November 13, 2024 • 49 mins
Have you been told that you are overqualified for a job you're pursuing? Or is it actually ageism? While elected politicians and corporate CEOs work well past "retirement age" with constituency support, a double standard exists in many company workforces where "younger means more able." Melanie discusses ways to counter ageism, reboot, repackage and present yourself to land that job or new career with empowerment coach, Maria DeLorenzis Reyes, founder/CEO, Training Innovations and MDR Brands.
Fearless Fabulous You is broadcast live Wednesdays at 12 Noon ET on W4WN Radio - Women 4 Women Network (www.w4wn.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com).
Fearless Fabulous You Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.
Fearless Fabulous You is broadcast live Wednesdays at 12 Noon ET on W4WN Radio - Women 4 Women Network (www.w4wn.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com).
Fearless Fabulous You Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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(00:20):
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Speaker 2 (00:44):
Welcome to Fearless Fabulous You. I am your host, Melanie Young,
and I am so happy you join me. This is
the month of November twenty twenty four. It is a
national career development month which hits home to me for.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
A lot of reasons.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Last night, a very good friend came over, highly successful
and educated, and she's in a financial situation. Like many
women I know who, they need more money. I mean,
money's tight these days for a lot of people, even
if you're widely successful. She said, she's probably sent out
three dozen resumes and it's been crickets. And this is
(01:22):
someone with a master's degree in food management from the
culinary Institute of America. She has a business right now,
a cottage industry, but it is tough. What we're going
to talk about today is career development, but not starting out,
because most of us have started out. Many of us
(01:45):
are at the point where we're it is either starting over,
we just want to change. Maybe we are lost our jobs.
Maybe we feel we're aging out of her jobs and
when I mean aging out, you just don't want to
work those fifteen hour days on your feed and lug.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Maybe you're just tired of the industry you're working in.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
And maybe the industry you're working in is at that
point where AI is taking it over the media, or
it's just doesn't feel as relevant exciting to you personally.
You want to do something more meaningful, more impactful. Maybe
money isn't the issue. Maybe it's just being more purposeful
and impactful for the rest of your life. So we're
(02:24):
going to talk about these topics and how to reclaim, retool, repackage,
and represent yourself in a way that makes you still relevant, attractive,
and authentic and how you're doing it and authenticity is
super important. Joining me is Maria de lorenzs Reyis. She's
(02:47):
an executive leadership coach known for her unconventional I love
that unconventional approach to enhancing teams connectivity and performance. She
is founder and CEO of Training Innovations at MDR Brands.
And she's a certified personal Empowerment coach and has lots
of certifications and has a podcast called Finding the Upside
(03:11):
and a TV series. She's a seasoned speaker, And we're
going to talk about what really becomes rebuilding your brand
and who you are to make yourself attractive to people
who say I want this person to be in my orbit,
on my team.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
So Maria, welcome to Fearless Fabulous.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
You. Thank you so much for having me. I'm so
excited to chat with you today.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Well, this is a topic that really his home for
so many people I know who have come to me
and said I just can't continue doing what I'm doing,
or I just need to do something else, or you know,
the worst is when people tell you that maybe this
is your maybe you're overqualified. I gotta tell you, overqualified
means you're too old. That happened to me, This happened
(03:56):
to me several times. Let's talk about you. You actually
had a very long and successful career, and then something happened.
So let's talk about your backstory to connect with my listeners.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Yeah. So I started out my career. I worked in
New York City in media, actually in broadcast TV, but
the business side of broadcast TV, not the creative side,
selling ad time and running a research analysis really that
supported the broadcast sales team. And I did that for
(04:30):
many years, and then moved into more qualitative and quantitative
research and worked for the Nielsen Media Company and I
was there for ten years, and that was approaching twenty
years of my career, and I was in senior management,
and like so many people fifteen years ago, right at
(04:50):
the downturn of the economy, they were looking to as
corporate business does to cut costs, we were taken over
by private equity, and you know, the senior people were
the ones that were on the block. So I was
one of them. And at first, of course, the shock
and lack of preparedness for that, but really truthfully, I
(05:14):
had already been approaching that point where I felt like
I wasn't really aligned with what I was doing and
the culture that I was experiencing. So I quickly had
to turn to what am I going to do now,
and I had always had training was always a part
of my responsibilities. I got some, you know, gigs for
(05:38):
training at different corporations, just contract work, and then I
was like, I think this is what I'm going to do.
I think I am going to move forward and really
create a company, because I was already really doing that
in earning my own income on my own. Now, going
back a few years, I did say I think I
really called to myself to stay out of that role
(06:02):
because I think maybe three years before, four years before,
I was feeling the same things you expressed in your
opening that many people do. I'm working long hours, I'm
being asked to commit more and more and more. I'm
being challenged as a mother. Because I worked for this
company before I was married and before I had children,
(06:25):
you know that there was this aura that I was
not as committed and I was actually working harder and
harder and harder, and like everybody, you know, the compensation
was not flowing in the same high demand. So I
really had made a decision that I didn't want to
work that way anymore. And I also didn't want to
(06:46):
work for somebody else, So didn't really know how I
was going to do that truthfully, but started on the
path of trying to figure that out and then had
made a decision that I would leave, but they made
the decision for me. So in some ways it was
a blessing in disguise. But I'll be honest in your opening,
I heard you say people you know come to you
(07:09):
and say they hear they're overqualified. I did the normal
thing where I started applying for jobs. I was hearing
I was overqualified. I was being offered or positions that
were half of what I was making, you know. And
I lived in New Jersey commuting to New York, and
I'm like, I'm just not going to do that. I'm
not going to do that. So it really was a
(07:32):
time of reinvention, repurposing, repackaging. What do I have, what
are my strengths? Let me lean into that and figure
out how to move forward. So that's what I did.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
So did you have you had a mentor? I mean,
how did you?
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Cause this does not and let's talk about timing, because
this has not happen overnight.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
As we know, so let's kind of take us through.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
How long it took and who did you lean on
and who helped to along the way.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Well, it was interesting because, as I said, I had
decided that I was going to work on my own
at some point. So while I was still working at
the company trying to figure that out, I hired a
business coach. I had a plan of what I was
going to do, what industry I was going to go into.
Got myself some you know, development and education and that
(08:23):
because it was new to me. And then when I
lost my job, that was like, okay, it was real
estate and that wasn't you know. I wanted to own
properties and things like that. And I was like, okay,
so now I don't have the income to borrow money,
so I have to pivot again. And I really leaned
on him to help me redefine that. As I said,
(08:47):
I did have a business plan. He helped me write
a business plan, but we had to shift that and
then I had moved on to other business coaches that
were they became big men for me, really leaning into
follow the path, you know, follow decide what you want,
(09:08):
what do you want your life to be like, and
then be open to the opportunities that come your way
and what comes in your path. And really those training
gigs that I mentioned were really what helped me understand,
this is a strength I have, this is a path
I could go down, and I really could build a
foundation based on this and that person Really it was
(09:31):
really more the mindset of being open, you know, being
open and sometimes not knowing where something was going to go,
but trusting it and following that path and playing letting
it play out. And I think that's a really important thing.
Uh just nowadays, you know, I mean fifteen years ago
(09:53):
for me, but just that was a big shift for
me personally. That really helped to define my news success
and help me find my new success.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I think you brought up some really important points. Coaching
is great if you can afford it and invest in it.
It is Many of my very good friends and guests
on the show have invested in coaches to find that
new repurpose as I call it, and some have turned
into coaching as well. And it can be a very
successful but hard venture to be in because you have
(10:23):
to hustle. There are a lot of coaches out there hustling.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
You got to like the hustle.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
You know.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Last night when my friend came over, she's incredibly talented,
and I said, you know, you got to also find
what you're interested in and as I say, repackage your
talents to apply to industries that you may not think about.
And you said something really important. It's like you really
don't want to contain yourself. You got to throw yourself,
as you say, out to the world and think of
(10:50):
the possibility of can and yes and not know and
not possible.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
Yes. Yeah, you bring up such an important point about
you know, if you can't afford a coach, funding mentors
that help you stay in that space. I think is
important is to being open to possibility. And obviously you
mentioned my podcast. That's one of the things that I
thrive and really stand proud on that finding the upside
(11:16):
is always looking at situations and scenarios, changing circumstances with opportunity.
Finding the upside. It's a challenge sometimes, but there always is,
and there's always opportunity. It doesn't decrease or diminish the
struggle that somebody might be going through, but really trying
to shift and have that focus of being open and
(11:38):
looking for the opportunity and the possibility and knowing it's there.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
It's interesting, Maria.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
That's why I started fear Less Fabulous You because I
was at a point where I had been, you know,
like you let down, lost a lot of business through
the economic changes and other changes in a service industry
where you're only relevant based on who your clients are.
And then that bingo, I got breast cancer and my
dad died and I was shot down, and then I
(12:04):
found myself need to lift myself up, and I started
with the words be fearless and fabulous, and that kind
of followed me through with bookbook, book, and still guides
me when I don't and when I feel less than fabulous,
because there are days you don't feel so great and
you have to remind yourself, uh, you know for someone
who and really it does start with reminding yourself and
(12:26):
looking at yourself in the mirror.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
And saying, I am amazing.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
And you have to convince yourself because if you do
not do that, Yeah, you can't sell yourself.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Now, that's so true. And you know, I love that fearless,
sleep habulous, I mean because really I also think and
that the development of my own my own personal journey
of where I am being, you know, open, having that mindset,
being open to possibility and really leaning into the affirmations
(12:56):
or the practices or whatever it is that helps you
feed yourself, feed yourself and come from a place of strength.
