December 5, 2014,
The Huffington Post
Confidence is essential to your success and that of your business — in fact, it’s vital to everything you do in life.
Read the entire article here: https://www.ellevatenetwork.com/articles/5870-5-reasons-developing-confidence-is-critical-to-your-success
December 4, 2014,
The Huffington Post
Between Google and social media, it’s become simultaneously easier and more difficult than ever to maintain your brand image.
Read the entire article here: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/4-things-you-can-do-to-personalize-your-brand-like-the-celebs_b_6148030
December 1,2014,
Inc.
As an entrepreneur, attending to your work is essential for building your business. But creating a balanced life is the key to sustained success in the office and at home.
Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-simple-steps-schedule-your-week-business-personal-success-richards/
“This article was originally published on LinkedIn.”
We’ve all longed for a classic mentor-mentee relationship at some point in our careers. We want someone who is savvy and seasoned. We want her to provide the perfect insights and career advice that will help us reach our goals. We want someone who will guide us to our destination.
I’ve been fortunate to have several fantastic mentors during my career at Apple and beyond — and equally as fortunate to have counted Steve Jobs as one of them. These mentors helped me get my MBA, navigate workplace politics, and chart a path to success by bolstering my self-confidence to strike out on my own to forge the unique path I’ve paved for myself.
I recommend anyone who’s just beginning her career to seek a mentor with relevant experiences who can act as a sounding board for ideas; offer feedback, guidance, insights, and wisdom; open doors within established networks; and help you avoid costly career mistakes.
But as with any relationship, you can’t just walk in the door and expect to make an instant deep connection with somebody. Relationships take time to grow. While trust takes time to build, you can use these five powerful conversation tools to make the connection more impactful each time you meet with your mentor.
1. Be reliable. Mutual respect is the foundation of any good relationship and applies to honoring the mentor-mentee relationship, as well. That means being on time and professional for scheduled conversations and meetings, giving your full attention to your mentor when you spend time together, and expressing your sincere thanks at every opportunity. Ideally, you can demonstrate that you’ve acted on your mentor’s counsel and can share your results.
2. Communicate frequently. As a mentee, it’s your responsibility to reach out to your mentor when you need her. You should express your appreciation both verbally and with your actions. Take suggestions to heart, act on them, and send regular notes to communicate your progress and how you’re applying advice. Make it clear that you’re following through so your mentor knows she’s investing her time wisely.
3. Get personal. While the meat of your mentor-mentee relationship will center on lessons you can learn from your mentor’s experience, all good relationships start with active and direct human conversations to build rapport.
Ask your mentor how she spends her free time and what interests her. What does she like to read about, and what topics catch her eye inside and outside of your shared industry? Also, what are her coaches or mentors sharing at the next level that could be instructive?
Insightful questions like these will help you reciprocate within your relationship to send along interesting links she might enjoy. It also allows you to get to know one another on a personal level, which is how you develop trusted relationships that stand the test of time.
4. Tap into hindsight. With her years of experience, it’s likely that your mentor has more insight into your career and industry than you do. Tap into these insights by asking what she would do differently if she were starting over.
Which professional organizations have been worth the investment? Which of her instincts paid off as she navigated the corporate ladder? Her experiences could help you avoid or overcome major pitfalls and challenges and optimize success in your own career.
5. Ask for honesty. Your mentor should always be straightforward with you and never hold anything back, but it’s important that you establish up front that you’re receptive to all types of feedback and that you welcome transparency. She may be the only person in your life who has this type of relationship with you and won’t sugarcoat things or placate you. That honesty will prove invaluable as you progress in your career.
As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Fortunately, it’s within your power to initiate and develop a relationship with someone who can open doors to the rest: a strategically chosen mentor with valuable experience to share who is willing to shepherd your success and growth.
Until next time,
Kelli Richards
CEO of The All Access Group, LLC
PS: The right mentor should also have the right CONNECTIONS to move you forward. Be sure to ask who they think they can bring to the table around advisorship, possible collaboration and even funding. Visit: https://allaccessgroup.com
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
“My article was originally published on LinkedIn”
Picture this: You’ve launched your business, you’re turning a profit, and day-to-day operations are humming along. The company is solid, but you’ve hit a plateau. You know it’s time to take things to the next level, but you’re not sure how best to do it. You haven’t been here before.
If you’ve hit a wall, it might be time to hire a business coach. Sometimes no matter how passionate you are about your business, it takes an outsider’s perspective to see where the company is lacking and identify areas for growth. And that additional insight and shift in perspective can take moments but make a huge difference in your results and the outcome.
Business coaches can give you and your company a fresh perspective and the advantage of experience, but only if you know how to take advantage of what your coach can provide.
What Coaches Bring to the Table
If you’re unsure about working with a coach, consider that many top CEOs, politicians, and other public figures rely on coaches and mentors for feedback and guidance.
Google’s Eric Schmidt says his best advice to new CEOs is to get a coach, and former Intuit CEO Steve Bennett believes coaches are vital to ongoing professional development. Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, and even Barack Obama have all reported using coaches on a regular basis to advance in their careers.
