Category: Productivity

Looking for some podcast inspiration? Explore our blog to uncover 7 impactful podcasts our Giants regularly tune into to expand their intelligence, elevate their creativity and improve their everyday lives.

Podcasts have boomed in popularity over the last few years. From business and strategy to self-improvement, true crime, comedy, history and everything in between, you can find a podcast on virtually every topic known to man.

At Giant Voices, our talented team of creatives is always searching for ways to expand their intelligence, knowledge and expertise, and many of us tune into impactful podcasts regularly.

We sat down with some of our Giants to get their top podcast recommendations—explore them below and gain inspiration on what you should tune into this week.

The Tim Ferriss Show 

Starting off strong with a recommendation from our CEO, Pascha Apter.

The Tim Ferriss Show features Tim Ferriss, a bestselling author most often known for his book The 4-Hour Workweek, digging deep into the tools, tactics and tricks that world-class performers and experts utilize to further their growth, expand their minds and reach new heights.

Listen to The Tim Ferriss Show on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts. 

Leader of the Pack 

If there’s one podcast we’re truly excited to feature, it’s Leader of the Pack, a podcast started by Tom Sega, the CEO of a favorite local brand, Duluth Pack.

With Duluth Pack swiftly rising from a small business to a global brand with a loyal fanbase of outdoor enthusiasts found in every corner of the world, it’s no wonder the Leader of the Pack podcast features great business advice, impactful conversations and exciting stories from admirable individuals.

Listen to Leader of the Pack on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Stitcher—and be sure to check out episode #40, featuring none other than Pascha Apter!

The Goal Digger Podcast 

The Goal Digger Podcast, founded by influential Duluth local and entrepreneur, Jenna Kutcher, is a go-to podcast for Heather Wink—one of our exceptional account executives.

She enjoys Kutcher’s valuable advice on all things business, social media, branding, budgeting, goal setting, productivity and so much more. With over 650 episodes and authentic conversations with ambitious women, you can spend countless hours diving into this incredible podcast.

Listen to The Goal Digger Podcast on Jenna’s website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Podbean. 

Creative Pep Talk

Need to revamp some of your creativity? Tune into the Creative Pep Talk podcast by Andy J. Pizza.

Recommended by one of our outstanding graphic designers, Claudia Blees, this podcast is ideal for creatives like graphic designers, illustrators and Canva enthusiasts (and even you, doodlers).

This fun and quirky podcast shares inspiring stories, actionable strategies and clever tools to help you build a thriving creative career.

Listen to the Creative Pep Talk on the Creative Pep Talk website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. 

Marketing Against The Grain 

Are you curious as to what goes on in the brains of HubSpot and Zapier’s chief marketing officers? With the incredible success of these two globally-recognized brands, we sure are!

Suggested by our awesome account assistant, Alec Beaulieau, tune into the Marketing Against The Grain podcast for a deep dive into all things marketing trends, growth tactics and innovative strategies with Kipp Bodnar, HubSpot CMO, and Kieran Flanagan, Zapier CMO.

Listen to Marketing Against The Grain on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Deezer and Podcast Addict. 

The Tony Robbins Podcast 

Ready to change your life in a meaningful way? Tony Robbins is a renowned life and business strategist who has transformed thousands of lives around the world.

Pascha also recommends tuning in to The Tony Robbins Podcast to receive game-changing tips, tricks and advice on how to uplevel your life, improve your relationships, elevate your mindset and maximize your success.

Listen to The Tony Robbins Podcast on Tony Robbins’ website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Podbean. 

That Will Never Work 

How many times have you heard the word no? Or been told “that will never work?” Created by Marc Randolph—veteran Silicon Valley entrepreneur and the co-founder of Netflix (along with many other successful brands)—this podcast seeks to radically shift your perspective of rejection and problems.

Tune in to That Will Never Work and learn how to develop your analytical skills, hear from entrepreneurs and how they overcame hurdles, and gain actionable insights on building a thriving business.

Listen to That Will Never Work on Marc Randolph’s website, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 

Elevate Your Business with Giant Voices 

Listening to podcasts can only help your business succeed if you make changes and take action! Fortunately, with Giant Voices by your side, you don’t have to grow your business alone.

By combining our teams and utilizing the Giants’ strengths, we can work together to catapult your brand’s growth and impact. Ready to take charge? Contact us and let’s maximize your marketing.

Need to add some books to your summer reading list? Giant Voices founder and CEO, Pascha Apter, recommends 3 compelling, growth-focused reads that’ll transform your thoughts, empower your next steps and ignite your ambition. 