Because listen, you know, twenty years ago was a disappointment.
But I've had a successful business for fifteen years. But
I'm sure like you, lots of twists and turns, lots
of changing circumstances, lots of economic things that have caused
(13:19):
me to have to pivot again, and I've been able
to do that. But it can wear you down. It
can wear down your own you know, mind of saying, oh,
you know, the self doubt creeps in and all those things.
So you really have to start every single day and
remind yourself and have a mechanism or a practice that
(13:42):
allows you to do that. Because I also believe that
these years are the best years of our lives right now,
you know, being you have the wisdom, you have the foundation,
you have lots of things from your path path that
you can pull forward, and I think that, you know,
(14:04):
there's a lot of power in that. It's just that
we have to be in a place that we are
able to feed ourselves and remind ourselves of that for sure.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Yeah, it's so true, Maria.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
You know, let's talk about the a game the a
let's start with a ageism. So I don't know how
old you are, but I'm older than everybody now, and
I just laugh about it because you know, I'm older
and everybody, but I'm forever young.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
As forever Mellenia, Melanie So and all my friends.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Are like, you know, celebrating birthdays that are so much
You're like, wow, I passed that mile a long time ago.
But you know, I did interview for jobs when I
first moved to the new land that I'm living in
in New Orleans because I had taken some time off
to care take a mother, and a lot of women
have are in that age and phase where they have
(14:56):
to do those things for their family and put career
or businesses on not the backs on the back burner,
but maybe over there. And I'll never forget I interviewed
with and I.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Don't need anybody I can.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
I'm perfectly comfortable right now doing whatever. And she said, oh,
you wouldn't want to work with people younger than you.
You're so overqualified. Now this is probably she's probably my age,
and I was like, are you you know? What I
want to say is I'm too old, because it really
is this I'm too old. So there are many ways
to be told you're too old, and you've got to
(15:31):
find particularly if you really need to work. There's wanting
to work and needing to work, and that's very important
because needing to work, you need to maybe readjust and
tell me if what your demands and requirements are. It
may be that lesser's salary, it may be the you know,
just wanting to work because you want to be active
in doing things is a whole different ballgame. So there
(15:54):
are a lot of ways that you're turned down overqualify, fight.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Or whatever is one.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
And my friend last night said, AI is kind of
interfering with a lot of it now because now algorithms
are just disqualifying everybody. So what is a way to
if you're talking to someone who's maybe fifty and they
may have gone just gone through a divorce that's a
big one, or a loss of a spouse, how do
you read how do you take that person who may
(16:24):
be feeling emotionally frail but needs to work and wants
to work, how do you go about getting started putting
that first foot together in front of each other and
putting there with the package.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
Well, I think you know there's a lot to kind
of point to there. I think in general, you know,
the days, as you said, AI can sometimes and just
the way that recruiting and job search is done now,
so much is relying on technology and AI that's you know,
(16:57):
just canvases things. And it's unfortunate because although it may
be efficient, it leaves a lot of gems, as i'll
call it, out of the game from what you know,
not being discovered. So I really think obviously you have
to play that game if a company is using that
mechanism to apply and that's your path, because there are
(17:19):
many paths you can go for a traditional job. And
I know that a lot of people need that, they
need benefits, they need you know, the regular package that
a W two job affords. You know, I think you
have to play that game. But I also think you
have to be I remember when I started my career
and you know, coming out of college and they would
(17:40):
tell us things like, oh, you know the guy that
delivered his resume along with a pizza, you know, to somebody.
I think it really is going back to those type
of edgy, you know, bold fearless ways of connecting with people,
and some some times you can't. I'm going to be
(18:02):
straight like, sometimes you don't know who the hiring manager is.
Sometimes you don't know who's making the final decision. But
I also think that making the effort to do that
is going to set you apart and give you a
leg up. And this is what I tell people could
because I tell you know, young people that are working
(18:23):
for me, that are some are in college and they're
not going to stay with me forever. And then how
do you you know, develop that career people that I
encounter and clients, and you know, I want to switch jobs,
but how do I do that? I've been in this
industry for so long. You know, some of the best jobs,
(18:43):
most of the best jobs are never even listed. They're
never listed. So what does that mean? That means you
have to have a solid network, and you know, LinkedIn
is a great opportunity to look at and connect with
people and then also who you know, who do you
know and who do they know? And getting those connections
(19:05):
to be able to allow yourself to have the encounter
that takes you out of that technology loop, in that
big black hole where you're submitting a resume and waiting,
you know, or doing assessments and doing whatever it is
that they ask you to do, and then just waiting
and sometimes just get that email thank you for your interest.
(19:25):
But so I think that's an important point if you're
going to go to the W two route. But I
also think getting to know more people, putting yourself in groups,
meeting people you know, and having discussions about what people
do and with the mindset of openness to what could
(19:46):
provide income for me. Right, if it's a W two job,
you need okay, you need to be focused on that,
but there are other ways to start earning, particularly if
you're coming from a reset of maybe somebody who's divorced,
is coming back into the workforce, maybe changing industries, you know,
things like that. And I think being able to sell
(20:07):
yourself and repackage yourself on your streets requires more connection
that is more traditional. So whatever way you could do
that I think is really important.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
I really agree, And again you have to be ready
to do that. I mean, we moved. I've moved three
times in four years.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
So we sold our house in the Hudson Valley and
just liquidated in the middle of a pandemic. It was
a dream, but we did it just to get out
from debt and mortgage.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
I had a goal.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
I didn't want to rely on, you know, having to
work all the time. And I saw the writing on
the walls. As an only child with the mother who
health was declining, I saw that and it happened.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
And now we're in New Orleans.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
So you know my advice. I'm in a city where
I know people, but I don't know people. I leave
and throwing yourself out there. LinkedIn is a great way
to write people personally and say move to town. Work
you know, work in the similar business. Would love to meet.
Don't go asking for anything, go saying we just love
to meet more people and connect. Don't ever go in
(21:16):
and you know, of course, don't ever you know, ask
for picking the brain. I hate when people have to
pick my brain.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Yeah no, no, no, no no no no no no no.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
But you got to throw yourself out there.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
And because you're not going to if you're sitting home
just trolling the internet for indeed or something, you're not
going to go anywhere. You're going to go into the
as you said, the black hole of AI. You've got
to throw yourself out there. And people, actually I do
agree with you. People want to go back to actually
seeing people.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
Yeah. And the thing is too, it's like you mentioned,
you know, don't pick your brain pick say pick your
brain or whatever. Just meet people and being new to town whatever.
But also this is advice that I've given to people
coming out of college, like the best thing you can
do to build your network is reach out to people
to have commonalities. Maybe they went to the same college
(22:02):
issue right, Maybe they are in the same group as you.
Maybe they Okay, you're new to town, they live there,
they've been there, they know that. Really come from a
place of I'd love to interview you, find out what
your story is. People love to talk about their path
and that becomes a way to get to know someone.
(22:24):
And as they're getting you're getting to know them, they're
getting to know you because you're responding to them in
whatever you know format, whether you're meeting on zoom or
you're actually meeting up for coffee, or you run into
somebody and you're curious. That's another thing I think is important,
curious about who that person is, what they do, and
that opens up so much. But I want to go
(22:46):
back to a point we talked about earlier that you
brought up is being in the right mindset for that,
it's really important. It's being open right, and being open
to I think once you are deciding what you want
and you go out there with that embodying that, it's
amazing how many opportunities actually come your way. And some
(23:09):
could call it destiny come, some call it divine intervention.
Whatever you want to call it. It really is magical.
But it does involve your mindset first and then being
open and putting yourself out there in whatever way, shape
or form that it's so important.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
So you brought up something that I was smiling because
my mother taught me. She was a journalist and a
teacher and a connector and a volunteer fundraiser and knew
how to find money from everywhere. And she said her tactic,
which I have employed, is she interviews people.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
She interviews people for her column. So you know you
have a podcast. I have a podcast.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
It has introduced me and I'm sure you to so
many amazing people and open so many doors, maybe not financially,
but network wise where I can say I know, you know,
connecting and I think just saying I'd like to learn
more about you is so more important. Let me tell
you about me, because in letting people talk about them,
then they'll want to learn about you. But it does
(24:06):
bring me to something that is important, and you know,
everybody has so maniblocks. I've stumbled a few times and
had to work on it coming up with that very
personal presents elevator pitch about who you are. The Americans
in particular, I travel a lot overseas and you may too.
Americans always say what do you do? Europeans don't do that. Actually,
(24:29):
it's considered rude to do that.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
In Europe you ask anything about that, But we are
so direct here. The first what do you do?
Speaker 2 (24:36):
And that is such a loaded question. So let's talk
about that because it is going to come up.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
What do you do?
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Or what do you do for a living? What tell
me about you? And you can really knock it out
of the ballpark or not.
