Resources
The Next Big Thing: Apple WWDC
It’s no surprise to see Apple race on, barely missing a beat since Steve’s passing – leading global innovation as it has this new millennium.
In just a few hours the next Apple WWDC (Apple WorldWide Developers Conference) will take place. A stage that has announced true global game changers, like the iPhone and the iPad.
In the end, right now it’s still about the App store. With 600,000 downloadable games, magazines and productivity tools, Apple is the application leader. But the others are not far behind. As quoted in Bloomberg earlier today, “The success of Apple’s App Store has helped create an economy for downloading mobile applications that will reach $58 billion in sales in 2014.”
Surely, Apple will continue App dominance – and its track record of suspense and big announcements at WWDC. Will we see the next iPhone? News on OSX Mountain Mountain Lion?A new social platform? The next “Big Thing” that none of us have even contemplated before? It’s hard not to wonder where Apple goes from here, without Steve Jobs at the helm… but we’ll find out in just a few short hours.
This is, in fact, a question I ask over and over in my upcoming eBook on Apple, “The Magic and Moxie of Apple – An Insider’s View.”
“… So where does Apple – a company that started out as two guys making and selling circuit boards out of their garage, which transformed into one of the biggest international technology companies in the world – go from here? Following the loss of Steve, that question seems challenging to answer. As we know all too well, Apple has seen itself rise and fall from grace before and reinvent itself more than once, and the company is counting on the fact that it’s cemented its place at the top so profoundly that nothing will stop it from continuing to grow. Continually releasing new products (and upgrading the old) may do this, but fundamentally, what direction does it take next? The iPhone, iPad, and iPod have already seen several generations of upgrades. What groundbreaking innovations will propel Apple in the same way that the iPod, iPhone, MacBook Air and iPad did? The answer to that question isn’t what new product will they come out with, but rather who will be dream it up without Steve? … ”
Like many of you, I’m eagerly awaiting iOS 6 and Mountain Lion – which brings some of the most popular features found on other Apple products to the MAC, such asGameCenter, notes, etc. A personal favorite is that Mountain Lion will send messages to anyone on an Apple product – so you’ll be able to begin a message on your MAC and pick it back up on your iPhone or iPad later on. We’ll see today what else Apple has in store for us – the world of believers, creators and brand advocates.
And although the race continues without Steve to lead the pack – only his company to carry on the dream – it will not be easy to watch WWDC without him taking the stage.
Kelli Richards, President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC
PS: If you’d like to pre-order a copy of my book, “The Magic and Moxie of Apple – An Insider’s View,” please go to https://allaccessgroup.com/?p=2287.
****************************
Digital at it’s Best: Live From Daryl’s House
Today’s world is fickle, and one of my favorite examples of success during this digital revolution and how digital is bringing new audiences to the best performers of our time is Live From Daryl’s House, started by Daryl Hall in late 2007. This is music discovery at its best, with Hall taking a simple idea and turning it into web gold. Hall recently said of the show, “I had this idea of playing with my friends and putting it up on the Internet.” What could be easier, right? Certainly the response has been huge.
In fact, the show has become almost iconic, with applause coming in from a long list of leading names in the industry, including Rolling Stone, SPIN, Daily Variety, CNN, BBC, Yahoo! Music and influential (and hyper-critical) blogger Bob Lefsetz. This is exactly what veteran artists need to be creating in order to reinvent in the digital age and gain new audiences (and influence) through vibrant collaborations with both established leaders in music and new performers.
Daryl Hall has had a rich and varied career, working with virtually all of the great musicians of modern popular music, as well as entering into new relationships with the best of the latest generation of artists. So far, episodes have featured superstars like Smokey Robinson, Rob Thomas (of Matchbox 20), Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek (The Doors’), Train, Nick Lowe, K.T. Tunstall, Gym Class Heroes’ Travis McCoy, Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump, and soul legends The Blind Boys of Alabama – as well as with newcomers such as Nikki Jean, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Canadian techno-rockers Chromeo, Bay Area singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson, and highly touted tunesmith Diane Birch.
He’s also featured my own close personal friend, Todd Rundgren, several times, most recently at Rundgren’s home in Kauai, Hawaii, where they performed a rousing 7-song set, including an amazing cover of the Delfonics’ 1970 hit, “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time.”
Daryl Hall and Todd Rundgren have known one another since their early days inPhiladelphia, and the gig in Hawaii included an old-fashioned traditional Luau Show, burying a pig in the dirt, serving up some poi, hula dancers and a special performance with local musicians of “Bang on the Drum.” Said Rundgren, “It’s always great when friends come all the way out here to visit, but it’s even better when they come to play.”
Hall’s latest collaboration has been with up-and-coming artist Allen Stone, a virtual look-alike for Daryl himself (in both image and musical philosophy). In fact, that collaboration went so well that Stone is now touring and working with Hall and Oates.
Hall has had an illustrious career, with six #1 singles with collaborator John Oates, including “Rich Girl” (also #1 R&B), “Kiss on My List,” “Private Eyes,” “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) (also #1 R&B), “Maneater” and “Out of Touch” from their six consecutive multi-platinum albums—’76’s Bigger Than Both of Us, ’80’sVoices, ’81’s Private Eyes, ‘82’s H2O, ‘83’s Rock N Soul, Part I and ‘84’s Big Bam Boom. The era would also produce an additional 5 Top 10 singles, “Sara Smile,” “One on One,” “You Make My Dreams,” “Say It Isn’t So” and “Method of Modern Love.”
Live from Daryl’s House is being shown weekly in over 80% of U.S. homes in the nation’s top 200 media markets, as well as all of the top 10, including New York, L.A., Chicago, Dallas and Houston. The show also recently won the 2010 WEBBY Award in the Variety Category.
Daryl’s longtime manager, Jonathan Wolfson, and I are working on getting Daryl on my popular weekly digital radio show, All Access Radio. I’ll keep everyone posted when we finally get a date set. You can sign up for his Newsletter at https://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/emupdates.html
Kelli Richards
President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC
**************************************
Kelli Richards Interviews Evan Lowenstein, Founder of StageIt!
Join me for a great Q&A with Evan Lowenstein.
Click here to listen: Evan-Lowenstein-Interview
Recently named to Digital Media Wire’s list of 25 Execs to Watch in Digital Entertainment for 2011, Evan Lowenstein launched StageIt with the goal of creating a web-based platform that would empower artists to deliver and monetize interactive live experiences.
Most recently, Lowenstein founded and served as President of HookUp Feed, a premier social networking and mobile marketing company whose clients include The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, American Airlines, Domino’s Pizza and Cold Stone Creamery.
Previously, he hosted USA Network’s Character Road Trip, a weekly series providing viewers with a peek into the greatest “characters” the country has to offer. Lowenstein was also a recording and touring artist with pop/rock band Evan and Jaron who scored three Top 40 hits, including the Top 10 song Crazy For This Girl.
StageIt is a unique service, answering the pain artists face in a music industry that literally changes and redefines itself every single day. In only six months, StageIt has hosted amazing artists, such as Jerrod Neimann, Chris Young, Plain White T’s, Jaron and the Long Road to Love, Debbie Gibson and Korn.
Kelli Richards
President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC
A Discussion with Jim Griffin and Bill Patry, the Father of Copyright at Google
Recently, at DMW‘s Digital Music East, industry leader Jim Griffin sat down with Bill Patry of Google and valiantly sought to stake out a solution to tangled web that is copyright. What we got, however, was a rich insight to what makes Bill Patry click and how he became known for his $1500 – 6,500 page treatise on copyright law. Known as the Father (or wicked stepfather) of Copyright, depending on where you fall on the issue, Bill Patry was surprisingly vulnerable and honest throughout the interview. He described himself as a “vegetarian, left-wing Jewish guy,” and one could almost think he was nothing but simple attorney, with a passionate love for music, who tripped and fell into a law degree.
Being first and foremost always a journalist, Jim Griffin came to this fireside chat with Patry with his foundation firmly in place, having interviewed many of Patry’s colleagues (and adversaries) over the years. Patry led off assuring Jim, and the crowd of industry heads who filled the auditorium, that he’s only one voice in a team at Google who are focused on the copyright dilemma.
The discussion started off with Patry sharing his start as a music major in college who went on to bring that love for music into his views as a young attorney entering the copyright arena. He added that his hope was, and is, always to protect the rights of all parties in music – from creation to production to distribution.
