It's All About the Questions

He's baaack! John David Mann, one of my all-time favorite guests, is back to talk about how he gets inspiration, the differences between writing non-fiction and fiction, what he credits for his ability to write what I call "books that suck you in and make you forget to go to the bathroom" and so much more.

If you've never listened to John talk about writing, life, passion and having a writing partner then dive in on this episode. And forgive me for fan-geeking a bit. I love his writing and get joy out of even holding one of his books in my hand. Why you ask? Because once you start reading them they do not disappoint.

John David Mann is coauthor of more than thirty books, including four New York Times bestsellers and five national bestsellers; his classic 2008 parable The Go-Giver (coauthored with Bob Burg) earned the 2017 Living Now Book Award’s “Evergreen Medal” given for its “contribution to positive global change.”

Marlene Chism is recognized as one of the top experts on reducing or eliminating workplace drama and helping leaders become better leaders. She has been on the show before discussing her previous books and on this episode, we discussed her latest book, From Conflict to Courage: How to Stop Avoiding and Start Leading.

Conflict, and avoiding conflict, happen everyday either at work, at home or somewhere on the way to one of those. I’ve observed conflicts on roads, in restaurants, at concerts, on lines and personally have avoided a few at work or at home until it felt like I was going to explode.

On this episode, Marlene discusses how avoiding conflict can make you angry with yourself, how your goal when dealing with conflict is not about winning but breaking through to a solution and she also shares the words you can use to defuse a conflict and get to the other side.

Be prepared to take notes as this episode is filled with tips, strategies and tactics to help you stop avoiding conflict and move into leadership.

Marlene Chism works with top leaders to build drama-free cultures that drive growth and reduce costly mistakes. Her expertise includes leadership development, conflict management, and strategic communication.

Marlene is a recognized expert on the LinkedIn global learning platform, producing educational videos on Anger Management, Working with High Conflict People as a Manager, and Having Difficult Conversations.

Her soon to be published book is From Conflict to Courage: How to Stop Avoiding and Start Leading.

To learn more about Marlene and download a discussion guide for From Conflict to Courage, visit www.marlenechism.com

Just me updating you on the show, myself and others things

Just me giving you an update on the show, myself and a few other things.

Just me giving you an update on the show, myself and a few other things.

Return guest Alan Shapiro continues our discussion on creativity, getting rid of numbness, finding and expressing your story and how routine helps him unleash his creative spark.

In Alan’s own words:

Passionate, award-winning photographer. Advertising Chief Creative Officer, too

I grew up on the creative side of the advertising world, working with clients around the world; telling their unique stories in very unique ways.

Along the way, I've had the pleasure of working with many, many talented photographers, directors and content creators. I became envious of their art and craft. At first, I saw it as a means of reducing my stress-filled life. As a Chief Creative Officer at the world's largest Advertising Agency Network, I needed a distraction. A friend gave me a camera. Then I bought another. And then another. My new hobby and daily "creative exercise regimen" quickly turned into a joy-filled and all consuming passion. Then my first photo client called. Then another. And then, many more. Lockheed Martin, GM, Cadillac, Apple, Ritz Carlton, Bose, Scholastic,...

I love talking to all sorts of people and seem to have a knack for getting them to open up and share themselves despite the intrusion and intimidation that a serious-looking camera often represents.

I like finding and sharing things I find.
Beautiful things. Powerful things. Poignant things.

I also enjoy taking something ordinary and making it something well beyond that.

Illustration and painting are other passions and I love creating unique "painted" photographs and photocompositions inspired by the Renaissance Masters.

My work hangs in corporate and private collections. It graces retail environments, editorial spreads, TV show sets and has been featured on products from housewares to clothing to puzzles.

Happiness. https://www.alanshapirophotography.com/

Return guest Alan Shapiro continues our discussion on creativity, getting rid of numbness, finding and expressing your story and how routine helps him unleash his creative spark.

In Alan’s own words:

Passionate, award-winning photographer. Advertising Chief Creative Officer, too

I grew up on the creative side of the advertising world, working with clients around the world; telling their unique stories in very unique ways.

Along the way, I've had the pleasure of working with many, many talented photographers, directors and content creators. I became envious of their art and craft. At first, I saw it as a means of reducing my stress-filled life. As a Chief Creative Officer at the world's largest Advertising Agency Network, I needed a distraction. A friend gave me a camera. Then I bought another. And then another. My new hobby and daily "creative exercise regimen" quickly turned into a joy-filled and all consuming passion. Then my first photo client called. Then another. And then, many more. Lockheed Martin, GM, Cadillac, Apple, Ritz Carlton, Bose, Scholastic,...

I love talking to all sorts of people and seem to have a knack for getting them to open up and share themselves despite the intrusion and intimidation that a serious-looking camera often represents.

I like finding and sharing things I find.
Beautiful things. Powerful things. Poignant things.