Speaker 4 (24:52):
I love that you brought this up, and this is
something that I think is so important and it has
become even more defined for me. You know, our society
in this country is based on what you do, and
that's part of people's identity and I think it really
trips people up because of that, and it actually robs
(25:14):
them a real connection with other people. Twenty You say
that Europeans say that's rude, because I get it, but
it's such a small part of who we are. And
this over emphasis on the doings, you know, and the
havings like what we have what we do is such
(25:38):
a is such a misstep in terms of not being
authentic because what we do is not who we are.
And I'm going to bring up somebody. She's a dear friend.
She's worked in an industry in a position for a
really long time, and she wants to step away, but
she feels so torn because she's like, I'm good at
(26:01):
what I do and she feels like if she leaves,
she loses that. And I said to her, why you're
good at what you do is who you are. It's
a part of you. So how do you connect to that.
It's really understanding who you are. And you brought up
earlier personal brand. Many people kind of shun that and think, well,
(26:23):
I don't have a business. What do you mean my
personal brand? Your brand is who you are, And unfortunately,
I think many people may have a little more work
to do because they don't know who they are right
and being able to really dig deep and be able
to do the work to understand what's important to you,
what makes you get up in the morning, what moves you,
(26:46):
what are you passionate about, and what do you stand for.
That's who we are in a much more powerful way
to connect with other people beyond what you do. So
my com and he actually been working also on even
just our brand and leaning into that because it's such
(27:07):
a expectation I guess, you know, like even what does
your company do, Well, this is what we do, but
here's what we believe. That's so much more powerful because
that talks about what the brand is about. And I
think it's the same for us as people. What do
we believe who we are? That gets to the authenticity.
(27:29):
It's not a elevator pitch, so to speak. It's a
personal brand statement or it's an identity statement, and I
think that's where we need to focus our energies on
figuring that out.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
I think it's really important because you don't want people
defining you. And I've bristled when people have introduced me
as a blogger. I mean bristled. But then you know,
if people are introducing you, you know that's like, yeah,
I have a blog. It's like you know, I have
a kitchen in a house. Yes, thing is if somebody
is defined introducing you that way to somebody, then you
(28:05):
better start working on your brand.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
And who you are, because you're who you're being perceived
as is may not be who you want to be.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
So you got to do some work on that area,
and that may be working with a coach or just
working through it. I actually went to an exercise with
a woman who was on my show. She, like everybody
I seem to interview, you know, had gone from corporate
into something else. And it was so interesting really as
she became she's become a lot of things, but at
the time she was coaching real estate executives to be
(28:35):
to redefine who they are, and she the takeaway from
it was, you're not a real estate salesperson or as
I tell my husband, you're not a wine writer.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
You you become a verb.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
So, you know, she had everybody turned their job and
their title, which is the least important thing, into a
verb or an adverb.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
You know.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
I help people find new homes, I help people navigate
what you're buying a house. Yes, I enjoy writing about
wine and inspiring people to go out and try something new.
It becomes something that is a connection versus a title,
which can kind of go fud. I always cringe and
people go, you know, with the proverbial what do you do? Oh,
(29:15):
my vice president of financial services x y Z Bank,
And I'm like, oh, you know, snork Sorry, but you
know it's like, okay, that sounds boring.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
Yes, yes, And you know the other thing too. I
think that it's important to remember is that not only
by figuring out who you are in that statement that
you make really defining that so that you don't get
labeled or you don't get pigeonholed, or you don't get
(29:48):
defined as you said, because what you've also touched on
with that is that when you say whatever, I'm a
real estate agent, you just put yourself in with all
the other thousands and hundreds of thousands real estate agents.
There's no differentiator. You've become a commodity and you made
yourself that by stating it that way. So that statement
(30:12):
of whatever it is I help people do or I mean,
one of my foundations is I believe in creating places
of belonging for everyone in all spaces. And that's part
of who I am, being a leader and training people
and getting companies to understand that and how to create
that great culture. That's a connection, as you said, and
(30:34):
it's not oh, I'm a training company, I'm a coach.
I'm a consult.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Because it's a million coaches, right exactly, exactly million.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
Writers too, And you could go on and on. You've
got to really create your niche.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
But also don't pigeonhole yourself and pent yourself into a
career corner because what you do. And I advised my
friend last night because she's just a cupcake business, but
she's amazing and loves music and she makes great video.
Speaker 3 (31:00):
I was, I'm like, man, if I had.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Your talent, I'd be out throwing myself out there creating
social media video content for all kinds of companies.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
Right, yes, yes, yes, you know you.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Got to feel if you got to keep refilling that cup,
you may have to refill it with different liquids.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
Well, and that's for sure. And like you said, I mean,
I think, as we've stated a couple of times, like
being open to that and really leaning into what you like,
what you're good at, what your strength starts. Funny, because
I had somebody on my show a couple of weeks ago,
and she's a young girl just starting her career and
she did not have a traditional, smooth, successful path in school.
(31:37):
A lot of people don't, right, it's not for them,
but she got through it. But because of that, she
never thought she'd really have a great, thriving career. And
then she was like, you know, I have to define
what I'm good at. And she defined that and it
was all the things that are so marketable. Right, She's
(31:58):
a problem solver. She likes to hell people like she
defined that all those things that helped her communicate that
of who she was and what she was going to
bring to the table. So I think for people who
are whether you're marketing yourselves for your own business, for
your own services, or for a career for a job,
(32:18):
that's also this piece is really important because it helps
you be able to say and speak to people from
a place of authenticity, and that comes through because it's
part of who you are and what you'll bring to
that engagement for that relationship.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
Exactly Maria. But of course then all both down to
that piece of paper, the resume.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
And there was a TV show, you know, I forgot
the name of it, but it's like somebody said, take
ten years off your resume, So what happens. What happens
is some of the best ten years of your life
happened twenty years ago.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:54):
Yeah, And I'm an example of that. I mean, I
had an amazing company but it's been closed for a
while and doing other amazing things, but some of the
most amazing things happened Ruman had that amazing company.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
A lot of people go through that.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
They ride these waves, they have a fall, they come
back up. How do you package that so people don't
start just counting backwards?
Speaker 4 (33:15):
Well, I think you know obviously being creative in how
you position yourself and how you position that experience that
you know, past quality success, however you want to call
it and bring that into the future, like that doesn't
go away, right, This is what I say. You might
(33:37):
have not you might not still have that company or
that position, but you have all the things that you
gained and learned through that that come with you. So
you probably have to find a way to let the
resume speak to that. Now, Listen, I believe this the
(34:02):
resume alone is not going to do right. Also, be
the connection, as we talked about, and you really presenting yourself.
There's lots of ways to do that these days, whether
or not you end up, you know, being able to
getting through that little bottleneck in that hole, Like there's
video things that you can send along with it with
(34:23):
a with an email, there is video message you can
send in LinkedIn and messaging. There's all different ways to
do that where you can just get beyond what's on
that piece of paper. But I also think a non
traditional email might be I mean, excuse me, resume may
be the answer. Or you know that statement at the
top that kind of summarizes everything and who you are
(34:46):
and all your experiences bring all of those successes and
all those accomplishments and all those gain skills and straints
in that statement, even if it was you know, twenty
years ago.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Well, chronology doesn't matter. And I truly believe for anyone
think you through, it's a statement, it's the executive summary.
I mean, when I was doing proposals, nobody read the proposal.
They just read the executive summary anyway. And you mentioned
a great point. These days we are very video focused
and clip focused and still looks focused.
Speaker 3 (35:18):
So if you can present yourself so that they.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Know that you're well presented speaking, you have a personality,
they can march you into a room that doesn't come
through in a resume.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
Nope, nope. And you know, it's interesting because I speak
with a lot of young people also, and I came
to understand that a lot of companies, you know, they
are doing the normal submit this application online and blah
blah blah, you don't go into the establishment and whatnot.
(35:51):
But then whether or not you get picked to move forward,
you know, who knows what that what that criteria is.
But then the second step is doing actually a video interview,
which was amazing to see that being done. And obviously
see that because I was helping somebody, you know, Okay,
(36:12):
they didn't have any experience in doing that, so how
do I do that? And the questions were the normal
things that you would get in an interview, you know,
and they were the normal things that from my position,
I was understanding what they wanted to see, you know,
and that person ended up getting the job. And what
was said to them is the minute we saw your video,
(36:35):
we said we want we need to get this guy
in here. And I thought, there it is. There's the
if you if you have a way that you can
be able to break through the paper and see they
can see you. They can see what you look like,
and they can see what you what you not looks like.
Oh my god, they look great and they're beautiful. We
(36:57):
have to hire the meaning how you present yourself, how
you're able to speak, how you can be friendly. You have,
you know, the all of the postures of politeness and
friendliness and warmth. And they see that. It's a it's
a game changer.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
I think I agree, and I'm a big believer.
Speaker 3 (37:17):
Even when, uh, you know, we all were from home.
I always look nice.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
I always dress the part because if I want to
go out, yeah, I want to look nice.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
You never know who you run into.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
That was a New York thing. I mean in New
Jersey you always were running into people. But I'm living
in New Orleans style. I mean, I love you guys,
but the slav bobbya here is amazing.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
What people wear.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
And everybody's bringing shorts and sandals, and you know, the
hair situation is a rough thing because of the humidity.