This love for music showed time and time again through the interview, as Patry highlighted snapshots of his life and career by quoting obscure songs (for instance, “Drop Kick Me Jesus,” which poetically showcased his time in Texas). As an aside, to evidence what an offbeat guy Patry is, he collects the mouthpieces of famous clarinet players.
He went on to discuss his base clarinet and his fierce loyalty to obscure base clarinetists, like Squonk. He spoke eloquently about the struggles of passionate, obscure musicians (like clarinetists) who will simply never be signed. He asked the crowd, rhetorically, “How do they make a living?”
Jim Griffin, who is arguably one of the most learned and nicest people in the entire industry, led the conversation back to Patry’s early days in law, asking how a music major ends up running copyright at one of the largest companies in the world. Patry shared that he won an ASCAP contest writing about copyright (partly because he was the only one in that particular category). His paper, “Copyright and Community Property,” won the contest, and the Journal of Copyright Society published it later that year. Thus began the long, winding road to Google.
At the end of the interview, Jim Griffin smiled and asked, “So then what was the linchpin that brought you to Google?” Patry laughed in response, shrugging, “I was in private practice and sucked at it.”
While I wish they had covered more of where copyright is headed over the next decade, entering what will no doubt be Web 4.0, 5.0, etc., this was a chance to see more of the person who intends to solve a copyright issue that as of now, pits publishers, creators and consumers against one another at every turn.
Final thought, Jim Griffin’s quote from Ben Sheffner (of the MPAA), often an opponent to Patry in the copyright debate, is worth noting: “About Bill Patry: People on my side on today’s copyright debates often see our opponents as head-in-the-cloud cyber Utopians… Unfortunately for us, we can’t dismiss Bill Patry, one of our worthiest opponents, that easily… While we in the entertainment industry often bristle at his conclusions, we frequently consult his masterful treatise… we respect him and are glad to have his voice in the debate.”
Kelli Richards
President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC
Kelli Shares a Fireside Chat with Jim Griffin, Digital Music & Tech Visionary
Kelli is thrilled to interview Jim Griffin, entertainment tech visionary & one of the sharpest minds in digital music. You can hear the entire interview at Jim Griffin Interview with Kelli Richards.
Jim Griffin is the Managing Director of OneHouse, a company dedicated to the future of music & entertainment delivery.
Jim is focused on accelerating the pace of scholarly research thru collaborative tools and open access to knowledge. He started & runs Choruss LLC, incubated by Warner Music Group, and successfully led the team that built a new model for sound recordings: Sharing music with flat-fee access to unlimited downloads for students.
He also ran the tech dept at Geffen Records for 5 years (distributing the first full-length commercial song on-line, by Aerosmith). He is often a keynote speaker or moderator (Internet Summit, Giga Conference, Comdex, CES, Webnoize…) and lectures at business schools (Harvard, USC, UCLA, Berkeley). He also serves as an expert witness in digital entertainment.
This is a powerful Q&A and well worth the 30 minutes. Comments are definitely welcome!
Life and The Love We Make
Working at the crossroads of music and technology, and being a talent producer for a couple of decades now, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a long list of amazing artists. The most meaningful interactions are often the unscheduled, random conversations that just seem to happen randomly. Some of those occur behind-the-scenes at events like Pollstar, where I got to shoot the breeze with my childhood idol, Davy Jones – who spent that entire conversation asking about my work, my family and sharing his own human, fun-loving side. He was an amazing soul and is definitely missed by all of us, as colleagues, and by me, as a friend.
Sadly, Davey Jones wasn’t the only friend I lost recently. The amazing Ronnie Montrose also left us after a long struggle with prostrate cancer. Ronnie was the lead guitarist for the band Montrose, and worked with a long list of great artists, including the Neville Brothers, Sammy Hagar, Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison, The Beau Brummels, and the legendary Boz Scaggs, among others. Ronnie and I also met at the Pollstar Awards, where I booked him as a presenter. He was a great guy and we shared several powerful conversations about what he could do in the digital space and we left off looking forward to maybe working together. Ronnie’s warmth and sincerity are definitely missed, and remembered.
Moments of remembrance seem to be all around me lately. While I was in New Yorkfor Digital Music East a few weeks ago two colleagues and I visited the 9/11 Memorial – a tough morning for all of us. Afterward, we talked about the amazing love that followed that day, and I shared my experience with Paul McCartney at the Adopt-a-Minefield Concert (a cause supported mightily by the late Princess Diana).
I was privileged to share a personal moment with Sir Paul after he performed “God Only Knows” and “Let it Be” with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Paul drove up himself in his black Mercedes before the event and we shared our experiences about many things, including his personal relationship with 9/11. I myself was headed to New York only a few days before 9/11, but cancelled the trip. Had I gone, I was scheduled to return on Flight 93 – the flight that crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. A million times I have considered this close call with awe and gratitude, to say the least. Paul shared his own amazing story with me. He was on his way to London to celebrate his daughter Stella’s 30th birthday that very morning and was literally taxiing on the tarmac at JFK when the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Centre, and when all air traffic was grounded, McCartney’s plane was ordered back to the gate.
Basically trapped in NY, Paul decided over the next few days to create a benefit concert, and the “Concert for New York City” was born. It was graced with a long list of stellar musicians (all personal friends of McCartney), including Elton John, David Bowie, Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger, among others. (An amazing documentary by Albert Maysles called “The Love we Make” followed McCartney around New York those few weeks before the concert, which happened only five weeks after the attacks.) One of the most notable moments in the film shows Paul standing on the stage at Madison Square Garden in an FDNY T-shirt. When he sang Yesterday in front of hundreds of firefighters and police officers, most of whom had all lost friends and relatives, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Some days, I know we’re all led to the tears when we lose someone we love or celebrate difficult anniversaries, but I think Paul McCartney was definitely right when he shared “I just thought we could help with the music.”
Kelli Richards
President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC
**************************************
NIC ADLER, The Roxy Rebirth!
I’m very excited about my recent interview Nic Adler on All Access Radio! Nic is a band manager, promoter, and restauranteur who has been at the helm at the infamous Roxy Theater on the Sunset Strip in Hollywoodfor almost 15 years. He’s also become a leading name in social media, using Facebook and Twitter to revitalize not only The Roxy, but the entire Strip!
Nic is also the co-producer of the Sunset Strip Music Festival, which draws over 30,000 music fans to the city every August and celebrates the Strip’s legacy as it highlights some of music’s newest talent. Nic has definitely blazed his own trail as a social media innovator and entrepreneur. Through his leadership and expertise Nic managed to save the 37-year old Roxy from extinction by revitalizing it with a social media program that has catapulted him to the no. 1 music venue in the world on Facebook and Twitter. He altruistically extended his community-driven program to the neighboring businesses on the Sunset Strip and spearheaded the community collective known as The Social Strip. He’s been featured in the NY Times, NPR, LA Times and others for his social media insights and accomplishments. Nic and The Roxy have been the recipient of countless awards over the years including City Beacon Award for West Hollywood, AOL Best Venue in Los Angles, and VH-1 Rock Honors Website of the Year – and we’re happy to have had him as a guest on our show. You can hear the entire interview at https://bit.ly/Nic-Adler-THEROXY.
Sign up for my newsletter to get updates on all of my upcoming interviews.
Kelli Richards
CEO of The All Access Group
NEW DIGITAL ECONOMICS SILICON VALLEY – Executive Brainstorm & Innovation Forum
On March 27-28, 2012 at the Marriott Hotel, Union Square, San Francisco, the next installment of New Digital Economics – ‘New Business Models & Growth Opportunities in a Hyper-Connected World, is coming to Silicon Valley. The executive brainstorm uses STL Partners’ acclaimed interactive format, ‘Mindshare‘, and includes new research and case studies from today’s converging marketplaces within 4 co-located events: Digital Economy 2.0, Digital Commerce 2.0, Digital Entertainment 2.0 & Digital Things 2.0.The All Access Group has secured a 50% discount for our members. Simply enter code: VIP3273 on the online registration form or contact the event organiser: miriam.dennis@
stlpartners.com for details. Kelli Richards
President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC**************************************
Press Release: Kelli Richards, Expert in Music, Technology and Digital Distribution to Speak at Capital Club
Kelli Richards, Expert in Music, Technology and Digital Distribution to Speak at Capital Club
Cupertino, CA Kelli Richards, a thought leader in digital music and entertainment, and one of only a few select members of The Futures Agency and Alan Weiss’ Master Mentor Program and Thought Leadership Summit, has been invited to be an esteemed guest and presenter at the Silicon Valley Capital Club.
