#20: Tom McManimon - Life Lessons from a Reluctant Entrepreneur
Insight at Work with Ken Blackwell
Release Date: 08/16/2021
#38: Valerie Hope - Creating Work Culture through Curiosity, Connection and Centeredness
Insight at Work with Ken Blackwell
IN THIS EPISODE: We’re going to start 2023 with Hope, specifically Valerie Hope. Valerie brings a truly global approach to leadership and building diverse, inclusive and equal work cultures. For Valerie it starts with curiosity and she shares how her early life as a self-proclaimed “military brat” and global traveller taught her the skills she now. shares with her clients. The conversation is wide ranging just like her perspectives and has a little something for everyone. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Being a curious and creative learner has set Valerie Hope apart as an accomplished leadership coach...
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#37: Insight Bite - Embracing the Darkness
Insight at Work with Ken Blackwell
Today is the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year. Today is also a turning point. In this short "Insight Bite" episode, Ken shares a thought for using these dark hours to begin a transformation that will spark our growth in the year to come.
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#36: Insight Bite - Gratitude
Insight at Work with Ken Blackwell
IN THIS EPISODE: In the US, it’s the time of the year when we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday and are grateful for the many blessings of the past year. Ken suggests a particular focus for this year’s reflections in this short, “Insight Bite” episode. INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at You can also connect with him on Twitter: and on Instagram: ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His focus is on creating a more human workplace. His firm...
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#35: Tara Nolan - Building a plan for post-work
Insight at Work with Ken Blackwell
N THIS EPISODE: On the podcast, we tend to focus on our present-day goals for work, but what about our goals for post-work? What kind of life do we want to live after we leave the workplace? Today’s guest, Tara Nolan, builds on her background as a pilot and logistics officer for the US Air Force to help people see the whole picture of both their work, and post-work, lives and build a financial plan that makes sense. The key is “understanding the mission” and putting goals ahead of tools. While the topic is money, there’s also some great insights about problem-solving, connecting and...
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#34: Tim Mousseau - Beyond Psychological Safety
Insight at Work with Ken Blackwell
IN THIS EPISODE: Many of us are aware of Google’s Project Aristotle which discovered a key characteristic of high performing teams was a climate of “psychological safety” - that team members could speak up and share opinions without fear of any kind of reprisal or repercussion. Neuroscience backs this up - we do our best thinking when we feel safe and are working in an environment of trust. But feeling safe goes beyond just the ability to express thoughts and opinions, it extends to other aspects of our lives such as culture and identity. Today’s guest, Tim Mousseau, has...
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#33: Cait Donovan - Burnout, Boundaries and Resentments
Insight at Work with Ken Blackwell
N THIS EPISODE: We often think about burnout from an overwhelmed, overworked, and stressed out perspective. Today’s guest, Cait Donovan, suggests we also look at another source - boundaries, and the resentments caused when those boundaries are violated. She walks us through her own journey of burnout and boundaries and shares helpful lessons for all of us to have more resilient, balanced and healthy lives. Our conversation also touches on some eastern philosophy and neuroscience and how they impact our experience and responses to burnout. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Cait Donovan is one of New York...
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#32: Mackey McNeil - The 3 Freedoms of Prosperity
Insight at Work with Ken Blackwell
IN THIS EPISODE: For many, the topic of finances can feel confining and burdensome, certainly not freeing and uplifting. Today’s guest, Mackey McNeil, helps us break through some of the limiting thoughts about finances that can hold us back and limit our ability to not only become more prosperous but get more enjoyment out of life. Mackey will share how to achieve success and abundance utilizing the 3 Freedoms of Prosperity: Money freedom, Time Freedom, and Freedom from Worry. She is the author of several award-winning books, including “The Intersection of Joy and Money” and “The...
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#31: Deb Lewis - Friend instead of Foe? Using Stress to your Advantage.
Insight at Work with Ken Blackwell
N THIS EPISODE: Can we make stress a friend, or at least keep it from being a foe or an enemy? Today’s guest, Deb Lewis would like to challenge our thinking about stress and encourage us to look at it from a different perspective. Deb is no stranger to stress. As one of the first female candidates to graduate from West Point and then as a leader in combat, Deb understands the impact of stress on performance. In this episode, she shares her experiences, perspective, and several tools so we can pivot and instead of being crushed by stress, we can actually use it to our advantage. ABOUT...