You got to work at a little bit harder in
some areas. But I think that it makes you feel
better and it makes you, as I say, camera and
presentation ready, because that could happen at a time. You
(37:56):
never know who you're going to meet.
Speaker 4 (37:58):
That's true on the street.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
Now, this is.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
Important also we should bring up, particularly since we just
finished this divisive political election, You've got to be very
careful what you post on social media these days because
people are watching.
Speaker 4 (38:10):
Yes, Yes, so.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Let's talk about that because I had to.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
You know, I'm very careful about my social media image.
I have pages, and i have personal and I'm very
very careful, as much as sometimes you want to go
down the ranting rabbit hole, but I have cautioned my
own husband about it because he was posting a lot
of political things. I said, You've got to be very
careful because people are watching, and those people could be
possible clients or employers or sources.
Speaker 4 (38:40):
Right. Yeah, I mean I think we are living in
a very tricky time, you know. I mean, let's just
say that. I think we can agree on that. And
I would also say that I think that a lot
of people have lost the understanding of well, going back
(39:00):
to what we have said, if you know who you are,
if you know who you are and you know I mean,
it seems so simple. If you know who you are
and you know what your values are, You're going to
stand strong in them, right, and that makes me different
than other people. So being thoughtful that we all don't
think the same, we all don't believe the same things,
(39:22):
we all do not place priority on the same things
as one another. And being thoughtful I think some people
feel and this is what I believe. You have to
be thoughtful about what you're putting out there. At the
same time, that doesn't mean that you can't take a
stand for what you believe in. But you have to
(39:45):
be thoughtful and you have to be empathetic to know.
This is a big world in a big country, and
not everybody thinks the same. So is there a way
to be able to be thoughtful and represent what you
believe in? Yes, But I think the big question is
(40:06):
are you feeding the divisiveness or are you helping to unify?
And a lot of people are conflicted about that. You
know they're not really sure. So I think the good
advice I would have is, if you don't know whether
what you're going to state, is you divisive or unified?
I think you have the answer of that. Shouldn't post it.
(40:28):
You can say that in your personal opinions and your
personal conversations. Personally, I have values that I believe in,
and there's people that I will do business with and
people that I won't. We all have that right, but
I think it's a tricky time because of social media.
That and because of the polarizing nature of where we
(40:50):
are right now. It's tricky. So yes, I think especially
younger people, well, not really younger people, that's a false statement.
People have to understand that social media is going to
tell your story, so be very thoughtful about the story
that you are letting it tell.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
I totally agree, and we overpost, we overshare, we share
too much of our lives, and we.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
Need to all pull back. I'm very careful.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
I have pages that stand for certain things, and I'm
very careful what I put on them because I consider
them my professional and I've actually pulled back alone on
my personal just because it was you know, you get
down that rabbit hole and frankly, I you know, I'd
like to have more me time with my husband and
not look over and we're both on our screens.
Speaker 3 (41:36):
It's a relationship thing too. You really have to change
your relationship with.
Speaker 2 (41:39):
Your phone, and if you really are actively looking to
change careers or in the job seeking world, you got
to be very careful about how you present yourself in
terms of images of yourself.
Speaker 3 (41:55):
Perfect examples. You may not want to be, you know,
holding a lot of cocktail.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
Every every holding a cocktail or in a bikini for
crying out loud.
Speaker 4 (42:03):
Yeah, that's a no no. I know we've kind of
lost the understanding of that, I think in our society
a bit. But yeah, I totally agree. I mean, I
also think, listen, one of the things that you know,
obviously I am on a mission to change is again
bucking the traditional norms and leading in a different way.
(42:24):
That does require me, and I'm proud of that to
stand up and take a stance that may be conflicting
with how other people might think something should be, but
again thoughtful, being thoughtful and being finding there's a way
to do that, finding a way to communicate it that
it's not provocative in like shocking, but makes you think
(42:49):
and is respectful. I think there's a way to do that.
Speaker 3 (42:52):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (42:53):
I'm curious, what are you passionate about right now? I mean,
we're all passionate about many things, but what are you
passionate about that you openly share?
Speaker 4 (43:01):
I openly share. You know, really, this is my program.
My mantra is rebel leadership. And what I say is
rebel leadership is bucking what we've done and really what
traditional business and corporations follow. Right now, there's so much
real proof and lived proof for me, not just in
(43:25):
my corporate life, but also helping my clients, helping companies.
Traditional leadership no longer works, and unfortunately, I think it's
a little bit of a difficulty because it's baked into
our economy and our corporate business and where we are
right now in what we prioritize. But you have so
(43:47):
many companies that struggle having people find a place to belong.
And if people don't feel like they belong, I mean,
I'm making this real sure, they're not going to give
the role, They're not going to give their role, and
they're not going to be loyal. So we have to
(44:09):
redefine what we do and bring humanity back to leading
people and creating teams where people feel like they have
a place where everybody is welcome and where everyone contributes
to the success. And that's my mission right now is
convincing and helping others see that that's also a better
(44:33):
way forward, not just for people, but for the economy,
for their business, for growth. And that's what gets me
up every day is communicating that and taking a stand
on that. I think we have to. What we're doing
is not really working well anymore.
Speaker 2 (44:51):
So, I really people feel, people feel dispensable, people feel
like they're just units.
Speaker 3 (44:57):
And everything's about the numbers.
Speaker 4 (44:59):
You know.
Speaker 3 (44:59):
Everybody looks the numbers, the numbers and protect with.
Speaker 2 (45:01):
Private equity buying into a lot of things right now.
You know, my main field is wine and food and hospitality,
and private equities come again and your numbers. And you
have a podcast, have a podcast, you go to sell sponsors, what.
Speaker 3 (45:14):
Are your numbers? They don't even ask you what your
show is about.
Speaker 2 (45:18):
Yes, they just want to know your numbers, which takes
you to social media and how to post without overposting.
Speaker 3 (45:24):
I completely agree with you.
Speaker 2 (45:25):
It was easy when I had a small company of
twenty because everybody had a role. But how do you
take that with your fortune five hundreds where it's like
five thousand people. How do you create productive teams within
a bigger entity?
Speaker 3 (45:41):
Is opportunity. It's a challenge and it's an opportunity.
Speaker 4 (45:44):
Yeah, yeah, And I mean the thing is is that. Listen,
you said it. I lived it. I had private equity
come in when I worked in a corporation. I've seen
it happen over and over. The consolidation. Listen, it is
what it is. The consolidation we have and the acquisitions
and the you know, the foundation of our economy and
our business system. It is all held to the shareholder.
(46:07):
And although you get that it it has created more harm.
It's short term ism. It's it's for right now, but
not realizing the long term impact of that. And you know,
to ask for people to be blindly loyal when they
understand that if you don't make your numbers, you're gone,
They're gone. It just doesn't make sense. And it just
(46:31):
doesn't make sense. So it's not you know, I always say, like,
how's that working out for you? You know what I mean? Like,
so I think and there is I do want to
comment on this. There is a small group of companies
that have realized that there are a small smaller I
should say group of companies small, medium and large that
have realized that this is this is what we need
(46:55):
to do and how we need to shift. But we're
at that like early adopter stage right, or we had
need get more companies, more CEOs, more leadership to understand
that and hopefully change that. You can still make money,
you can still make money, but you can also provide
(47:16):
a place where people feel like they're contributing, and there
they can give their loyalty to you because you're loyal
to that. And that's the bottom line.
Speaker 2 (47:28):
That's a great bottom line to end the conversation and
show it's so important. I mean, you've got to have
humanity as a leader. I mean, leaders have to see
the forests and the trees. It's tough being a leader
these days. But I think, as you said, and I
completely agree, the methodology and instructure has to change because
young people coming in are expecting it.
Speaker 3 (47:51):
So it's not even they're expecting it. They want that
quality of life.
Speaker 2 (47:55):
They saw their parents burn out, they saw their parents
lose their job.
Speaker 3 (48:00):
They want it.
Speaker 2 (48:00):
And you have to shift and adapt and and and yes,
it's like you throw yourself out there.
Speaker 3 (48:07):
The money will come.
Speaker 2 (48:07):
I mean you gotta you've gotta work hard to make
it and invest, but it can it.
Speaker 3 (48:11):
It will be better. Yeah, in the long run. Well,
congratulations on your success.
Speaker 2 (48:17):
How can my listeners, what's the best way for them
to find and follow you, Maria.
Speaker 4 (48:21):
They can find me on Instagram, the Maria d R
and also my website is mariadr dot com.
Speaker 3 (48:32):
Well, I love spots speaking with you. I love your name.
What is your heritage?
Speaker 4 (48:37):
So my heritage is Italian, so that's the Lorenzs and Reya's.
My husband is Dominican, so that is the Spanish.
Speaker 3 (48:45):
So yes, I bet you have some delicious meals.
Speaker 4 (48:48):
Oh yes, all about the food, food and culture.
Speaker 3 (48:52):
Absolutely well.
Speaker 2 (48:53):
Thank you so much for sharing your time with me
today on Fearless Fabulous Shoe Maria de Lorenz's.
Speaker 3 (49:00):
I love the name.
Speaker 4 (49:01):
Thank you, Melanie. I enjoyed our conversation so much. Thank
you so much for having me. It's been a pleasure, my.
