Recipe for Referrals -- Jessica Pettitt and "Good Enough Now"

Each week in 2015 I will be trying to refer someone special.  I want these introductions to matter and to have an impact.  This "Recipe for Referrals" is playing out on my blog (here) and in real life.  Each week I try to make sure that I have talked up the business of a person I admire. 

Today I want to introduce you to my friend and colleague, Jessica Pettitt. Through her business, Good Enough Now, Jessica provides change and crisis management, policy and HR development, motivational keynotes, and team engagement. Her premise is this - what if we are good enough now to do the work and make the change we want to see?

If you are working of corporate issues that involve change (and who isn't?), I suggested Jessica and Good Enough Now  could be a strong fit for your needs. And based on what I know of Jessica's impact with clients, I know that you'll get a lot out of connecting with her. 

Here's a little more on Good Enough Now and the philosophy behind Jessica's services.

          

Jessica Pettitt

engage@goodenoughnow.com

(917) 543-0966

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Recipe for Referrals - Grant Baldwin

Each week in 2015 I will be trying to refer someone.  I am struggling to know how to make this "Recipe for Referrals" meaningful, as simply posting here on my blog is not enough.  I want to make a difference, but have not figured out what that looks like.  While I have lots of regular readers on the blog, most are living (as we all are) in "information overload", and thus I am not sure I have enough impact.

But for now I am starting here on my blog.  The first few weeks seem to be referrals to interesting podcasts and the podcasters who host shows that I think people should know about.  I have conversations with daily with people who are discovering the great information provided via this medium of podcasting, and it is fun to share shows I think matter.

Today I am referring Grant Baldwin.  He is one of the most impressive people I have met this year, and he hosts a great show called "How Did You Get Into That?".  On his show he interviews interesting people who have jobs that make you wonder, how did they get into that???

Grant is a professional speaker, coach, and is launching a new online course on clarity.  He is also a father of three kids and an all-around nice guy.  We have a few mutual friends, but met in-person at a conference this summer, and I was instantly his fan.

Unlike many podcasters, Grant is not some self-appointed guru who is trying to separate people from their money.  He is a normal guy trying to build his business and wants to share and serve others along the way.

His slogan is "Giving you confidence to find the work you love"... and that is important stuff.  In talking with Grant when I met him, he clearly loves his career.  Too few people are blessed with that level of excitement (I understand... because I am uber-enthusiastic about my work, too).

Jump over to GrantBaldwin.com to learn more.  He has a blog, info on his speaking and coaching, and links to his podcast. 

Have A Great Day

thom singer

David Ralph and the "Join Up Dots" Podcast - Recipe for Real Referrals (Referral #2)

Referring people to others has many positive impacts.  

If I connect two people who do business together, someone finds a product or service while the other gets a new client.  Boom.  

If I suggest a book or podcast that inspires someone.  Pow.

If I have knowledge that helps somebody in their own journey.  Bang.

It is good to be that connector. When others win in some way, I win, too (being a person who assists should make you feel good. The world is not a zero sum game).

In 2015 I want to raise my efforts to make real referrals.  I am still trying to figure out what this means.  It has to be more than writing up cool things on my blog or sharing awesome souls with the world  via the podcast.  I want to make referrals where actions happen, and I am not sure that just writing here it is enough.  But I am starting here under the title of "Recipe for Referrals", as with each ingredient I get closer to the final product.  

For now I am blogging things I want the world to know about.  But I am aware this does not go far enough, as few people share out the blog posts they read (and not enough people read my blog).  In 2005 when I launched this blog it was common that others would forward all sorts of information. Shares and trackbacks were very common and important in the Blogosphere. Yet the world has changed and sharing has slowed.  Maybe that is because there is more information (too much information) on the internet.  Or perhaps it is the hyper-focused pursuit of self-promotion.

Either way, each week I want to make sure I am referring someone or something.  If nobody cares, that is okay too.  I want to be one who tries to connect.

Today I am going to refer another podcast that I think you will find amazing.  Last week I highlighted a person I met via my podcasting efforts.  As a podcaster I have begun to listen and learn from those who are blazing podcasting trails.  In a world with millions of podcasts I am quickly identifying the ones that are not "icky".  Too many are "Guru's" with agendas.... yet many are hosted by caring souls who want to share.  Thus this referral is also about a podcast you should be consuming regularly.

Have you ever heard of the"Join Up Dots" podcast?  If not, I suggest you go to iTunes or Stitcher and download several episodes.  Spend your next few workouts listening to host David Ralph (a nice man who clearly has a givers soul) interview a cornucopia of guests from a wide variety of backgrounds.  He lives in England (so he has that cool accent) and possesses a unique way to get guests to open up their hearts and share things they might not usually tell people about how they tackle life and success.

Several of my friends (and myself) have been interviewed on this podcast.  With over 230 episodes you might be overwhelmed as to where to start... so let me refer you to some shows with people I admire (and my own Join Up Dots interview).

Episode 237 - Jessica Pettitt
Episode 231 - Sean Ackerman
Episode 214 - Thom Singer
Episode 199 - Mike Domitrz
Episode 182 - Thomas Umstattd
Episode 175 - Ryan Avery
Episode 169 - Greg Barth
Episode 125 - Honoree Corder
Episode 100 - Michael O'Neal

If you invested the time to listen to just these episodes, I think you would find yourself positively moved for knowing about these people, and for leaning about David Ralph.

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Recipe for Real Referrals: John Corcoran - Referral # 1

In 2015 I want to find ways to make a real referral every week. 

Maybe more often.  I am still figuring out how to make this real.  

Fortunately I come across awesome people all the time.  My career brings me into contact, directly and indirectly, with great souls who are doing interesting things.  I already write "Cool Things My Friends Do" and host the "Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do Podcast", but not everyone is my friend, nor can I have everyone on the show.

Alas, I have no idea how I will refer someone each week.  I am not sure that simply blogging about them is enough.  I want to really connect people.  But for now I will start with the blog and see how it goes.  I have found that "doing" makes things happen.    

My first referral is NOW (why wait until the new year??).  But here is the thing... I don't really know this person.  I just want to refer him for some greater reason.  I simply enjoy his podcast. 

After enough shows I falsely feel we are friends.  But his show is good, and he interviews real people doing real things (not just GURU's).  He is not a person who only highlights those up the ladder (I am sick of those people), he talks to all types of people without pre-judging what they bring to him.

I have been deep into the world of podcasts lately (because of the launch of my own show, "Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do"), and lately I have been listening to John Corcoran and "The Smart Business Revolution Podcast".  I do not know John, but since I have been listening to a lot of shows, I have come to respect him.

If you are looking for a good podcast filled with real and actionable business ideas.... subscribe, download and review "The Smart Business Revolution".  So many podcasts are hosted by people for whom I quickly lose respect.  A friend and I listen to similar shows and share the "ick-factor" when it is discovered.  It is almost a game to find a show that at first seems inspiring and then discover the host is a fraud or a "taker".

Over the past few weeks (and many of his episodes) I have come to decide that John Corcoran is not icky.  The real deal if you like business podcasts.  I think you can feel good with this show over the long run.  

Check it out.

And now pay it forward:  Go and publicly refer someone else.

Have A Great Day

thom singer