Located in beautifulSan Jose,California, the Silicon Valley Capital Club is a private business, social and dining club that is truly without rival inSilicon Valley and the surrounding Bay Area. With its spectacular 360-degree views from the pinnacle of theKnightRidderBuilding in the heart of downtownSan Jose, the Silicon Valley Club offers the perfect ambience and well-equipped facilities for both business and social gather. The Women’s Luncheon Series at the Capital Club highlights women speakers from a variety of backgrounds and industries. It also provides the opportunity for top business leaders to build strong relationships and develop a network of connections.
Kelli Richards is a true trailblazer in the digital music, entertainment and technology worlds with more than twenty years of senior-level leadership experience. With a unique talent for connecting innovators in technology with creative leaders in entertainment, Richards is a highly sought-after consultant, mentor, speaker, producer, coach and author, As the CEO of The All Access Group, Richards and her team facilitate powerful strategic business opportunities in digital distribution between technology companies, established artists and celebrities, film studios, record labels, and consumer brand companies to foster new revenue streams and deliver compelling consumer experiences.
Prior to founding The All Access Group, Kelli served in senior roles at Fortune 100 entertainment and technology companies, including Apple Inc., where she launched Apple’s earliest focus on music and drove all music initiatives during her 10 years with the market leader. She also served in senior-level leadership capacities at EMI Music as an A&R exec, and at Silicon Graphics (SGI) where she helped launch Silicon Studio, the company’s entertainment division. She developed PatroNet, the first Internet-based artist subscription service with rocker partner Todd Rundgren in the mid-90s – and helped to launch the entire digital music revolution.
A frequent speaker and panel moderator at digital music and entertainment industry conferences globally, Kelli has also been an acclaimed talent producer of a wide range of award shows, epic concerts, and celebrity fundraiser events for over 25 years. She co-produced a celebrity fundraiser event to support the UN’s “Adopt-A-Minefield” initiative featuring Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Stephen Stills and hosted by Jay Leno. Additionally, she was a 20-year talent producer behind the BAMMIES, and remains a long-time talent executive and co-producer of the annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards.
Kelli Richards has co-authored two books, including the critically acclaimed “The Art of Digital Music: 56 Artists, Visionaries & Insiders Reveal Their Creative Secrets.” Her newest eBook, “Taking the Crowd to the Cloud – Social Media for the Music Industry,” reached #1 on Amazon in several categories. A true renaissance woman, Kelli is also a Certified Integrative Life Coach trained under best-selling authors and coaches Debbie Ford and Alan Cohen. She lives inCupertino,CA in the heart of theSilicon Valley.
# # #
Kelli Richards, CEO
www.AllAccessgroup.com
Email: Kelli@AllAccessGroup.com
Search Resources
Topic Areas & Guests
Categories
Join our mailing list
For insights on industry trends, and for details on special projects/events. We respect your time and your privacy.
Trend Towards Borrowing vs Buying Books
In the digital age, many have turned to reading books on Kindles, iPads, and Nook devices among others. Others (including myself) like the feel and smell of reading physical books, folding the corners of meaningful pages to refer back to at a later date, which I often do. However there are several practical challenges when doing so: a) the first is that books have gotten increasingly more expensive (unless you buy them on Amazon and/or used, both of which I often do); b) the second is that you’ve got to have room to store those you want to keep, and c) they’re heavy to carry when you travel, especially if you don’t check bags, which I haven’t done for 20 years.
…
Another Slant on Purging Clutter (Digital)
By now, you must be living under a rock if you haven’t heard about Marie Kondo’s innovative KonMari Method to help people clear out clutter in their homes (and offices); she’s published two best-selling books on the topic, and now has a wildly popular series on Netflix entitled “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo”. Studies have shown that reducing clutter in our homes and environments leads to reduced anxiety levels, enhances relationships, and even increases productivity. But beyond throwing out books, clothes, furniture and other sentimental items you’ve been hanging on to in your living space, have you considered the psychic weight of the clutter that lives in your computer and on your smartphone? …
Exploring the Rivalry and Respect between Paul McCartney & Brian Wilson
A guy named Jeffrey Stillwell has put together a great video essay focused on the so-called “rivalry” between the Beach Boys and the Beatles; and in particular the relationship between Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson. They were most certainly inspired by each other creatively and each wound up bringing out the best in each other as both are quick to confess. When “Pet Sounds” came out, it blew the minds of the Beatles, and that was a big catalyst to what would become “Sgt Pepper” in terms of musical experimentation — both are still such iconic albums that it’s hard to believe it’s been 50 years (on average) since each was released. This video biopic also chronicles the relationship and interactions between Paul and Brian over the decades, and ultimately the deep respect they have for each other —and it’s worth investing the 20 minutes to watch it.
There’s also a personal tie for me here in a couple of ways. …
Exploring the Rivalry and Respect between Paul McCartney & Brian WilsonRead More »
The “Happy Money” Movement
LinkedIn.com, August 2019- Two years ago, I was attending a gathering of my advanced coaching graduate alum with our mentor, Alan Cohen, in Hawaii. Alan often invites colleagues of his to join us via Skype as guest contributors. That year, he invited Ken Honda from Japan who had been a successful entrepreneur in Japan — and then went on to be one of the best-selling authors in Japan (selling over 7 million copies of his books worldwide.) I resonated with Ken’s style, demeanor, approach and message immediately. He told us about a book he was working on called “Happy Money” — and I couldn’t wait to read it.
Read the entire article here- The “Happy Money” Movement
Anagrams (and Alliteration) Abound
LinedIn.com, August 2019- And now for something completely different. I’ve been noticing intriguing anagrams popping up all around me lately. An anagram is a word or phrase created by re-arranging the letters of another, such as cinema formed from iceman. Many people are familiar with these in doing the Word Jumble in their newspaper. But the ones that have been showing up for me lately are ones that have a little more significance — almost like sign posts that encourage me to slow down and ponder their meaning in my life. Here are a couple of examples that have crossed my radar recently — perfectly normal, and yet (!).
Read the entire article here- Anagrams (and Alliteration) Abound
The Title Says It All — This Book Delivers on the Promise
LinkedIn.com, July 2019- I’m recommending a book recently published by a colleague entitled: “Mastery Under Pressure: All that stands between you and your goals…is YOU!”
This small but mighty book packs a lot of powerful tips, tools and resources into its 100 pages (!). Author Tina Greenbaum delivers insights and practical strategies to move you out of your mindset and limiting thoughts into high performance and action. We can be our own worst enemies and sometimes we lose our compass along the way. This book is like a roadmap to guide you gently but firmly back onto your path to find (or re-claim!) the success you seek. The principles that are outlined are easy to relate to and while the exercise are ‘simple’, they’re also profound IF the reader is willing to put them into active practice. This book will remain close at hand anytime I need reinforcement.
Read the entire article here- The Title Says It All — This Book Delivers on the Promise
Waiting for the Harvest in Business
As an entrepreneur and/or a self-employed professional, have you ever been in a situation where a game-changing opportunity presented itself to you in business? Something that could “overnight” propel you to a different level of success and financial freedom? Only to find that the brass ring was further away than you thought? And while the opportunity seemed to be realistic and close at hand, it remained elusive for a long period of time; sometimes years at times? I’ve been in such a situation with not one but several ‘big deal’ business opportunities over the past few years. I won’t lie; it has been a trying experience, ranging from being annoying, frustrating and even gut-wrenching — waiting for the dominos to fall and for the scales of justice to be balanced in my favor. Holding my breath and waiting to exhale. …
The Simple Pleasures of Summer
Summer always seems to be a season everyone universally looks forward to. Plenty of fresh air, longer days, warm sunshine, family time, time off for vacations & travel, summer camp, picnics, fireworks, concerts and so much more that’s unique to each person. And of course how we spend time changes throughout the course of our lives. Here are some reflections of how it’s been for me and what it’s meant over the years. …
When You’re at a Crossroads: Reinventing Your Life and Your Impact
Atherton Living, June 2019
Los Altos Hills Living, July 2019
When the Magic Questions is: What’s Next? Reinventing your life around your values, passion and what matters most…
Read the entire article here: https://x.com/kellirichards/status/1925699275415011576
The “Happy Money” Movement
Two years ago, I was attending a gathering of my advanced coaching graduate alum with our mentor, Alan Cohen, in Hawaii. Alan often invites colleagues of his to join us via Skype as guest contributors. That year, he invited Ken Honda from Japan who had been a successful entrepreneur in Japan — and then went on to be one of the best-selling authors in Japan (selling over 7 million copies of his books worldwide.) I resonated with Ken’s style, demeanor, approach and message immediately. He told us about a book he was working on called “Happy Money” — and I couldn’t wait to read it.