Speaker 2 (49:07):
Pleasure, and for everyone listening. I hope you're inspired. I
hope you know that you can do what you put
your mind to. You just throw yourself out to the world.
And as always say, you have a choice on how
you choose to live your life, and I say, choose
fearless and fabulous always.
Speaker 3 (49:21):
Thank you
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We make no recommendations or endorsements for radio show programs, services,
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(00:20):
be directed to those show hosts. Thank you for choosing
W four WN Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Welcome to Fearless Fabulous You. I am your host, Melanie Young,
and I am so happy you join me. This is
the month of November twenty twenty four. It is a
national career development month which hits home to me for.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
A lot of reasons.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Last night, a very good friend came over, highly successful
and educated, and she's in a financial situation. Like many
women I know who, they need more money. I mean,
money's tight these days for a lot of people, even
if you're widely successful. She said, she's probably sent out
three dozen resumes and it's been crickets. And this is
(01:22):
someone with a master's degree in food management from the
culinary Institute of America. She has a business right now,
a cottage industry, but it is tough. What we're going
to talk about today is career development, but not starting out,
because most of us have started out. Many of us
(01:45):
are at the point where we're it is either starting over,
we just want to change. Maybe we are lost our jobs.
Maybe we feel we're aging out of her jobs and
when I mean aging out, you just don't want to
work those fifteen hour days on your feed and lug.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Maybe you're just tired of the industry you're working in.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
And maybe the industry you're working in is at that
point where AI is taking it over the media, or
it's just doesn't feel as relevant exciting to you personally.
You want to do something more meaningful, more impactful. Maybe
money isn't the issue. Maybe it's just being more purposeful
and impactful for the rest of your life. So we're
(02:24):
going to talk about these topics and how to reclaim, retool, repackage,
and represent yourself in a way that makes you still relevant, attractive,
and authentic and how you're doing it and authenticity is
super important. Joining me is Maria de lorenzs Reyis. She's
(02:47):
an executive leadership coach known for her unconventional I love
that unconventional approach to enhancing teams connectivity and performance. She
is founder and CEO of Training Innovations at MDR Brands.
And she's a certified personal Empowerment coach and has lots
of certifications and has a podcast called Finding the Upside
(03:11):
and a TV series. She's a seasoned speaker, And we're
going to talk about what really becomes rebuilding your brand
and who you are to make yourself attractive to people
who say I want this person to be in my orbit,
on my team.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
So Maria, welcome to Fearless Fabulous.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
You. Thank you so much for having me. I'm so
excited to chat with you today.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Well, this is a topic that really his home for
so many people I know who have come to me
and said I just can't continue doing what I'm doing,
or I just need to do something else, or you know,
the worst is when people tell you that maybe this
is your maybe you're overqualified. I gotta tell you, overqualified
means you're too old. That happened to me, This happened
(03:56):
to me several times. Let's talk about you. You actually
had a very long and successful career, and then something happened.
So let's talk about your backstory to connect with my listeners.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Yeah. So I started out my career. I worked in
New York City in media, actually in broadcast TV, but
the business side of broadcast TV, not the creative side,
selling ad time and running a research analysis really that
supported the broadcast sales team. And I did that for
(04:30):
many years, and then moved into more qualitative and quantitative
research and worked for the Nielsen Media Company and I
was there for ten years, and that was approaching twenty
years of my career, and I was in senior management,
and like so many people fifteen years ago, right at
(04:50):
the downturn of the economy, they were looking to as
corporate business does to cut costs, we were taken over
by private equity, and you know, the senior people were
the ones that were on the block. So I was
one of them. And at first, of course, the shock
and lack of preparedness for that, but really truthfully, I
(05:14):
had already been approaching that point where I felt like
I wasn't really aligned with what I was doing and
the culture that I was experiencing. So I quickly had
to turn to what am I going to do now,
and I had always had training was always a part
of my responsibilities. I got some, you know, gigs for
(05:38):
training at different corporations, just contract work, and then I
was like, I think this is what I'm going to do.
I think I am going to move forward and really
create a company, because I was already really doing that
in earning my own income on my own. Now, going
back a few years, I did say I think I
really called to myself to stay out of that role
(06:02):
because I think maybe three years before, four years before,
I was feeling the same things you expressed in your
opening that many people do. I'm working long hours, I'm
being asked to commit more and more and more. I'm
being challenged as a mother. Because I worked for this
company before I was married and before I had children,
(06:25):
you know that there was this aura that I was
not as committed and I was actually working harder and
harder and harder, and like everybody, you know, the compensation
was not flowing in the same high demand. So I
really had made a decision that I didn't want to
work that way anymore. And I also didn't want to
(06:46):
work for somebody else, So didn't really know how I
was going to do that truthfully, but started on the
path of trying to figure that out and then had
made a decision that I would leave, but they made
the decision for me. So in some ways it was
a blessing in disguise. But I'll be honest in your opening,
I heard you say people you know come to you
(07:09):
and say they hear they're overqualified. I did the normal
thing where I started applying for jobs. I was hearing
I was overqualified. I was being offered or positions that
were half of what I was making, you know. And
I lived in New Jersey commuting to New York, and
I'm like, I'm just not going to do that. I'm
not going to do that. So it really was a
(07:32):
time of reinvention, repurposing, repackaging. What do I have, what
are my strengths? Let me lean into that and figure
out how to move forward. So that's what I did.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
So did you have you had a mentor? I mean,
how did you?
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Cause this does not and let's talk about timing, because
this has not happen overnight.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
As we know, so let's kind of take us through.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
How long it took and who did you lean on
and who helped to along the way.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Well, it was interesting because, as I said, I had
decided that I was going to work on my own
at some point. So while I was still working at
the company trying to figure that out, I hired a
business coach. I had a plan of what I was
going to do, what industry I was going to go into.
Got myself some you know, development and education and that
(08:23):
because it was new to me. And then when I
lost my job, that was like, okay, it was real
estate and that wasn't you know. I wanted to own
properties and things like that. And I was like, okay,
so now I don't have the income to borrow money,
so I have to pivot again. And I really leaned
on him to help me redefine that. As I said,
(08:47):
I did have a business plan. He helped me write
a business plan, but we had to shift that and
then I had moved on to other business coaches that
were they became big men for me, really leaning into
follow the path, you know, follow decide what you want,
(09:08):
what do you want your life to be like, and
then be open to the opportunities that come your way
and what comes in your path. And really those training
gigs that I mentioned were really what helped me understand,
this is a strength I have, this is a path
I could go down, and I really could build a
foundation based on this and that person Really it was
(09:31):
really more the mindset of being open, you know, being
open and sometimes not knowing where something was going to go,
but trusting it and following that path and playing letting
it play out. And I think that's a really important thing.
Uh just nowadays, you know, I mean fifteen years ago
(09:53):
for me, but just that was a big shift for
me personally. That really helped to define my news success
and help me find my new success.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I think you brought up some really important points. Coaching
is great if you can afford it and invest in it.
It is Many of my very good friends and guests
on the show have invested in coaches to find that
new repurpose as I call it, and some have turned
into coaching as well. And it can be a very
successful but hard venture to be in because you have
(10:23):
to hustle. There are a lot of coaches out there hustling.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
You got to like the hustle.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
You know.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Last night when my friend came over, she's incredibly talented,
and I said, you know, you got to also find
what you're interested in and as I say, repackage your
talents to apply to industries that you may not think about.
And you said something really important. It's like you really
don't want to contain yourself. You got to throw yourself,
as you say, out to the world and think of
(10:50):
the possibility of can and yes and not know and
not possible.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
Yes. Yeah, you bring up such an important point about
you know, if you can't afford a coach, funding mentors
that help you stay in that space. I think is
important is to being open to possibility. And obviously you
mentioned my podcast. That's one of the things that I
thrive and really stand proud on that finding the upside
(11:16):
is always looking at situations and scenarios, changing circumstances with opportunity.
Finding the upside. It's a challenge sometimes, but there always is,
and there's always opportunity. It doesn't decrease or diminish the
struggle that somebody might be going through, but really trying
to shift and have that focus of being open and
(11:38):
looking for the opportunity and the possibility and knowing it's there.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
It's interesting, Maria.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
That's why I started fear Less Fabulous You because I
was at a point where I had been, you know,
like you let down, lost a lot of business through
the economic changes and other changes in a service industry
where you're only relevant based on who your clients are.
And then that bingo, I got breast cancer and my
dad died and I was shot down, and then I
(12:04):
found myself need to lift myself up, and I started
with the words be fearless and fabulous, and that kind
of followed me through with bookbook, book, and still guides
me when I don't and when I feel less than fabulous,
because there are days you don't feel so great and
you have to remind yourself, uh, you know for someone
who and really it does start with reminding yourself and
(12:26):
looking at yourself in the mirror.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
And saying, I am amazing.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
And you have to convince yourself because if you do
not do that, Yeah, you can't sell yourself.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Now, that's so true. And you know, I love that fearless,
sleep habulous, I mean because really I also think and
that the development of my own my own personal journey
of where I am being, you know, open, having that mindset,
being open to possibility and really leaning into the affirmations
(12:56):
or the practices or whatever it is that helps you
feed yourself, feed yourself and come from a place of strength.