I’m not one to lounge around and watch TV. That’s just not my style. I’m at my best when I’m busy and productive. Whether I’m leading Giant Voices, coaching my team, guiding clients or keeping up with my young adult kids, I’m always moving.

When I “slow down,” I’m filling my brain with knowledge I can apply to all of the above. So, what have I been reading this summer? So glad you asked.

The Art of Profitability

By Adrian J. Slywotzky

There is no single way to achieve profitability, and a business model that works in one industry may not be as successful in another.

In The Art of Profitability, Adrian Slywotzky explores 23 different ways to structure profitable enterprises with a master-to-student narrative that instantly grabs (and keeps) your attention.

The book contains 23 short chapters, each with a compelling story to support a business model. It’s easy to consume in bursts, and you’ll close the book feeling empowered to drive profitability in your business in a way that makes sense for you. 

This book has helped me approach client work from many different angles. By learning more about what inspires and motivates my clients, I can better recommend a business model that will drive their success and profitability.

It’s also been key in helping grow the Giant Voices account executive team. We’re more focused on removing communication roadblocks and meeting our clients where they’re at than ever before, and it’s showing in all our up-trending KPIs. Give this book a read and discover strategies for transforming your business from flat to growing.

Traction

By Gino Wickman

Gino Wickman’s Traction is required reading at Giant Voices. Truly! We’ve operated under the Entrepreneurial Operating System for many years, and this year we’ve taken a Giant leap to bring more of our team in on the process.

All the Giants have read the book, and we’re rotating teams through the EOS® process. The insights gained have been invaluable, and our team feels more connected to the company and empowered in their roles than ever before.

Read Traction. Connect with an EOS® implementer. Then watch your company grow beyond what you ever dreamed possible.

This book is transformational. It will change the way you run your business, engage your team and drive growth. Wickman has developed simple, practical tools that allow leaders to focus on the big picture without losing sight of the day-to-day activities that must be completed to achieve the company’s growth goals. I’ve read this book several times, and I pick up new nuggets with each re-read. It’s that powerful.

Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity

By Kim Malone Scott

With a title like this, I’m pretty sure Kim Malone Scott wrote Radical Candor for me specifically—or at least for entrepreneurs just like me.

Those who care deeply about developing their employees and want to balance being “obnoxiously aggressive… and ruinously empathetic,” as the description on GoodReads so aptly put it. There’s a balance; it takes serious introspection and internal reflection to bring it to light.

Being a good manager isn’t a skill that happens overnight. It takes practice to hone the skills and your personal style into a coaching and management method that uplifts employees to unleash their greatest strengths, capabilities and potential.

It is always my, and my business partners’ goal to bring out the Giant in every team member—and that looks different for everyone. Managers will read Radical Candor and see a bit of themselves in between the lines. They’ll also learn strategies for becoming Kickass Bosses that become driving forces for both company and employee growth.

What are you reading this summer?

If you’re reading anything enlightening that can help fellow entrepreneurs achieve their ambitions, share it in the comments below! Be Fearless! Be Ambitious! Be Giant!

– Pascha Apter, Giant Voices CEO

Do you often find yourself struggling to prioritize between your personal and professional activities? Take a look at this blog written by our Giant President, Lisa Bodine, on how fostering a sustainable work life is key to reaching your highest potential.

I’ll be frank: my calendar is pretty full. I like it that way!

I love being deeply involved with my clients, our team and my business. Being a central part of the work we do at Giant Voices every day brings me satisfaction and joy. In fact, it’s precisely because of how much I love my work that I find I need to remind myself to take a step back from time to time.

Sometimes this means asking hard questions.

Am I still effectively coaching and mentoring our team when I am booked in back-to-back meetings? Am I exercising, eating, and sleeping? And what about my family; are they receiving enough of my time and attention?

When I’m deep in the grind, I’m not always thinking about the long-term impacts. But I should be. After all, having a rich, healthy, balanced life is what allows us to bring our best selves to the work we love so much—not only in the short term, but for years to come.

On Superhero Self-Care

We all know the image of the entrepreneurial superhero. Up at the crack of dawn for a ten-mile run, in the office by daybreak and still there at midnight. We love the grind! 

So is it really “overwork” if you feel happy with what you’re doing in the moment? Unfortunately, yes. 

Chronic overwork—working more than 55 hours per week—is common for entrepreneurs and business owners. It can also have serious health consequences.

What I’ve learned over time is that the most successful business owners habitually prioritize self-care, even while pouring their passion, energy, and love into their work. That’s what gives them that superhero glow—and what positions them for long-term success.

