The art of securing a first, live meeting with a new contact. Mark Cook shares an interview from when Lisa Morozoff was a principal with Mercer, San Francisco (now with Uber) and with Ryan Wiersdorf, a sales leader and top performer at O.C. Tanner. Mark also adds a response by Rob Plowgian, sales leader at NetCuras, about beginning business relationships. Plus, Rob offers a bonus: discovering tech. “dev ops” problems and opportunities for providers. All four participants in this lively discussion explore relationship-building, positioning a company, and understanding operations for prospects. The discussion covers key challenges in others' roles, the role of emotion in decision-making, and strategic networking. Guests also share preparation tactics for referrals and the art of asking for introductions—highlighting the power of personal connections and purposeful outreach.

A new relationship requires understanding feelings not just thoughts:

"Emotion is part of decision making."

"Value is progress."

"I believe in sharpening the saw."

Learn a way to start the very beginning of a relationship with a new contact…

Mark Cook

Takeaways

• Forethought and purpose impact communication significantly.

• Building relationships is crucial for any great success.

• Emotion plays a key role in decision-making.

• Value creation must get practical in networking.

• Asking for referrals best requires any approach besides selling.

• Understanding the macro environment aids in preparation.

Keywords

communication, operations, talent acquisition, networking, referrals, emotional intelligence, business relationships, leadership, value creation, relationship building

Ryan Wiersdorf: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanwiersdorf/

Lisa Morozoff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-morozoff-3469a45/

Rob Plowgian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robplowgian/

Chapters

00:00 The Impact of Communicating Well

02:15 Building Relationships in Business

08:49 The Importance of Live Meetings

17:29 Attracting Meaningful Conversations

24:50 Preparing for Referrals

35:39 Approaching Potential Referrals

42:03 Channel Strategy for Growth

Catch this conversation, Mark Cook and Tom Zaiderman explore AI, Autonomy, and the core of leadership, emphasizing the importance of service, compassion, and interconnectedness in both personal and professional realms. Tom shares his philosophy of leadership as a form of service, drawing from ancient wisdom and personal experiences. He discusses the significance of creating space for others to contribute and innovate, as well as the need for realistic positivity in leadership. The conversation also touches on the impact of personal adversity on leadership style and the importance of recognizing the interconnectedness of all stakeholders in a business.

Facilitation is more effective than authority in leading:

"Leading is serving by creating a space."

"You cannot cheat this system…"

"Pause, take a deep breath…Feed the Pause."

Unbelievable adversity led Tom to greater compassion and a forward lean.

Mark C.

Takeaways:

Leadership is fundamentally about serving others.

True service involves recognizing the interconnectedness of all stakeholders.

Positivity should be realistic and grounded in truth.

Creating space for innovation is essential for growth.

Personal adversity can lead to greater compassion and understanding.

Effective leadership requires emotional intelligence and empathy.

Rethinking business strategy through the lens of service can yield better results.

The best leaders prioritize the needs of their teams and stakeholders.

Leadership is about connection, not just decision-making.

Links:

Ruby.ai Robotic Technologies: https://ruby.ai/

Tom Zaiderman: linkedin.com/in/tom-zaiderman-84808438

Chapters:

00:00 The Philosophy of Leadership

06:46 Service as a Leadership Principle

13:42 Creating Space for Innovation

19:02 Personal Loss and Leadership Growth

32:36 Fostering Team Positivity

37:25 The Future of AI and Leadership

Keywords:

leadership, service, AI, personal growth, compassion, positivity, interconnectedness, business strategy, emotional intelligence, facilitation

Join Mark and Kent Bowman, now to apply deep dives into “actionables” for starting valuable relationships of mutual benefit that also grow revenue! From, Co-Founder and Board Member at Tanner LLC. Discover how Kent helped grow one state’s largest CPA firm and spearheads programs at City Strong Foundation, transforming communities through education, mental health support, and neighborhood improvements. Start building authentic connections today! Follow Kent Bowman’s actionable advice to strengthen trust and collaboration in your professional life.

Uncover Kent Bowman’s proven secrets to turning trust into unstoppable success:

"Positivity creates opportunities and lasting success."

"Ownership and effort set you apart."

"Build trust before seeking anything in return."

How did Kent Bowman’s five-step method revolutionize networking success?

Mark C.

Watch Bold Encounters atMarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast,YouTube.com/MarkSpencerCook,Spotify, or listen onApple and most other podcast platforms.

Lessons Learned:

-Build trust by delivering unconditional value to your network.

-Foster positivity to attract people and opportunities.

-Approach networking with authenticity, not self-interest.

-Recognize vulnerability as a strength in relationship-building.

Sophie Haws shares her unique experiences growing up an original Swiftie fan of Taylor Swift. See MarkSpencerCook.com for more episodes. Now, Sophie details her personal interactions with the artist, as Swift marketed and shaped her understanding of connection and community. From her early days in Girl Scouts to navigating the complexities of adolescence and college life, Sophie reflects on the importance of individual experiences and relationships. The discussion highlights how Taylor Swift's music and approach to her fans foster a sense of belonging and camaraderie among her listeners, ultimately influencing Sophie's perspective in her advertising career.

Sound Bites

"She made it a very personal experience."

"We felt this connection to her."

"She focuses on the individual experience."

"Her music is about personal experiences."

"It’s almost like we grew up together."

"It creates that bond between her fans."

"She was very focused on your personal life."

"I think that's a really important part ofrelationships."

"You can relate to it."

Takeaways

Sophie felt a personal connection with Taylor Swift.

The importance of individual experiences in buildingrelationships.