Because listen, you know, twenty years ago was a disappointment.
But I've had a successful business for fifteen years. But
I'm sure like you, lots of twists and turns, lots
of changing circumstances, lots of economic things that have caused
(13:19):
me to have to pivot again, and I've been able
to do that. But it can wear you down. It
can wear down your own you know, mind of saying, oh,
you know, the self doubt creeps in and all those things.
So you really have to start every single day and
remind yourself and have a mechanism or a practice that
(13:42):
allows you to do that. Because I also believe that
these years are the best years of our lives right now,
you know, being you have the wisdom, you have the foundation,
you have lots of things from your path path that
you can pull forward, and I think that, you know,
(14:04):
there's a lot of power in that. It's just that
we have to be in a place that we are
able to feed ourselves and remind ourselves of that for sure.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Yeah, it's so true, Maria.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
You know, let's talk about the a game the a
let's start with a ageism. So I don't know how
old you are, but I'm older than everybody now, and
I just laugh about it because you know, I'm older
and everybody, but I'm forever young.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
As forever Mellenia, Melanie So and all my friends.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Are like, you know, celebrating birthdays that are so much
You're like, wow, I passed that mile a long time ago.
But you know, I did interview for jobs when I
first moved to the new land that I'm living in
in New Orleans because I had taken some time off
to care take a mother, and a lot of women
have are in that age and phase where they have
(14:56):
to do those things for their family and put career
or businesses on not the backs on the back burner,
but maybe over there. And I'll never forget I interviewed
with and I.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Don't need anybody I can.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
I'm perfectly comfortable right now doing whatever. And she said, oh,
you wouldn't want to work with people younger than you.
You're so overqualified. Now this is probably she's probably my age,
and I was like, are you you know? What I
want to say is I'm too old, because it really
is this I'm too old. So there are many ways
to be told you're too old, and you've got to
(15:31):
find particularly if you really need to work. There's wanting
to work and needing to work, and that's very important
because needing to work, you need to maybe readjust and
tell me if what your demands and requirements are. It
may be that lesser's salary, it may be the you know,
just wanting to work because you want to be active
in doing things is a whole different ballgame. So there
(15:54):
are a lot of ways that you're turned down overqualify, fight.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Or whatever is one.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
And my friend last night said, AI is kind of
interfering with a lot of it now because now algorithms
are just disqualifying everybody. So what is a way to
if you're talking to someone who's maybe fifty and they
may have gone just gone through a divorce that's a
big one, or a loss of a spouse, how do
you read how do you take that person who may
(16:24):
be feeling emotionally frail but needs to work and wants
to work, how do you go about getting started putting
that first foot together in front of each other and
putting there with the package.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
Well, I think you know there's a lot to kind
of point to there. I think in general, you know,
the days, as you said, AI can sometimes and just
the way that recruiting and job search is done now,
so much is relying on technology and AI that's you know,
(16:57):
just canvases things. And it's unfortunate because although it may
be efficient, it leaves a lot of gems, as i'll
call it, out of the game from what you know,
not being discovered. So I really think obviously you have
to play that game if a company is using that
mechanism to apply and that's your path, because there are
(17:19):
many paths you can go for a traditional job. And
I know that a lot of people need that, they
need benefits, they need you know, the regular package that
a W two job affords. You know, I think you
have to play that game. But I also think you
have to be I remember when I started my career
and you know, coming out of college and they would
(17:40):
tell us things like, oh, you know the guy that
delivered his resume along with a pizza, you know, to somebody.
I think it really is going back to those type
of edgy, you know, bold fearless ways of connecting with people,
and some some times you can't. I'm going to be
(18:02):
straight like, sometimes you don't know who the hiring manager is.
Sometimes you don't know who's making the final decision. But
I also think that making the effort to do that
is going to set you apart and give you a
leg up. And this is what I tell people could
because I tell you know, young people that are working
(18:23):
for me, that are some are in college and they're
not going to stay with me forever. And then how
do you you know, develop that career people that I
encounter and clients, and you know, I want to switch jobs,
but how do I do that? I've been in this
industry for so long. You know, some of the best jobs,
(18:43):
most of the best jobs are never even listed. They're
never listed. So what does that mean? That means you
have to have a solid network, and you know, LinkedIn
is a great opportunity to look at and connect with
people and then also who you know, who do you
know and who do they know? And getting those connections
(19:05):
to be able to allow yourself to have the encounter
that takes you out of that technology loop, in that
big black hole where you're submitting a resume and waiting,
you know, or doing assessments and doing whatever it is
that they ask you to do, and then just waiting
and sometimes just get that email thank you for your interest.
(19:25):
But so I think that's an important point if you're
going to go to the W two route. But I
also think getting to know more people, putting yourself in groups,
meeting people you know, and having discussions about what people
do and with the mindset of openness to what could
(19:46):
provide income for me. Right, if it's a W two job,
you need okay, you need to be focused on that,
but there are other ways to start earning, particularly if
you're coming from a reset of maybe somebody who's divorced,
is coming back into the workforce, maybe changing industries, you know,
things like that. And I think being able to sell
(20:07):
yourself and repackage yourself on your streets requires more connection
that is more traditional. So whatever way you could do
that I think is really important.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
I really agree, And again you have to be ready
to do that. I mean, we moved. I've moved three
times in four years.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
So we sold our house in the Hudson Valley and
just liquidated in the middle of a pandemic. It was
a dream, but we did it just to get out
from debt and mortgage.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
I had a goal.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
I didn't want to rely on, you know, having to
work all the time. And I saw the writing on
the walls. As an only child with the mother who
health was declining, I saw that and it happened.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
And now we're in New Orleans.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
So you know my advice. I'm in a city where
I know people, but I don't know people. I leave
and throwing yourself out there. LinkedIn is a great way
to write people personally and say move to town. Work
you know, work in the similar business. Would love to meet.
Don't go asking for anything, go saying we just love
to meet more people and connect. Don't ever go in
(21:16):
and you know, of course, don't ever you know, ask
for picking the brain. I hate when people have to
pick my brain.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Yeah no, no, no, no no no no no no no.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
But you got to throw yourself out there.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
And because you're not going to if you're sitting home
just trolling the internet for indeed or something, you're not
going to go anywhere. You're going to go into the
as you said, the black hole of AI. You've got
to throw yourself out there. And people, actually I do
agree with you. People want to go back to actually
seeing people.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
Yeah. And the thing is too, it's like you mentioned,
you know, don't pick your brain pick say pick your
brain or whatever. Just meet people and being new to town whatever.
But also this is advice that I've given to people
coming out of college, like the best thing you can
do to build your network is reach out to people
to have commonalities. Maybe they went to the same college
(22:02):
issue right, Maybe they are in the same group as you.
Maybe they Okay, you're new to town, they live there,
they've been there, they know that. Really come from a
place of I'd love to interview you, find out what
your story is. People love to talk about their path
and that becomes a way to get to know someone.
(22:24):
And as they're getting you're getting to know them, they're
getting to know you because you're responding to them in
whatever you know format, whether you're meeting on zoom or
you're actually meeting up for coffee, or you run into
somebody and you're curious. That's another thing I think is important,
curious about who that person is, what they do, and
that opens up so much. But I want to go
(22:46):
back to a point we talked about earlier that you
brought up is being in the right mindset for that,
it's really important. It's being open right, and being open
to I think once you are deciding what you want
and you go out there with that embodying that, it's
amazing how many opportunities actually come your way. And some
(23:09):
could call it destiny come, some call it divine intervention.
Whatever you want to call it. It really is magical.
But it does involve your mindset first and then being
open and putting yourself out there in whatever way, shape
or form that it's so important.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
So you brought up something that I was smiling because
my mother taught me. She was a journalist and a
teacher and a connector and a volunteer fundraiser and knew
how to find money from everywhere. And she said her tactic,
which I have employed, is she interviews people.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
She interviews people for her column. So you know you
have a podcast. I have a podcast.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
It has introduced me and I'm sure you to so
many amazing people and open so many doors, maybe not financially,
but network wise where I can say I know, you know,
connecting and I think just saying I'd like to learn
more about you is so more important. Let me tell
you about me, because in letting people talk about them,
then they'll want to learn about you. But it does
(24:06):
bring me to something that is important, and you know,
everybody has so maniblocks. I've stumbled a few times and
had to work on it coming up with that very
personal presents elevator pitch about who you are. The Americans
in particular, I travel a lot overseas and you may too.
Americans always say what do you do? Europeans don't do that. Actually,
(24:29):
it's considered rude to do that.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
In Europe you ask anything about that, But we are
so direct here. The first what do you do?
Speaker 2 (24:36):
And that is such a loaded question. So let's talk
about that because it is going to come up.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
What do you do?
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Or what do you do for a living? What tell
me about you? And you can really knock it out
of the ballpark or not.
Speaker 4 (24:52):
I love that you brought this up, and this is
something that I think is so important and it has
become even more defined for me. You know, our society
in this country is based on what you do, and
that's part of people's identity and I think it really
trips people up because of that, and it actually robs
(25:14):
them a real connection with other people. Twenty You say
that Europeans say that's rude, because I get it, but
it's such a small part of who we are. And
this over emphasis on the doings, you know, and the
havings like what we have what we do is such
(25:38):
a is such a misstep in terms of not being
authentic because what we do is not who we are.