I myself worked with several mentors at Apple, including the late Steve Jobs. Each taught me important lessons about team-building, collaboration, workplace politics, managing time and priorities, and how to remain confident in the face of challenges.
In addition to all the great professional development advice a coach can provide, she can also give you:
How to Make the Most of the Relationship
A coach can do wonderful things for you and your business, but only if you put a lot of effort into the relationship yourself.
Here’s how to empower your coach to help you take your business to the next level:
A business coach can be a valuable asset to any executive and leader. A coach can act as a sounding board for new ideas, offer a fresh and honest perspective, and motivate you to take your business to the next level. But ultimately, the success of your business depends on you taking the initiative to work with your coach, being all-in, and making the most of the relationship.
This post was originally published on Inc.com.
A highly sought-after consultant, super-connector, trusted advisor, celebrity wrangler, and thought leader, Kelli Richards is the CEO of The All Access Group. She facilitates strategic business opportunities in digital distribution among innovative technology companies, talent and media companies, and brands to foster new revenue streams and deliver compelling consumer experiences. As a trusted advisor, she transforms the quality of people’s lives. Kelli is also the author of the bestselling e-book “The Magic and Moxie of Apple: An Insider’s View.”
Photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
November 20, 2014,
Inc.
When you decide to mentor someone, you really have no way of knowing how far she’ll go. Whether you shape the next great entrepreneur of our time or help someone achieve her dreams, you’ll make a difference — and that’s all that matters.
Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/the-4-most-important-reasons-you-need-to-become-a-mentor.html
November 17, 2014,
LinkedIn Articles
We’ve all longed for a classic mentor-mentee relationship at some point in our careers.
…
5 Conversation Tools For Nurturing Your Relationship With A MentorRead More »
“This article was originally posted on Inc. magazine”
Having a list of mantras that you can pull out of your toolkit in any situation will prepare you to turn challenges into successes.
You were prepared for the uncertainty that comes with entrepreneurship. You braced yourself for the long workdays–and for your first business failure. You were ready for just about everything–except the inner strength it takes to be your own biggest motivator.
Sure, it would be great to have your own personal coach wake you up every morning with breakfast in bed and a hearty “Go get ’em, tiger!” But that’s not likely to happen.
Nobody is waiting at the finish line to give you a medal for getting your business off the ground. Nobody is as invested in your idea as you are. You need to learn how to be your own coach, and it starts with giving yourself a killer pep talk (daily if necessary, then rinse and repeat).
If you’ve seen “Jessica’s Daily Affirmation,” you know how infectious personal motivation can be. Boosting your self-esteem won’t just add power to your day; it’s also likely to give your whole team a boost.
You don’t need to climb into your sink like Jessica to psych yourself up (though it obviously does help), but you do need a mantra. Here are four of my personal favorites:
1. “The journey is the reward.”
As an entrepreneur, the work you love doing is often overshadowed by revenue goals and other targets you put in place to gauge success. But as one of my most trusted mentors, Alan Cohen, says, “Do not be fooled by waiting for the ending. Sometimes the middle is more important.”
Rather than looking ahead and feeling dissatisfied because you aren’t where you thought you’d be (or “should” be) yet, stay present to take in the experiences around you and appreciate where you are now.
2. “Plan A is overrated.”
If Plan A doesn’t work, there are 25 other letters in the alphabet. Perfectionism can motivate you, but it can also be limiting–especially in the startup world, where markets, trends, and resources are always in flux. Often, the very best idea is the second, third, or eighteenth one that you try.
3. “No naysayers allowed.”
If you are passionate about your project and your intuition tells you that it could be successful, don’t pay too much attention to doubters. Instead, find the people who share your vision and will root for you and stand beside you when things get tough. These are the people who can help you by offering fresh ideas and perspectives–and a hearty dose of motivation. Good things happen when you work with people who believe in you and complement your strengths.
4. “Every failure is a step closer to success.”
In business, you can often learn a lot more from your failures than your successes. You learn how to adapt, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and gain new insights into your industry.
More importantly, you learn what you’re made of. You failed, yet the sun still came up in the morning. You’re still standing. And you’re probably a little wiser for the wear. When you dust yourself off and try the next idea, you’ll be better prepared and much more likely to succeed.
Having a list of mantras that you can pull out of your toolkit in any situation will prepare you to turn challenges into successes. If all else fails, a simple “You can do it!” can give you that boost you need to keep going. Remind yourself that you’ve done it before and will do it again.
Always remember that your goals are possible to achieve. Believe in yourself and your ideas. Your intuition got you this far, so trust it. Don’t ignore your own excitement. Keep the passion burning and your vision front and center at all times. It’s the perfect fuel for your dreams.
Until next time,
Kelli Richards, CEO of The All Access Group.
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Kelli Richards
Serving exceptional individuals in Silicon Valley, Hollywood & across the globe.
Email: info@kellirichards.com
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