Taylor Swift's focus on her fans creates a strong community.

Navigating childhood friendships can be challenging.

The transition to college brings new pressures andexpectations.

Sophie learned valuable lessons about personal connectionsin advertising.

Taylor Swift's music resonates with personal experiences.

Friendships formed through shared experiences with music.

The significance of personal interactions in building abrand.

Understanding the individual customer is key in advertising.

Chapters

00:00 Sophie’s Journey with Taylor Swift

06:44 Navigating Childhood and Adolescence

17:55 The Transition to College Life

26:26 The Impact of Taylor Swift on Friendships

35:18 Taylor Swift's Rise to Fame

46:02 Lessons Learned from a Swiftie Experience

Keywords

Taylor Swift, Sophie Haws, advertising, personalconnection, music, childhood, adolescence, college, friendships, fandom

Tune in today to learn to lead growth with Kent Bowman, former Partner at Andersen and Tanner LLC. Gain insights from his incredible personal challenges and difficult business journey, then leading the growth of a large, famous CPA firm, Tanner, LLC. Kent transformed teams, relationships, organizations and success in finance, consulting, and leadership. In this first part of our conversation, Kent shares how to preserve livelihoods and rebuild trust. Kent transitioned 120 professionals after Arthur Andersen's collapse.

Discover the strategies to rebuild careers and pivot a faltering division into a success:

"Set your sights high and deliver consistently."

"Always take ownership of the issue."

"Pain is temporary; resilience leads to growth."

Find out how Kent Bowman saved family and firm from catastrophe:

Mark C.

Watch Bold Encounters at MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast, YouTube.com/MarkSpencerCook, Spotify, or listen on Apple and most other podcast platforms.

Lessons Learned:

-Always take ownership to build credibility and trust.

-Set your sights high to achieve exceptional outcomes.

-Develop unique skills to stand out in competitive environments.

-Foster teamwork by leveraging individual strengths within groups.

Welcome back to Bold Encounters! We gain more potent stories, especially on scaling by focusing on one person at a time from Ann Stigsson. Ann worked with Mother Teresa and learned about serving and scaling opportunity the right way. This more recent conversation adds some new, powerful stories from impactful work with Mother Teresa and her organization. Prepare to be inspired by Ann’s extraordinary insights on serving the one. Ann is a Palliative Care Expert and Hospice Counselor.

Uncover Mother Teresa’s secret to elevating lives through the power of serving the one: 

"Helping isn’t enough; you must also love."

"Small things are the most important…but create the big."

"Service and love must always come first."

What gave Ann the strength to face relentless challenge? Find out now…

Mark   

Watch Bold Encounters at MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast, YouTube.com/MarkSpencerCook, Spotify, or listen on Apple and most other podcast platforms. 

Lessons Learned: 

-Preserve dignity by empowering others through fair, compassionate action.

-Lead by example, never asking others to do what you won’t.

-Focus on one person at a time to make a difference.

-Prioritize authenticity over efficiency to maintain meaningful connections.  

See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast, YouTube, or any podcast platform.      

Also see Mark’s homepage: MarkSpencerCook.com or WindfallPartners.com.com 

Welcome back to Bold Encounters, where Mark Cook presents Ann Stigsson, Hospice Counselor at Palliative Care in Monmouth, Sweden. Ann shares powerful lessons on servant leadership from “serving the one” with Mother Teresa. Ann discusses restoring dignity and providing connection throughextraordinary, compassionate care. Discover her amazing journey to work with Mother Teresa then lifting lives and lesson’s learned by the side of one of the greatest ever.

Uncover the profound secret to elevating lives through thepower of serving the one:

"Life is not that complicated."
"Each person is valuable and worthy."
"Focus on the one to create change."

What other life-changing advice did Mother Teresa share? Find out now.

Watch Bold Encounters at MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast,YouTube.com/MarkSpencerCook, Spotify, or listen on Apple and most other podcastplatforms.

Other Lessons Learned:

-Approach each person with dignity and compassion.

-Build trust through small, tangible, and meaningfulactions.

-See service as a privilege, not a task.

-Focus on the individual to create lasting impact.

See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast, YouTube, or anypodcast platform.   

Also see Mark’s homepage: MarkSpencerCook.com or WindfallPartners.com.com.

Welcome to an inspiring session with Calvin Wooley, Vice President at Goldman Sachs, leading the charge in client data strategies. Learn from his extraordinary journey, from overcoming life-changing challenges to celebrating 20 years of impactful leadership at one of the world’s top financial firms. Wooley shares strategies to prioritize effectively, foster collaborative problem-solving, and build resilience, enabling leaders to transform complex obstacles into opportunities for success and growth in both personal and professional realms.

Discover the untold secret of transforming adversity into unmatched leadership success with Calvin Wooley:

“Hard work makes success seem effortless."

"Prioritize what truly matters every day."

"Leadership is taking ownership of any problem."

What happened in Calvin's darkest moment changed everything forever:

Mark

Watch Bold Encounters at MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast, YouTube.com/MarkSpencerCook, Spotify, or listen on Apple and most other podcast platforms.

Lessons Learned:

-Take ownership of problems to drive effective solutions.

-Cultivate resilience through personal and professional adversities.

-Prioritize diversity of thought to foster innovation and better decisions.

-Mentor others to create a stronger and more cohesive team.

See more at: MarkSpencerCook.com/Podcast, YouTube, or any podcast platform.   

Also see Mark’s homepage: MarkSpencerCook.com or WindfallPartners.com.com |  WindfallPartners.com  

Calvin Wooley Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvin-woolley-330a50/