Toastcaster Communication Leadership Learning Lab

Toastcaster 140: Grantasms: Making Communication Fun and Great Again – Grant Crowell

[29:21] Just when we thought the world had enough jargon, acronyms and other confusing verbiage, Grant Crowell, a self-professed social wordsmith comes along and creates his own words or “Grantasms.” His motives are sincere – his intention, to make communication fun again while helping people build confidence, better relationships and increase their productivity.

In this light hearted yet informative episode you’ll learn why he wrote this book, what you can take away from it and how he himself uses his own Grantasms for laughs, socio-emotional wellness, and his own ADHD management.  Listen for new terms like spousish, GERK, fillerflabber, messy-tasking, acronumb, playful mindfulness and more.

Grant Crowell is a learning facilitator for Dell Technologies Digital Events team and is the author of GRANTASMS: Twisted Creative words for cool people! He lives in Durham, North Carolina USA. Grant and can be found on LinkedIn and get his book on Amazon.

 

Toastcaster 139: Finding Your New Learning Curve - Bob Hooey

[28:50] When the current pandemic became a global reality, suddenly Bob Hooey found his speaking business more or less obliterated.  

In this episode, Bob expresses to Greg how he felt and how he dealt with the situation while perhaps realizing his and and maybe our biggest fears. 

After overcoming the initial shock, Bob realised, "I can't travel,  but my message can."  Pulling from years of experience, he decided  instead of spiralling downward, he could pivot. So even at age 71, he found his new learning curve and embraced his new playing field. "I'm still learning," he says.

What Bob did, many of us can do too as he discovered new technologies and used the power of partnering, creativity and the often forgotten value of simply asking for help to move forward. Additionally Bob also shares the wisdom of some of his past experiences, much of which can apply to all of us and our businesses today in his own entertaining way.

FREE BOOK

As a gift to our listeners, Bob is offering, free to all readers a copy of his latest book, 

Succeed! Idea-rich strategies to succeed in business despite global disruptions. 

Bob Hooey is the Canadian "Ideaman."  He's an accomplished speaker, prolific author of over 30 books on leadership and career success and travels the world (when its open) sharing his innovative Ideas At Work. He's also a long-time Distinguished Toastmaster, Past District Governor and Accredited Speaker.

Bob lives in Egremont Alberta Canada and can be reached at Ideaman.net or SuccessPublications.ca.

Toastcaster 138: Welcoming change & embracing technology a bloodline for tomorrow’s restaurants and retail – Brittain Brown

[27:41] Looking at how a pandemic has changed the way we dine and how restaurants operate and literally ravaged the industry. As some cities begin to re-open, you can’t help but wonder what the new normal is or might be or what future looks like moving forward.  

In this episode, our guest Brittain Brown offers us a little insight into that arena. From his experience, he’ll share some of his observations what’s going on in the minds of restaurant owners and operators, staff and patrons. You’ll hear about some of the changes in store beyond merely servers in face masks, constant cleaning and reassuring customers as factors whether restaurants can successfully reopen and stay in business. 

He addresses some of the challenges today’s leaders are facing, but also some of the opportunities that this represents including some food for thought on how leaders need to rethink and evolve their business models and adopt new technologies which are already driving the new normal and what might happen if they don’t.

What you’ll hear will be of interest and value to you regardless as to whether you’re a restauranteur, a patron or a leader in any other industry.  Brown’s insights can apply to anyone.

Brittain Brown, B.A. is from Toronto, Canada. He’s the President of Givex, a global company that provides the restaurant, retail, and other industries with the latest tech solutions and analytics that help clients drive sales and make better business decisions. He can be reached at Givex.com.