Thankfully, it really is possible to do it all. You can master your jam-packed schedule and still remain the awesome, passionate, driven leader you were born to be. It just takes a little help and a lot of determination. 

Work-Life Balance, Pandemic-Style

We are all aware the pandemic has drastically changed the way the world works. At Giant Voices, we went almost fully remote during the initial lockdowns, and we learned a lot:

• We learned that we can be Giant from anywhere. When you love the work, it doesn’t matter where you are. Flexibility has been key to surviving the pandemic from a business perspective. 
• We learned we can maintain relationships without seeing our coworkers and clients in person. 
• We learned we’re extremely productive, but our new hybrid environment comes with drawbacks. We can take more meetings, but that leaves us with less time to decompress and shift gears between clients.
• We also learned employees will follow leadership’s tendency to overwork unless we are clear with our expectations—and practice what we preach.

All this learning has led to small but powerful shifts in our company. By embracing a flexible work environment, we’ve been able to help our employees take care of themselves and their families, without sacrificing their work.

We’ve also empowered our employees to raise their hands when they feel overwork creeping in—especially when we don’t physically see each other as often. This increased transparency surrounding workloads, workplace burnout and mental health has been a positive shift for our team.

Rest and Recharge

Over the last few years, I’ve made progress in achieving a sustainable work-life balance. Here are some of the things that have worked for me.

1. Relying on our team

There are things only I can do, but there are also tasks in my client roster that our team is beyond capable of handling. Whenever possible, I delegate. This lightens my workload, and it brings me joy to see our team advance in their skills. It also effectively increases our organizational capacity by eliminating the bottlenecks that can occur with us all.

2. Taking time away—truly away

I prioritize exercise that forces me to focus on the task at hand. If I’m running a trail or mountain biking, I’m present in that moment—and that moment only. It’s meditative. I also take time with my family. Coaching soccer and family vacations allow me to truly unplug.

3. Prioritizing relationships

I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without the support of my partners, our team, my husband, kids, mom and extended family. The village around me also includes close friends, my work network, and my spunky pup, Poppy—Giant Voices’ newest office dog. Sustaining these relationships makes me a stronger business owner and leader.

It’s not bad to be tempted to work around the clock. In fact, it’s probably a sign that you love what you do!

As a leader, however, I can’t afford the consequences of overwork. Our team needs me to show up fresh and ready, every day. They also look to me to model an approach to work-life balance that aligns with our values. These are both responsibilities that I take seriously.

Over the last few months, more of our clients have come to us with questions about promoting healthy work-life balance in their companies, and we’ve evolved our services to help our clients grapple with company culture development, values creation and recruitment/retention strategies in the post-pandemic world. 

Questions? Just drop us a line. We’re here to help.

Virtual events. Whether we’re active participants, hosting a virtual Vision Sharing™ session or leading clients through execution, our team understands the benefits of going virtual.

If you’re here because you’re questioning if you can execute a successful virtual event (you absolutely can!), looking for attendee engagement tips, or simply need advice on how to measure the success of your virtual event, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled a breakdown of key pros and cons you need to know.

The Pros of Virtual Events

From being budget-friendly to making it more accessible for people to attend, there are plenty of advantages of hosting a virtual event.

Not to mention, it’s a great way to engage with people on a global level while also reaching a larger audience in general—all without the commute or fighting other attendees for the best parking spot.

What’s more, you can gain feedback in “real-time,” so to speak, by having attendees answer polls or surveys during the event sessions. This makes it easier for presenters to get feedback and provides an early indication of your event’s success (more to come on this).

The Cons of Virtual Events

While there may be plenty of perks when deviating to a digital setting—there are plenty of drawbacks.

From limited networking and interaction for attendees, to the challenge of keeping people engaged at their computer for an extended period, attendees truly miss out on the human connection of in-person events.

After all, who doesn’t love meeting other attendees and building new relationships? It’s one of the main reasons we all love to attend events.

While it’s true your staff and attendees likely save time and budget otherwise spent on travel, registration, itineraries, gifts and other items that come with an in-person event (we all know how long the detail-planning takes)—you may end up spending more money and time on alternative items such as mailing gift boxes, virtual experience components and the like.

We also have to mention the chance for technical difficulties. Poor connections, chat or poll issues, the possibility of user error with audio and/or video, can all leave attendees feeling like the experience was too distracting to gain value.

Fortunately, our team has helped execute countless virtual events (yes, even before 2020), and we’re prepared to help you navigate a tight ship for a virtual event that’s sure to “wow” your prospects and grow your business.

Where Do You Begin?

