The Art of The Break

Tae Chong is a passionate innovator with solutions to complex community challenges. He is a great storyteller and helps to bring alive the concepts of emotional intelligence which is needed now more than ever. Tae knows that our souls need to be recognized and developed for our best work; and you can’t put a metric on believing in humans. His stories are filled with insights including a reminder that our founding fathers demonstrated significant emotional intelligence in writing our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. And because this is Tae, he will discuss the powerful environmental impact possible through upcycling. Think about this…if we use our clothes for just three months longer than we normally do, it is the environmental equivalent to taking 1 Million cars off the road. Tae Chong - Bio Tae Chong is Manager of Social Enterprise and Workforce at Catholic Charities. He is currently working on three projects: creating a microenterprise ecosystem of 10 to 12 small businesses, connecting people in recovery and asylees with employment opportunities, and he is working on a research project to extend the career of skilled older workers at Catholic Charities. Tae has over twenty years experience working with the immigrant and refugee populations in Maine. He has worked with this population as an educator, advocate, policy maker, social service provider and as a business advisor. Tae has been a speaker at MaineLive and Ted Dirgio, and he was named as one of Maine’s 50 most influential people by Maine Magazine and he attended the White House Conference on retaining and recruiting immigrant and refugee knowledge workers. Learn More about Tae on LinkedIn

You are not alone. That is the first thing Lael Couper Jepson wants you to know. We all have dreams and desires mixed with fear. What we are most afraid of is being “caught” failing. We need to learn how to sit with that. What if we faced that thing or idea that scares us with an element of play? Picture a dream or idea you've been carrying with you, and now think…”Wanna give it a whirl? Wanna try? Let’s go find out!” Take your idea for a spin. Lael’s journey included visions of becoming a Rockette, A Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader, and an attorney in Boston. What she is…is a writer, artist, performer, instigator of change, visionary, a champion for women’s storytelling and a community builder. She also rides shotgun for organizational business leaders to make the compelling case for change – breathe life into a new vision, or lay down the bigger bolder expectations of how to approach their work. In this conversation, we talk about how Fear and Desire are linked. You know you are doing it right when it feels good. Go ahead and try. Lael Couper Jepson Bio Lael likes to add fuel to what’s already smoldering. She is a seasoned boat rocker and professional instigator of change, with a penchant for women’s leadership. She jumped ship in 2006 after eleven years as an organization development consultant in the corporate world and founded SheChanges to work with people who share her impatience with the pace of change – people ready to buck the rules, challenge the status quo, and dare to create the change they want to see happen – ready or not. “Truth be told, my mission is to start a revolution – one that leverages the power of women to re-imagine our world. Whether it’s meeting one-on-one, facilitating a group, speaking on stage or leading a weekend retreat, there is always a call to action embedded in my work, designed to inspire, ignite, and unleash the creativity, passion, and ingenuity we carry inside ourselves.” Lael Couper Jepson http://www.shechanges.com

Of the 4.5 million people who visit the Grand Canyon each year, only 1% take the 9-mile journey to the Colorado River below. Most visitors come to the edge of the canyon, take a picture, and leave. Are you taking pictures from above or going further down to enjoy the journey in life? Amy Wood, Psychologist, Coach, and Speaker, talks about an unplanned journey, a choice that many of us would not have made under similar circumstances. Picture a current so fast and unpredictable once you go through if you make a mistake, you can’t go back to repeat it; you are only able to go forward and try to do better with the knowledge from that experience. A lot like life. Amy’s observations and insights are extremely relative in our fast-paced world. Take a few minutes and join the conversation from her experiences on the river. Perhaps you will find an idea to make your day and life better. You can learn more about Amy Wood and her book, Life Your Way, at http://amywoodpsyd.com/wordpress/ Learn more about mindful work at https://www.breaktogether.net

Service Leadership and Emotional Intelligence are quickly becoming the foundations of success in business. Kris McCrea helps companies transform by aligning leadership models with nature. Are your employees counting the minutes each day? There is a better way; leading with vision and purpose, allowing people to grow to their full potential Who better to develop your customers and care for your patients than people who feel alive and vibrant. Kris McCrea, President of McCrea Coaching, is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation, a Master Practitioner in Energy Leadership, a Microsystems Coach through The Dartmouth Institute. She is also is an active member of the Forbes Coaches Council, so be on the lookout for her articles and comments on Forbes.com. Learn more at https://www.mccreacoaching.com

Patrick is a certified Emotional Intelligence Trainer and Coach who believes we can all Rise Above Our Best. He teaches us to use POWER to improve your outlook and results, and CABLES to create stronger team connections. Congruence, Appreciation, Being for Others, Listening, Empathy, Specifics Patrick helps companies develop leaders from day one and his approach can help you improve your work and life. We all get stronger by doing. Patrick Veroneau, Founder, Emery Leadership Group http://emeryleadershipgroup.com Patrick Veroneau is the founder of Emery Leadership Group, which is named after his dad who died when he was 18. He has been a consultant for over 10 years in the areas of leadership development and ethical influence. He has a Masters in organizational leadership and is Certified coach through iPEC and a Certified Emotional Intelligence trainer and coach through Genos Patrick has developed leadership and team building models to help people and organizations to “rise above their best”.He loves speaking to youth groups around the idea, “your past is your power” and has started to implement that more with adults.