The basic premise behind Happy Money is that most of us have arrested development when it comes to finances. We hold deep-seated beliefs that we adopt from a young age based on our parents’ attitudes towards money — and we’re not typically conscious that we’ve taken on those messages as we get older. As a result, the vast majority of adults struggle with money and finance-related issues. …
Search Resources
Topic Areas & Guests
Categories
Join our mailing list
For insights on industry trends, and for details on special projects/events. We respect your time and your privacy.
Living and Working in Separate Cities: The Good, the Bad, and the In-Between
July 5, 2017, Inc. When you split work and play between two cities, you can have the best of both worlds — if you make it work for you. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/living-and-working-in-separate-cities-the-good-the.html
Taking Care of Business (cash flows & taxes)
Do you ever notice how one day can flow into the next, as can the weeks/months/years if you’re not careful? If we’re not mindful, we can get into the drift and ‘check out’ as a slave to a routine and habits we’ve created that may at one time have worked for us but no longer do. As responsible adults who seek to go beyond ‘getting by’ and instead ‘thriving’ in our lives, it makes sense to stop and re-assess what’s working for us and what isn’t periodically. This applies to our own personal health and well being, and that of our business as well. I’ve been running my small business for nearly two decades now. There are plenty of joys in running your own business — and I can tell you without a doubt that the most challenging aspect of it, in my experience, is managing cash flows and working capital. What do you do when clients make commitments (or suggest that they intend to), but either don’t come through as you had planned or are delayed (sometimes for extended periods)?
The True Meaning of Freedom (at least for me)
For many of us here in the US, we’re celebrating our country’s Independence Day this week (on the 4th). A lot of people gloss over the real meaning of the day…how many lost their lives to ensure we have the many freedoms most in this country take for granted, but which are responsible for us being a global leader. I think it’s worth taking a few minutes to pause and reflect on that as we’re spending time with family and friends this week. That’s an external orientation. There’s an internal view as well, and that is we’re halfway through the year. It’s a great chance to pause and take stock of whether your year is on track, and whether you’re making progress towards the key goals you outlined at the beginning of the year.
Dave Jaworski Shares Microsoft Secrets
With over thirty years of experience in sales, technology, and executive management, Dave Jaworski currently serves as CEO of Meta Media Partners, which leverages technology, techniques and processes to help people and organizations achieve their dreams and potential. Previously Dave held positions as VP of Sales and Marketing at NetSteps; CTO of Intero Alliance; and founder and CEO of PassAlong Networks, which was the first company in the world to implement micro-payments with PayPal.
A Conversation with Ken Kragen, Legendary Organizer of “We Are the World”
Among his many other achievements, Ken Kragen is the legendary organizer behind “We are the World”, with an illustrious career that transcends the music and entertainment industries where he has managed several notable entertainers including Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, Olivia Newton-John, The Bee Gees and Burt Reynolds. Ken was a recent guest on my podcast show, All Access Radio, and I thought I’d share some of my favorite parts of our talk.
Thought Leadership as a Differentiator
First of all, what is a thought leader and why does it matter in the business world? A thought leader often refers to an individual (or sometimes a firm) that is recognized as an authority in their unique business niche and whose expertise is often highly valued and sought out within that business niche. The reason this matters is that it’s important from a branding and repute standpoint to be stand out as a credible industry expert with rich knowledge and curated opinions of value on select topics to contribute. This allows us as entrepreneurs to stand out, differentiate ourselves in an otherwise crowded marketplace, and to be sought after as experts and authorities with value to offer clients, the media, and our peers. You don’t typically call yourself a thought leader; it’s an acknowledgement that others grant you. Bottom line: someone who rises above the din and is probably worth listening to.
Beatles Fans Rejoice — Plenty of Reasons to Celebrate!
Many people in my world know that the Beatles are far and away my favorite group of all time; in fact, I’m known as a “Beatle-ologist” given my vast knowledge of far too much trivia having to do with the band. Like so many others, they inspired me to pursue my career in music from a very young age (I can recall being very deliberate about that choice as early as when I was 8 years old as a direct result of the Beatles). The Beatles have never really gone away (well their music hasn’t anyway), and to that end Beatle fans have a couple of reasons to celebrate of late including the following:
4 Ways to Elicit Invitations to Private Business Events
June 5, 2017, Inc. No matter who the titans are at your industry’s luminary events, you need to be there.
Jim Messina, Musician, Songwriter, Singer, Guitarist, Recording Engineer and Record Producer
Jim Messina reflects on his dynamic career, collaborations and 2017 tour. Jim’s legacy of musical prowess spans five decades, three acclaimed rock super groups, a vibrant solo career, and a dizzying array of game changing producing and engineering credits, including Lee Michaels and Kenny Loggins.
Serendipity at Airports and on Flights
Those of us who fly often have learned that it pays to stay observant and opportunistic when you’re on flights and in airports. Most people are in their own little world — focused on their laptops, Kindles or iPads, or immersed in their smartphones. I enjoy looking around and experiencing what’s going on around me — you never know who you may bump into.
3 Ways VR and AI Startups Are Alleviating the Isolation Mentality
May 22, 2017, Inc. The smartest VR and AI startups are already targeting this market — besides being good business, it presents an opportunity to actually improve people’s lives. Read the entire article here: http://3 Ways VR and AI Startups Are Alleviating the Isolation Mentality
“Supermensch” Shep Gordon on Creating the “Celebrity Chef”
Shep Gordon is the visionary Hollywood manager, agent and producer responsible for building some of the biggest careers in entertainment, and has been named one of the “100 most influential people” by Rolling Stone magazine. The subject of the acclaimed Mike Myers-produced documentary Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon, Shep came to Los Angeles in 1968 and landed in the heart of rock and roll, instantly (and by sheer coincidence) falling in with Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and, a short time later, Alice Cooper, whom he continues to manage today.
Observations from the set of “The Voice”
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past several years (or just don’t watch network TV), you’ve probably heard about or watched the wildly popular TV show, “The Voice” on NBC; where aspiring singers compete for a recording contract with the help of four successful artists as coaches. Having been an A&R exec at EMI Music in my past, my role was to scout, sign and develop artists for the label — so I’m intimately familiar with the process that these aspiring artists are going through in an attempt to become a star in the music industry For awhile, we had “American Idol” and “The Voice” on air at the same time — but since Idol wound down, “The Voice” has reigned supreme in this category. The current celeb coaches are Blake Shelton, Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani and Adam Levine. Recently I was invited to take a tour of the set and watch a taping of the show as a member of the studio audience. I’ll admit right upfront that I’m a bit jaded as I’m in the industry, and it wasn’t my first taping of a show; whereas nearly everyone else participating was a tourist where this was a first time event and a really big deal for them. Having been a talent producer as well for decades, honestly I couldn’t stop myself from wearing my ‘behind the scenes’ glasses.
Ken Kragen, Legendary Organizer of “We Are the World” with Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie
Ken Kragen Shares His Best Tips on Career and Cause Marketing A graduate of Harvard Business School Ken Kragen’s illustrious career transcends the music and entertainment industries where he has spent many successful years and managed some of the world’s most important entertainers, including Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, Trisha Yearwood, Olivia Newton John, The Bee Gees, Burt Reynolds, The Smothers Brothers and many others.
Get Out of Your Own Way — Allow Things to Flow Easier
Have you ever noticed how we can make things more difficult than they need to be? Either by overthinking something, making it more complicated than it needs to be, getting worked up in a way that doesn’t serve us, or otherwise being fixed on things having to be a certain way in our lives? That’s how we sabotage the good things that want to come our way. We can actually stop our good from getting to us because we don’t allow it in when it shows up on our front doorstep! Conversely, when we take time to ‘pause’ and reflect on a situation (and what we most want to have happen), when we trust our hearts over our heads to make the choice that will serve us best, and trust that the Universe is doing its best to deliver us what we say we want — things can flow to us more readily and with much less struggle and strife.