While a virtual event may cut time on printing name tags, hosting a successful virtual event doesn’t necessarily mean you will save time in the long run.

In our experience, successful virtual events can mean more time spent in the planning process than anywhere else.  

Go in knowing the planning of a virtual event will likely be more complex than an in-person event. 

Prep time for virtual events should begin much earlier than planning for an in-person event.

• What digital medium will you be using?
• Will it require a registration fee, or have limited attendance?
• Does your platform connect to a calendar reminder?
• Do you need a secure login?
• When do you start creating marketing materials to spread the word?

Case in point, there are countless details reaching beyond “when” and “where” for planning a virtual event.

Assemble your team. 

It takes a village of people working together behind the scenes before, day-of, and following a virtual event to ensure smooth operation. Make a list of everyone who will be involved.

Your moderator, a “gatekeeper” or host to check in on waiting rooms to ensure attendees have access, your speakers, your tech team (on stand-by during the event) and marketing department are just a few of the people who should be involved. 

We recommend a group chat (on a separate platform) during the event to alleviate any last minute technical or attendee issues that may arise.

Create an outline – or ‘Run of Show.’ 

Scratch that. Create multiple versions to get and stay organized. List out your speakers and their topics, as well as their time slots. Ensure there is a good flow of content as well as designated stretch breaks or networking times for attendees.

Be sure to outline the expectations you have for presentations and communicate to your attendees properly before, during and after each one.

Prepare for shorter talking points and shorter presentations. 

A virtual audience has a short attention span. Be prepared to break up the virtual event with survey tools at the ready, videos and other engaging features to keep your audience actively involved.

Plan for hiccups. 

Whether it’s technical difficulties or unfamiliarity with the virtual medium of choice, it’s important to have a back-up plan. Be sure to have all the attendees’ email addresses at the ready if something goes wrong. Or, if you’re concerned about attendee etiquette, prepare and share a Best Practices sheet prior to the event.

Practice, practice, practice. 

Ensure you and/or your speakers have a strong flow for the presentation. Practice until you are certain that your inflection and content delivery is interesting and engaging for your audience.

Trust us—if your virtual presentation is not seamless or engaging, your audience will notice. 

How Do You Make Virtual Events an “Experience”?

Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of virtual events is how to make it a valuable experience for participants. That’s why it’s important to provide them with value every step of the way.

Ensure the content is valuable. 

Your attendees have chosen to attend your virtual event for a reason—now ensure you provide worthwhile content.

What new skills can they learn? What experiences will they hear presenters talk about? What additional eBook, video, template or network connection will you provide them as a take away? Will you provide gift cards or a DoorDash lunch as incentive to make them feel more present?

There are countless opportunities to provide value before, during and after your virtual event. Start brainstorming with your team to find exactly what your audience is hoping to gain.

Smaller chat rooms. 

Consider your breakout rooms during the event. Could they be smaller to give participants the opportunity to discuss key concepts from the presentations with other attendees?

Again, it goes back to planning from the beginning exactly what makes your event unique and how you can ensure value. (Side note, if you’re not sure how to create breakout rooms for virtual events, we can help!)

It’s all about the follow-up. 

Why do people love networking events? To network! Pick a few memorable moments from the presentations, maybe an insightful participant question or a book mentioned by a presenter.

You can then follow-up with attendees via email to provide them more details and additional information and value.

How Do You Measure Success?

While you can gain valuable insights during your virtual event with polls, breakout sessions and other interactive activities, we also recommend follow-up surveys to see what attendees liked, what they didn’t and what areas you can improve on.

(Side note, we don’t necessarily recommend a follow-up survey every time, especially if you had multiple polls set up during your presentation.)

A sales contact doesn’t always happen right away. We typically measure the success of virtual events for 6-12 months following, to see if there has been any attendees interaction.

What’s more, if the first event went well, chances are future virtual events will garner higher attendance rates. Establish early what your goals are, and how you know you’ve achieved them.

Did you want 120 new leads and secured them? Great! Did you close 12 new sales meetings in the last 3 months from attendees? Perfect! Go in with strong performance indicators to benchmark your success.

Maximizing Your Virtual Event Success

By planning ahead, assembling your team, understanding your digital medium, providing your attendees with value and having a plan to measure success, you’re well on your way to creating a successful virtual event that will secure prospects and support your business efforts.

Need help creating a virtual event? At Giant Voices, our experienced team can help you swiftly and effectively navigate hosting a virtual webinar, panel discussion or presentation for your business. Connect with us today to learn more.

Virtual meetings have become an essential part of our new normal. Seasoned remote workers are no strangers to virtual meetings, but for those of us who are used to face-to-face human interactions, deriving the same value from a virtual meeting (not to mention staying focused) can be more challenging than it seems.