And I'm going to bring up somebody. She's a dear friend.
She's worked in an industry in a position for a
really long time, and she wants to step away, but
she feels so torn because she's like, I'm good at
(26:01):
what I do and she feels like if she leaves,
she loses that. And I said to her, why you're
good at what you do is who you are. It's
a part of you. So how do you connect to that.
It's really understanding who you are. And you brought up
earlier personal brand. Many people kind of shun that and think, well,
(26:23):
I don't have a business. What do you mean my
personal brand? Your brand is who you are, And unfortunately,
I think many people may have a little more work
to do because they don't know who they are right
and being able to really dig deep and be able
to do the work to understand what's important to you,
what makes you get up in the morning, what moves you,
(26:46):
what are you passionate about, and what do you stand for.
That's who we are in a much more powerful way
to connect with other people beyond what you do. So
my com and he actually been working also on even
just our brand and leaning into that because it's such
(27:07):
a expectation I guess, you know, like even what does
your company do, Well, this is what we do, but
here's what we believe. That's so much more powerful because
that talks about what the brand is about. And I
think it's the same for us as people. What do
we believe who we are? That gets to the authenticity.
(27:29):
It's not a elevator pitch, so to speak. It's a
personal brand statement or it's an identity statement, and I
think that's where we need to focus our energies on
figuring that out.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
I think it's really important because you don't want people
defining you. And I've bristled when people have introduced me
as a blogger. I mean bristled. But then you know,
if people are introducing you, you know that's like, yeah,
I have a blog. It's like you know, I have
a kitchen in a house. Yes, thing is if somebody
is defined introducing you that way to somebody, then you
(28:05):
better start working on your brand.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
And who you are, because you're who you're being perceived
as is may not be who you want to be.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
So you got to do some work on that area,
and that may be working with a coach or just
working through it. I actually went to an exercise with
a woman who was on my show. She, like everybody
I seem to interview, you know, had gone from corporate
into something else. And it was so interesting really as
she became she's become a lot of things, but at
the time she was coaching real estate executives to be
(28:35):
to redefine who they are, and she the takeaway from
it was, you're not a real estate salesperson or as
I tell my husband, you're not a wine writer.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
You you become a verb.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
So, you know, she had everybody turned their job and
their title, which is the least important thing, into a
verb or an adverb.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
You know.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
I help people find new homes, I help people navigate
what you're buying a house. Yes, I enjoy writing about
wine and inspiring people to go out and try something new.
It becomes something that is a connection versus a title,
which can kind of go fud. I always cringe and
people go, you know, with the proverbial what do you do? Oh,
(29:15):
my vice president of financial services x y Z Bank,
And I'm like, oh, you know, snork Sorry, but you
know it's like, okay, that sounds boring.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
Yes, yes, And you know the other thing too. I
think that it's important to remember is that not only
by figuring out who you are in that statement that
you make really defining that so that you don't get
labeled or you don't get pigeonholed, or you don't get
(29:48):
defined as you said, because what you've also touched on
with that is that when you say whatever, I'm a
real estate agent, you just put yourself in with all
the other thousands and hundreds of thousands real estate agents.
There's no differentiator. You've become a commodity and you made
yourself that by stating it that way. So that statement
(30:12):
of whatever it is I help people do or I mean,
one of my foundations is I believe in creating places
of belonging for everyone in all spaces. And that's part
of who I am, being a leader and training people
and getting companies to understand that and how to create
that great culture. That's a connection, as you said, and
(30:34):
it's not oh, I'm a training company, I'm a coach.
I'm a consult.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Because it's a million coaches, right exactly, exactly million.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
Writers too, And you could go on and on. You've
got to really create your niche.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
But also don't pigeonhole yourself and pent yourself into a
career corner because what you do. And I advised my
friend last night because she's just a cupcake business, but
she's amazing and loves music and she makes great video.
Speaker 3 (31:00):
I was, I'm like, man, if I had.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Your talent, I'd be out throwing myself out there creating
social media video content for all kinds of companies.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
Right, yes, yes, yes, you know you.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Got to feel if you got to keep refilling that cup,
you may have to refill it with different liquids.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
Well, and that's for sure. And like you said, I mean,
I think, as we've stated a couple of times, like
being open to that and really leaning into what you like,
what you're good at, what your strength starts. Funny, because
I had somebody on my show a couple of weeks ago,
and she's a young girl just starting her career and
she did not have a traditional, smooth, successful path in school.
(31:37):
A lot of people don't, right, it's not for them,
but she got through it. But because of that, she
never thought she'd really have a great, thriving career. And
then she was like, you know, I have to define
what I'm good at. And she defined that and it
was all the things that are so marketable. Right, She's
(31:58):
a problem solver. She likes to hell people like she
defined that all those things that helped her communicate that
of who she was and what she was going to
bring to the table. So I think for people who
are whether you're marketing yourselves for your own business, for
your own services, or for a career for a job,
(32:18):
that's also this piece is really important because it helps
you be able to say and speak to people from
a place of authenticity, and that comes through because it's
part of who you are and what you'll bring to
that engagement for that relationship.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
Exactly Maria. But of course then all both down to
that piece of paper, the resume.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
And there was a TV show, you know, I forgot
the name of it, but it's like somebody said, take
ten years off your resume, So what happens. What happens
is some of the best ten years of your life
happened twenty years ago.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:54):
Yeah, And I'm an example of that. I mean, I
had an amazing company but it's been closed for a
while and doing other amazing things, but some of the
most amazing things happened Ruman had that amazing company.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
A lot of people go through that.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
They ride these waves, they have a fall, they come
back up. How do you package that so people don't
start just counting backwards?
Speaker 4 (33:15):
Well, I think you know obviously being creative in how
you position yourself and how you position that experience that
you know, past quality success, however you want to call
it and bring that into the future, like that doesn't
go away, right, This is what I say. You might
(33:37):
have not you might not still have that company or
that position, but you have all the things that you
gained and learned through that that come with you. So
you probably have to find a way to let the
resume speak to that. Now, Listen, I believe this the
(34:02):
resume alone is not going to do right. Also, be
the connection, as we talked about, and you really presenting yourself.
There's lots of ways to do that these days, whether
or not you end up, you know, being able to
getting through that little bottleneck in that hole, Like there's
video things that you can send along with it with
(34:23):
a with an email, there is video message you can
send in LinkedIn and messaging. There's all different ways to
do that where you can just get beyond what's on
that piece of paper. But I also think a non
traditional email might be I mean, excuse me, resume may
be the answer. Or you know that statement at the
top that kind of summarizes everything and who you are
(34:46):
and all your experiences bring all of those successes and
all those accomplishments and all those gain skills and straints
in that statement, even if it was you know, twenty
years ago.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Well, chronology doesn't matter. And I truly believe for anyone
think you through, it's a statement, it's the executive summary.
I mean, when I was doing proposals, nobody read the proposal.
They just read the executive summary anyway. And you mentioned
a great point. These days we are very video focused
and clip focused and still looks focused.
Speaker 3 (35:18):
So if you can present yourself so that they.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Know that you're well presented speaking, you have a personality,
they can march you into a room that doesn't come
through in a resume.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
Nope, nope. And you know, it's interesting because I speak
with a lot of young people also, and I came
to understand that a lot of companies, you know, they
are doing the normal submit this application online and blah
blah blah, you don't go into the establishment and whatnot.
(35:51):
But then whether or not you get picked to move forward,
you know, who knows what that what that criteria is.
But then the second step is doing actually a video interview,
which was amazing to see that being done. And obviously
see that because I was helping somebody, you know, Okay,
(36:12):
they didn't have any experience in doing that, so how
do I do that? And the questions were the normal
things that you would get in an interview, you know,
and they were the normal things that from my position,
I was understanding what they wanted to see, you know,
and that person ended up getting the job. And what
was said to them is the minute we saw your video,
(36:35):
we said we want we need to get this guy
in here. And I thought, there it is. There's the
if you if you have a way that you can
be able to break through the paper and see they
can see you. They can see what you look like,
and they can see what you what you not looks like.
Oh my god, they look great and they're beautiful. We
(36:57):
have to hire the meaning how you present yourself, how
you're able to speak, how you can be friendly. You have,
you know, the all of the postures of politeness and
friendliness and warmth. And they see that. It's a it's
a game changer.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
I think I agree, and I'm a big believer.
Speaker 3 (37:17):
Even when, uh, you know, we all were from home.
I always look nice.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
I always dress the part because if I want to
go out, yeah, I want to look nice.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
You never know who you run into.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
That was a New York thing. I mean in New
Jersey you always were running into people. But I'm living
in New Orleans style. I mean, I love you guys,
but the slav bobbya here is amazing.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
What people wear.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
And everybody's bringing shorts and sandals, and you know, the
hair situation is a rough thing because of the humidity.
You got to work at a little bit harder in
some areas. But I think that it makes you feel
better and it makes you, as I say, camera and
presentation ready, because that could happen at a time. You
(37:56):
never know who you're going to meet.
Speaker 4 (37:58):
That's true on the street.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
Now, this is.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
Important also we should bring up, particularly since we just
finished this divisive political election, You've got to be very
careful what you post on social media these days because
people are watching.