Slow Down to Speed Up
Many of us move, work and live at breakneck speeds, often to our detriment. We create or participate in accidents, we make mistakes, we create stress in ourselves and others, we create tension and illness in our bodies, and we simply don’t do our best work in that state. It’s true that my favorite business magazine ironically is “Fast Company”, but I’m also a fan of the Slow Food movement which started over 30 years ago now. The truth is we do have enough time and we can get everything done
Why It’s Time to Buck the 24/7 Work Trend
April 11, 2017 Ellevate Network Americans are still working too hard and too long. The average American puts in 258 more hours per year than the average European. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-its-time-buck-247-work-trend-kelli-richards/
What Entrepreneurs Can Learn About Monetizing Their Brands From Musicians
April 10, 2017, Inc. Like musicians, entrepreneurs can embrace the power they have to connect with a wider world.
The Power of Collaboration
One of my mentors, Alan Weiss, is about to come out with a terrific new book called “Lifestorming” co-authored with Marshall Goldsmith who is himself one of the most sought after executive coaches on the planet. This veteran author duo have collectively published nearly 100 books on human behavior. Neither needs the other, but they opted to come together to create something of value to their shared audience. This collaboration between two very successful juggernauts in the business world should produce a pretty powerful result given what each of them has achieved on his own. We’ll find out when the book comes out on May 1st! I’ve always been a big believer in the power of collaboration — to harness and leverage the gifts of two (or more) talented individuals to create an outcome that’s even more valuable and impactful than if each was crafting something on their own. John Lennon and Paul McCartney are another great example of this; there would have been no Beatles (or arguably they wouldn’t have been nearly as successful) if those two hadn’t come together — pun intended.
Why AI and VR Startups Should Be Targeting the Music Industry
April 3, 2017, Inc. Despite meteoric growth, one industry has been curiously left out of most VR/AI discussions: music.
Embracing Serendipity: Seizing Opportunities as they Arise
Have you ever stopped to notice how things are always working in our favor? It may be time to start doing so. A chance encounter turns into the creation of a new friend or collaborator, a flight delay turns into creating a client, and a flash of intuition can even save our life by avoiding an accident or some other mishap. Maybe you’ve experienced some of this for yourself, and almost certainly you’ve heard of others who have. In my own case, a dramatic example is that I avoided getting on Flight 93 on 9-11 (the one that crashed over PA) simply because I had a very strong intuition that led me to abort my trip to NYC to participate in producing a big Michael Jackson event — and I’d been booked on that flight to return home afterwards.
3 Leadership Secrets I Learned From Steve Jobs
March 1, 2017, Steve Jobs believed that the people you choose to surround yourself with affect the whole ecosystem of your business. Read the entire article here: https://www.ellevatenetwork.com/articles/7979-3-leadership-secrets-i-learned-from-steve-jobs
Honoring the 48-year “Marriage” of Shep Gordon and Alice Cooper
Earlier this month the annual Pollstar Live event took place in LA; if you’re not familiar with it, this is the largest gathering of concert industry professionals in the world. It’s a chance for colleagues to come together and exchange best practices, get current on the latest goings-on and network with each other. I’ve been co-producing the annual Awards Show that caps it off for over 15 years. The Keynote at Pollstar Live is typically one of the highlights of the whole event and this year was no exception. It was Shep Gordon (aka “SuperMensch”) and his longest client, Alice Cooper, coming together to share stories about their 48 years of working together.
How I Manage a Large Network Spanning Two Industries
February 20, 2017, Inc. In every interaction, you want to add reciprocal value so you’re working toward a mutually beneficial proposition. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/author/kelli-richards
Talking with Uber Drivers
You know how when we used to take cabs and you’d never make eye contact with the driver let alone have a conversation with them. I’m not sure what’s changed in the transition to Uber, but I’ve noticed that in virtually every ride I’ve taken via Uber, I find myself having fascinating conversations with the drivers. Maybe it’s just me, but the ones I’ve had rides with inevitably have surprisingly interesting stories and backgrounds. It’s easy enough to hide behind your smartphone and detach, but I’ve come to enjoy engaging with my driver more often than not.
Add Accountability to Adopt New (Improved!) Habits
This is a time of year when many decide to shift habits with the best of intentions, but unfortunately good intentions alone won’t do the job. Ingrained habits need more than a nudge to bust through in favor of replacing them with those that will support us with where we want to go. One powerful tool that will help you go the distance is accountability. The acronym SMART comes to mind — Specific, Measurable, Action, Relevant, and Time-based; and all that is true. A way to manage all of that is by creating a simple accountability matrix that you review and track daily; it only takes a few minutes.
Jessica Mastors, Speaker, Story-Teller, Writer and Creative Coach
Jessica Mastors is a dynamic speaker and storyteller, teacher and writer, artist and entrepreneur, creative coach and consultant specializing in helping founders, free-thinkers and change-makers “make magic” with their stories – where magic is defined as “the art of changing consciousness at will.”
A Conversation with Beth Harrington, Producer, Director, Writer
I met Beth Harrington at the Portland Creative conference last year where we were both honored to be speakers, and we clicked immediately. I knew she would make a great guest for my podcast, and last week I had the pleasure of interviewing her on All Access Radio. Beth is an independent producer, director, writer, singer, and guitarist. Her love for American history, music and culture has led to a series of award-winning and critically acclaimed films including her most recent film, The Winding Stream, The Carters, The Cashes and the Course of Country Music.
Beth Harrington, Independent Producer, Director and Writer
Beth Harrington is an independent producer, director and writer, whose fervor for American history, music and culture has led to a series of award-winning and critically acclaimed films. Beth’s most recent works, The Winding Stream – The Carters, The Cashes and The Course of Country Music and the Grammy-nominated Welcome to the Club – The Women of Rockabilly, reflect her long-standing love of music.
Resolutions — Time for a Different Approach?
Each year at this time many of us sit down to make a list of resolutions for the new year. And then that list gets filed somewhere, not to be re-visited, and we go about our lives throughout the year mostly status quo. By February the gym returns to its normal flow of truly committed fitness mavens vs those who are merely well intentioned. The thing is, resolutions require new habits to be adopted; taken on with commitment and consistency. And that takes a little rigor and grit, especially during the first 30 days — after which science shows the new habit has taken hold. So this year, what can you do to ensure that by the end of the year your intentions are in alignment with your results?
Wrapping up the Year
Each year about this time, as we wind down the year and get ready for the next one, many start to think in terms of goals and resolutions for the New Year. What you’d like to have happen next year that didn’t happen this year. And that’s fine, but I’d like to offer a few thoughts to consider.
How I Leverage My Presence at Networking Events (And You Can, Too)
December 19, 2016, Inc. The challenge is to stand out from the crowd and leverage your unique voice to draw those opportunities to you. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/how-i-leverage-my-presence-at-networking-events-and-you-can-too.html
A New Lens On “When One Door Closes”
We’ve all heard the phrase “when one door closes, another opens” — but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Certain doors close on us with respect to jobs, relationships and opportunities — and they’re meant to close and stay closed because they weren’t right for us (even if we didn’t see it at the time).
Marshall Goldsmith, America’s #1 Executive Coach
World-renowned business educator and coach Dr. Marshall Goldsmith is the leading expert in his field and the author of three New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling books – Triggers, MOJO and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.
Put on the Spot? Here’s How to Own Your Response
December 12, 2016, Success Magazine No one likes being put on the spot, but it teaches you to anticipate the unexpected, a lesson forever useful in life and in business. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/put-spot-heres-how-own-your-response-kelli-richards/
How Steve Jobs, Jerry Seinfeld, and Being a Super-Connector Boosted My Brand
December 12, 2016, Inc. The benefits of connecting with influential people can work for anyone, no matter where you are in your career. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/how-steve-jobs-jerry-seinfeld-and-being-a-super-connector-boosted-my-brand.html
Athena of BlissQuest Shares Her Vision for Creatives – No Longer Needing to Sacrifice Their Passions!
Last week’s guest on All Access Radio was Athena, CEO and Founder of BlissQuest Publishing, and author of Pillars of Dawn and Murder of Crows. As you know, I work with creative people who have big visions and Athena’s vision is certainly no exception. At the cornerstone is her company BlissQuest, which she founded after receiving multiple market-based rejections from traditional publishers for her book, Murder of Crows. By self-publishing she gained more control over her work, and more royalties in her pocket, and she hasn’t looked back since. Fair trade is her passion and a large focus of BlissQuest –which is a publishing house in concept and will be the first ever anywhere to offer healthcare benefits and retirement planning to artists and writers — including a 50/50 royalty split.