This is a perfect time to share the voices of more women. Diane has great ideas for using quotes in presentations to keep your audience on their toes while introducing them to people they may not have heard about. Learn who really said: “Well-behaved women rarely make history.” We all crave stories and inspiration. Whether you are speaking to a group, beginning a meeting, or starting a coaching session, quotes are a powerful way to begin. Diane also talks about her vision for getting more women onto Corporate Boards and tips for refueling as an Introvert. Buy your copy of She Said It and start quoting more remarkable women today! BUY HERE Learn more about Diane Darling on her WEBSITE View in full at BreakTogether: http://www.breaktogether.net/break-together-podcasts/

Join me in conversation with Dr. Heidi Roberts, PT, DPT, author of Amazon-Kindle's newest #1 download (in 8 categories) last week - The Sitting Disease. She is helping people reduce pain every day and her methods can help all of us: 10 minutes to a better you. Heidi founded Motion Therapy in 2012 to bring physical therapy and injury prevention to athletes, professionals, and businesses in their everyday environments. She shares simple and affordable practices to help you reduce pain in less than 10 minutes a day, using the 3 "C"s. She is leading the way with great energy to make work better! You can also learn more at MotionTherapy.net

Alex Brookings, of bGood (bGood.com) talks about the power of short interactions to grow customers and build culture. I met Alex as a happy customer of bGood a few years ago. In a fast world, they not only deliver delicious farm-to-table food for lunch and dinner, they create extraordinary and memorable service experiences with their customers. Given my passion around the power of one or two minutes to create positive change, I wanted to learn about the bGood formula and design behind the experience. Every time I walk into their restaurant, I leave with a smile and an even better disposition. Alex shares a few of his secrets.

What do International Pro Basketball and Community Business Building have in common? Nik Caner-Medley. You may know Nik Caner-Medley as a former star basketball player at Deering High School or the University of Maryland. Most recently, he has signed a 2-year contract with Movistar Estudiantes in Madrid Spain. What you may not know, is that Nik is a business and community-builder in Portland, Maine. We recorded this show in the Boardroom at Cloudport Coworking Multi-space, while Nik is here for the summer. He is the owner and developer. Co-working and multi-space environments have captured my attention as a business owner in recent years. The opportunities for greater collaboration in the community and improved blending of work and life are tremendous and inspiring. In more than 20 years of office-working, this has been the most supportive and motivating environment I have experienced. There are better ways of working and I hope you enjoy the conversation. Learn more at Cloudport.

Andrew Silsby shares the secret to engagement for wellness and business. It involves a tractor, a "dreadmill" and a few other ingredients for an award-winning wellness plan. Andrew E. Silsby is President and CEO of Kennebec Savings Bank, a $900 million mutual banking organization headquartered in Augusta Maine. Silsby started his career in banking as a summer teller in 1986 and joined Kennebec Savings Bank in 1993 where he steadily climbed the ranks to begin leading the organization as President in 2014. The organization embarked on an effort to increase employee wellness by creating a multifaceted program to foster and encourage healthier living with its 121 employees. Andrew sits down to discuss some of the lessons the organization learned over the past two years in making employee wellness a priority at Kennebec Savings Bank. https://www.kennebecsavings.bank

What if there was a simple and effective tool that could help children who suffer from trauma, kids who put too much pressure on themselves, those with special needs, and perhaps kids who have been bullied. Something that could help the child while also helping the teacher. Julie Campilio has created a simple and powerful solution and she has put it into practice for the past 10 years in schools, positively impacting students (3-18), teachers, and parents. (RadiantBeginningsYoga.com) Julie struggled with an anxiety and attention deficit disorder since she was a child. Yoga and mindfulness helped her overcome years of panic attacks and medication, so she founded Radiant Beginnings Yoga to help others focus naturally and manage stress in their own lives. While teaching in 2008, she saw an immediate change in students who were having difficulty self-regulating and managing stress. Watching students shift from anxious, impulsive and unfocused to calm and focused is what drove her to share holistic self-coping strategies through yoga and mindfulness. She is using yoga and mindfulness strategies to increase focus, attention, self- awareness and self-regulation. Quote from a young student: “After recess, I was really mad at someone in here. During the video, I looked over at that person and now I just feel calm. I forgot why I was even mad at that person.” Learn More at http://www.radiantbeginningsyoga.com

If you work with a phone or computer, chances are meetings are a regular part of your day. Many people I work with attend meetings for 6 to 7 hours each day; particularly those with national and global companies. Nearly everyone I interviewed told me that the meetings they attend are not very effective and the work could be handled in a better way. Several years ago, when working at a large global bank, I attended a training on better meetings which changed the way I manage meetings every day. This simple process also gives me more time in each day. In addition, I have included links to short, interactive tools to start your meetings better. You can help people leave the stress from what they just came from and allow everyone to connect and be present for the meeting you are in. Plus, when you are known for starting meetings with an activity, people tend to show up on time.

