane, sharing why he decided to go into the advertising world after graduating with a degree in political science. He then explains his decision to leave advertising to run a clinical trials organization and how that eventually led to his current passion for life coaching.   3 MAJOR POINTS DISCUSSED ●        Don’t be locked into a rigid framework for decision-making. Instead, stick to a few key principles that help guide your thought process as you reflect on tough choices. Some simple examples include: Where are you? ; What are you happy with? ; What are you unhappy with ? Aside from taking inventory and thinking through the decision yourself, it also helps to talk to other people who know you well for third-party input. Finally, try “dipping your toe into the water”. Tentatively try out a new path for a visceral reaction to see how you resonate with it. ●        Give your decisions room to breathe. Whatever the principles you decide to abide by, making good decisions comes down to patience and diligence . Never settle for a snap answer or set arbitrary deadlines for making decisions ( i.e. decide in the next 30 days) if there is no real reason for a deadline. Take your time and weigh out every factor going into your big decision. You’re only going to make the decision once. ●        The biggest barrier to effective decision-making is anxiety . Many are pressured, unjustifiably, into making big decisions faster than they need to. Even more commonly, a lot of people are afraid that their life will fall apart if they make a wrong decision. A calm, measured approach to making decisions is a great recipe for success. In any case, bad decisions and failures can be great teachers if you allow them to be. They can uncover aspects of yourself that you didn’t even know were there. Embrace failure. Failure isn’t the end of the world.   OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE ●        Jim’s decision-making framework [02:49] ●        Two key ingredients to effective decision-making [04:59] ●        Why Jim got into business and advertising after studying political science [06:24] ●        Leaving the advertising business to run a clinical trials organization [08:24] ●        Stepping away from anxiety and couples therapy to becoming a life coach [11:33] ●        Helping coaching clients make life-changing decisions [15:44] ●        The biggest barriers to making good decisions [16:39] ●        Why bad decisions and failure can be great teachers [18:19] ●        How to embrace failure [19:45] ●        Why Jim would not have done anything differently [20:58] ●        The benefits of a calm and curious approach to decision-making [22:18]   ABOUT OUR GUEST Jim Weinstein is a life consultant, career coach, and psychotherapist. He attended Wesleyan University where he majored in political science and minored in Romance languages. Graduating magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Jim was accepted to Harvard Business School, where he concentrated in marketing. He graduated with distinction in 1971, and thereafter began working at one of New York's largest advertising agencies, Benton & Bowles, as an account executive. Jim rose quickly in the organization, being named a vice-president in 1975. In the subsequent 15 years he also worked with several other firms as a senior executive, including Wells Rich Greene as EVP & Chiat/Day as Director of Account Management. Among the clients he worked for were: Procter & Gamble, Sony, Coca-Cola, Bayer, Mitsubishi, Fisher-Price, and Energizer (The bunny was developed under Jim’s tenure as the lead account manager). In Jim’s early 40s, he embarked on a process of inner work and exploration that led him to move from New York to Los Angeles and decide to leave advertising. After serving for two years as the president of Search Alliance, a community-based clinical trials organization, he enrolled in Antioch University's clinical psychology program in 1994, earning a Master's degree. He also accumulated 3,000 hours of internship training and was licensed as a psychotherapist (Marriage and Family Therapist). Jim opened a private ...