I also enjoy taking something ordinary and making it something well beyond that.

Illustration and painting are other passions and I love creating unique "painted" photographs and photocompositions inspired by the Renaissance Masters.

My work hangs in corporate and private collections. It graces retail environments, editorial spreads, TV show sets and has been featured on products from housewares to clothing to puzzles.

Happiness. https://www.alanshapirophotography.com/

Going to the doctor nowadays doesn't always mean leaving there with a good diagnosis or a feeling of being heard. Many doctors are overworked and have become highly specialized preventing them from looking at their patient as a whole rather than a particular set of symptoms. Insurance reimbursement can also impact the doctor/patient relationship.

What can you do to change that and feel well again?

Enter Dr. Dan Witkowski. Board certified OB/GYN and Lifestyle medicine as well as being a certified nutritionist. Dr. Dan recently changed his practice to one where he takes fewer patients while giving them more time and a full patient level of care. I am not talking about overpriced concierge models but something different.

Take a listen as Dr. Dan and I talk about what he has learned from his patients, what steps and tactics can start you on a road to feeling better and why your lifestyle should matter to your doctor. It might not be what you think. And no, this is not a conversation about just going plant-based for your eating either. I don't know about you but that is not a one size fits all model either.

Dr. Dan Witkowski’s father was on 17 medications when he died. He’d already had a quintuple heart bypass and a below the knee leg amputation due to diabetic complications. Dr Witkowski realized that none of his Dad’s doctors had asked about his lifestyle, what he was eating, or how he spent his time. Dr Witkowski’s patients were being put on similar lists of medications for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high blood sugars, and he decided he needed to do what he’d originally gone to medical school for. Help people. This formed the basis of the holistic and
comprehensive care he offers his patients today.

Dr. Dan is:
● Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology
● Board Certified in Lifestyle Medicine
● Certified in Plant-Based Nutrition

He brings his unique combination of skills together at Direct Women’s Health in  Wakefield, MA where he sees patients through the Direct Primary Care model. Many of Dr. Dan’s patients have reversed their chronic health conditions and come off their  medication under his care. Dr. Dan has been delivering babies, specializing in Women's Health, and changing lives since 1993.

Together with his wife, Pam, they run the free Plant Based Lifestyle Ambassadors community on Facebook, inspiring people to live tastier, healthier, more fulfilled lives.

Clinton Gatewood is my guest on this epsiode and it is an overdue interview. Clint has lived his life helping others grow their businesses as well as having founded and sold his own company. He has dedicated his life to serving others and helping them see how they can achieve their business goals.

I know Clint from my tech days onward and every role he has ever held in any company he  has worked for, or with, has seen the benefit of having him around. 

On this epsiode Clint shares what he learned growing a business from the ground up for himself and others, how he learned to "own the part of the business you are in as if it is your own" and what can happen if you question yourself too much.

Clint shares a lot more from his many decades working for someone, working for himself and helping clients grow. Take a listen and then share on your social tagging #ItsAllAboutTheQuestions or @TheLauraSteward what your takeaway is.

Clinton Gatewood started his channel career with Zenith Infotech building a team which successfully grew the Zenith partner base from zero to over 12,000 MSPs in six years. He co-founded a channel focused backup and disaster recovery software company which was purchased in 2014. Clinton is now helping other channel professionals apply data driven solutions to optimize the time from partner discovery t0 first sale to predictable/sustainable channel revenue stream. 

Clinton is a veteran having served as an Army Ranger and with the 82 Airborne. He has been married for 35 years with 2 children and is very happy they look like their mother.

John David Mann and Ana Gabriel Mann joined me to discuss their seminal work, The Go-Giver Marriage A Little Story About The 5 Secrets to Lasting Love. This is not your average book about relationships and marriage. Nor is this interview.

Take a listen as I ask John and Ana about the foundation for the book, how their lives intertwined to create the book and how each of us can begin to improve relationships that matter to us.

JOHN DAVID MANN is coauthor of more than thirty books, including four New York Times bestsellers and five national bestsellers, including The Go-Giver (coauthored with Bob Burg), which has sold over 1 million copies and won the 2017 Living Now Book Awards Evergreen Medal for its “contributions to positive global change.” He is married to Ana Gabriel Mann and considers himself the luckiest mann in the world.

ANA GABRIEL MANN, M.A., holds a Master’s degree in clinical psychology and dance-movement therapy from Antioch New England, where she specialized in working with adults and family therapy. In addition to her work in family therapy and 5 Secrets marriage coaching, she has served as clinical director for a support program for families caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease, co-founded New England’s first college of Chinese medicine, and worked as a corporate consultant, speaker, trainer, and business coach. She is the creator and lead facilitator of the Go-Giver Marriage Coaches training program.

John and Ana have been dreaming about cowriting The Go-Giver Marriage and bringing its message to the world ever since the first draft of John and Bob’s original book came sliding out of his desktop printer in early 2005.