Award Maven’s Post

Design a President's Club trip that drives revenue in FY25. As revenue leaders and their RevOps teams prepare to launch their commission plans and incentive schemes for the upcoming financial year, many will also be launching a new President's Club trip to reward top performers. These trips can easily become a reactive 'thanks' for work that would have happened anyway, or they can really motivate and inspire your top performers to go further, your middle performers to accelerate, and even your lower performers to get their head in the game. So how do you design a President's Club trip that drives revenue? Check out this guide where I break it down: https://lnkd.in/eNcs434X

Take the time to do something good for yourself and an industry peer. Nominate a colleague for the Excellence Awards through ASTRA Yes, you feel good writing a recommendation for someone who you think is awesome AND someone else gets to be told that they are Excellent! See how that’s a double win?!?! Nominations are due today! Nomination Categories: Manufacturer of the Year Retailer of the Year Sales Rep of the Year Young Professional/Rising Star of the Year How To Nominate: Send your nominations to Sue Warfield at swarfield@astratoy.org Include the following: Full Name of Business(or individual and the company they are with, if for the Young Professions\Rising Star Award). What award you are nominating them for? Specific reasons, examples of how they meet the criteria, and why they should be considered for the award. Examples and specifics make a difference in determining the winner. https://lnkd.in/eZAiJAGA

Team! It’s Friyeay and that means WINs! It’s been QUITE the week of successes of WINners, OMG. There’s a whole list of reasons for raising my glass, and let me lift out one in particular. This WINner has been in the program for a few weeks and is truly, truly taking up space now. In her own words: “I am now consciously trying in everything I do to stop thinking/caring about what other people think of me. This has been a game changer. I now ask all the questions I have in meetings not worrying if I may sound smart or stupid; I take up all the space I deserve during client discussions no matter if there are more senior people present. And the list goes on... Immediate result: It makes me feel free, confident and like I can take on the world. Plus, in the past 2 weeks, I had two partners telling me how impressed they were about my performance during client meetings.” Yes, baby! Another result she reported, was that she has changed her thinking about a promotion she was before unwilling to entertain, as the previous person left due to burnout and she - sensibly - decided she didn’t want to experience the same. However, learning to set boundaries and asking for support and resources means that she had a conversation with the person who that role reports into. Again, quoting her message: “ […] he stated: (i) he fully supports my promotion and we will start setting up a plan to get the necessary people on board to get my promotion through in the next promotion cycle (as the current one is already "closed"); (ii) he stated that he sees me as the person that should take over the role going forward which is why he has now invited me to the leadership meetings to increase my visibility, (iii) he ensured me that there is no doubt that he will provide me with the maximum bonus that is possible this year (we have fixed maximum bonus bands per rank), as I have kicked-it out of the park. Looking forward to what the future may hold... :)” This is what I want for all my WINners. To move through the world taking up the space they deserve, and that the world deserves of them, and getting the recognition for it. People, taking it from someone who has seen this happen 600+ times now, up close and personal: the mindset shifts precede the results. And when they do…. oh la la! CHEERS! To you, S., to all the other WINners and to all others outside of our community who are making badass strides!

Fierce Friday Idea: Reconnect with Your Sponsors Yesterday I moderated a panel of exceptional c-suite leaders Jacqueline Ardrey Blasine Penkowski Liesl Schmidt, NACD.DC, CTP Amanda Blevins. It was one of the most popular HerCsuite® programs. Attendees were engaging and following up with one another after the event. 3 Key Takeaways: 1. A sponsor can influence your career trajectory and offer critical support during transitions. 2. Networking, both within and outside of one's organization, is essential for career success. 3. Mentorship and sponsorship serve different but complementary roles in professional development. Favorite Quotes: "Reaching out to past sponsors is a vital part of career growth. It’'s not just about maintaining those connections, but also recognizing the evolving journey we share. They've been integral to my story, and revisiting that shared history can often open new doors and perspectives." - Jacqueline Ardrey "Luck is being ready when the opportunity is there and taking it. I would encourage you as a young person, to take the opportunity and reach out to a Sponsor." - Blasine Penkowski "Sponsorship doesn't only help within the company at a single point in time. It can also extend across different stages of your career and across various organizations. It's about building that network of people who can support you wherever your career journey takes you." Amanda Blevins "Building that network within the industry and outside of your organization is also critical. Sometimes we get comfortable in an organization and we don't push ourselves or challenge ourselves to look beyond that." Liesl Schmidt, NACD.DC, CTP Having Blasine Penkowski as a speaker was especially meaningful to me personally. Years ago, I benefited from her executive sponsorship advice. Blasine was on my first personal advisory board and helped me navigate business decisions. It has been incredible knowing her all these years and am so very grateful having her speak yesterday! A big thanks to each speaker, you each made an impact for our attendees. If you attended this event, share below what you learned and/or actions you plan to take. #executivesponsorship #event #ceomindset #leadership #sponsee #mentor