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    25 mins
  • Drayten Howell: Driving The Base Line From Hoops To Hemp

    Drayten Howell: Driving The Base Line From Hoops To Hemp
    Jan 14 2021
    Drayten Howell: How a 23-Year-Old Student Athlete Found Success in the Cannabis Industry Today’s guest is currently undergoing a journey that is nothing short of amazing. Only in his 20s and coming from a modest background, he was able to carve out a new path for himself in the incredibly competitive cannabis industry—in California, no less. Find out how he navigated the countless challenges involved in starting his business and the decision-making framework he uses to keep himself on course. We address: How can I discover the decision-making constructs that uniquely work for me? What do I need to keep in mind when starting a business in an incredibly competitive industry? Why does “being a consumer of my own business” lead to brand loyalty? Jon welcomes Drayten Howell, the young CEO of Indacut, the first cannabis delivery service licensed through the city of Santa Barbara. He has a fascinating story to share. At the age of 23, Drayten quit college with a full-ride basketball scholarship to start a cannabis business. Needless to say, he has made a number of major life-changing decisions.   3 MAJOR POINTS DISCUSSED Have a decision-making framework and set of non-negotiable standards unique to you. There is no one-size-fits-all decision-making framework. Know what works for you, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. Drayten abides by three constructs that he goes through before making any big decision: Firstly, Drayten always seeks wise counsel, whether from his mom or grandma, coaches, and other close friends and acquaintances that he trusts. Secondly, as a believer in God, Drayten always prays before making a major decision. Finally, alongside prayer, Drayten meditates on every life-changing decision that comes his way. To build brand loyalty in your business, provide a product at a great price. Many new entrepreneurs tend to forget that they’re making a product for other people, not for themselves. You have to know what you’re providing, and you have to be providing what your target market wants right now. In the cannabis industry at least, Drayten recommends not following trends because “trends are saturated”. If you don’t provide your customers what they want now for the price they’re willing to pay now, they can go right down the street to your competitor. Be a consumer of your own business. Always put yourself in the shoes of your customers (and potential customers). Gauge the efficiency and effectiveness of your business processes by asking yourself whether you would be happy with the products you’re offering and the service that went into it.   OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE Drayten’s decision-making framework [02:35] How Drayten turned his life around created this incredibly unique path for himself [09:19] Applying Drayten’s early, mostly self-taught lessons on business in the real world [12:21] Getting the business underway while going blind [16:00] How Drayten went about attacking his deliverables in the early days of business [20:11] Drayten’s biggest obstacles to getting Indacut up and running [24:12] Building brand loyalty [26:49] The two biggest surprises Drayten has encountered so far and how he addressed them [28:50] Drayten’s plans for the growth of Indacut [30:42] Considering a franchise model in the future [33:28] How Drayten keeps up as the primary decision-maker in his business [34:48] Decisions that Drayten regrets since starting his business[36:50] ABOUT OUR GUEST Drayten began thinking about entering the cannabis industry in 2018 during his summer classes at SBCC. He knew the industry would be growing as the market opened for recreational use. Shortly after summer classes ended, Drayten was on his way north to attend NCAA Division 2 Holy Names University on a basketball scholarship. While Drayten was attending Holy Names University as a full-time student athlete, he started doing all of the backend work for Indacut. He began drafting business plans, Googling how-to guides, and working with his accounting tutor on pro formas. In November of 2018, Drayten found his cannabis-zoned facility from his dorm room. A few weeks later, Drayten decided it was best to leave Holy Names University. He moved back home and got started right away on the licensing process in January of 2019. Since then, Drayten has successfully made Indacut the first cannabis delivery service licensed through Santa Barbara County. God, hard work, and a killer team made all of this possible. Drayten is back to serve the place he calls home. Providing legal, quality, lab-tested products to help clients lead a healthy and active lifestyle. He plans on expanding his cannabis ventures around the state/worldwide, and is currently working to become fully vertically integrated in Santa Barbara County. https://www.indacutca.com/ Instagram: @drayhowell   ABOUT OUR HOSTS JON  KRAMER: Jon Kramer, Managing Director JMK Solutions www.jmk-solutions.com is a marketing services veteran with 35...