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#30: Kori Reed - Is “Me Too” backfiring?
Insight at Work with Ken Blackwell
N THIS EPISODE: While “Me Too” and other movements had done tremendous good in amplifying the stories and voices of women who have not been treated fairly in the workplace, there may be a hidden cost. Researcher Kori Reed explores gender equality in the workplace and as she surveyed male leaders across the country she began to notice a trend. Many men, while wanting an inclusive workplace culture where men and women can both thrive, were nonetheless so uncertain about crossing the line from an innocent comment to a harassment complaint that they would avoid any conversation on gender...
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#29: Carl Seidman - Retire at 32? Diversify your life!
Insight at Work with Ken Blackwell
IN THIS EPISODE: Almost all of us see the wisdom in having a diversified financial portfolio, it’s smart investing not to have all your eggs in one basket. But what about the portfolio of our lives? Rarely do we think about the value in diversifying our lives and careers - not only to minimize risk, but also to create opportunities. The upside potential isn’t just monetary, there are mental wellness and life experience benefits as well. Today’s guest Carl Seidman applied his financial acumen to his career and began diversifying his life by retiring at age 32! There’s more to the story...
info_outlineIN THIS EPISODE:
When I came up for the title for the “Insight at Work” podcast I had two ideas in mind:
1) That we would be able to explore various insights about work and the ways in which people approach problems and challenges in the workplace.
- and -
2) To also examine how insight might be at work within us. To explore how we approach living and working and the personal decisions that we make throughout this journey we call Life.
Today's episode is in that second category.
My guest Tom McManimon had a life that was on a particular trajectory. And then a series of events from 9/11 to losing his job, and a life threatening medical emergency, led him to reassess his life, his priorities and the direction of his career.
Tom talks frankly and straightforwardly about his experiences and sometimes in stark detail. That might bother some but I think it gives a visceral realness and impact to his story.
It's a very candid conversation about true work-life balance: about what's important in life, how to maintain perspective and one's belief in oneself. And the important need for the time and space to be able to make the decisions that are right for us. It demonstrates that for all our planning and all our intentions, sometimes life pushes us onto a new path.
Tom has had an incredible journey. And is incredibly gracious in sharing it with us. I think you're going to get a lot out of this conversation, perhaps you'll even stop for a moment and think about your life's journey with some new insight.
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Tom is an award-winning art director/creative director, writer, positioning strategist, musician, and veteran creative director. Tom has led award-winning statewide and national campaigns, created re-branding efforts for large multi-national companies, and led countless company start-ups to ongoing success. His work has been recognized with CLIO, ANDY,TELLY, PRINT Magazine, and various Advertising and Design show awards.
Tom is a nationally recognized branding expert whose background reflects extensive experience in strategic brand identity, project management and creative development across b-to-b and consumer marketing landscapes. He brings experience and skill across all media including Logo & Identity, Print and Broadcast Advertising, Display, Collateral Design, Direct Mail and Web, Digital & Interactive Development.
Tom has managed creative campaign development, talent, photo shoots, web, TV film & video productions of all size and scope —supporting the marketing and branding needs of Philadelphia Insurance Companies, Prudential Mortgage Capital Company, Brown & Brown, The US Department of Agriculture, Talksoft, Inc., American Reinsurance, Westinghouse, Cushman & Wakefield, StewartXerox, and many other B2B and Professional services companies in Education, Financial Services, Science &Technology, Law Firms, Healthcare, and more.
Tom's current gig splits time between running STIMULUSBRAND COMMUNICATIONS, the branding and advertising firm he founded in 2002 and speaking appearances. "My agency reflects my passion. It's in my DNA. My speaking is about changing the way people think, feel and act in ways that can change their lives."
Tom McManimon (TMac) is a published author and professional speaker delivering keynotes and professional presentations to companies and business organizations. Recent talks were titled: "The Position Player" and "To rebrand or not to rebrand. How to know." He recently published two books: one on personal branding (The Stuff That Sticks) and Brand Positioning, (The Position Player), both available on Amazon.com. Tom's also delivers motivational talks entitled: Winning Through Crisis, Addiction: Going To The Well, and On Purpose.
SHOW NOTES:
To connect with Tom visit him on the web: www.StimulusBrand.com and www.TMacSpeaks.com
INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC:
Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_
ABOUT THE HOST:
Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His signature practice is "rescuing Accidental Leaders and Dysfunctional Teams". His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/.