We're thrilled to introduce another of our Leadership Committee superstars, Joe Thomas, ACP, MAAP!!! AND since it's Friday we're releasing this one early because we all know work stops at 12 on Fridays --- wait 👀 did we just say that!?!?!?!? 😂 🌟 Position: ACPN Leadership Committee Member 🛠 Skills: Networking, Sarcasm, Inappropriate Comments, VCdb Query Master 📅 Seasons with ACPN: 3 Anyone who has met Joe knows he can not be summed up into a paragraph so you are getting some eclectic facts about him (from him): 🔸 My life has been split living in the Toledo, OH area (mostly in Michigan) and the Atlanta Metro area 🔸 I love sci-fi adventure, all of it! Star Trek, Star Wars, Firefly, Battlestar Galactic, and if you have a favorite I would love to hear!! 🔸 I love the heat and hate the cold 🔸 I imported a JDM commercial truck from Japan a couple years ago and it's a blast to drive. 🔸 I go to Disney World 🏰 ✨ entirely too much, but I love it! 🍻 🌎 🔸 I once had a 🐿️ as a pet. 🔸 I "fell" into catalog 9 years ago with an unsolicited message on LinkedIn from Jeffery Chalfin and this is a story I love to tell! 1️⃣ Why I joined the aftermarket? -- I needed a day job when I was 18 to supplement my evening job as a pizza 🍕 delivery driver. I saw a now hiring sign at a small shop while I was out delivering pizza and swung in the next day to apply. Started off busting tires and changing oil. Probably one of the best decisions I every made in my life. 2️⃣ Why I stay in the aftermarket? -- I found my passion and my people in this industry. The Aftermarket just feels like home; yes, our aftermarket family is a little crazy, very diverse opinions, and even a little irritating at times but I can think of no better place I want to spend the rest of my career. The people, the passion, and the tenacity of this industry is what keeps me motivated to not only stay but to contribute to its betterment where I can. 3️⃣ ONE word the committee might use to describe me? -- "Eclectic" - I am uniquely me and always trying to glean the best parts of my experiences. I had a feral childhood in the 80's, experienced the dawn of personal computing in the 90's, and the mobile devise revolution in the 2000's. 4️⃣ Joe we asked Sam Russo, MSIT, ACP 🏎️💨 if this word was appropriate and she had a not appropriate for LinkedIn response -- "Eclectic lolol...I would say that's a fancy word for Joe. We all know Joe brings a TON of VALUE to the industry and that value comes out in unexpected different ways. Having managed Joe for a year, and been Joe's friend for going on 7 years, I would say Joe is not everyone's cup-of-tea. He doesn't play the politics of corporate norms, so don't try to put him in a box. He's more passionate about this industry than anyone I know, and he will do it with a smile on his face and Loki ears on his head!" #ACPNLeadership #TeamSpotlight #DisneyAdult

🌟 Reflecting on an Incredible Year as Club Growth Director of District 125!🌟 This past year has been a remarkable journey as the Club Growth Director of District 125. I am thrilled to share that we have successfully chartered 22 new clubs, driving our district to achieve Smedley Distinguished status with an impressive 8% growth in clubs and a 12% increase in membership payments. A unique highlight of this year was the incredible accomplishment of starting four new clubs within a single organization. Through this journey, I have developed and honed several critical skills that have been instrumental to our success: 1. Strategic Thinking and Planning: Crafting and executing a robust growth strategy to expand our district's presence has been crucial. This involved detailed market analysis and setting clear, achievable goals to guide our efforts. 2. Achieving Targets: Consistently meeting and surpassing our ambitious goals required a focused approach and relentless drive. Celebrating small wins along the way helped maintain momentum and morale within the team. 3. Creative Thinking: Innovating and adapting strategies to ensure continuous growth and overcome challenges were essential. We implemented unique solutions tailored to specific club needs, which significantly contributed to our success. 4. Team Management: Leading diverse teams with a shared vision was both rewarding and challenging. Effective delegation and maintaining open communication channels were key to harnessing the full potential of our team members. 5. Motivating People: Encouraging and driving team members and stakeholders towards excellence involved recognizing their contributions and providing constructive feedback. Keeping the team motivated was vital for sustained high performance and achieving our goals. 6. Achieving Excellence: Maintaining high standards and pushing for superior results in all endeavors was a continuous process. This commitment to excellence ensured that every new club met the quality standards of Toastmasters International. 7. Collaboration: Building strong relationships with potential clubs, members, and corporate partners required effective interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset. Successful partnerships were built on mutual trust and shared objectives. 8. Analytical Skills: Assessing data and feedback to make informed decisions that drive growth and success was a critical aspect of our strategy. This involved regularly reviewing performance metrics and adjusting our approach based on insights gained. Thank you to District Director Mayank Naidu , PQD Dr.Shakil Shaikh Division Directors Jai Singh ( DTM, Chartered Engineer) Dinesh Chaudhari, PMP, PAL-E Abilash MG Venkatesh Prabhu Gaonkar Uday Jagavkar and area directors who has been part of this incredible journey. Together, we have made a lasting impact on our district and the broader Toastmasters community. Here’s to even greater achievements ahead! #Leadership #Growth #Teamwork