Athena, CEO and founder of BlissQuest Publishing, Author of “Pillars of Dawn”
Athena is the CEO and founder of BlissQuest Publishing, an online publishing house concept which when funded will be the first publishing house in the world to offer healthcare and retirement planning to artists and writers, as well as 50-50 royalty splits. Her first novel, a fantasy called “Murder of Crows,” was published in 2012 as the first installment in a trilogy called “Pillars of Dawn, which follows heroine Fable Montgomery on a treacherous, magical journey through the mythical land of Aria. Listen to the full podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/2016/12
How Podcasting Can Help Grow Your Business
December 5, 2016, Inc. Podcasting is the new blogging — everybody’s doing it. And if you do it well, you’ll see massive benefits for you and your business. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/how-podcasting-can-help-grow-your-business.html
Harvest Summit 2016
Earlier this month I had the privilege of attending the Harvest Summit — an outstanding intimate invite-only event (its first year) — held at a private estate in Sonoma County. The event was the brainchild of Jessica Kilcullen, whose husband John Kilcullen used to run Billboard Magazine (where we first connected), and it was designed to bring together innovative thought leaders in a variety of fields from tech, entertainment, sustainability, food and wine, and a host of forward-thinking authors and visionaries. The goal was to foster inspiring conversations about trends and issues shaping our future — by those who are leading the charge (all of us present). Examples of some of the intimate conversations included:
Vanity Fair’s New Establishment Summit 2016
Last month I had the privilege of attending a fantastic relatively intimate invite-only event. The third annual Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit was held in San Francisco. This event brought together some of the most successful and influential philanthropists, thought leaders from technology, politics, business, media and the arts for truly inspiring conversations about trends and issues shaping our future. Examples of some of the intimate conversations include:
An Intimate Chat with Greg Kihn
NBC has described Greg Kihn as Rock’s True Renaissance Man” and I could not agree more. With a career that spans the dawn of punk and Indie rock, to the disco of the 70’s, to the glory days of MTV, you may know him best for his worldwide #1 hits “Jeopardy” and “The Break-up Song”, and for those of you local to the SF Bay Area, you likely tuned in to DJ Greg every morning on KFOX Radio during his 18 years with the station. He’s also a published author of four novels, the most recent being Painted Black, a mystery/thriller about the death of Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones. I interviewed Greg recently on All Access Radio to discuss his career, his life philosophy and what he’s up to these days. I’ve been a colleague, collaborator and supporter of Greg’s for many years so it was great to have him in the hot seat for a change to catch up, and to be able to share with you insights from someone I think is one of the greatest success stories in music — a true renaissance artist.
The Launch of Amazon Music Unlimited
This past week saw the launch of Amazon’s foray into an unlimited music streaming service to rival Apple Music and Spotify — it’s called “Amazon Music Unlimited” (AMU). It’s designed to add more value to Echo users offering “tens of millions of songs and thousands of hand-curated playlists and personalized stations” according to Amazon. It’s effectively an upgrade from Amazon’s Prime Music offering. Prime is now the basic service, Unlimited is the full one. This is a really strategic move for Amazon
4 Steps to Landing the Sexiest Projects
October 24, 2016, Inc. In my experience in the world of creative entrepreneurship, two types of projects and clients exist: sexy projects and cash projects. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/4-steps-to-landing-the-sexiest-projects.html
Thinking of Steve (Jobs) — Five Years On
Many people in my world are aware that in addition to my years as an Apple employee (music & entertainment), I was also very fortunate to have been able to call Steve Jobs a personal mentor. The things we discussed and the insights he shared with me over time are an indelible part of my DNA. Steve often crosses my mind, but even more so last week as we hit the 5 year anniversary mark of his passing. I can hardly believe it’s been that long! So I thought it would be fitting to share a few of the lessons and insights I cherish the most:
Coping with Demands When on the Road
These days many of us spend a good portion of our time on the road — whether for business travel or personal time away. It can be a real challenge to deal with demands from others when you’re away from the office. But it’s important to manage your time and priorities as much as possible — and to set healthy boundaries. For myself, when I’m at a multi-day training or just taking a couple of days of business meetings in another city, for example, I do my best to ensure my clients know that I’ll be away and slower to respond during that time period.
Lessons I Learned From Being A Woman In Tech In The Heart Of Silicon Valley
October 10, 2016, Forbes While women held 57% of all professional positions in the U.S. in 2014, they filled only 26 percent of tech jobs. Nonetheless, being a woman has never held me back — and it doesn’t have to hamper your career, either. Read the entire article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ellevate/2016/10/10/lessons-i-learned-from-being-a-woman-in-tech-in-the-heart-of-silicon-valley/
Vacations and Business Can Co-Exist — Here’s How
October 10, 2016, Inc. There are lots of ways to recharge, even though most of us think of lazing on the beach when we hear the word “vacation.” Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/vacations-and-business-can-co-exist–heres-how.html
“Renaissance Man” Greg Kihn Talks Fun, the Creative Life and Rock n Roll
NBC has called Greg Kihn “Rock’s True Renaissance Man.” His career stretches from the dawn of punk and indie rock to the discos of the 80’s to the glory days of MTV. As a pioneer with the legendary Beserkley Records, he helped write the book on revolutionary west coast rock and roll. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/renaissance-man-greg-kihn-talks-fun-the-creative-life-and-rock-n-roll
James Wallman, Trend Forecaster and Futurist, Journalist, Speaker, Activist
James Wallman is a noteworthy trend forecaster and futurist, esteemed journalist, keynote speaker and activist, as well as the author of the groundbreaking book Stuffocation: Why We’ve Had Enough with Stuff and Need Experience More Than Ever, which has been described as the intersection of “The Tipping Point and Freakonomics, but with a huge idea at its heart” by the Sunday Times. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/james-wallman-on-stuffocation
4 Creative Secrets I Learned From Influential Music Artists
September 26, 2016, The Huffington Post Why do we idolize and celebrate famous musicians? It’s simple: They’ve achieved greatness, a certain “glow” we wish we had. Read the entire article here: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/4-creative-secrets-i-learned-from-influential-music_b_57e9733ce4b00267764fcaba
Learning From the Best: What Guy Kawasaki Taught Me About Evangelism
September 25, 2016, Inc. A few of the biggest takeaways about being a great thought leader and influencer.
How to Prioritize What is Important…And Get it Done!
We are all juggling so much, and we each have the same 24 hours each day. One of the ways we suffer is that we have so much on our plates that we can easily get overwhelmed, and we forget that we have control over how to structure our days around the most important things that we need/want to make happen in our lives. It comes down to prioritizing our day ahead of time (ideally the day or night before) — so that we make progress on just the three or four things that are most important to us. When we accomplish those tasks we feel great. Then there are the things that we need to make happen but that we don’t want to do or that don’t light us up. Those are tasks we tend to procrastinate around and push off for another day/week/month/year. I recommend the following approach…
The Serenity of Surrender
As I write this, today marks the 15th anniversary of 9-11; a day that is especially important to me, not only in terms of honoring those who were lost — but also in gratitude for avoiding being one of the victims myself. A near-miss because I was booked as a passenger on United flight 93 that morning headed to SF from Newark; one of the planes that was directly impacted among the flights that were taken over by terrorists on that awful day. Trusting my intuition and surrendering to that little voice in my head saved my life.
Barbara Newman, Creative Director/Writer
You Don’t Need a Horse to Be a Cowgirl – A Creative Director/Writer for over 25 years, Barbara Newman’s iconic work has left an indelible mark on contemporary brand culture. She’s written award-winning campaigns that have been featured at Cannes, and has developed content across multiple media platforms for global brands around the world. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/you-dont-need-a-horse-to-be-a-cowgirl
4 Ways to Align Yourself With What Really Matters
Are you focusing on what really matters in your life? Or are you just going through the motions jumping from one distraction to the next and being tossed around like a row boat in rough seas? If you want to experience a life well-lived, then it’s probably a good idea to pause and reflect on how aligned you are with the things that carry the most meaning for you on a regular basis — ideally once a week, minimum. Here are a few suggestions you may want to try on for size:
An Offer You Could Refuse (But Shouldn’t): Trusting Your Trusted Advisers
August 28, 2016, Inc. There are three key things you can do to enhance your ability to take advice.