Join us for an interesting discussion especially for developers, programmers, and tech workers. This will also be of interest if you employ or work with technology experts. For the business owner, breaks are about productivity; for an individual, it is about feeling better at the end of your day. Are you filling your stress cup? Listen to our discussion to learn 1 important thing to do every day. John Moore has spent years in information technology, working with some of the largest companies in the world. He loves being able to solve complex problems and bring greater value to people's lives. He has overcome significant obstacles in his life and the hurdles of other's expectations. As a shamanic practitioner, martial artist and someone who has lived in the world of business for decades, he understands what it means to walk in both worlds. You can learn more about John at mylovedlife.com. He also writes a weekly column for TheGoodMenProject.com.

My guest this week is Chris Kast who tells us how thirty, Type A+ brand media strategists and creative professionals find time to connect and engage at work. Chris shares insights on employee empowerment with one of the busiest creative teams in Portland. Their work includes Maine Magazine, Old Port Magazine, Maine Home & Design, Kennebunkport Festival, Love Maine Radio, and Maine Live, just to name a few. Yet this group manages to connect with themselves and community; they support over 140 non-profits each year. Chris Kast is the Brand Strategist of The Brand Company, owned by Maine Media Collective. Learn more at Thebrandcompany.me - mainemediacollective.com – creativeportland.com

Join me with Monica Worline for an informative and compelling conversation on the importance of compassion in the workplace. She talks about how fear can get in our way and gives us simple tools to demonstrate compassion in ways that are most meaningful. Did you know that practicing compassion at work is a successful business strategy? Compassionate workplaces have higher levels of service quality, increased retention of talented employees, better innovation, and collaboration. Monica C. Worline, Ph.D., is founder and CEO of EnlivenWork, an organization that teaches businesses how to tap into courageous thinking, compassionate leadership, and curiosity to bring their best work to life. She is a research scientist at Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education; Executive Director of CompassionLab, the world’s leading research collaboratory focused on compassion in the workplace; and co-author of Awakening Compassion at Work: The Quiet Power that Elevates People and Organizations. Monica holds a lectureship at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and is affiliate faculty at the Center for Positive Organizations. She is an award-winning teacher who has also served on the faculties of the Goizueta Business School at Emory University; the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine; and the School of Social Ecology at the University of California, Irvine. Join us for 100 Days of Awakening Compassion at Work: http://awakeningcompassionatwork.com/100-days-of-awakening-compassion/ You can also learn more about Monica Worline at monicaworline.com.

Laurie Mitchell, is AVP of Global Wellbeing and Health Management at Unum. I have known of Laurie for over a decade and have admired her ability to create healthy work programs and benefits that actually improve health. She talks about creating environments for employees that "make the healthiest choice the easiest choice," and works to support work/life integration for her employee population. She also values a good night's sleep - music to my ears!

What are the most positive management or work culture experiences from your career? Join me in 6 short interviews to learn about their experiences. I talk with Dan Sexton, Lauren Reid, Eli Dolloff, Gretchen Johnson, Laura Sprinkle, and Adrian Espinoza. This is a great reminder that the smallest example in management can influence someone for a lifetime.

Join our discussion and learn how to apply mindfulness in the workplace. Where else are you investing in an employee program with a 99.9% satisfaction rate? Tara Healey is the founder and director of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care’s Mind the Moment program. Tara initially joined Harvard Pilgrim as an health educator and organizational development professional in its HR department, a position which she occupied for over 20 years. She brought a mindfulness course to Harvard Pilgrim’s own staff members in 2006, long before mindfulness had hit the mainstream

Join Jessica Sinsheimer (Twitter: @jsinsheim)and Julie Kingsley(Twitter: @juliekingsley) as they share insights learned through their work as co-founders of TheManuscriptAcademy.com. There is no need to hate your Google Calendar or fight with your schedule. Learn tips to find balance in the world of writing and creative work. Jessica talks about creating macro impact with micro breaks and shares wisdom from one of her mentors. Julie has ideas to re-charge your perspective physically and mentally, while improving your productivity. Plus, you get to hear the story of how The Manuscript Academy was founded.

Join me in conversation with Dr. Glenn Cummings, President of the University of Southern Maine. He talks about leading USM's efforts in becoming a Best Place to Work and ends our interview with a special story about Joshua Chamberlain. He touches on Macro Accountability and Micro Freedoms; and holding Administration accountable. USM is embracing diversity, customer service (student satisfaction), and leadership training. Glenn shares his views on the difference between a manager and a leader and building employee loyalty through a little flexibility.