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    40 mins
  • David Marchi: Transformational Decisions from World Class Marketer to World Class Artist

    David Marchi: Transformational Decisions from World Class Marketer to World Class Artist
    Jan 7 2021
    Today’s guest acquired the skill of an artist, making him internationally renowned, as a direct result of a broken back from a boat accident in 2015. As he shares his story, it quickly becomes clear that his refusal to allow external circumstances to dictate his path makes up a large part of his decision-making framework.   We address: How can I look past my weaknesses and capitalize on my strengths? Why does embracing challenges and adversity tend to lead to unforeseen breakthroughs? What lessons can I take from the past to inform my decisions in the future? Paul welcomes visual artist David Marchi. He shares the decision-making framework that led him down his unique and storied career, going from being a highly successful, world-class marketer to becoming one of the most innovative and artistic painters in the world today.   3 MAJOR POINTS DISCUSSED When in doubt, be honest and authentic and just put everything out on the table. When he came out as gay to his wife and children, a huge weight was lifted off David’s shoulders and that decision propelled him into the next stage of his life. He initially planned on laying out his intentions in “phases”: to come out first, then to speak about divorce, etc. But he found that the best way to maximize understanding and empathy between all parties is to simply tell the truth, and tell all, right away. Turn your disability into ability. Always find a way to push past your limitations (perceived or otherwise) and focus on fulfilling the potential you, uniquely, are capable of fulfilling. On the more extreme end, David helped Jack, a young boy with autism, to paint for the first time by dipping his paintbrush in his favorite color. “If you give someone a chance, and if you give them the tools, you can be a big part of where they may go.” Thoughtful decisions are based on previous decisions. Look back at the big decisions you’ve made in the past, as well as those smaller ones. Evaluate, with an objective eye, which of those decisions have led to success and which have led to failure or disappointment. The lessons you extract from these varied experiences will help you create a structure for the decisions you make today.   OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE David’s decision-making framework [03:52]Entering the marketing world [06:11]Leaving the advertising industry [11:50]Being President of Ryan Partnership and collaborating with well-known brands [20:50]Working with Pepsi [27:15]Moving to TracyLocke [35:19]Coming out as gay after having a family [40:47]Becoming a world-class artist [45:34]Finding out about his acquired savant syndrome [50:30]Painting with Jack and Max [53:30]David’s parting advice on making more thoughtful decisions [56:51]   ABOUT OUR GUEST David is the son of an Italian immigrant mother and a father with roots in Italy and Argentina. The methodology to David’s art is a spiritual and subconscious process. He dreams the colors and painting structures first, imprinting the image in his head. In his studio, he sits on the floor, looks at the negative space and starts to pick the colors from the shelf leading to a thoughtful completion. His passion for painting was the direct result of a broken back from a boat accident in 2015. Prior to this, David never painted. In 2019, he was diagnosed by Dr. Darold Treffert with Acquired Savant Syndrome. This is where dormant savant skills emerge after a spinal or brain injury or disease in previously non-disabled persons. Today, David's life is his painting. He is currently studying with Larry Poons and Peter Bonner at the Art Students League in New York City and has traveled to Hamburg, Berlin, Paris, Sao Paulo and London to paint with other artists. His work is collected world-wide and is currently being critiqued by Pulitzer prize and New York Magazine art critic, Jerry Saltz. Through his art, he supports Positive Exposure, The Human Rights Campaign, and Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation. Recently, he started the "Smile" Campaign, raising money to support our front-line nurses during the Covid0-19 pandemic.   https://www.gallerymarchi.com/ Instagram: @marchiart   ABOUT OUR HOSTS JON  KRAMER: Jon Kramer, Managing Director JMK Solutions www.jmk-solutions.com is a marketing services veteran with 35+ years of experience working with leading agencies, and major consumer packaged goods brands. Most recently, Jon was the Enterprise Sales Marketing lead at WestRock, a $16B packaging and display company, responsible for interfacing with their largest clients. Earlier, he was CMO of the RockTenn Merchandising Division where he created a shopper-marketing team, and go-to-market strategies for the Henkel company. He was also responsible for providing the selling organization with insights into the evolving US retail environment. Previously, Kramer served for 10 years as CEO of J. Brown, the Shopper Marketing agency of Grey Worldwide. He was responsible for creating the organizational positioning ...