Re-ignite Your Passion!
A topic has been brewing in my mind over the past couple of weeks that I wanted to touch on today; and that is the power of enthusiasm, energy and vitality. I think what sparked it was going to a couple of concerts during the past couple of weeks — Rick Springfield and Earth, Wind & Fire — both of whom have been performing for over 45 years each (and the lead members all in their mid-to-late sixties). Same thing when I saw Herb Alpert and Lani Hall play a show last Fall (he was 80 at the time). None of these guys has to work or tour any more. But all of them exuded passion, vibrancy, energy and vitality. They love what they’re doing, they get high on the interaction with their audiences, and clearly they’re still having a great time performing and entertaining. It’s inspiring and infectious to watch… But you don’t have to be an artist to experience the same level of energy and enthusiasm; you can cultivate it for yourself. And when you do, it creates an upward spiral that fuels you, makes you feel alive and is contagious; others want to be around you and engage/collaborate with you in whatever ways make sense. It comes down to your attitude about yourself and about your life. If you want to feel this energy boost (and experience all of these benefits), here are some things you can do to encourage it:
3 Ways to Succeed as a Woman Entrepreneur (They’re Not What You Think)
August 21, 2016, Inc. There have been challenges along the way, of course, but being a woman has never held me back. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/3-ways-to-succeed-as-a-woman-entrepreneur-theyre-not-what-you-think.html
Lori Stoll, Celebrity Photographer and Filmmaker
Lori Stoll is a notable photographer, writer and director who quickly became a sought-after celebrity and advertising photographer in the late 80’s. Her photographs of popular icons Al Pacino, Anthony Hopkins, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson and MC Hammer were ubiquitous at the pinnacle of their careers. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/get-behind-the-scenes-with-celebrity-photographer-and-filmmaker-lori-stoll
Jared Cohn, Award-Winning Writer, Director and Producer
Jared Cohn is an award-winning writer, director and producer – specifically in the sci-fi and horror genre – with such credits to his name as Atlantic Rim, Buddy Hutchins, 13/13/13, Jailbait, Born Bad and the last Sharknado movie. This year alone Jared has released five new films – all very different in style and tone. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/serial-filmmaker-jared-cohn-on-why-invest-in-your-own-movies
The Power of Your Voice: 3 Steps to Finding and Embracing It
July 21, 2016, Inc. Follow these three steps to discover and celebrate your voice as a female entrepreneur.
Sherry Cagan, Equestrian, Artist, Founder of Stand4Lyme
Sherry Cagan has had great success in her past both as an award-winning equestrian & a talented bronze sculptor. These days Sherry is a patient advocate and facilitator, a leading voice and a driving force for the millions debilitated with Lyme disease. Her near-death experience from Lyme disease, and her daughters and mother being infected with it, catalyzed her passion for Lyme research – initiating the Stanford Lyme Working Group at the Stanford School of Medicine. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://cl.ubook.com/podcast/367156/kelli-richards-presents-all-access-radio
A Grammy Winner, A Circus Master, And An Apple Veteran On Career Reinvention
July 15, 2016, Fast Company Stewart Copeland cofounded The Police. Kelli Richards grew up where her Apple office later stood. These are their career-change tips. Read the entire article here: https://www.fastcompany.com/3061833/a-grammy-winner-a-circus-master-and-an-apple-veteran-on-career-reinvention
Taylor Swift and Other Top Artists Stand United Against DMCA & YouTube
In the past couple of months things have been getting more heated as a coalition of over 180 top musicians have aligned to complain about the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The 1998 law governs the way big internet companies can use material uploaded by their users. As technology has progressed over the past two decades, the artists’ stance is that their royalties have been diminishing relative to the many new devices and services that have sprung up in that timeframe. And in tandem as they’re making their voices heard about concerns suggesting that the DMCA is broken in today’s terms, they’re taking aim squarely at YouTube as a primary example of how this structure no longer works for artists (if it ever did).
Oprah’s Real Secret to Success May Not Be What You Think It Is
July 7, 2016, Inc. Oprah Winfrey came from nothing and built a media empire, but her most impressive quality worth emulating is her EQ (emotional quotient). Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/oprah-s-real-secret-to-success-may-not-be-what-you-think-it-is.html
Mark Silverman, Coach, Consultant, Author
Mark Silverman is not a Coach or a Consultant per se, although he has Coaching and Consulting Clients. For him, every engagement is unique, with the common thread being a leap forward towards the intended result. Mark has generated over $90 Million in sales and received numerous awards over his 15 year career at fast moving, fast growing companies like NetApp, VMware and EMC. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/ditch-your-lists-access-your-flow-intuition-and-creativity
4 Things Successful People Don’t Do
July 1, 2016, Inc. Follow these steps to utilize your own storytelling narrative and be more authentic with your audience.
Life Gets Easier When You Operate in the Zone
Many of us run our lives off “To Do” lists — and have issues managing time, priorities, and eliminating distractions. We’re all over the place and our attention and mood is scattered, stressed and we’re inefficient. It doesn’t have to be that way! We can increase our productivity and save our sanity when we operate ‘in the zone’ more of the time. When you are in the zone, you are focused, firing on all cylinders, getting things done, accomplishing your goals, meeting expectations of yourself and others, all while staying in a calm, neutral place emotionally. You feel good because you’re taking care of what you need to and are honoring your commitments to yourself and others; you’re doing what you said you were going to do. There’s no greater sense of satisfaction than that! I know that’s been my experience. Here are a few tips for getting in the zone:
Becoming the Person You Want to Be is Simple but It’s Not Easy
I had the rare privilege of spending time with Marshall Goldsmith a couple of months ago courtesy of my mentor Alan Weiss at an event that Alan hosts annually called the Million Dollar Consulting Convention. Marshall was the Keynote speaker at Alan’s event this year, and is in high demand as one of the most successful executive coaches on the planet. He’s the author of many terrific and insightful books like “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There”, and he was delightful and very generous in his time with us. Marshall was kind enough to provide us all with copies of his latest book “Triggers: Creating Behavior that Lasts & Becoming the Person You Want to Be”. I read a lot of books on self-improvement and personal growth, and Triggers offers fresh insights that I haven’t come across elsewhere to this point.
Lorenzo Lamas, Actor, Author
Lorenzo Lamas is an American actor well known for playing Lance Cumson on the 1980s soap opera Falcon Crest (Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor), Reno Raines on the 1990s crime drama Renegade, and Hector Ramirez on the daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/what-i-learned-about-donald-trump-from-celebrity-apprentice
3 Ways to Keep the Art of Storytelling Alive
June 16, 2016, Inc. Follow these steps to utilize your own storytelling narrative and be more authentic with your audience.
Creel Price, Serial Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker
From scaling some of the highest mountains in the world, to working with Richard Branson on the future of philanthropy, exiting his business for over $100m and captaining Australia in the World Elephant Polo Championships, Creel Price is the high-octane adventurer at the forefront of what he now calls “The Entreprenaissance.” Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/the-1-magic-ingredient-for-joining-the-entreprennaissance
Libby Gill, Consultant, Author, Speaker
Libby Gill is the founder and CEO of executive coaching and consulting firm Libby Gill & Company. The former head of communications and public relations for Sony, Universal, and Turner Broadcasting, she is an international speaker, bestselling author, and former Dallas Morning News columnist. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-with-bestselling-author-libby-gill
Carolyn Elliott, Entrepreneur, Author, Coach, Super-Connector
Carolyn Elliott is an entrepreneur, writer and author, coach, super-connector, and modern-day magical person. She is the host of the Superconnectors Podcast, which interviews top Superconnectors from around the world who share the tools, attitudes and resources they use to grow and nurture their world-class social networks. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-carolyn-elliott
The Importance of Taking Regular Breaks
You work hard; we all do. But at the same time, I’ll bet you don’t play hard; most of us don’t. We live and work in a culture that would happily take all we choose to give and more — and often does. AND we have a life beyond our work – really and truly!