🤔 Does being great at your job make you a great manager too? In my early days as a Financial Adviser, I was progressing very well – gaining trust from clients, being referred to their network, and receiving various industry awards. Then, I decided it was time for me to step up and lead a team. That was when my career truly tested me. When I first became a manager, I was excited and eager to teach everything I knew about advisory to my team. I thought if I, as an introvert, could succeed in sales and advisory, my team could too. As a systematic and process-oriented person, I detailed exactly what I did and said to my clients and began training my team. However, I encountered many challenges and achieved little success. Frustrations set in, and doubts crept into my mind. It started with finger-pointing: “Why don’t they get it?”, “If I can do it, why can’t they?”, “Why can’t they just put in more effort to learn?” Then it turned into self-doubt: “Am I a lousy manager?”, “Was my early success just a fluke, and my methods don’t actually work?” It was only through this journey that I realized what works for me doesn’t necessarily work for others. Each of us has unique strengths and weaknesses. Rather than enforcing a specific approach that suits me, I needed to embrace and guide my team to realize their potential. Instead of memorizing sales scripts and presentations, I focused on coaching them on the mentality and principles behind our planning philosophy. Instead of drilling them on sales and objection-handling techniques, I trained them to connect with clients on a deeper level to uncover their true needs and concerns. Now I lead a team of over 70 advisers who are proud of who they are and what they do. They have each achieved success in their own way, with more than 75% of them achieving MDRT 🔥 (top 10% performers in the industry). I am really proud of them! Are you an individual contributor transitioning into a managerial role? Or a newly promoted manager? Do share the challenges you are facing, and let’s learn from each other. *Here’s a photo of some of our award winners at our recent Gala Dinner :)

Does it make it less worthy or successful ? When you see a lot of people getting recognition, awards, praises, promotions l you may think... Why them not me? Am I not good enough? Am I not successful? While simultaneously you are happy for them and you celebrate them You feel left out, unseen, un heard. You wonder if you've missed the mark. You wonder what you could have done differently. Let me tell you... Nothing is wrong with you. Nothing has gone wrong. Nothing is missing Outside recognition doesn't make you a better human being, more worthy, more successful. Outside recognition is a bonus. Sometimes, you also have to ask for it. ie promotion Get out of your own way. Get out of your head. Get out there. Be you, do you. Have it all should you wish to! What if you could impact people's lives, your industry , your life without needing a proof or recognition for it..except seeing it on people's faces and in their lives. PS: Do you want it all? Would you like to receive an award if so what for ?

You can't be selected ... if you aren't visible. Opportunity cannot find you when you are unseen. You cannot simply 'do good work' and 'work hard' and expect an expansion of role and income is going to be delivered to you. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 just 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 this happens when you are early on in your career and moving to a first line manager role.  But this most certainly is not the way at works at the more senior levels. Do the people in a position to award you that next up-leveled role even know you want it? How do they know? Have you told them? More importantly: have you s͟h͟o͟w͟n͟ them what's in it for THEM should you be so elevated? How easy is it for them to already 'see' you in the bigger role? You want to lead on a grander scale?  Claim your space. Develop and express your business and leadership 'point of view'. Give people a reason to follow you.  Invest in relationships, far and wide....and relentlessly.   Nurture and expand your circle of champions.   Make sure people know your name and what you bring to the table.   Seek ways to be of service to them, first and foremost. Raise your hand for the tough assignments that no one else is willing to step up for ... and DELIVER. Take a position on things. Be an active vocal contributor in working groups. Share your business-relevant observations and perspectives on LinkedIn. Be visible in industry or professional associations and events. This is a competitive world and nobody is ever going to pick you if they don't even know you exist. You want opportunity? Go take it for yourself! The time for action is now. No more hiding, no more excuses. Be bold, be visible, and opportunity will have no choice but to knock on your door. The next big chance is out there waiting. Go grab it!

👉 if you go on LinkedIn you most likely see promotions, awards, new client PRs... lots of #winning going on... 💡 Asher Fredricks replied to one of my recent LinkedIn threads sharing "failure is the great teacher" it made me think of: “It is fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of #failure.” - Bill Gates So where are you failing? Where are you looking for continuous improvement? For me... It's all about #mastery and this James Clear quote hit home and it's something that I am working on daily --- #focus on what matters: "Mastery is not only about getting better at your craft, but also about finding ways to eliminate the obstacles, distractions, and other annoyances that prevent you from working on your craft. Top performers find ways to spend as much time as possible on what matters and as little time as possible on what doesn't. It is not someone else's responsibility to create the conditions for success. You have to actively work to eliminate the things that don't matter from your workload. If you haven't figured out how to do that, you haven't mastered your craft." ⚡️Ryan Souza Shubh S. ⚡️Shane Edrington