For the foreseeable future, virtual meetings are the best or only option to collaborate. Use these five tips to avoid common pitfalls and make each meeting as productive as possible.

Stay on Track – Keep Virtual Meetings Running Smoothly

When you’re sitting in a conference room, it’s easy to see who’s in charge, but when you’re meeting online, it’s not quite so clear—especially if you’re collaborating across several companies or teams. Know that if you called the meeting, you’re likely in charge—and that comes with extra responsibilities.

First, create and share an agenda at least 24 hours before the meeting. When you’re meeting in person, it’s easier to pivot on the fly, but virtual meetings need a little more structure.

If you have specific requests or expectations, make those clear when you share the agenda. This gives attendees ample time to review and prepare. Having a clear outline of what you want to accomplish and sticking to it during the time allotted will help you ensure your meeting is productive.

Next, keep an eye on the clock—these meetings go fast. If it helps, designate a timekeeper who will help you keep the meeting progressing smoothly.

It is also important to watch out for tangents that could take your meeting off track—but be sure to table valuable but off-agenda topics for follow up or future meetings.

Be Courteous – We’re All in This Together

The first rule of virtual meetings is: do not talk unless it is your turn to speak. Try not to speak over your colleagues, and be sure to mute your microphone when you’re not talking. 

Remote work environments often come with potential distractions that can cause unintentional background noise, so it’s best to remain on mute until the conversation steers your way.

If you can’t talk and you can’t interrupt your coworkers, how can you get a word in edgewise? There are a few polite options. Capture the meeting facilitator’s attention with a hand wave and wait until you’re invited to speak.

Or, wait for a pause in the conversation and jump in. You can also chat in most platforms—note you have something to add, and then wait for others to stop speaking or the meeting facilitator to call on you.

When everyone practices general etiquette, the entire meeting will run more smoothly. Everyone will get a chance to add their input without stepping on others’ toes in the process.

Be Attentive to Minimize Distractions

Working from home often comes with multitasking—especially when you’re working from home during a pandemic. You’re likely sharing space with a spouse, partner or roommate, and you may have kids at home needing supervision (not to mention education) or pets that crave attention.

That’s enough distraction for anyone. Your team surely understands and is likely in a similar boat, but it’s best to minimize distractions during a virtual meeting whenever possible.

Try to retreat to a separate space for the duration of the call. Otherwise, do your best to keep your wards entertained while still actively participating in the meeting.

You’ll also have to battle the rest of your work responsibilities simultaneously. Avoid checking your email or your phone during the meeting. Silence all notifications and focus on the conversation.

One last tip: keep your eyes on whoever is speaking rather than watching yourself in the camera—it’ll help you stay engaged, and you’ll avoid missing valuable information, requests to speak or questions aimed at you. Don’t worry about your hair or the bad camera angle!

Lights, Camera, Action – Get Comfortable with Your Camera

We know we just told you not to look at yourself in the camera, which is why it is smart to do a quick video test before you join the meeting.

Make sure your camera has a clean lens, so your video feed is crisp and clear. If your job requires you to meet with high-profile clients, it may be worth investing in a high-resolution camera to ensure excellent video quality at every meeting.

Most people don’t love being on camera, but it’s a necessary element of modern business. These tips should help you feel more comfortable being in front of the camera regularly.

First, find a location with a clear backdrop. A plain wall or a spot with minimal décor is best. Try not to sit with a window behind you as the backlighting will make you appear dark.

Next, center the camera. Position head-on, from your shoulders and up, in the middle of the screen. It can be distracting to other attendees if they can only see part of your face or if you’re looking off to the side when people are talking.

Lastly, remember to sit up straight and look into the camera when you speak. Resist the temptation to look at yourself in the camera, instead address your fellow attendees just like you would during an in-person meeting.

Conclude Effectively

There is no shortage of new memes about the awkwardness of virtual meeting conclusions. The long goodbyes. The strange pauses as attendees look for the red button that’ll allow them to hang up. The lingering silent faces.

Avoid all this by having a strong wrap-up.

Provide a quick recap of what you covered during the meeting and any action items left on the table. Ask if anyone has any final questions. Outline any deliverables that arose during the meeting and the necessary next steps to keep the project moving forward. Announce the time for the next meeting or any expected follow-up calls or emails, and lastly, thank attendees for their participation. Then it’s time to click END.

Adding in this transition period will signal that the meeting is concluding while allowing attendees to make any last-minute notes, ask final questions and prepare to sign off.