These 4 Books Are an Entrepreneur’s Best-Kept Secret
June 6, 2016, Inc. The truth is, many of the most successful people in the world are–and will always be–avid readers. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/these-4-books-are-an-entrepreneur-s-best-kept-secret.html
May the Force Be With You
You know that old saying by Woody Allen that “Showing Up is 80% of Life”. Well I’d argue that the other 20% (maybe more!) is HOW you show up that really determines whether you’re going to be a ‘hit’ or a ‘miss’ in terms of the impact you have on others. Leadership is more than about showing up, and it’s more than just a mindset — it’s your presence, your intention, and the energy you bring to your interactions.
2016 is Not the Year the Masses Pick Up Virtual Reality
May 14, 2016, VentureBeat. Mark Zuckerberg (along with many others) believes that virtual reality will change the way we live, work, and communicate in many ways. Zuck may be right about the long term, but the truth is, VR isn’t quite ready for mass-market adoption. Read the entire article here: https://venturebeat.com/games/2016-is-not-the-year-the-masses-pick-up-virtual-reality/
4 Daily Habits of Exceptionally Well-Connected People
May 12, 2016, Inc. The reality is that the more influencers you know, the better your chances of realizing greater success.. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/4-daily-habits-of-exceptionally-well-connected-individuals.html
Close Encounters with Prince
We lost a unique legend and pioneer last month in Prince’s passing. The man was multi-dimensional, and though he was revered as an artist by many, he was so much more — and I think the other facets of who he was and his contributions will be revealed as time goes on. I was fortunate to have interacted with Prince on several occasions during the past couple of decades, and I’ve been reflecting on those experiences over the past few days. I never really shared much ’til now about these interactions because he was fiercely private, and I respected and honored his desire for that.
Deborah Perry Piscione, Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker
Deborah Perry Piscione is a serial entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, speaker and innovation process expert. She is a Principal and Co-Founder at Vorto Consulting, a Silicon Valley-based boutique-consulting firm dedicated to enabling companies to innovate and grow. Deborah is the architect of the new innovation methodology, Improvisational Innovation™, which engages all of the organization’s talent in bottoms up innovation. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-deborah-piscione
Four Female Entrepreneurs Who Have it All (and How You Can, Too)
May 6, 2016, Huff Post Women Recently, I’ve observed a growing trend: Young female entrepreneurs launching ventures, creating social impact that matters, winning awards, and starting families — all at the same time. Read the entire article here: https://www.ellevatenetwork.com/articles/7321-four-female-entrepreneurs-who-have-it-all-and-how-you-can-too
Conscious Entrepreneurship: Lessons From Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg
May 5, 2016, Inc. Incorporate these four habits into your daily life to produce better work from a healthier mindset.
How to Achieve Success by Connecting 2 Seemingly Different Worlds
April 21, 2016, Inc. Harness multiple interests and translate them across industries to build a larger network of connections, stronger relationships, a unique brand position, and greater impact. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/how-to-achieve-success-by-connecting-2-seemingly-different-worlds.html
Sexy vs Cash Projects
For those of us who work for ourselves (and for those who aspire to), there’s a phenomenon that people don’t often talk about because it’s assumed that we’re intended to be performing and achieving high levels of success at all times. However, sometimes there are periods of feast and famine in our businesses, especially for those of us in creative professions. My colleague Rich Litvin has shared his observations on this with a nod to Hugh McLeod’s “Sex and Cash Theory of Creative Work” — and I really resonate with this. The basic notion is that the creative person has two kinds of jobs — the first being the fun, sexy kind (those projects and clients we love to work with), and the second one is ensuring that we have enough cash flows that the bills get paid each month. Sometimes the task at hand covers both bases, but not all the time. So there can be a tense duality between the need to make a living and the need to follow one’s passions. You can’t run a successful, thriving business if you have no money and your only thought is “I NEED money!”.
Guy Kawasaki, Evangelist, Author, Speaker
Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva, an online graphic design tool. He is on the board of trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation, a brand ambassador for Mercedes Benz USA, and an executive fellow of the Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley). He was also the chief evangelist of Apple. Guy is the author of The Art of the Start 2.0, The Art of Social Media, Enchantment, and nine other books. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-guy-kawasaki
Three Lessons On Innovation I Learned During My 12 Years At Apple
March 28, 2016, Fast Company As one veteran of Apple’s early forays into digital music explains, nothing slows things down like seeking consensus. Read the entire article here: https://www.fastcompany.com/3058271/three-lessons-on-innovation-i-learned-during-my-12-years-at-apple
The Chief Reason to Become a Trusted Adviser: The Ripple Effect
March 28, 2016, Inc. Through helping others, advisers can unlock different opportunities for their own careers.
3 Ways You Can Benefit From Serendipitous Run-Ins
March 14, 2016, Inc. Are you making the most of your chance encounters?
The Quiet Passing of a Giant
The music industry has experienced what seems like an unprecedented string of losses since the year began. Add to that list, a legend in Sir George Martin who passed a few days ago at the age of 90, and was considered by many to be “The Fifth Beatle”. Sir George was perhaps among the most talented record producers, music arrangers, and A&R men of all time. He was a true master at his craft — he pioneered all mann er of unique things artists could do in the studio — and truly co-created with the artists he worked with to amazing results.Unusual things like running the tape backwards to create new sounds as in “Tomorrow Never Knows” or adding in unique instrumentation like strings over “Eleanor Rigby” and “Yesterday” or weaving a mellotron into “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite”. And as gifted as he was and a master at his art, equally important is how well-loved and respected he was by all who had the chance to meet and work with him. I’ve never heard a bad word said about George by anyone throughout his career which is telling; quite the contrary.
4 Basic Skills Entrepreneurs Still Can’t Seem to Master
March 7, 2016, Inc.
Andy Cunningham, Strategic Marketing and Communications Expert
Andy Cunningham is the Founder of Cunningham Collective, an innovation to market firm that helps enterprises and start-ups through challenges of traction, transformation, and turnaround. An entrepreneur at the forefront of marketing, branding, positioning and communicating “The Next Big Thing,” Andy Cunningham has played a key role in the launch of a number of new categories including video games; personal computers; desktop publishing; digital imaging; RISC microprocessors; software as a service; very light jets; and clean tech investing.
Zeeshan Zaidi, Ticketmaster
Zeeshan Zaidi is the General Manager of Artist Services at Ticketmaster, a division of Live Nation Entertainment, where he works with artists, managers, agents, promoters and labels to help make tours more successful through leveraging Ticketmaster’s marketing reach, data insights, and commerce opportunities. He’s also the lead vocalist, songwriter, guitarist, and founder of alternative rock band The Commuters. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-zeeshan-zaidi
Carolyn Elliott, Super-Connector, Interviews Kelli Richards
As a super connector, I was recently interviewed by Carolyn Elliott on her Super Connectors Podcast where I shared how I create authentic, trust-based relationships, and my favorite strategies for nurturing a high-powered network the intuitive dimension of super-connecting.
How Apple Can Improve Its Watch And Boost Sales
February 8, 2016, TechCrunch Apple isn’t releasing exact sales numbers, but some expert digging has led many to believe that sales of the Apple Watch haven’t reached expectations since its launch in spring 2015. Read the entire article here: https://techcrunch.com/2016/02/07/how-apple-can-improve-its-watch-and-boost-sales/
Tammi Leader Fuller, CAMPOWERMENT
Tammi is the Chief Empowerment Officer of CAMPOWERMENT, a transformational weekend sleep-away camp for grown women hailed by Oprah and MORE Magazines, the TODAY Show, FOX News, the NY and LA Times as THE place to reboot your life in just 72 hours. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-tammi-leader-fuller
The 4 Tech Trends That Will Explode in 2016
January 25, 2016, Inc. These cutting-edge, scalable trends are attracting not only lots of investment, but also great talent — which are two of the key drivers behind any successful startup.
Klayton of Cell Dweller
Klayton is the artist behind the acclaimed one-man musical project Celldweller, and is a multi-instrumentalist, artist, producer, songwriter, performer, programmer and remixer. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-klayton-of-celldweller
Search Resources
Topic Areas & Guests
Categories
Join our mailing list
For insights on industry trends, and for details on special projects/events. We respect your time and your privacy.
Kelli’s monthly newsletters are her direct line of communication to clients and friends. Each edition includes a personal note, an overview of recent activities, book recommendations, and more.
Some past newsletters are included on this page. To become part of this community, and to receive the most current communications from Kelli, you can sign up by clicking the button below.
We’re thrilled to have you join us!
Search Resources
Topic Areas & Guests
Categories
Join our mailing list
For insights on industry trends, and for details on special projects/events. We respect your time and your privacy.