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Michelle Adams: Using Core Strengths to Make Better Decisions

    Michelle Adams: Using Core Strengths to Make Better Decisions
    Dec 31 2020
    How far can your gut feeling take you when you’re faced with important decisions? Today’s guest makes a case for leaning on your natural strengths and the things that give you energy, and simply taking the plunge when making big, career-defining choices.   We address: How can I use my core strengths to inform my decisions? What are some actions steps I can take today to be able to thrive in a post-pandemic world? Where should I focus my attention to avoid making career choices that I may later regret? Jon welcomes Michelle Adams, Founder and President of Marketing Brainology, a company focused on the latest in Behavior Economics, Virtual Shopping, Eye-Tracking, and NeuroScience research. However, that’s just the latest stop on her journey spanning high school teacher and coach to heading up Shopper Marketing at PepsiCo.   3 MAJOR POINTS DISCUSSED Know your towering strengths. Michelle’s decision-making criteria is based heavily on Marcus Buckingham’s StrengthsFinder tool. What are the core strengths that you bring to the table that you are naturally gifted with? Whatever you decide to do must align with those strengths as well as the things that give you energy when you do them. Sometimes, all you can do is take a leap of faith based on calculated risks. Making a decision as life-changing as going into business after a decade or two in the corporate world is grounded in many factors; but more often than not, the choice to make these decisions are ultimately based on faith. This faith is informed by considering all the factors related to the decision at hand, as well as taking your strengths into consideration, trusting yourself to handle wherever direction this decision will take you.When making decisions, it’s really important to have a network surrounding you. If you have a big career goal (or any type of big goal, for that matter), it pays to immerse yourself among people that support those goals. For example, Michelle’s dream is to be able to speak professionally on a regular basis, so she became a very active member of the Dallas chapter of the National Speakers Association.   OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE Michelle’s decision-making framework [03:11]Why Michelle took up a PhD in Political Economy [04:28]Why Michelle became a policy analyst [08:36]Working for M/A/R/C [13:19]Adjusting to Frito-Lay’s corporate culture [17:12]How Michelle’s clients are adjusting due to COVID-19 [23:17]Leaving corporate America to found Marketing Brainology [26:23]Taking a leap of faith when making a drastic career pivot [37:04]Building up your network over time [41:34]Is there anything that Michelle would have done differently? [44:38]   ABOUT OUR GUEST Michelle Adams has a unique educational and professional career. She has an extensive business background and is a Ph.D. who stays well-connected to the most recent academic research and leading thought leaders. She founded Marketing Brainology over eight years ago to better measure human behavior and nonconscious thinking. She worked for Frito-Lay & PepsiCo for 10 years, running the SMART Learning Center which conducted sophisticated neuroscience research experiments that drove major initiatives thru-out PepsiCo. As VP of Customer Strategy and Shopper Insights, she consulted senior leaders from PepsiCo’s top retailers; including educating teams on male/female brain differences. As President of Marketing Brainology, she speaks and consults across the globe on NeuroScience, NeuroMarketing, and Influencing positive change within organizations. She is a member of the National Speakers Association, a TEDx SMU Speaker, 2014 Distinguished Alumni for The University of Texas at Dallas, and current board member. Follow Marketing Brainology on Facebook, Twitter @marketingbraino or MarketingBrainology.com   Michelle Adams, Ph.D. madams@marketingbrainology.com 214-491-9638   ABOUT OUR HOSTS JON  KRAMER: Jon Kramer, Managing Director JMK Solutions www.jmk-solutions.com is a marketing services veteran with 35+ years of experience working with leading agencies, and major consumer packaged goods brands. Most recently, Jon was the Enterprise Sales Marketing lead at WestRock, a $16B packaging and display company, responsible for interfacing with their largest clients. Earlier, he was CMO of the RockTenn Merchandising Division where he created a shopper-marketing team, and go-to-market strategies for the Henkel company. He was also responsible for providing the selling organization with insights into the evolving US retail environment. Previously, Kramer served for 10 years as CEO of J. Brown, the Shopper Marketing agency of Grey Worldwide. He was responsible for creating the organizational positioning and strategy, and led all new-business efforts. During his tenure, J. Brown became the leading U.S. shopper marketing Agency, virtually defining the discipline.   PAUL KRAMER: Paul Kramer’s distinguished marketing career is characterized by a long track record of...
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    48 mins