Speaker 4 (38:10):
Yes, Yes, so.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Let's talk about that because I had to.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
You know, I'm very careful about my social media image.
I have pages, and i have personal and I'm very
very careful, as much as sometimes you want to go
down the ranting rabbit hole, but I have cautioned my
own husband about it because he was posting a lot
of political things. I said, You've got to be very
careful because people are watching, and those people could be
possible clients or employers or sources.
Speaker 4 (38:40):
Right. Yeah, I mean I think we are living in
a very tricky time, you know. I mean, let's just
say that. I think we can agree on that. And
I would also say that I think that a lot
of people have lost the understanding of well, going back
(39:00):
to what we have said, if you know who you are,
if you know who you are and you know I mean,
it seems so simple. If you know who you are
and you know what your values are, You're going to
stand strong in them, right, and that makes me different
than other people. So being thoughtful that we all don't
think the same, we all don't believe the same things,
(39:22):
we all do not place priority on the same things
as one another. And being thoughtful I think some people
feel and this is what I believe. You have to
be thoughtful about what you're putting out there. At the
same time, that doesn't mean that you can't take a
stand for what you believe in. But you have to
(39:45):
be thoughtful and you have to be empathetic to know.
This is a big world in a big country, and
not everybody thinks the same. So is there a way
to be able to be thoughtful and represent what you
believe in? Yes, But I think the big question is
(40:06):
are you feeding the divisiveness or are you helping to unify?
And a lot of people are conflicted about that. You
know they're not really sure. So I think the good
advice I would have is, if you don't know whether
what you're going to state, is you divisive or unified?
I think you have the answer of that. Shouldn't post it.
(40:28):
You can say that in your personal opinions and your
personal conversations. Personally, I have values that I believe in,
and there's people that I will do business with and
people that I won't. We all have that right, but
I think it's a tricky time because of social media.
That and because of the polarizing nature of where we
(40:50):
are right now. It's tricky. So yes, I think especially
younger people, well, not really younger people, that's a false statement.
People have to understand that social media is going to
tell your story, so be very thoughtful about the story
that you are letting it tell.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
I totally agree, and we overpost, we overshare, we share
too much of our lives, and we.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
Need to all pull back. I'm very careful.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
I have pages that stand for certain things, and I'm
very careful what I put on them because I consider
them my professional and I've actually pulled back alone on
my personal just because it was you know, you get
down that rabbit hole and frankly, I you know, I'd
like to have more me time with my husband and
not look over and we're both on our screens.
Speaker 3 (41:36):
It's a relationship thing too. You really have to change
your relationship with.
Speaker 2 (41:39):
Your phone, and if you really are actively looking to
change careers or in the job seeking world, you got
to be very careful about how you present yourself in
terms of images of yourself.
Speaker 3 (41:55):
Perfect examples. You may not want to be, you know,
holding a lot of cocktail.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
Every every holding a cocktail or in a bikini for
crying out loud.
Speaker 4 (42:03):
Yeah, that's a no no. I know we've kind of
lost the understanding of that, I think in our society
a bit. But yeah, I totally agree. I mean, I
also think, listen, one of the things that you know,
obviously I am on a mission to change is again
bucking the traditional norms and leading in a different way.
(42:24):
That does require me, and I'm proud of that to
stand up and take a stance that may be conflicting
with how other people might think something should be, but
again thoughtful, being thoughtful and being finding there's a way
to do that, finding a way to communicate it that
it's not provocative in like shocking, but makes you think
(42:49):
and is respectful. I think there's a way to do that.
Speaker 3 (42:52):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (42:53):
I'm curious, what are you passionate about right now? I mean,
we're all passionate about many things, but what are you
passionate about that you openly share?
Speaker 4 (43:01):
I openly share. You know, really, this is my program.
My mantra is rebel leadership. And what I say is
rebel leadership is bucking what we've done and really what
traditional business and corporations follow. Right now, there's so much
real proof and lived proof for me, not just in
(43:25):
my corporate life, but also helping my clients, helping companies.
Traditional leadership no longer works, and unfortunately, I think it's
a little bit of a difficulty because it's baked into
our economy and our corporate business and where we are
right now in what we prioritize. But you have so
(43:47):
many companies that struggle having people find a place to belong.
And if people don't feel like they belong, I mean,
I'm making this real sure, they're not going to give
the role, They're not going to give their role, and
they're not going to be loyal. So we have to
(44:09):
redefine what we do and bring humanity back to leading
people and creating teams where people feel like they have
a place where everybody is welcome and where everyone contributes
to the success. And that's my mission right now is
convincing and helping others see that that's also a better
(44:33):
way forward, not just for people, but for the economy,
for their business, for growth. And that's what gets me
up every day is communicating that and taking a stand
on that. I think we have to. What we're doing
is not really working well anymore.
Speaker 2 (44:51):
So, I really people feel, people feel dispensable, people feel
like they're just units.
Speaker 3 (44:57):
And everything's about the numbers.
Speaker 4 (44:59):
You know.
Speaker 3 (44:59):
Everybody looks the numbers, the numbers and protect with.
Speaker 2 (45:01):
Private equity buying into a lot of things right now.
You know, my main field is wine and food and hospitality,
and private equities come again and your numbers. And you
have a podcast, have a podcast, you go to sell sponsors, what.
Speaker 3 (45:14):
Are your numbers? They don't even ask you what your
show is about.
Speaker 2 (45:18):
Yes, they just want to know your numbers, which takes
you to social media and how to post without overposting.
Speaker 3 (45:24):
I completely agree with you.
Speaker 2 (45:25):
It was easy when I had a small company of
twenty because everybody had a role. But how do you
take that with your fortune five hundreds where it's like
five thousand people. How do you create productive teams within
a bigger entity?
Speaker 3 (45:41):
Is opportunity. It's a challenge and it's an opportunity.
Speaker 4 (45:44):
Yeah, yeah, And I mean the thing is is that. Listen,
you said it. I lived it. I had private equity
come in when I worked in a corporation. I've seen
it happen over and over. The consolidation. Listen, it is
what it is. The consolidation we have and the acquisitions
and the you know, the foundation of our economy and
our business system. It is all held to the shareholder.
(46:07):
And although you get that it it has created more harm.
It's short term ism. It's it's for right now, but
not realizing the long term impact of that. And you know,
to ask for people to be blindly loyal when they
understand that if you don't make your numbers, you're gone,
They're gone. It just doesn't make sense. And it just
(46:31):
doesn't make sense. So it's not you know, I always say, like,
how's that working out for you? You know what I mean? Like,
so I think and there is I do want to
comment on this. There is a small group of companies
that have realized that there are a small smaller I
should say group of companies small, medium and large that
have realized that this is this is what we need
(46:55):
to do and how we need to shift. But we're
at that like early adopter stage right, or we had
need get more companies, more CEOs, more leadership to understand
that and hopefully change that. You can still make money,
you can still make money, but you can also provide
(47:16):
a place where people feel like they're contributing, and there
they can give their loyalty to you because you're loyal
to that. And that's the bottom line.
Speaker 2 (47:28):
That's a great bottom line to end the conversation and
show it's so important. I mean, you've got to have
humanity as a leader. I mean, leaders have to see
the forests and the trees. It's tough being a leader
these days. But I think, as you said, and I
completely agree, the methodology and instructure has to change because
young people coming in are expecting it.
Speaker 3 (47:51):
So it's not even they're expecting it. They want that
quality of life.
Speaker 2 (47:55):
They saw their parents burn out, they saw their parents
lose their job.
Speaker 3 (48:00):
They want it.
Speaker 2 (48:00):
And you have to shift and adapt and and and yes,
it's like you throw yourself out there.
Speaker 3 (48:07):
The money will come.
Speaker 2 (48:07):
I mean you gotta you've gotta work hard to make
it and invest, but it can it.
Speaker 3 (48:11):
It will be better. Yeah, in the long run. Well,
congratulations on your success.
Speaker 2 (48:17):
How can my listeners, what's the best way for them
to find and follow you, Maria.
Speaker 4 (48:21):
They can find me on Instagram, the Maria d R
and also my website is mariadr dot com.
Speaker 3 (48:32):
Well, I love spots speaking with you. I love your name.
What is your heritage?
Speaker 4 (48:37):
So my heritage is Italian, so that's the Lorenzs and Reya's.
My husband is Dominican, so that is the Spanish.
Speaker 3 (48:45):
So yes, I bet you have some delicious meals.
Speaker 4 (48:48):
Oh yes, all about the food, food and culture.
Speaker 3 (48:52):
Absolutely well.
Speaker 2 (48:53):
Thank you so much for sharing your time with me
today on Fearless Fabulous Shoe Maria de Lorenz's.
Speaker 3 (49:00):
I love the name.
Speaker 4 (49:01):
Thank you, Melanie. I enjoyed our conversation so much. Thank
you so much for having me. It's been a pleasure, my.
Speaker 2 (49:07):
Pleasure, and for everyone listening. I hope you're inspired. I
hope you know that you can do what you put
your mind to. You just throw yourself out to the world.
And as always say, you have a choice on how
you choose to live your life, and I say, choose
fearless and fabulous always.
Speaker 3 (49:21):
Thank you
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